Stacking the Shelves (44)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Pam's Weekly Haul
Bought:
The One by Kiera Cass
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt

From the Library:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman 
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

From NetGalley:
Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore

Sheri's Bounty of Books
Bought:
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Everbound by Brodi Ashton
Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

What books did you add to your shelves this week?

Book Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

The Taking (The Taking #1)

Author: Kimberly Derting
Publisher: HarperTeen, 368 pages
Publication Date: April 29, 2014

From Goodreads:
When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

Review:
I was hooked from the very beginning of this book. Kyra wakes up behind a Dumpster and finds out that five years have passed. But she still looks exactly the same. I was riveted and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough as more and more strange things started happening to Kyra. She wants to find out what happened to her, but at the same time she has to adjust to how different everything is. Her boyfriend is about to graduate from college and has moved on, her parents are divorced, and the only person she feels comfortable with is her boyfriend's little brother, who was twelve the last time she saw him, but now he's seventeen and quite swoony. Tyler is amazing, by the way, and even though it's all kinds of insta-love, I still loved their their relationship. The I love yous happened way too fast (I think it was about a week), but given how intense and crazy the situation was, I could overlook it (although for Kyra, it was just yesterday that she was madly in love with Austin so yeah, she got over him very quickly).  My biggest complaints are lack of character development and a lot of unanswered questions, but the book was intense, action-packed, entertaining, fascinating, and I can't wait to read the next one.

Posted by: Pam

Novella Review: Time's Echo by Rysa Walker

Time's Echo (The Chronos Files, #1.5)
Author:  Rysa Walker, 100 pages
Publication Date:  April 30, 2014
*Novella provided by author

From Goodreads:
Kiernan Dunne abandoned his family ties to help Kate fight the Cyrists, and he's never regretted that for one moment. But he doesn't understand why Kate can't remember that night in 1893 Chicago, when she turned back to face the killer chasing them through the smoky corridors of the World's Fair Hotel. Kate placed the CHRONOS key around his neck and made his eight year old self promise to wear it always, and that's a promise Kiernan has never broken.

When Kate suddenly vanishes after a Cyrist-engineered time shift, that hidden medallion is Kiernan's only hope for finding her. He returns to the Cyrist fold to look for clues, but his search will lead him back to the question that has haunted him for years--what really happened after he left Kate at the World's Fair Hotel?

Review:
I absolutely loved Timebound, the first novel in this series so I was really excited to read the novella. See my review of Timebound here. I'm not a big novella reader, to be honest, but I really enjoyed this one because I loved getting to know Kiernan better. The novella is written from his POV and you get to see him and Kate together for a bit in the other timeline, and read how devastated he was when the timeline changed and she disappeared. You find out more about the Cyrists and Prudence. I absolutely loved Trey and Kate in Timebound, and I'm still rooting for them, but I do feel so bad for Kiernan. How horrible to have this relationship with Kate and then have the timeline change and have her not even remember him! I'm starting to feel a bit torn about what I want to have happen in the next book, which never happens to me. I love time travel books and this one is so well done. I cannot wait for the next book!

Posted by: Pam

Series Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher:  Hyperion, 323 pages
Publication Date:  March 2, 2010

From Goodreads:
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Review (no spoilers for any of the books):

This series was so much fun to read!  Sophie, the main character, is hilarious and so snarky. Just loved her to pieces. 

“Archer isn't hot anymore.... He tried to kill me, and his girlfriend is Satan.”

"Why had my life suddenly become a Nancy Drew mystery from hell?"

“I don't know what I was expecting a vampire's room to look like. Maybe lots of black, a bunch of books by Camus... oh, and a sensitive portrait of the only human the vamp ever loved, who had no doubt died of something beautiful and tragic, thus dooming the vamp to an eternity of moping and sighing dramatically. What can I say? I read a lot of books.”

Fast-paced plot, an amazing vampire best friend ("I'm not gonna lie: it was pretty scary at times. I was sure they were bringing in Buffy at any moment to give me the ol' stake and shake."), and Archer, a swoony guy who she's friends with first.  I loved that they got to know each other, actually having long conversations. I also loved their banter and the fact that they called each other by their last names.  I could go on and on about their relationship.  I have to say, one of my favorites.  

Not to mention that there are parents who play an important role, and the secondary characters are memorable. I laughed so many times, gasped in surprise and shock, and had tears in my eyes at certain points. Loved this series!

Posted by:  Pam

Series Review: Precious Stone Trilogy

Ruby Red (Precious Stone Trilogy #1)

Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone Trilogy #2)
Emerald Green (Precious Stone Trilogy #3)

  

Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt Publishers, 322 Pages
Ruby Red Publication Date: May 10, 2011 (English Translation)
Sapphire Blue Publication Date: October 31, 2012 (English Translation)
Emerald Green Publication Date: October 8, 2013 (English Translation)

Narrator: Marisa Calin
Audiobook Publisher: MacMillan Audio
Ruby Red Listening Length: 8 hours and 50 minutes
Sapphire Blue Listening Length: 8 hours and 57 minutes
Emerald Green Listening Length: 12 hours and 42 minutes

This trilogy from German author Kerstin Gier (published 2009 in German), was so fun and unique that it has been translated into more languages than I can count.  This simple fact intrigued me almost as much as the titles and cover art which I fell in love with partially because of how different they look based on which translation you happen to buy.  While I'm not usually swayed by covers, the combination of blogger reviews and variety of cover art caught my attention. 

 


My co-blogger Pam previously reviewed Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue so I will leave those reviews to Pam and will focus on the third and final book and the quality of the audiobooks. The first thing readers should know is that I think books one and two should have been combined into one book, but book three was a fabulous conclusion.  It was rich in details, humor, intrigue, and time travel. 

