Special Review, ya contemporary

ARC Review: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Veronica Porras (TTB)

17258743I was provided a ebook copy by Harleqin Teen through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

Release Date:

January 28th, 2014

Goodreads Summary:

Life. Death. And…Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can’t tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn’t have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

Review:

I requested Heartbeat because in the past I’ve enjoyed quite a few books by Ms. Scott. When I first started reading the book I had kind of regretted requesting a ARC of it because I saw Emma as whiny and just too full of grief to see anything. After the first 50 pages though, it picked up and boy am I happy I stuck it out at the beginning.

The raw feeling and emotion that is felt when you are reading the novel is intense. I feel like it’s more intense than the emotions felt when reading TFiOS. Emma is blinded by her grief and is practically alone. Her best friend Olivia tries to help her as much as she can, but Emma needs someone who can understand her grief and why she is so angry. Enter Caleb.

Caleb is also broken, but he has tried to put himself together as much as he can. He understands Emma. He is Emma’s wake up call making her see that life doesn’t get better or easier. You just learn to live with it and accept life, sour lemons and all. He basically tells her I can’t fix you nor do I know how to. I loved this because the guy doesn’t fix the girl, he is just there for moral support. Emma is the one who eventually finds a way to start living again.

Overall, I really liked this book. I loved the intensity of the emotions and how raw they felt. If you are a major crier, this might not be the book for you, but you can go ahead and give it a try.

Rating: 4/5

Other

The ABC’s (1)

Veronica Porras (TTB)

abcbanner1Isn’t Andi’s ABC’s banner cute? I thought so too.

I’ve decided to join Andi this week and do my very own ABC’s list. If you want to know how this blog feature works, click here and it will take you to her original post where it all started.

Accessory

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Giani Bernini Handbag, Large Glazed Leather Tote

I recently saw this bag and I decided that I want it. I own two other Giani Bernini Hangbags and I love them. This one to me though screams “Power Suit” or “Professional Woman” which is exactly the type of bag I’ve been looking for. Oh and one that actually fits all of my stuff.

Book

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Into The Still Blue is a book I’ve been anticipating for a while now, and it finally came out yesterday. And as you probably would have guessed, I pre ordered it. If you haven’t read the Under The Never Sky series, I suggest you do so.

Clothes

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Sierra Mock-Neck Faux-Leather Jacket

You probably don’t know that I am obsessed with leather jackets. I only own two. A black one and a plum colored one. I was going through the Guess website and I saw this beauty. I’ve been looking for a leather jacket that is fitted. The black one I currently own is not. It’s more of a biker leather jacket. Boxy one could even say.

Tuesday Meme

Top Ten Characters I’d NEVER Want To Trade Places With

Veronica Porras (TTB)

toptentuesday-1Thank you The Broke and the Bookish for this wonderful Tuesday Meme

There were two topics today and I was going to do the first one, but then I thought about it and decided on the latter… Top Ten Characters I’d NEVER Want To Trade Places With. It seemed like something that would make me think and  more interesting to write about so let’s get on with this week’s topic!

Divergent hc c(2)The first two characters I would not trade places with are Tris & Four. I may love these characters so much and will root for them and just wish they were my friends, but at the end of the day I would not in a million years trade places with them. If any of you have read Allegiant or have been spoiled… You all know why.

13326831Cia. I really like her as a strong female character. She has morals. She has a heart. Not like some other characters in this book. Again, I would not in a million years trade places with her either. What she had to go through… nope. I wouldn’t be alive if I were her. The world she’s living in is so full of pain and deceit, I don’t want to go there.

CatchingFire_cvrKatniss & Peta. My babies. My loves. The OTP that wasn’t my OTP until Mockingjay. I love them, but nope. I would not trade places. Ever.

11547291Finally we get to a character that is in a contemporary novel. Jennifer. I really like Jennifer as a character, but the pain she had to go through in this book broke my heart in two. I love her, but I wouldn’t trade place with her… now Beth… that’s a different story. 🙂

5890_originalOh, Sydney. I’m sure several of you are shocked that I would not trade places with Sydney. Adrian Ivashkov is my #1 fictional boyfriend and the love of my fictional life, but I still would not trade places with her. If you’ve read the end of TFH, you all know why.

