Divergent Competition

HEY!
Go to this site and vote for your state for a chance to have Veronica Roth come to a bookstore near you! TEXAS is in the lead now...keep it up! I want to meet this amazing author.

http://www.epicreads.com/divergent/sweepstakes/

Hi, my name is....

Hola!

So I was recently asked by someone if I had any recommendations for a specific type of girl--one who is shy, but doesn't want to be. Most of the books that I'm obsessed with are home to feisty, fiery, fierce heroines. So this question stumped me. Now that I've had some time to scroll through my kindle and GR, here are some inspiring reads about girls who struggle to shine in their minds, but in reality are just as bright as the Clary Fray's and the Katniss Everdeen's. Here are my top 5 picks! Click on the covers for their Amazon link.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Review: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (8.5/10)

Review:

After reading Sweet Evil, by Wendy Higgins, you thought it couldn't get any better, right? Wrong! Sweet Peril, if you can believe it, is deeper, more emotional, and even hotter than the previous installment. Haunted by demon whisperers who are a little suspicious of half guardian angel, half fallen angel Anna, our awesome main character has to work for her dad, something she never thought she'd do. In Sweet Evil, Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, is there with her to help Anna in these dark times of substance abuse, but Kaidan has separated himself from Anna for both of their safeties at the beginning of the book, and it is super painful for not only Anna, but the READERS!! We want our Kaidan! Wendy Higgins does an incredible job at allowing us to feel all the emotions that plague Anna's mind, such as the conflict over embracing her dark side and the obvious torture of being away from Kaidan. So much so do we step into the shoes of Anna that when her father sends her and some old friends on missions to recruit other Nephilim, it feels as if we are the ones travelling around the world with the balance of humanity on our own shoulders. Further, when Anna and Kaidan FINALLY reunite, I swear it is the sweetest, cutest, sexiest thing I have ever read all wrapped into a lustful bundle of Kaidan-ness. Wendy's style of writing is like velvet, and she plays with our minds in the most wonderful ways. She hints at things between Kaidan and Anna but doesn't fully divulge, and then she will completely divulge but hide other things, and it's incredible. I cannot stress this enough--go buy this book!

Summary:

Embrace Your Destiny

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, promised herself she'd never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She'd been naive to make such a claim. She'd been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school's party girl. And all the while there's Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of the Duke of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: Is loving someone worth risking your life?

Find it on Amazon ~ Find it on Goodreads

What I'm Reading: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Click on the picture to buy School Spirits on Amazon!

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy's older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break. Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it's not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it's strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush. Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

Review: Of Triton by Anna Banks (9/10)

Review:

Heyo,

I feel like I could probably pass on writing a review of Of Poseidon's sequel, Of Triton by Anna Banks, because truth be told, everyone already knows that anything involving Galen and Emma is bound to be Ah-MA-zing--which of course, it was. Sequels are notorious for disappointing, especially when you have to live up to something as wondrously creative and incredible as the first installment in Anna Bank's young adult series. Of Triton, however, not only escaped the cliche of letting me down, but may have even surpassed its previous read. I loved, loved, loved this book, from the very beginning with insane amounts of bad-assity and action initiated by someone surprising (*cough* Nalia) and even more depth of Emma's character as she fights to understand what is truly right in her newly screwed up world, to the gentle romance that weaves its way in and out of the story. I'm obsessed with the relationships that take place as well, and even though Emma's mom/ Nalia/ Grom's mate/ heir to the throne dating Galen's older brother was bordering on creepy, it was interesting to read about lost love reuniting and the reactions of Emma and Galen. Emma has to face so much because of this, as she understands what she is and how she was made...not like that:/. This read balances romance, action, politics, and comedy perfectly, even throwing in a teaspoon of tragedy that I swear will make your head spin. The ending is one you will literally be so satisfied with while at the same time inwardly cursing Anna Banks for not giving you more. This is a must-read and a 9/10.

Summary:

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm. Syrena law states all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance in the Syrena world turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

$aver $aturday

Cursed by S.J. West--$3.99

Eyes of Ember by Rebecca Ethington--$2.99

Free Four by Veronica Roth-- $0.89

Review: Everblue by Brenda Pandos (6.5/10)

HELLO!!!

