One Moment Review

Date to be published:  June 26, 2012

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Number of Pages:  272

Publisher: Egmont USA

First thoughts:

First off I like to mention that I really loved the cover to this book, it really captures the emotion this book has throughout its entire story…the color choice and image seemed to fit just perfect with the theme of the book. This was definitely a fast and engrossing read, the intensity of emotion that this book brought out in me literally had me on the edge. Any book that can cause serious emotion has no problem grabbing the reader’s attention and this book was no exception. I was hooked from the very first chapter….the way the author crafted this story was beautiful and heart-wrenching; this story had me reading late into the night until the very last sentence was read.

Plot:

The plot was laid out just right, the way the author chose to merge amnesia and reality really helped make the plot itself more intense and on edge. There weren’t a lot of scenes that were slow, even if there wasn’t action per se the emotion took place of it, It’s been a long time since a books been able to leave me this drained….all of the secrets and lies that had been twisted and hidden were revealed slowly throughout the storyline, I loved that the author chose to ease us into it…allow us to discover right alongside the character. There were a few surprises in this book but the major one that totally created a five color fireworks show at the end was something I had high suspicions from in the beginning. I think the author meant for us to gather the clues throughout the story and allowed us to suspect even before the character herself even thought about it….so overall I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book and I loved the emotion it was able to evoke inside me. This is definitely a great aspect to the book, it holds all the necessary elements that a book needs and it has an even deeper complexity to it.

Romance:

So the romance is a key conflict in the story though I wouldn’t say it’s your typical romance you find in all YA these days. This romance is sharper and realistic…it’s like something that you could experience and it’s definitely not love at first sight (thank goodness!!) I wouldn’t say it’s gooey or swoon worthy but it’s definitely something that I enjoyed reading…though I’m still not sure where I stand on some of the intimate relationships in the book. But overall though the romance is sharp it fits the story like a glove and is a good aspect to the story.

Characters:

So to feel the emotion you have to have a great character to make you feel them and that’s what this book did. I was able to connect with Maggie and go alongside her and experience all the turmoil and emotion she was going through due to the unraveling of her memories. There were a few things though that I felt Maggie reacted to wrong, it was like she hadn’t seen the newest problem like she should of which made her reaction seem more off and unrealistic but there weren’t a lot of those moments. As far as personality and imaging of the characters I thought they were great. I loved being able to pick apart each character and know exactly who that person is.  There were definitely a few characters that I hated even by the end…and hate’s such a strong word, but I HATE some of these characters but not because of their structure but because of their actions. So overall I enjoyed the characters and aside from a few awkward/weird reactions I thought this was a good part of the story.

Transformation of the Character:

I wouldn’t say there were any amazing transformations in this book, there wasn’t anything that made me feel a major shift in character. What I mainly felt for this book was that the character finally realized who he/she really was and that was the “transformation” not a change in personality but merely a realization of the person deep within themselves.

Description:

I loved the way the author described the scenery and the characters. She did such an amazing job on creating silent messages within the scenery. Like what they do in movies like waves represent romance and rain represents turmoil or pain this book seemed to have those same messages but in a different way. Just by a description of the scenery or the way of someone’s expression I was able to take more away from each scene; I was able to better connect with the character and the situation at hand. As far as the amount goes I didn’t feel overwhelmed or lacking, it was the perfect balance for this story. And the dialogue was realistic too, I felt that there was a lot of the emotion in the lines of the characters, just by word choice and punctuation the reader was able to take emotion from the line itself and an added bonus of the description of the character too. So overall I did enjoy the author’s description of this world and it was really consistent throughout the entire story so there weren’t any problems in this aspect.

Style:

The author’s style was good, I enjoyed how she merged present with past but I felt that it needed to be separated better, like blend the two tenses together so that it flows smoothly and the readers able to interpret the past memory with the current status…it wasn’t like that every time but I did catch now and again. As far as writing goes I enjoyed it and liked the author’s choice of words and craftsmanship of sentences, it was an overall good aspect to the story. As far as staying in one POV and first person I felt we were able to better connect with the character and keep some of the secrets hidden until just the right moment.

