Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Spy X by Peter Lerangis: Review

 

It's time for the second month of The Books that made me Love Reading Challenge, hosted by Emlyn Chand! For February, the book- well, series, actually, that I've picked is...


In this thrilling mystery series, 12-year-old twins Andrew and Evie navigate through a maze of intrigue and espionage as they try to uncover the truth about their mother's disappearance. Leaving only a cryptic note, Andrew and Evie's mother vanishes on their eleventh birthday. 
Now, almost a year later, the twins receive a mysterious package from someone named Spy X. They soon learn that the contents of the box will lead them on an incredible journey toward finding their mother - and into a world where no one's identity can be trusted.

Andrew and Evie aren't initially sure what to make of the package that arrives at their door soon after they move to a new town. It's filled with random things--a key, something that looks like a kaleidoscope, a seed packet, and a cryptic note. But over time, each item takes on unique importance. 
The twins decide to fill the dull weeks before the start of school by spying on their neighbors. Their first target is their next-door-neighbor. At first she seems like a run-of-the-mill older lady, but she turns out to be a retired code specialist. She teaches them to create and break codes, skills that become important as twins' search for their mother intensifies.
Spy X is a four book spy adventure series. I can still remember the day I bought my copy of the series. It was the second book, Hide and Seek. At the same time, I'd also bought The Mediator: High Stakes, by Meg Cabot. Mixing MG and YA lit together, but ended up loving both series. :D

So, I ended up rereading the entire series. Hey, they're short books! And I gotta say, I still enjoyed them. Ever since I was a little kid, I've always been fascinated with spies and codes and secret missions. It was fun rereading Andrew and Evie's adventures as they cracked clues and solved puzzles in search of their mother.

This series has it all- tons of mystery, humor, and non-stop action and adventure. The codes and riddles in the book are fun, albeit a bit difficult, to crack. I can still remember a certain code in the fourth book, and how it's brilliance absolutely stunned me. There are cliffhangers, jaw dropping revelations, and a lot of other shocking surprises which will keep you flipping through the pages.

The Rating
Five stars. Spy X is a middle grade series, but that didn't stop me from loving it. I definitely recommend it kids, because the fast paced plot will definitely capture their attention. Heck, this series made my sister love reading! Not kidding. She's currently bugging me for new books for her to read!

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Memorable Monday #4




And I'm back with my fourth Memorable Monday! For those who have no clue on what this is, this is a meme hosted by Escape in a Book, where you share a a certain quote that you love- funny, beautiful, or memorable in any way.

How to participate?
1. Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.
2. Go here and leave the link to your post in our inlinkz widget.
3. It would be nice if you visited one or two of the other participants.
4. If you tweet your posts then feel free to use the hastag #MemorableMonday

This week, my quote comes from... 

 

There's a hot guy in Susannah Simon's bedroom. Too bad he's a ghost.
Suze is a mediator-a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind. And Suze happens to be in the way.
Aaah, this is one of my top favorite series of all times! I love Suze, and I most definitely love Jesse! :D This book made me fall in love with YA and all things paranormal. This series was just so fun, and I had the best time reading it! So, here's my quote... more of a paragraph, really. :P
He blinked at me with those big dark eyes. His eyelashes were longer than mine. It isn't often I run into a ghost who also happens to be a hottie, but this guy...boy, he must have been something back when he was alive because here he was dead and I was already trying to catch a peek at what was going on beneath the white shirt he was wearing very much open at the throat, exposing quite a bit of his chest, and some of his stomach, too. Do ghosts have six-packs? This was not something I had ever had occasion – or a desire – to explore before.
Not that I was about to let myself get distracted by that kind of thing now. I'm a professional, after all.
Aaah, Suze. She never learns, does she? ;)

And because I couldn't resist, here's another one from the fourth book:

