Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Review: Passion

Title: Passion
Author: Lauren Kate
Release Date: June 14th, 2011
Series: Fallen #3
Number of Pages: 420
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Bought
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"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .
Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.
Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series hits stores Tuesday 14th June 2011.

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First, I have to say that I thought Passion was the final book of the series. I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad about that. It’s not that I don’t like the series, I do like it, but I was prepared to read the end of it. Sigh.

The plot was kind of not that big. What matters in the book is that we learn all about he past lives of Luce, which was interesting. I simply was expecting much more from the book. I was expecting a happy ending, but there was no real ending, just the knowledge that there is more to come. I don’t know. It kind of was a disappointment. Arg. Yet I did read it in one sitting, and couldn’t put it down.

I liked that in this book we learned more about Luce and Daniel. It kind of made their love less strange (?) if I can say that. Still, it is the same main characters. I still like Cam, and wish we could have seen him more, but maybe next book?

I like Lauren Kate. I’ve liked her since Fallen, but I’m kind of hoping for something different. I’m kind of excited to read something new from her. Maybe that’s just me, and the fact that I was thinking it was the last one.

I would give it a 3/5, simply because I was expecting much more. For those of you who loved this series, you will still like this one, but I don’t think this book will bring those of you who didn’t like Fallen and Torment into the story.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Review: Pretty Little Liars

Title: Pretty Little Liars
Author: Sara Shepard
Release Date: October 1st, 2006
Series: Pretty Little Liars #1
Number of Pages: 286
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Bought
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Three years ago, Alison disappeared after a slumber party, not to be seen since. Her friends at the elite Pennsylvania school mourned her, but they also breathed secret sighs of relief. Each of them guarded a secret that only Alison had known. Now they have other dirty little secrets, secrets that could sink them in their gossip-hungry world. When each of them begins receiving anonymous emails and text messages, panic sets in. Are they being betrayed by some one in their circle? Worse yet: Is Alison back? A strong launch for a suspenseful series.
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I had watched the show (and loved it), so I had to give the series a shot. I wasn’t disappointed, but I wasn’t super impressed. It was simply a nice summer read. I read it in one sitting, drinking an iced coffee sitting on a patio at Starbucks. It was entertaining!

The story was good. It kept me captivated, but it wasn’t the book of the years. The ending was okay, but like the series, it doesn’t give you that many answer. (Of course, it is the first in the series, so they can’t really give you everything!)

The characters were great. My favorite has to be Aria. I don’t know why, but I don’t really like Hannah in the book, there was just something annoyed the crap out of me. I don’t know, she just seems more like a b*tch than in the series. (Which is why I should have read the series before…)

The writing was easy to follow, but it kind of got on my nerves that every chapter follows a different character. Still, I got over it pretty fast.

The book was fun. I ended liking it, but I would have probably liked it more if I hadn’t seen the TV show before. 3/5

Monday, June 06, 2011

Review: Flawless

Title: Flawless
Author: Lara Chapman
Release Date: May 10th 2011
Series: None
Number of Pages: 255
Publisher: Bloomsbury Teen
Source: Source
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Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.
On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?
This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.
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First thing I have to say about this book is that I really like the cover. It really made me curious. I picked up this book last week, and I was nicely surprised. Even thought it isn’t Flawless, it was good (that was an easy one… Sorry!)

Again, this is kind of a girly book. Two best friends fall for the same new guy. One decides to help the other one get the guy. Okay, I have to say that I find Sarah to be slightly stupid. Okay, you may decide not to tell her you like him and would like to date him too, but come one, do you really have to help her? The ending gives you a cute little moral, which is nice, but I have to say that it was simply a nice entertaining story. It was perfect for summer and vacation for me, because you can read it without really thinking (I like not thinking…)

The characters were okay, but they felt slightly stupid and naïve. First, Sarah is really cruel with herself and stupid. How can you do that to yourself? Kristen just came up a dumb friend. She doesn’t realize that it hurts her friends, and she actually thinks that what she’s doing is right (hit her head on the wall.) Come on! Rock may be awesome, as he likes literature and art, but he is naïve. He really didn’t realize that the Kristen that writes to him and the Kristen he talks to. Come on! They both talk differently, and they both have different interest. You really didn’t realized? Sigh…

The writing was fun. Eve if there was a couple flaws, I was really captivating. I had to keep on reading. I really want to read more from Lara Chapman. I enjoyed this book. I would give it a good 4/5. I really really liked it. It was just fun to read!

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Release Date: October 18th, 2007
Series: None
Number of Pages: 288
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Bought
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Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind.
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Wow. Seriously, I was not expecting this kind of book. I had read the summary. Yet I wasn’t expecting the book to leave me that speechless. It was such an amazing books.

The story itself is Clay listening the tapes and learning what pushed Hannah to kill herself. We get to here her story, while also reading about Clay’s reaction to her words. I found it to be really powerful. I’ve heard many readers say that her reasons weren’t good enough, that it was making fun of teenagers who had real reasons to kill themselves. Okay, first, I don’t think you can judge someone reasons to commit suicide. Usually it’s about the fact that they have lost hope in life. Not everyone see the worthiness of life the same way. I think that’s what is so powerful about the book. You understand that the way you threat people matters, because something you may think is a joke to you can feel like the end of the world to another person.

