Saturday, August 31, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (4)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. 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 your borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. 

I sadly didn't do much book shopping this week :'( 
I did however get a good many between Netgalley, LibraryThing, and Fresh Fiction. So here's my list. 

Physical Books:













Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer (won from contest from Ensconced in YA)

E-books:














Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi (Netgalley)
The Scourge by A.G. Henley (Netgalley)
Call Me Mrs.Miracle by Debbie Macomber (Netgalley)
Tandem by Anna Jarzab (Netgalley)
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (Netgalley)
Inhuman by Kat Falls (Netgalley)
Resilient by Patricia Vanasse (LibraryThing)
Taste the Heat by Rachel Harris (Fresh Fiction)
The Liberator by Victoria Scott (Fresh Fiction)

What books did you get this week? Have you read any of these? Thoughts?




Friday, August 30, 2013

Fan Fun Friday (4)

Every Friday I will have a guest fan make a recommendation of a book that they want to share with you. Any book, any genre. I also like to ask a couple of fun questions. This week my fan guest is Kim!!! 


Hey lovelies! I’m so excited to be this week’s Fan Fun Friday! Crystal’s blog is crazy amazing and I love reading all her posts. She may be new to the world of blogging but she’s blogging like a pro!

The book I’m recommending is Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I fell in love with it the moment I started reading! It’s definitely up there with Cassandra Clare’s books.

Obsidian is one of those books that you can’t put down the moment you pick it up. It’s about a girl named Katy who moves to West Virginia from her hometown Florida right before her senior year. She’s just a normal girl who LOVES books, has a blog and does everything boring, until she meets her next door neighbor, Daemon. He’s snarky, arrogant, hilarious and everything you want from a guy. They don’t get along at all. And the worse thing? Well… let’s say that Katy’s stuck with Daemon after he saves her life. Yet he’s not your everyday hero from earth, he’s an alien who’s abilities left a mark on Katy that can only fade with time.

The characters are fantastic. There’s just so much personality that Jennifer put into these characters. Obsidian has a wide range of characteristics. Katy’s your average boring stand at home kind of girl who loves to read. I connected with her right away! Which was good considering she’s the main character. Dee, Daemon’s twin sister, is the outgoing, talkative, perky girl who becomes Katy’s best friend. Daemon, your mysterious bad boy who I won’t reveal much about. And so many other characters!

Obsidian is the first book in the Lux Series, which has 5 books. The fourth one came out recently! I’ve only read Obsidian and if the other books are the same as the first, then I may have found a new fandom to join. If you haven’t read Obsidian yet… I just want you to know… GO READ IT NOW! You’ll be dying to read the second one after! 

To read more about Obsidian go here.

Q: What's your favorite book cover?

A: Shatter Me (the eye cover)

Q: Where is your favorite place to read?

A: Out in the woods, or my bedroom

Q: Who is your fictional boyfriend?

A: I have so many! Okay...I'll tell you my favorites out of my favorite boyfriends. SO there's Jace (TMI), Sebastian (TMI), Daemon (Obsidian), Ren (Nightshade), Christian (VA), and Grant (The Prophecy).

Q: What is your strangest obsession when it comes to books?

A: I have to have the book in hardcover and I can't have the pages bent.

Q: Do you have a favorite bookmark?

A: My favorite bookmark says Live, Laugh, Dream 



Thanks SO much for being part of Fan Fun Friday Kim :) 





Cover Reveal: Connectivity by Aven Ellis

I'm so excited to be able to help in revealing Aven Ellis book cover for her upcoming novel Connectivity. The cover has such a romantic feel and it is just gorgeous. :)




Connectivity—Available October 23, 2013
Overachiever Mary-Kate Grant (who is indeed named after an Olsen Twin) has followed every rule to the letter to pursue her dream of working in TV programming.  Ripping a page from the “hard work pays off” playbook, she takes an assistant level job at a Chicago sports network to break into the industry.
MK has no time or desire for a relationship right now—she is totally focused on her career and being independent, unlike the other women in her family.
But MK’s plans are run through the shredder when she finds herself working for William Cumberland, a British media mogul who made his fortune with Connectivity, a social media site. William blows into Chicago just like the winds off Lake Michigan and purchases the group of networks MK works for—and makes her his personal assistant in the process.
Suddenly MK finds her career plans in jeopardy. William makes her question everything she has ever thought and has the uncanny ability to see right through her. And for the first time in her life, MK finds herself not only questioning what she wants for her career but for her personal life as well…

Contact Info

Connect with Aven on Facebook

Talk to Aven on Twitter

Visit Aven on the web

Check out Aven's pins on Pinterest



Thursday, August 29, 2013

Throwback Thursday (4)



Welcome to Throwback Thursday!!! In this weekly post I will be mentioning some books from the past that are near and dear to my heart. The purpose is not to do a FULL review, but just tell you a little about the book itself and some little tidbits I loved about it.

