{Review}: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Philomel Books
Hardcover: 452 pages
ISBN: 9780399254826
Source: Library 
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

Description from GoodReads:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Review:
Are you tired of reading about werewolves? No? Neither am I. :) If you are looking for a great book about our favorite canine paranormals then Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is a great book for you.
We are taken into a world where "guardians" (kind of like werewolves but cooler) live in secrecy and serve "keepers". Calla Tor is at the top of her world. She will soon graduate and marry handsome Ren Laroche and together become the alpha couple of the new pack that will be formed. Everything is shaken when she save a the life of a young hiker. Her heroic deed puts her in danger and changes the way she views her world.


I enjoyed every minute of this story. Especially the kick-behind heroine. Not only is the plot great but so are the characters and the mythology behind the guardians is amazing. I love how they can turn when ever they want and their clothes just appear with them. It just makes it more magical and fun, I would hate to run around naked every time I shifted but that is besides the point. 


Calla's love interests are both swoon worthy. I know I should be rotting for the guy that will save her from her past life but I really like Ren. If you have read the books, let me know which one you prefer. If you have not what are you waiting for! 


My Rating:              
                                         
Book Trailer:

Let's talk about: When do you read?

After getting married I have had a hard time finding time to read. Whether it be doing house chores or just wanting to spend time with the husband, I just can't find the time to sit down and read.


To make matters worst keeping a blog requires time. Although it does take up reading time to review and write posts, it also helps as motivation because I need to read in order to review. When I am tired it pushes me to pick up a book and read because I love informing my readers about new books. So, I am not complaining about my blog because I love being able to share my thoughts on books but it does take time and thus cuts into my reading time.


Last night I was wondering about how I could find more time to read. I usually do my reading in the morning as I am having my morning coffee or at night right before bed.

Here is my question for you beautiful readers.

How do you find time to read with your busy schedule?

Please comment below with your answers. I hope your comments help others like me that are having a hard time finding time to read.

Follow Friday #23

Follow Friday! Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. 

It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

This week's featured blogs are In Which Ems Reviews Books and Reading in the Corner.

Q:  If you could have dinner with your favorite book character, who would you eat with and what would you serve?

A: I would have dinner with Evie from the Paranormalcy Series by Kiersten White. She would be tons of fun to have dinner with. Hmm... we would probably go eat somewhere very normal since she is amazed by normal everyday things. 

Who would you have dinner with?

{Review}: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (April, 2011)
Hardcover: 323 pages
ISBN: 9780061962745
Source: Library
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

Description from GoodReads:
When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

My Review:
In Melody's and Harmony's world humans become infertile at the age of 18. Teenage girls are urged to "bump" and get pregnant. There are even agents who help sponsored girls find a wealthy couple that will pay large amounts for a baby. When Harmony appears on Melody's front door after being separated at birth, they will have quite an adventure trying to understand each other and at the same time learn things they never knew about themselves.


What I liked: Bumped is different from other dystopian novels I have read. It focuses on the everyday life and the choices of the two main characters and not them fighting an oppressive government. Sure, they may disagree but they are not trying to save the world just make decisions that make them happy.The dual narrative allowed me to see Melody's mainstream philosophy and Harmon's religious, righteous way.It was great to see how two physically identical girls were molded by society and can have such different views. Fighting to be themselves and to find the right path for themselves adds a nice element to the story. 


Did not like: The futuristic lingo without explanation was a bit confusing at first. They should have added a glossary to the beginning or explained and not just assume we can derive what these words mean. It would have also been nice to see more of their world. To get a bigger picture of how their world works. Hopefully this is done in the sequel.
The negative ideas such as teen pregnancy are not discouraged. It might give a younger audience the wrong idea. I am not saying they should die and suffer because they got pregnant but it would be nice to see realistic consequences being shown. 
Why does it have to be series? WHY? They could have easily added a few more chapters and made it stand alone book. Unless they add something amazing to the next book I cannot see the point. 


Overall, a good book that if you have time and want to read a dystopian that is more like Teen Mom than the Hunger Games or if you are tired of characters that want to change the world and want to read about two girls that are just trying to find themselves in a crazy world, then this is the book for you.


My Rating: 
                 

"Waiting on" Wednesday (10): A Million Suns by Beth Revis

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

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Publisher: Razorbill
Expected Date of Publication: January 10, 2012
ISBN: 9781595143983
Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

Description from GoodReads:

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

I cannot wait to read the second in this trilogy. If you have not read the first then you definitely should. Here is my review of Across the Universe in case you are interested.

What are you waiting on?

{Review}: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins Webpage | Twitter 
Genre: YA Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Hardcover: 323 pages
ISBN: 9781423121305
Source: Library
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository 


Description from GoodReads:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Review:

Having magical powers is not all fun and games. That is what Sophie learns after her well intentioned love spell goes terribly wrong. As punishment she is sent to Hex-Hall, a reform school dedicated to teaching Prodigium (magical creatures) how to properly use their powers.

