The Secret by Max Monroe

 

Mr. Hot Professor, the man I’m determined to resist, is challenging me to a competition—a playful, secret game, so to speak—where the winner takes all.

The Secret, an all-new hot as sin romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is available now!

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

I need your help.

I, Rachel Rose, am in quite the pickle with a hot-as-sin English Lit professor by the name of Ty Winslow, and I don’t know how to get out of it.

Let me break it down for you:

Girl meets Guy.

Girl gives Guy her underwear on a dare but nothing else identifying (like her name or number) because she plans to never see Guy again.

But Girl does see Guy again, in a very professional setting, where she is to be the Teaching Assistant to his Professor for an entire semester.

Girl would like to ignore all events of the past, but Guy is a whole list of tempting things that are hard to resist. (See below:)

#1: Insanely attractive.
#2: The most fun a girl could ever have.
#3: Successful and intelligent.
#4: He can quote Walt Whitman at the drop of a hat—which I’m sure you know is a dangerous thing for a literature-lover.
#5: Smooth with a capital S. He could charm the panties off a woman WITHOUT the help of a dare.

And now, Mr. Hot Professor, the man I’m determined to resist, is challenging me to a competition—a playful, secret game, so to speak—where the winner takes all.

My plan? Play the game long enough to win—long enough to walk away with the upper hand—without doing something stupid like falling in love.

It’s possible . . . right?

If you have any advice, please reach out to me soon—before it’s too late.

XOXO,
Rachel

I loved this book. I need you to know that first and that I'm not just saying that because I got an advance copy. I have also loved the other books in this series, The Bet and The Pact. Those Winslow brothers are just... wonderful. This book was fun and despite the fact that I do not like forbidden type romance books, this didn't feel forbidden. It helped that Rachel wasn't his student so there wasn't a weird age gap. Ty was super loveable and I was rooting for things to work out (as all good romance novels do). The humor in this one made it even better. I can't wait for Remy's book, The Redo to come out in July! I've been waiting to read more about him since Winnie Winslow & Wes's book (Scoring the Billionaire) and Charlotte & Nick's (Dr. NEURO). They're not required to read but give a little more insight into the Winslow family.

Read your copy today, exclusively on Amazon and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3G8qTtB
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About Max Monroe
A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far. ​

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Humbugged by Pippa Grant and Lili Valente

"A mall Santa broke my heart, stole my coffee mug, and killed my reindeer dreams."

Description

He’s the world’s most alpha Marine and the last man I should be letting jingle my bells this holiday season. 

So why does Clint O’Dell keep running through my thoughts wearing nothing but a Santa hat? And why do I stupidly agree that we should be Christmas friends with benefits?

Someone must have spiked my eggnog. 

I don’t do Marines. 

Or Santas. 

I learned my lesson about both the hard way. 

But when Clint steps in to rescue me—from a murderous goose, a rogue reindeer, and the ghost of Christmas Right Now causing trouble in my bakery—I can’t help but wonder if we’re meant to be more than friends. 

If maybe Clint is the holiday miracle I’ve been praying for…or if all the magic will disappear with the season.

Humbugged is a laugh out loud holiday romp featuring a Marine with a heart of gold and a baker in need of a hero. Complete with the world's most awkward Christmas caroling, a photoshoot with furry friends, and more naughty baked goods than is good or decent.

This is the 4th book in the Happy Cat/O’Dell brothers series that I've reviewed previously.

I have to start out by saying that Clint is my favorite O’Dell brother. He’s a cute (HOT), funny marine who protects Noelle from animals and possible ghosts. Noelle has had a hard time since moving to Happy Cat between being a magnet for animals and with her cakes and cookies having trouble staying in one piece.

We first see Noelle in Blake and Hope’s book (Hitched) as she delivers an unfortunately broken cake and later is swarmed by hungry raccoons. They are super cute together. Based on how she appeared in Hitched, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like her, but Noelle is a brave woman who made the choice to move forward and try to be happy despite some struggles. Clint calls her Cupcake and it is adorable. Seeing their relationship progress gave me the feels in all the best ways. I got an early copy for a review and I can’t recommend this book (and series in general) enough..

Like the other books in the series it is full of humor and animal fun. There is also a running theme of Chuck Norris type memes and jokes that cracked me up throughout. Some of my favorite quotes include these gems:

"Have you tried one of Noelle's chocolate chip cookie bars yet? Not to meme myself or anything but I baked them with a single smolder."

