Review: The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

The Avery Shaw Experiment

By Kelly Oram

Published: May 4, 2013

Publisher: Blue Fields

eBook, 278 pages 

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest. --Goodreads 

 

4.5 Stars

Review:

Contemporaries are always hits or misses. There are always those contemporaries that make us want to swear to never read another contemporary, but then there are the awesome romances that make us scream for more. The Avery Shaw Experiment is an adorably hilarious contemporary that totally belongs in the latter category.

Avery Shaw is the average nerd. Science club president, straight A student, she's a nerd through and through. When her best friend decides to push her away, Avery decides to use her anguish for her upcoming science fair experiment. Roping in her ex-bestfriend's playboy brother, Grayson, Avery is determined to deal with her inner pain scientifically. Too bad Grayson has far more daring ideas...

At first glance, The Avery Shaw Experiment is one of those nerd to popular books. We see Avery receiving a makeover and turning from a nerd into one in the popular crowd. However, Avery's transformation is more than physical; Avery gains confidence and develops stronger relationships with those around her. There isn't any of the cheesy scenes where the girl screams/attacks her bullies to show her strength. Avery does not need any of that crap to showcase her inner strength, making her transformation all the more compelling.

Grayson is so lovable! I'm so glad that Kelly Oram had the genius to write half of the book from his point of view, so the readers could fall deeper in love with him. He isn't perfect, in fact he has tons of flaws including his shame toward joining the science club. However, his reluctant acceptance makes his little gifts to Avery so much more romantic. His actions aren't really as heroic as fighting dragons or witches, but their total worth is so much more by helping Avery break out of her shell. If only there were more Graysons out in the world...

If there were a list of the must-read contemporaries, this book would have to top this list. With its hilarious adorkable side characters, such as Avery's best friend, Libby, to the wonderful parents who support their children all the way, The Avery Shaw Experiment is a witty coming-to-age story that leaves the rest behind by a long shot.

Favorite Quote:

"Your loss. I happen to have the spirit of a wildcat. I could take you places sexually you never knew existed." 
This time even the nerds gasped. 
"Libby!" Avery cried."What? When a girl knows what she wants, she should go for it." Libby waved a hand at Owen. "Look at those abs! Libby definitely wants." She glanced up at Owen. "Can I feel them?"

Oracle of the Delphi Blog Tour: Prophecy of Solstice's End by Diantha Jones

Prophecy of the Solstice's End (Oracle of the Delphi #3)

By Diantha Jones

Release Date: July 15, 2013

Summer Solstice is here. Let the games begin.

Nothing but lies (some of them her own) and deceit have brought Chloe to Olympus for the Solstice Olympic Games. As the Oracle and the special guest of the King of Myth, Chloe becomes immersed in a life of unfathomable luxury, taunting history, and overwhelming excitement. Though scheming and untrustworthy, the gods remain on their best behavior as the tension and anticipation builds around the outcome of the Quest of the Twelve Labors, the deadliest competition of the Games. All seems well on the celestial front...until athletes start turning up dead and a philosopher missing for months returns with a most terrifying story...

But that’s not all.

As Strafford confronts his troubled past and more is learned about the Great Unknown Prophecy, Chloe grows close to another, setting off a chain of events that will bring her face-to-face with a truth that will rock both of her worlds to their core.

And it’ll all happen before Solstice’s end... --Goodreads

Purchase Prophecy of the Solstice's End here: Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Nobles (Nook) 

4.5 Stars

Review:

Wow... This was a seriously epic roller coaster...

Let's just say a ton of stuff happens in this book. It's massive! Everything is ginormous and ridiculously insane, but this book rocks. So many secrets are revealed and so many more clues are given for future secrets. Clearly, Diantha knows what to give her readers, but unfortunately rations her servings. There was so much that I wanted and received, but just felt needed more by the end. It has been some time since a book has consumed my soul like this. I NEED MORE!!!

We begin with Chloe attending the Solstice's Olympic Games with many of the gods and demigods in attendance. With parades, parties, chariot races, and bonanzas, the Solstice's Olympic Games is an event that is rivaled by no other. However, underneath all of the fanfare that comes with this event, there are secrets lurking awaiting discovery. Each god has a hidden agenda just ready to send the world into oblivion. Cheery, isn't it? 

