Bought:
What books did you add to your shelves this week?
Posted by: Pam
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Stacking the Shelves (100)
Bought:
Friday, June 19, 2015
Discussion Question: Is it a Spoiler to…?
1. That there is a twist or surprise toward the end of the book? Sometimes that's the best part and you want to let people know but at the same time, then people are looking for it, expecting it, and it's great when you're not expecting anything at all. What to do?
2. That the ending is open?
3. That the ending is happy or sad?
I don't know about you, but sometimes it's rather difficult to write a review that gives enough information but at the same time, doesn't spoil anything. What do you think?
Posted by: Pam
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Book Review: A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery
A Million Miles AwayAuthor: Lara Avery
Publisher: Poppy, 320 pages
Expected Publication Date: July 7, 2015
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
From Goodreads:
When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.
As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.
Review:
Intriguing premise, with Kelsey heartbroken over the loss of Michelle, her twin sister, and getting caught up in pretending to be her when it comes to Peter, Michelle's boyfriend who is in Afghanistan. I felt really sorry for Kelsey, who seems to have no one to help her through this. Her parents join a grief group, but they are so caught up in their own pain that they don't realize how lost Kelsey is. Instead of dealing with Michelle's death, she pretends to be Michelle. It's a way for her to feel closer to Michelle, a way that she doesn't have to let her go.
While I felt sorry for Kelsey, it was still hard to get past how she was lying to Peter. Poor Peter! He and Michelle hadn't been dating long, but he is in love with her and he has no idea that she has died (Peter doesn't do Facebook). His relationship with Kelsey is sweet (they mainly communicate through e-mail, letters, and Skype), but I couldn't completely ship them because of Kelsey's lie. And honestly, I'm not sure how realistic it is for her to be able to pull off this deception, but I could buy it given that it doesn't seem like Peter and Michelle spent a whole lot of time together. It's not spelled out, but that's the sense I got. Also, Peter is going through such an intense and different experience in Afghanistan that I could see him overlooking anything that he did notice.
Even though the romance is the focus, it's also about dealing with grief and also a coming of age story, in that Kelsey, through pretending to be Michelle, discovers things about herself.
The whole time I was reading I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. When will Peter find out? How will he find out? How will he react? I just wanted to KNOW. A Million Miles Away is a well-written, moving, and emotional read about loss and love.
Posted by: Pam
Monday, June 15, 2015
Book Review: The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
The Stars Never RiseAuthor: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 368 pages
Publication Date: June 9, 2015
From Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.
When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.
To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?
Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.
Review:
I absolutely loved the premise of The Stars Never Rise, where you have a world in which there was a war between humans and demons and the humans won. The population was decimated and the survivors live in walled cities where the church has taken over, protecting people from the demons who jump into bodies and take over. People have given up a lot of freedom (very strict religious rules) in order to be safe.
This book hooked me from the very beginning and never let go. It's fast-paced, INTENSE, with just enough surprises and twists. I read it in one sitting.
The romance…at first, I thought it was going to be the typical YA romance (I mean, come on, the synopsis mentions "deep green eyes"), but it turns out to be VERY UNUSUAL and I'm really curious as to how it will all turn out. I have a theory…and I hope I'm wrong. If you've read it, e-mail me to discuss!
Read this book!
Posted by: Pam
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Stacking the Shelves (99)
Bought:
From NetGalley:
A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery
What books did you add to your shelves this week?
Posted by: Pam
Friday, June 12, 2015
Book Review: The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Fixer (The Fixer #1)Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's, 384 pages
Expected Publication Date: July 7, 2015
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
From Goodreads:
When sixteen-year-old Tess Kendrick is sent to live with her older sister, Ivy, she has no idea that the infamous Ivy Kendrick is Washington D.C.'s #1 “fixer,” known for making politicians' scandals go away for a price. No sooner does Tess enroll at Hardwicke Academy than she unwittingly follows in her sister's footsteps and becomes D.C.'s premier high school fixer, solving problems for elite teens.
Secrets pile up as each sister lives a double life. . . . until their worlds come crashing together and Tess finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy with one of her classmates and a client of Ivy's. Suddenly, there is much more on the line than good grades, money, or politics, and the price for this fix might be more than Tess is willing to pay.
Review:
The Fixer was a fun and entertaining read. Think Scandal for teenagers. Although the synopsis makes it sound like Tess starts solving problems for teens at her school, like Veronica Mars, there's basically one incident that happens early on and then the focus shifts to a specific mystery that Tess becomes involved in.
I loved the Washington politics aspect of it. The President and First Lady, Supreme Court justices…and then you have the children of powerful people in school together. What a great combination, I kept thinking this would make such a fascinating television show. CW perhaps?
However, I'm just not sure how realistic it was for Tess to be so savvy given she just moved to DC, she grew up on a farm in Montana, and she has no idea who any of the power players are in DC. But if you just go with it, you'll enjoy it. Also, as someone who enjoys some romance in books, there is absolutely none, and not even really a hint of one. There are two guys, but it doesn't even go there. So hopefully in the future?
Compulsively readable, I couldn't put it down.
Compulsively readable, I couldn't put it down.
Posted by: Pam
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Book Review: Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally
Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks)Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 304 pages
Expected Publication Date: July 7, 2015
*ARC received by publisher via NetGalley
From Goodreads:
Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.
But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?
Review:
I liked Jesse's Girl, it was a cute book. Reading about Maya and Jesse getting to know each other, having a fun Ferris Bueller's Day Off kind of day exploring Nashville, was fun. There were many times I found myself smiling so if you're in the mood for a happy and sweet romance, you will enjoy it.
Reading about the music scene was interesting, and I liked the Nashville setting (I used to live in Nashville, actually and even in Franklin). The message of working hard and following your dreams was a good message. Jesse was cute and I appreciated the fact that he was struggling with his fame and unsure about trusting Maya. That rang true. Maya…she was just okay for me and I can't really pinpoint why. Just a meh feeling.
Jesse's Girl is a quick and entertaining read…the perfect beach book.
Posted by: Pam
Monday, June 8, 2015
Recommend It? Super Mini Reviews (7)
I got this idea from Danielle at Love at First Page. I read a lot of books that I don't review so I thought I would give a super short review of some books and let you know whether I recommend them or not.
Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen. I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. A 500 hundred year old curse. A human-troll love story. Game of Thrones political machinations. Although it's so obvious who Anushka is and Cecile, while fierce, gets many people killed with her stupidity, this book (and series) is AMAZING. Yes yes yes recommend! Go read it right now.
Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson. Words cannot adequately express how much I love this series. Lia and Rafe…OTP, I have to say. There's intrigue and deception (they have to pretend to hate each other to stay safe from the Komizar, who is a piece of work). And toward the end? I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. So much action! Intense. How will I survive until the next book???? A million times recommend!
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge. Unique, dark, and intense, I loved this book. The whole bloodbound aspect fascinated me. Rachelle was the best heroine, fighting her transition to pure evil, fighting the lure of the forest. Rosamund Hodge's writing is beautiful and this book was MESMERIZING. Yes, recommend!
Posted by: Pam
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Stacking the Shelves (98)
Bought:
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
From NetGalley:
What books did you add to your shelves this week?
Posted by: Pam
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