Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Teaser Tuesday (May 27)

What is teaser tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules: 

• 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! 


"Hmph." This seems to appease Kitty a tiny bit. Knowing something first, before Margot, is a big deal." 
-To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Page 134, by Jenny Han

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Movie Review: The Vampire Academy

Based on author Richelle Mead’s worldwide bestselling series, VAMPIRE ACADEMY tells the legend of Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry), two 17-year-old girls who attend a hidden boarding school for Moroi (mortal, peaceful Vampires) and Dhampirs (half-vampire/half-human guardians). Rose, a rebellious Guardian-in-training and her best friend, Lissa – a royal vampire Princess - have been on the run when they are captured and returned to St.Vladamirs Academy, the very place where they believe their lives may be in most jeopardy. Thrust back into the perils of Moroi Society and high school, Lissa struggles to reclaim her status while Rose trains with her mentor and love-interest, Dimitri (Danila Kozlovsky), to guarantee her place as Lissa’s guardian. Rose will sacrifice everything to protect Lissa from those who intend to exploit her from within the Academy walls and the Strigoi (immortal, evil vampires) who hunt her kind from outside its sanctuary.

Best Bits: I think any movie that starts with "Bad Girls" by M.I.A automatically gets four stars. I'm new to this series, I've been flying through the books, and loving every minute of them. I think this puts me in a unique position with the movie. I don't have a huge set of expectations due to years of waiting for new books. What was I looking for in the movie? The same feel of the book. I wanted something that doesn't take itself too seriously, but still had intense moments. I think this movie did that well. Yes, there were a number of changes from page to screen, including altering some plot points. Some will be a bit upset with that, but it's all in the name of making a movie that flows (this was ingrained in me after watching commentaries from LOTR).

Perhaps the most important parts of the movie are the characterization of, and friendship between Lissa and Rose. The books depend on these things, and the friendship guides a majority of Rose's decisions over the course of the series. I was happy that Rose was sassy, and Zoey Deutch was able to pull it off. Lucy Fry, playing Lissa, was great as well. You feel for her as she's trying to adjust back to life at the academy while other students whisper behind her back. As I've continued on with the series, she has sort of replaced my mental image of who Lissa is.

Nit Picks:  I felt like there was an excess of cleavage for Rose. I'm wondering if this was to play up her curvy figure which is described in the book, but I can imagine that getting in the way of fighting strigoi. I also thought that the actor who plays Dimitri looked old...and I can't even explain it. He's only a bit older than I am, and doesn't look that old in behind-the-scenes photos/other movies. I'm going to blame it on the hair.

If you are looking for a fun, quick movie to watch with the girls, I'd say give this one a shot.



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (May 21)


Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.


Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
 A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild their kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Secretly training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter’s future king, Mather—she would do anything to help Winter regain its source of magic and rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers and fighting enemy soldiers just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, and never has been, her own.

Sara Raasch’s debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one’s destiny.

Published by Balzer + Bray
Release Date: October 14, 2014

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Stacking the Shelves (May 17)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews! It's a way to highlight the books that everyone got throughout the week.

Received for Review

Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick (a pseudonym of Jackson Pearce, and I always want to read more by her, woop!)

Scared for her safety in a city spilling over in chaos, Natalya has a dangerous secret-she laid eyes on the hidden Consetllation Egg. This shimmering Fabergé egg holds a power so great it protects the tsar and the one he loves.

When the Constellation Egg disappears, Natalya sets out to find the egg and save her beloved Alexei, the Tsa-to-be. But she is thwarted by a handsome, dark-haired Red named Leo who has plans of his own for the egg, and for Natalya.

Swirling with mysticism, Natalya's heart-stopping journey is perfect for fans of Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty.

This one arrived out of the blue, and I'm so excited!

Purchased

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
 
 
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.










The One by Kiera Cass


 The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

 



Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (May 14)


Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.


In Too Deep by Coert Voorhees
 Annie Fleet, master scuba diver and history buff, knows she can’t fight her nerd status as a freshman at her Los Angeles private school. And she doesn’t care—except for the fact that her crush, Josh, thinks she’s more adorable than desirable. Annie is determined to set him straight on their school trip to Mexico. But her teacher has other plans: he needs Annie to help him find Cortez’s lost-long treasure.

Suddenly, Annie finds herself scuba diving in pitch-black waters, jetting to Hawaii with Josh, and hunting for the priceless Golden Jaguar. But Annie and Josh aren’t the only ones lured by the possibility of finding the greatest treasure ever lost at sea. Someone else wants the gold—and needs Annie dead. In deeper danger than she ever imagined, can Annie get the boy and find the Jaguar, or is she in over her head?

Critically-acclaimed author Coert Voorhees delivers breathtaking romance and non-stop action in his newest novel, the spirited and captivating In Too Deep.