VA-MTI-cover-_-face-on1The last three characters in my list are Rose, Lissa, and Christian. Each character’s past is so sad and horrible. I don’t want their pasts to be my past. I don’t want to fight strigoi, have a family that voluntarily turned strigoi, or have the continuation of royal family on my shoulders. I honestly don’t want my life to be in constant danger and have all this emotional baggage to deal with. I love all three of them, but I’m sorry. I ain’t trading places with them any time soon. or Ever.

What are some characters you wouldn’t trade places with?

Adult Contemporary, Reviews

Book Review: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

“Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . ” 

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It’s company policy.) But they can’t quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O’Neill can’t believe this is his job now- reading other people’s e-mail. When he applied to be “internet security officer,” he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth’s and Jennifer’s messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can’t help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

My Initial Thoughts:

The only RR book I had read so far is Fangirl and I wanted to check out RR’s adult fiction work. I was expecting her writing to be similar to Fangirl, but still be different if that makes sense. I honestly did not know exactly what to expect.

Review:

Really, I can only fangirl in this review. I stayed up until 12:30am last night just to finish this book. The last time I remember looking at the clock was around 10:20ish. I said to myself I’ve got time to read a little more… and a little more turned into finishing the book. You all know how that works.

Back in late October/November I read about 30 pages in a span of a week and it depressed me a little so I stopped. It was nothing like Fangirl and I knew the next time I picked this book up I had to be in an adult fiction mood. And that mood hit me last night.

Here are some of the reasons why I loved Attachments so much.

#1 The friendship between Jennifer and Beth.

The bond between these two is perfect. The way the talk, their jokes, how considerate they are of each other, and how real they are. It’s just one of the best friendships I’ve seen on paper.

#2 The D&D Crew

I just really love this bunch of married nerds that play video games once a week you can say almost religiously. They always accept Lincoln into their gaming family. Seriously, they are this big eccentric and weirdly awesome family.

#3 Lincoln

Oh, Lincoln. What have you done to my heart. I’ll love you for who you are. I promise.

#4 Lincoln’s mom

Even though she is a bit quirky and odd, she is still one of the best moms I’ve seen in literature these days. So caring and nice. (although she is a bit too attached to her children.)

#5 Doris

This woman cracks me up! With her stories about her marriages and life, she was exactly what Lincoln needed to stay at The Courier long enough to… figure things out. Yes, let’s put it that way. I don’t want to spoil you all!

#6 The ending!!!

Oh Dear Lord, that ending was just… perfect. The ending of this book left me on Cloud 9. I felt weightless, happy, and content. Just picture this: you know that warm feeling you get when you eat a really good meal and it just sits right? And you feel full, happy, and content? That’s exactly how I felt at the end of this book. I need more endings like that in my life.

Rating: 5/5

Tuesday Meme

Top (Ten) Five Things On My Reading Wishlist

Veronica Porras (TTB)

toptentuesday-1Thank you The Broke and the Bookish for this wonderful Tuesday Meme

Well hello guys. I haven’t done a Top Ten Tuesday in months. I feel a little rusty, but let’s tackle this! This week its all about the topics you wish authors would write about. Some of my answers may feel too broad, but bear with me.

1. Family

In YA, there are some really crappy family situations. In your honest opinion tell me which book comes to mind that has a good family dynamic, or even a so-so one? Any book? One comes to my mind, but apart from that one… I got nada.

2. Dystopian

You’re probably like, really Veronica… dystopian is the best you could come up with? Well… yes! When I think dystopian, I think Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Testing, Under the Never Sky. I want me some epic dystopian fighting for your life stories.

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3. Friendship

I want a YA book where we not only get good romance, but good friendship. I don’t want the friendship to take backstage, I want it in the front.

