"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."— Mark Twain

Tag Archive: review

Review: Dreamless

Dreamless (Starcrossed, #2)Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

Summary: Can true love be forgotten?

As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved Starcrossed. Loved it. It was one of my favorites last year. As a result, I had high, high expectations. They might have been a bit too high. It’s hard to say. Let’s just say that Dreamless, unfortunately, didn’t live up to those expectations. I felt lost in the first half of the book. I’m not sure why. I felt like things were disjointed and discombobulated. About halfway through, though, things clicked. It got better – much better. It still wasn’t as good as Starcrossed, but it was enough to keep me going – and almost had me unable to put it down. Almost.

Helen pissed me off. She is new to this whole Scion thing, but still doesn’t want to listen to those who have been part of the Scion thing (and known about it) all their lives. She’s told to get help from the Delos family, but decides she can handle things alone. I don’t remember such an attitude the first time around, but perhaps I was blinded by the story I fell in love with?

Speaking of love. Where’s Lucas? :-( There wasn’t nearly enough Lucas. I get that they’re being kept apart and he’s trying to avoid making a HUGE mistake. (Still, I can’t help but think that they CAN’T really be cousins. But, then, what’s a Greek tragedy without a love that just CANNOT be – right?)

While Dreamless was a bit of a disappointment to me, I still love this series and am very much looking forward to the third (and I believe final) book in the series.

3.5 Stars
Source:
Sent by publisher for review.

Read It: Dreamless is scheduled for release on May 29, 2012. You can pre-order it HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

 

Challenges: Counts for the Speculative Fiction Challenge 2012, the 2012 Sensational Seconds Challenge, and Free Reads 2012.

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Review: The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman

Summary: Years ago, they were all the best of friends. But as time passed and circumstances changed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past—and the terrible lie they all shared. But now Gordon (“Go-Go”), the youngest and wildest of the five, has died unexpectedly and the other four have come together for the first time in years. Suddenly each of these old friends has to wonder if the dark secret they’ve shared for so long is the reason for their troubles today . . . and if someone within the circle is trying to destroy them all.

My Thoughts: If I’m remembering correctly, this is the third of Lippman’s books. She quickly became one of my favorite contemporary (non-fantasy LOL) authors, and I don’t see myself passing up any of her books anytime soon. Like all I’ve read from her, The Most Dangerous Thing is well-written and well-developed. Unfortunately, the story itself just didn’t do it for me. It’s not bad. It just didn’t grip me in a way that I expected. And it didn’t shock me in ways I’ve come to expect from Lippman’s novels. With that said, I absolutely LOVE the way the book ended. The last line is one of my favorite last lines ever. It packs a punch. Still, I don’t see myself reading this again. No need to.

Overall, if you like Laura Lippman’s writing, definitely read this one. While the story might not be as intriguing or compelling as others she’s written, the writing is still fantastic. Just don’t expect to be blown away.

Favorite Quote: There were several that struck a chord with me, but only one I knew I had to share. And no worries, there’s nothing spoiler-ish in it at all.

Allowing one’s self to be forgiven is just as hard as forgiving. Harder in some ways. Because to be forgiven, one first has to admit to being at fault. ~ page 339

3.5 Stars
Source:
 Received as part of a blog tour promotion on TLC Book Tours.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Laura LippmanAbout the Author: Laura Lippman grew up in Baltimore and returned to her hometown in 1989 to work as a journalist. After writing seven books while still a full-time reporter, she left the Baltimore Sun to focus on fiction. The author of two New York Times bestsellers, What the Dead Knowand Another Thing to Fall, she has won numerous awards for her work, including the Edgar, Quill, Anthony, Nero Wolfe, Agatha, Gumshoe, Barry, and Macavity.To learn more about Laura’s work, visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.

Tour Info: For the main page for this blog tour, including more reviews of this book on other blogs, visit TLC’s post.

Challenges: Counts for Free Reads 2012.
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Review: Collision

CollisionCollision by Stefne Miller

Summary: Cab Stone has it all—fame, fortune and the adoration of millions of women across the globe. When the constant attention from fans and expectations from his handlers becomes too much, he escapes the craziness of press junkets and movie sets and escapes to Asheville, North Carolina to hide away for the summer.

He expects peace, quiet, and solitude. What he doesn’t expect is to meet a fiery redhead who changes everything he knows about the world.

The daughter of missionaries, Kei Sallee lives a life of service to others. She has little, expects less, and helps heal the hearts of thousands in Uganda, where she grew up. When she finds herself staying in the same guesthouse as Cab Stone, she vows to ignore his Greek god good looks and spend the summer as she had planned—in peace, quiet, and solitude.

Cab and Kei’s lives couldn’t be more different…or more the same.

Despite, or perhaps because of, their vastly different yet startlingly similar backgrounds, Cab and Kei strike up an unlikely friendship that could possibly blossom into something more. But Kei fears that the truth about her past will prevent pretty-boy Cab, who is used to getting everything he wants, from fully committing to her.