Plot-wise and action-wise, this book rocks the world. There are so many conflicts and plot twists that occur that make Prophecy of the Solstice's End like no other. Chloe is constantly tested by the gods, who are the most irritating and beautiful people to ever exist. Constantly, the gods come in as the pretty and the soap opera characters. It's quite humorous, but also quite irritating. We get it, they have sex appeal. No need to keep repeating how magnificent they are. My new goal is to find one ugly thing in Olympus.

But really, the best aspect of this book would have to be the character relationships. Constantly, so many characters, whom we have deemed as the best buds that could never be torn apart, are forced to question their bonds with one another. Ace, who is extremely close to Strafford and Swindle, starts to question them when they start hiding secrets from him. Additionally, Chloe finds herself becoming best buds with Strafford's sworn enemy, further testing the bonds between Strafford and her. It's crazy, but so emotionally investing as a reader.

This book would probably have to be my favorite book yet of the Oracle of the Delphi series. Although this book received a lower rating than Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise, Prophecy of the Solstice's End was a fantastic book that is so unbelievably exciting and enjoyable to read. There definitely could have been less pretty descriptions, but thankfully they did not take away from the primary focus of the book: the impending doom of the world.... Dun dun dun...

Giveaways:

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Vain Blog Tour: Review and Character Interview and Giveaway

Vain (The Seven Deadly #1)

by Fisher Amelie

Published: December 24th, 2012

Publisher: Fisher Amelie

Kindle Edition, 355 Pages

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.--Goodreads

4.5 Stars

Review: (Warning: May Contain Spoilers!)

May contain run on sentences! I have this thing where if I really liked a book I tend to blab on about it and it really shows in my writing. 

Even though I already predicted how the story will play out, it was still a really good read. There were a lot of twists in this novel that you don't want to miss. 

At first I disliked Sophie for being such a rhymes-with-witch, but then I felt sorry for her. In a way when someone acts the way Sophie Price does, you kind of have to feel a bit bad for them because they  don't have any real friends and no one to care for them, at least no one that they know of. Except in novels and on TV, the spoiled, mean people usually have that one person who is usually their servant who cares about them. In this book it was Pembrook. Although we didn't get to see much of Pembrook, the parts about him made him seem pretty awesome.

What drew me into reading this book was definitely the summary (see above). And because I have never read a YA novel that didn't have a romance aspect to it, I was intrigued by this book that claimed that it did was not a love story. But it actually was a love story, but I wasn't at all disappointed about that because once you got the love part of the novel, you were already rooting for Ian and Sophie. Even though I was rooting for Sophie and Ian, what happened to Spencer? We met Spencer at the beginning of the book and it seem like he and Sophie were going to be a thing, but NO! The weird thing is that the more Ian was featured in the book, the more I forgot about Spencer... :/ But I would love to read a book on Spencer. 

The majority of the novel takes place in Africa and I liked how the setting was important to the book. You know how sometimes a novel takes place in an uncommon area, but it seem like the novel could've taken anywhere and you even forgot where it was suppose to take place anyway?...Yeah I hate when that happens! But it didn't happen in this novel! Maybe it was just me but it seem like some of the things from the book seem to be alluding to the Kony disasters in Africa. hmmm...

Some advice: don't start this book if you can't finish it in a day! I started this novel pretty late at night, so like 10pm-ish and I couldn't stop reading it! Vain was one of those novels where you knew you had to do something else, like sleep, but you just couldn't until you finished the book. I finally finished the novel around 2am, but I had school the next morning, so I went to school on about 4 hours of sleep. BUT it was time well spent! 

My only (small) complaint was that the ending seem a bit unrealistic and rushed compared to the rest of the story, but it was still a great story! 

Purchase this novel at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Author Information:

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Character Interview: Sophie Price

Did you think you believe in true love before Ian?

Great question. Absolutely, unequivocally no. I didn’t even know what love truly was until Uganda. I learned to love in Masego. I learned to love myself when I fell in love with the children. I learned I was worth being loved in return by the way Ian treated me. True love comes in many shades and my favorite color is Ian.

