My Thoughts: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.


**eArc received from NetGalley.**








I had absolutely no interest in reading Marissa Meyer's debut novel, when it first showed up on my reading radar. Robots and moon people were not really my thing. I am in no way a Sci Fi fan, and Cinder screamed Sci Fi to me. But than I started hearing more about this book and how wonderful it was. A lot of esteemed bloggers were calling this their favourite read of 2011, and how they couldn't wait until it hit the shelves so they could buy their own hard copy. These were bloggers whose judgement I trusted and respected. So, when I saw that it was available on NetGalley I thought I'd give it a try. Even after I was approved for the galley, I didn't begin reading it until it was almost expired. I was dragging my feet the whole 55 days it was available to me, it was only the realization that it was about to expire that had me thinking about reading it.

WHAT THE HECK TOOK ME SO LONG?!?!?! 

Cinder was SO good. I am telling you the truth. This book is as good as everyone is saying it is. Take my word on it. 

Cinder is a retelling of the popular Cinderella fairy tale. I was going to call it a modern day retelling, but there is nothing modern day about it. 

The story introduces us to Cinder; a cyborg- a human with robotic parts- and she lives in an era of a terrible plague that is taking the lives of humans at a rapid pace, with no cure in sight. How Cinder became cyborg is a grand mystery as she was "adopted" by a man who died soon after he returned home with her. Therefore Cinder is now the property of his wife- her evil step mother. Anywho, after a series of unfortunate events Cinder finds herself at the palace of their nations monarchy as a test subject. It is here she meets Dr. Erland who helps Cinder discover the truth about herself and her past. 

Meyer does such a wonderful job of telling this story. She puts a wonderful spin on this fairy tale retelling, one that isn't boring or trite- something that can sometimes happen when attempting to tell a story that's already been told. I loved the futuristic aspect to the story, I also really appreciated how it wasn't overly sci fi, everything was described well enough to keep confusion limited. 

The characters that Meyer created were fantastic. Every single one. From Cinder herself to her evil step mother, From Prince Kai all the way to Iko the robotic servant. They were all original and well developed, even the crazy lunar queen was a fascinating character. 

There were so many amazing things about Cinder. It really was a pleasure to read. Even if you think that it's not really your style, I would encourage you to give it a try. It might surprise you! 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

My Thoughts: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

**ARC received by Simon and Schuster Canada**

When I read Wither early last year I was surprised with how much I liked the book. It was most definitely one of the best books I had read in 2011. I mentioned in my review that I wasn't a huge fan of dystopian novels, and I was leery of reading them because of the theme of hopelessness that seems to be an innate quality in dystopian novels. However, what Lauren DeStefano did with Wither and again with Fever was incredible. She made me love the genre. In case you're curious you can find my thoughts on Wither here. In saying that, I was very eager to read Fever when it came in the mail a few weeks ago. Wither ended on an ok note, but I knew that as soon as the sequel came out I was going to read it. I wanted to know what was to become of Rhine and Gabriel, also of Linden and the sister wives.

If you've gone and read my review of Wither, you are aware that I am a huge fan of DeStefano's writing. I raved about how flawless her writing was and how easily I forgot that I was reading a novel that was intended for teenagers. That has not changed. Even with all the books I have read between Wither and Fever, DeStefano's writing is still as magnificent at it was in Wither and it continued to awe me in Fever.

Fever picked up right where Wither ended. Gabriel and Rhine on the run from Housemaster Vaughn. However things don't go as they planned and they run into some interesting situations.  What I really enjoyed about Fever was that the world building continued. Wither introduced us to a society where women die at 20 and men at 25. As a result of the low life expectancy, girls are not really safe, and Rhine is kidnapped and forced into a marriage with two other women. In Wither Rhine resides on one floor of a vast mansion. This is the world that we get to know in the first novel. Fever introduces us to the outside world, what society is like for the less privileged. For the people who are trying to live life as normally as possible. DeStefano does an amazing job in describing this new world, and finding a place for Rhine in it. As a reader we know that this is where Rhine came from, however this is the first time we get to see her in her natural habitat. I was impressed with how easily the story progressed from the mansion to the outside world.

While I was reading Wither I wasn't all that convinced by the relationship between Rhine and Gabriel. I can't say that has changed for me much since finishing Fever. I still find Gabriel a weak character, and the chemistry between him and Rhine is non-existent for me. I felt more chemistry between Linden and Rhine and later Silas and Rhine. After reading Fever, I actually find Gabriel a little annoying.

If you've read Wither, Fever will not let you down. If you haven't read Wither- What are you waiting for? Fever is due to hit shelves Feb 21st, 2012.

My Thoughts: The Furture of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

** Finished copy received by Penguin Group Canada**

I was nine in 1996 so I feel like it's safe for me to say that I don't remember much about the invention of the Internet, nor AOL for that matter. I also should say that I can barely remember life before the Internet. What I know is that the Internet was a fairly prevalent role in the lives of many by the time I turned thirteen in 2000, and when I graduated high school in 2005 the majority of my friends were on Facebook, and it was the "cool" thing to have at the time. So to imagine a life where the Internet isn't all the important in the lives of teens a little difficult. Which is what I had to do in The Future of Us.

I had read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher earlier this year and it totally broke my heart. It was one of the most powerful books I have had the chance to read. The story Jay Asher told in that book was incredible as was his writing. So when I heard that he was collaborating with Carolyn Mackler in creating The Future of Us, I was excited, however, I was also a little disappointed. I was hoping for more from just him and I wasn't sure how I felt about literary collaborations. I hadn't read anything by Carolyn Mackler before (however I do have her novel Tangled on my wishlist/to read someday list). I have to say, I had nothing to be nervous about. The Future of Us was a fantastic read. I really, really liked it.