Quote of the book:

“I tried to hold my breath, to keep from shaking, so the ripple of my fear wouldn’t strike the person coming down the trail, so they wouldn’t know where I’d folded up and hidden myself. It didn’t work. He felt me. And he stopped.”

Goodreads Summary:

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.

 Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

Last Thoughts:

This was such a touching and emotional read, though this might not evoke the same emotions it did for me I do hope it does because that was what half the fun of it was…being able to feel to really FEEL is such a great aspect to a book for me. I would recommend this to readers of YA and realistic type situations. I really enjoyed this authors writing and can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for her readers.

My Rating:

Shattered Souls Review

Date Published: December 8, 2011

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Number of pages: 326

Publisher: Philomel/Penguin

First Thoughts:

The concept of this world was pretty interesting, though the concept of ghosts is ages old the way the author chose to use the characters in the world wasn’t. The idea of a speaker and protector and how it worked was pretty cool to learn and see. This story does have reincarnation and I’m usually kind of against it, just never been a big fan of it (perhaps it’s been overdone in stories?) but in this story it worked, it piped my interest and made me enjoy the story even more, it added more depth and control to the overall plot of the story. The cover is gorgeous too, I loved the use of petals and color scheme, and it really tied the story as a whole on the outside. So, overall I found this an enjoyable and quick read.

Plot:

The plot was simple, there weren’t a lot of complicated sub-plots that you had to follow along, it was just straight and forward with the basic rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. The ending was pretty satisfying but to me there was a little snag at the end, like the author should have concluded the issue a little better and I know there’s going to be a second book to this world but it’s going to be a companion novel and therefore be in a different scenario so that leads me to believe that this little snag left behind will always be there and I’ll always wonder if it ever got solved…sigh. As for the overall concept like I mentioned earlier it was really interesting and though some of the plotlines were predictable and easy to read I did find it interesting and fast to read. The overall pace of the book was very quick, I read it within a two day period and had no trouble getting through it, though there are some slower moments in the book but to me they were essential to the overall meaning of the book. So  overall the plot was good but could use a little tweaking near the end to tie up all loose ends.

Romance:

The romance was like a said heard of, it’s nothing new but I enjoyed how it was gradual and didn’t always seem perfect, most YA books have romance be love at first sight and though it’s true a lot of us girls want that it’s just getting old, after you read it for like the hundredth time you just want something new; something fresh and though this has a little bit of that it also had some raw edges that you don’t always see in the romance aspect of YA books. So overall the romance fit in within the story and was a pretty good aspect of this book.

Characters:

The author did a really good job on creating likeable and realistic characters. She didn’t seem to draw up any that were too perfect or any that just get under your skin. They each had their own personality and flaws and integrated throughout the story in just the right manner. One of my favorite characters that this author created was the main protagonist Lenzi. She had such a complicated and in-depth character that I was surprised with the weight of it. I liked how the author showed us two version of the same person, it was cool to compare the two of them and judge the character in that aspect. As far as the minor characters they too were created just right and fit into the story in just the right moments. The characters were a great aspect of the overall view of the story to me.

Transformation of the Character:

There were a couple of transformations that were beautiful to see unfurl.  They were gradual but in a way predictable but I loved seeing the whole process take place, to see the little things that pushed them in the direction that they needed to go, it was fun and nice to see the end result. Though not everyone changed in this book the ones that did were well needed and deserved. I still think some characters needed to have their own transformations but they wouldn’t have felt right within this story, perhaps in their own time and own story they will.

Description:

I loved the description; I loved seeing how the author described both the emotion and the landscape around the characters. The author was able to grasp the scenes and describe in beautiful words on what it looked like and how the character was feeling at that particular moment. This is the type of description that can win a book over for me, it allowed me to better connect with the world itself and the characters. I wouldn’t say there was too much description for this storyline but there was a lot but it didn’t slow the overall pace of the story for me….it was just a steady and necessary thing for this world.

Style:

The style was good, I liked that it was from one POV and was in first person but I think this book could of done well also with multiple POV’s without confusing the reader. It would have been awesome to get into the minds of some of the other fellow protagonists and see the action taken from their eyes but I guess some of the secrets would have been unveiled too quickly for the story and maybe as the reader we would have felt like we were lacking something, so in the end the author chose what was best for the world/this book. As for the writing itself it was good and well written, I didn't think it was off or sloppy but more smooth and organized.

