Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Review: Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

Synopsis:
6658573Torn between two destinies; 

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf. 

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever.

Quick Review:

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson takes a unique direction with werewolves. There is a lot of girl power in this book, which is great! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next installment

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, September 29, 2014

Review: The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #3)

Synopsis:
There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.  
Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again. 
But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Review:
It took me a long time to pick this book up off of my shelf because I was not too excited to read it. I really enjoyed the first two books, but for some reason I was not looking forward to reading this one. Once I started to read this book, I could not put it down! I read it in only two sittings. I was excited to have old and new characters come together for this installment.

The Dark and Hollow Places is full of action, adventure, romance, and zombies. I love a good zombie book, and this one did not disappoint! I am so sad to see this series end.

Rating: 4.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Review: Passion (Fallen #3) by Lauren Kate

9369720Synopsis:
‘Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever.’

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way . . . Luce is certain that something – or someone – in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Review:
In Passion by Lauren Kate, Luce travels back in time using the shadows she sees to try to find a way to break the curse that keeps her and Daniel apart. During her travels, she meets Bill, a gargoyle, who seems to be helping her control the shadows. As she travels farther and farther back in time, she sees what Daniel has had to go through for thousands of years, which I really liked. Now Luce has some sort of understanding of how much Daniel has had to endure in order to be with her for short spouts of time. She sees her some of her past selves die and watches Daniel grieve for her death. Seeing this, Luce discovers that her and Daniel's love for each other is the only thing that keeps him going. 

This book is crazy! Luce gets to see her past lives in person and not just in Daniel's mind. She learns that she can merge herself with her past selves in order to feel exactly how they felt.

The ending is a cliffhanger, of course. It also leaves so many questions unanswered. I really need to get my hands on the next book to find out what happens. Of course, I have to comment on the cover of this book. It is gorgeous! I love the dress the girl is wearing. 

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Review: The Tree House by Shay Lynam

17407260Synopsis:
Hailey is an average twenty-year-old college student, living an average life. Or so she thought. When a past she never knew existed is brought to light, the reality she thought she knew is shattered and Hailey is left alone to pick up the pieces. Who could know this world holds such evil? Who is this strange, obscure boy that seems to know more than he is saying? 

And what can one girl do when a fight to stay alive becomes a fight to avenge and protect the ones she loves?

Review:
*I received this book from the author for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this book! It was full of action, has some violence, and is unpredictable. The book starts off in an intense setting and there is never a slow moment.

The one issue I had with this book was the beginning where Hailey's house is broken into. I do not understand why she did not call the police! Any normal person would call the police, and it never even crossed her mind!

Besides that, I really loved this book. The plot was original and there was never a dull moment. The characters were all very interesting and enjoyable to read about, and the ending was unexpected, making room for a sequel. 

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Friday, September 26, 2014

Review: Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin

Synopsis:
34165305:30 a.m., Brianna Pelletier gets ready for her daily pounding. As she lies on the couch, her dad beats her chest, then her back, coaxing the mucus out of her lungs. The pounding doesn’t take care of everything. Brianna’s held out for a long time, but a body with cystic fibrosis doesn’t last forever. It doesn’t matter that Brianna has a brilliant mathematical mind or that she’s a shoo-in for MIT. Or even that her two best friends are beautiful, popular, and loyal. In the grand scheme of things, none of that stuff matters at all. The standard life, lasting maybe seventy-five years, is no more than a speck in the sum total of the universe. At eighteen, and doubting she’ll make nineteen, Brianna is practically a nonentity. Of course she’s done the math. But in her senior year of high school, Brianna learns of another kind of math, in which an infinitely small, near-zero quantity can have profound effects on an entire system. If these tiny quantities didn’t exist, things wouldn’t make the same sense. 


Funny, tear-jerking, and memorable, the author’s second novel for teens introduces readers to an extraordinary girl who learns that the meaning of forever can change, and that life – and death – is filled with infinite possibilities.