 "Though how we got on this subject, I have no idea."  "You threatened my carrot. My carrot was unafraid. Flirting ensued."

Plus many more... but if I put in that many in I would no longer be quoting, I would just be copying and pasting the entire book and if I recall correctly that is illegal. A funny, cute, holiday cheer filled read.

You can get your copy on Amazon! You have to buy it when it first comes out but it should be on Kindle Unlimited soon! Maybe just buy yourself a Christmas gift and buy the entire series? They're all so good and cute and funny that you'd really be doing yourself a favor and if you can't treat yourself at Christmas are you really doing the holiday season right?

Tis the Season for Christmas Romance Novels

Guys. It isn't even Thanksgiving yet and I've already started with the Christmas romance novels. Because they are freaking adorable! It's like Hallmark but in book form and much more dirty. I love it.

My latest read was the Reindeer Falls series by Jana Aston. They're short and sweet and can probably all be finished in a day if you're determined. The female characters, the Winter sisters, are funny and have Christmas themed names (Holly, Ginger, and Noel). I love me some good Christmas feelings and reading these made me want to put up a tree and I haven't even gotten a new one yet (my pre-lit tree died last year and I mourn it's poor fake tree death).

The Boss Who Stole Christmas is about Holly, who thinks her young, hot boss is a Grinch. Oh boy will she find out otherwise.

If You Give a Jerk a Gingerbread is about Ginger and a baking competition she entered and she starts out thinking one of her competitors is a jackal. However, he is very cute and persuasive.

The One Night Stand Before Christmas is about Noel who wakes up to Santa's suit on her floor. Noel and Santa got a little naughty and took holiday spirit to a whole other level.

Christmas fun all around!

As usual with most books I read these days, the series is free on KU, otherwise if you would be buying the books right now it's $6.97 for all 3.

Wordbound #3 (I Skipped #2)

So to preface this I should say that I skipped the last one because it scared me, because it meant that I would have to share fiction writing. I love fiction, and I love writing it. Sharing it on the other hand... not so much. It is easy for me to write my thoughts (on certain non-meaningful topics) but when it is something that is basically a window in to my brain I get skittish. So here is my first attempt at really sharing my writing. I should also say that I'm free-writing this so it isn't polished, but I had an idea from this prompt so I'm going from there. There is more of an explanation for Wordbound here. I moved over to the book section for this because it is fiction and doesn't really fit in my normal blog.

~

There is a door in front of me that is closed. If I were to go through it it would contain moments of my life that are "important". These moments shaped my life and the lives of those around me. I am afraid to go through the door because while it could show happy moments like my first kiss, it is also likely to show the things that I did wrong. Who did I cause pain to with a thoughtless word? How many sad or angry faces will I see while I am oblivious?

I stare at the door. The hallway is bright but comfortable and the floor, wall, and ceiling is grey. The hallway has multiple doors that are all different colors. Doors are red, blue, green, brown, some broken, some with windows. On and on they go, seeming endless. Each door is different because they belong to different people. I thought this would be different but when you think about it you really don't know what to expect. I don't know how exactly I got here but I expect I will find out when I go through the door. If I go through the door. You have a choice, but I don't know what the alternative will be. Would I be stuck here forever until I finally go though? When you get here you walk until you find the door that is yours. There is no sign, you just know. Your door speaks to you in a way you don't understand. You recognize it in some way. Mine resembles the door to my home, where I felt most comfortable and myself. Strangely, one door I passed was for a dive bar. To each their own. Staring at my door I am scared, yet I want to see.

Our lives shouldn't be scary. What happened can't be changed, we simply watch what happened like we're using one of those Pensieve's from Harry Potter. I am here and I am dead and I am afraid that the life I am shown will not appear fulfilling because I had no "excitement". I didn't go on big trips or make a lot of money and my "success" in life was limited compared to others. I made no real contribution to society other than trying not to be an asshole. But I had a family and friends who mattered and I watched my children grow. I felt and reacted and was angry and sad and happy. I lived and tried my best as my wisdom grew to live each day well and without regret. I stand up straight, gather my courage, and step through the door.