 I have also had a few other bloggers contact me in joining this weekly meme. If you are interested feel free to contact me. :-)


Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Genre: Children's Fiction
Published: 1964 (First Publication)

Synopsis:

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!


“Mr. Wonka: "Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted."
Charlie Bucket: "What happened?"
Mr. Wonka: "He lived happily ever after.” -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


I'm assuming that most of you have read this book, or at least seen the movie. If not I really urge you to go do it NOW! It is a classic right alongside Charlotte's Web. It is a book filled with magic that will make you smile and several life lessons thrown in that all kids should learn. 

It's been YEARS since I have read this book so my memory isn't the best on EVERY little detail in the book, but I do recall the magical world that this book showed me and the fact that it was all about candy. What kid wouldn't love that? (Or adult for that matter.) 

“EATABLE MARSHMALLOW PILLOWS 

LICKABLE WALLPAPER FOR NURSERIES 

HOT ICE CREAMS FOR COLD DAYS 

COWS THAT GIVE CHOCOLATE MILK 

FIZZY LIFTING DRINKS 

SQUARE SWEETS THAT LOOK ROUND”  -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


Charlie ends up being a lucky boy who wins a ticket to go to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The factory hasn't allowed anyone inside the gates for a long time so this is a HUGE once in a life time opportunity. There are also 4 other winners that he will go see the factory with. All the personalities of the winners are completely opposite so it is an interesting bunch of characters that you get to see.
Charlie and Grandpa Joe get to see how all the candy is made and find some unexpected magical things along the way. Oompa-Loompas, gum that tastes like a full meal, a chocolate river, things like that. Mr. Wonka is not what they thought he would be and they end up having to go through a lot of unexpected twists and turns to make it through the factory. In this factory candy isn't just candy. 

“Rainbow drops - suck them and you can spit in six different colours.” -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Now the first movie rendition of this book I absolutely ADORED. The actors were perfect for the parts and it had a complete Charlie and the Chocolate Factory appeal. It was perfect! They re-made the movie a couple of years ago with Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and I've just got to say that the whole thing creeped me out. Yes Mr. Wonka is slightly on the edge of being insane in general but Depp made him almost have a psychotic feel. SO if you want to watch the movie for the first time I would definitely go with the first one. :)

Have you read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Was it a favorite as a kid? Did you like the movie? Old one or new one?















Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes

Book: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes
Genres: YA Dystopian
Acquired: Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Synopsis:

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.

Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.

When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.


My Thoughts:

I'm SO SO SO glad that I got this book. It is one of the best dystopian novels I have read and I can't wait for the next installment. This book is one of those books that you want to sit down and read all at once. It caught my attention from the first page and continuously sucked me in. One of the main reasons was because of how realistic a lot of the circumstances were. Obviously not the time traveling part, but everything else that the book is based on.

What if our entire world caught a masssive, deadly virus? (Realistic.) You watch your loved ones die and there is nothing you can do but dope them up to ease the pain. Then someone finds a suppressant for the virus, and the government then tells you that for the rest of your life you must take this suppressant once every 24 hours to keep from getting the virus or, if you already had it, keep it suppressed. (Once again, it could happen.) This is Clover and West's life. They lost their mom to the virus, and almost lost West. Luckily the suppressant was discovered and walls were put up around the city to keep anyone from coming in and reinfecting it (not that there is anyone left). They now live their lives, along with everyone else, helping to get the world back on it's feet. 

One of the main things that keep their world safe besides the suppressant is the ability for them to time travel two years into the future. If kids are lucky when they leave primary school at 16 they can go to the Academy for education instead of working labor jobs. At the Academy they can enter various fields, including the Mariner or Messenger track. These tracks are for the people that will do the time traveling. The first person to discover the Veronica (time portal) was Ned Waverly, the man who was the cause of the creation of the suppressant. Now they use the Veronica to go into the future and find out any horrendous crimes committed and capture them in the present day. They take the future criminals to the executioners, one of which is Clover and West's dad. 