Why do you think you never thought of Spencer in a romantic way? He seems to be the only boy who cares about you besides Ian.

Spencer is simply not my fate. I knew that immediately. I tried to push it but even at my absolute lowest, I couldn’t commit to using him because he was so kind to me. Also, Spencer cares for me deeply but I don’t think he realized that, even to him, I was only meant to be his friend.

Why do you think your dad was so big on appearances? Do you think that was indirectly a way of taking care of you?

My father was the ultimate in selfish. Appearances to him were everything because it kept up the façade that our family were composed, stable and well-adjusted. It gave the impression that he made no mistakes.

Unfortunately it was not his way of taking care of me, which is sad. His motivation was nothing but selfish and my mother followed along because she wanted only to please him and him alone.

If you hadn't grown up rich, and thus get exiled to Africa, do you think you would've turned out the way you are today?

It’s hard to say. If I hadn’t been wealthy, I can’t imagine my parents would have focused so zealously on themselves so I might have had a somewhat normal upbringing but then again, that’s a game of ‘what if’s’ and I’m afraid of that game because, now that I’m at Masego, I couldn’t imagine a better place to end up.

After returning to the States, you realize that you were now very different from your old friends. Do you think you will still be friends with them?

They’ve made it quite clear that they wanted nothing to do with me. My old world is a fickle place. One small mistake and your group status can come toppling down. When your entire existence is about looking good, owning everything and comparing yourself to those around you, that becomes your life’s goal. So you can only imagine when their queen bee returns to them sans couture, sans attitude, sans an ego that you have a recipe for the gossip of the century. In other words, we will never be friends again unless they make a dramatic change within themselves.

Do you have any advice for our readers?

I’ll leave you with this quote.

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” - Mother Teresa

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Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every Other Day 

By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Published December 27th, 2011

Publisher: Egmont USA

Paperback, 336 pages

Every other day, Kali D’Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She argues with her father. She’s human.

And then every day in between . . . she’s something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her, and unfortunately she’ll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive . . . and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.--Goodreads

4.5 Stars

Review

  

I really loved this book. The title, cover, and description intrigued me, and the entire story just sucked me in.

Kali is torn between two different sides of herself. One is a boring, social outcast who endures the rigors of high school, while the other is a night hunter, someone with supernatural abilities. She doesn't know the cause of these changes, only that they happen, and there is no avoiding it. Normally, the two sides never conflict with each other, that is until Kali sees the mark of an ourborus on one of the most popular girls in school, Bethany. The mark of an ourborus means that there is a chupracabra in you, which is certain death, and suddenly Kali's two worlds collide. She is faced with a monumental decision. Should she risk herself in her weak human body to save someone she doesn't even like? Well, the answer is yes, and it turns out that the chupracabra is just the beginning.

I loved all of the female characters. Kali is a smart, brave (in a kind of stupidly endearing way), and funny.  She's been pretty much alone all of her life (her dad doesn't really see her), and it is weird for her to open herself up and make friends. I have to admit, her ability to change every other day was the thing that most intrigued me. I can't give any spoilers, but I found the reason behind Kali's transformation very clever, and quite a different take on it than most other books. 

Skylar is just adorablely quirky and persistent. She is another social outcast, and completely changes Kali's life by offeering her a special friendship. Not only is she couageous, but she never stops to question her desicions; she puts everyone before herself.  At first, Bethany seemed like the atypical b**chy cheerleader, who eventually completely does a turn around and befriends Kali and Skylar. No, there is more to Bethany than we think, she has a deeper story. I'm curious to learn more about Bethany and her family's history in Kali's past.

The best part of this book was the original plot. I loved the crossing of paranormal creatures combined with scientific research. This book kind of balances between the two, leaning more to the paranormal side. It is also kind of like a mystery novel too. What is the reason for Kali's transformation? Who is Zev? How are Kali and Bethany connected? Most of these questions were answered, but the ending just brought up even more questions. What a cliffhanger. The end is just chaos, and there just has to be a second book to continue things.