Suze should be spending the summer vacation at the beach. Instead, she's been forced to get a babysitting job at a swanky resort. She'd expected to look after some boring brat, so Suze is surprised to find that her charge is actually a budding mediator - with a totally hot older brother. Not that Suze's head could be turned by some guy - she's pledged her heart to Jesse, the most gorgeous ghost ever. But, it's tough when the boy you love doesn't seem to love you back, and it's even tougher when you think you've found his 150-year-old grave in your backyard. Suze knows it's dangerous to dig up the past, but how can she focus on babysitting when she could be close to discovering who killed Jesse?
Another step toward me. Now he was right in front of me. 
"Especially," I said significantly, looking up at him, "from talking. That's what I especially need a day off from. Talking." 
"Fine," he said. He reached up and cupped my face in both his hands. "We don't have to talk." 
And that's when he kissed me. 
On the lips.
 *swoons*


Yes, this series might be old, but definitely a must read! There's even a shiny new omnibus of the first two books, if you're interested! :D

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Sunday, February 26, 2012

In My Mailbox #4

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme over at The Story Siren's, where you share what books and other goodies you got. So this was an okay week at the mailbox. I got three books in all: 

(Ugh, crappy picture. Sorry, I used my iPod. It doesn't take the best quality pics though.)

And in case you wanted to see the covers...

I've actually finished reading Under the Never Sky. It was soo awesome! I'm gonna post my review up soon someday. I'm excited to read Matched, now that the sequel has been out for quite some time. And of course, the Bar Code Tattoo. I've already read it's sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion, but didn't really understand it. Hopefully things will change after reading the first book!

So what books did you snag this week? :)

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

Care to Share? 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

My Three Royal Rules

Okay, so this isn't really a blog post... More of a comment, really. (If you're reading this, HI Kiera! :D)

I know I could have just placed a comment, but I wanted pictures. So yeah, posting a comment wasn't enough for me. Eh, enough with my blabbing. Here are my three royal rules:

1. A princess shall never stuff her face in public, but learn how to chew and swallow slowly, lest this happens:

2. A princess shall not seduce the enemy. Because eww, that's just wrong.

See? ICK.

3. A princess shall always maintain proper grooming. However, she must know how to keep up appearances, and therefore should never use an eating utensil as a comb.

These rules must be followed at all times, in order to prevent the incident last year from happening again. Namely, this:

That is all.

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief  

Friday, February 24, 2012

Transcend Time Title Hunt


Welcome to the Transcend Time Saga Title Hunt! The title hunt is the reveal of the title for the final novel in the Transcend Time Saga. Each of the bloggers participating in the hunt have been given a letter. Hop around to the blogs participating to hunt for the letters. (And remember that two of the letters are used twice, so the title is eight letters long.)

Once you've unscrambled the title, go to Michelle Madow's blog and use the title name to enter the giveaway for a voucher for an advanced e-copy of the final Transcend Time novel! (She is giving away a voucher because the novel is planned to be released at the end of the year, and she hasn't finished writing it yet! This voucher will ensure that you will receive an advance e-copy once they are available).

And so, my letter is: E

 I wonder what will happen in this book. Will Chelsea have her revenge? How will Lizzie and Drew end up together? I wanna know. :D

Oh! And the e-version of Remembrance is on sale for $0.99 until Michelle's USA tour ends in April, so check it out!


Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Monday, February 20, 2012

Memorable Monday #3




And I'm back with my third Memorable Monday! For those who have no clue on what this is, this is a meme hosted by Escape in a Book, where you share a a certain quote that you love- funny, beautiful, or memorable in any way.

How to participate?
1. Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.
2. Go here and leave the link to your post in our inlinkz widget.
3. It would be nice if you visited one or two of the other participants.
4. If you tweet your posts then feel free to use the hastag #MemorableMonday


So for this week's quote, I got it from The Iron Queen, the third book in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Now, I dunno with you guys, but I freaking adore this series Need proof? Here's my 5 star review of The Iron King, 6 star review of the Iron Queen, and 6 star review of The Iron Knight.

So here's my quote:
Ash rose, hesitated, as if fighting the compulsion to obey. “I will always be your knight, Meghan Chase,” he whispered in a strained voice, as if every moment he remained was painful to him. “And I swear, if there is a way for us to be together, I will find it. No matter how long it takes. If I have to chase your soul to the ends of eternity, I won’t stop until I find you, I promise.”
*melts into a puddle of goo* I love this quote of Ash. So utterly sweet. So heartbreaking. But the best part? He manages to fulfill his promise. Not kidding- her literally went to the ends of the Earth. For Meghan. Seriously, you MUST read this if you haven't yet.

