The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

The Elite by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ok, I FINALLY pushed my way though this one, finding myself glad that I did! I had a hard time deciding on my rating... I'm still not deserves a full 4 BUT I do believe it deserves more than 3... so for now that's where I'm leaving it! I will say I enjoyed the first one so much better...

In this book we see more of America's personality and I have to say I feel like she is soooooooo naive and immature. She was wishy washy and back and forth for the whole darn book. She truly never made a decision, a real hard fast decision, until the VERY end of the book. That was the most bothersome part of this book. I also saw a few sides of Maxon I didn't like. But overall, I still like him 100% better than Aspen. Ick.

I'm not sure where book 3 is going to go, but I don't have to worry about that until May of 2014, lol, so I'm not going to spend time worrying about it now.

If you're reading this review, I would still recommend this series. Read the first one, The Selection and if you enjoy it, then it is worth reading this one, The Elite. I have high hopes for book 3 and if Kiera doesn't have America and Maxon ending up together, I will probably hunt her down, and burn all my copies of these books, lol! I'm sure it will be a good ride!

If you read it I hope you love it!

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The Rules (The Paper Doll Project #1) by Stacey Kade

The Rules by Stacey Kade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started off not having a clue about this book. I didn't really know what in the world it would be about or what the "Paper Doll Project" was. All I knew was the rules printed on the back of the book jacket... I will also confess to being a MAJOR cover snob and if I hadn't agreed to read this with some of my GoodReads friends, I never would have picked this book up - because I HATE the cover. But that's not the Author's fault and I am SO GLAD I did the "buddy read"!

The book started off kind of bland, but once I figured out it was a Dual POV book and that I LOVED Zane's POV, I committed to finishing it. It was more than a few chapters and I knew that Ariane's character was developing in front of me and that I was completely and utterly HOOKED!

I love Dual POV books, especially when one POV is male and one female. I love to see the difference in perspective between the sexes for the same events. I think I secretly hope this will help me understand men in some weird way, lol!

In this story we watch Ariane, our main female character, branch out and eventually break every rule her "father" ever set down to keep her safe. She does this to protect someone she mistakenly believes is a friend... Zane is part of the "game" and quickly becomes WAY more than that. It is sweet to watch the 2 of them develop a real relationship and grow beyond the terrible home lives they each have.

This is a paranormal book, with a romance, and a "bad guy" corporation. It was actually a really fresh perspective on the depravity of the human condition and the things we talk ourselves into a being acceptable losses on the road to scientific discovery.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book! Just ignore the cover!

READ IT AND LOVE IT!

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The Final Warning (Maximum Ride #4) by James Patterson

The Final Warning by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Definitely not the best of the series. I give it an A for effort, but it was Boring. :-( Unfortunately tho, in series books, this happens and you just have to endure the bad ones so you can get to the good ones.


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Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really this book needs at least a 4.5 - maybe a 5 star rating... Trying to decide.

Great installment in the Morganville Vampire book series. Amazing action. A TON happened and a lot of new information was revealed. We learned a lot more about the alliances and feuds that are behind the scenes in this Vampire societ... why Morganville exists at all.... The secret problem that is lurking behind the scenes...

I love all the characters in this book. I tend to make a very strong bond with characters when i love the series and this one is no exception. I cry when they hurt and I rejoice when something great happens to them. This book had me on edge the whole time. Rachel Caine never fails to give us great action, and never makes us wait long for it!

On to book 4, Feast of Fool, next.

If you are reading this series already, you won't be disappointed. If you love Vampire books and haven't started this series, what are you waiting for? GO READ IT!

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Beyond the Veil (Grey Wolves #5) by Quinn Loftis

Beyond the Veil by Quinn Loftis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to say how much I just love this series. As is inevitable in the world of series', you can't like all the books at the same level. I adored a great deal of this book. Had a great time watching bond pairs happen and relationships advance... but i HATED the way the ending was left. I don't like people in pain and it really bugs me. Good thing #6 is already out and I won't have to wait to long to resolve this problem - I hope!

I love Sally. I think she's my favorite character so far.

This review isn't going very well cuz i had to have my cat put to sleep this morning. So I'll come back and re-write when I'm in a better frame of mind.

It's good, you should read it!

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On Deck for the Last Week of August

Trying to finish up the month with a bang - not a whimper!

Here's what I've got going as of now:

The Prequel to the Obsidian Series.  This book tells us about Dawson and Bethany and how they got together and what happens to them BEFORE the book Obsidian.

This is the second installment in the popular SELECTION series by Kiera Cass.  I'm about 35% done with it and I'm not sure where we're going, but I do know there is a book 3, therefore America (the main character) does not make her choice in this particular novel....

Sadly, I'm really struggling with this installment of THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series.  I loved the first 3 and this one is just falling flat for me.  I'm hoping by telling you that I'm reading it I'll have to finish it, lol! I sure hope #5 picks back up again!

Haven't started this but it's on deck.  Looks VERY interesting.  Here's an excerpt from the jacket cover:

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.
 