Overall I would reccomend this to anyone looking for a fresh and exciting new take on things. Not only is it enjoyable for paranormal readers, but also for ones who enjoy science fiction. Barnes does a wonderful job of weaving them together, and produces a amazingly written book. This book is highly reccomended. I can't wait 'till the sequel!!

Purchase this book at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

 

   

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)

By Jessica Spotswood

Published February 7th, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Hardcover, 330 pages

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other. -Goodreads

Review

Okay, so I discovered this book from a friend who lent it to me who thought I might like it. She knows me very well. I definitely thought the cover was appealing, but not so much the title. 

Born Wicked is the story of Cate, a girl who is primarily responsible for taking care of her two younger sisters ever since her mother died and her father withdrew into himself. That is normally difficult, but even more so with the fact that they are all witches. Cate not only has to protect herself but her sisters from the suspicious eyes of the community and the Brotherhood. Her father has also recently hired a governess, one who is hiding something and seems all too understanding, Cate cannot trust her, or anyone for the matter. There is also the problem of her impending announcement, she only has a few months to decide on either marrying someone or joining the Sisterhood. What can a girl do?

I pity Cate so much. She has so much responsibility and such a heavy burden. Yet, somehow, she is still hopeful and courageous, in the end sacrificing all most everything she holds dear for her family. She doesn't really know how to take care of her sisters, and does the best she can. That means keeping their secret about being witches, which is harder than you might think. Maura, the middle child, rebels, she loves her magic and loves using it. She is suffocated by Cate, and longs to be free. However, Maura just annoyed me. She is just so selfish, all she wants to do is play with her magic without a care for anything else. I admit that I can sympathize with her a little (who likes being smothered?), but she should realize how difficult she is being and making Cate's burden that much heavier, and making their secret that much harder to keep. The youngest sister, Tess, I absolutely loved. She's so sweet and wise beyond her years, which enables her to help Cate out. The family dynamic is great. They all love each other, but even the best of families have some drama. However, no matter how much they might fight, in the end their family comes first.

The romance part of this book was kinda like a love triangle. It was Cate's childhood friend (whom she hadn't seen in a while) vs Finn, the Cahill's new gardener (who also helps out at his mother's bookshop). Paul is okay, I mean he certainly has the moves and actually does care for Cate and want to marry her and make her happy, but he isn't Finn. Finn is so cute and such a great person. He is quiet and unassuming, but underneath he is really passionate about the things he loves. He and Cate are definitely soul mates, but they can't be together mainly due to his lower place in society.

The world Cate lives in is a tough one. The Brotherhood controls everything, and if you go against them you're branded as a witch and sent away (either to an asylum or to die). Being a witch is heresy, and the Brotherhood uses that fear of being accused to keep people in line. Not only that, but females have a deadline to either marry or join the Sisterhood. But what really is the Sisterhood? What could they be hiding? And then there is this prophecy that Cate's mother never told her about. Turns out, there was a lot that Cate's mother didn't tell her. This prophecy is, well, kinda important.

The ending was such a ride. In a few words, crap hits the fan, and everything happens so quickly there's little time to think. I enjoyed it so much, especially the plot twist at the end. Way to be more creative. Overall, Born Wicked is an enchanting tale of a brave girl faced with many difficult choices, between the magic, romance, and the family secrets, how far will Cate go to protect her family?

Purchase this book at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

  

Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) 

By Cassandra Clare 

Released: March 19, 2013 

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 

Hardcover, 568 pages 

Don’t miss The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, soon to be a major motion picture in theaters August 2013.

THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. --B&N

4.5 Stars

Review

I cannot believe that it's over! The Infernal Devices, one of the best YA series ever written is done, gone, and forever shall stay in our hearts. If you're a lover of this series and need to stop hyperventilating in excitement to read more Will and Jem, then I suggest you to stop being a miser and buy a copy of this book like I did. Seriously! It is worth every penny and trouble that you will get yourself into, like I did with spending $9 on it.