I am SO sorry that I have been gone for all this time! I had a concussion at the end of the year from lacrosse, so no computadora for me:( ....And THEN, everything just got crazy with make-up work, sports, and about anything else overwhelming that you don't want to deal with. I'll try to post like a bazillion and one reviews over the next couple of days to make up for my suckishness. To begin: here is a review about a little read I just recently finished--which just happens to be FREE ON AMAZON at the moment! (Therefore, no excuses not to move those fingers around the keyboard and download this book!)

Review:

    

      Everblue ((Mer Tales-Book One), by Brenda Pandos, was not one I was expecting to like. It wasn't so much that I have learned that mermaid books usually don't live up to my expectations and tend to fall towards cheesy--of course there are exceptions, *Cough*, Of Poseidon, *Cough*--and I definitely didn't judge this book by its cover, which is beautiful. In actuality, the beginning of the book just didn't do it for me. You understand, I read a lot of books, and I go through even more samples, trying to filter out the good from the great so that I can bring you all the great. So when I'm going through all of these samples, I cannot buy every single one and must decide based on the short quantity that I've read whether it is worth continuing. This particular read didn't excite me. I found it almost slow, and the main character, a redhead named Ashlyn (Ash for short), whiny and tedious. I like my alpha females to exhibit depth and spunk, two qualities lacking from Ash and he start of Everblue. However, I couldn't have been more wrong to discard this one as just nother boring mermaid book. New ideas and mer-concepts that I have never encountered in YA reads, such as "promising", which is basically the mermaid version of Twilight's "imprinting", and the thought of a world thriving with life hiding under the Earth's mantle. There were alluring sirens, Irish brutes with a soft side, and stinging barbs protruding from mer tails. Truly, this read is innovative among its fellow mer books, thriving with as many creative ideas as a true underwater landscape. I was wrong to put it down after a few chapters, because the story really heats up about a third of the way through, when there are some accidental and romantic and some not so accidental and far-from mushy promisings that occur between Ash, her neighbors and best friends Fin and Tatiana, and the mer prince, slimy Azor. The story heats up even more when aspects from human life, like a cute boy who has a thing for Ash, a best friend who is endearing and annoying all at once, and an accident that could rock Ash's swimming scholarship and plans for the future, come into play. This read is free right now, and it isn't especially long, so I do recommend it. It's hopeful and creative--a breath of fresh air after being trapped under dark waters. I give Everblue a 6.5 out of 10.

Summary:

     She wanted her life to change ... he wanted his to stay the same.Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Swimming and spending time with Tatiana, her best friend, are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college, and Ash hopes to finally ditch her longtime crush for Finley, Tatiana's twin brother. But when Tatiana and her family fail to return home after a family emergency, Ashlyn chooses to do something drastic to find them.Finley Helton and his family are good at blending in as they run their sailing charter business in Lake Tahoe. But together, they guard an ancient secret. When a not so routine meeting forces Finley, Tatiana and their mother to return to Natatoria and Fin's father on a dangerous mission, Fin can't stay caged up for long.Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, and a simple lifesaving kiss could change their lives forever.

What I'm reading: Appolyon by JLA

Review: Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter (9/10)

Summary:

Don’t miss this magnificent final chapter in the breathtaking Shadow Falls series!  Kylie’s epic journey is about to lead her exactly where she belongs…

     When Kylie Galen entered Shadow Falls Camp, she left her old life behind forever and discovered a world more magical than she ever imagined. A place where you’re two best friends can be a witch and a vampire…and where love doesn’t happen the way you’d expect.

     When Kylie’s most powerful enemy returns to destroy her once and for all, there’s only one way to stop him—to step into her full powers and make a stunning transformation that will amaze everyone around her.  But her journey won’t be complete until she makes one final choice…which guy to love.  Should she choose to the werewolf who broke her heart but will give anything to win her back, or the half-fae who ran from their attraction before they had a chance?  Everything she’s learned at Shadow Falls has been preparing her for this moment—when her fate will be revealed and her heart claimed forever.

     From author C. C. Hunter comes Chosen at Nightfall, the final book in the New York Times bestselling Shadow Falls series about a camp for paranormal teens.

