Thursday, October 31, 2013

What's Next!



I am so excited to be participating in a new meme every Thursday hosted  by Iceybooks, this meme is designed to help us bloggers get some help from our reader's on what to read next, so every week I will post 3 books that I am trying to decide between and you guys can vote on which one you think that I should read next. Cast your vote through the poll at the bottom of this post.

Happy Reading!
Kristin

 My 3 choices for this week are:



The Theory Of Everything By: Kari Luna
Goodreads Summary:

One part Libba Bray's GOING BOVINE, two parts String Theory, and three parts love story equals a whimsical novel that will change the way you think about the world.

Sophie Sophia is obsessed with music from the late eighties. She also has an eccentric physicist father who sometimes vanishes for days and sees things other people don’t see. But when he disappears for good and Sophie’s mom moves them from Brooklyn, New York, to Havencrest, Illinois, for a fresh start, things take a turn for the weird. Sophie starts seeing things, like marching band pandas, just like her dad. 

Guided by Walt, her shaman panda, and her new (human) friend named Finny, Sophie is determined to find her father and figure out her visions, once and for all. So she travels back to where it began—New York City and NYU’s physics department. As she discovers more about her dad’s research on M-theory and her father himself, Sophie opens her eyes to the world’s infinite possibilities—and her heart to love.

Perfect for fans of Going Bovine, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and The Probability of Miracles


The Waking Dark By: Robin Wasserman

Goodreads Summary:

They called it the killing day. Twelve people dead, all in the space of a few hours. Five murderers: neighbors, relatives, friends. All of them so normal. All of them seemingly harmless. All of them now dead by their own hand . . . except one. And that one has no answers to offer the shattered town. She doesn't even know why she killed—or whether she'll do it again.

Something is waking in the sleepy town of Oleander's, Kansas—something dark and hungry that lives in the flat earth and the open sky, in the vengeful hearts of upstanding citizens. As the town begins its descent into blood and madness, five survivors of the killing day are the only ones who can stop Oleander from destroying itself. Jule, the outsider at war with the world; West, the golden boy at war with himself; Daniel, desperate for a different life; Cass, who's not sure she deserves a life at all; and Ellie, who believes in sacrifice, fate, and in evil. Ellie, who always goes too far. They have nothing in common. They have nothing left to lose. And they have no way out. Which means they have no choice but to stand and fight, to face the darkness in their town—and in themselves.



Relativity By: Cristin Bishara
Goodreads Summary:

If Ruby Wright could have her way, her dad would never have met and married her stepmother Willow, her best friend George would be more than a friend, and her mom would still be alive. Ruby knows wishes can't come true; some things just can't be undone. Then she discovers a tree in the middle of an Ohio cornfield with a wormhole to nine alternative realities. 

Suddenly, Ruby can access completely different realities, each containing variations of her life—if things had gone differently at key moments. The windshield wiper missing her mother’s throat…her big brother surviving his ill-fated birth…her father never having met Willow. Her ideal world—one with everything and everyone she wants most—could be within reach. But is there such a thing as a perfect world? What is Ruby willing to give up to find out


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday!



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases that everyone is waiting on.

This weeks selection is:

 
Title: Dorthy Must Die
Author: Danielle Paige
Published: April 1st, 2014
Goodreads Summary:

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

 My Thoughts:

I don't know about you guys but, I loved the Wizard of Oz growing up like I watched the movie every day, I loved it so much. I am so excited to read this one, I can't wait to see where the author goes with this story!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Blog Tour: Panic (Rook and Ronin #3) By : J.A. Huss, Review and Giveaway




My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars!
Published: October 15th, 2013
Book Blurb:

Rook is chasing her dream—film school and a chance at a life beyond the one she ran from six months ago. But before she can become the girl she wants to be, she must deal with the girl she left behind.

Ronin is also chasing his dream—a family of his own and a life away from erotic modeling. And he too, has a past he’s trying to forget. A past that makes Rook question everything about their life together.

Lies, secrets, and shocking truths will rock the foundation Rook and Ronin have built. Can they put the past behind them and move forward together? Or is this just another too good to be true relationship that will crash and burn in the end?