This will be a spoiler-free review, so let's see how this will go. Now, let's start with the aspect of the series that keeps everyone hooked: the love triangle. Honestly, this love triangle is one that is ridiculously hard to read about. It's so heart-wrenching and unbearable to see Tessa, Will, and Jem be forced into the kind of despicable romance with one guy left hanging. For some reason it is okay for 2 girls + 1 guy to have a girl be left hanging because that girl is always the self-centered *beep*, but for with 1 girl + 2 guys, it's such a tumultuous roller coaster that always crashes. 

Thankfully, Cassandra Clare is able to make the otherwise overly used love triangle exciting and seem original. There are so many love triangles out there, but this series presents a love triangle that seems to be genuine and passionate. I will not say that I am falling for the conclusion of this love triangle because it felt somewhat fake and obvious that the author was trying to appease everyone. 

Otherwise, everything about Clockwork Princess was perfect, or near perfection. There is a maturity that all of the characters, young or old, seem to develop. Characters that I originally despised, mainly Gabriel and Jessamine, received their share of the spotlight that redeemed them. Other characters that were obviously meant to be despicable remained that way, and some still are to this day (Woolsey is the werewolf I'd love to shoot the most). Despite the ridiculously large number of characters that keep popping up in The Infernal Devices, they all possess their own unique qualities that make them memorable. 

Clare's tendency to have weak, boring female leads seems to have shifted to stronger, more likable female protagonists. Tessa has become a heroine that is worthy of everyone's love and support because she doesn't mope or waste time on dreaming on the what-ifs, like Clary did in City of Lost Souls. In the beginning, Tessa did seem to be a clone of Clary, but thankfully she has developed into a fierce heroine that can stand among the Shadowhunters. 

Meanwhile, Will + Jem, are the couple that deserve the most shipping. All of the misunderstandings and necessary clarifications are revealed to the both of them that leaves the reader breathless. There are so many moments between the two in this book that left me brokenhearted. The beautiful friendship they have is so powerful and sweet. If only all books had bromances of similar caliber as this one...

Clockwork Princess is the pinnacle of perfection for conclusions to magnificent, epic series like these. Cassandra Clare has left her readers disappointed with an ending that is somewhat predictable, yet satisfying. The ending wasn't tightly tied up, but left many loose ends for Clare's future books, leaving everyone desperate to find out what more is to come in the world of the Shadowhunters.

Purchase Clockwork Princess here: Amazon/ B&N/ The Book Despository

Firmoo Glasses Product Review

Hey guys, this is ~M. So recently I received a free pair of glasses from Firmoo, an online eyeglasses store. Firmoo is the world's most popular online eyeglasses store, and are committed to offering customers the best quality products at the most affordable prices. For this reason, they have gained a solid reputation and trust from hundreds of thousands of fans on Facebook.

Here are the glasses I got:

 Here is me wearing them (as embarrassing as it is): 

Okay. So just letting you know, I ordered a pair of glasses and had the lenses tinted (so I could wear them as sunglasses, I didn't need a pair of regular glasses). With that said I shall get on with my review. I gave the glasses a four and a half star rating, and that was because they were high quality and nicely durable (not flimsy like those cheap pairs). They also came with a nice case, a cleaning cloth, and a little bag that the case can go into (I guess to carry it around or protect your glasses/sunglasses even more). The only things I didn't like about them were minor and a personal preference. I would have liked for them to be a bit bigger and the lenses to be a bit darker (it all depends on what style you decide on).

I gave their product a rating of 4.5 stars.

Furthermore, they have a First Pair Free program, where you can pick a pair of free glasses (pay shipping only). Check it out here: http://www.firmoo.com/free-glasses.html. If you're interested, here's the link to their website: www.firmoo.com/

Review: Kiss Me by Jillian Dodd

Kiss Me (The Keatyn Chronicles #2)

by Jillian Dodd
Published November 28th 2012
Publisher: Bandit Publishing
Kindle Edition, 299 Pages

I've always written scripts for my perfect life.

But no way could I have ever scripted this.

My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.

All because of a stalker.

I’m at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am.

I can’t see my family.

I’m tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile.

The most popular girl already hates me.

But there’s this boy.

This hot, sweet, sexy boy.

So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.