Quote of the book:

“The sun streaming through my open blinds lit the gold highlights in Alden’s hair. This was the first time I’d seen him in the light….he was the most attractive boy I’d ever met, and he looked way too comfortable lying on my bed.”

Goodreads Summary:

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Last Thoughts:

It was a fun and fast read and would recommend it to fans of reincarnation and ghosts. This book has a way of grabbing the reader’s attention and forcing them to continue reading till the very last page. This is a series I want to keep in touch and hope to see some the characters I met in this book appear in the books to come. But until then I did enjoy the book and look forward to seeing what else this author has in store for her readers.

My Rating:

Lost in Time (Blue Bloods # 6) Review

Date Published: September 27, 2011

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Number of Pages:  342

Publisher: Hyperion

First Thoughts:

I remember when I used to excitedly wait for the next book in this series but on this go around it’s taking me months just to finally comply and read it. This is book 6 in the series and I can tell just by finishing this book that it’s time for this series to take a close, it’s getting to the point where things are just dragging out, if it isn’t one issue being resolved it’s another one being brought to the surface…end it already. Though I do have to say the cover to this one was really pretty, it did in a way represent the book well; it’s definitely one of my favorite covers for the series. But overall though I found this story lacking in some aspects it wasn’t a terrible read and urge the readers of this series to just push through it and finish the series, just one more book after this one; you can do it!

Plot:

The plot was long and complicated and therefore created the illusion of a long and slow read. I thought that though some of the things these characters did was necessary there were moments where they could have just avoided and caused themselves less conflict. As far as the plotline is concerned it followed nicely and had all parts that one would require and by the end I was satisfied but I didn’t have the feeling of needing to read more…though seeing as there’s only one more book left in the series there’s no way I’m skipping out reading it. There was essentially three stories in this book and though they were well executed (meaning they each were well written and followed the plot) I felt they just weren’t what I was expecting. The stories should have had a little more fire in them; more action to pick up the pace but instead we have a more drawn out semi-action story. I think out of the three my favorite would be Allegra’s, we were finally able to get to really know her and see her past before Schuyler was born.  So overall though it had action I felt it wasn’t a fast enough paced book that we know so well from the previous books.

Romance:

I felt this aspect was good in the book, the relationship between Schuyler and Jack was just as sweet and worthy as we all expect. The other couples (Allegra & Ben, Mimi and Kingsley) were also fun to read, I loved how the author used Kingsley in this aspect he really stayed in character in this aspect. So the romance was as normal as expected and I really enjoyed reading this part of the story, the author really did well on expanding the romance to another level in the aspect of putting them through trials and seeing them through it.

Characters:

I liked the characters in this story, though one of them got a little whiny at times (I think we know who that is) it was fun to continue their story and see the actions and thoughts to how they tried to resolve an important issue. Each of the character seemed to be the ones we all know and love so I don’t think you’ll feel that they are flat or two dimensional if anything you’ll find another side to them, you’ll be able to see a part of them that you had perhaps thought they had but had never really seen any proof of it. Overall the characters were a good part of the book and added to the overall liking to the story/book.

Transformation of the Character:

There were some transformations that took place in this book, though it wasn’t anything to fawn over they were well created and believable, by now being six books in we’ve been privileged in seeing the characters change. There was one that I loved seeing, we were privileged to see this character change in a way that we expected but were unsure would ever happen. It was nice to see and I’m glad the author finally able to let the transformation to take place.

Description:

The description was really good, this author has a great talent on taking a place and describing it in really good detail, and I definitely didn’t have to work hard to imagine all the places these characters traveled. This author also did a really good job on describing the relationship between each character, I could definitely feel the love, the hatred, and heartache between all of these characters and it was fun to be able to connect with these characters by pure description itself. As far as too much description goes I felt at times she did do this, though I love her description I just wish there were a little less at certain moments. Overall the author did a good job on describing each scene and person.

