"Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick

Started May 28, 2013 - Ended May 29, 2013

From Amazon:Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.



Absolutely beautiful. I give "Wonderstruck" an A.





#41

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick

"Safe Word" by Teresa Mummert

Started May 27, 2013 - Ended May 27, 2013
This book was NOT what I was expecting. I've been reading teasers, and snippets for weeks. Anxiously awaiting the release of this book on June 1, I was so psyched when she decided to release it an entire week early. Squee!

From Amazon:A chance meeting with a stranger can turn your entire world upside down.

When Colton 'Colt' Bishop enters a bar in New York City, he has a plan. His job is to find an easy target and take her back to his place for a few days. He is working his way up the crime ladder doing a job he never wanted.

Lily Hilton has it all, but is hiding from a troublesome past. When she enters a bar downtown, and runs into her old high school crush, her entire world is turned upside down. She is determined to make him notice her, but that plan may work better than she expects. Colton does not hesitate to take Lily home and use her as his new pawn, but their past begins to catch up with them as their secrets unravel and he must decide what is more important to him, protecting Lily or himself.


I can't lie. I was a little disappointed. Based on everything I read on Facebook, the direction this novel went in was not what I assumed. I'm still not sure if I "loved" the book the way I was hoping, but it didn't stop me from enjoying Cole and Lily's story. Because it's a self-published work, I was a tad distracted by a handful of errors throughout, but was still able to follow the storyline without issue. Altogether I give "Safe Word" a B+.




#40

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Safe Word" by Teresa Mummert

"Wicked in Your Arms" by Sophie Jordan

Started May 24, 2013 - Ended May 26, 2013
I *LOVE* free stuff! I also love trashy romance novels. This happened to be the best of both worlds. By clicking randomly upon the internet, I somehow have found myself 'following' a lot of authors on Facebook. Sophie Jordan happened to post at the beginning of the month that her novel, "Wicked in Your Arms", was free for one day only. I hopped right on that bandwagon!

From Amazon:One of the most notoriously eligible bachelors in Europe is finally ready to marry . . .

For fiercely independent Grier Hadley, being the illegitimate daughter of one of London's most unsavory characters has only one advantage: an enormous, ill-gotten dowry.

Prince Sevastian Maksimi knows where his duty lies: he must find a well-bred young lady—one with a considerable fortune to her name—wed her promptly, and get to the business of producing an heir.

The last thing Grier needs is some unattainable prince curling her toes with his smoldering glances and wicked suggestions. As far as Sev is concerned, she lacks the breeding to become a princess. And yet one kiss from this arresting female is all it takes for him to realize that anyone else in his arms would be unthinkable . . .



This was a cute little story. I really felt like the book could have been longer in order to flesh out the characters a bit more. Apart from the completely random names, Grier and Sev, the book is fast-paced and fun. It fits very nicely into the romance novel outline ... meeting, conflict, sex, drama (misunderstanding, kidnapping, or pregnancy), happy ending. I give "Wicked in Your Arms" a B-.




#39

"Fever" by Maya Banks

Started May 22, 2013 - Ended May 23, 2013
Cookie cutter.

From Amazon:Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.

When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.

Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.


I get it, I get it. I really do. After reading "Rush" I was quickly drawn into the world of Jace, Ash, and Gabe. Gabe's story was somewhat believable. Falling for a best friend's younger sister, sexual deviancy aside, happens. Getting into the story of Jace and Bethany was a chore. She's homeless. And he falls in LOVE/LUST/S&M with her immediately upon sight. Wait. What? In turn, he then immediately engages in a ménage a trois with Bethany, Ash, and himself ....
It, of course, ends happily and everyone has a swinging good time. No pun intended. I give "Fever" a C.




#38

Currently reading: "Fever" by Maya Banks

"Rush" by Maya Banks

Started May 20, 2013 - Ended May 21, 2013
Everyone is jumping on the "Fifty Shades of Grey" bandwagon these days. But Maya Banks is a well-established author who's novels have always pushed the limits on what is 'taboo'.

From Amazon:Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.



This book (part of a series, of course) came highly recommended by a friend. The first few chapters I was quite perturbed because it did read A LOT like "Fifty..." While the storyline did veer from the cookie-cutter mold a hair, it never really made it off of the baking sheet. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the read. Books like this one, are pure escape. Erotica has been around of a long time, just not mainstream. It amuses me to see just how accepted it is all over the world. I liked the characters, I liked the storyline ok, and I like that it's a self-contained book, inside of a series. Each book is about a different fella and his life and love. I give "Rush" a solid B+. If nothing else, simply because it's a great escape.




#37

"The Other Child" by Charlotte Link

Started May 16, 2013 - Ended May 19, 2013
Every once in a great while, I enjoy a good mystery.

From Amazon:An old farm, a deserted landscape, a dark secret from times past with fatal consequences for the present.In the tranquil northern seaside town of Scarborough, a student is found cruelly murdered. For months, the investigators are in the dark, until they are faced with a copy-cat crime. The investigation continues as they struggle to establish a connection between the two victims. Ambitious detective Valerie Almond clings to the all too obvious: a rift within the family of the second victim. But there is far more to the case than first appears, and Valerie is led toward a dark secret inextricably linked to the evacuation of children to Scarborough during World War II. Horrified at her last-minute discovery, Valerie realizes that she may be too late to save the next victim.


Let me start by saying, the synopsis of this novel makes it sound a lot more exciting than it really was. I figured out 'who done it' less than halfway through the book, and did not love the characters at all. I did, however, enjoy the backstory of Nobody. I think a story about his life and what happened to him would be a more interesting, and thought-provoking read. In any case, I give "The Other Child" a C.






#36

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "The Other Child" by Charlotte Link

"The Farm" by Emily McKay

Started May 12, 2013 - Ended May 15, 2013
A friend suggested I read this book. It was a different take on the whole 'vampire' novel.

From Amazon: Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...


I really liked this book. Mel and Lily are 2 great characters and even though there is a spark with Carter, it's not your typical YA instant love. I'm pretty sure this book cured me of my YA/dystopian novel obsession ... although I do have "Across the Universe" waiting on my Kindle. I give "The Farm" a B+.





#35

"The Elite" by Kiera Cass

Started May 9, 2013 - Ended May 10, 2013
I ran through this book like a candy bar in less than 24 hours total. The page count wasn't huge, but I was so anxious to see how it ended I couldn't stop reading.

From Amazon: In America Singer’s world, a bride is chosen for the prince through an elaborate televised competition. In the second book of the Selection series, America is one of only six girls left in the running. But is it Prince Maxon—and life as the queen—she wants? Or is it Aspen, her first love?


This series makes me angry. America literally flips back and forth between Maxon and Aspen depending on who does the most for her. However, let's face it, in the world of a 17 year old, it's pretty realistic. The Bachelor like set-up of the series is different than most YA novels of the times, the love triangle is not. It's fun to read though, and at this point it's honestly not obvious who's she's going to end up with in the end. For that aspect alone, I give "The Elite" a B+.







#34

I've been slacking ...

I've gotten into one of those moods where sitting down to read lasts about 10 minutes and then I'm up and doing something else. I had started to read the sequel to "Daughter of Smoke and Bone", but it couldn't hold my interest. No fault of the book, just the way things go sometimes. I did do a reread of "The Selection" in anticipation of reading the second book in the series, "The Elite". Technically I will count it as a book read, but I won't be doing another review. I did enjoy it and it left me anxious to start the next installment. Here's hoping my reading bug is back and I'll get back on track so I can finish out the year on track.

On a side note, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!




Currently reading: "The Farm" by Emily McKay

True Story ...

Currently reading: "Days of Blood and Starlight" by Laini Taylor

"Daughter of Smoke and Bone" by Laini Taylor

Started April 14, 2013 - Ended April 25, 2013
I honestly didn't get into this book until the last section. Not sure if it is because I was uber busy, or if it really didn't hold my attention. I finally finished 11 days after I started.

From Amazon: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


I wanted to love this book. I liked it. The ending did leave me wanting to find out what happened between Karou and Akiva, but I wasn't dying to start the next book. Which is unusual for me. I'm reading book 2 now, and it's also slow going. I think I'm just in a non-reading funk. I gave "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" a B-.






#32