Category: Reviews

Reviews, YA Fantasy

Book Review: The Assassin and the Dessert (Throne of Glass Novella) by Sarah J. Maas

Veronica Porras (TTB)

13419891

Goodreads Summary:

The Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive.

Review:

I didn’t know if I wanted to read the Throne of Glass novellas. I asked Kayla to recommend me just one to see if I wanted to read them and she recommended this novella.

OMG. THIS NOVELLA WAS AMAZING. I was fangirling the entire time. I’ve also found a new book boyfriend. A new one. Yes, you read that right, a new one. His name is Ilias and he is the master’s son. I really really want him to show up somewhere in the ToG series. Is it horrible I want this love triangle or square or whatever to become more complicated? Probably, but I don’t care.

I really didn’t see Ansel’s betrayal coming at all. Towards the end I did get suspicious, but I couldn’t believe it. What I did believe was that the master knew. He seemed like the type of guy that would let things happen. Gosh I love him for giving Celaena the money to buy her freedom. Dang.

Overall, I absolutely freaking love it! I have a feeling I will be buying the complete novella bind up soon…

Rating: 5 out of 5

NA Romance, Special Review

Book Review: More Than This (More Than This #1) by Jay McLean

Veronica Porras (TTB)

18285151

Disclaimer: Thank you Amazon Publishing and  NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Goodreads Summary:

When Mikayla imagined her prom night, she envisioned a fairy-tale evening full of romance. So when betrayal and tragedy come in quick succession, Mikayla is completely destroyed. Suddenly, everything she loved and everyone she relied on are tragically, irrevocably gone.

Jake, a handsome boy she just met, happens to witness her loss. With no one to turn to, Mikayla is forced to depend on this near stranger and his family, and he in turn is determined to take care of her. But Mikayla—thrust into adulthood with no one to guide her—is desperate to contain her grief and hide what she considers to be her weakness. Mikayla and Jake both want more, but despite their growing closeness and intense chemistry, she tries to keep her distance and protect her heart. As he does everything in his power to win her trust, Mikayla must choose between remaining alone and safe or letting love in.

Review:

All I can say is WOW. I decided not to read the synopsis and just dove into the book. To say it surprised me is an understatement. I totally thought this would go another way. Did not expect all the twists and turns at all. When I saw this was a part of a “series” I groaned thinking please don’t tell me they split up, please noooooooo, but I’m glad they ended up having their happily ever after.

I do have to warn people that there is some adult content. I did not expect it and I was like Ahhhhh, and skimmed ahead really fast. If you don’t like reading it you can just skip ahead. If I knew it had some adult content I wouldn’t have read it, but since I had requested this on NetGalley I kinda just skipped ahead every time it happened and stuck it out. Oh also, a lot of cussing. More than I thought there would be. Just a warning to those that don’t like reading books with that kind of stuff.

Anyways that aside, it wasn’t a bad read. I kind of thought it would be. It could be the very cliché new adult cover that made me come to that conclusion. I do have to say it was a tad dramatic at times and there were some parts where I literally rolled my eyes and said come on, but if you can get past those few eye-rolling clichés, it’s actually really good. I kind of want to read the rest, but after going to the author’s goodreads and saw she was classified under mature young adult fiction, I kinda of don’t want to.

But let me sidetrack and say MEGAN IS A HORRIBLE BEST FRIEND AND HUMAN BEING. OMG HOW COULD SHE HAVE DONE WHAT SHE DID.

If you want to read an over-the-top, crazy, dramatic, very swoony love story, this is for you. I’m sure you’ll like it.

Rating 3.75 out of 5

Reviews, YA Paranormal

Book Review: Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead

Veronica Porras (TTB)

81+i2926L7L

Goodreads Summary:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Review:

This book was perfect. PERFECTION. My feelings are still a bit crazy and I already slept on it. I knew I couldn’t write this review fresh of finishing it because my review would have started and ended at: ASDKJASRHGLKJHGKLAJGHAKDSJGH

You’re probably glad I slept on it as you should be. Okay, let’s start this. I promise I’ll try my best not to be super scatter-brained.

Silver Shadows was really hard for me to read. Especially at the beginning. Why? Because Adrian’s chapters in the beginning were killing me. They made me hurt. They pissed me off. I also saw some part of myself in him and I just couldn’t keep reading. It took me five months to start reading it again… and then I had to take another month-long break until I told myself one evening “YOU WILL FINISH THIS EVEN IF IT KILLS YOU.” I listened to myself and I am very glad at did because once I got past those initial heart-breaking chapters it was all action, action, and action. I wasn’t bored even once.