Clover is sixteen and headed to the Academy, only to be thrown into a Messenger job. She doesn't know why they want her or the real reason behind her being put into this position. West is getting ready to head to an interview for the Company (government) so he can leave his job of cantaloupe farming. Clover and West both stumble into some things that they are never supposed to know. When Jude, a kid from Foster City, enters Clover's life, and Bridget, the headmaster's daughter, becomes a big part of West's life things will never be the same for them or the world. What if you found out everything you have been told your whole life is a lie? 

So the main thing that sucked me in was the fact that the whole story really is something that could happen. It's a realistic setting. Then add in time travel and that just made it all too perfect. I loved the characters. Clover is autistic, and I thought that was amazing, hearing a story come from the way her mind worked. It put a different kind of touch on the entire book. The story switched from Clover to West, but it was always a smooth transition. West is the kind of big brother every girl would want. He is fiercely protective over Clover, and has given up a lot for her that she isn't even aware of. Jude is someone Clover meets at her interview for the Academy and later on ends up finding a trustworthy ally in him. Bridget is the Academy's headmaster's daughter, who West has had a crush on for a while. Circumstances from the future bring them together and she becomes a big part of their lives. 

There are several relationships formed in this book but I am glad that it didn't really focus on romance. A lot of books will force a romance because they think there has to be one there, but this didn't. They had evolving relationships that I think might become more important in future books but they weren't just thrown at you. It is based more on friendships and trust. 

The ending left you with a little "WHAT???" at the end, so now I'm dying inside a little each minute because I really want the next book, BUT that is where my love/hate relationship stems from with books endings. I HATE waiting for the next book but I LOVE when they make me want them right that instance. 

This book had it all for me. It was well written, drew me in, loved the characters, and had the WOW factor! I give it 5 BIG LOVING HEARTS!!!! 

Have you read Viral Nation? What did you think about? 



Wednesday Watch (3) with Rachel Harris

Every Wednesday I'm going to be featuring an author that I think you should be watching. I hope to be able to snag an interview with them as well. :)

This week my guest author is Rachel Harris. I am talking to her about about her series, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, and getting to know her a little better! I recently read and reviewed the first two installments in this series. Click links below to check them out! :)

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century













A Tale of Two Centuries














Here is a little info about Rachel Harris from Goodreads :)


"I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations.

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my amazing husband.

I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I'm also the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!"



Q: What made you want to write?

A: I've always had a highly creative (slightly scary) imagination, and half-finished stories clutter my childhood journals, but I never thought about being an author for real. I did consider journalism, and even went to school for that, but writing and publishing a book seemed too big. Too scary and impossible. Then I fell hard for the Twilight series and then YA in general, and decided to give writing a try. I haven't stopped since!

Q: Did you have to do a lot of research for MSSSC and ATOTC, since the setting was Renaissance era in one and the MC was from the Renaissance era in the other?

A: Yes!! Luckily I am a research nut, but yep, MSSSC involved three weeks of all day everyday research, along with the little things that come up while writing. Surprisingly, ATOTC involved almost as much research even though it was set in modern day. I had to look up the etymology of words constantly, to see if they were in use during the 16th century, since it was told in Alessandra's first person account. Also little things like surfing required a day of research :)

Q: Lorenzo or Austin?

A: So hard!! I think Austin, because I got to know him so much more in his book. ATOTC was much more about the romance and two characters growing because of it. Now, writing Lucas's book in his POV? Swoon! ;)

Q: Read or Write? 

A: I need both for my sanity LOL

Q: Sweet Guy or Bad Boy (Fictional Characters)?

A: A misunderstood bad boy who is really sweet! In real life? Sweet all the way. 

Q: Flowers or Chocolate?

A: Chocolate!!


Thank you Rachel for agreeing to do the interview!! Rachel also has a Romance Novel out, Taste the Heat, so make sure to check that out. Rachel is currently working on the third installment to My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century series, so be on the look out. :) 



Monday, August 26, 2013

Mania Monday (1)



This will be a feature where I post giveaways that I know of going on in the blogging community and if I have one going on myself!!