Review:

     If you had to pick between Lucas, the über sexy were with a jealous streak, or Derek, the sensitive fey who you would literally can comfort you with a single touch, who would you pick? The better question is, HOW could you pick? Along with boy troubles, Kylie Galen has had to deal with ghosts, family drama, and a sociopath bent on ending her. In Chosen at Nightfall, the action heats up even more. Lucas and Kylie's relationship is a roller coaster. Te goods are really good, and the lows are pretty darn low. Struggling with stereotypes, tension between species, and traditions that Lucas has to break to be with Kylie are just a few of the problems that put walls between them. After all, he may or may not have married a werewolf behind Kylie's back...Nonetheless, I found myself rooting for him the entire time, especially when he started fighting hard for her. The chemistry between Derek and Kylie is different, closer to a friend relationship, but he's not a member of he love triangle that I wanted gone. He's still an awesome character, and there's some twists in this installment that I swear you'll love. Boy drama is always fun to read about, but the action in Chosen at Nightfall kicks some major booty. Mario and Kylie finally have to battle it out in a scene that will rock your socks off! Chosen at Nightfall can be summed up as a deliciously brilliant read that will have your eyes dry from the lack of blinking as you read from cover to cover. It's a must read in my book!

$aver $aturday

HEY THERE!

I'm introducing $aver $aturday, which is pretty self explanatory. I'll post the title and link to a fantastic book that lets you save money too! There are a lot of great titles out there, but sometimes I tend to pick the ten dollar best seller over the ninety-nine cent read because I just assume that if it isn't as sought after then it isn't as good. That's definitely not true! I'm starting this because I want you to give all books a chance, even the ones that don't show up first on the popular page.

$aver $aturday #1

                    

Flat Out Matt 

by Jessica Park: $2.99      

Dream Chaser by Angie Stanton: $0.99

Saved at Sunrise 

by C.C. Hunter:

$1.99

Review: The Prince by Kiera Cass

Summary:

Review 9/10:

Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Summary:

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

Review:
When we left off in the Chemical Garden Series, Rhine was back in the mansion, Vaughn was creepy and manipulating, Linden was vulnerable and sullen, Gabriel was far away, and Rhine's twin brother, Rowan, has been on a rampage while he's blinded by the pain Rhine's disappearance caused him. Rhine has been through hell and back time and time again, but now it seems like she's so far stuck in its fiery depths that there's no escape. She is in the hospital in Sever's beginning, recovering from harsh experiments conducted by her dear father in-law. The hospital is owned by Vaughn, so no safe haven seems so have appeared for her. It's sad to think about having no alternatives. In most of our lives, if something is bad, we can make a phone call or two and all will be resolved. We can run away from our issues so easily. What if , like Rhine, you couldn't run, but instead were just stuck? If your eyes couldn't stare at anything but a sterile white ceiling and you couldn't move your appendages because of the straps that bound them? Rhine showed the readers a really valuable point, I think. That is that a person who is stuck in something bad cannot always run, but instead can only resolve their issues and replace the bad with good if they face asperity straight on. Rhine is being tied down by threats from Vaughn and annoyance and, if you believe it, love for now-preggers once more Cecily, who I personally think gets on my nerves at moments more than any other character in the book. Anyway, Throughout the book the dynamic changes between many if the characters, including some that we haven't seen or gotten to know before this point. One of those is Vaughn's quirky and hilarious brother, Reed, who is a character I know every reader will adore. He is an inventor, an entrepreneur, and a misfit. For this, he is pretty much awesome. In some unusual circumstances--Linden helping Rhine run away again to find Rowan-- Rhine's and Reed's paths cross, and he treats her like the daughter he never had and never knew he wanted. Their personalities mesh in an endearing way that will captivate the readers. As the story progresses, Rhine has to deal with a lot of emotions. On one side, Gabriel is out there, some where, an still dear to Rhine. On the other hand, Linden is the epitome of sweetness an vulnerability, and without Gabriel there, Linden seems like the easy choice. But Rhine is nothing if not stubborn, doing anything to get what she wants. She finds Rowen against all odds and even helps him back to the brother she knew. I'm obsessed with the idea of twins, so seeing more twin action was fun. With some surprising twist and turns, the two reunite and have to make more crazy decisions. I won't give away the ending, but let me just say this: you will not see it coming. I give this read a 10/10 for going beyond my expectations and showing the readers a different side of the characters.

What to read tonight:

HARKEN by Kaleb Nation


http://www.kalebnation.com/

Giveaway Options!

Hey dudes.
I'm thinking about doing a giveaway either this week or next week and I need some input as to what book I should GIVEAWAY! It's kind of important for the whole process...;) Here are the options I'm most interested in, but let me know if you have other ideas! Also, please comment with your top couple picks!!!