When two completely different worlds experience a Collision, can they exist as one?

My Thoughts: This is a very good, very emotional book. Make sure to have tissues nearby when you read it. I was completely blindsided by the heavily emotional elements.

Kei and Cab (whom she always calls Cabot) are great characters. I found it somewhat easy to get her voice – complete with accent – into my head. She has spunk and heart. I thought she was great. Cabot started out as a bit of a jerk, but quickly became pretty cool. I loved reading their exchanges with each other, and often found myself smiling while reading their back-and-forth chatter. They match wits quite well, and in a very entertaining manner.

Uganda in itself could be a character on its own. While reading about it, when Kei tells Cabot about it, I found it really made my heart ache. While Cab was visiting, the interactions with the children were just amazing. If I had the money to do so, I’d so wanna go see it for myself. (I know the author has been there, and many of the anecdotes about it are from her own experiences.)

The only problems I had were pretty minor. One was Cab’s character change. Do people really change basically overnight? It seemed like once he decided he was into Kei, his old self – sleeping around bad boy – was gone. Suddenly he was perfectly fine not satisfying those urges. Can a man in his young 20s who’s been sexually active turn it off that easily? I don’t know. I know that when people find/return to God sometimes very amazing changes can happen. I suppose that could be what’s occurred here.

The only other issue I had was that the copy editing could have been better. There were some errors that made me cringe internally, but nothing that killed the story for me. They were few and far enough between that I was able to forget about them – until another one popped up. I never once was frustrated by errors.

4.5 Stars
Source:
Received through The {Teen} Book Scene for review. (Click the button below for more tour stops.)

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for Free Reads 2012.

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Review: Over You

Over You Over You by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus

Summary: After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

My Thoughts: In general, this was a cute book, but I can’t decide if the cuteness outweighs the issues I have with it.

Issue #1 ~ Theft, which Max tries to explain away (she’s just “borrowing” without permission). And not just small things – designer clothes. Thousands of dollars worth.

Issue #2 ~ Max is a hypocrite. Big time. She’s preaching to these brokenhearted girls about how to move on but not taking her own advice. Worse, she refuses to talk to anyone – even her best friend, Zach – about her own heartbreak.

Issue #3 ~ She’s in New York City and does things that I’m sure cost TONS (especially in NYC). Where’s she getting the money for this stuff? I know she’s had some donations from previous “clients” but eventually that’s got to run out. Sure, she’s not buying clothes (see above), but other things cost, too.

Issue #4 ~ Max supposedly has connections just about everywhere because of her past clients. I find it hard to believe that these clients’ parents would do some of the things they’ve done simply because she helped their daughters get through a breakup.

Issue #5 ~ While there’s not much of it, what little sex there is in the book is treated so casually that it gives me pause. I should make it clear that it’s just implied, not actually “shown” – which I do appreciate. I’m having a hard time verbalizing my thoughts on this, but I wouldn’t want my teenage daughters reading this simply because I don’t want them taking sex so casually.

There are other things, but my mind is mush now, so I’ll leave it at that. Despite that, the story is cute, and it reads quickly. I liked the third-person perspective going between Max, Ben, Taylor, and even Zach (if I’m remembering correctly on that last one) on occasion. I especially liked seeing Taylor’s perspective – the other side of these cases.

I was expecting more humor. The synopsis I’d read before starting the book made me expect it. I think I might have smiled and/or chuckled a few times, but no outright laughter from me. It’s not hugely disappointing, not even when I realize that it was the reason I decided to give the book a try.

So, would I recommend this? No. I don’t think so. I didn’t dislike it, per say. Just didn’t really like it, either. I definitely don’t think I’ll pick this one up again.

2.5 Stars
Source:
Received through Around the World Tours for review.

Read It: Over You is scheduled for release in August 2012. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

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Review: First Lord’s Fury

First Lord's Fury (Codex Alera, #6)First Lord’s Fury (Codex Alera #6) by Jim Butcher

Summary: For years he has endured the endless trials and triumphs of a man whose skill and power could not be restrained. Battling ancient enemies, forging new alliances, and confronting the corruption within his own land, Gaius Octavian became a legendary man of war-and the rightful First Lord of Alera.
But now, the savage Vord are on the march, and Gaius must lead his legions to the Calderon Valley to stand against them-using all of his intelligence, ingenuity, and furycraft to save their world from eternal darkness.

My Thoughts: While I enjoyed this book and felt it was a satisfying conclusion to the series, I found it not quite as good as others in the series. A bit predictable at times, it didn’t throw me very many – if any – surprises. It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, as others in the series did. But, the loose ends were tied, people (mostly) get what they deserve, and there is resolution to most conflicts that occurred throughout the series. Overall, a fitting and well-written finale to what has become one of my favorite series. If you’re a fan of fantasy, I highly recommend Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series!