In the final book, Gwen and Gideon work to solve the mystery of Count Saint-German and resolve their misunderstandings in the most appealing way possible with Gideon admitting he was ALL wrong.  I love pretty much everything about Gwen's relationship with her family, time traveling grandfather, and Gideon.  I'm not sure I would call Gwen a feminist because she clearly spends too much time crying and moping around when she thinks she has been betrayed but once she gets past her misery she develops into a determined and strong 16 year old girl.   I do think its important to note that this is a story about a 16 year old girl and a book that I would let a preteen read because it's such a sweet story.

Gwen's best friend Leslie provides a great example of female friendship where you support and challenge your friends to be the best version of themselves.  Her ghostly friends provide humor and insight into things Gwen and Gideon can't figure out for themselves.  I have to admit the turn of  events at the end of this series didn't surprise me too much but it was a bit of a nail biter up to the end.  This might have been because I've been listening to the book and admit some of the finer details of the time travel were often hard to follow since I couldn't go back and verify what previously happened.  This was a wonderful AUDIOBOOK.   The narrator, Marisa Calin, has moved into my top five voices to listen to. 

I would highly recommend this audiobook series both because of the quality of the story and the amazing voice!

Posted By: Sheri 

Mini-Reviews: Recent YA Contemporary Novels

Open Road Summer
Author:  Emery Lord
Publisher:  Walker, 342 pages
Publication Date:  April 15, 2014

From Goodreads:
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Review:
I enjoyed this book, but I was disappointed.  After reading so many rave reviews, I was prepared to absolutely love this book, and I just didn't.  I did like the fact that the book focused on friendship, and Matt Finch was oh so swoony (big fan), but I just didn't like the main character, Reagan.  I completely understood why she liked Matt, but what did he see in her?  She was gorgeous (of course), knew it and used it (which was annoying), but honestly, she was a bitch.  Yes, she had her reasons.  But still.  So why did he like her?  She wasn't nice, she wasn't funny or fun to be around.  And the way she treats him, especially at the end.  What. A. Bitch.  I know I'm in the minority, but I just couldn't stand Reagan and that kept me from loving this book.  

What I Thought Was True
Author:  Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers, 416 pages
Publication Date:  April 15, 2014

From Goodreads:
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

Review:
I enjoyed this book too, but again, I was disappointed.  So many things bothered me.  First, we're dropped into the middle of the story and the slow reveal was just painful.  It's not a mystery so to be kept in the dark was frustrating.  I think the only reason the author keeps the reader in the dark is because otherwise everyone would hate Cass.  He's no Jase, that's for sure.

And it just wasn't clear what the timeline was with what happened in the past so the flashbacks were confusing.  And then once I found out what happened between Cassidy and Gwen…why in the world did she even talk to him again?  Not to mention have feelings for him.  What? Why didn't he ever try and explain what happened?  It just made no sense.  And then when we get an explanation, it's the biggest non-explanation I've ever read.  I still don't really know what happened because HE DOESN"T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.  So I didn't like Cass at all.  I've already ranted to Nicole at The Quiet Concert about this so I'll just stop there.  

Other than that, there was just too much going on and important things that happen to secondary characters behind the scenes.  Why?  What was the purpose?  I ended up absolutely hating her best friend and it was all just unnecessary to the story.  And her dad…what?  The advice he gives her…what?  Worst. Parenting. Ever.  Just too many sub-plots, really.  The book does show how messy and complicated relationships are and I loved the setting.  

Posted by:  Pam

Stacking the Shelves (43)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Pam's Weekly Haul
Bought:
The Taking by Kimberly Derting
Something Real by Heather Demetrios
Shattered by Teri Terry
Scan by Walter Jury and Sarah Fine
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins

 

From the Author:
Time's Echo by Rysa Walker 

Sheri's Bounty of Books
Bought:
My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White
The Selection by Kiera Cass

What books did you add to your shelves this week?

Discussion Question: Do You Like Comparisons to Other Books/Authors?

We've all read them.

"For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy…"

"Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal."

"...perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu."

"Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast"

"The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report"

"Ender's Game meets The Hunger Games"

"this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti."

Do these comparisons help you or are they inevitably disappointing? I think they're helpful, in the sense that you get an idea of the specific genre it is or style of the book. However, I don't set my expectations by them because otherwise I'm sure I would be disappointed.

I think they're more helpful when reviews include them, because then it's not a marketing thing, it's that reviewer's opinion, and especially if it's a reviewer who I trust, then the comparison can help me decide whether I want to read the book or not.

What are your thoughts?  Comparisons…helpful or not?

Posted by:  Pam

Book Review: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me
Author:  Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher:  Poppy, 352 pages
Publication Date:  April 15, 2014

From Goodreads:
Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

Review:
I loved this book.  Sweet and romantic, this is the story of Lucy and Owen, who form a connection during a blackout in New York City.  Then they're separated, Owen road tripping across the country with his dad, and Lucy to Scotland with her parents. Owen has an aversion with technology (he doesn't even have a smart phone and he doesn't really like e-mail) so they keep in touch mostly through postcards, although those are actually few and far between.  Even though they're both going through different things (Owen moving from place to place while his dad tries to find permanent work and Lucy adjusting to life in a different country), they can't seem to forget each other.  

“How long could a single night really be expected to last? How far could you stretch such a small collection of minutes? He was just a boy on a roof. She was just a girl in an elevator.”

I felt such an emotional connection to both of these characters, and their story was idyllic and magical.  The romance was subtle because they spend most of the book apart, but it is a romantic story, full of hope.  Read it, you'll definitely have a smile on your face when you finish.  So adorable!

Posted by:  Pam