The Future of Us introduces us to Emma, and sixteen year old girl who has just received a computer for the first time and now had 100 free hours of Internet use. We also meet Josh, Emma's next door neighbour and one time best friend. When Emma log's onto the Internet for the first time, she discovers Facebook (which has not been created yet) and herself fifteen years in the future. After some initial confusion, Emma shares this discovery with Josh, and together they explore the site.

I found this concept to be refreshing and original. I loved the characters and how they interacted with one another. Some found Emma annoying and self serving, I found her hilarious and a little neurotic, but in a good way. I liked Josh and how he was able to handle Emma. Even when they weren't getting along he worried about her, and her well being. It was cute. The story itself had me laughing out loud a number of times, and I loved that. I really found The Future of Us really funny, and I frequently found myself wondering "what if?"

I was pleasantly surprised with The Future of Us,  as I loved the story that Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler created. Much thanks to Penguin Group Canada for the opportunity to read this book. The Future of Us is available now, wherever books are sold (do I sound like a commercial?).

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: But I Love Him By Amanda Grace (Video Review)

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.
  At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.



**I have chosen to do a video review on this book, due to the intense subject matter, and I couldn't write how I was feeling, I wanted to rant. I think I leave the ranting to a minimum in this video. I hope you enjoy... Video reviews are not going to be a regular occurance by any means.**

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (My Thoughts)

Stay by Deb Caletti (My Thoughts)

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn (My Thoughts)

My Thoughts: The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series

I've read the whole series this year, and I am going provide mini reviews for all three books in this post. Enjoy.

Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.







Shiver sat on my shelf for months before I got around to reading it. I was really excited to read it when I first bought it. However, I read some not so great reviews and I my excitement dwindled. I did eventually read it and I enjoyed it, however I also see why others did not like it. The pace was a bit slow for me in the beginning, I wasn't sure what I was waiting for, but nothing was really happening. I was a bit confused about what exactly was going on. But I persevered, and kept reading. Maggie Stiefvater is a phenomenal writer, and it was for the reason alone that I kept reading.

I loved the characters in these books. They were fantastic in all three of these books. I adored Grace. There was something magical about her. She was a strong character that was not at all boring. When she wanted something she went for it. She was beautifully written. Sam was an interesting individual. I'm not sure about him, I think I found him a little too docile for my taste. He wasn't all bad. I liked that he was broody and I appreciated his love for music and poetry.

They idea of the wolves change being provoked by cold weather was interesting, but not something I was terribly fond of. I thought it was a little corny to be honest. It didn't make sense to me. The same goes for the supposed cure.



In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

I wasn't sure I was going to read Linger. As I mentioned above. I thought Shiver was ok, but I got kind of bored with it. But I got curious and I wanted to know what else was in store for Grace and Sam. I enjoyed Linger WAY more than Shiver. I thought the story was a whole lot more interesting and it brought us Cole. What a wonderfully complex character, he came to us broken and wanting to die. I found this part of his story terribly heart breaking. I loved his encounters with Isabelle, and I loved seeing their relationship develop. I also enjoyed Linger more because we got to see Isabelle grow as a character. I enjoyed her in Shiver and I knew there was more to her then what was initially presented to us.

Grace's Parents. They were the most neglectful people I have ever read about. They're selfishness drove me insane. I could not believe it. The fact that they did not know that Sam was staying at their house at night baffles me. Then we have Beck, he loved Sam and cared for him like any father would love their son. Beck wanted the best for Sam, he tried to give Sam everything that he needed. But for all intents and purposes he kidnapped Sam by intentionally changing him. The parental units in this novel were seriously lacking. Even Isabelle's parents were a little to non-caring for me.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.








Forever was the last installment of this trilogy. Again, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't great for me. I still got great characters but the story never really went anywhere for me, I was waiting for certain things to be resolved or explored more, but that never happened. Cole's story for instance, I was expecting a little more detail into his life before he became a wolf but that was never mentioned. His relationship with Victor's sister was never again mentioned, which I thought was a little disappointing. Grace and Sam's story was a little boring for me. Even with the new conflict of Grace being a wolf. I did not enjoy the wolf hunt aspect that Isabelle's father was leading, I thought it unnecessary and trivial. I also did not like the end. I did not think it was much of an ending. There were SO many unanswered questions and that kind of annoyed me.

Overall, I don't think that this was a good series for me. I enjoyed the characters. Although the writing was good I didn't like the story- I don't think werewolves are my thing.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.




**ARC received by Penguin Canada**


Before I talk about this book and what I thought about it. Lets talk about this gorgeous cover. I mean really, it's beautiful! I love it. Kudos to the design team for coming up with this one. It's truly magnificent.



Brenna Yovanoff is fairly well known for her debut novel The Replacement. Loads of people have read it and loved it. However, I have not read it and it was because so many people were talking about that The Replacement that I became even more curious about Yovanoff's writing. So, when I was presented with the opportunity to read The Space Between I jumped on the chance. This book took me FOREVER to read. I started to read it shortly after I received it, which was the beginning of October and have only finished it now. It took me so long to read for two reasons. 1.) I am a student, and life as a student got so incredibly busy for just as I started reading The Space Between. I barely had time to sleep, never mind read. and, 2.) It took me a while to get into the book. I found the beginning a little slow and sometimes confusing, and to my sleep depraved mind that was not something I enjoyed. In saying that, I did not dislike this book. The writing was beautiful, the characters were strong and well developed, I think it was the plot that I had the most trouble with.


Its no secret that Brenna Yovanoff is a beautiful writer. She can string words together that you wouldn't think to put together and make them sound so eloquent and classy. I loved that about this book. The writing flowed so well. The detail that went into her descriptions of everything was amazing. I had absolutely no trouble picturing everything she mentioned. It was really fabulous. I loved the emotions that her characters went through, the discoveries the made within themselves were awesome, and enlightening.