Christina @ Ensconced in YA is hosting a Twitter Part 8/27 at 8pm CST with Victoria Scott follow #Liberator, she always hosts an awesome party and gives away some great stuff!!

Alyssa @ Eater of Books has 6 giveaways going on right now!!! The link will take you straight to her list :)

The Closed Cover has 3 giveaways going on. 2 different signed copies and a pack of ebooks!

Nina @ Project Read and Review is celebrating her 2nd Blogaversary (CONGRATS) You can win one of 25 new releases!!!

Kaitlin @ Reading is My Treasure is giving away a free e-book, winner's choice that is $10 or less

So Many Books, So Little Time is giving away a copy of Streetwise by Chris Freeman

The Soul Sisters are giving away a signed copy of The Elite by Keirra Cass with a message from either Maxon or Aspen

Marie @ Everything Marie is celebrating reaching 300 likes on FB & giving away over 30 different prizes

Meredith @ Pandora's Books  is giving away an ARC of Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz

Lady Reader's Bookstuff is celebrating her 3rd Blogoversary & giving you a chance you win a Surprise Box of Books, Swag, and other Goodies 

Mel, Erin, and Regina Read-A-Lot are giving away signed copies of Obsidian, Onyx, and Opal by Jennifer Armentrout

Literary Beginnings and Red Carpet Endings is giving away 3 signed books from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

The Book Belles winner gets a Book of Choice

Joyousreads has a BOX OF 10 BOOKS to giveaway

A Good Addiction has Hourglass, Timpiece, and Infinity Glass by Myra McEntire up for grabs plus a melting clock

JessaBella Reads is giving away a SURPRISE BOX OF BOOKS

Bewitched Bookworms is celebrating Katie McGarry by offering several different prizes of books from the author

Christy's Book Addiction has several books to choose from for a Winner's Choice giveaway

Good luck to everyone!!!

If you have a giveaway going on or know of one going on & it isn't listed here feel free to leave a link in the comments!!



Sunday, August 25, 2013

Flight of Blue by A.E. Howard

Book: Flight of Blue by A.E. Howard
Series: Keeper of the Keys Chronicles #1
Genre: Children's Fiction, Fantasy
Acquired: Netgalley, in exchange for an honest exchange
My Rating: ♥♥♥ (3.5)

Synopsis:

A cursed traffic light. A rip in the fabric of the world. A sorcerer injured on a quest for revenge.
Kai and Ellie embark on a journey to return the sorcerer to his home. Entangled in events that could destroy the world, Kai must choose if he will accept the role he was born to play, but isn't sure he wants.

Kai's view of the world is shattered when Reginald, an Opossum sorcerer with attitude, speaks. Reginald becomes an unwilling guide, and Kai finds himself on a journey where every discovery only leads to more questions. With time running out as the Realm of Darkness pushes through, he must learn all he can about himself and his parents' past to find a way to close the rip between the Realms before his world vanishes. But truth is more dangerous than illusion, and he finds the fate of the world resting on his ability to wield his newly discovered magic.

A page-turning blend of non-stop action and memorable characters, Flight of Blue puts a timeless theme in a modern setting where compassion, loyalty, courage, and friendship can stand in the face of great evil, and overcome.


My Thoughts:

I requested this book from Netgalley on a whim. It looked like an interesting read and Goodreads ratings have several references to a Harry Potter likeness, so I thought I would give it a try. I was pretty disappointed. It took me a long time to really get into reading more than a chapter at a time. I was pretty much completely bored at first. I tried to keep in mind that this is indeed children's fiction so it wasn't really intended so much for my audience. So I'm going to put my age aside and think more like a 12-13 year old. :)

Kai and Ellie happen across what they think is a hurt possum who really ends up being a Opossum sorcerer, Reginald. Reginald got mad and cursed a traffic light in an attempt for revenge. While cursing said traffic light, he actually causes a rip in the fabric of the world. These rips can allow good and evil into the world. While Kai and Ellie are trying to help Reginald get back home they discover the rip and Kai finds out there is a lot more to him and his parents than he ever thought was possible. His parents are both Guardians. Typically, two Guardians can not have a child, so Kai is a rare type of Guardian. 