Because who knows how long I have left.--Goodreads

4.5 Stars

Review:

Kiss Me picks up exactly where Stalk Me ended, kind of like the first book never end. So make sure you read the first novel! This series is shaping to be like Gossip Girl except boarding school edition, which is awesome because I love GG. This book definitely has a lot more going on than the first novel, meaning way more drama! Seems like Stalk Me was just the build up of the drama that is Kiss Me. By the way, why do boarding schools always seem so glamorous in novels and TV?

Keats and her parents are really tight. It's really nice that they get along, since most YA characters don't get along with their parents. It's pretty cool that she goes to her parents for relationship advice and that she listens to their advice. 

I knew there was a reason why I didn't like Brooklyn! After reading Kiss Me I don't like him at all! Brooklyn= yuke! I don't really understand why Keats is mad at Cush though. It's not like he betrayed her...

There's another love triangle. There always is.... Although I find love triangles overrated and overused, I do like this love triangle between Aiden, Dawson, and Keats better than other love triangles in the YA novel world. First off Dawson, hello that's the name of the character from the Lux series! And Aiden is the guy from the Covenant series! #JLA is the greatest! Sorry... the characters in Kiss Me just have really awesome names. I hate when both the guys in the triangle are both awesome because that makes predicting and deciding what guy she should end up with much harder.

I definitely liked Kiss Me better than Stalk Me. Maybe it was because I read both within a few days of each other, but I think it was because after Stalk Me I got to know the characters very well. I can't wait for Date Me(the third book)! Very sad/ mad/ excited that we have to wait until spring!!! April 15th come faster!

Purchase at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy #2) 

By Jennifer A. Nielsen 

Release Date: March 1, 2013 

Publisher: Scholastic Press 

Hardcover, 352 pages 

A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

4.5 Stars

Review

Thank you very much Scholastic and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review The Runaway King!

One of the greatest problems that comes with anticipating for books, aka. ‘Books to Die For,’ is when those books are major disappointments, not to mention the waiting. For The Runaway King, I was fortunately surprised to discover that Jennifer A. Nielsen has continued her spellbinding middle grade series with more at stake than ever before. With so many risks, there is always a chance of the story falling off the cliff, but instead we are left teetering on the cliff, always breathlessly at awe of the finesse of this cleverly written adventure.

This time around, Jaron being the king of Carthya is responsible for the problems that his father had timidly pushed off during his reign. War, a frivolous Council of Regents, and assassination attempts are just the beginning to a tumultuous reign for Jaron. To save his kingdom and his life, Jaron will have to sacrifice more than ever before to ensure his country and his own tomorrow.

Let me start off saying that Jaron has grown on me. He’s still the same cheeky brat from The False Prince, but we see some growth and maturity from his old days. His impetuous, sarcastic nature is always amusing and humorous to read about, and so are his enemies’ reactions to his insults and obstinate nature. However, it really makes a person wonder whether or not Jaron is really 14 years old. Can you imagine a 14 year old planning and intruding as deviously and irrationally as him? There are some traces of immaturity when he risks his life and his friend’s lives on some plans that have probably been in his mind since day 1. Somehow they still manage to work despite all of the crap that has happened. It is somewhat intimidating to have to read without having a heart attack when Jaron’s there to magnify the trouble a hundred fold. For such a young guy, Jaron really has so much going for him that it really makes you wonder how can a teenager like exist.

Besides Jaron, there doesn’t seem to be much emphasis put on the other characters. Sure, they are present, but there is not any development of their personalities. We see characters characterize as ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but only a minor few have been shown to be middle ground like Jaron. However, that is only the surface that one penetrates. As we delve further into their actions and motives, we see that each character is their own enigma that threaten to outshine Jaron at many points of the story. I do wish that there was a greater focus on these supporting characters, but Jaron alone is enough to carry the book with all of the nefarious schemes he has in mind.

After barely surviving the adventure of The False Prince, The Runaway King was one of the reads that I was most looking forward to this year. Thankfully and somewhat annoyingly, The Runaway King comes with more dares, risks, and adventure, making this book the ultimate middle grade adventure. If you have not yet read The False Prince, I’m begging you to read this as soon as possible because you need to pick this one up now!