I loved Truman. I did. Even at his lowest Truman was one of the best male protagonists that I have ever had the pleasure to read. He never felt sorry for himself, despite his desire to die. I never once got the 'woe is me" vibe. He knew he was unhappy, and that he did not want to be unhappy anymore. Truman was straight forward and honest (he did sometimes omit truths). He was pathetic, and he did not lead an easy life. But I never got annoyed with his character. I loved how he cared for Daphne, and when he realized that he cared more for her then he thought, he didn't try and deny it. It was just fact and he accepted that. Daphne was a funny character. I have never read anything from the perspective of a demon before, and it was difficult in the beginning to really relate to her. This was why it took me a little while to get into the story. I couldn't relate to Daphne. I liked her, but her world and her thought process were not things I have considered in my life. It wasn't until she had her mission and had found Truman that things began to make more sense to me and I began to enjoy the story more.


The plot. I didn't realize going into this that I would be so uncomfortable with reading something that starred demons, and the child of Lucifer. However every time it was mentioned that Daphne was the daughter of Lucifer it would set me off. I was ok with hell, and Lilith and the old "legends", I was even some what ok with Beelzebub, but Lucifer, the devil- no way. When he made an appearance at the end of the novel, that really disturbed me. I can't pin point exactly why, or what it was that bothered me, all I know was that it did. It was this that made it the most difficult for me to read this book, and why it took me so long. I wasn't sure in the beginning if I was going to continue reading. My hang ups were limiting me.


I also was confused about the Azrael issue. I was never super clear about who he was- I knew he was an angel, but that's about it. Was he a fallen angel, or a servant of God? What was he role? Also when the mystery behind Truman's dreams was revealed I was even more confused. Also, Daphne's role in that, and why she was there was never fully explained. I found that perhaps there were a few plot holes that needed a bit more filling in. Obie's wife and why Azrael was doing what he was doing for instance.


Overall, I enjoyed The Space Between. There were a few things that I had issues with, however, there were also things that I really enjoyed. For those who don't have the hang ups I do about the devil, I think you'll really enjoy this book, it's beautifully written, and the two protagonists are awesome. The Space Between is due to hit shelves tomorrow, Nov 15th.



~Happy Reading Everyone!  

My Thoughts: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

" 'He does make me happy,' Clary said. 'But he can't control everything in the world, Mom. Other things happen—' she fumbled for words; how could she explain that it wasn't Jace making her unhappy, but what was happening to him, without revealing what that was?" "In a world where everything went away from him eventually, she was one of the few remaining constants." Except for teasers, the fourth installment of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments romance fantasy has been strictly embargoed, leaving us clutching for word clues. A teen series that keeps readers on tenterhooks.














Most of you have read Cassandra Clare's popular The Mortal Instrument series. And most of you were VERY excited when it was announced that it wasn't to end at City of Glass. That she was coming back with the much loved characters and keeping the story alive. I myself, really didn't care. Only because I had only read the first book- years ago when it first came out. I told myself I wasn't going to read anymore because I really hated the Clary and Jace were brother and sister, I was not happy, so I chose not to read further. It wasn't until Simon and Schuster Canada offered me a finished copy of City of Fallen Angels that I decided to find out what all the hoopla was about. Why did people love this series so much? Why were they so excited for it's return? So back in March I read both City of Ashes and City of Glass, and I really enjoyed them, a lot. However when my Copy of CoFA came in the mail, I did not immediately jump in and start reading.

As I mentioned before, when I first read City of Bones I was not a happy camper, I was so frustrated that Jace and Clary were brother and sister. I remember liking Jace and his sarcasm, I also remember thinking that Clary was perfect for him. She could handle him. Therefore, after the big reveal, I had no desire to continue reading. But, that is in the past now. We all know the truth and can now breathe easy.



Clare writes amazing characters. We all know that. And City of Fallen Angels brought to us the fabulous characters she does so well. In CoFA we got to see more of Simon’s perspective on things. Which is something I really enjoyed. Simon was one of my favourite characters from The Mortal Instruments series. He was smart, totally dorky and completely endearing. How could you not like Simon? I really liked experiencing things from his point of view, and getting inside his head. I found reading about his concern when it came to his relationships with Isabelle and Maia. I could feel his concern and despair when his mother discovered him (that scene broke my heart), also when he attacked Maureen, the guilt he felt. Simon is one of Clare’s more complex characters, and I was pleased to see more from him. Clary was the same old Clary we all know and love (sometimes), she’s loyal to her friends and her sarcasm is renowned (maybe not like Jaces’s but...). Her friendship with Simon makes me smile.  I like Clary. I think she’s a well developed, well rounded character. However, for me, for a female protagonist, she’s not the most memorable for me. I sometimes felt like Clare felt like she had done all she could for Clary and focused more on others (this is just my perspective).  I think there are certain character’s in The Mortal Instrument series that are stronger than she is. In saying this, I need to reiterate; I liked Clary, however I just felt like she was left in the shadows more often then not. Jace, a crowd favourite. Normally I love Jace, his sarcasm and wit are legendary. Even at his lowest, Jace is known to be clever and always ready with a joke. I felt like this was missing in CoFA. Mostly because he was dealing with some heavy stuff. We still got Jace’s jokes, and sarcasm, but it felt forced and sometimes it fell flat. He did have some great banter with Simon and some great one liners for sure, but they were few. His personal demons got in the way, and I was sad about that. Clare also introduces new characters in City of Fallen Angels. Kyle/Jordan is my favourite. I loved him. I loved what he brought to the story, and his attitude. I felt for him and Maia and I am curious about their story, I can’t wait to explore that in future novels. I enjoyed seeing his friendship with Simon blossom. He even got along with Jace. It made for good reading. Magnus was another favourite of mine, and I was glad that him and Alec showed up in the end. I was worried I was going to miss them. I love Magnus, and he says one of the most remarkably romantic things to Alec, I was speechless, and saying “awwww,” all at the same time.