At first I was angry that Richelle had split SS into two point of views because SHE DIDNT DO THIS WITH VAMPIRE ACADEMY, and also because if a series or book doesn’t start of with me knowing this will be dual pov, I tend to hate the guy’s pov for some reason. All that explanation to say at first I kind of hated Adrian’s point of view. I was mad at Richelle Mead because how dare she do this to me, and I was mad at Adrian as well because he better not disappoint me or he would fall pretty fast from being my #1 fictional boyfriend to the bottom of my list. It was pretty tense for about 100 pages and then everything turned out to be alright. I adjusted and now I NEED Adrian’s point of view in my life.

I really don’t want to spoil much if you haven’t read it yet, but I do want to discuss Eddie Castile. He has gotten the short end of the stick not only in VA but BL as well. ITS NOT FAIR. Eddie Castile felt so guilty even though he knew Sydney purposely tricked him to keep him safe. Eddie’s life job is to protect others(moroi mostly), those who cannot protect themselves, and Sydney being taken from him and Eddie realizing too late that Sydney had tricked him hurt him badly. I was so happy to see that Jill used her princess authority (which she never has before) and ordered him to help Adrian get Sydney back, and that’s exactly what he needed. And if you read Silver Shadows then you know how things turn out. A happy Eddie is what we get,

I shall be cutting my review short and just say that Richelle Mead can do no wrong, and I can’t wait for the final installment of one of my favorite series in the entire world! I NEED THE RUBY CIRCLE IN MY LIFE NOW.

ADRIAN AND SYDNEY FOR LIFE.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: The Boyfriend List (#1 The Ruby Oliver Quartet) by E. Lockhart

Veronica Porras (TTB)

4164612565_23a0502e9b

Goodreads Summary:

Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it’s unusual, but give her a break—she’s had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:
lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list),

lost her best friend (Kim),

lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket),

did something suspicious with a boy (#10),

did something advanced with a boy (#15),

had an argument with a boy (#14),

drank her first beer (someone handed it to her),

got caught by her mom (ag!),

had a panic attack (scary),

lost a lacrosse game (she’s the goalie),

failed a math test (she’ll make it up),

hurt Meghan’s feelings (even though they aren’t really friends),

became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch)

and had graffiti written about her in the girls’ bathroom (who knows what was in the boys’!?!).
But don’t worry—Ruby lives to tell the tale. And make more lists.

Review:

Where do I even start?!
I remember the first time I read this book, I was in my senior year of high school…. Or was it my junior year? Honestly I don’t remember, but what I do remember is that I liked it a lot.

I’ve been on a bit of a reading slump and oh boy has it sucked, but this book achieved to get me out of that slump. The first thing I have to say about The Boyfriend List is that it’s freaking hilarious! I was laughing, rooting and booing at all the things. I know the title of this book sounds silly, but The Boyfriend List is much deeper than you think. Ruby’s sessions with her therapist made me realize a lot of things about myself and it made me think about my life choices. Weird right? A rather interesting outcome to a book that looks like it would be really silly. I don’t remember this happening the first time I read it, but I was a bit of an angsty teenager in high school (sad to say I was a little bit like Kim,  for example: Everything had to be perfect and I followed all the rules).

Ruby’s story made me realize that my high school experience could have been much worse. I was never a leper but I was publicly targeted for being the only Christian girl at a school where most of the kids were catholic. They took every opportunity to shame me and pick on me and condemn me for being different. I connected in that way with Ruby because she too was shamed for what others students saw as different, and if she didn’t fit into their cookie cutter mold, she was someone not of worth.

As I read the Q&A at the back of the book, it made me realize why The Boyfriend List impacted me so much the second time around. Ruby is going through a process of grieving for both the relationships she once had with her now ex-best friend Kim and her now ex-boyfriend Jackson that have now ended. I’ve had friends like Kim before and it really hurts when they betray you like that. It’s the worst.

Anyways getting to angsty here (that is what high school books bring out in me lol), The Boyfriend List may be about high school drama and at times seems a little childish, but once you digest what is being cleverly communicated to you through the pages of the book, you realize that there is more truth to Ruby’s life than we would like to acknowledge. I will continue to read Ms. Ruby’s adventures, and I thank Ms. E. Lockhart for writing books that send a message we should all be listening to.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Special Review, YA Dystopian

ARC Review: Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

Veronica Porras (TTB)

pawn
Disclaimer: Thank you Harlequin TEEN and  NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Goodreads Summary:

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. There’s only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that’s not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she’s only beginning to understand.

Review:

This book was almost the death of me. The main reason I was able to finish Pawn because I ended up listening to the audiobook instead of reading the galley I received. I bought the Audiobook (it was only 5.95 on amazon) and downloaded to my phone and it was the only thing I listened on my long commutes to and from work.