Review:
Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin is a book about a girl, named Brianna, who has to live with cystic fibrosis. It is funny and a tear jerker. Mathematics is a heavy part in the story, which made it more interesting. It is a fast read, and the ending did make me cry. 

Brianna is a courageous, strong character. I love how she didn't let the disease she had keep her down. She lived life even though the doctors said she did not have much time left. Her crush, Adam, is such a sweet guy who is a little dorky, and her best friends, Stephanie and Melissa, are great friends.

This is such a touching story. I would recommend it to everyone.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Review: The Clearing by Heather Davis

6609552Synopsis:
In this bittersweet romance, two teens living decades apart form a bond that will change their lives forever.

     Amy is drawn to the misty, mysterious clearing behind her Aunt Mae’s place because it looks like the perfect place to hide from life. A place to block out the pain of her last relationship, to avoid the kids in her new town, to stop dwelling on what her future holds after high school.

     Then, she meets a boy lurking in the mist—Henry. Henry is different from any other guy Amy has ever known. And after several meetings in the clearing, she’s starting to fall for him.

     But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of the clearing, it’s still 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past, staving off the tragedy that will strike them in the future. Amy’s crossing over to Henry’s side brings him more happiness than he’s ever known—but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.

     In The Clearing, author Heather Davis crafts a tender and poignant tale about falling in love, finding strength, and having the courage to make your own destiny—a perfect book to slip into and hide away for awhile.

Review:
The Clearing by Heather Davis was such an interesting read. It started off a little slow for me, but once I pushed through the first couple chapters, I could not put it down. I am so glad I stuck it out because this book is amazing! It touches on some dark issues like domestic violence, but does not go into too much detail. 

The ending is bittersweet. After finishing it, I had to sit and think about what happened and decide if I liked it or not. At first, I felt disappointed in the ending, but then I determined that I was sad to see it end. The conclusion of my thought process was that I definitely enjoyed the book. The ending is not a happily ever after ending, but it was how it needed to end in my opinion. I wish there was a sequel!

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Review: Beauty by Robin McKinley

Synopsis:
41424A strange imprisonment...

Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.

When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"

Robin McKinley's beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple, Beauty and the Beast.

Review:
Beauty by Robin Mckinley is an enchanting retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast. Anyone who has seen the Disney movie knows what this book is about.

Honestly, this book was a little too slow for my liking. I love a good fairy tale retelling, but this book felt like it was just like the original story. I did not notice much change. Nevertheless, once you sit down to read this book, it is a quick young adult read. If you love the story of Beauty and the Beast, then you will like this book. It is enjoyable, but I would not read it again.

Rating: 3/5

Swords are for fighting,

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

13335037Synopsis:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Review:

Well, it definitely took me a while to hop on this bandwagon, but I am glad I did! I read so many great reviews on this book before reading it. That is what made me hesitate to start because I felt like my expectations were too high. I am happy to report that my expectations were met and exceeded. This book is full of a little bit of everything: action, adventure, romance, and more! I just wanted to let you all know that I enjoyed it, but am keeping this review short because there are so many reviews out there already.

I could not put this book down! I lost some sleep reading it, but it was worth it. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, August 25, 2014

Review: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

6621143Synopsis:
Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.

How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?


Review:
Lani and Erin are best friends, but they are completely different. Lani is an introvert and Erin is an extrovert. Erin starts dating Jason, and when Lani meets him, she instantly feels a connection. Of course because she is a good friend, she does not act on her feelings. But how can she run from fate?

I had a few problems with this book. One was that Lani seemed to be a bit hypocritical to me when she talked about how much she wanted to save the environment. She complained that Erin's car only got 24 miles a gallon, but she has no problem riding in Jason's Jeep. I did not like how cruel Erin became towards the end of the novel. It was sad to see her stoop so low to ruin her best friend's school life. 

Overall, this book was a quick read. It had some aspects of it that I did not like, but I am still glad I read it.