4 Stars
Source:
My local library.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for the 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge and the Speculative Fiction Challenge 2012.

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Blog Tour & Review: God Helps Me Bible by Juliet David

God Helps Me BibleSummary: Specially designed for very young children, the God Helps Me Bible features a spiral binding that allows the book to lay flat on a table, floor, or lap, which leaves little hands free to turn the pages and point out fun details in Clare Caddy’s darling illustrations.

The twenty-five favorite Bible stories use words and concepts tailored for the youngest reader, so each story clearly emphasizes how God loves and helps His world and people.

My Thoughts: This book is filled with some of the most basic Bible stories: Noah’s Ark, Abraham’s son, David and Goliath, Baby Jesus’ stories, Jesus healing the blind man, and many others. They are written in a way that makes them easy for young children to understand what’s going on. The verses that the full stories can be found in the Bible are listed at the end of each story. The illustrations are cute. Not the best I’ve seen, but my kids seem to like them. They give the kids a visual of the story. The God Helps Me Bible is an excellent addition to a library of Bible-based stories for toddlers and preschoolers.

3 Stars
Source:
Received for review as part of a blog tour promotion hosted by Kregel Publications.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

About the Author: Juliet David has written many children’s stories and Bible activity books. Her other interests include painting, music, and traveling to Israel and other Bible lands. This experienced author lives in London with her family.

Tour Info: For more information about this blog tour, including links to other reviews, visit the page HERE.

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Review: Kill Me Softly

Kill Me SoftlyKill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Summary: Mirabelle’s past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents’ tragic deaths to her guardians’ half-truths about why she can’t return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who’s a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren’t pretty things, and they don’t always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own… brothers who share a dark secret. And she’ll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

My Thoughts: Kill Me Softly is a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty with some twists and turns thrown in. In some ways, this reminds me of Once Upon a Time, ABC’s new show. I think the main thing is that there’s a coastal town that is populated by fairytale characters (or, in this case, descendants of fairytale characters). The similarities end there, though, as this is about Sleeping Beauty, not Snow White or fairy tales in general.

I should probably tell you right off the bat that Sleeping Beauty has always been my favorite – at least of the Disney versions of fairy tales. And, much to my delight, in many ways this tale mirrors that animated classic. She’s raised apart from her parents by “good” fairies, she returns on time for her sixteenth birthday, the pink-and-blue cake (complete with the guardians arguing over which it should be), and so on and so forth. Note that these are subtle nods to the movie, as the plot in general doesn’t focus on these things at all. (And, honestly, I might not have noticed so easily if my daughter wasn’t watching the movie as much as I’ll let her right now! LOL) The actual plot that drives the story is unique, interesting, and bittersweet.

Mira annoyed me at times – especially her insistence that she knows Felix better than Blue does. Forget that they’re brothers, or that she’s only known them both for a few days. I suppose it’s the naivete that comes with the kind of love that is found in fairy tales. Still, I found myself enjoying the plot and the writing enough to ignore such things once we’d moved beyond them.

I love how the story played out. It’s not as predictable as you’d expect, even if you’re knowledgeable about fairy tales. I liked the twists and turns throughout – but I must admit I felt kinda bad for Freddie. Poor guy.

If you like retellings of fairy tales, modern takes on fairy tales, and/or all things Grimm, then this book’s for you! I’m hoping Sarah Cross will be revisiting Beau Rivage, as I’d love to see Viv’s and Layla’s – as well as others’ – tales unfold.

5 Stars
Source:
Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

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2012 Books of the Month
January February March April
May June July August
September October November December
Favorite Series
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies The Blood Journals by Tessa Gratton The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting The Chemical Garden by Lauren Destefano Codex Alera by Jim Butcher The Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory Darcy & Rachel by Emily Giffin The Dark Divine by Bree Despain Delirium by Lauren Oliver The Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver Everlasting by Angie Frazier The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton Fallen by Lauren Kate Firelight by Sophie Jordon Goblin Wars by Kersten Hamilton Gods & Monsters by Kelly Keaton Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare Kendra Chronicles by Alex Flinn Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin The Mark by Jen Nadol Matched by Ally Condie Mer Tales by Brenda Pandos Newsoul by Jodi Meadows Nightshade by Andrea Cremer Paranormalcy by Kiersten White The Pledge by Kimberly Derting Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes River of Time by Lisa T. Bergren The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini Stork by Wendy Delsol Talisman by Brenda Pandos Unearthly by Cynthia Hand Winterhaven by Kristi Cook Witch by Carolyn MacCullough The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater
May June July August
September October November December
Team Peeta ♥ Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Team Ren ♥ Nightshade by Andrea Cremer The Chemical Garden by Lauren Destefano Delirium by Lauren Oliver The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare Matched by Ally Condie Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Unearthly by Cynthia Hand