Runner by Patrick Lee

Published February 18, 2014

by Minotaur Books

Description

Sam Dryden, retired special forces, lives a quiet life in a small town on the coast of Southern California. While out on a run in the middle of the night, a young girl runs into him on the seaside boardwalk. Barefoot and terrified, she’s running from a group of heavily armed men with one clear goal—to kill the fleeing child. After Dryden helps her evade her pursuers, he learns that the eleven year old, for as long as she can remember, has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. But she doesn’t know much beyond her own name, Rachel. She only remembers the past two months of her life—and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men and the hidden men in charge.

Dryden, who lost his wife and young daughter in an accident five years ago, agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both. Although Dryden is only one man, he’s a man with the extraordinary skills and experience—as a Ranger, a Delta, and five years doing off-the-book black ops with an elite team. But, as he slowly begins to discover, the highly trained paramilitary forces on their heels is the only part of the danger they must face. Will Rachel’s own unremembered past be the most deadly of them all?

This book was so good! It was fast paced and exciting and I never knew which way it was going to go next. This guy (Dryden) is like a Jason Bourne level of bad-ass. While there isn't much hand-to-hand fighting, his smarts and skills keep you on your toes. Just when I think Patrick Lee wrote his character in to an inescapable situation, he makes an unexpected a move and the action continues.

Well done and exciting, I didn't want to put the book down.While the traditional parts of a "thriller" are there, there are also some sci-fi elements there as well. I don't want to give too much information because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I went in not knowing much and I think that's probably the best way to read it. I can't say enough good things about this book. If you like a good thriller, this is one of the best I've read in years.

The Troop by Nick Cutter

Published January 7, 2014

by Gallery Books*

Description

Lord of the Flies meets The Ruins in this frightening novel written in the bestselling traditions of Stephen King and Scott Smith.

Boy Scouts live by the motto “Be Prepared.” However, nothing can prepare this group of young boys and their scoutmaster for what they encounter on a small, deserted island, as they settle down for a weekend of campfires, merit badges, and survival lessons.

Everything changes when a haggard stranger in tattered clothing appears out of nowhere and collapses on the campers’ doorstep. Before the night is through, this stranger will end up infecting one of the troop’s own with a bioengineered horror that’s straight out of their worst nightmares. Now stranded on the island with no communication to the outside world, the troop learns to battle much more than the elements, as they are pitted against something nature never intended…and eventually each other.

“Lean and crisp and over-the-top....Disquieting, disturbing,” says Scott Smith, author of The Ruins and A Simple Plan, The Troop is a visceral burn of a read that combines boldly drawn characters with a fantastically rendered narrative—a terrifying story you’ll never forget.

This book was... gross. But that was only due to the fact that scenes were described so well. I mean, they were pretty gory and I had a hard time reading some of the scenes. I actually had to skip some of them because I wanted to gag a little bit. It was weird because I can usually deal with gross scenes, but in this case I just couldn't do it.

The story splits between what is going on on the island where the Boy Scout Troop is and interviews conducted by the government about what happened that caused the events (for example, a scientist who created something bad that spread). I don't want to give away too much, but it makes people so insanely hungry that they will eat anything (though thankfully not humans- if there were zombies this would have been beyond horrifying) while quickly wasting away no matter how much they eat.

The content was good, but as I said before you probably need a stronger stomach to get through this. The story was fast paced and kept me coming back to see what would happen next despite the creepy shivers I'd get every time I got to a gross scene.

*I received a free digital copy to review.

Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

Published November 5, 2013

Description 

Caught up in a moment of boyhood competition, William Bellman recklessly aims his slingshot at a rook resting on a branch, killing the bird instantly. It is a small but cruel act, and is soon forgotten. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to have put the whole incident behind him. It was as if he never killed the thing at all. But rooks don’t forget . . .

Years later, when a stranger mysteriously enters William’s life, his fortunes begin to turn—and the terrible and unforeseen consequences of his past indiscretion take root. In a desperate bid to save the only precious thing he has left, he enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner. Together, they found a decidedly macabre business.

And Bellman and Black is born.

William Bellman has some luck and a lot of work ethic... and then more bad luck (though never with money). He is a business man who makes that his focus. Whatever he is working on at the time gets his full attention and thoughts. I both liked and hated that about him. But when he sees the man in black he becomes obsessed with him- both in trying to find him and thinking about who he is/might be.