Style:

I liked that the author chose to switch the stories every chapter and it flowed nicely but I didn’t like that she didn’t date Allegra’s story, though we all know the future of her and could figure out that it had to be in the past I just felt the author should have made that clear, distinguish the exact dates and let the reader be able to really comprehend the whole story. And as far as how she switched the chapters it was really well placed, I liked that there were moments where I wanted to skip a few chapters just so that I could read more of the story to see what happened. Overall I do like the writers writing and that alone made this a much easier read.

Quote of the Book:

“This was what love meant after all: sacrifice and selflessness. It did not mean hearts and flowers and a happy ending, but the knowledge that another's well-being is more important than one's own.”

Goodreads Summary:

After their beautiful yet brief bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force are forced to separate. To fulfill the Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler travels to Alexandria to search for Catherine of Siena and the Gate of Promise. But Schuyler quickly discovers that everything she believed about the Gate to be wrong. Meanwhile, Jack makes the difficult decision to return to New York to face his twin and former bond mate, Mimi. But instead of a bitter reunion, he is faced with a choice for which there is no good option.

Mimi, with a most unexpected travel companion in Oliver Hazard-Perry, jets off to Egypt, too, to search for Kingsley Martin, her long lost love. With all roads leading to Hell, Mimi learns that not all love stories have happy endings. But she'll have to put her own feelings aside if she's going to save her crumbling Coven.

Packed with heartache, twists, and vampiric folklore, Lost in Time is sure to satisfy hungry fans' cravings for more Blue Bloods adventure.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this book to readers of the series, if you enjoyed previous books you might not enjoy this book as much, they’re just not the same anymore but I still recommend you read this, it was kind of fun to see the characters advance into the worlds they did and the end? Kind of saw it coming but it was definitely in a way epic in itself. Overall I enjoyed the story but just wish for the books we read in the beginning of this series, they drew me in, this one just kept me reading to the end; not as big of a connection as I wished it could have had. I like Melissa De La Cruz’s writing and will definitely keep reading more she writes but I just think this series is ready to be retired.

My Rating:

Glitch Review

Date to be published: August 7, 2012

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Number of Pages: 320

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

First Thoughts:

This book was a lot of fun to read; it had so many shocking moments and moments where you kind of sit there and go ‘really?’ There were those uh-oh moments where you wonder what’s wrong with the character, did he/she really just do/think that? I love the cover to this book, the color combination along with the font of the wording was just so nice and pretty to look at (and no I didn’t read this book based on its cover) It was overall a fun read where I was taken to another world where for a moment I could forgot all reality and just be immersed in the story itself.

Plot:

Okay so the beginning of the book started off a little slow, it just introduces you to the world and what’s going on but soon the pace picks up with speed, problems arise, irony becomes a key player and all you thought in the beginning was turned up-side down and thrown out the window (one of my favorite things about this book). So much happened in this book, 320 pages was nothing on this world; there’s so much more to be told; so much more needs to happen before any real resolutions can take place. I enjoyed the fast quality to this book; I enjoyed all the new conflicts that were introduced throughout the story, some of them being minor and some contributing to the main conflict itself. The concept itself was creative and new to my world (I’m sure there are some similarities in other books but don’t all books have that?) Actually when I really think about it this book has a slight resemblance to “Delirium” by Lauren Oliver but it’s not closely related, they each have their own ideas and I guess when you get into dystopian books you’re bound to find some similarities one time or another.  As for the elements of this plot they’re all there but of course the resolution isn’t finished but being book one of the series that’s okay.

Romance:

Okay so yes there’s a love triangle in this book BUT before you stop reading right there here me out, this love triangle is different, it’s more of a love….a love…a love street? Does that even make sense to you? The love these two guys have for the girl is enormous but the author has chosen to morph it differently than other love triangles, I don’t want to give anything away so just know that this isn’t the ordinary love triangle and by the end of the book I think you’ll see what I mean. But overall I really enjoyed the romance, it wasn’t rough or ugly, it was more a smooth love. And though I’m kind of getting tired of romance in YA this one was fun to read and though it wasn’t the main focus of the story it was there and did take center stage at times.

Characters:

Some of the characters were a little annoying to me, I got to the point where I rather them be out of the story all together than me having to read one more page with them in it….but there weren’t a lot of them and thankfully they weren’t in most of the book, they were more spread throughout. But the main protagonists were fun and easy to connect with. I liked that the main characters had personalities and more realistic while some of the minor characters almost seemed robotic and distant, it really gave the main characters a better view by pulling them away from the picture and highlighting them and it really went along with the theme of the book.

