Sunday, July 28, 2013

Review: Unraveling (Unraveling #1) By: Elizabeth Norris





Title:  Unraveling (Unraveling #1)
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Published: April 24th 2012
Source: Bought
Buy The Book: Amazon/Barnes and Noble
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died...and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet

 My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book!! I really don't remember reading a ton about this book but, when the sequel Unbreakable came out and everyone was talking about it, I knew I had to see what this book was about. I had heard Sci-Fi mentioned in many reviews and I was so curious because I really didn't have any idea about what to expect when I started this book, Norris created an amazing and adventurous page-turner that I had such a hard time putting down and each character was so important to the story I loved every single aspect of this book. 

It's hard to talk about the plot of this book only because one of the aspects that I loved so much was that I had no idea where the story was going because I didn't know much about what it was about so I am going to attempt to tell you a bit without saying much hopefully. Janelle really was your model teenager, she was super smart and had a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Her mother has bipolar disorder and it has left Janelle with helping take care of her family more  than your average teenager. Her dad is an FBI agent and loves his job, he works a lot and she helps with her brother Jared in so many ways.  At first I was wary of Janelle's dad only because when I first read that Janelle had to take care of her brother because her dad worked so much I felt bad for her, that her dad should be the one stepping up and not her but, her dad was great and along with the FBI job he brought so many more people into her life that cared about her like his partner Strutz, who I loved he was like a second dad to Janelle and Jared and cared about them like they were his own.

 The romance is hard to describe I didn't fall in love with it but,  I didn't hate it either and for most of the  book the romance was in the background and I really didn't think twice about it, the adventure was what I loved the most, never knowing what was going to happen next. Plus, the book did have a few emotional moments at least they were emotional for me, it brought tears to my eyes and had me bawling for a few pages. 

Overall, Unraveling was better than I could  have ever expected, for once the no expectations worked and mine were definitely exceeded. I felt like this book was a roller coaster ride that I never wanted to end, it gave me adventure, romance, and the feels which is definitely everything a great book needs. I can't wait to pick up Unbreakable and see what kind of adventure Norris leads me on next!

Want some more thoughts on Unraveling? Check out the links below!

Eveline's Books  
Nose Graze 

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Review: Dirty Little Secrets By: Jennifer Echols





Title: Dirty Little Secret
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: July 16th, 2013
Source: E - arc from publisher
Buy The Book: Amazon/Barnes and Noble
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Summary:

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

My Thoughts:

I was definitely curious to begin this one, I had never read a Jennifer Echols book before and I have found myself enjoying certain contemporary books more and more. I felt like Dirty Little Secret was just a bit unrealistic in my opinion, I liked the story because I am trying to learn to play the guitar so I enjoyed the music aspect and I do really like country but, at times I couldn't believe that Bailey's family would treat her the way the did and her love interest at times was a real jerk!

Bailey and her sister Julie have grown up playing Bluegrass festivals, Julie singing and playing guitar and Bailey playing the fiddle and writing their songs. It all changes one day when a record company gives Julie a record deal and leaves Bailey behind, not only that they expect Bailey to hide in the shadows and not do anything to jeopardize her new career, that includes singing or playing music at all. Bailey is sent to Nashville to stay for the summer with her grandpa after a series of in my opinion cries for help from Bailey , she has cut her once beautiful blond hair short and dyed it black and  taken to a goth look. But, deep down even Bailey knows its all an act, she is disappointed and hurt by the fact that her whole family has left her completely behind. It all changes when her Grandpa gets her a job working in country music tribute bands that play in the mall. This is where Bailey meets Sam, a guy who she has remembered from a bluegrass festival and reminds her how much she loves to play music and that she is not just destined to hide in  the background.

Bailey's felt like your average teenager, she did what I thought any teenager would do if she was put into this situation, she acted out and I understand why her parents were upset with her but, most of what she did wasn't too horrible. I was kind of angry at her parents throughout most of the book, I couldn't believe that they would agree to let their other talented daughter hide in the background while her sister became famous. It really felt like they abandoned Bailey and it was hard to come to terms with all that because I  was not happy about that aspect. 

Now, Sam Bailey's love interest was hard for me to like, I liked him in the beginning of the book. But  that ended quickly for me, after he convinces Bailey to play with his band one night it went downhill from there and I began to really dislike him. 

Overall, I did aspects of Dirty Little Secret but, I was disappointed in the little things that kept me from completely enjoying the story, I am still willing to try another Jennifer Echol's read but, I couldn't fall in love with this one.

Want some more thoughts on Dirty Little Secret? Check out the links below!