My Thoughts:

I was definitely excited and ready to get into a series that when I start the book I know to plan on being sucked into the story, I have to admit that Panic completely surprised me with where this one went but, in a good way. We have all of the characters that we have grown to know and love show up which is always for me like seeing old friends and I was so excited to jump back into their lives.

Rook is moving up to Spencer Shrike's bike shop in Fort Collins, Colorado to shoot the first season of the reality show about the shop and Rook is going to be the receptionist and parts girl. Ford will be joining her and Spencer in FoCo but, Ronin who is beginning work on the Gidget campaign. So much is changing and Rook seems ready to embrace it all.

Each book I feel like Rook is getting stronger and stronger and putting her past behind her and  I always feel so proud of her because I always believe that she is strong then I could have ever been. She is still pursuing her dream of film school and she is going  to community college and finally getting to do with her life what she has always wanted to do and deserved.

We get a lot more Ford in this one, I don't really know how I feel about him, he really did help rook throughout Manic and Panic but, I knew he didn't have honorable intentions so I don't think that I could ever really get behind his character completely. I think the fact that I never trusted him might have something to do with it. Although by the end I did warm up to his character a bit.

The books is told from Ronin's POV and Rook's but, I felt like we got a bit less Ronin in this one then we did in the other books. I did miss him but, I loved the parts that he was in and getting to see inside his head a bit and also getting to see Rook through his eyes.


Panic was another great addition to this series and I loved where it went throughout this book I felt like we learned so much more about all of the characters and some of the lingering questions we had were finally got answered and Rook really stood out the most in this one and I felt so proud of her. 


BOOK 1

Tragic by J.A. Huss
Publication date:  May 20th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:
Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks.  Some girls get parents.  Rook got the foster care system.  Some girls get Prince Charming.  Rook got an abusive frog.  Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it.  Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look.  The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy!  He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s portfolio.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world.  It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

TRAGIC is a new adult contemporary romance.

Purchase:



BOOK 2
Manic by J.A. Huss
Series: Rook and Ronin #2
Publication date: August 1st 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Synopsis:
TRAGIC is over and Rook is ready for the future—Spencer Shrike and the STURGIS contract!

It’s three months of body art modeling! That means three months of Spencer Shrike’s paintbrush all over her body, three months in front of Antoine’s camera, and three months of twenty-four hour filming for Spencer’s Biker Channel reality show.

Wait a minute…what reality show? Maybe she should’ve read that STURGIS contract a little closer? ;)

Sure, Rook’s bank account is almost overflowing, but Ronin is angry, Clare is trying to escape rehab, Antoine is a worried mess, and Elise is just trying to hold everyone together. Her new family is about to fall apart before she even gets the chance to enjoy them.

Add in a mysterious man from her past, a road trip to the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and a final show in front of the entire world where all her good are on display, and you’ve Manic—a new adult contemporary romance that will definitely make your summer sizzle!


Purchase:


AUTHOR BIO
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Author Links:



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Friday, October 25, 2013

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss #2) By: Stephanie Perkins


Title: Lola And The Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss #2)
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Published: September 29th, 2011
Source: Bought
Buy The Book: Amazon/Barnes and Noble
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Goodreads Summary:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My Thoughts:

Stephanie Perkins did again for me, Lola and the Boy Next Door was amazing. I was wondering if this book was going to be too much like Anna for me to enjoy it but, it wasn't and we had a cameo from St. Clair and Anna that I loved because we got to see a bit more of their college life in San Francisco and who doesn't like to see the future of the characters that they loved so much.

Lola loves fashion but not just fashion but, costume, she has a room full of wigs and crazy dresses that she isn't afraid to wear every day.  She has two dads who she loves but, are very strict. Lola has rocker boyfriend who is much older then she is and although her dads let her date him they have a million rules to make sure that Lola and him are exactly where they say they are. For Lola, the day she has dreaded for two years has finally happened,  The Bell twins and their family move back in next door, Calliope the beautiful Olympic hopeful figure skater and her brother Cricket who was Lola's first love who broke her heart and then moved away.