Transformation of the Character:

There were a few small transformations in this book, they weren’t anything to special because I believe that the real transformations won’t take place till further down the road, these characters need more time and conflict to allow them to grow and expand. And the transforming you did see was more of the shedding of the character, like the character didn’t transform but rather just showed you its true character. So overall this wasn’t an aspect that influenced the story much.

Description:

The description was really well written; the way she described the scenery really brought out the senses to me. It wasn’t hard to imagine each scene, the author had a way of describing actions that put you in awe, and she was really able to merge each scene beautifully. I found that the use of colors was a very important element in this book, to me each color represented a different emotion or action, and it was even eerie to me at times. This is definitely not a world I would want to find myself in…Overall the description was really good and I didn’t find it to be tedious or too little, it was just the right amount for this world, without the adequate amount of description this world and conflict would fall flat and book wouldn’t be as enjoyable to read.

Style:

This was written in first person and only had one POV which fit perfectly with this particular story. If this story were to have multiple POV’s we wouldn’t have been able to have the element of surprise, the irony wouldn’t be there and then in essence the story would really lose the flare it has, so I am glad we were only in one POV even if at times I wished I could have been in someone else’s mind. As far as first person it gave us an insight of the main character, it allowed the connection from character to reader to be stronger and more realistic. As far as the writing itself I didn’t find anything really wrong with it and even if there was I really think all the other elements overshadowed anything negative in this aspect, like I mentioned earlier just the concept and the story itself was fun to follow along, I was definitely immersed in this book for hours.

Quote of the Book:

““But is it worth it?” I looked into his green eyes, so close to mine. “What if the Community is right? Wouldn’t it be better to never feel hurt or pain? Aren’t we better off without it?””

Goodreads Summary:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers. As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse. In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to sci-fi and young adult readers. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who is strongly against love triangles, if you absolutely hate them and have your mind set then this may not be the book for you. I enjoyed this book a lot, it’s one of those books that didn’t take long to read and didn’t keep me constantly checking how many pages are left. I like this author’s line of thinking and creative style, I can’t wait to continue reading this series, there’s so much more to be resolved and can’t wait to find the answers. This is definitely a book I will keep on my bookshelves for years to come.

My Rating:

The Syndicate Review

Date to be published: July 9, 2012

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Number of Pages: 301

Publisher: Lands Atlantic

First Thoughts:

Wow, I never wanted this book to end, I fell in love with the characters and didn’t want to let them go, there’s just so much depth and character to them that I wanted to keep reading about them. And to make this an even greater book was the plot! No cookie cutter plot, there was definitely originality and creativity poured into each and every page. I was so engrossed in this new “society” and how it worked; it was really cool to see two sides of the same blade…

Plot:

Okay so I really enjoyed the whole concept and plot line of this book, it was so new and intriguing that it kept me reading and reading to the point I didn’t want to put it down.  I love when there isn’t the same plot lines a lot of young adult books are spitting out these days, it’s hard to really come by a book where it follows its own path and gives the reader a new experience. Yes this has the slight element of forbidden romance but in all honesty I really didn’t see all too much of it or better put, it wasn’t the main conflict of the story. The romance was more of a subtle background element while the whole story based its conflict with the society itself. The beginning of the story was a little slow going, the author had to introduce the reader to the world and set the ground rules but once that was done the story really took off, it started throwing curve balls and adding in new conflict, it really became more of a movie than a book, it didn’t even feel like reading. The pace was average but got really fast near the end….oh the end how it left off…I really want the next book like right now! I can see some speculations that could appear as part of the plot and I really want to know if their right because if they are… just wow. And as for the romance it was so gentle and gradual, I liked that it didn’t seem rushed or forced, it was more of what was meant to be. As for the sub-plots there weren’t really many of them; the story really seemed to focus on the overall large conflict but I have a hunch that there are going to be some in the books to come. There was one part of the story that I found a little…strange? No that’s not the right word…I don’t know it’s just kind of seemed random like the character had stored this plan in his mind for half the story and didn’t share it with the reader…it kind of was fun, usually that would deter me but it actually added to the story, I like it when the characters surprise the reader like that, it definitely added more to the plot. So overall I really enjoyed the overall storyline of this world.