When it came to the end of the book- we follow him from the time he is a child and kills the rook to late adulthood- that he wasted the time he could have had with his family by focusing on working. His work seemed to be the center of his life and when tragedy strikes he is thrown even more into business pursuits. It seemed to me that his focus on business rather than family was such a waste. But after being surrounded by so much tragedy he loses the ability to appreciate what he has and he makes "more"- getting more, saving more- his life. It was sad but very interesting and well written.

Help for the Haunted by John Searles

 Published September 17, 2013

from William Morrow

Description

It begins with a call in the middle of snowy February evening. Lying in her bed, young Sylvie Mason overhears her parents on the phone across the hall. This is not the first late-night call they have received, since her mother and father have an uncommon occupation, helping "haunted souls" find peace. And yet, something in Sylvie senses that this call is different than the rest, especially when they are lured to the old church on the outskirts of town. Once there, her parents disappear, one after the other, behind the church's red door, leaving Sylvie alone in the car. Not long after, she drifts off to sleep only to wake to the sound of gunfire.

Nearly a year later, we meet Sylvie again struggling with the loss of her parents, and living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened the previous winter.

As the story moves back and forth in time, through the years leading up to the crime and the months following, the ever inquisitive and tender-hearted Sylvie pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night, as she comes to terms with her family's past and uncovers secrets that have haunted them for years.

I enjoyed this a lot, but I couldn't help but consider some of the messages in the book. I can't mention most of them because I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll try to stick to general ideas.

I felt that a lot of mistakes were made by the parents that you see through Sylvie's flashbacks. Sylvie's sister Rose is supposed to be taking care of her but is doing a terrible job; She's too selfish to care for anyone but herself (though she doesn't exactly do a great job of that either). But most of Rose's issues go back to how she is raised and the choices her parents (mostly her father) made.

Sylvie goes looking for answers about her parents because it is her testimony that will play a big part in the conviction of who the police think killed her parents. What she finds out will forever change what she thought she knew about them, but she also finds out a lot about herself along the way.

Help for the Haunted is a great story and I didn't want to put the book down- full of mystery and wonderfully written.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Description

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

I loved this book! It's been on my "to read" list since it came out and I finally was able to borrow a copy from a friend. I spent most of the book trying to figure out (as did Marco and Celia) what "the game" is and how a winner will be determined. There is just something about this book that I found beautiful. There is so much beauty in the things created by Celia and Marco. There is beauty in the circus itself. And the magic is beautiful. Of course there was ugliness, too, but that mainly lies with Celia's father... I think Celia's father is a horrible man.

This wasn't a traditional "love story". They spend so much of the book doing things for each other (indirectly) and so little time together. It made me a somewhat sad to see them being in love from a distance, but that does more to show that they really do feel that way and it isn't something that will pass. It is a beautiful, touching and magical (literally and figuratively) story.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Published September 3, 2013
by Little, Brown Books

Description

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

When I first read the description I wasn't sure what to expect when it just said "monsters" but I wasn't surprised when it turned out to be vampires. They're everywhere these days. The idea of a "Coldtown" was new though. The idea is that once a town is showing signs of infection they get blocked off and everyone living there, even if they aren't infected, are stuck inside. Bounty hunters catch vampires and bring them to the towns where they can either collect money or a marker. Markers allow someone on the inside who isn't infected to get out.

It was entertaining and I'll be honest that, yes, it is another story with an attractive looking vampire and all that stuff. If don't like that kind of thing this probably isn't for you, but if you can still appreciate a good YA vampire story, this is a pretty good one. You can pre-order a sample of the book for Kindle for free from Amazon that has the first 68 pages.

The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith

Published July 23, 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

*I received an ARC to review*

Description

From the creator of the Escape from Furnace series, a ferocious epic of supernatural terror, perfect for Stephen King fans

Imagine if one day, without warning, the entire human race turns against you, if every person you know, every person you meet becomes a bloodthirsty, mindless savage . . . That’s the horrifying reality for Cal, Brick, and Daisy. Friends, family, even moms and dads, are out to get them. Their world has the Fury. It will not rest until they are dead.

In Alexander Gordon Smith’s adrenaline-fueled saga, Cal and the others must uncover the truth about what is happening before it destroys them all. But survival comes at a cost. In their search for answers, what they discover will launch them into battle with an enemy of unimaginable power.