Lola was an awesome character, I will admit that I was a bit jealous of her but, I was jealous of her in a good way. I wished that I had enough guts to dress as creatively as she did and to wear all kinds of crazy colored wigs. But, she was just like every other teenage girl and I completely related with her, she liked her older boyfriend Max and he was older and more experienced and she loved him or at least she thought that he did. She was upset when the Bell's moved back in because her and Cricket had started to become close and she was falling in love with him but, his sister got in the way like she always had while they were growing up and she never completely got over that. She was very observant of Anna and Etienne's relationship, Anna was her boss at the movie theater she worked at (I loved that Anna worked at movie theater, it completely makes sense for her character.)

Cricket was adorable, he was definitely a guy in YA that I loved. His family was descendants of Alexander Graham Bell and when he was young he was so proud of that, he built all kinds of awesome inventions like an elevator for Lola's Barbie doll house. He has always been in Calliope's shadow moving to new places whenever she  needed a new ice skating coach. But, he still supported his sister completely even though he wished that he had a family that noticed him more and did more things together.


Overall, Lola and the Boy Next Door was another great contemporary from Stephanie Perkins, she is definitely on my auto-buy list and I can't wait to read Isla and the Happily Ever After.  I also want to note that you don't need to have read Anna and the French Kiss to read this one it is a completely new and amazing story so, definitely check this one out!

Want some more thoughts on Lola and the Boy Next Door? Check out the links below!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

What's Next!



I am so excited to be participating in a new meme every Thursday hosted  by Iceybooks, this meme is designed to help us bloggers get some help from our reader's on what to read next, so every week I will post 3 books that I am trying to decide between and you guys can vote on which one you think that I should read next. Cast your vote through the poll at the bottom of this post.

Happy Reading!
Kristin

 My 3 choices for this week are:


Also Known As (Also Known As # 1)  By : Robin Benway
Goodreads Summary:

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.

Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.




The Promise Of Amazing By : Robin Constantine

Goodreads Summary:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how. 

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love




These Broken Stars  (Starbound #1) By: Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner) 
Goodreads Summary:

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

--


A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy






Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday!



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases that everyone is waiting on.

This weeks selection is:

Title: Free To Fall
Author: Lauren Miller
Published: May 13th, 2014
Goodreads Summary:

What if there was an app that told you what song to listen to, what coffee to order, who to date, even what to do with your life—an app that could ensure your complete and utter happiness? What if you never had to fail or make a wrong choice?

What if you never had to fall?

My Thoughts :

I loved Lauren Miller's debut Parallel and it was one of my favorite reads this year so I am definitely excited to read this one and the summary makes me really curious, who wouldn't want to never make a wrong decision. What are you waiting on this week?

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Character Names I Love!



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is Top Ten Character Names I Love, Enjoy!

1. Katniss, from The Hunger Games

I will admit I do love her name, I would never do anything crazy like name one of my kids after her but, for some reason I just love it!





















2. Celaena, from Throne Of Glass


I feel like her name really fit her, and I just think that it is really pretty!

























3. Ruby, from The Darkest Minds

I just started reading this one and for some reason I just adore the name Ruby, I just picture a little girl names this that looks adorable, although I don't think that Ruby from this book is adorable, I just get that feeling in general, haha
















4. Tris, from the Divergent series


I love the name Tris, Beatrice not so much but, I think it is one of the coolest nicknames ever!


















5.  Rook and Ronin from J.A. Huss's Rook and Ronin series

Let me just tell you that this couple is steamy and their names f it soo well together and I love the name Rook for a girl it just sounds awesome!
















6. Aria from the Under The Never Sky Trilogy 


I just think that Aria is a pretty name and I love it!





















7. Rhine from The Chemical Garden Trilogy

I love her name and it so fits her and I also loved how Lauren DeStefano incorporated her name and the river into the story a bit.

















8. Peeta from The Hunger Games


I haven't chosen any guy characters but, Peeta's name just gives me all the feels!



















 9. Chaol, from Throne Of Glass

Definitely one of my favorite book boyfriends I really like his name because for some reason it really just fits him in my opinion.

