5. Don’t fall in love.


I'll definitely be posting reviews on all of these books, good or bad.  Hopefully more good than bad!

Happy reading!

Review - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

My Rating 5 of 5 Stars.

Amazing book! I loved every written word in the 338 pages of this fantastic book.

If you haven't had a chance to read this book, I would HIGHLY recommend it.  The writing is so different I've never encountered anything like it before in all of my reading.  It tells the dystopian story of Juliette and Adam so well, that you don't remember this plot has been done over and over.  The words on the page transport you to the world they live and love it and it is just a great story that everyone should read at some point.

While this is a dystopia, a world of the future that is horrible, and there is a resistance, and there is love and hate - there is also strange and mysterious powers at work

It's a poignant story that makes you really think about the planet Earth and what we do to it on an daily basis - and the fact that in this world birds not longer fly....

Great characters, wonderful good guys, good girls and horribly evil and awful bad boys, men, that are easy to root against.  The occasional character that you can't decide if they are good or bad until the end of the book.

Bring on Book 2!

READ IT AND LOVE IT!

Current Read - Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) by Tahereh Mafi

I am currently reading Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I can honestly say I have never read a book that was written quite like this. The plot is excellent too, but the writing is just - wow! I will of course post a few review when I finish, but wanted to let you all know what I was working on because it is so original and fresh!

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Simply wonderful and unique! On to book 2!

When I started this book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The cover suggests one topic, but the book goes pretty much the other direction. I was completely intrigued with the characters of Anna, Jay and Kaiden immediately, but I wasn't sure what the point of the book was for about the first 1/3 of the story. But when it all came together, BAM! It all came together major!

This is the story of Nephilium, or children of demons... It is a completely different paranormal subset than I have read before. VERY unique and I applaud Wendy Higgins for finding a unique angle in this very saturated part of the YA market.

I don't want to give anything away in the story, but girl wants boy she can't have who ends up wanting girl but it can't happen, introduce the Dukes of sin, their fathers and youza you have a major party waiting to blow up! It's great watching Anna figure out how to be herself in the midst of all this sin going on... It's refreshing.

Just go read it - because you won't be able to put it down and you'll have to beg, borrow, buy or steal book 2, Sweet Peril, before your head explodes from not knowing what's coming next!


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Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am just about over these cliff hanger endings... Proper review to come! Excellent book!

I have been pondering why this book took me so long to finish. It wasn't particularly long, and it was very well written. I have come to decide that it was because I love the main character - a lot. She reminds me of both of my daughters in different ways... And watching her go through the hell of the Detention Center was just more than I could take.

That said, this was an excellent sequel to Awaken. You can read my review of that book here if you are interested: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . This dystopia series is different from others in that much of what happens in the book is already happening now in our society. We constantly become more digital, more on-line, less face to face and are ever striving for faster and immediate satisfaction.

What I like about this series is watching each character discover new things. For Maddie it is the "real" world. Learning to "unplug" as they call it and live in the real and off line world. For Justin it is accepting his past and his feelings for Maddie and to accept that they scare him.

If you are looking for a realistic Dystopia, I highly recommend this one. I doubt that you will be disappointed and I challenge you to NOT fall in love with the characters and their lives!

Make sure you read Awaken first, of course, but I say:

READ IT AND LOVE IT!

P.S. If you find yourself struggling with the section while our heroine, Maddie, is in the Detention Center, have heart and push on - you won't regret it!

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Awakened by Katie Kacvinsky

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed most of this book. I loved the concept. I can see exactly where the author's mind was headed. If we're not careful, we will end up a totally digital society with no face to face interactions to be had. Wtih plastic trees, and plastic grass. I can see the very real pull of a "digital" school, the safety of it among other things. But sooooo much is lost with "going digital"

There were very likeable characters, ppl that were hard to figure out and a few VERY detestable characters as well. Good scenes that made you feel like you had to stop and catch your breath.

This was a very well written story. And the way it's left, you have NO choice but to move on to book 2, lol! There is a NEED to know what happens to our main Character, Maddie.



I wanted to post this review as I am reading book 2 right now and will be posting that review soon!

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The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2) by Pittacus Lore

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, wow. As i said in one of my reading updates, I didn't like what was happening IN this book, but I love this book, and this series!

If you are entranced by the Lorien Legacies already, then even if it you might not like what you read, you NEED to read this book. Sometimes the books we love the most have the most potential to hurt us. I don't want to spoil anything that happens but there was more than one event in this book that shook me to the core and made me feel very upset.

With all that said, it sill was excellently written and served its purpose to push the series along, and lets face it, it's a little to convenient if we like everything that happens in a book, right? It's just not realistic. I had to keep reminding myself to put my "big girl panties" on and keep going!

We're moving further to defeating the Mogs, and I can't wait to see how everyone gets together in the next book, The Rise of Nine! It may be a few weeks til I can get to it, but I promise to write a review for you then too! Should prove to be an epic battle!

READ IT AND LOVE IT

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The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The 2nd book in the Morganville Vampires series was just as action packed as the first.