Rating: 3/5

Swords are for fighting,

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Review: Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas

6507754Synopsis:
When a sinister old woman leaves Griffin Penshine a box of twelve shiny pennies, she sets in motion a desperate quest; because the old woman was a wish stealer, and each penny represents a wish she stole from a wishing fountain decades earlier. Somehow, Griffin has to make things right, or the opposite of her own wishes will come true; and it could literally be a matter of life and death. The Wish Stealers introduces a new voice in middle-grade fantasy, as bright and sparkling as Griffin's pennies.

Review:
Griffin is a young girl that is given 12 shiny pennies by an old woman. Little does she know that these pennies will cause a great deal of trouble for here because these pennies are stolen wishes. 

Sadly, this book fell short for me, but I think that is because it is aimed at a much younger audience. It lacked interesting characters and the plot was too predictable. 

Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas is a great book for middle schoolers. It is a quick read and a has a fun plot. It reminds you that dreams are achievable. All you need is some hope and hard work to make dreams a success. This book has some great morals and themes that are perfect for young readers.

Rating: 2.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, August 18, 2014

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

7488244Synopsis:
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.


Review:
WOW! I cannot believe it took me so long to read this book. It has been sitting on my bookshelf for way too long! 

Unearthly is a page turner about Clara who is part angel. She finds out what her purpose on earth is through visions she has: to save a boy from a forest fire. Naturally, her mom makes her and her brother move closer to the place where this purpose will take place. 

After Clara and her family moves, she must conquer learning to fly. She also makes some new friends, learns more about angels, and discovers that there is a war going on between the good and bad angels. As the day that she is supposed to fulfill her purpose comes closer and closer, Clara must decide is she should follow her destiny or follow her heart.

This book is a wonderful read. It is exciting, entertaining, eventful, action filled. There was never a dull moment. The characters are a breath of fresh air. I loved them all! Of course I had a favorite, but I cannot explain why without spoiling the story. I definitely recommend that everyone reads this book. I MUST get my hands on the next book!

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Review: Shadow by Jenny Moss

Synopsis:
In a time of kings, queens, and conspiracy, it's impossible to know whom one can trust. . . . In a kingdom far away and long ago, it was prophesied at her birth that the queen would die before her sixteenth birthday. So Shadow, an orphan girl the same age as the young queen, was given the duty to watch her every move. And as prophesies do tend to come true, the queen is poisoned days before her birthday. When the castle is thrown into chaos, Shadow escapes with a young knight, whom she believes was betrothed to the queen.

Unsure of why she is following Sir Kenway, but determined to escape as far as possible from the castle, her long-time prison, Shadow sets off on an adventure with the handsome knight who has been charged with protecting her. As mystery builds, and romantic tension does, too, Shadow begins to wonder what her role in the kingdom truly is. Soon, she learns, it is up to her to save her land.

Jenny Moss's novel is a lyrical, fast-paced adventure filled with mystery, magic, honor, and romance that will lead readers on an incredible journey.

Review:
Shadow by Jenny Moss was such a sweet fairy tale. It had so many unexpected twists and turns. Shadow was a wonderful main character. I loved how she did not let anyone put her down even though her social status was not very high. She valued herself and did not let what other people think get to her. She endures being treated horribly by the queen for so long, but all she wants is to be free.

Kenway, the young knight who saves Shadow after the queen is poisoned was an interesting character. At times I disliked him because he was acting snobby because he was brought up to look down on those that were not in his class. Other times I absolutely loved how noble he was. 

This book has everything that a good fairytale has: good versus evil, a princess, handsome knight, rich versus poor, magic, enchantment, love, fights, death and a happy ending.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

17623975Synopsis:
Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.

The first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

Review:
Gayle Forman is one of my favorite authors. So far I have read If I Stay and Where She Went, and both are absolutely stunning! Just One Day is no different. The main character, Allyson is a straight A student who always follows the rules. Her parents surprise her with a trip to Europe with her best friend, Melanie. During most of the trip, Allyson plays it safe by following all the rules and not even going out at night. It is not until she meets Willem that she decides to be spontaneous and go to Paris with him on a whim. 