He begins to learn about the world of the Keepers and the Guardians who are in charge of rips in the world like the one Reginald caused. They also discover that the world has many different realms and learn the history of them all. He meets a flight of blue messenger, Serina, along the way who helps guide him and Ellie to the Guardian School. Kai realizes he is special in many ways, and needs to be trained to use his gifts. Will Kai and Ellie be able to figure out how to close the rip? 

The world was very well written and the characters were like-able over all. I feel like there were several scenarios Kai and Ellie were put in that are relate-able to younger kids these days. I wouldn't recommend this to a reader of YA. I did not really see a likeness to Harry Potter besides the magic element, but that's where it ends. This is definitely a book that I think should stick to a younger age range, so I guess I would recommend it for a school library or if you have a kid. :) 




Ecclesiastics and Vanguard Crests Revealed

You may notice on my left sidebar that there are some new editions. One specifically being the Ecclesiastics crest promoting The Prophecy by Erin Albert coming out in November 2013. I recently did a reveal of an excerpt for the book and an interview with Erin. You will be hearing every bit of  news on this book from me! I just know it's going to be amazing and can't wait to get my hands on it!!!

You can go on Erin's blog to read more about the world and characters. Today she revealed the Official Crests for the Ecclesiastics and the Vanguards, so I wanted to share them with everyone. :)

Ecclesiastics Crest

Vanguards Crest


These crests do have specific meaning, what I couldn't tell you.......I unfortunately do not have that little tidbit of information right now.  :(   *Yes I'm pouting Erin......it's my right* ;-)


What do you guys think about the World and Characters from The Prophecy? What about the crests? 





SneakPeek Sunday (3)

Every Sunday I will post what's on my TBR for the week and what reviews I have planned!

Reading this week:

Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes



















Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton (yes this was on my TBR last week, but I didn't read it)



















Rooted by Amy Good



















I'm hoping to also squeeze in The Burning of Cherry Hill by A. K. Butler



















Reviews:
Flight of Blue by A.E. Howard
Double Crossed: A Spy and Thieves Story by Ally Carter


What are you reading this week? Let me know!!!





Saturday, August 24, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (3)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. 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 your borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. 


So I was introduced to a new book site, called BookCloseOuts, this week by Nova over at Musings of a Blodger. If you haven't checked it out you should GO NOW!! I got 4 hardcover books for $24......yes you read that correct! They were each $6. I've never been so excited!!! I did my weekly visit to Amazon, and got a few review copies also.

Physical Books:


Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes (Received from Penguin for review)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (BookCloseOuts)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (BookCloseOuts)
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (BookCloseOuts)
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (BookCloseOuts)
Belladonna by Fiona Paul (Amazon)

E-books:

Steel Lily by Megan Curd (currently $0.99 on Amazon TODAY)



Fatal by T.A. Brock (Amazon only $0.99)
Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer (Amazon FREE)
Jordyn by Tiffany King (Amazon FREE)
Fields of Elysium by A.B. Whelan (review copy via Goodreads)
Escapement by Ciara Knight (review copy via Goodreads)
Unknown by Melissa Pearl (Netgalley)
Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae (Netgalley)
Double Crossed: A Spy and Thieves Story by Ally Carter (Netgalley)


What books did you get this week? Have you read any of these? Thoughts?





Friday, August 23, 2013

Fan Fun Friday (3)

Every Friday I will have a guest fan make a recommendation of a book that they want to share with you. Any book, any genre. I also like to ask a couple of fun questions. This week my fan guest is Mariam! She is was "adopted" twitter sister. ;-)




Hey people! I'm Mariam and so happy to be on Crystal's Fan Fun Friday! 
Which by the way is an amazing idea. I lurve your blog! You are doing such a great job with it. If I didn't already know, I'd never think you were new to the "Blogger world". 

The book I'm recommending today is Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. I knew I'd love it even before I read it. It basically called to me! Lol. 


Grave Mercy starts at when Ismae (the MC) is 14 and was being forced into a marriage with a pig farmer. She doesn't make it easy for him to have her. But upon seeing her scar he locks her away. She then escaped with help from a priest and sent to St. Mortain, a convent that trains them the art of death. (Intrigued yet? I hope so.) 
After 3 years she gets an assignment then everything happens after that. She falls in love (but pretty much denies it in most of the book). I loved everything about Grave Mercy, it was exciting, emotional (maybe that's just me lol) and just plain GOOD. The book's main quote is, "Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf." Cool right? I recommend Grave Mercy to anyone/everyone! 