Also, you stop for a second to thank if someone you may know may show the sign of thinking about suicide. That’s another I heard about the plot: Why didn’t they realized she was about to kill herself? I think it is simple, we see what we want to see.

The characters didn’t really matter to me, except Hannah. I came to care about her in a way, even if I think it is really cruel to do what she did. Yet, I understand. She wanted them to understand. Clay didn’t really mark me as much, but I don’t think any of the other characters could have made a narrator as good as him. He didn’t really do anything wrong. She only wanted him to understand why she did it. He was the only one she wasn’t really angry with.

Jay Asher’s writing was powerful. I read the book in one sitting, on a patio at Starbucks. My coffee turned cold, yet I didn’t care. I couldn’t put the book down until I was done with it.

I have to say that I’m completely in love this book. I think everyone should read it. Amazing and powerful. 5/5

In My Mailbox 12



In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi from  the Story Siren
Here is what I got this week!

So last Saturday, it was my birthday, which explain why I got so many books. I got some money, which of course was spent on books. Here is what I got:

I went to Winners last week, and I was surprised to find some good books on sale. I got:

-The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney for 6$
-Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck for 7$

Then I also bought a couple of books online:

-The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
-Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
-Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
-Timeless by Alexandra Monir


I also got a gist card for a bookstore, where I bought:

-Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
-I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Finally, I went to Indigo and bought:

-Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
-Flawless by Lara Chapman

So that’s what I bought in the last two weeks.

I also got a couple of books form NetGalley, which I always forget to mention:

-Deviant by Adrian McKinty
-Misfit by Jon Skovron


Finally, I got


-Passion by Laurent Kate. 


I was really suprised to find it, as it is supposed to come out only on June 14th, but I won't complain =)

Here’s what I got. What did you get this week?



Saturday, June 04, 2011

Review: Lipstick Laws

Title: The Lipstick Laws
Author: Amy Holder
Release Date: April 4th, 2011
Series: None
Number of Pages: 237
Publisher: Graphia – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Bought
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At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.   For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.   But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?
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So I bought this book this week, because I thought it looked like a won’t need to really think my way through it.” Well, while reading this book, I discover that it was so much more.

Yes, it is kind of a girly story: friendship, popularity, backstabbing, and superficiality… Everything to make the perfect girl drama book. I was caught by the story from the first page. You know everything can’t go well for April. You know something will go terribly wrong, because let’s face it; there wouldn’t be a book about her if it wasn’t for that. There's just always some drama to keep you addicted and entertained. Of course, the ending is the perfect way of ending that kind of story. Happy ending with a nice moral, which is great.

The characters were simply too funny. April makes me laugh, for her naivety sometimes and her addiction. Britney is simply so clueless sometimes, yet she always think she is right. There are a variety of characters, yet most of them are kind of stereotypes of teenagers of high school, yet it works really well with the teenage drama.

Amy Holder impresses me with her debut novel. I’m already excited to read more form her. It was such a great read, perfect to enjoy while bathing in the sun, or lying in bed. It is sweet, funny and entertaining.

I would give it a 4.5/5. It’s a really great fun story. 

Friday, June 03, 2011

Review: Hereafter

Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson           
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
Series: Hereafter #1
Number of Pages: 416
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: NetGalley
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Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.
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I wasn’t really sure when I finished this book if I really loved it, or just liked it. It was good, that much I know for sure, but there was a little something that kind of annoyed me in this book, and it took me a while to really be able to say what it was.

The plot is good. The story flows easily, which is great. It’s just that the love at first sight kind of thing just felt strange. I understand that Amelia can be attracted to the first living person that she has been in contact with. He is after all the reason she can feel again, but on his side? I don’t know, it felt like everything was really rushed. It doesn’t make it bad; it just really annoyed me. Many love the love at first sight kind of thing. I’m simply not a big fan of that. After all, here, she is a ghost. Yet, he doesn’t seem to care at all, simply because he cares for her after only a day, which means only a couple of hours with each other. The ending was great. I love that even thought it is supposed to be a story; the book could stand on its own.

The characters didn’t really stand out for me. After reading it, I didn’t really remember Amelia’s name. She was just there to me, which is strange since she is the main character. I just couldn’t connect to her. Joshua was a nice character, but I couldn’t really fall for him. Not my type of guy. Eli was simply creepy to me. A good kind of creepy. The kind of creepy that freaks you out, but still makes you curious (and yes I’m kind of strange sometime). I wish we could have seen more of Ruth, I’m sure she could have been a hell of a character.

After reading this book, I’ll probably want to pick more books from Tara Hudson. Yet, even thought I enjoy her writing, I don’t think I will run to the bookstore when the sequel comes out. It was good, just not flabbergastingly amazing.

Still, if you like ghost and love at first sigh, you’ll probably like it. If you can’t read any more story where the main couple fall in love within a couple of days, than I would wait. Wait for what? Simply to be more open to this kind of romance.

Yet, I would give this book a good 3/5.