And if you're interested in knowing more...


My name is Meghan Chase. 
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it. 
This time, there will be no turning back.
Oooh! And this time, I actually didn't pick a funny or sarcastic quote! Aren't you proud of me? :D

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief
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So what quote did you pick? Leave a link!

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Cover Reveal: Inbetween by Tara Fuller


Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option. 
It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left… his soul.
It sounds so good, right? And that cover- its simple, yet beautiful. I really cannot wait to read this one! If you are interested, here are some links to check out:

Release Date:  August 7, 2012

And once again, here's the cover in its full sized glory, for your viewing pleasure:


Any thoughts?

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Friday, February 17, 2012

The Iron Fey #4- The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa: Review


Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
I am so thankful that Julie Kagawa wrote this book. And for her editor for convincing her to. C'mon, if things ended at The Iron Queen? I would have been devastated!

The Iron Knight started off slowly with Prince Ash, devastated over Meghan. And so he does something that many other fey have done but never succeeded: he wants to earn a soul, so he can be with Meghan in the Iron Realm. 

I LOVED Ash. I loved his devotion and love for Meghan. How he never stopped fighting for their love, and he never gave up on finding a way to be with her. He pushed himself to the extreme, all because of his love for her. If that isn't love, I don't know what is!

And damn, does Kagawa know how to write a thrilling plot or what? Things picked up very quickly once Ash began his journey to the End of The World. It the adventure of the journey that I've grown to love in this series. But that wasn't the best part. 

I loved the gauntlet. The tests they went through were brilliant. But what I loved the most was the last quarter of the book. The part where Ash goes through three tests to earn his soul. They were heartbreaking- seeing him like that, but knowing that he wouldn't ever give up. And the last test? It was a-ma-zing! I actually thought it was reality- but was the ending totally crushing! You just have to read it for yourself. I know I'm not making much sense, because I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words!

The Rating
6 stars!!! It was the perfect conclusion to an epic series. I'm not usually a sucker for really happy endings, but I loved how Kagawa ended the Iron Fey. The ending was sweet and simple, and I adored it. I actually tried putting off reading this book, because I didn't want then series to end!

My only complain? Puck was all alone! Seriously, I felt so bad for him! But anyway, in spite of that, The Iron Fey series is something nobody should miss out on. Go read it. Now. 

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

February Valentine's Event: VOTE TOD!



So there's this awesome Valentine's Event over at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me and Eleusinian Mysteries. To make things short, I'm going to be defending the swoon-worthy Tod from Soul Screamers. The series, for those who haven’t read it yet, is about Kaylee Cavanaugh, a bean sidhe- or simply, a banshee. And the love triangle? It’s between her, Tod, and Nash- who so happens to be Tod’s brother. Messy much? ;)

So, who exactly is Tod? We already know he’s Nash Hudson’s brother, and Kaylee’s boyfriend. But he’s not entirely human… Tod is not only a bean sidhe- but he’s a dead one. And no, he’s not a ghost- he’s a reaper.


Readers who have made it to If I Die, the fifth book, will surely be able to relate to what I'm saying. If not, then just read on. Readers who've only made it as far to the first two-three books might still be on Team Nash, but please hear me out. You'll soon find out just why Tod's better than his brother. 

So just what makes our reaper Tod the perfect guy? Well…

His Looks

Reaper: black hood, skeleton-like, carries a scythe


Is that what you thought? Then I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not how Tod looks like. Tod might be a reaper, but that’s the last thing he looks like. Here’s a direct thought from Kaylee on how he looks like:

“I looked up to find a young man standing in front of the empty chair on my right. He wore faded, baggy jeans and a short-sleeved white tee with no sign of a coat, in spite of the temperature outside. And his fierce expression did nothing to harden cherubic lips and bright blue eyes, crowned by a mop of blond curls.”