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton

Shadow Lands by Kate Brian

Review: Onyx by JLA

Just realized I never posted and ONYX review....so here I go:

What to read tonight:

HARKEN by Kaleb Nation


http://www.kalebnation.com/

What to read today: Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

Review and Author Interview: Impossible by Komal Lewis

Review:

     Picture Regina George from Mean Girls. Imagine her perfectly glossed lips saying something like, "You're so pathetic," or, "Get in, loser, we're going shopping." That's pretty much every single one of Ashton Summers' friends, and even Ashton herself in the beginning. While I don't know if I am personally a fan of Ashton's character right off the bat, but I readily admit that I admire the risk Komal took with that. Nowadays, the main female character is always somewhat shy, beautiful in an non-obvious way, a little hot tempered on occasion, but unfailingly nice--which is something that perky, popular, too-good for drama geeks, fatties, nerds, and emo band freaks Ashton, is most certainly not. She has put up so many masks showing people what they want to see and being who she needed to be in order to achieve something that she holds very, VERY dear to her heart: popularity. At times I got annoyed with her character, as Ashton's cattiness was so ridiculous I almost thought it far stretched. But again, I do like that the main character in Impossible doesn't seem to fit the main character mold. About halfway through the book, Ashton's childhood friend and neighbor, Luca Byron, starts to peel away the masks and reveal a more vulnerable, caring "Ashy". Though Ashton had shown signs of veering from her mean girl path, she didn't really revert from her mean ways until midway through the book. I like the nice version of Ashy wayyyy better. Speaking of Luca--I LOVE HIM! He is one of the sweetest, most loyal dudes you will ever read about. What I like most about him, a close second to his hotness, is the way he loves so unconditionally, be it Ashy or his Mama. That's right, bad boy Luca is an adorable Mama's boy. Overall, Ashton and Luca's relationship is rocky and a little confusing at times, since I didn't understand completely why he stuck with her through the drama, but Luca is just so loyal. He's an awesome character to read about. Throughout the entire book, the flow of the writing was great, and it's a good read for whenever, wherever. It seems shallow at first glance, but the themes of the struggles of life like dealing with death and bullying have an impeccable depth to them. At the same time, it doesn't seem like you're reading a bullying pamphlet. Impossible takes us into real life circumstances, and for that, it is a must-read!

Interview with Komal Lewis:

1. What is your favorite place to curl up and read?

I do most of my reading just before I fall asleep or when I’m curled up on the sofa. But I love reading so much that I’d curl up to read anywhere, like on a rock or a cactus.

2. What book are you currently reading?

I’m actually not reading anything at the moment which is weird for a book addict like me. I did finish reading FALLEN TOO FAR by Abbi Glines a few days ago, and I might read WALLBANGER by Alice Clayton next.

3. What book has most inspired you in your lifetime?

It’s really hard to name only one book so I’m going to mention a few that have inspired me throughout the years at specific ages. At 7-years-old, the Narnia Chronicles; at 10, The Lord of the Rings; at 11, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Deltora Quest; at 12, His Dark Materials; at 14, Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenina, and Cat’s Cradle.

4. I find, when talking to authors, that they most always identify with at least one character in their book. What character in Impossible do you most identify with?

I think there are bits of me in a lot of the main characters. I can relate to the whole absent father thing that both Luca and Ashton deal with. I do see a lot of myself in Eddie because he gives great advice—the kind of advice that deserves an emotional soundtrack playing in the background.

5. Luca is awesome. Have you ever had a neighbor/ coworker/ friend who has the effect on you that Luca does on Ashton?

Thanks for saying that Luca is awesome! I have never known anyone in my life who is like Luca. It would be great to meet someone like Luca and be friends with him. I wrote Luca, wanting girls to see that you don’t need to be with a guy who’s possessive, obsessive, jealous or dangerous. Luca is different, but he’s genuinely a nice guy who cares about other people. He does screw up at the end of the book, but that was my way of saying that even Luca isn’t perfect. No one is perfect.

6. At times I felt like I was walking through Mean Girls when I was first reading Impossible. How did you come up with so many snarky one liners!?