Where I did enjoy reading CoFA for the most part, I had a few issues with things. When Jace started avoiding Clary, I didn’t know why, I felt like that wasn’t explained very well. One minute the two were getting along great, the next Jace is having huge issues with Clary and not speaking to her, this was so confusing to me. At first I thought that I had missed something and went back to check, but no, there was nothing to explain his sudden shift. I sometimes find that Clare over dramatizes things in her novels. Everything is such a big event, there is rarely anything subtle to be found in her books. Nothing is ever down played. This is partially why I didn’t read this book when it first came to me. I had already read the two previous books in the series, and I wasn’t sure that I could handle more. So I took a break, and I think that I enjoyed CoFA more then I would have if I had read it right away. I did not like the end of the novel mostly because it was so over played and so dramatic. It’s like Clare asked “what the worst thing that could happen?”  and then did exactly that. I was SO frustrated. I should have been expecting it. But It bugged me.



Even with all my hang ups with this book, I still really enjoyed it, and was pleased with what I got. Clare doesn’t miss a beat with this book, and I am looking forward to reading more of the series.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

 
Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.
 
Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

**ARC received by Simon and Schuster Canada**

I hadn't heard of Virtuosity when it showed up in my mailbox a few months ago. What I did notice right away was the cover. Look at that cover, It's beautiful! And after reading the novel, the cover is very fitting for the story. I really like this book. A lot. I enjoyed the musical world Jessica Martinez created. It was fun and complex, and the competitiveness that takes over the lives of young musicians I found very original. One often reads about competitive sports competitions, but this concept of a musical skill being all consuming is not something that I have read about before, and I found it incredibly interesting. 

I was sucked in Virtuosity from the very beginning. I absolutely love when an author does that. When she is able to create such a gripping tale, that sucks you in from the first line.  Martinez was able to convey the extreme emotions that Carmen was made to feel because of the Guarneri competition. I felt for Carmen, and her I could understand her anxiety. It made sense to me. Her confusion over her feelings for Jeremy was clear, and well developed. I loved reading about it. Her feelings of not being good enough were something that as a reader, you were empathic to.  I enjoyed this part of the novel immensely.

I liked Carmen. I really liked Carmen. She was a fairly timid  girl and even with her timidity she tried to be strong. For a lot of the time she attempted to be the person everyone else wanted her to be, and that almost destroyed her. She lost sight of the thing that she loved the most- her music. What I loved the most about Carmen was when she made the decision to stand up for herself, and live her life, she stuck to it (for the most part), she knew that she needed a change and she was the only one to bring to make that change a reality. Although it was not easy for her. Carmen's mother was a piece of work. She was in no way supportive of her daughter. She was controlling and manipulative, and she almost destroyed her daughter. It really irked me. I really dislike the notion of parents living vicariously through their children, nine times out of ten it's not going to end well. Which we saw in Virtuosity.  A mother's obsession that almost ruined her daughter.

Jeremy. Oh, Jeremy. I liked Jeremy when her first made an appearance. I thought he was cocky, and funny, and he brought Carmen out of her shell. I wasn't a huge fan of this, a boy being the reason a girl could be herself. Girls don't need boys to be themselves. But, that's beyond the point. In this sense Jeremy was good for Carmen, and they had something in common. Her understood her. He knew what she was going through, and how the competition was all consuming, he knew the feeling. It was great. However, Jeremy wasn't all good. He did some pretty crappy things, which led to Carmen's downfall. However her redeemed himself, sort of. Jeremy wasn't without his faults, but he was pretty terrific.

Overall, Virtuosity was a great book. I loved this story, and I loved the world that Martinez created.  It was complex, and magical, and totally worth the read.

~Happy Reading!

My Thoughts: Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

16-year-old Molly Dix loves her ordinary life in suburban Indiana, so when her single mother passes away, she is shocked to discover that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world famous movie star and red carpet regular.
 
Equally intrigued and terrified by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Southern California and plunges head-first into the deep end of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her new life and family couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous and spoiled half-sister whom welcomes Molly to la-la land with a healthy dose of passive-aggressive "sisterly love."
 
Set against the backdrop of a sparkling and fashion-filled Los Angeles, this deliciously dysfunctional family soap opera will satisfy every reader looking for their next lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous beach read.


Sometimes all a girl needs in life is a nice easy read. Something that doesn't take a lot of thought when reading it. Something that will make you laugh and roll your eyes at it's content. Something that you can get lost in while you're reading, but have no problem putting down when you need to. That is exactly what I got out of the debut novel by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, Spoiled.  I enjoyed reading this novel; about a sixteen year old girl-Molly- who finds out that her dad is a mega super star and after the death of her mother, she decides to go and live with him and his other daughter. Spoiled tells of her adventures in this new land of papporazzi, and mean girls.

This was a fluff novel. When I say that I mean, and novel that doesn't have a whole lot of substance. That isn't the nicest thing to say, but it's the truth.  I liked this book, will I remember it in a couple of weeks? No. I barely remember it now. I do know that it didn't take me long to read, and that it did make me laugh.  The world that Cocks and Morgan created was so ludicris. The portrait they paint of Hollywood society is so out of this world, that I had to roll my eyes at their drama. Sometimes less is more. I loss a sense of reality while reading this book, and sometimes is wasn't in a good way. Specifically with the ridiculous demands that the rich and famous make. The Girls' father Brick, was out of this world insane. Kind of funny when you think of it, but it was slightly over the top. I should mention that Cocks and Morgan could have done a better job with the end. It kind of just cut off, without any sort of resolution.