This was the weirdest book I have read in quite some time. Plus it was really long so it was kind of like a Stephen King book for the YA genre? I don't know how else to explain it. There was something going on constantly, some really freaky stuff happens and there is a lot of death. Really... like, apocalyptic things happen. The book is based in England and mostly centers around a group of kids who, much to their surprise, have to run for their lives because everyone they come in contact with tries to kill them.

I spent most of the book trying to figure out what was going on. Because of the length of the ARC (the published book is 688 pages) I found it difficult to read sometimes. But like I said before so much happens that you want to pick it back up again to find out how it ends. It's the first time I read anything by Alexander Gordon Smith but I think I might check out some of his other stuff. I've heard a little bit about his Furnace series so that might be going on my "to read" list.

30 Day Book Challenge: Day 11

Day 11- The Book that made you fall in love with reading

Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green

This book, with it's Prince, Princess, dragon, unicorn and nightmare monster things was what got me really interested in reading. It has action, adventure, humor and some scary moments that had me a little bit terrified. I'd read other books before but this was the first one I read that I didn't want to put down.

Description

Rupert didn't especially want to be a prince. And he certainly never asked to be the second son of a royal line that really didn't need a spare. So he was sent out to slay a dragon and prove himself-a quest straight out of legend. But he also discovered the kinds of things legends tend to leave out, as well as the usual demons, goblins, the dreaded Night Witch-and even worse terrors hidden in the shadows of Darkwood.  Rupert did find a fiery dragon-and a beautiful princess to rescue. But the dragon turned out to be a better friend than anyone back at the castle, and with the evil of Darkwood spreading, Rupert was going to need all the friends he could get.

If you haven't read this book yet and you like this genre, I highly recommend it. The only problem I've had is finding it. If you have a kindle (or kindle app) it is available from Amazon.com for $11.04, which is kind of a weird price considering it was first published in 1989 (last published in 2005). The actual book is closer to $14. Hopefully you can find a cheaper copy somewhere else but that was where I found it!

I have my friend Jess to thank for my interest in reading. Her love of books is what got me started! She is also responsible for the first novel I ever read. I blame her for my book collecting habit.

Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter

Description

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

I'm a little disappointed by this book. Mostly because the title is misleading for 2 reasons. 1) It really doesn't have anything to do with Alice in Wonderland except for the name Alice and a cloud shaped like a white rabbit and 2) They're not real zombies. They want to eat your soul, not your flesh. They're more like evil spirits than zombies.... Sombies. Oh, and only some people can see them. Another fun twist. They're spirits so you can only fight them in spirit form, but if your spirit is injured it shows up on your body. Am I the only one who thinks this is unfair?

As I was reading I thought it would have been better if the characters were adults. I know it's a YA book, but why are teenagers doing all of the work? On top of the fighting something not that many people can see, they still have to go to school and get in trouble. Also, it made me feel pervy having a crush on fictional High School characters with douchey nicknames like "Bronx" and "Frosty." I did think it was entertaining anyway and it was a quick read, but for the most part I felt like it was underdeveloped and the writing could have been improved. Just because it's a book for teenagers doesn't mean that it needs to be cheesy at all.

I guess I was hoping and looking for something with more meaning when it may not have been meant to have it. I don't know... maybe I'm outgrowing certain types of YA novels? I shudder at the thought. This is only the first book in the series so I'm hoping the next one will be better. Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2) comes out on September 24, 2013.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Description

'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can't understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won't be changed without a fight...

I just loved this book... all the feels! I never thought I'd like a book from a zombie's perspective, but this zombie is so freakin' likeable! I really came to like him because I could tell how hard he was trying to change and that he wanted to be different.

A couple of the reviews I read about Warm Bodies before I read it were negative because they said the names were too close to those in Romeo and Juliet (R and Julie for example) but I didn't pick that up when I was reading. I mean, I can't think about Shakespeare when zombies are involved, though I suppose you could draw comparisons if you wanted to put the time in. I really didn't. Another complaint was this "..." but I like ellipsis and there are only so many ways you can show the slow speech patterns. It didn't bother me like some other reviews I read, but I did notice them.

Julie is far more forgiving than one could expect, but I think it's meant to show her willingness to forgive and she seems to have this light in her soul. Sorry, that was cheesy. But I rolled my eyes multiple times over her "bad girl" image she tried to give herself. You are surrounded by zombies, how are you so calm?

