Thursday, February 24, 2011

Warped Review

Warped by Maurissa Guibord
Publisher: Delacorte press
Pages: 337
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance (not really paranormal)
From: Barnes and Noble

Synopsis: 
         Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.
From the Trade Paperback edition.

         My head is buzzing from this book; for a first book it's really good.  Although at times it was very predictable.  I knew exactly what was coming next.  But this somehow had a movie effect in my head.  It was like during a movie when you know exactly when it's going to break off and give you a different side of the story.  The images were so clear it was like a dream.
         I was very eager to keep reading.  Everything was pretty good, the plot, the characters, the writing (especially for a first book).
         Tessa was very deep for someone her age, and although I found her and Will's spats childish I thought the way they interacted was very realistic.  Tessa was just so determined to not let fate lead her life, and she was mad at herself for trusting Will blindly when he didn't seem to trust her.  While Will, knew that they had a connection but didn't know if she was against him, but he doesn't go against fate so he was waiting around to see which one it was. 
         The whole unicorn idea wasn't as mysterious as I thought it would be.  I don't know why people thought this book would be creepy.  It was a fanciful romantic book with lots of magic.
         If you like:
  • Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
  • Old Magic by Marianne Curley
  • Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
,then you'll like this book or if you like this book you'll like these books.
           For a debut, Maurissa did a fantastic job.

Characters: 7
Plot: 6
Suspense: 7
Theme: 8
Pace: 8
Mood: 7
Cover: 7
Overall: 7.1- good fantasy/ romance

no sequel...yet

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday (13)

                                       

This weeks topic is TOP TEN BOOKS TO MOVIE ADAPTATIONS!  The host for this is The Broke and the Bookish!  Thanks for the awesome meme.

  1. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants- awesome movie (in some ways better than book).
  2. Narnia!- I worship the book AND the movie.
  3. Beastly- isn't out yet, but I bet it will be better than the book
  4. Lord of the Rings- I like the movie better, but only because the book is written for aliens
  5. The Princess Bride- I'm seeing this on a lot of lists so I'm going to add it to mine.
  6. Hoot- I love the book and movie
  7. Stardust- Awesome movie, crappy book                                                                             
  8. Angels and Demons- book is on my TBR list but I love the movie
  9. Matilda!- The movie is so cute.
  10. Journey to the Center of the Earth-  Yeah, I said it.
*couldn't get pictures to work for the bottom*

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A Match Made in High School Review

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 278
Genre: Chick-lit

Synopsis:

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.
Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

          Remember that girl who you got stuck with in science class all year?  She was really mean, and had the maturity of an eleven-year old? Remember?  But then next year she came back and had finally grown up, and actually wasn't that mean now.  That's who this book is.  I really didn't like it at first, but then it grew on me, and by the end I thought it left a good message.
          In this book you discover that everyone can be decent people once you look past all the judgement your giving them.  I think this is the average teen way of thinking, and I'm glad I've found an author who remembers that. (Not that I liked this book)  Although surly this girl would have gotten over that before she turned seventeen.  Well...better high school that college; that would have just been ridiculous.
          Kristen Walker got her point across, and for her first novel all of the characters and the pace were very good.
          If I were you I'd just skip this book.

Characters: 6
Plot: 5
Suspence: 5
Theme: 7
Pace: 6
Mood: 5
Cover: 7
Overall: 5.2- good message, but I didn't like the book very much.

No sequel

Top Ten Tuesday (12)

This is hosted by The Brooke and the Bookish.
This week's topic is Top Ten Characters I'd name my children after.

  1. Clarisse from Fahrenheit 451/ Clary from Mortal Instruments: Clary would be a nickname for Clarisse.
  2. Peter from Narnia: No one's named Peter anymore, and I like this name.  My grandpa's name is Peter so I'd have the perfect excuse to name my child Peter when really it's just because I'm obssesed with Narnia.
  3. Calla from Nightshade: What! It's a cool name.
  4. Meggie form Inkheart: That's a really pretty name, but I hate the name Meagen.
  5. Bridget from Sisterhood of Traveling Pants: After I read this book I loved this name!  I use it as my alias sometimes.
  6. Annika from Just One Wish: She is so powerful, and will do anything for her little brother.  I should hope my kids would be half as awesome.  With me as their mother how could they not.
  7. Scottie from It's a Purl Thing: She's a knitter and even though I might just name my son Scott I think Scottie is really cute even if she wasn't excited about it.
Hey, I can't think of anymore most of the names I like come from movies, and I can't remember character names all that well. 

In My Mailbox

Okay so it's not Monday, but I still have a real In My Mailbox post.

Okay so the books from the library.
  • Tantalize by Cythia Leitich Smith
  • Shattered Mirror by Brian Keaney


Bought:
  • Across the Universe
  • Warped by Maurissa Guibord
  • Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
  • Matched
  • Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Gift (for my birthday):
  • Clockwork Angel
  • Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

That was fun.  I got so many books this week I just want to set them all out on my bed and stare at them.  (The best part is I can whenever I want to.  They're mine!)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Book Blogger Hop (4)

This week's question: What are you reading now and why?