Oh, awesome! I love Mean Girls and I was flattered when some reviewers compared Impossible to Mean Girls because I never made that connection. As I was writing, I was like, “I’m too old to mimic the teenage vernacular,” or “Would a teenager really say this?” even though I was a teenager, like, two years ago. My husband says that I have an endless fountain of witty one liners, so I guess I just channeled that into the story.

7. What's your favorite part of writing?

When I cry. I’m not much of a crier, but when I hit a particularly emotional scene, I just sit there and bawl my eyes out. My family thinks I am insane.

8. Bullying is a serious theme in Impossible. What message are you trying to put out there with your book?

Bullying is one of those sucky things that some people go through as they grow up, like measles or chicken pox. And there’s different levels of bullying. Some people don’t realise that they’re bullies and some people do it because they enjoy it. I guess the message I’m trying to send is: bullying sucks and if you’re doing it to someone, you need to take a good look at yourself and stop doing it. You don’t know how your words or your actions are going to affect another person and it could be to their detriment.

9. Have you ever changed your appearance like Luca does, first when his dad dies and then when he is with Ashton?

When I hit 14, I went through a huge punk rock phase. I had blue streaks through my hair, got a lot of piercings in my ears, dressed primarily in black, and was adamant on getting a tattoo when I turned 16. Thank God, I never got that tattoo. My first tattoo is going to have a lot more meaning than the initials of the lead singer of my favourite band.

10. How has publishing a book changed you?

Not a lot actually. I still sing 90’s songs out of tune until my husband politely asks me to stop embarrassing myself. I still think and talk like I’m a hormonal, teenage boy to get into the mindset of the male characters I write about. And I still spend 90% of the day conversing with my imaginary characters. So, yeah, everything’s still normal.

I want to thank you for interviewing me, Anna. The questions you asked were terrific! 

Check out more about Komal below:

http://www.komal-lewis.com/

The Immortal Essence by RaShelle Workman

Buy the first two installments in the series for less than $2.00!

Review: Entangled by Nikki Jefford

REVIEW: 

     Entangled....is a storyline fit for a Disney movie-in the good way. Like Twitches or The Luck of The Irish, it's filled with magic and fun, not omitting a serious morale to be learned. The twin witch shtick might be a teensy bit overdone, the good sister/ evil sister concept a bit weary, but I actually really enjoyed reading about identical twins Charlene and Graylee Perez. Gray is the "good" twin, a simple, intelligent girl who works hard and has a good head on her shoulders. Though she seemingly struggles with her magical powers--the powers "gifted" people have--Gray is really a very talented witch. Her other half, evil beyotch drama queen Charlene, has secretly been sabotaging her sister and getting away with it, too--along with some help from her annoying friend, Ryan. I actually thought Charlene's character was too cliche and therefore a little annoying, but her relationship with Ryan was intriguing, and her obsession and desire for popularity and school hottie, Blake foster gave me chills. When Stacey Morehouse (Whorehouse to the angry locals) moves in on Blake, Charlene shows her true colors. At this point in the book I started to enjoy it more, which excited me since I was sort of confused by the beginning and was doubting I'd even tolerate Entangled. But as the intro concluded, the drama really picked up and I felt I was looking at a magical version of The Clique. The bad boy character of Raj Mckenna helped me, too. Like most Good Girl Falls for The Wrong Boy Who Is Really The Right Boy scenarios, Raj sheds his hard exterior and shows a caring, sweet side who loves his little sister and has secrets that make him vulnerable. That relationship had happened again, and again, and again....and again, and again, and again. I saw it coming before I turned past the title page. Nevertheless, it seems readers will never get tired of the feeling when the good girl falls for the bad boy, because in reality, all of us good girls secretly yearn to let loose and fall for a pair of big brown eyes in a leather jacket. Raj Mckenna has the same effect. Entangled also hosts the tradish love triangle with a boy named Nolan, who I personally couldn't stand from the beginning. Any guy that can't hold a gaze or a real conversation is not worth my time...especially not in a book. So it's safe to say Nolan took annoying to an extreme, even showing a twisted side when he sides with Charlene to try to um, take care of a little problem called Graylee Perez. When the book begins to end, I was disappointed that the female heroine didn't exemplify the justice I've come to expect from said female heroines. If I'm being honest, I don't see Entangled being the next Hunger Games. I still think it's a good read though, and I encourage you all to read it and tell me what you think. One note: there are hints of sexual encounters on a few occasions.

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