I loved seeing the world through Allyson's eyes. She starts off as a timid girl but learns to be courageous and take some risks. I loved her character development.

This book is amazing. I enjoyed the love story between Allyson and Willem. Even though they only spent one day together, that one day affected Allyson's life more than she could have imagined. I read this book in one sitting, and I was sad to see it end. I am looking forward to reading Willem's side of the story in Just One Year!

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along, 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!

3416530
This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 118 of Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin:


"She felt lighter even though her bag seemed to weigh as much as she did. It was her birthday, so she was going to celebrate and try not to think about life or death, and she'd get to laugh with her friends, and maybe that was the best thing you could do with your life anyway."

Do you have a Teaser Tuesday this week? Let me know in the comments.

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, August 11, 2014

Stacking the Shelves

STSmall
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! It is hosted by Tynga of Team Tynga's Reviews
Here is what I got this week:

  • an ARC of Elixir by Ted Galdi provided by the author for an honest review
  • Just One Day by Gayle Forman (received from Paperbackswap.com)




  • Eve by Anna Carey (borrowed from my sister)
  •  Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau (from Paperbackswap)
  • Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (borrowed from my sister)
  • Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs (borrowed from my sister)


Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (from Paperbackswap)
Passion by Lauren Kate (Paperbackswap)
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Paperbackswap)
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Paperbackswap)


  • Siren by Tricia Rayburn (Paperbackswap)
  • Supernaturally by Kiersten White (Paperbackswap)
  • Virals by Kathy Reichs (borrowed from my sister)



  • A Millions Suns by Beth Revis (Paperbackswap)
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth (Paperbackswap)
WOW! I received soooo many books from Paperbackswap this week. I am loving this site! If you want to check it out: Join the Club and Swap Books for Free! - PaperBackSwap.com

Swords are for fighting, 


2014 Beat the Heat Readathon Progress Post

BeatHeatRATbutton2ndA


My progress

Here’s where I’ll update my progress for the duration of the readathon.

Week 1

Monday 8/11
Currently reading: Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin
Pages read today: 369+36
Books completed today: Just One Day by Gayle Forman (369 pages)
Tuesday 8/12
Currently reading: Passion by Lauren Kate
Pages read today: 145+23
Books completed today: Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin (181 pages)
Wednesday 8/13
Currently reading: The Tree House by Shay Lynam
Pages read today:
Books completed today: Passion by Lauren Kate (420 pages)
Thursday 8/14
Currently reading: The Tree House by Shay Lynam
Pages read today:
Books completed today:
Friday 8/15
Currently reading: Beauty by Robin McKinley
Pages read today:
Books completed today: 
The Tree House by Shay Lynam (261 pages)
Saturday 8/16
Currently reading: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Pages read today:
Books completed today: 
Beauty by Robin McKinley (247 pages)
Sunday 8/17
Currently reading:
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Week 1 summary

Total # pages read this week:
Books I completed this week:

Week 2

Monday 8/18
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Tuesday 8/19
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Wednesday 8/20
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Thursday 8/21
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Friday 8/22
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Saturday 8/23
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Sunday 8/24
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Week 2 summary

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Week 3

Monday 8/25
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Tuesday 8/26
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Wednesday 8/27
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Thursday 8/28
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Friday 8/29
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Saturday 8/30
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Sunday 8/31
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Week 3 summary

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3 week final summary

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Review: Elixir by Ted Galdi

22707171Synopsis:
Meet 14-year-old Sean Malone. He has an IQ above 200, a full-ride scholarship to one of the country’s top universities, and more than one million dollars from his winning streak on Jeopardy. However, Sean wishes he could just be normal.

But his life is anything but normal. The US government manipulates him, using him as a codebreaker in pursuit of a drug lord and killing innocent people along the way. 