An angelic looking reaper? You just gotta love that! And no, he doesn’t wear a black hood, or bring a scythe everywhere, despite what the picture looks like. Tod is just like any other normal teenage guy- except that he’s frozen at the age of 17, he’s a bean sidhe, and works as a reaper and as a pizza delivery guy. So he delivers both death and pizza! How cool, albeit twisted, is that? ;)

His Abilities

So, it must be pretty obvious that our guy here has got some kick-ass powers!


As a male bean sidhe, he can save the life of a person with the help of a female bean sidhe. But that’s not really recommended unless you want some other innocent person to take the place of the one you saved.

As a reaper, he’s got some pretty sweet abilities! He has selective visibility- meaning he can chose who to be visible to. And who can hear him. Which is pretty useful when he needs to say, sneak in a psychiatric hospital, or knock your obnoxious cousin unconscious. Your pick. :)

Not only that, the laws of physics don’t apply to him. He can not only pop from one place to another in a second, but he can travel to the Netherwold and back with a blink of his eye. And he can walk through doors and walls too. Selective corporeality has never been more fun!

Other Worthy Features

So just why is Tod the best guy for Kaylee? Well, he’s fiercely loyal and protective. He’s actually there to comfort and help her when Nash couldn’t. He helped heal Kaylee and make her whole again. If this isn’t proof enough, I don’t know what is:

“Does this make us even, Reaper?” I asked.

In answer, Tod kissed me.

And finally, my heart began to beat.

Come on, isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever read? Speaking of sweet, our reaper has a totally sweet side:
“Will you be there when it happens?” I blurted. So...will you stay with me until it’s over? Please?" 
For one horrible moment, I was afraid he’d say no. Afraid I’d asked too much from a relationship less than eighteen hours old. Then he leaned forward to kiss the corner of my mouth and whisper into my ear. 
“Kaylee, I would do anything for the girl who granted my dying wish.”
And when I said he’s fiercely loyal and protective? I wasn’t kidding.
 The reaper swung before either of us realized what he intended to do. 
Tod's very solid fist slammed into Nash's jaw. Nash's head snapped back. He stumbled into the wall. Tod shook his hand like it hurt. “That's for what you let him do to Kaylee.”
See? Tod punched his own brother for what he did to Kaylee! Who wouldn’t want a boyfriend who will stand up for you no matter what?

And now, for my favorite feature: Tod’s humor. And I quote:

“A reaper with a sense of humor. This should be interesting.”

Tod is beyond funny. He’s sarcastic, snarky, and knows how to make the darkest situation turn light. I mean, even in the face of Death, he still has his humor. Literally.


FUNNY ALERT!!!
Startled, I twisted on the bed to find the child reaper in a waiting room style armchair by a darkened window, his short hair bright red in the glaring fluorescent light. His feet didn’t reach the floor and his smile didn’t reach his eyes. 
“Shouldn’t you be getting back to Snow White?” I snapped, rubbing my chest again, still surprised when it didn’t hurt. “No one ever mentioned that death would come in the form of a sucker-punching little dwarf.”
Tod just wakes up- from being dead- and he still has his sarcasm. Here’s some of my all time favorite passages featuring his wit:
The reaper shifted in his seat, but made no move to stand. “That’s what you were buried in.” His careless gesture took in my stiff shirt and the pressed black pants I’d never seen in my life.
I looked like a waiter. 
------ 
Levi shrugged, hands in his pockets. “It may work for a little while. But the more time you spend with them, the harder it’ll be for them to accept your death. Even if they never see you. And beyond that, they will grow old, and when they die, there will be nothing left of your humanity. Death will have you eventually, Tod, and the longer you cling to what you had, the harder it’ll be to let go in the end.” 
“So, you reap souls and crush hopes? Is that part of the job, or just a service you offer for free?” 
-----
And when he learns about his abilities?

“So, ‘reaper’ is really just a nice word for ‘covert pervert?’ Is that what you’re saying?”