Let’s talk about KNOX. I don’t know exactly how I feel about him. Gosh he is such a tease, but also at times he would get soo broody and moody and under my skin. But if I had to choose between Benji and Knox, well of course I prefer Knox. And since I mentioned Benji let’s talk about him. First, I know that I was initially influenced by Kayla (The Thousand Lives) to not like him. I was waiting for him to mess up. The only thing he did wrong at the beginning was the whole “Omg you’re gonna be a prostitute and another man cannot possibly have sex with you before I do so let’s have sex right now”. I was over here shaking my head and going “UH NO. YOU JUST DID NOT GO THERE.” After that he isn’t really there much so he couldn’t really mess things up much more. It also bugged me that he wasn’t more jealous about the whole Knox is going to have to marry Kitty, and that all he will ever be is Knox’s assistant, while watching the two of them be together.

Cecilia did throw me off a little though. I was hoping she would be kinder to Kitty, being masked and all, but making her be her puppet instead as opposed to Daxton’s, she really isn’t much better even if the end justifies the means.

Kitty. Oh Kitty. What a mess did you get into. She isn’t my favorite protagonist. I would have LOVED to see something in Knox’s point of view because to me that boy is still a mystery, but ah Kitty could be really annoying at times. I get why she does what she does, but omg that still doesn’t make it any better.

A character that had me fooled was Grayson. He seemed so timid and little when Kitty interacted with him at the beginning, but towards the end I finally saw him how he really is. He is fully aware of what his family does and it is a shame what he has had to deal with it everyday. I can finally understand his obsession with all the inventions. It keeps him busy and doesn’t get involved in the family drama. Also I couldn’t believe that Daxton was masked. Where the heck is he and why did a 5 replace him? Dear Lord this just got more convoluted and intense. Honestly that was the moment in the story that got me hooked. Too bad it was 70% into it. After getting through 70% of the book, you get thrown so many twists and turns that it leaves you feeling… numb. So much happened at the end, I have no idea how to process it.

I can’t say this is one of my favorite dystopian series, but I will say that it manages to hook you and now I really want to read Captive.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Vero Banner Signature

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

anjieeeb

lovedbefore1full

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Review:

I am so excited to review this book! To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before has been on my TBR ever since it was published. Needless to say, I finally got around to it. I actually went to read the first couple of chapters before purchasing it to see if I would like it. Anyways, long story short, I didn’t stop reading after the first two chapters. I ended up finishing it in one sitting! I’ve never done that with a book before. It hooked me right in and peaked my interest. I really loved it and that’s a lot coming from me because I’m more of a science fiction reader.

This was an emotional roller coaster and it made me cry throughout the entirety of it. Lara Jean was so easy to relate to and I definitely saw myself in her. It was as if I was Lara Jean. Some parts of the plot took me by surprise, all very good surprises. I loved seeing — rather reading — the reactions of the guys who received her letters. This book made me laugh so much, too. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Peter! The ending really got to me and ends with a cliffhanger. I was so relieved to find out that there is a sequel! I cannot wait!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Anjie Signature

NA Romance, Reviews

Book Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Veronica Porras (TTB)

71XqNajxelL._SL1500_

Goodreads Summary:

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

Review:

First review of 2015! Woo! *throws confetti* 

Yes, I am on a Colleen Hoover binge this holiday season and I am absolutely not ashamed. I really wanted to read Ugly Love when I heard it involved pilots. I currently work in the Aviation Industry so I am always up for reading anything that involves that industry (and to see if they actually get it right).

First, I want to say that Ms. Hoover wrote about pilots in a stereotypical way that is actually true… most of the time. But not always. The first part of the pilot stereotype is that married pilots can be big douchebags, and want to bang any pretty girl they see. I’ve seen it. Once they get onboard, some take their ring off and “forget” they are married. Honestly, it disgusts me. But there are also those few that are like Miles. Those that are not sleeping around and are not complete douchebags. Which is probably why I’m still in that industry because those few make it better in a way. (We also have pilots like Tate’s brother, they’re nice, but also sleep around. Sigh. I’m nice to those, but I also make sure I put some distance between us.)

If you’ve read at least two Colleen Hoover books you know there is always some tragedy that will break your little heart. It could be because I’ve read 4 Hoover books by now that even though this tragedy was pretty bad, I didn’t feel as heartbroken as the first time [when I read Hopeless]. I absolutely loved that we have both Mile’s and Tate’s point of view, and that it alternates through the book. This is not your average split POV book though. Ms. Hoover had Mile’s POV telling us the story of the past, and we have Tate telling us the story present day. It was very easy to follow both storylines, and the way she did it added to the anticipation to the climax of the story. I was actually okay with how the story ended, probably because of that amazing epilogue that just made the world better.

(I wouldn’t mind a novella about Tate’s brother though)

Overall, Ugly Love shows how much Colleen Hoover has grown as a writer and storyteller. She keeps making characters we can relate to and I hope she doesn’t stop writing anytime soon.