I don't want to give away too much, but these zombies love brains, not just the flesh. So when R eats the brain of Julie's boyfriend? Let's just say that that's what starts him on his change. I haven't seen the movie yet but I plan to soon. It's funny and touching and a good zombie love story (these are words I never thought I would say together).

Divergent (Book 1) by Veronica Roth

Description

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

I feel OK reviewing this now because for quite a while there hasn't been a release date for the final book of the trilogy. Nothing annoys me more than starting a series and having it end with a cliffhanger and not knowing when the next book will come out. But now that I know Allegiant will be out in October (yay!), I can confidently tell you that you can start reading without having too much time to freak out in between Insurgent (book 2) and Allegiant. Also, Divergent the movie will be released next year (March 2014 estimated) so you should definitely read it before the movie comes out! Now on to the actual review!

Society has taken a weird turn, dividing everyone into 4 different groups. There is also a 5th faction, Divergent, who are outcasts because they either didn't fit in any group and did not choose or they failed the "initiation" into the faction they chose and are now without a faction to call home. The book is based in a Chicago that has since fallen apart. The reason for the factions was to make society more peaceful and to stop war.

Tris has to decide which group she will join because the results of the "test" they take to help them decide what to choose wasn't exactly clear... this is an understatement but I don't want to spoil it for you. But it's pretty cool. She also has some special skills in the tests that I also won't mention because spoilers! She wants to not disappoint her parents by picking something outside of the faction she grew up in but she feels like she just doesn't fit in.

This was another book that was hard for me to put down. But I was able to read this without freaking out too much about when the next book would be out because it wasn't too cliffhanger-ey. Book 2 ends with one of those though... just to give you a fair warning. A great series and I can't wait until October!

Zoo by James Patterson

 

Description

All over the world, brutal attacks are crippling entire cities. Jackson Oz, a young biologist, watches the escalating events with an increasing sense of dread. When he witnesses a coordinated lion ambush in Africa, the enormity of the impending violence becomes terrifyingly clear.

With the help of ecologist Chloe Tousignant, Oz races to warn world leaders before it's too late. The attacks are growing in ferocity, cunning, and planning, and soon there will be no place left for humans to hide.

This was one of those books that I couldn't put down. It had an interesting plot, action & tension to keep me interested and some scenes that had me a little scared... I was worried, OK?

Animals all over the world are attacking humans. It isn't normal attacking either. It's this crazy coordinated animal mob kind of attack, pets are turning on their owners and the animals are really smart about the attacks. Then of course there is the political aspect of everything. Oz knows something is up and has been trying to warn people for years, but politics blah blah blah and the world is doomed because nobody will listen and politicians are being ignorant. I feel like Patterson was trying to make a point here, making me think he has an issue with politicians and the way things are run; Ignoring the problem until it can't be ignored anymore.

And then there's the obvious undertones: animals aren't the bad guys, we are for ruining the Earth! We brought this on ourselves! (This may be true but still... not a new concept). A different take on why it's happening though, I'll give him that. Something I thought was a little strange was that half way through the book it jumps ahead 5 years in time. Possibly to show that nature won't make that swift of a change overnight? And maybe that's why people don't notice things that happen gradually unless they're paying attention? Just speculating, here.

What I didn't like was the lack of emotion by the main character, Oz. It's (mostly) narrated in the first person and I was getting so angry that he didn't seem to be emotional at all when people around him died. He would be like, oh no! This person I cared about was killed! Death and stuff... whatevs. And then go back to what he was doing, at one point making a really weak joke. Gah!

But, overall, it was an entertaining read for a lazy day. And (added bonus) if you have a kindle and want to sample the book a little bit before you decide if you actually want to buy it or not, you can get a free preview of the first 23 Chapters!

Updated: I also recently (as of June 2013) listened to the audio book. If you choose to listen to the audio book, beware that the guy that reads the book is bad at Chloe's French accent. I considered fast forwarding the parts where she talked because I was so annoyed.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Description

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the Smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

This is another "dystopian" type of young adult novel. I can't help it, I love them! This series is based in a future where everyone gets surgery when they turn 16 to make them "pretty." It gives everyone who has it similar looks- because until you look like everyone else, you're "ugly" and are separated from the "Pretties." Once you become pretty you get to live in Pretty Town and go to parties and your life becomes amazing or whatever.