Don’t worry though, Tod’s anything but a perv. ;) In fact, he’s the complete opposite! He's not controlled by his hormones, and Tod actually cares about Kaylee’s feelings. 

-----
“So, would you say I’m closer to a zombie or a vampire? I gotta know—are my parts going to rot and fall off, or am I forever frozen in youthful perfection?” 
----- 
I turned to give him a clear view of my back in the parking lot lights. “Notice the conspicuous absence of wings and a halo.” 
Levi actually laughed, the first look of genuine amusement I’d seen from him so far. 
He makes a grim reaper laugh. Now does that tell you anything? 
----- 
Just FYI, in your case, I think it’s okay to fear the reaper.”
Don’t worry though- that's reserved for Netherworld baddies who threaten his and his loved ones' lives. Tod’s really sweet; he won’t bite! ;)

  -----

And my personal favorite:

“I said, you’re a smartass, Hudson.”

I grinned. “I recognize no other kind of ass.”

So if you haven’t fallen in love with Tod yet, I don’t know what will. Tod is my perfect (unfortunately) fictional  boyfriend, and nothing will ever change that.

Oh yes, and before I end this- here’s one last quote from Tod:
“So what you’re really saying is that kissing me is one of those things a girl shouldn’t die without experiencing, right?”

He has no just how right he is! ;)

Hopefully, I've convinced you on just how Tod's the better boyfriend! So please, click here, or on the banner below, AND VOTE FOR TOD! Go make our reaper happy!


Jen @ Midnight Book Thief


SPREAD THE WORD PLEASE!  

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Soul Screamers #2- My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent: Review

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies. 
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul. 
The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand. 
Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

My Soul to Save has always been one my favorites in this series. (Right after If I Die!) I even enjoyed it more than My Soul to Take! What I loved the most was the plot of the story. It was totally original, and so twisted. So very twisted.

Addison Page is a famous teen popstar. Why? Because she sold her soul to a hellion. Being Tod's former girlfriend, Kaylee and Nash must help her save her soul, along with a certain reaper's help.  Okay, I loved the suspense and the tension. Throughout the book, I kept on thinking, "How will they do it?" It totally seemed impossible! But trust Kaylee to come up with something. I can't help but admire her resourcefulness- she always finds a way to make it out of an impossible situation- alive.

Bt you know what really killed me? The ending. It was utterly heartbreaking. I won't spoil what happened for those who haven't read it yet- but trust me, the ending was the ultimate act of sacrifice.

On a brighter note, we get to see more character developments! We now know that Kaylee's smarter than we think, and Nash... Well, Nash can be capable of fury and snapping at someone. :P Tod though- we get to see a side of him we haven't seen before. Tod isn't just all snark and sarcasm- he has a soft side too. We see just how loyal he can be to those he loves, and I love him for that. He was willing to give up anything just to save Addy's soul. And not only that, who knew our favorite reaper could be reduced to a blushing schoolboy in the presence of a thousand year old reaper? Now that Tod was way adorable! ;)

The Rating 
So before I spend anothor paragraph droning on how much I love Tod, I'm giving this book 5 stars. Yes, another full star rating. I just can't help it; I love these books so much! :D

Cover Wars
So once again, I'm gonna ask: Which one do you prefer? US or UK edition?

 

Personally, I'm in favor of the US edition. The UK one kinda freaks me out. Those eyes, freakishly staring at you, deep into your soul.....

BOO!

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Any thoughts on this book (and Tod)? ;) Which cover do you like better? And if you signed up for the SSRC as well, leave your link! :D

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Memorable Monday #2



And I'm back with my second Memorable Monday! For those who have no clue on what this is, this is a meme hosted by Escape in a Book, where you share a a certain quote that you love- funny, beautiful, or memorable in any way.