Characters:

Move over Wes and come here Vasi! Oh Vasi, Vasi, Vasi how I have fallen for your physique and inner warmth, I’d take you any day! And Here’s to hoping Riley doesn’t mind a little competition ( I think we know who would win ;D )

I loved these characters; the author did such an amazing job on creating unique personalities for each one and making them fit in just the right way that they added to the texture of the story.  I found it easy to connect with the characters, they just seemed so easy to get to know and though each one has their secrets it’s still good to learn who they are on the outside. So overall I really liked the creation of these characters and I’m glad they were so easy to like or dislike, this was definitely a great aspect of the book.

Transformation of the Character:

Though I wouldn’t use the word transformation these characters did in a way change, not into a new person but like they discovered something that had been a part of them the entire time but hadn’t known that it had been there, does that make sense? But I think with what’s to come there’s actually going to be some full-blown transformations, I could tell just by the way the author had set up some of the conflicts in this first book.

Description:

I liked how the author chose to describe some of the targets I won’t lie some of them were eerie at times, it was almost like staring at a double mirror…definitely mind numbing and fun to read. I like authors who aren’t afraid to describe the less than pretty things in the world. As for the amount of description I thought she had just the right amount, she did a great job describing the scenery and the rules of the world. She was able to set up the world in a way for the reader to easily understand it and at the same time enjoy reading about it. As for the dialogue I found it to be an adequate amount, not too much and not too little and it seemed true to the characters speaking. I really like the way the author described some of the inner thinking, each inner thought seemed true to the character and added with precision. So overall the description was fun and fast to read, it’s definitely something a reader shouldn’t have a problem with in this book.

Style:

The author’s style was unique in the way that it seemed to stay steady throughout and it seemed smooth and jagged it at times, it was like the writing itself became more jagged in the more intense moments and more smooth in the calmer and more progressive scenes, really cool to see. Also I liked that we only got one POV, it helped keep some of the stories secrets and conflict buried for just the right moment, there’s still secrets I don’t know and I can’t wait to figure them out. Also the use of first person allowed us to connect better with the main character, we could see through his eyes what he saw and the his thought process afterward there’s a lot you can learn about a person by just studying them from inside out.

Quote of the book:

“…we have to make the decision in time, we have to mark it, put it in the envelope, stick a stamp on it, and mail it back. We can’t just decide, but then let the deadline pass, because if we do, it’s like we never made the decision to begin with.”

Goodreads Summary:

For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.

The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.

Now, he'll have to decide whether or not to keep her alive even if it means going against his own family.

The action, mystery, and conspiracy in The Syndicate will take readers on an immersing journey in which decisions are not only life changing, but irreversible.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this book to fans of “The Pace” series and to anyone who loves a unique and good story. This story was a fast read to me, I’m still reeling from how quickly I devoured it, I tried savoring it but I finally gave into temptation, call me weak I don’t care all I want is some personal time with Vasi. I love this author’s writing and can’t wait to continue to read more from this author. I really enjoyed this book a lot, I never wanted it to end but like they say all great things have to come to an end sometime, guess this was no exception.

My Rating:

The Day Before Review

Date Published: June 28, 2011

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Page Number:  307

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

First Thoughts:

I read this book about a month or so back but I just now sat down to write a review, it wasn’t that I didn’t like it, it was just I didn’t have the time. Anyways there’s several things about this book that were new to me, one of them being is the style it was written in, this was my first verse book, I’ve never read any of Ellen Hopkins books or any other books written in verse, I always thought it would just be too awkward and just weird but this book proved me wrong, though I won’t always go with a book with this style I will be more open to reading books written in verse. There was just so much to the shortness of writing that it gave the story a much deeper level and foundation.