For reasons related to his personal security, Sean finds himself in Rome, building a new life under a new name, abandoning academics, and hiding his genius from everyone. When he’s 18 he falls in love. The thrills begin again when he learns that his girlfriend is critically ill and it’s up to him to use his intellect to find a cure, a battle pitting him against a multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical company and the demons of his past. 

Elixir is a story about identity, secrets, and above all, love.

Review:
**A COPY OF THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR, TED GALDI, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

Elixir is Ted Galdi's first novel, and he did an excellent job! I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, exciting, well written, action packed, and had a little bit of everything. 

Sean is a genius, but being the smartest person is not all it's cracked up to be. His brain ends up getting him in trouble, so, with the help of the FBI, him and his aunt, Mary, fake their own death and start new lives in Italy. Sean enjoys not being known for his intelligence, so he keeps it hidden from his new friends in Italy. He has fun being a normal teenager. It is not until his girlfriend, Natasha, whom he loves very much becomes ill that he must bring back the old Sean to find a cure for her illness.

If you like thrillers and the young adult genre, you will definitely like this book! I look forward to reading more of Ted Galdi's work in the future.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Review: Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau

Synopsis:
7767952First zit. First crush. First…mermaid’s tail?

If she hadn’t been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail?

Most. Embarassing. Moment. Ever.

Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But this revelation raises a serious question: if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown?

Jade is determined to find out. But how does a plus-sized, aqua-phobic, mer-girl go about doing that, exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend Cori, and her crush, Luke?

This summer is about to get a lot more interesting…

Review:
Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau is a charming and entertaining book about a young girl named Jade that discovers she is a mermaid. The story is adorable. Jade had to cope with many changes by herself since her mother drowned the year before. The major one being sprouting a tale after falling asleep in the bath tub.

This book has many great lessons for tween to early teenage girls. Jade learns to cope and make decisions on her own. I love how positive Jade was with her weight and how she learned to accept herself. She was a refreshing main character. There is not much depth to the story, but that is what makes it fun and cute! Perfect read for a young girl.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Review: Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires #5) by Rachel Caine

3558003Synopsis:
In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, the master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn't the only threat.

Violent black cyclone clouds hover, promising a storm of devastating proportions as student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against elements both natural and unnatural.

Review:
It has been a while since I picked up a book in the Morganville Vampires series, and I cannot believe it took me so long! First off, I LOVE the miniature recap in the beginning. It helped to refresh my memory of what happened in the previous book.

Myrnin is still one of my favorite characters even though he seems more crazy than ever. He is as weird and quirky as ever. I really hope a cure is found for this vampire illness because many more vampires are already showing signs of it.

Claire had to make some tough decisions in this book. I love how Claire continues to develop in each book. As always, this book ended on a cliffhanger.

Rachel Caine has successfully kept me hooked so far! I look forward to reading the next book in the series. These books continue to be thrilling, entertaining and a quick read. I recommend this series to everyone!

Rating: 4/5 

Books in the Morganville Vampires series:
  1. Glass Houses
  2. The Dead Girls' Dance
  3. Midnight Alley
  4. Feast of Fools
  5. Lord of Misrule
  6. Carpe Corpus
  7. Fade Out
  8. Kiss of Death
  9. Ghost Town

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, August 4, 2014

Review: Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

5778773Synopsis:
Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy . . . but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good-looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

Review: 

The main character, Shelby, is a teenage girl that cares about her looks, popularity, and boys, but she is also smart and caring. This book starts off with Shelby being caught outside her house with a boy. Her evil stepmother blows it out of proportion and convinces her father to send her to a brat camp. There she meets Austin who is sweet and has an English accent.

This book is a quick read. I read it in one sitting. It was enjoyable, but had a few problems for me:

1) It was very predictable
2) Austin told Shelby his big secret wayyyyy too easily
3) The characters are not fully developed
4) The story seemed rushed
AND (SPOILER WARNING):
3)It completely ignored the fact that Shelby got scratched/bit by Austin. Did anyone else think it was weird to completely ignore that fact?!

Nevertheless, I still want to know what happens next, but I do not want to pay $2.99 for a short ebook.