Read more about Grave Mercy here.

Now here are some fun questions I asked Mariam!!


Q: What was the first book you remember LOVING?

A: The very first book that made me love reading was Elske by Cynthia Voigt. (Before that I never thought I could read a book for enjoyment only!!) Elske was so interesting  and activating that I couldn't help but look for more books that seemed just as interesting. 

Q: What is your weirdest obsession when it comes to books?

A: Hmm... I'm obsessed with the funny/sexy characters, but before that I'm mainly obsessed with how the cover looks like!! 

Q: All time favorite fictional character? Why?

A: OMG! Really Crystal?? That is hard... So many amazing characters! But I'm going for Kenji Kishimoto from Shatter Me because he is just so hilarious and amazing. 

This or That:

Read inside or outside?

Inside because I can't deal with the heat and tiny bugs flying around lol. 

Buy a book you are dying for at full price or wait until it goes on sale?

Full price, I'd want to get my hands on it the very minute I'm able to. 


Thanks so much for being part of Fan Fun Friday Mariam!!!! And from all of our little group WE WILL MISS YOU LURVE!!!!!

♥ Crystal 

Do you want to recommend a book? If interested in being part of Fan Fun Friday please contact me!! 






Thursday, August 22, 2013

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris

Book: A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2
Genre: YA Contemp
Acquired: Barnes & Noble
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Synopsis:

Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?


My Thoughts:

JUST SO YOU KNOW: This book has officially been set on my favorites shelf and I just want to be called Princess constantly because of Austin!!!

Anyways...like I had said in my review for the first installment, I am so glad that I had this copy on hand as soon as I finished with that one. I had to know more abut what happened to Cat and Less. Of course I also just love historical books lately. But I've never read one that was intertwined so well with the twenty first century, and that could engross YA readers so much. 

Ever since Cat left Less and returned back to her own century, Less has not been the same. She craves more from life. She wants to make her own choices, have more opportunities. She often daydreams of Reyna coming and taking her on her own adventure, and finally her dream comes to life. Cat's gypsy girl shows up and gives Less an opportunity to go and find herself. She ends up fitting in much better than she thought she would when she ends up in the twenty first century. She gets a chance at being an actress and meets Austin. What will happen when her time is up and she has to go home to a world where she has no choices again? How can she go back to that? 

“Reyna’s holding a ticking clock, and it’s getting louder. It’s so freaking loud it’s like a time bomb, counting the seconds until you’re gonna be forced to choose." -Rachel Harris, A Tale of Two Centuries

When I first started reading this book it was a little harder for me to get into because being in Less' head just wasn't the same as being in Cat's. it was just a little harder to relate to Less in the beginning, but that changed only a little ways in, then I was hooked once again. Less was hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times because of the things she did and said. Her character development was so amazing to experience. She changed in so many ways in this book. 

"That's some sexy accent you have there," Austin says in a hushed voice - but not that hushed. A few people around us snicker at my evident discomfort, which of course only serves to spur him on more. "Italian, right? Mmm. Say something else - how do you say blush in Italian?" -Rachel Harris, A Tale of Two Centuries

Austin is such a bad boy, and I suffer from MAJOR bad boy syndrome!! (Not in real life, just fictional.) He instantly stole my heart with all his hotness and quick witted comments. Every time he was around my heart would just flutter. He is arrogant and sarcastic. I want to smack him and kiss him at the same time!

You will also see more of the adorable Lucas, but I can't talk much about that because I just can't let Lorenzo go. I can't. 

The best part of this book is the fact that you get completely sucked in. I felt like I was IN this book. I was Less. There was one scene with Austin and Less and THERE WERE TEARS. When a book can make we cry, laugh out loud, or any major emotion it's an all time favorite in my world! Rachel Harris has been added to my list of authors that if she writes a book, you better believe I'm reading it. ;-) 

"You want more. Don't you, Princess?" -Rachel Harris, A Tale of Two Centuries

I can't wait to get my hands on the third installment in this series. You can find a little info on Goodreads for it here. I am also going to read her adult romance novel, Taste the Heat, soon too. That is HUGE because I don't read adult romance, EVER! But like I said, Rachel Harris is fabulous! 

❤ Crystal

Have you read ATOTC? What did you think?