Plot:

Believe it or not the plot itself was just like any other book’s plot, there was all of the steps it took to tell a good story, even the end was well concluded and wrapped up. I loved the way this author chose to tell the story, it wasn’t hard to follow along and the way she chose to end each set made it even the stronger. Though I felt the end to be concluded I do secretly wish that we could have gotten more of “After” though in no way was it necessary to say anymore, I felt that it would have been nice to see just a little bit more, to really get a great picture of the days after. I also thought the letters within the pages were very well strategically placed; they helped us understand in better depth what our main character had to deal with, it was like getting to peek into her life with a magnifying glass. And every time a letter came up I felt it was at just the right moment, it slowed leaked information alongside the storyline. As for the romance I thought it was really good, it wasn’t over-powering and though this book mainly took place within a days’ time I felt with the length of  book that the romance was gradual and never rushed…it seemed there was resistance at first which you don’t always get in young romance these days. Though I wouldn’t consider their romance to be gooey or gushy it did have a warm feeling to it and had a few raw edges. The pace of this book was very fast, one thing I’ve learned about verse is that even though this book was over 300 pages it took me less than half the time to read a book that long, it really only took a couple of hours, but I guess the pace of the book in addition to a great story helped speed things along. It was an overall good story and the plot didn’t really like in any areas.

Characters:

I felt the author did a good job creating two strong main protagonists. We were able to see the unique qualities to each one and they were very realistic in the terms of them being able to exist in our world. And within the verse of the story it was really easy to see who was who and see them adapt to within the changes in the story. We were really able to see within their minds and mini worlds to figure out just what makes them feel the way they do. But as far as the other characters went (there were actually very few) they were just kind of there, we were able to get a view of them but I just wasn’t able to connect with them like I could with the two main characters. I guess in the end though it would have been nice to see some good well-built minor characters it wasn’t that hurtful in the grand scheme of things.

Transformation of the Character:

This was a good aspect of the book, we were able to see these characters start one way and see a gradual change throughout the book. As far as the quality of the transformations they were good but I kind of think in a way they were too rushed, like maybe the length of time it took them to make that transformation was too short but then again a lot can happen in just one short day; it can really change a person so in the end I don’t know what to think of that aspect of the transformation.

Description:

I really liked the description in this book; the way the author was able to take simple feelings or ideas and put it into words was so creative and fun. I’ll never forget the meaning she had behind the glitter…it was just so beautiful and fun to read. Each set in a way had its own theme and it was just cool to see these sets blend in with each other…to tell a story but at the same time create an almost mini world…it was definitely fun to read. This book’s description was lyrical at times but also just like any other book but just in this case the lines were broken down differently than a traditional book. As for the dialogue surprisingly to me there was some, though not a lot. It was really cool to hear the voice of the characters instead of description all of the time.

Style:

Though I wouldn’t say this type of style is for me I did enjoy it for this book, it only took a minor adjusting period to get used to how the book worked.  This author’s style of writing was very good for this story, I think for this particular author writing in verse is what she’d do best because just by reading just one story by her I could tell she knew what she was doing; she knew how separate each set and make it flow in a way to allow the story to be told in a nice gradual and smooth way. So overall I liked this author’s style of writing but I’m still not sure if verse is for me.

Quote of the book:

“It's like

the silence

that follows

 the beautiful song.

Or

the darkness

that follows

 the glitter in the air.

He knew

what to do

to make it better.

As I walk toward

the door,

I take a deep breath.

I know

what to do

to make it better.

As he

embraced me,

I will

try to embrace

this day

that follows

 the day before.”

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Amber, hoping to spend one perfect day alone at the beach before her world is turned upside down, meets and feels a strong connection to Cade, who is looking for his own escape, for a very different reason.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to any reader who enjoys reading verse and likes a good cute story. I wouldn’t recommend this if you don’t like reading verse and even if you haven’t read any story with verse I would say give it a try, if you don’t like it at least you know that verse just isn’t for you. I really did enjoy this book, I liked that even though some of the things were serious it wasn’t really necessarily a deep read; it had a lightness to it. I would definitely consider reading the other books this author has written, she really does have a way with words, and overall I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to expand my reading world.