The characters were funny though, if not a little annoying. The situations were a little grating. But overall, I liked Molly and I liked Bridget. However, they weren't anything special. 

That's the thing with this book, there was nothing overly special about it. It was all just Meh.  Meh characters, meh writing. But at the same time, it was exactly what I needed. I wasn't bored. The rich and famous have always intrigued me. So I think when it comes to Spoiled, I am indifferent.


~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
 
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
 
There is.
 
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
 
She's wrong.






ARC received from Simon and Schuster Canada


WOW!! That's what I have to say. This is not going to be a long review, there are millions out there already  raving about this book. But I NEED to share my love for this novel.

 I knew The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was going to be good, I just wasn't expecting this good. I am stunned that this is Michelle Hodkin's first novel. The writing style is excellent, the plot is insane, the characters are complex. It was incredible.

Mara Dyer is a 16 year girl who has suffered a terrible accident. She is the sole survivor of a collapsed building that killed three of her friends- one of them being her best friend Rachel and her boyfriend Jude. Having survived this tragedy, Mara and her family leave the town they were living in, to make a new start. But, it's not a new start Mara gets. Soon after, Mara begins having hallucinations involving her dead friends. She begins seeing things, and hearing voices, and things die when she wills them to. Freaky eh? Yeah.  I found myself yelling asking, "what the heck is going on?" so many times, while reading this story. There were twists and turns everywhere. It was a wild ride and I loved every minute of it.

I think that I am generally pretty good at figuring out what's going on in a book. Plot twists and cliff hangers aren't usually that exciting or shocking to me. This was not the case in Mara Dyer, I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on with Mara, I didn't know what she was. The paranormal aspect I couldn't figure out; is she a witch? is she a ghost? I have no idea. Also, that end totally floored me. I was not expecting it at all. Not. At. All. However, I was reading an ARC, and I have heard that the end is a little different in the finished version. Regardless it was crazy.

If you want an amazing read. That will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin is it.  It is a fantastic read  that will not disappoint.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the chance to read this.

My Thoughts: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
 
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this one.


Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of angel books. They have frequently let me down. So when I found out that A Beautiful Dark was about angels I was less then enthused. However I had already committed myself to reading it and I thought I would give it a try. I am pleased and relieved to announce that I really enjoyed this story. There have been few angel stories that I have liked, and I discuss this in depth here. So Jocelyn Davies, congratulations. This one was a win!

Many are saying that A Beautiful Dark is been there done that kind of book. Perhaps this is true to some extent. But no one has done it like Jocelyn Davies has. There is a teenage girl, Skye, who is enamored by the two new mysterious boys in town- Asher and Devin. Davies has taken the typical love triangle story and given it a spin that is well worth the read. Two boys-angels- vying for the attention of one girl. But why?

What I liked the most about this story was the suspense/mystery of the whole thing. I could kind of guess what was going on, but I was never for sure about the whole thing. Sometimes in paranormal YA, the mystery is revealed to soon, and then the story goes down hill. A Beautiful Dark had a perfect pace for me. on the other hand, I sometimes felt like things were a bit rushed in terms of description. I would sometimes wish for a little more explanation. specifically in areas where Skye and Asher would be having a conversation, they would often go by so quickly, and I would have no idea what Skye was feeling during this time, or have any sense of their surroundings. Davies is a great writer and this was her first novel, so I feel as she grows as a writer this will improve.

The characters were definitely my favourite. I loved Asher, he was funny and cocky, but he also wasn't a BSer. I appreciated that. In turn, I wasn't a huge fan of Devin, he was far to docile for me. I enjoyed reading Skye's interactions with Asher, they were the most fun. Skye as a protagonist was pretty cool, she's not hugely memorable. But she wasn't incredibly annoying either. What I really liked about Skye was that she wasn't a push over. She didn't let Asher or Devin order/push her around. She had a mind of her own. She knew what was important to her, and nothing was going to change that.

Overall, this was a pretty good read. If you're like me and have been disappointed with angel books lately, give this one a try, because it's unlike those out there.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.
 
My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.







I had heard nothing of The Summer of Skinny Dipping By Amanda Howells before this summer, even though the book had been out since June of last year. I have seen it featured on a few blogs this summer and I was curious to see why so many people were saying this was a must read.  I have to admit that when I started reading this book, I was initially comparing it to Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty. It had a similar feel for me. A summer house located on the beach, friends, family, summer love. It screamed Pretty. But as I continued to read, I began to discover the differences. Where both The Summer of Skinny Dipping and The Summer I Turned Pretty took place at the beach and involved a girl with big expectations for the summer, that is where the similarities ended. The Summer I Turned Pretty is a pretty blatantly obvious love story, The Summer of Skinny Dipping, is more subtle in the romance area. The Story is way less feel good than Pretty.

Mia, the protagonist, is a 16 year old girl who goes to The Hamptons for the summer to visit her cousin. However when she gets there, she discovers that her cousin has changed and that her aunt and uncle are going through some things. So, her ideal summer may turn out to be not so ideal. However, Mia soon meets Simon and well, yeah.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as other's did. I thought it was an ok read. What didn't really work for me was the fact that it was trying to deal with serious issues (drug and alcohol use, infidelity and such), but at the same time it was also attempting to be a light coming of age summer read. I find that those are two very different tones, and the switching back and forth made it difficult for me to relate to the novel. If Howell would have stuck with a more serious coming of age tone, the novel would have been more enjoyable. 