How to participate?
1. Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.
2. Go here and leave the link to your post in our inlinkz widget.
3. It would be nice if you visited one or two of the other participants.
4. If you tweet your posts then feel free to use the hastag #MemorableMonday
 This week's quote is taken from my current read, Spellbound. Here they are:
Well, I was avoiding Brendan and Anthony for different reasons. I was afraid I'd lose control: I'd throw myself on Brendan, or throw up on Anthony. 
“You’re lying!” I yelled, my hands clenched into fists. “She rejected you, and you know it. But tell me another story, Mother Goose. You seem full of fairy tales.”
Yes, so I cheated an placed two. I couldn't help it- I love Emma's narration. She's certainly full of spunk! And for those who want to know more about this book, here's the summary:
What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.
I'm totally enjoying this book! So what was your quote? :)

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Friday, February 10, 2012

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie: Review

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.
Ah, Unleashed. I gotta admit, I picked up this book with mixed expectations. For one, I've read some bad reviews about this book. However, I'm a big fan of Debbie's and Nancy's books, so I gave it a shot.

The Bad
The romance. Noooo. Ugh, please no. There wasn't that much romance in this book as compared to hormone controlled lust fests. Crude, I know, but that's how I saw it. Katelyn, upon seeing a guy, could only use the word "hot" to describe him before going all gaga for him. It just felt so wrong!

The writing. As much as it pains me to admit this, the writing was mediocre. I mean, look, the YA book market's oversaturated with werewolf books. To write yet another book about them, you gotta make yours stand out. Sadly though, Unleashed didn't really make a lasting impression. It didn't bring anything new to this paranormal aspect at all.

The Good
The plot. Yes, I know I said the plot wasn't all that great, but it was decent. While the pacing was a bit slow, it wasn't that dragging, so I finished this book pretty fast. However, I did like the ending part. The last part of the book was my favorite, and props to the cliffhanger ending!

The Rating
I'm guessing this book gets 3 stars from me. It was actually a decent read that had some pretty good moments. It's just that this story could have been so much more, with two amazing authors writing it. I was just so disappointed when it just kinda fell flat instead of becoming a favorite read. But yeah, the plot's okay enough that I'll be picking up the sequel when it comes out.

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief
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So... what'd you think of this book? Yay or nay?
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Thursday, February 9, 2012

I Got Tagged!

So Jen Ryland tagged me, and now I have to answer 10 questions. Err, I actually tagged myself, but anyway...

So here are my answers to her nosy questions! ;)

Most favorite/least favorite household chore?
Um, I don't do household chores... But from what I've tried before? Sweeping the floor. Gah, I hate sweeping the floor so much. I seriously can't understand how it can accumulate dust that fast!

Makeup/beauty item you can't live without?
Ditto to this. I don't do makeup. Though I guess I can't live without powder. I love baby powder. :) 

Go-to karaoke song?
Nah, not really, unless you want all the glass to shatter. I can't sing to save my life! :P I'll just stick to listening to music, thank you very much.

Morning person or night person?
Night person, definitely! In the morning, I'm cranky as hell. Though at night, I get all hyper. Yup, I'm definitely a night owl!

Favorite thing to eat at a movie theater?
Popcorn's not really my thing. Just give me a Coke (regular, Diet and Zero taste like crap), and I'm one happy camper!

If you won a free trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Aaah, I can't pick! But I definitely wanna go to Europe. Maybe visit the Eiffel Tower, then the Buckingham Palace. :D Or maybe go to New York during the BEA. Oooh, and I wanna go to Egypt as well- I wanna see a pyramid!

E-reader or paper books?
Paper books all the way! While e-readers are portable, nothing can replace holding a real book. Plus, I love looking at the pretty books on my bookshelves! :)

Which TV/reality show would you love to make an appearance on?
Oh- now that's scary. I'm a shy person, so I'm not gonna do well on a TV show... Maybe if there was a reality show that's book-related, then that I might. 

Favorite Olympic event (summer or winter) to watch?
Not a sports fan. Nuh-uh. The only sporty thing I do is on my Wii! :P

Do you have any weird phobias or superstitions?
Not really. Though hyperactive kids scare me. *shudders*

So yeah, that's it. Now you're probably thinking that I'm weird. ;) It's okay, I know I am. Oh, and I don't really wanna bother anyone by tagging them- I know you guys are busy. BUT if you're bored or have some extra time, let me know if you wanna play along! And yes, I'm copying Jen's idea. :)

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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