Sunday, March 31, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (13)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought


I accidentally picked up Book 2 instead of Book 1 last week. So I had to go back and get Book 1. :)
 

ARCycling

That's all for me this week.
 
What did you get this week?

*Book links = Goodreads*

   

 

Friday, March 29, 2013

Let the Sky Fall

Let the Sky Fall
Author: Shannon Messenger
Page Count: 416
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Let the Sky Fall #1
Source: Purchased
Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

**Possible Spoilers**

It's not often that I find a book that I don't want to put down, but I found one with this book. I had a hard time putting this book down when I needed to attend to something else. I actually stayed up til midnight trying to finish reading it when I had to be at work by 6 A.M the next morning. That's how much I liked this book.

The plot of this book was unlike other books I've read. I was drawn to it instantly. The writing is brilliant.

Vane is a seventeen year old who survived a tornado when he was seven years old. He remembers nothing about his life before the tornado. He has constant dreams about a girl, who turns out to be real. Audra is a Windwalker whose mission is to protect Vane at all costs. After a mistake reveals them to their enemies, Audra must help vain recover his past and prepare for the battle that lies ahead of them. Vane has a rough time dealing with the new revelations, but with Audra's help, he is able to overcome the difficulties and harness his true nature.

Interesting characters in this novel. Vane is a typical teenage boy. He thinks and acts like a teenager in high school. As much as I hate high school drama and stuff like that, I was glad that Vane acted his age. A lot of novels have characters that act too old or too young for their age, so I appreciate that the character actually acted his age. Audra is Vane's guardian. Her task is to protect Vane and help him uncover his true nature. I was able to connect with the character's in this novel and I liked that.

Let the Sky Fall is told from two points of view; Vane's and Audra's. The chapters alternate with the points of view. Each chapter tells whose POV it is and it's very easy to keep up. I was never confused about who was talking. I actually enjoyed the multiple POVs. I was able to learn about both characters and see their world the way each of them saw it, instead of just having one view.

I enjoyed the romantic aspect of the novel also. While there is a bit of an insta-love aspect to the romance, it is not that bad. They technically have known each other for many years, ever though Vane did not know for sure if Audra was real or if she was just a figment of his imagination. The concept of being bonded by just one single kiss was interesting also. I have never read a book with that concept before. Just one kiss will bond a couple together, forever. It was different and captivating.

The ending was good but sad, in my opinion. So much happens and I have so many questions. The novel cuts off at a good place, though, and leaves a nice opening for the sequel.

The world building in Let the Sky Fall is great. The descriptions are so vivid that I could actually visualize what was going on without difficulty.

The cover is awesome. It draws the eye to the book and in my opinion, the people on the cover portray Vane and Audra perfectly. The colors on the cover remind me of an actual sky.

Let the Sky Fall is a wonderful book and I definitely recommend it. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.

Rating: 5/5

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Shadows of Glass

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Shadows of Glass
by Kassy Tayler
320 page
Expected Publication: July 23, 2013
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: Ashes Trilogy #2

  Wren's world has changed. The thing that she fought for, escaping the dome has come to fruition, but it's not the paradise she thought it would be. Most of the shiners have died, and according to James, she is to blame for many of the deaths, a burden which sits heavy on her shoulders.  Still some have survived and Wren is determined to keep them safe as they fight to establish a home outside while hiding from the rovers who have weapons that can kill  from far away. But as long as she has Pace she knows everything will be fine. Still Wren wonders, as she sees the smoke that continually pours forth from the dome, how did her friends inside fare? Will they ever find out if Lucy, David, Jill and Harry, along with Pace's mother survive the explosions?

Meanwhile, someone else has also seen the smoke. A band of explorers from across the sea arrive in an airship, curious about the dome, and offering help to those who survive. When Wren meets the handsome Levi Addison, she suddenly questions her love for Pace as Levi offers to show her the world from his airship. Does she really love Pace? Or was it just the circumstances that made her think she did? Meanwhile, word arrives from inside via Pip, and Wren is forced to go back inside the dome, a thing that terrifies her more than anything else, to save her friends. Once she's back inside will she be able to escape again? 

A whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy and the struggle to stay alive in a dystopian world where nothing is as it seems.

-Goodreads.com description

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I am eager to find out what happens next.

What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick this week?

    

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:



  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:



"When he stepped back into my shelter and stripped off his shirt, he became a completely different guy. Like the Vane I know was kidnapped and replaced with a serious, hard-working fighter - with incredible abs."

Pg. 111, "Let the Sky Fall" by Shannon Messenger  





That's my teaser for this week. What book or books did you feature in you post? 

 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Ashes of Twilight

Ashes of Twilight
Author: Kassy Tayler
Page Count: 320
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: Ashes Trilogy #1
Source: Christmas Present
Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

**Possible Spoilers**

I had been eying this novel for a while after it was published, so when I received it as a Christmas present, I was extremely happy.

Ashes of Twilight was different from a lot of dystopian / steampunk novels that I've read. While it had some of the same elements as other novels, the novel put a bit of a spin on things.

For over 200 years, people have lived in an underground world, known as the Dome. A comet had crashed into Earth and destroyed everything with fire. The people believe that outside the dome, the Earth is consumed by fire and therefore inhabitable. Everything that happens in their life is chosen for them; the inhabitants have very few choices of there own. Wren is a part of the lower class group of people, known as the "shiner". They live in underground cavern below the rest of the inhabitants. It is there job to mine for coal and serve the upper class royal. One day, a friend of Wren's escapes from the dome and learns the truth about the outside world. He is killed because of what he knows. His death helps to spark a revolution, with Wren at the forefront.