I am not going to spoil, but I do need to say that the end of this novel was far to dramatic and completely unnecessary for me. I thought it was so gimmicky, and I couldn't see the point. I don't like when an author adds something for dramatic effect, and the end of this book was exactly that. Or maybe the way that it was done. It felt very random to me. I think the method used could have been different.

I also noticed that there is a sequel- The Summer of Sneaking Out-I had originally thought it was going to be a continuation of this story but it appears to simply be a companion novel. I will probably read it, however, I couldn't find when it was to be released.

Overall, this was an ok read, but not my favourite. There were things that could have been done better. The relationship between Mia and Simon was pretty cute, and I enjoyed reading about how their relationship grew. But that was about all I liked in the book.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Blog Tour Special-My Thoughts: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.









I think I was one of about a handful of people who read Bloodlines having never read The Vampire Academy series. And I was a little apprehensive about reading Bloodlines, and being part of the Bloodlines blog tour. But I heard that it wasn't necessary to have read The VA series to read Bloodlines. I kind of liked the idea of reviewing this novel, because I had no preconceived notions about how it should be, and how the characters should be. Many VA fans were excited for this one, but they were also a little leery. VA was an epic sensation among YA readers, Richelle Mead created a world unlike any other with that series, and there were those who feared that she wouldn't be able to do it again. As a first time reader of hers, all I was concerned with, was her ability to draw my attention and keep me entertained throughout the whole of the book. And I feel like she did that. 

Because I wasn't a VA reader, I was new to the world of the Maroi, Strigoi, Dhampir, and the Alchemists. I wasn't sure if I would be able to enjoy Bloodlines because of this. However, Mead does a good job of reintroducing readers to the world of vampire. Part of the fun in reading this book was piecing things together. I knew enough about The VA series to figure out what was going on in Bloodlines.

What I enjoyed the most about this novel was the humour. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times. I found Ms. Terwilliger hilarious! She was probably one of the funniest characters. I also really liked Adrian. I know a lot of people do. But I probably liked him for different reasons (maybe). He was funny, he was also kind of sweet. If her were a real person I would have hated and loved him- He would have gotten on my nerves, and I would have loved every minute of it. I also kind of liked Sydney. I thought her thought processes were a little pathetic at times, and I found her far to legalistic when it came to her job and how she was supposed to feel about the vampires. But, I did like reading about how she changed her views on them, her attitude softened towards her Maroi and Dhampir friends. Seeing this transition was nice. 

What I hated (which is also a testimony of Mead's skill at writing great characters) was Keith. I really disliked him. He was a pompous ass. He was rude, and thought so highly of himself. It was annoying. Every time he would open his mouth I would want to scream. I would often wish that Sydney would stand up for herself. As I mentioned earlier I did not really understand her reasoning for doing things. However, Keith was truly terrible, and I can't imagine a worst villain.

The cliffhanger at the end wasn't much a cliffhanger for me. I did not have a "What. Just. Happened?" moment. I think that in order for that to happen you have to have been a VA reader. Which I thought was to bad. It was interesting though. I am curious about what's going to happen. However if this series turns into another six book saga. I will be terribly disappointed.

I must say that after reading Bloodlines I am in no rush to read The Vampire Academy series. Although I did enjoy Mead's story telling, I wasn't super crazy about the vampire politics, or the different class of vampire (Strigoi, Maroi, Dhampir). It was all a little confusing. It was hard for me to remember who was what.  Plus reading six books with the same characters doesn't appeal to me at all. 

Overall, Bloodlines was fun to read, and I look forward to reading about what comes next.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

**ARC received from Penguin Group Canada- Release Date for Bloodlines was Aug 23rd 2011.**

My Thoughts: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.






After I had read Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, I saw that is was often compared to Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I wasn't all that sure that there could possibly be another book like Forbidden.  And, although, Stolen was an intense read, full of confusion, misery, and bouts of fear, I don't think it compares to Forbidden at all. Stolen is about a girl (Gemma) who gets kidnapped from an airport in Bangkok, and taken to the back country of Australia. Where she is forced to live with her captor for an extended period of time. Where she ends up experiencing mixed feelings about him.

The whole concept of being kidnapped and taken to a country that isn't your own, from an airport, of knowing that no one had ANY idea where you were. Well, that totally freaks me out. The whole time I was reading this novel I was on the edge of my seat, thinking about how the heck she was going to get away. Gemma was stuck in the outback, and that freaked me out. She didn't handle it to well either. I mean being 16 and stuck in the dessert, I am sure any human being would be a basket case. Christopher did a fabulous job in describing how Gemma was feeling, her fear and panic. I was able to experience everything Gemma did. Christopher did such an amazing job. I even felt Gemma's switch in emotions when it came to her captor,  and her struggle with that switch.  It was a roller coaster for Gemma, and also for the reader.

I have to say, my favourite part of this book was Ty, Gemma's captor. I thought he was a fabulous character. He was clearly insane, however, he was also so passionate about what he believed it. It was incredible. He loved the land that they were living off of, and he really wanted to share that with Gemma, to bad he was also keeping her against his will. The way the Ty felt, and his desire to make Gemma happy was amazing. His insanity was amazing. I was amazed reading about it. 

This story was a good read, and I loved reading it from Gemma's perspective, and in a letter to Ty. I thought that aspect of the novel was interesting. I wasn't sure how I felt about the end, but after thinking about it, I believe Gemma was right in doing what she did.

Although, I did enjoy this novel. I would not compare it, in any way to Tabitha Suzuma's Forbidden. At the end of last year I read Megan Hart's Precious and Fragile Things, and Stolen is very much like that story, but I found Hart to be a much better writer. But Stolen was an enjoyable book.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

 
It’s all a fake.
 