My Rating:

Scar Review

Date Published:  March 24, 2010

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Page Number:  248

Publisher: Westside Books

First Thoughts:

This is one of those raw kinds of books; where emotion meets reality. The whole content is a very touchy subject to most readers, sexual rape and cutting are serious issues that have been debated for years…but the way the author presented this story was amazing. The inner voice was strong and so rough…there were moments in this book where I just wanted to turn away, the deep emotion was a bit much at times but I think these kinds of stories need to be voiced; need to be heard. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for years to come.

Plot:

The overall organization of this story was good, I found the overall plot to be fulfilled, though I felt at times things were a little rushed (these issues/moments are REAL and each one should have their shining moment). There was one thing I was confused about in the beginning and it wasn’t until halfway through that it finally clicked and I got that ‘Aha!’ Moment….but maybe the author meant it to be that way. I thought the big moment in this book was rushed, it needed more to it; more time for both the character and reader to digest the new information, but the end itself was concluded well enough. I really thought the whole purpose of this story was strong and heard, there wasn’t a problem of hearing the voice of the story or learning a great deal not only from the characters themselves but the overall storyline itself. There was just so much that I learned from this story, things that I’ve heard before but not necessarily understood, this story helped me understand; it filled in some of those gray areas and broadened my perspective on life. As for the romance in this story there was some but it was sweet, tender and soft. Though I understand this type of romance isn’t for everyone (girl loves girl) I really thought it opened the story even more. The intensity they felt for each other is something hard to find and I really liked that the author chose to take this romance both at a slow pace and adding a dark edge to it. The pain and conflict added to this aspect of the plot was great and I really loved reading about it. But like I said if you’re uncomfortable reading about this type of romance this book might not be for you.

Characters:

What to say about them? I really enjoyed that they had so many layers to them, like an onion in fact. It was like the more I read the more layers were revealed, I learned so much about these characters and they were very much three dimensional. The main protagonist was very strong and weak at the same time; there were parts to her that I loved and then there were parts that I didn’t like but perhaps those little parts I didn’t like are just a part of her and because of what she went through it left those little bad parts behind…As for the minor characters, some of them were perfect, they added texture to the story but there were a few I felt didn’t necessarily belong, like they were just there. But overall I really liked the creation of these strong and unique characters.

Transformation of the Character:

There were a few transformations that took place throughout this book and the biggest of them all kind of in a way let me down…I felt that there should have been more to it, like it should have been described more in depth…but I guess the way it ended kind of left it up to the reader to imagine…it wasn’t that bad honestly I just thought the character would have changed a little bit more or in a different way but everyone takes to situations differently…maybe I need to study human behavior perhaps then I might better understand this complex character. But overall the transformations were good and believable.

Description:

I loved how this author described what the character was feeling, it was so emotional and dark at times, though it didn’t necessarily make me cry it did make me FEEL and that can impact my thought as much as crying. As for the dialogue I felt there wasn’t too much or too little, it wasn’t awkward at times or anything it was just right for this story. I liked that at times dialogue just wasn’t possible so the author chose to write in a different way…to describe the inner thoughts and feelings. As for the way she described the scenes, I felt she was able to set them up to where I could picture them, it wasn’t like I had to strain to see this story it was just painted so beautifully. Overall the description was just right for this story.

Style:

I liked this author’s style of writing, I had recently read the first book “Hunted” in another series she started and liked her style and in this book I think it was even better. The way she cut off certain moments and scenes gave an even stronger impact on the scene and reader. And I liked she chose to stay in one POV; I just don’t think this book would have felt right with more than POV. So overall I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Quote of the Book:

“I nod. I can’t tell her, but I’m better than I was before. I know how to stop the shadows now; how to keep them from coming into my art. I know how to keep myself safe. All I have to do is cut. Cut until it all bleeds away.”

Goodreads Summary:

Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

Last Thoughts:

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good realistic book; something that you can learn from without feeling like you’re learning. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who is shy of same sex relationships and to anyone who isn’t ready to read a raw and emotional book, this WILL open your eyes so much to these particular issues. I really did enjoy this book; I definitely learned a few things and will definitely keep this in the back of my mind. I really liked that the author included some help pages and links at the back of the book, it allows readers who are in similar situations to get help…this author really did all she could to connect to those who are in the same boat. I will definitely be reading more books by this author, the strength she must have to even write it must be enormous, it was raw, emotional and dark; I loved every minute of it.

My Rating: