Monday, December 17, 2012

Hush by Jo Leigh


Description
A hotel for first-class sex?
That's the buzz in Manhattan on Piper Devon's new upstart boutique hotel, Hush. From romantic nooks...to silky sheets...to naughty toys and videos in every room, the place positively oozes sex. And that's sending a deep shudder through the stodgy Devon hotel empire.
Devon family attorney Trace Winslow has checked in to check out Hush. He has to put a stop now to wild Piper and her sexy antics. Why, she makes Paris Hilton look positively tame! Except before long Trace is making full use of the, uh, amenities with gorgeous Piper. But are the two of them ready to hang a "do not disturb" sign on their suite---for life?
Hush by Jo Leigh goes back and forth between your wildest fantasies and love. The story line has you rooting for the characters and begging for more.

Trace Winslow is ordered by Nicholas Devon to check into his daughters new sexy hotel Hush, and put a stop to it once and for all! Except what daddy Devon doesn't know is that his number one attorney Trace and his rebellous daughter Piper have wanted each other since a young age. Will Trace put an end to Hush or will he find out the type of woman his crush has become?

Monday, December 3, 2012

Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Description
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
I have many good things to say about this book... but it made me want a horse. I live in (basically) a city. So it's not good for your mental health if you read books about animals that make you want animals (i.e. Watchers by Dean Koontz).

So aside from my general weirdness, this was a wonderful story about the lengths Puck will go to to try to keep her family together. In typical YA fashion she also learns about herself along the way. And then there's Sean Kendrick... whom I weirdly developed a strong attachment to.

There is some violent scenes, as the Water Horses that are being raced are huge and will attack people at any time. The island the story is set at has some magic as far as the Water Horses are concerned. Mostly it seems like a place where people are doing what they can to scrape by and the race is what people look forward to every year.

Overall a wonderful story. But I still want Puck's horse. And it upsets me. Also, I have no idea how to pronounce the author's last name.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Specialist by Rhonda Nelson

"When you're this good, they call you The Specialist...


And Major Brian Payne is that good. Whether it's in battle or in the bedroom, there's nobody more "detail oriented." And that's the reason he's on this wild-goose chase, to find a priceless military antique--before the competition does. He's sure he can handle it...until he discovers the competition is smart, saucy Emma Langsford--a woman he'd definitely like to get his hands on...
Emma's years in the military have taught her Brian Payne is a legend. He's also way out of her league, regardless of how many fantasies he;s inspired over the years. But Emma has a job to do--and she has to pull it off. So if' The Specialist gets in her way, she'll just have to distract him...
Because all's fair in love and war..."

The Specialist is book 2 in the Men Out of Uniform series.

Major Brian Payne and Emma Langsford are sent on a mission by previous military bosses to retrieve a priceless military artifact...and not as a team, but as rivals. Emma remembers Brian vividly and has had several fantasies involving him over the years, although Brian Payne is captivated by Emma and knows he's seen her somewhere before, but where? The book takes you through several hilarious pranks they set on each other. Who will find the artifact first? Does it even exist? Or will they give way to their sexual tension?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury


Description
The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning, along with the houses in which they were hidden.

Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires. And he enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs or the joy of watching pages consumed by flames, never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid. Then Guy met a professor who told him of a future in which people could think. And Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do...
I think the concept of technology taking over our lives is an interesting one. At the time this was written, television was becoming more and more popular in people's homes. The televisions in the book are huge, taking up entire walls. Programs make it so people interact with what they're watching. Then there is the of burning books because, basically, the government doesn't want people to think and have their own ideas.

Once Montag gets the idea of books and free thought into his head his world is turned upside down. A good classic (and slightly ironic that it's also a challenged) book and anyone that values critical thought should read this.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Just Dare Me by Stephanie Bond


Description

Marketing exec Gabrielle Flannery isn't what you'd call the outdoorsy type. But after an embarrassing incident with a potted plant leaves Gabrielle revealing more leg than a Thanksgiving turkey, she decides it's time to reassert herself. Even if it means going head-to-head with marketing golden boy and the office Hottie McHot, Dell Kingston, over an outdoor gear account... That is, until Gabrielle and Dell find themselves competing against each other for the account at a wilderness survival weekend. Since he's in touch with the great outdoors, Dell figures that naturally extends to Gabrielle and those sexy legs of hers... . But Gabrielle has a few tricks up her sleeve.

And nothing stimulates a sexual appetite like a little fresh air, a tiny little tent and a whole lot of libido.
Just Dare Me... is a part of the Adrenaline Rush collection.

Gabrielle Flannery is a geeky redhead who is always overlooked but when she topples over a potted plant showing off alot of leg she's no longer completely overlooked. She decides that she wants the outdoor gear account, which the sexy Dell Kingston is also going after. This book takes you on an exciting journey of a geek turned chic, determined to get the gold. Who wins? And will they find each other when the contest includes a sexy actor, and beautiful nymphomaniac???

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Happy (end of) Banned Books Week!

OK, so I probably should have posted something about this at the beginning of Banned Books Week, but I'm lazy and easily distracted and didn't remember to post anything until now. But just because I'm behind doesn't mean that you still can't read banned books. I'm doing you a favor... because banned books are out there and need to be read more than one week a year. I'm just reminding you.

You're welcome.


Banned Books Week is celebrating 30 years of reading books that people challenge because they're offended by them. Seems strange now that I think about it. "You want this book banned? Fine. Now we can promote it during a whole week devoted to books people don't want other people to read."

Do people think they're saving others by challenging a book? They don't like the book (for whatever reason) so they challenge it so other people won't read it. Those people are dicks. You can have your own opinion but you don't have to get a book banned from a school because you don't like it. You are not special. Nobody really cares about your opinion.

There, I said it. I mean, I'm offended by horrible writing but it doesn't mean I'm going to tell other people not to read it... *cough* Twilight *cough cough*

Oh, and read challenged books so you can come up with your own opinion on them. That is all.


Thursday, October 4, 2012

Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson


Description

For fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris—Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary debut.

Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the #1 New York Times bestseller, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor. Chapters include: “Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel”; “A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband”; “My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking”; “And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban Alligator on an Airplane.” Pictures with captions (no one would believe these things without proof) accompany the text.
Jenny Lawson is hilariously damaged. I don't know how else to describe it. She shares a lot of stories from her childhood and how growing up with a father that brought home animals (alive or dead) has given her an appreciation for taxidermy (hence the stuffed mouse on the cover).

A good portion of the chapters come straight from her blog so I was a little disappointed that it wasn't all new to me. I didn't exactly mind re-reading old blog posts because they are still funny the second time around, but for $12 (kindle) I was expecting new material that I couldn't find for free on the interwebs. Even with that, I still enjoyed her (mostly true) memoir. I had moments where I laughed out loud and made my husband look at me like I'd lost my mind. That's how you know a book is funny... people look at you strange when you're reading it.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Girl Gone Wild by Joanne Rock


 Description:
What all-American male could resist a sugarcoated seduction?
 Journalist Hugh Duncan can sniff out international intrigue, but finding a juicy scoop in a Miami singles' club right under his nose? Could a voluptuous chef, singing a siren song while icing a Kama Sutra cream puff, be his next big story---or is she just a luscious piece of fluff? And if the kitchen contessa insists on giving out free samples---well, there's am offer no gentleman should refuse...
Giselle Cesare has a history of stirring up trouble, and not just on her stove. Even so, the minute a handsome reporter wanders into Club Paradise, she knows she's struck gold. By the time their first date draws to a close, Giselle has hit on the secret to spontaneous combustion! Unfortunately, if Hugh persists in digging up her past, more than her sexplicit deserts will be exposed!

I have just begun reading the Harlequin Blaze books, and I am loving every one I come across. Girl Gone Wild is a very sexy read--but its not just the sexual encounters that reel me in, the story line is what really makes this book.

Journalist Hugh Duncan is forced to write a report on Club Paradise, which he is not excited over---he is used to going to exotic locations to write "big" stories, not controversial hotels. While taking a late walk he comes cross Giselle Cesare singing and dancing while cooking in the kitchen and he becomes captivated by her beauty and her love of life. Should he write a story that could possibly destroy the only woman he has ever felt this way about? or should he not write the story and possibly end his career?? What to do????

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver (The Giver, #1)

Laura and Stepfanie's rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description:

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
I don't remember reading this book in school, so I decided to give it a try. Lois Lowry is an incredible story teller. Even though it was a relatively short story, I didn't feel like there was anything missing.

The story is told in such a way that you don't realize how different that world is until it is mentioned. I got to the part about (something I'm not going to mention because it would ruin it when you came to that part of the book; but it's totally awesome!) and it felt like a bomb had been dropped because I had no idea. Terrific writing!

If you haven't read this I suggest you do!

View all Laura's reviews

I first read this book in 7th grade; It was one of the only books I ever read during school ha ha. I really enjoy this book and all the imagery it presents.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book ThiefThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak



My rating: 4 of 5 stars





Description:

Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of sophisticated teen and adult readers. Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.

This is the touching story of a girl surrounded by tragedy. Having Death as the narrator made the story intriguing, though with Death telling the story I knew Liesel would have plenty of tragedy in her young life. Still, even with the tragedy, it was a beautiful and well-written story.




View all my reviews

Monday, August 20, 2012

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

CoralineCoraline by Neil Gaiman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Description:
Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.
This was a fairly short read that does a great job in the creepy department. It is imaginative and well written, quirky and clever. Though I don't think this is something I'd want my nephew or niece to read (yet) I think it's something I'll suggest for them when they get older.




View all my reviews

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young GirlThe Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For some reason I never read this in school, so I decided it was time that I did. I didn't expect great literature to come out of a diary of a teenage girl, but I did appreciate her insights.

Of course, anyone who is stuck in a house for that long is going to have times of bitterness and she coule occasionally be awful, but Anne did seem to be a sensetive soul. I was sometimes annoyed by her "poor me" attitude but, being a teenage girl myself at one point, I could understand where she was coming from.

Their struggles and fears were real and her writing ability was exceptional for someone so young.




View all my reviews

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Best Young Adult Novels

Yesterday, NPR Books released the results of the Top 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels poll.

I was pretty excited to see some of my favorites on there, especially The Hobbit. I've read that book a couple of times and will probably read it again before the movie comes out. I figured Twilight would be included somewhere, and sadly, I was right. Oh well, you can't get everything. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the list and will probably try to read some of the books on the list that I haven't read yet. Yay books!

Are any of your favorites on the list?


Monday, August 6, 2012

Revamp by Beck Sherman

RevampRevamp by Beck Sherman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free digital copy of this book for my review.


Description:

FOR THREE DAYS, IT WAS DARK.
News reporters scrambled. This was the biggest story to come along in weeks.
They called it a blackout.
The last one was in New York City in 2003, but this one was different, special, because the grids in six major cities across the country had been fried, kaput, see-you-next-Sunday. Everyone with some jurisdiction blamed each other, and when there was no one left to blame, terrorism rode in on its gallant steed.
It was the media’s fault. They were so busy stuffing fanatical Muslims with a penchant for Allah and decapitations down the American citizen’s throat, that they never saw it coming. I guess I shouldn’t be too hard on them.
They were partially right.
It was terror after all, but a whole new kind. And when the lights came back on, things had changed.
The dark had brought us visitors.
Overall it is a good read, though I was hoping for more horror. Things really start to get weird for Emma (or Em) when she is supposed to fly to L.A. and only 15 people are on the plane. Honestly, I would never have stayed on that flight. When I saw who was on it (or, more precisely, who wasn't) I would have ran out of there faster than an Olympic sprinter. Of course, her bad judgement ultimately led to her being found by a group of hunters who teach her how to kill vampires. I really liked the book until she gets to the hunter's "camp." Then it became less "horror" like I was hoping for and more "I'm gonna learn how to kill and save the world! Yay!" Another issue I had was it skipped over the whole "blackout" thing and the story picked up after the power was back on for a while. So many creepy things could have happened during a blackout. Now I'm just being whiny.

Up until the hunters find her I was enjoying the creepy factor, though there was a lot of action and some more creepyness thrown in here and there. The characters were likable (most of them anyway) and it was an entertaining read.

A kindle version of the book can be purchased for 99 cents at Amazon. And it is well worth the 99 cents!


View all my reviews

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Best Books Ever?

My reading list just got a heck of a lot longer...

Darn you, NPR!

I don't know why I do this to myself. Author John Green posted on his Twitter account that you could vote for your favorite YA novels. So I went to do that and found 3 OTHER LISTS! Damn! Now I have a list of books I want to read about... oh... 200 books long. This is what I get for not reading much in High School. SO MANY BOOKS! But I am a masochist, so I'm going to try to find as many as I can from the library and everything else I'll just have to buy.

If you would like to join me in reading pleasure/torture (book S&M? 50 Shades of Books?) I'll link to the lists below.


Vote for Best-Ever Teen Novels

100 Best Beach Books Ever
 
Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books

    

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Jurassic ParkJurassic Park by Michael Crichton


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I really wasn't impressed by this book. I found many of the characters annoying and whiny. I would probably be whiny in their situation too, but hopefully not to that extent. Jurassic Park is a favorite movie of mine so I was excited to start reading. It started out ok and got a lot better, but by the time I was 3/4 of the way through I was just ready to be done. There was a lot of good action scenes and tension. The thing that I disliked most was the character development. I hated Hammond (& usually Lex) so much that they took away from what I was reading.

Overall, the writing was good and I appreciated a lot of what Ian Malcolm had to say about the resposibility of scientists, but (it pains me to say) I think I like the movie better.




View all my reviews

Monday, March 19, 2012

Book Survey

I saw this survey on another blog and I liked it so I stole it (though she stole it too so I don't feel so bad)

Love thy Kindle
1. Favorite childhood book?
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola was a favorite when I was about 5 or 6.
2. What are you reading right now?
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (I'm part way into both-- keep switching back and forth when I need a break)
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None right now, but my next will be The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. I've read all up to that book and want to finish the series.
4. Bad book habit?
Starting and not finishing or taking a long time between reads.
5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.
6. Do you have an e-reader?
I have a Kindle and I love it. I rarely get the chance to sit and read at home so having something I can carry around with me and read when I have time is fantastic.
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I prefer one at a time, but I have a habit of reading two or three.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I think I have tried reading more classics than I would have otherwise.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (though in it's defense I didn't finish reading it- it bored me too much)
10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I typically stick with books in certain genres, so I don't too often.
12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Mostly fiction (Adult & YA) fantasy & sci-fi occasionally. Rarely nonfiction.
13. Can you read on the bus?
I never take buses but if I did I would be able to fairly easily.
14. Favorite place to read?
At the beach, on my deck on a sunny day, in my living room or bedroom.
15. What is your policy on book lending?
I love sharing books as long as I get them back (hopefully undamaged!).
16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
I like to keep the pages as close to perfect as I can get them. I don't like my pages bent.
17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
I like to keep the pages of my books unmarked.
18. Not even with text books?
I didn't mind those. They didn't matter as much to me as my other books even though I paid A LOT more money for them haha.
19. What is your favorite language to read in?
English. I only fluently speak 1 language and I didn't always do that well :)
20. What makes you love a book?
The characters, the scenery, a good plot and storytelling.
21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I feel really strongly about how a book makes me feel I will usually recommend it.
22. Favorite genre?
Fiction (Adult & YA), especially dystopian.
23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Nonfiction.
24. Favorite biography?
Don't really have one, though there are a couple autobiographies that I liked reading.
25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
No, I don't remember ever reading any.
26. Favorite cookbook?
I usually just use allrecipes.com when I'm looking for recipes. Or I love The Flavor Bible as a guide or Food Network Magazine, but I don't know that I have an actual cookbook that is a favorite.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I don't know that it is technically "inspirational" but it inspired me... and it's only March so I haven't read that many books yet this year.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Anything that doesn't make my fingers dirty/gross or get crumbs in my books
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't usually spend the time reading a book because of hype unless it comes from a friend who has read the book and gives a good review, so my reading experience has yet to be ruined by any kind of hype.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don't read critic reviews. If I read a review it is by people who post reviews on amazon or another site.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
If a book is bad I don't feel bad warning other people (who may like the same things as me) against reading something. However, I know what I like, so I don't read a lot of books I wouldn't care for and rarely read books I don't like.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Maybe French? It seems like it would sound more beautiful to read out loud.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? 
Slaughterhouse Five and 1984. I typically don't read classics and those were a little far out for me.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. It is a little out of my normal reading comfort zone.
35. Favorite Poet?
I like Emily Dickinson (Hope is a Thing with Feathers is a favorite of mine) and Robert Frost.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
None? I have a kindle so I don't need to go to the library often, plus I can never get to my library because I work in another town and they are closed by the time I get off work.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
This only happened once or twice. I felt so bad about not having the time to finish reading what I checked out!
38. Favorite fictional character? 
I can't pick just one! So my top 2 would probably be Hermione Granger (Harry Potter Series) and Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit).
39. Favorite fictional villain?
The dragon Smaug from The Hobbit.
40. Books you’re most likely to bring on vacation?
Probably the books I've been putting off reading- Lord of the Rings & Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
41. The longest you’ve gone without reading.
I haven't read in a couple of weeks and that's probably the longest in years. I need to read more!
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Everyone talked about how good it was but I was so bored that I couldn't read it!
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Thoughts, loud noises, bugs &/or the hot sun (if I'm reading outside)
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Practical Magic. The book was terrible... I couldn't stand the characters! They were horrible! The movie is fun. I can't wait for The Hobbit and The Hunger Games movies though!
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Dreamcatcher by Stephen King. Terrible.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Maybe $30 or $40 on a splurge. I try not to buy more than 1 at a time or I probably won't read the book.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
I usually read the blurb and first couple of pages and sometimes the reviews before I purchase or start reading a book.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Uninteresting plot, boring or bad writing/characters.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
I do. I tend to keep books by the same author together and books in a series in the correct order.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
If I really like the book I keep them because occasionally I'll go back and either read the entire book over again or my favorite parts of the book. If I don't think I'll ever want to read the book again I'll give them away to someone or donate them to the library.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Not really avoiding, but books that I have yet to start.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
The Twilight Saga. The whole idea of a teenage girl being obsessed with a boy who stalks her and is really controlling and she falls apart when he leaves just annoyed me. A terrible example for girls.
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
I read Winter Dance (even though I didn't think I would like it) because my husband suggested it.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Breathless by Dean Koontz. It was really underdeveloped and it felt like the book was left undone. Poor plot. I like older Dean Koontz novels and was kind of upset with his current writing.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
As long as I enjoy what I'm reading it's all guilt free!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse, #11) by Charlaine Harris