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
 
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—

Are about him

Simon and Schuster Canada sent this book to me a couple months ago. It was another one that I knew nothing about, but am glad that I got to read it. I found the synopsis of this novel is VERY misleading. But don't let that deter you from checking it out. It is WAY better then what the synopsis tells you. A fast past read, that is full of laugh out loud moments, and times where you'll feel annoyed with yourself for not reading faster.

The story is actually about two boys. Ryder; a Witchlander boy who has spent his life away from the coven and the witches that have been ruling his life for as long as he can remember. There is also Falpian, a Baen boy who is mourning the death of his twin brother. These two boys have a connection, and it's discovering what the connection is that makes Witchlanders such a fantastic read. Falpian and Ryder are sworn enemies. Years before there was a war that took place between the Withclanders and The Baens. Now there is a very distinct boarder that separates the Bitterlands (Baen land) and  that of the Witchlanders. And very strict rules that the two peoples are never to meet.

Lena Coakley's debut novel is one of the best books I have read this year.  Witchlanders is pretty high fantasy- which is not a genre that I enjoy reading. Although Withlanders is high fantasy it's not so fantastical that it is unrealistic. It is ultimately a tale about brotherhood and learning to trust yourself. It's totally a coming of age novel, that takes place in a fictional world. It is an amazing adventure. Ryder and Falpian get to know one another, they learn to like each other, but do they learn to trust each other?

One thing that always truly amazes me, is when a person has enough imagination and ability to create a whole new world. A world that has societies, and rules, and a hierarchy. There are so many details involved in creating a such a place, and I find that incredibly fascinating. I have read novels where this is done so poorly you wonder how the book was even published. However, what Coakley created was so intricate and complex you would think it would be impossible to do well. But, she did it. She didn't miss one single thing. There were no holes in her details, and you didn't need to stretch your imagination to much to believe what she was tell you, I was so impressed by this. The world she created wasn't trivial or clichéd, it was majestic and beautiful. I cannot explain how magical it was.


My favourite thing about this novel was the male point of view. Coakley wasn't writing just one male POV, but two. I loved the male perspective. I have sometimes read what was supposed to be a male POV, but found it to be very feminine. This was not something that I experienced with Ryder or Falpian. They were boys, and I never forgot that. I also was never confused when she would switch perspectives. It was always very clear who's mind I was in.

Although the synopsis alludes to a romance, Witchlanders contains none. I had no idea that I was getting sick of paranormal/contemporary romance, until I read this novel. I think that those who NEED a little romance in their books will enjoy this one, because of the way that Ryder and Falpian's relationship (which is TOTALLY platonic) develops. It is so endearing that you won't mind that lack of "sexual tension" that happens between the boy and the girl.

There are a lot more great things I could touch on when it comes to Witchlanders. But I think you need to experience it yourself.  There a few bloggers giving away copies of Witchlanders and I think you should head over to enter. If that's to much work, I think you should just go out and buy the book. It is really a fantastic novel. I can't wait to read more about Ryder and Falpian's adventure.

Witchlander Giveaways:
Bookish
YA Booklover Blog
The Zealous Reader
Rayment's Readings, Rants, and Ramblings


~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.







It's not often that I come away from a book not sure about whether I liked it or not.  But that's how I feel about Falling Under by Gwen Hayes.  It was an interesting read, that is for sure.  The concept of the story I didn't find particularly original, the whole paranormal piece felt very formulaic in a |been there done that", type of way.  In saying that, I shouldn't say the whole story was completely unoriginal. There were a few times where Hayes surprised me, and in a totally fabulous way. 

I have read multiple reviews where readers have loved the characters of Falling Under, I have also read as many reviews who have said that they sucked. I really liked the characters in Falling Under with the exception of one or two. Theia was a sweet girl -she maybe have been slightly annoying in a "Oh, I love him, and would do anything for him even though it's only been a few days" kind of way, but she was cute. Her anxiety at talking to boys was endearing, and it made me smile. Her friends, Donny and Amelia, were great. I think as far as friends go, they were pretty amazing. I really appreciated that Hayes did not fade Donny and Amelia to the background of this novel. They were true supporting characters- and they were important to the story, which isn't something that happens often. I liked Donny and her attitude towards Gabe, I thought it was pretty funny. One of my favourite characters was Varnie, haha. The 19 year old cross dressing psychic. So funny.  Totally made this book worth the read. 

Now lets talk about Haden. He bugged me like Edward from Twilight bugged me. I cannot stand the whole- I love you, but we can't be together it's to dangerous, but I can't stay away from you-crap. It's crap. I hate it. I'm sorry. Haden wasn't all bad. He's hot, like any male protagonist in a paranormal romance should be. He wasn't a total fail, I enjoyed his-I need Theia to lose interest in me-antics. Which he would then turn into another reason for her to love him.  That's about all that I liked about him.

The end of Falling Under was pretty good though, not at all what I was expecting. Which was kind of fun. I will probably keep reading the series, just to see what comes out of it. I think you should read this story, because some parts of it were pretty cool. But it's not a grrrrrrrreat read, it's an okay read.

~Happy Reading Everyone.

My Thoughts: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
 
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
 
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
 
The Keeper likes to keep things.
 
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.





Believe it or not, but I don't know the fairy tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. So when word of Entwined got out, and people were saying it was a retelling of the fable, I was like great. I did like the sound of it, and I was curious about the story, never mind the beautiful cover. 

I grabbed this book from the library a few months ago, and tried to read it, but I wasn't really in the mood for it, so I gave up, but I knew I was going to try again. I wanted to know what this book was all about. I picked it again a couple of days ago, and boy am I ever glad I did not give up on this book. I really enjoyed it. It was funny, and sweet, and sometimes it freaked me out (Keeper on the ceiling, anyone?), other times it made me tear up.  It really was a pleasure for me to read.