 
 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Audiobook Review: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2) By: Cassandra Clare





Title: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)
Author : Cassandra Clare
Published: December 6th 2011
Buy The Book: Amazon/Barnes and Noble
Narrated By: Heather Lind and Ed Westwick
Source: Bought
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Goodreads Summary:

It’s time—for the riveting sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Clockwork Angel! The situation at the London Institute has never been more precarious. With Mortmain and his clockwork army still threatening, the Council wants to strip Charlotte of her power and hand the running of the Enclave over to the unscrupulous and power-hungry Benedict Lightwood. In the hope of saving Charlotte and the Institute, Will, Jem, and Tessa set out to unravel the secrets of Mortmain’s past—and discover unsettling Shadowhunter connections that hold the key not only to the enemy’s motivations, but also to the secret of Tessa’s identity. Tessa, already caught between the affections of Will and Jem, finds herself with another choice to make when she learns how the Shadowhunters helped make her a “monster.” Will she turn from them to her brother, Nate, who has been begging her to join him at Mortmain’s side? Where will her loyalties—and love—lie? Tessa alone can choose to save the Shadowhunters of London…or end them forever. 

 My Thoughts:

I was so excited to listen to this book, once I found out that Ed Westwick was one of the narrators I knew that I was going to enjoy listening to it. In case you don't know who Ed is he played Chuck on  the show Gossip Girl which wasn't my favorite show or anything but, I loved his character. Plus, he is British but does a great American accent which I knew was perfect for this book. Heather Lind also did a great job with the narration and  after listening to the two of them, I could easily tell which voices they used for which  character and I really loved that. 

From the first book I  already knew that I was definitely Team Will, I don't know why but, most of the time I just have a thing for the mysterious guy and I really feel like we have got to know  Will more in the first two books then we have Jem, I don't know why but he doesn't appeal to me at all. We definitely learn more about Will in Clockwork Prince, who throughout the book works with Magnus to help Will finally be able to get close to Tessa like he wants to. Following Will throughout the book had me going on an emotional roller coaster and I bawled at the end of the book when everything was finally said and done.

I was really looking forward to learning more about Tessa, I was so curious about what she was and I will admit that I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to learn as much about Tessa as I had hoped and I felt like romance took the forefront of this book more so then The Mortal Instruments series or even Clockwork Angel. 

Overall, I was hoping for more information on Tessa and a bit more action but, I loved the romance and it had me feeling all the feels and like I said above it brought me  to tears and I am dying to read  Clockwork Princess  and find out more about Tessa and the romance!!

Want some more thoughts on Clockwork Prince? Check out the links below!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Review: Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone #1) By: Leigh Bardugo





Title: Shadow and Bone (Shadow and Bone #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Published: June 5th ,2012
Source: Bought
Buy The Book: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Goodreads Summary:

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unraveling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

My Thoughts:

  Amazing!!! I know I am one of the last people to read this one and  I had a feeling I would be wondering why I waited so long to read it but, I am just glad that I finally get to understand why everyone loves this book and I am definitely a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo and this series!

I had a feeling before I read this one that I was going to enjoy it because after I started blogging and branching out my reading genre's I found out I really enjoy high fantasy, Bardugo did an amazing job with the world building I felt like I got a feel for where Alina was living but, it never felt overcomplicated or confusing. The story is essentially good vs. evil and the aspects of light and dark are such literal concepts of it but, I enjoyed that it didn't have to be complicated to be amazing.  The only confusing aspect of the story for me was remembering what each type of Grisha's powers were and figuring  out which names went with which type. 

Alina was one of those characters that I couldn't imagine anyone not liking or being able to relate to,  growing up  an orphan the one person she relied on her whole life was her best friend Mal, they had such a strong bond with each other although it may have taken Mal a while to realize how much they really needed each  other, they were adorable. Now, onto Darkling  I was captivated by him the same as  Alina was when she met him, he was mysterious and I was dying to know more about him and I do admit that I am not usually perceptive or good at guessing  what is going to happen most of the time so, I was a bit surprised at where Bardugo took the story and Darkling's involvement.  I don't want to go too much into the plot only because I feel like everyone has read this one and if you haven 't read this one yet, stop reading my review and read this book right now!!

Overall, Shadow and Bone was the perfect read. I have to add one little side note I am absolutely in love with Leigh Bardugo's  author picture, it's beautiful! I am really excited to read Siege and Storm but, I have heard there is a cliffhanger ending so as much as I want to dive right in and read it, I am going to make myself wait so I won't  be dying until Rise and Ruin comes out!

Want some more thoughts on Shadow and Bone? Check out the links below!

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