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!

In My Mailbox #7-Library Edition & Something Cool

Well I did not get anything in the mail this week (besides bills). But I did make a trip to the library, and it was epic. In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

See, I told you it was epic. Okay, so it was only five books. But I have SO many books to get read by the end of this month. I just hope that I can get them all done!

Library:

The Duff by Kody Keplinger-This book has been on my radar for a while, and when I saw it I picked it up, without thinking about it. It was that easy.

Jane by April Linder- I have heard that this is a modern day retelling of Jane Eyre, which I haven't read, and I really really want to. I actually wanted to read Jane Eyre before this one, but this was just sitting on the shelf calling my name-I may not read it yet. We'll see.

Clarity by Kim Harrington- This book is on my wishlist and has been for a while. This is another one that I saw sitting on the shelf, and picked up without thought. I can't wait to get to it.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry- I received Dust & Decay a couple months ago from Simon and Schuster, but I had never read Rot & Ruin. I have never read a zombie book before (I am not sure it's my thing), but Ashley over at The Bookish Brunette was raving about this one (the day I picked it up actually), also Pam over at  Midnyte Reader had good things to say about it. So this is also high up on my list of books to read.

The Romantics by Galt Neiderhoffer- This was the book I originally went to the library to pick up. I had put a hold on it. I saw the trailer for the movie adaptation of this book, and I wanted to read the book. So now I have it, and have no idea if I'll get to it. Hopefully I can get to it.

Something Cool

This is a poster of Divergent by Veronica Roth- My local library is having this wicked cool contest. The poster is made up of many other mini pictures, and the pictures are YA book covers. There is a chance to win the poster all you have to do is name the poster and  the author, and also name five titles that made up the poster's image. I thought this was a fantastic concept. It was only open to 13-17 years old (boo erns). But I tried anyway.

The Divergent poster consisted of:

-Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
-The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
-Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
-Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton, and
-The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

There were three other posters as well. City of Fallen Angels, Speak and another one about a Scorpion that I had never heard of.

I thought this was really cool, and I wanted to share it with you all.  Please make sure to leave a link to your mailboxes so that I can take a look.

~Happy Reading Everyone!  

My Thoughts: Collide by Megan Hart

A childhood accident left Emmaline vulnerable to disturbing fugue states that last only minutes, but feel like an eternity. The blackouts are unsettling but manageable…until she meets Johnny Dellasandro.
The reclusive painter gained notoriety in the '70s for his debauched lifestyle and raunchy art films. His naked body has achieved cult status, especially in Emm's mind—she's obsessed with the man, who's grown even sexier with age. Today Johnny shuns the spotlight and Emm in particular…until she falls into a fugue on his doorstep.
In that moment she's transported back thirty years, crashing a party at Johnny's place in his wild-man heyday— the night is a blur of flesh and heat that lingers on her skin long after she's woken to the present.
It happens again and again, each time-slip another mind-blowing orgy, and soon Emm can't stop, though every episode leaves her weaker and weaker. She's frightened by what's happening to her, but she's even more terrified of losing this portal to the Johnny she wants so badly. The one who wants her, too, and takes her—every chance he gets.

If you've visited my "about me" page of this blog, you will know that Megan Hart has penned one of my most favourite books of all time-Dirty. I loved that book, and it was because of that book, that I have kept reading her books- well and because I think she is a phenomenal writer.  Now I have to say that I don't read many explicitly adult novels, so I wasn't sure about reviewing Collide for the blog, but I loved this books so much, that there was just no way I couldn't.

There have been a few of Hart's books that I have not enjoyed. Not because they weren't great, they just were not my cup of tea. So when I first read the synopsis for Collide I was a little nervous, her last paranormal, Deeper, was not one of my favourites. However, I devoured this book. It was really, really good. Hart is a fantastic writer, she describes things wonderfully and her characters are never flat and boring. They are so dynamic and so messed up, you can't help but be thankful that your own life is so normal. But reading her books never gets trivial or repetitive.

In Collide we have the protagonist, Emm. Who suffers from blackouts, and usually, that's all they are-blackouts. But upon meeting Johnny Dellasandro, the older, incredibly handsome former actor, her blackouts turn into, what she believes to be hallucinations about Johnny in his "glory days". I absolutely loved this aspect of the story, I thought it was great. Here was Emm. Having a relationship with Johnny in the past, and not getting much attention from Johnny of the present. It was fun to read.

The plot may not have been the most original, very The Time Traveller's Wife-esq, but I loved The Time Traveller's Wife, so Collide was perfect.

I want to mention briefly the sexually explicit content. Although Collide is categorized as an 'erotic' novel, I wouldn't consider it such, I would say it was a romance novel, with a few extra sex scenes Yes, it does have some explicit content, but, I wouldn't say it was graphic. I have read romance novels that were more sexually graphic then this one. There are also other novels by Hart that are more obscene then this one. This is fairly tame.

For me, Collide was a hit, and if you're curious about reading it, please do so-but only if you're 18 or older.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Many Books In A Year: July

July was busy for me work wise, and even though I wanted to very much to get at least 10 books read, I only managed eight. But, still, that's not to bad.  The eight books added brings me to a total of 54 books read this year.

1) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (My Thoughts)  

2) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

3) Then Comes Marriage by Christie Ridgeway

4) Wildefire by Karsten Knight (My Thoughts)

5) Swoon by Nina Malkin (My Thoughts)

6) The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta (My Thoughts)

7) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

8) Collide by Megan Hart (My Thoughts: Coming Soon)

I want to very much get to 70 books by the time school starts again on Sept 7th. But August is going to be even busier. But we'll see. Wish me luck.

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!

RAK: July Close/August Open

I love RAK. It makes me happy.  If you don't know about RAK you had better head over to Book Soulmates and find out more. It's an awesome program, and the girls are hosting a giveaway this month. So go now.

I received one book this month, and sent out two.

This month I received:

Swoon by Nina Maklin from the Lovely Cassay over at Vamps, Weres and Cassay OH MY!

I've read and reviewed this already. It was interesting that's for sure.

I sent out:

Pre-Ordered Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer for Cassay at Vamps, Weres and Cassay



Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver I sent to Cheree over at Justified Lunacy



August is going to be the last time I participate in RAK I think. SO make sure to leave links to your wish list, and I will be sure to take a look. You can find mine, here and here.