Rating: 2.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Review: Mistwood by Leah Cypess

6768411Synopsis:
The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.

But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Review:
Mistwood is the story about a Shifter named Isabel who in under a spell to protect the Samorna Kings. Leah Cypess does a wonderful job with this story. It is original, unpredictable, unexpected and I absolutely loved it. I cannot believe it took me so long to pick it up off of my shelf!

The characters are wonderfully written. Isabel is fierce. She will protect "her king" at any cost. Unfortunately, after being in the Mistwoods for so long, she is having trouble shifting when she is back in the castle. She has no idea what is causing it since she has little to no memory of her past. Throughout the book, Isabel discovers secrets about her past that certain people have kept from her. She is weary of Roken, the current king, but she will protect him because that is her job.

 Roken is one of my favorite characters even though he kept some things from Isabel. As he gets to know Isabel, he starts to confide in her and trust her. 

Kaer claims to be the rightful king, but I did not like him at all. He is arrogant, pushy, and mistrusts Isabel.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes this genre. It was a quick read that had me on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down because I HAD to know what happened next. Leah Cypess has made me a fan of her writing. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Rating: 4.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Review: Trance by Linda Gerber

9407992Synopsis:
It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling.
There is time to take only one breath.
The trance begins.
When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things:
Someone she knows is about to die.
And she is powerless to stop it.

Review:
Wow! I liked this book way more than I thought I would! I could not put it down. It was such a quick and easy read.

Ashlyn and her sister have had visions for as long as they could remember. They do not know how to control them or how to stop them. All they know is that something bad is about to happen to someone they know. 

Linda Gerber did a wonderful job writing these characters. The side characters had as much life and energy as the main character did. I fell in love with them all! The romance of the book was very sweet and natural in a subtle way. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and I was sad to see it end.

Rating: 4/5

Any thoughts on this book? Let me know!

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, July 28, 2014

Review: The Boys Next Door & Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

7124475Synopsis:

Two irresistible boys. One unforgettable summer.

Lori can't wait for her summer at the lake. She loves wakeboarding and hanging with her friends-including the two hotties next door. With the Vader brothers, she's always been just one of the guys. Now that she's turning sixteen, she wants to be seen as one of the girls, especially in the eyes of Sean, the older brother. But that's not going to happen-not if the younger brother, Adam, can help it. 

Lori plans to make Sean jealous by spending time with Adam. Adam has plans of his own for Lori. As the air heats up, so does this love triangle. Will Lori's romantic summer melt into one hot mess?

Review:

This book contained both The Boys Next Door and Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols. The book follows Lori as she tries to get Sean's attention. Lori and her brother grew up next door to the Vader brothers (Sean, Cameron, and Adam), so Lori is a bit of a tomboy from being around all those boys. This summer, she decides she wants to be viewed as a girl and not just one of the guys. She creates an elaborate plan that involves dressing girlier and wearing a bikini to grab the attention of the middle Vader brother, Sean, whom she has had a crush on for years. Part of her plan is to make Sean jealous by pretending to date Adam (the youngest Vader). By doing this, she ignores her growing attraction to Adam even though Adam is obviously in love with her and cares about her. It was frustrating to see Lori ignore the jealousy she felt when she saw Adam with another girl, and the tingling feelings she felt when she was around him, BUT she still brushed those off as if they were nothing.

The second book starts off right where the first book ends. Lori and Adam are finally dating, but one mess up gets them both banned from each other. I hated to see them apart! How can they be grounded from each other right after they get together?! That was frustrating to read, but I could not put it down. Adam is much more irritable in this book. We get both Lori and Adam's point of view. Adam gets jealous very easily, lies to Lori, makes plans behind her back. For a good part of the book, I was mad at Adam. He was not as likable as in the first book because he was so frustrated with all the trouble he caused himself. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it.