I am in love with this particular Vampire series because it has a COMPLETELY different take on Vampires than any other vamp series I've read. I adore the characters and the story just keeps moving moving moving.

You definitely need to read book 1, , before this one because they rely so heavily on each other. I loved Glass Houses just as much as DGD and I will happily be moving on to #3, Midnight Alley.

If you are looking for a "new" paranormal series that has a different edge than others you've read, I would highly recommend this one to you. If you do read it I'd love to hear from you - leave me a comment!



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Opal by Jennifer Armentrout

Read from June 10 to August 04, 2013

5 Stars

Well, Number 3 did NOT fail to get my adrenaline pumping! I'm not going to lie, I did not like the last page, lol, but the book was incredible.

Jennifer Armentrout has a great writing style. She let's you think you know where you are going and then - bam! - change of direction or addition of a new character or an event that in no way did you see coming.

I'm not going to write much more because I don't want to have any spoilers in my review, but I just want to impress upon the reader that this was a GREAT addition to the series and I don't expect number 4 to fail in that regard either!

If you have come this far in the Lux series, you don't need a lot of details anyway. Just jump into this great book and enjoy (or not, lol) what happens with our resident Aliens and their human friends!

READ IT AND LOVE IT!

Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout

Read from July 04 to 05, 2013

5 Stars

Holy Wow Batman! Just Holy Wow! I laughed, cried, screamed - literally scared the crap out of my cat. This book is flipping FANTASTIC.

Thank God that Opal is already out and sitting here waiting on me, but then I'll have to wait for Origin and I'm not that patient.

I get so attached to the characters in a book when it is good. They become my family. I do NOT like it when ppl are bad to my family. I can't see a good way out of what is going on but I'm sure this brilliant author has it all figured out and I can't wait to see it unravel.

READ IT AND LOVE IT - NOW, DO IT NOW!

Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

Read from June 08 to 10, 2013
This was a fabulous book! I loved it! I'll be honest, I started out wondering why I was reading this book. The main male character was honestly and truly a mean nasty jerk. Was I just reading it because of the cover (I will admit I do that, lol)? But no, I was reading it because my trusty literary friends read it, liked or loved it and recommended i do the same. I am SO glad I listened to them and kept going.
I gave this book 4 stars, but it probably deserves at least 4.5 or even a flat out 5. It's just my dislike for the beginning that keeps me from giving it the full 5 stars. I am now a total and complete Daemon fan. We learn why he is/was they way he was and he seems to really change toward the end.
I wish I had book 2 in my stack because like the chain reader I am, I would have literally picked it up and kept moving without blinking!
Can't wait to see what's up with my 2 main characters plus all the great ppl that are along for the ride.

This is a DEFINITE read it and enjoy it!

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I read this at the end of June, 2013

5 Stars

I read this book with a group on GoodReads. This book was really wonderful. It is the story of a race of aliens who's home planet was destroyed by another race and 9 children, who develop into wonderful legacies and abilities, and their guardians called Cepan escape to Earth. The "bad guys" followed, them of course. The story line, and they way the lives of these ppl are described is just wonderful. I was fully engrossed! This story specifically follows the life of Number Four. It is age appropriate other than it has a touch of violence at the end during a conflict. But I would be comfortable with my almost 12 y o reading it. I gave it 5 stars for the uniqueness, the ability the book has to pull you in immediately, and for the great writing. I WILL be reading the sequels and as many spin offs as I can find time for. It will be SO very interesting to watch the progress of Four and his other 6 bretheren. READ IT AND LOVE IT!

P.S, this book was made into a movie, but I haven't seen it so I can't say how it compares at all to the book!

Books I'm currently reading

Thought you might enjoy my cat, Charlie, posing with the books I am currently reading! I'll be posting reviews on each of these along the reviews of the books in their respective series that came first. All wonderful books from wonderful series! If you don't want to wait for my reviews, here are the titles and authors for you to go check out!

Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout: #1 Obsidian, #2 Onyx, #3 Opal, and #4 to come out later this month Origin.

Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: #1 Beautiful Creatures, #2 Beautiful Darkness, #3 Beautiful Chaos and #4, Beautiful Redemption

and last but not least

I am Number Four series by Pittacus Lore: #1 I am Number four, #2, Power of Six, #3 The Rise of Nine, and #4 The Fall of Five (this series also has many spin off books, too many to list here)

Happy reading and enjoy the first weekend of August with a good book!

The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger's Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan

Read From August 1 to August 3
5 Stars

This book was wonderful. A great fantasy adventure, that would be well suited to middle school aged boys, especially. But I LOVED it!

This is the story of a young ward of the castle whose parents died when he was an infant and he grows up without knowing his family story or roots. His only desire is to become what his imagination has created as his father's image - a Knight of the Castle by attending Battleschool. As we follow the adventures of Will and his 15 y.o. wardmates we get to watch as he grows and becomes something he never even considered as a career choice and eventually learns of his parentage and background.

This is a very well written story, that I followed with great attention and speed. It is part of a series and I fully plan on continuing with this author.

If you love good old adventure stories or have a child who does, I highly recommend this fast read!

READ IT AND LOVE IT!