We have Azalea the eldest daughter of the Royal Family, who has just lost her mother in child birth. So, unexpectedly her and her 11 sisters are forced into mourning. Mourning means the curtains are drawn, the girls are not allowed outside, there are no visitors, and absolutely NO dancing for one year. For these girls this is tragic. Dancing was the one thing they had that could connect them to their mother. On top of that, their somewhat strained relationship with their father is further damaged by his own grief, and sudden departure from the girls' life. So these 12 girls are lonely, suffering with the death of their dearest mother. But, somehow they found refuge with a secret passage that leads from their room to a grand pavilion where they are given the opportunity to dance, and dance they do. However, it's not for free.

The thing that I loved the very most about this story was the family dynamics.  The relationship between the sisters and all their varying personalities. They were a lot of fun to read about, and I'd imagine a lot of fun to write. I really enjoyed their father, The King. In the beginning he grieved the loss of his queen, and did not know how to deal with his sorrow, nor the sorrow of his daughters. This was very sad. The family needed each other, and they couldn't be there for one another. The family needed to heal, and they needed each other to heal, and that's partially what this story was about. It really was a great story. 

The characters that Heather Dixon created were very well rounded, and very well developed. I thought Keeper was one creepy dude, and I loved that. He would do the weirdest things,  that would royally weird me out. I did not trust him from the very beginning, but I was not expecting what I got.  Lord Teddy was one of my favourite characters. He was really funny. I laughed at everything he did, and when it came to Bramble, well that was a lot of fun.

There were a lot of different elements in this story, and I loved that. It meant that I was never bored, and I always had something to look forward to. So many different things happened, and I really enjoyed that. I would recommend that everyone read Entwined. It is worth the time.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.




The Piper's Son is the third book I have read by Melina Marchetta this year. First was Jellicoe Road which holds a special place in my heart, the second was Saving Francesca and I enjoyed it, but not as much as Jellicoe Road, and most recently, The Piper's Son, and I really liked it. Maybe not as much as Jellicoe Road, but I liked how the story and the characters that were found in Saving Frencesca evolved and grew.

In Saving Francesca we are introduced to Francesca who attends a new school that is predominantly an all boys school. She knows few people and is forced to make new friends. It's a lovely story and the writing and characters are fabulous. One of the boys that Francesca meets is Tom Mackee. It is Tom's story that we get to read about in The Piper's Son. However, it wasn't only Tom's story that we got,  it was also that of his aunt, and it was that sub-plot that I loved the most.

I would sometimes get a feeling of euphoria while reading this book. I enjoy Marchetta's writing, and the way she tells a story so much that I just feel happy when I am reading her books. Marchetta writes what her characters are feeling in a way that allows you to experience those feelings, but not in a way that you are bogged down by them. Although Tom and his Aunt were both suffering extreme and intense emotions, it was never overwhelming to read about. I was able to empathize with the characters and still enjoy the story. It takes great skill to do that.

The thing I love the most about Marchetta's books are her characters. I love them. I wish they were real people so that they could be my friends. I don't think that I have read a single author who has made me love their characters as much as this woman. I love how she writes about their relationships with each other and  how they view themselves, I love seeing their inner struggle, and how they eventually come to terms with it.  Tom Mackee was a favourite of mine in Saving Francesca, and I loved reading more about him.  I really appreciated the relationship he had with his Aunt, he loves her and I loved reading about that, I really liked how loyal and loving Tom was towards his younger sister, and although they lived a ways away from each other, they still had a strong relationship.

Georgie's story was something amazing for me. She went through things that I hope never to have to face in my life. The death of a sibling, the betrayal of a partner, followed by an unplanned pregnancy by said ex-partner many years later. That's a lot for one woman to handle, adding on an abandoned nephew a missing brother (who later reappears with issues of his own). It was madness, and I think she did well, only breaking down a few times. I thought that Marchetta wrote Georgie beautifully, and I was moved to tears at the end of the book, and how things ended up for her.

A lot happened in The Piper's Son, and I am sure I could get majorly spoilery about it, but I don't want to ruin this amazing experience. I would encourage everyone to pick up something by Melina Marchetta and read it. It it totally worth it.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Swoon by Nina Malkin

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him -- but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent -- and irresistible -- adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.
What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?




Nina Malkin's Swoon was not on my TBR until I received it's sequel for review a couple weeks ago.  Before that I had not heard of the book. I was curious enough to search it out, and read it as soon as I got my hands on it. Swoon did not take me long to get through, contrary to it's many pages. This was mostly due to the fact that I really just wanted to have it done, and I kind of wanted to know how it was going to end. Ghost stories aren't usually what I am interested it.  Mostly because Ghosts scare me, and Swoon, did freaked me out a few times.  I didn't hate this book, really. I also did not enjoy it either. It actually kind of bugged me.

There were a few times throughout the story where I would get extremely confused. There would be instances when the story wouldn't go anywhere, it was so slow that I think my eyes would cross while reading, but then things would jump ahead with no explanation. It was kind of hard to follow. I found that  little hard to chew. I also did not like the Sin (the male protagonist) would invoke such provocative actions from the people he was around, I suppose it was due, mostly, to him representing sin. But, I didn't understand how sex was the sin that most people inhabited. If Malkin would have delved deeper and looked at the deadly sins, it would have made for a more interesting and less cheesy story.

I did like the female protagonist. I thought she was a funny character. I don't know what else to day other then I did like her, I liked her spunk, how she very rarely took anyone's BS. I thought she was well written.  But, really, Dice might have been the only thing that I liked about Swoon.

I have the sequel-Swear- and I think I might give it a try, just to see what happens. To see if its Malkin's writing I don't enjoy, or just the story.  Because there was something off about this specific piece of work, something I can't put my finger on. So, we will see.

~Happy Reading Everyone!