The setting is around 300 years in the future where the old cities were abandoned and the people who used to live there are called "Rusties'." The Rusties' cities have decayed after a bacteria that infected the oil society had been so dependent on, making it unstable. Society fell apart and everything made of the old metals was abandoned and rusted (hence, Rusties'), including cars, buildings, etc.

Tally and Shay meet 3 months before their 16th birthday (which they share) and become friends. Shay isn't really interested in becoming pretty while Tally wants to be like everyone else. Shay leaves for the smoke before their birthday leaving Tally in a bind because the cruel and scary looking Dr Cable says Tally won't become pretty until she finds the smoke (following the clues Shay left her) and alerts Special Circumstances. Because (for reasons I'm not going to tell you about) the government wants everyone to be pretty and those ugly people in The Smoke living their lives are going to ruin everything. But Tally starts to care for these people causing a dilemma for her.

I really liked the concept and it made me think about society's concept of "pretty" and why it's better to be yourself than to cave to society's pressures. All the feels! Plus they have cool hoverboards... HOVERBOARDS! Definitely worth a read!

Congo by Michael Crichton

Description

Deep in the African rain forest, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an expedition of eight American geologists are mysteriously and brutally killed in a matter of minutes.

Ten thousand miles away, Karen Ross, the Congo Project Supervisor, watches a gruesome video transmission of the aftermath: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside dead bodies--all motionless except for one moving image--a grainy, dark, man-shaped blur.

In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, a gorilla with an extraordinary vocabulary of 620 "signs," the most ever learned by a primate, and she likes to finger paint. But recently her behavior has been erratic and her drawings match, with stunning accuracy, the brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642 . . . a drawing of an ancient lost city. A new expedition--along with Amy--is sent into the Congo, where they enter a secret world, and the only way out may be through a horrifying death . . .

I liked this novel despite the technical mumbo-jumbo, of which there was a lot. I am easily distracted and there were quite a few times when descriptions of things went on and on and I started to imagine it sounding like the adults in Peanuts cartoons "woh wah wah woh wah wah wah..." I mean, I'm glad Crichton put so much effort into researching things, but could we get back to the gorillas, please?

Now on to the good stuff. I loved Amy the gorilla (but who wouldn't? She's awesome!). The action scenes were what made me keep coming back and not want to put the book down. Karen Ross often goes between someone I liked and disliked, which worked for me because if you have a character in a book you can't stand you just want them to die a horrible death... or is that just me? Overall it's a book I would recommend people read even with the boring over detailed parts.

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Description

"Relentless terror." The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The classic, blockbuster thriller of man-eating terror that inspired the Steven Spielberg movie and made millions of beachgoers afraid to go into the water. Experience the thrill of helpless horror again -- or for the first time!

Everybody should know about Jaws by now so I shouldn't have to explain in too much detail. There's a big great white shark off the beaches of Amity. It starts eating people because it's hungry.

And I can't believe it but... I liked the movie better. This has only happened to me 3 times so I feel like the odds are still really good that "the book will be better" in general. But not in this case. Or these books. But, to be fair, Jaws is one of my favorite movies so... seeing as it isn't much like the movie it didn't really have a chance.

I hated just about all of the characters... nope, scratch that, I hated all of the characters at one point or another. There was some suspense when it came to the shark attacks but for the most part it focused on the crappy behavior of the people involved. I suppose it was a study about people's behavior in situations that threaten the livelihood of a small summer town, but I could have skipped it. In fact, I did skip some pages here and there. There was no difference. I didn't have a connection with any of the characters that would make me care about them so when they were eaten I thought that sucks for them, but that was about it.

The shark is just being a shark (though the scene when it attacks the boat... crazy!) and it is hardly the evil villain it's made out to be in the movie. Also, you'll learn a lot about sharks and fish so there's that.

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

Description

In this fable, the first man on earth to count the hours becomes Father Time. The inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.

This is one of those books that made me stop and think about life. More specifically, and obviously, about time. Dor was interested in time way back before anyone knew what time was. And, when his wife became ill, wanted to stop time or go back in time in order to be with her. What he got wasn't exactly what he was looking for.

His job later is to find 2 people, one who wants too much time and one who wants too little and to help them. He definitely does that (though it takes until the end of the book to get to it). It's an inspirational read and one that doesn't take very long to get through (always a plus for me).