I really loved these books! This is the first book I read by Jennifer Echols, and she is skilled at humor. I laughed so much during this book. Lori and the characters were so witty and entertaining. I could not put this books down! I read all 587 pages in one sitting, and I was sad to see it end. I loved the romantic comedy aspects of this book. Definitely the perfect summer read.

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Review : The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

8191574Synopsis:
Everything is different 

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma - so she's been told - and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She's been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won't anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?

Review:
I have heard so many good things about this book, that I could not wait to pick it up! It was definitely not disappointing. I do not want to spoil this book for those who have not read it, so I will keep this review short.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a science fiction story set in the future. The main character, Jenna, wakes up after being in a coma for over a year. She has many gaps in her memory and remembers nothing about the accident that changed her life forever. Jenna is a breath of fresh air! I love how she finds herself as her memories slowly emerge.

I definitely recommend this book to all! The plot is unexpected, the characters are wonderful and the idea is interesting. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Review: The Accidental Werewolf (Accidentals #1) by Dakota Cassidy

6590354Synopsis:
When Marty Andrews gets bitten by a mangy mutt while walking her teacup poodle, her blond hair darkens, the hair on her legs starts growing at an alarming rate, and her mood swings put her dream job as a sales rep for Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics in serious jeopardy.

Then a drool-worthy man shows up at her door claiming that he accidentally bit Marty. And since he's a werewolf, she is now, too. Thinking Keegan Flaherty is clearly insane, Marty refuses to believe a word until a kidnapping makes her realize there's more at stake than just her highlights. And she must put her out-of-control life in the hands of the man who makes her blood run wild in more ways than one...

Review:
The Accidental Werewolf is a fun and quirky book. It is the first book in the Accidentals series. I really enjoyed the humor in this book. There were a few parts that had me laughing out loud.

To be completely honest, when I first began to read this book, the main character, Marty, really got on my nerves. All she did was talk about makeup and her color wheel. She seemed so shallow that I did not believe there was any way I could grow to like her. Obviously, I was wrong! Once I got to know Marty a little bit more, I really enjoyed how much she developed as the book went on.

This book is full of humor, sarcasm, action, romance, and not to mention a hot, hunky, werewolf man named Keegan. I think anyone (over 16 because of the sexy time scenes) would enjoy this book. I will definitely be reading more of Dakota Cassidy's work in the future.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Teaser Tuesday: The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along, 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!

7124475This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 75 of The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols:

"I snuggled against him, nose close to his warm, scented chest, and enjoyed a few more seconds of this tingling paradise. What heaven if my whole summer could be like this--"


Swords are for fighting,

2nd Annual Beat the Heat Readathon!!!!

I have officially decided to join the 2nd Annual Beat the Heat Readathon! It is hosted by Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat and Reanna @ Phantasmic Reads and runs from August 11th until September 1st. My goal is to read 7 books as I know I will be busy during those days.
BeatHeatRATbutton2ndA
 Let's do this!

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Steamed by Katie MacAlister

6484914
Synopsis:

When one of Jack Fletcher's nanoelectromechanical system experiments is jostled in his lab, the resulting explosion sends him into the world of his favorite novel-a seemingly Victorian-era world of steampower, aether guns, corsets, and goggles. A world where the lovely and intrepid Octavia Pye captains her airship straight into his heart...

Review:
As much as I love Katie MacAlister, Steamed started off really slow for me. I could not get into the book. I even put it down for a few months before picking it up again to finish it. Nevertheless, once I got into this story, it was wonderful. 

The main character, Jack, ends up in steampunk world with his sister after one of his experiments goes awry. There, he meets Captain Octavia Pye and ends up falling in love with her. Along the way, his sister gets kidnapped. MacAlister has a way of making such a dire situation such as kidnapping funny, quirky and entertaining along the way.

If you like steampunk romance or pirate stories, you will love this book. It is full of action, adventure, romance, and some sexy scenes. The characters are witty and hilarious. I would recommend this book for ages over 16 because of the sex scenes. If you like that sort of thing, you love those scenes because they are HOT!

Rating: 3/5

Swords are for fighting!