(Warning: This book is the most mature book I’ve read of Colleen Hoover. There are some sex scenes and thankfully are not very explicit, but if you still want to read it and you dislike books that have sex scenes, you can just skip ahead and not read those sections. 🙂 )

Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviews, YA Fantasy

Book Review: Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

Veronica Porras (TTB)

18530258

Goodreads Summary:

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily’s other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can’t hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

Review:

Seductive. That is the only word you can really use to describe this book. I had received an ARC in a gift box from another blogger and at first it didn’t seem like my type of book, but then Kayla raved so much about it I said heck I’ll try it.

Let’s start off with ROWAN. Dear Lord that man will be the death of me. Why the heck does he not exist?! Seriously. I absolutely loved that there weren’t any sexy time or heavy make out sessions because that just made the sexual/romantic tension between Lily and Rowan more intense and that is one of the many reasons why it is seductive. Gosh. It gives me chills.

Something I found really interesting was the concept that what makes you weak in one world, makes you the most powerful person in another. The message sent across to us the reader is that our weakness can also be our strength. The way we receive the message is rather ingenious by putting Lily into Lillian’s world.

I need to give Ms. Angelini a virtual *high five* because the world building was done very well. It wasn’t hard for me to understand what was going on and the way everything was described and explained just made the story a whole lot more enjoyable. I love it when we learn about a new world along with the main character. I feel like it gives us a fuller experience as opposed other ways authors use to do their world building.

For a first book in a series Trial by Fire is a great beginning to this thrilling ride that awaits us. The blurb on the cover describes it completely. Worlds Collide. Magic Reigns. Love Burns. 

Rating: 5 out of freaking 5

NA Romance, Reviews

Book Review: Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5) by Colleen Hoover

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Finding-Cinderella

Goodreads Summary:

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

Review:

Dear Lord, Oh My Gosh, this book was amazing (and it’s just a novella, not even a full novel *mind blown*). I always had a soft spot for Holder’s jerky friend Daniel. I knew he wasn’t a complete jerk, especially because he had Holder’s back. (Also I LOVE the name Daniel so that also made me a bit biased… hehe >_<)

I put this on my gift list and Anjie was nice enough to buy this for me for christmas, and Oh man am I ever thankful. I didn’t even know what it was about, just that Colleen Hoover wrote it and that was all I needed to know. Once I started reading it, I figured out that this was a novella sequel to Losing Hope and I was so freaking excited that I was able to see the whole gang again.

In Finding Cinderella we are blessed with Daniel and Six being in the spotlight. Honestly, this was the cutest thing that could have happened to both of them. You don’t even know how happy this makes me, that Six and Daniel were able to find that someone special in each other and the whole gang are like BFFs for life.

Finding Cinderella was funny, touching, a little heart wrenching, but overall a perfect double chocolate chip cookie in book form. Gosh I want another one like this. Ms. Hoover can we get more of the gang in our lives? Pretty please!!!??? *puppy eyes*

Rating: 5 out of freaking 5

Special Review, ya contemporary

ARC Book Review: For Real by Alison Cherry

Veronica Porras (TTB)

18769257

Disclaimer: Thank you Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book for free does not sway my opinion.

Goodreads Summary:

No parents. No limits. No clue what they’re in for.

Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister’s shadow. While Miranda’s life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality TV.

When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just before her college graduation, it’s Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They’ll outshine Miranda’s fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome.

But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may or may not be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life… or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what’s for real?

Review:

Cutie-Patootie! That’s how I’m describing this book. It was fun, adorable, and downright what I needed on a bad day. I was talking to Kayla (The Thousand Lives) and she kept telling me to read it. She said it would get me out of the reading slump I’ve been in and I wasn’t listening to her until a few days ago, and boy was she right.

For Real is a story that will slowly start winning you over until you are completely enamored with it and are so invested you literally have to shush yourself in the middle of the night because your roommates are sleeping and it wouldn’t be cool if you woke them up with your fangirling. (Although for a second there I was like FORGET NICE! But then… I decided to stay quiet. My roommates should thank me.) I absolutely loved that Claire would do something like that for her sister. That level of loyalty isn’t seen in fiction that much anymore. Although I don’t approve of revenge, what Claire was trying to do for her sister, putting herself in an uncomfortable situation for all to see, was beautiful. I may not have a sister, but I do have a cousin that I see as a sister and for some time, I was Claire and she was Miranda. Experiencing that type of relationship in some way made the story very believable and I think that’s what I loved the most about it. That I was able to make this personal connection to it. I was rooting for Claire every step of the way!

I don’t want to spoil anyone with any crucial details of the story (which is what I totally want to discuss, but alas I will not) so all I will say is. Buy it, Read it, and don’t forget I was the one who told you to read it. You’re welcome.

The book came out today in bookstores everywhere so go snatch yourself a copy. I shall be doing the same as soon as I can!

Rating: 5/5