I was actually able to connect with the characters in this novel. There is great characterization and you learn so much about the characters. Wren has had to deal with the circumstances of her birth and I felt that it help to mold her into a strong lead character. She stands up for what she believe and doesn't back down for anyone. Pace lives above and witnessed what happened to Wren's friend. He protect Wren, while at the same time she's is protecting him.

The world building in Ashes of Twilight is phenomenal. The descriptions of the world are so vivid and life-like the a could easily visualize what I was reading. At times, it felt like I was in the novel.

The romance aspect of this novel wasn't the best, but I still enjoyed it and it added to the novel. While I am not a fan of insta-love by any means, it sort of felt necessary for this novel, in my opinion. The characters don't have a lot of time play around with their relationship, so perhaps insta-love was the right thing for this novel. Wren has finally found someone that accepts her and who isn't worried about her bloodline. So, with this novel, I liked the romance and I felt that it didn't add any distractions to the novel.

However, I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed. The whole novel leads up to it and then it ends. For me, it left many questions unanswered. Still, it does answer some and the novel does finish nicely, leave an opening for the next novel to pick up on.

I loved the cover of this novel. It is what initially drew me to this novel. At first, I didn't understand it's relation to the book, but after reading the novel, I have to say that the cover ties in wonderfully.

All-in-all, this was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. If you are a fan of dystopian and steampunk novel, I recommend this book to you. Perhaps you will enjoy it, too.


Rating: 4/5   

*Review also posted on Goodreads.*

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (12)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought

Movies Bought

  
That's all for me this week.

What did you get this week?
 
 
*Book links = Goodreads*
*Movie links = Amazon*
  

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (11)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought


Harlequin Reader Service

I joined Harlequin Reader Service a few weeks back and they send you 3 books every month at a discounted price. 

Magazines

  •  US Weekly - Breaking Dawn Collector's Edition
  • US Weekly - The Host Collector's Edition

Movies Bought

These two were the only DVDs in the saga I didn't have, so when I found them on sale at Wal-mart, I figured I might as well buy them. 

That's all for me this week.

What did you get this week?
  
*Book links = Goodreads*
*Movie links = Amazon*

 

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
Author: Jessica Sorensen
Page Count: 276 (ebook)
Release Date: December 13, 2012
Publisher: Jessica Sorensen
Series: The Coincidence #1
Source: Purchased
Read the synopsis here on Goodreads. 

 

My Review:

While I'm not usually a big reader of contemporary novels, I can definitely say that this book played a big role in changing my mind about that. It's not often that a book is able to draw me in from the first page, but this one certainly did.

This novel started off great from the very beginning. There was never a dull moment for me. I absolutely loved the story line. Callie and Kayden grew up in the same town and went to the same school, but that's it. They never interacted with each other. Circumstances of Callie's past have cause to change and shut herself off from the world around her. Kayden is harboring a secret of his own. When they end up at the same college, this slowly change for both of them and they end up falling for each other.

Jessica Sorensen didn't shy away from any touchy subject in this book. While some might say that they don't agree with it, I personally thought it helped at the the intrigue of this novel.

The characters are very well developed. Both Callie and Kayden are dealing with things that happened in their past, even if their ways of dealing with it may not very healthy. Callie, while she is afraid to trust anyone, she is still a strong character. Kayden is a bit of a playboy and tries to keep himself from feeling. There are also some great secondary character, especially Seth. He is one of Callie's best friends and they first person she opens up to about her past.

I enjoyed reading the story from two points of view. You are able to look into both of the lead characters' lives.

The romance is this novel was so different from many of the books I've read and that is a very good thing. There is no insta-love, thankfully. Their relationship develops over time and isn't smooth sailing all the way. This made the novel so much better. While a not a fan of drama and angst, I feel that a little bit helps at some sustenance to a novel.

The ending. What an ending. There was such a build up to the ending then it cuts off. I'm am so eager to find out what happens next. It's such a huge cliffhanger. I don't know what else to say about it.

The cover is awesome. In my opinion, it portrays so much emotion. The cover is what initially drew me to the book. It's intriguing and make you wonder what is happening inside the book.

All in all, I fell in love with this book. I would recommend it to everyone. That being said, if you haven't read this book, you should definitely check it out.

Rating: 5/5

Review also posted on Goodreads.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:


  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

  
"Finally the tears stop and I am too exhausted to move. All I can do is lie there, in Pace's arms, and feel the sensation of his finger's combing through my hair."

Pg. 170, "Ashes of Twilight" by Kassy Tayler
  






That's my teaser for this week.  What book or books did you feature in you post? 

 

Stacking the Shelves (10)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought

 
  • Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
  • The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
  • Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle 
  • Foundling by D.M. Cornish
  • The Prophecy of the Stones by Flavia Bujor 
  •  You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson
  • Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight
  • Courtney's Baby Plan by Allison Leigh
  • Twin Targets by Marta Perry
  • The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
  • Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart
  • Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
  • At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
  • Valiant Hope by Donna Fleisher


Normally I would have posted my Stacking the Shelves on Saturday or Sunday. However, my internet has been down for the last couple of days and is just now starting to work again. Sorry for the delay.

That's all for me this week. 

What did you get this week?


*No links this week. My computer won't load Goodreads.*



 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (09)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought

  • NOOK HD (8gb) by Barnes & Noble
The screen on my NOOK Color was starting to mess up, so I thought it was time for a new one. Sorry about the glare.

 

Library

 

E-Books (bought)


 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

E-Books (free)


 
I'm posting this weeks Stacking the Shelves on Saturday because I have to work tomorrow.:)
 
That's all for me this week.

What did you get this week?

 
*All book links are to Goodreads.*