Published by Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: July 22, 2014

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

5 Year Blogoversary!


Holy bananas! I actually almost forgot that it was time for my blogoversary (shh, don't tell the blog). This is a huge milestone, especially since my career often gets in the way of being as active here as I would like to be. Let's rewind to 2009. I was a junior in college and I wanted a way to share my love of books. I was inspired by sites like The Story Siren, and even though I had absolutely NO KNOWLEDGE of HTML, I thought I would be fine to start it up.

Well, many broken html codes later, and here I am. I still have to google things, but I've met a great community of bloggers. I've seen the good, the bad, and seen a lot of changes within our community. I went on hiatus, fell back in love with blogging...and next year I am determined to make it to BEA so I can finally meet some of you in person! I'll pin my header to my shirt each day so hopefully people recognize me ;)

So...now it's time for a contest. Guess the covers, and you'll be entered in to win your choice of any three books from this list (or any YA books, really)! If you want a bigger version of the hint images, click away!


Teaser Tuesday (May 13)

What is teaser tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules: 
• 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! 


"We could no longer trust the protective magic of the wards. We couldn't even trust sunlight." 
-Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2), 47% on Kindle, by Richelle Mead

Monday, May 12, 2014

Mini-Reviews

The Elite by Kiera Cass

I enjoyed The Selection, and I just finished The One...so of course it's time for a mini-review of this one. Before I start, I just want to say that whenever I glance at the cover image I always think it looks like the actress who played Ginny Weasley. That has nothing to do with the book, however.

I enjoyed that this one really picked up on the dire situation of Illea. The girls have been narrowed down, the drama is amped up, and we see America really begin to develop into the type of leader she could potentially be. The rebels attacking the palace keep everyone on their toes. I was also able to guess a piece of information that didn't pay off until the last book (yes, I'm proud about it). The love triangle is evident, but America is able to simultaneously be true to herself (after growing up in a lower caste) and mature.  


Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I've been burned out on vampires since Twilight, but this looked like a lot of fun. It's a series that doesn't take itself too seriously, which is uncommon in vampire lit. I did see the movie, and I know a lot of fans were disappointed. It wasn't the best adaptation, but the lead maintained her sassy attitude.

The series has been around for ages, and I'm sure most people have read it by now. If you haven't and you're looking for boarding school meets vampires with a lady badass, I'd suggest giving this one a try.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (May 7)


Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.




                                                         Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

Published by  Harper Collins
Release date: May 6

Never blog from your phone. Worst choice ever. 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Teaser Tuesday (May 6)

What is teaser tuesday?
It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules: 

• 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! 


"By now Mr. Whitman was behind his desk, telling us to put our minds to Shakespeare and his sonnets. For once I was truly grateful to him." 
-Sapphire Blue, Page 100, by Kerstin Gier

Monday, May 5, 2014

April Winners

Winner of The Shadow Prince - Ann from The Girl and the Book

Winner of Easter Hop - Stephanie

Winner of the April Comment Contest - Julie from Books and Insomnia

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Book Review: How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love by Ken Baker

Thick. Heavy. Big boned. Plump. Full figured. Chunky. Womanly. Large. Curvy. Plus-size. Hefty." To sixteen-year-old Emery Jackson, these are all just euphemisms for the big "F" word—"fat." Living on a Southern California beach with her workout fiend dad, underwear model sister, and former model mother, it is impossible for Emery not to be aware of her weight.

Emery is okay with how things are. That is, until her "momager" signs her up for Fifty Pounds to Freedom, a reality show in which Emery will have to lose fifty pounds in fifty days in order to win the million dollars that will solve her family's financial woes. Emery is skeptical of the process, but when the pounds start to come off and the ratings skyrocket, she finds it hard to resist the adoration of her new figure and the world of fame. Emery knows that things have changed. But is it for the better?


Best Bits: I was a bit worried at the start of this one, because it starts off by throwing the sassy, snarky attitude of the main character, and the references right at you. We learn that Emery feels like an outsider in her fit and perky family. Of course, I always end up being connected to these kinds of characters, and Emery proved to be an interesting one. Her snark is really there to cover up the vulnerability of not feeling accepted at home, or at school. Her boyfriend is also overweight, and she really appreciates that for once someone seems to notice who she is, not what she looks like. The show presented a unique way for Baker to address societies expectations about how people look, and what they should do if they go against what is socially acceptable. Regardless of what any of the other characters think, it was great to see Emery work on self-acceptance. The super awesome part, this reality show included individual counseling. On real-world shows like The Biggest Loser, I'd love to know (but not see, because that's private stuff) that they were involved in some therapy...but now we're getting off topic. 

Emery is still a teen, however. There were moments where she had unexpected outbursts, and where she lashed out at others. Over the last couple months I've learned to accept this, because it's realistic to a teenager's life. Zeus knows how many times I had crazy mood swings and freaked out on people.

Nit Picks: There are a lot of pop culture references. This is to be expected in a book about a reality show. At some points, though, I felt that they weren't necessary. Despite how business-savvy the Kardashians are, I don't need them being discussed in my fiction (although I can see the comparison between the mothers).

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love
By Ken Baker
Published by Running Press Kids
272 Pages
Received for Review
 

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