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse, #11)Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Definitely not Harris' best effort. Everything felt kind of tired. I guess that after writing about the same characters for this long I would probably be sick of it as well. I did read that she will be ending the series after two more books though so I'm curious to see how it ends. Anyway back to this book.

It seemed like a lot of little things happened but nothing really big. But how many more mythical creatures can she throw at Sookie? I think we're all tired of her being beaten up. Debbie Pelt's sister wants her dead, Eric is being mysterious (like usual) and they all want Victor dead. To be fair there were good parts and I was able to lose myself in the book for awhile. But overall? Not her best work. It seems like she just wants to be done with the series.

I see a few different ways to end the series: Sookie dies (either by becoming a vampire or not I don't know); Sookie gets together with Sam because he can hide thoughts from her and Sam is awesome; Sookie goes through the fairy portal and lives there; or something happens and she is no longer able to read minds and the Supes leave her alone so she can marry a normal guy. Those are my guesses anyway.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Internet Blackout TOMORROW!

Avoiding all interwebs tomorrow for the SOPA & PIPA Blackout. This will be difficult for me. No Twitter or Facebook or anything! Wish me luck!

http://sopacountdown.com/

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1)The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked this book a lot. I do have to admit though that I didn't really find it interesting at first. But the more it went along the more I liked it. There were some characters I loved and some I hated... and some I was confused by. I couldn't figure out if they were "bad" or not. I think that was the point though. We don't understand, like Lyra, why those things are happening and who to trust. I can't wait to read the next two books.



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Monday, January 16, 2012

Breathless by Dean Koontz

BreathlessBreathless by Dean Koontz

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The fact that it is called "Breathless: A Novel of Suspense" had me confused. Where was the "suspense" exactly? Needless to say I was disappointed with this book. There was a large amount of characters that you don't get to really know and when Kootz finally gets to the point in the book that you understand why they are there, the book is basically over. I wasn't interested in finishing the book but thought I should because I had spent the money on it. He could have gone more into what Puzzle and Riddle were and why they were all there. I felt that the plot was underdeveloped and could have been so much better and more meaningful.



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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our StarsThe Fault in Our Stars by John Green

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I just finished reading TFIOS and can't say enough good things about it. It is beautiful and tragic and honest and funny and brilliant. I am not ashamed to say that I cried, and I rarely cry at novels.

I feel like the characters might laugh at me for crying; for feeling so much for fictional characters.

I'm not going to describe the book other than what I knew about it when I first picked it up. It's about 16 year old Hazel, who has cancer. I think that by not knowing anything more about it, it made the book better. I didn't read reviews because I didn't want to know anything until I could read it for myself. I made the right choice.

Yes, Hazel has cancer, but the cancer doesn't define her. She is still a teenager that likes things a teenager likes. It feels so real and honest and I love it.

The Fault in Our Stars is a beautifully heartbreakingly stunning novel. Well done, Mr. Green, well done.



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Monday, January 9, 2012

TFIOS

The Fault in Our Stars... I'm super excited for this book to come out tomorrow! It's by John Green, one of my favorite authors and Youtubers! Here he is reading Chapter 1 (there is also a video of him reading Chapter 2).


Just from chapter 1 I knew that I wanted to read this book. It is funny and touching and that's just the first 2 chapters! I'm going to be reading this as soon as I get it. Review coming soon!