Pre-order The Runaway King here: Amazon/ B&N/ The Book Depository

Review and Giveaway: Blood, She Read by Sara Hubbard

Blood, She Read
by Sara Hubbard
Published: November 2, 2012
Publisher: Etopia Press 

eBook, 351 pages

Keeping secrets from a psychic can be murder.

Petra Maras lives a charmed life, but only in the magical sense. Her absentee father is a criminal, her mother is emotionally dead, and everyone at her new school knows she comes from a family of witches. All she wants is to be normal, but that’s impossible, given her family. And given that she’s psychic.

When the police request help with a murder investigation, Petra reluctantly agrees. Which isn’t such a good idea since the prime suspect wants to date her, and she really wants to say yes. Her gut says he’s innocent, but since she can’t get a read on him she can’t know for sure. And when she discovers he’s been keeping secrets, she wonders if maybe she’s been following her heart instead of her head… --GoodReads

4.5 Stars

Review

Blood, She Read was a fantastic paranormal full of humor, bittersweet nibblets, and a romance that stands out among all of the other YA paranormal's love stories. Although it was a read that took me a while to finish, the reading experience I had while reading this book was the best so far this year. I know only been a month and a half of this year will have passed by the time this review is posted, but out of the dozen of books I've read so far, this is the one that stands out the most. 

When Petra helps the police with an investigation by using her powers to give clues toward the murderer of a girl in town, she knows that she's going to have to face consequences. Sadly, this turns out to be a threat from the suspect and his family, not to mention even more ostracization from the people in her town. With a mystery she has reluctantly begun to piece together and deciding between her new friend and the boy she's attracted to (Finnigan), Petra has to face a conflict that trumps the hazards that are plaguing her life.

As we are introduced to Petra and her realm, everything is revealed slowly, methodically, and unconventionally. Instead of becoming a flaw, this unconventional pattern of slowly revealing the layers of the characters is captivating and mesmerizing. The characters that we're introduced to first appear to be skewed on the good or bad meter, but as time goes on, the complexities of each character are exposed, causing them to be seen a completely new light . For example, we meet characters that seem deranged like Gina, Petra's sociopathic mother, and Tommy, the anger-prone brother of Petra's crush, that are both hateful toward Petra, but are exposed as normal people who received the bad end of the stick. The incidents behind their anger and malice may seem like excuses; however, they're not when the revelations are revealed without any exaggerated confrontation. Somehow through the course of the book, many characters are able to hide secrets that slip out so easily without any awkward disruptions to the story. There wasn't a troublesome scene where the antagonist just spill the humongous pile of secrets that the author couldn't manage to explain quickly enough.

Well part of the reason why there wasn't an idiotic revelation scene was because there wasn't much to the actual climatic mystery itself; the whole mystery of the murder was a bit obvious. The problem lied with the fact that there were only so many suspects that were offered up as an option. There will be no spoiling who was the murderer because thankfully, the focus of the story seemed to be the fiery relationship between Petra and Finnigan. This messy relationship is one that is surprisingly very convincing because there isn't any fluff between the two. Although there are lies that cause conflict, the key factor, empathy for each, exists between the two of them, which is enough. Unlike most paranormals that have a somewhat refined, a little too polished romantic connection between the main couple, Petra and Finnigan give everything to each other in a realistic manner. Rather than trying mold into the other's model of a perfect boyfriend or girlfriend, the two cuties learn to accept each other for what they are. This is what I hope is in the waiting for future romances.

With basically everything a book can have going for it, it's really surprising that Blood, She Read doesn't receive more attention. This is what a paranormal should be! No noble idiocy or any of that bull crap that forces the reader to need to strangle someone, nothing of that sort. Just pure heartfelt moments with the bits and pieces of twisting plot that slowly entrap the reader, never letting them go. Although hastily concluded with a somewhat generic ending, Blood, She Read is a read that will give you the good kind of tingles while you read it (I don't mean those kind of tingles).

Purchase Blood, She Read here: Amazon (Kindle)/ B&N (Nook)

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