Sophie gets paired with the only vampire in the school and she begins to crush on the boyfriend of the leader of a group of girls that not only can make Sophie's life at Hex Hall very difficult but also seem to have a secret agenda. To make matters worst students begin to die and the already hard magical life gets dangerous.

A great start to a this series. Sophie is a fun, witty character that makes you laugh. This quick paced story is a great read for anyone that enjoys paranormal magical school drama. It will leave you wanting more.

My Rating:

                     

Top Ten Books To Read Around Halloween

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the The Broke and the Bookish

These are the top ten books to read around Halloween that came to mind. They are not in order from scariest and for the most part they are not in your face scary but they leave you feeling a little uneasy. 

1. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

3. The Replacements by Brenna Yovanoff

4. The Cellar by A.J Whitten

5. Rebecca by Dauphne Du Maurier

6. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane  Setterfield

7.  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

8. Graveminder by Melissa Marr

9. Scary Story Treasury

10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Follow Friday #22

Follow Friday! Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. 

It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

This weeks featured blogs are Book Savvy Babe and The Bursting Bookshelf

Q: What superhero is your alter-ego?

 

A: My superhero alter-ego would be Sailor Mercury. She loves to read and even though she won't admit it, she loves romance novels. I know Sailor Moon has tuxedo mask but I have to admit I am more like Amy than  Serena. 

What is your superhero alter-ego?

Top Ten Covers That Sold The Book For Me

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the The Broke and the Bookish

We all know we should not judge a book by it's cover but sometimes I can't help it. These are the top ten book (in no particular order) that I was just had to get based on the cover alone. 

1. Firelight by Sophie Jordan - The cover of this book pulled me in. You know the main character is not going to be human with a cover like this. The cover is not only beautiful but it relates to the story.

2. Hush, Hush by Becca  Fitzpatrick - If you enjoy reading book about handsome fallen angels, and I do, then this cover pretty much sums it up for you. 

3. Angelology by Danielle Trussoni- The strange angel was just to much of a mystery for me not to pick it up. 

4. Wings by Aprilynne Pike - The petal wings  and pink wording make this look like a cute faerie book and that's exactly what you get .

5. Fallen by Lauren Kate - The girl in the cover for some strange reason just captivates me. Her other era dress and the Gothic feel of the cover  drew me in. This was more like Hush, Hush and did not have a Gothic feel to it but non the less I enjoyed it. 

6. The Replacements by Brenna  Yovanoff- Talk about a creepy cover. The crib, and the dangerous objects just hanging there. Not your typical sparkly beautiful faeries book.     

7. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand- A simple cover but for some reason I just had to pick it up and I was pleasantly surprised with the great story.

8. The Dark Devine by Bree Despain-  From the cover I thought this would be a zombie book.  I was wrong it was more like werewolves.

9. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr- I bet you can tell this one is about faeries.  The whole series has beautiful covers. 

10. Matched by Ally Condie- Trapped in a lottery glass sphere, that's what I thought when I saw this cover.  Then when I read the book I fell in love with the cover even more.  Have you seen the cover of Crossed the second in this series. Just as wonderful!

What are your top ten book covers?

Let's talk about: Book Series

Maybe it's just me but have you noticed how almost every new book you pick up is part of a series. Of the last 30 books I read 8 of them were stand alone stories. I am not complaining I am just wondering if it is me or a trend I had not noticed.

We can all agree that we have read plenty of amazing series such as Harry Potter by J.K Rowling and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I cannot imagine these stories being as great if they would have been a stand alone book. It took more than one book to develop the wonderful characters and to allow us to get to know their incredible world.

Yet, tonight as I finished Nevermore by Kelly Creagh I was left wondering why lately I have not been able to finish a book and be done with the story. I am always left waiting sometimes more than a year to see what happens next to the characters. It's even worst when the author decides to end the book in an OMG! cliff-hanger ending.

I just can't help but wonder if all of these books really need to be a series or if the publisher or author have just decided to milk the cow for all it's worth. Some book series get better with every installment such as The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Cassandra's ability to keep the reader engulfed in the world of shadow-hunters is amazing. After four book I am anxiously awaiting the 5th with as much, if not more anticipation as I did the 2nd.

Then there are those series where the author just seems to make the story longer by taking the main characters on a journey of random struggles to that in the end seem pointless because the story could have been amazing if you would have just compacted it into one book.

In my opinion, there are two types of series. Those that you read because you enjoy and will be sad when you will have to say good bye to the characters and those that you read because you have read two or three in the series and you just want to see how it all ends.

What are your thought on this topic? Have you noticed the same trend in the books you read?