My answer: Eternal by Cythia Leitich Smith and The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan.  I'm reading them because Eternal.) I won a give away for Blessed which is the third in the series and I havent read the other two, and Titan's Curse) I want to read The Lost Hero but I don't remember what happened in the other books (read a long time ago).
      The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #3) by Rick Riordan: Book Cover

That was fun.  Now I'm going to look for a blog that specializes in Chirstian Teen Fiction!

Once in a Full Moon Review


Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber (Author of Vampire Kisses)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 292
Genre: Paranormal Romance
From: Borrowed from friend (Library)

Synopsis:
Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.
Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.
Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.
Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon.  From Barnes and Noble.com

         So let's start with the story of how I got this book.  I was talking with my friend when she pulled this book out of her bag.  The first thing out of my mouth was "Oh!  I saw that on one of the blogs I read."  I picked it up, and just put it with my things because A) She's already reading something else and she's a slow reader, B) The blizzard was coming and I wanted to stock up, and C) I'm a very fast reader and had it back to her in three days.  (But finished it in two).  She also wanted me to read it to see if she'd like it, and we're like sisters so it wasn't a big deal.  Okay! Review time.
        I really liked this book.  It's a light read that goes by quickly and is served best all in one sitting.  You'll love some of the images that are described to you. 
       Celeste is such a good character; I would love to have her as a friend.  We would have such great mature conversations.  Celeste doesn't judge people; she looks past people's sterotypes, or gossip and rumors to really see the person underneath.  Down side: every other character was out of focus and boring, but Celeste was good enough to make up for that.  How could Celeste possibly hang out with such selfish, superficial people?  Brandon had his good qualities, and I thought he make a really awesome boyfriend, but he was so two-dimensonal.  That's something this author needs to work on.
      The story moved very quickly making this book a great, light, chick-lit read during a snow day.
      I think this book is worth a read through and for people who aren't the fastest readers, don't be chased away from this 300 page book.  It's fast, romantic, with some supernatural stuff thrown in for the person with a 100+ TBR listh this book is worth it to checkout.  If you know there's a blizzard coming pick this up at your library before you're snowed in.

Characters- 6
Plot- 7
Suspence- 7
Theme- 8
Pace- 8
Mood- 7
Cover: 8
Overall: 7- great, light, little read

Based on the ending of this book there's probably going to be a sequel.  Keep and eye out for it!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Happy Birthday to Me!

                                               
Today is my birthday!  It's also Groundhogs day so the groundhogs and me are very close.  I'll be trying to get them to stay out today, but judgeing on the sun today I dont' think there's much I can do.  I can't believe it's my birthday I have to keep reminding myself I'm a year older.

WWW Wenesday (5)

This is hosted by the awesome blog Should be Reading. This is a really easy meme; I'll I have to do is answer these three questions!

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?
What am I currently reading?- Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber (author of Vampire Kisses)
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (reread)

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith: Book Cover   Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber: Book Cover   The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #3) by Rick Riordan: Book Cover

What did I recently finish reading? - The Hollow People by Brian Keaney
Diary Queen by Catherine Murdock (reread)

The Hollow People (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus Series) by Brian Keaney: Book Cover   

What do I think I'll read next?- Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (companion)
The Cracked Mirror by Brian Keaney (sequel)

    The Cracked Mirror (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus Series) by Brian Keaney: Book Cover

We're kind of snowed in here.  So I stocked up on books.  That's why there's so many.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Darklight Review

Darklight by Lesley Livingston
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 310
Genre: Paranormal Romance
From: Library (2010)

Synopsis: 
Faerie can't lie . . . or can they?
Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt. Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.
When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.
With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in Darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with Wondrous Strange.

           In the pervious book I was blown away by the world of the Fae.  This book I was suprised by how defined Kelley's character is.  Her character never faulters, and I'm always sure of who she is.  Sonny comes into prespective as well.  Both of them are faced with challenges that leave them wondering.  Who is Sonny?  How much is Kelley like her mother?  They both change in this novel, realizing more about who they are.
           Mabh becomes an important character.  By the end of the book I was even able to forgive her for what she'd done in the past.  Although  I wouldn't trust her. 
           The story is very fast paced and leaves pieces laying around for the third book while closing chapters in this one.  It was very much like the first one, in feeling and pace, yet unique with it's own plot, a great sequel.
           I actualy saw Narnia themes in this.  If you change your prespective something magical could unearth from something ordinary.  When Kelley really looks at something (or someone) she finds she never really knew about it at all.  She found that sometimes ignoring certian prespectives could get the ones you love killed.

Characters: 8
Plot: 8
Suspence: 7
Theme: 8
Pace: 7
Mood: 8
Cover: 9
Overall: 7.8- amazing sequel, awesome job, Lesley

The last book in this trilogy just came out!