10. Transparent By: Natalie Whipple


I loved the main characters name  Fiona, she was invisible and awesome!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Monday, October 21, 2013

Review: Throne Of Glass (Throne Of Glass #1) By: Sarah J. Mass


Title: Throne Of Glass (Throne Of Glass #1)
Author: Sarah J. Mass
Published: August 7th, 2012
Source: Bought
Buy The Book: Amazon/Barnes and Noble
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Goodreads Summary:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Thoughts:

Throne Of Glass has been on my kindle since forever and I had heard so much buzz about this book and for some reason I still kept putting off reading and I was finally in the mood for some high fantasy, I will admit that I was hesitant when I started this one only because I know that people had some very strong opinions about this book, so many loved it but, I saw that there was some people who absolutely hated it. I personally loved it but, I could see where the people who didn't like it were coming from and I understood their reasons of why they didn't like it.

Celaena Sardothien is the most feared assassin in all of Adarlan, but she is caught and serves a year in the slave camp the salt mines of Endovier. Everything changes when the Crown Prince of Adarlan Dorian and the Captain of The Guard Chaol Westfall journey to Endovier to recruit her as his pick for the King's Champion competition. The Prince promises her freedom after four years of service to the King if she wins the competition, and Celaena accepts. As Celaena competes and lives at The Glass Castle,  her relationships with the Prince and the Captain of the Guard grow. But, as the competition progresses,  her competitors are found murdered in mysterious ways and if Celaena doesn't figure out what is going on she could be next.

Celaena was the perfect main character in my eyes, she was smart, cocky, sarcastic, and just an overall badass. I have seen some reviews talking about how they didn't like her character or that  her character just didn't make sense but, for me it did. Celaena is only seventeen years old and because of the life she as lead she seems much older but, I really felt like she was trying to find herself and meld the two halves of herself into one person and come to terms with her life. On the one side she is the world's most feared assassin and has been training her whole life to be the best but, she is still just a teenage girl who loves to eat sweets and wear pretty dresses. Her personality for me is what made the book so entertaining I rooted for her and I wanted her to find happiness and not just be used as a personal murderer whenever it suited a person's needs.  She was strong and she told her opinions. She was just a fierce person overall she loved fiercely and cared for everyone in that same way, I know that I would want a friend who cared as much as she did. She wasn't afraid of much and she just made this book so entertaining to read.

Ah, the  romance and the love triangle, I loved it. The one side of the triangle is Prince Dorian. The romance with Prince for me never felt completely real at least on Celaena's side. Dorian always felt like he was smitten with her and it never felt like he knew her well enough to have the feelings he was having for her. Celaena did seem like she felt something for him but, I think she was more realistic about it then Dorian was, he was the Prince and she was an assassin, they could never really be together. Now let's talk about my newest book boyfriend, the captain of the guard Chaol. Oh how I loved him throughout this book, he always felt understated and mysterious. He was serious and really respected his job and what he had to do to serve the King. I loved when he got to interact with Celaena because we really got to see another side to him and she definitely brought out a more playful side to him and whenever I got to read about them it made me smile. He was so restrained and respectful even when you knew that he felt something for her, I wanted him to finally let loose and just go for it. Chaol made me swoon throughout the whole book!

I was really happy that Sarah added the aspect of Celaena becoming friends with Princess Nehemia, their friendship began when Celaena met her touring the castle, she was the Princess from the land of Eywelle and was acting on her father's behalf to improve relations between her country and Aderlan because rebel forces had been acting up there. I just loved the aspect of Celaena having a female friend because she lived in such a male dominated world and was a part of a male dominated profession. I always felt this regal and graceful presence coming off the page whenever Nehemia was there. I was glad that Celaena had someone she could completely trust that wasn't associated with the King in anyway.  At times though I was hesitant of her only because it always felt like there was something that she was hiding.


If it isn't obvious from one of the longest reviews of a book I have done in a long time, I loved Throne of Glass. I immediately started Crown of Midnight right after I finished TOG and I  am loving it as well. I am going to be dying when I finish it and have to wait forever for the next book. I recommend this book for fantasy lovers, although it is considered high fantasy, it didn't feel as high fantasy as many of the other books in this genre I have read but, honestly Sarah J. Mass completely swept me away with this story and I never wanted it to end. 

Want some more thoughts on Throne Of Glass? Check out the link below!

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