4. College Life

When I say college life, I do not mean New Adult. When I say college life I mean, freshman year of college. So many good stories can come out of that time period, but for some reason… they don’t exist. I really want a book where we can approach college life as a way of discovering yourself, not where a guy swoops in and saves you. College is so not like that. Trust me. I’ve been there and done that.

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5. Winter

We all know that there are a ton of stories set in the summer, but what about winter? I find it hard to find stories set in the winter time. Let It Snow is one of my favorite books because it is set in the winter. I love reading about snowy days (which as a California girl I have NEVER experienced), hot beverages, blankets, and coats. Really winter is a wonderful time for love stories. There is an excuse to cuddle up to someone without being obvious. Muahaha.

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What are some topics you want to be reading about?

Tell me! I want to know!

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Reviews, YA Paranormal

Book Review: The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

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Goodreads Summary:

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment. The Shadowhunters of the Victorian Age delve into all of these—in addition to darkness and danger—in the Infernal Devices trilogy.

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them….

My Initial Thoughts:

I had just finished reading The Mortal Instruments when I learned of this trilogy’s existence. I was a bit timid about getting to it because I fell in love with the shadowhunter world in the TMI series and I was worried that a historical prequel would ruin it. I was really nervous about it, but I did hear great things about the Infernal Devices so I thought, “What harm can reading the first book do?”

Review:

WOW! Where do I begin?! Clockwork Angel hooked me in and brought me all the way to Clockwork Princess and became my favorite trilogy of all time. I honestly loved this trilogy so much more than Clare’s Mortal Instrument series. The time period and setting was way more interesting. Even though there were less books, I felt that the characterization was more significant.

What really got me hooked was William Herondale! He is now and probably forever will be my favorite male character. He has so much depth within him and when he was first introduced with all his snarky attitude, glory, and sarcasm, I knew he had me. His back story was very heartfelt and explains his every action. Will wasn’t the only one who captured my heart. His parabatai, Jem Carstairs, did as well. I don’t love him as much as Will, but he is also a great character with his own heartbreaking story. What surprised me more was my love for the lead female character, Tessa Gray. I am usually frustrated with female leads because sometimes they make horrible decisions, but it was different with Tessa. I found that I could somewhat relate to Tessa. While I detested some of the characters from TMI, I absolutely loved all the characters in TID (and yes, that means the secondary characters as well. Those Lightworms). Of course, I’m not including the villains and cohorts.

This trilogy is definitely worth reading and if you weren’t too attached to Clockwork Angel, keep pressing on because the trilogy only gets better. Clockwork Princess was the most heartbreaking book I probably have ever read. I read it all in one sitting, and I went through a roller coaster of emotions and cried for about an hour after finishing. It was beautifully tragic and I felt that it did justice to the series. It was an amazing solid ending to the series.

Rating: 5/5

Other

Roomies Giveaway Winner!

Veronica Porras (TTB)

I have picked the giveaway winner and that is…

Lysette L!

The publisher will be mailing you out the book soon! Congratulations!

Side-note: One thing makes me sad guys. One of the rules was to leave a quick roommate story down in the comments below and no one that filled out the form left a comment. Everyone should be disqualified for not following the rules, but since not one person that filled out the form did, I decided to count those entries anyways. 

Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: Backward Compatible by Sarah Daltry & Pete Clark

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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I was provided a ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review

Summary:

A YA Gamer Geek Comedy in the vein of Scott Pilgrim and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Ideal for fans of The Big Bang Theory, The Guild, and all things Joss Whedon.

WARNING: There is no sex in this book. Your Kindle or other device will remain at a pleasant room temperature. At no point will your panties drop. Your significant other will be allowed to snore in peace as you read. You may, however, laugh yourself out of commission.

Not too long ago, in a town that, depending on your current location, is either not super far or actually quite close… (insert Star Wars theme music here…)

It is a time of chaotic hormones.

Two nerdy gents home for winter break have discovered a female gamer at a midnight release.

During the break, the gamer trio manages to reveal the game’s secret boss, a hidden enemy with enough power to destroy anything in its path.

Review:

Let’s start of with the bad to get it out of the way. I was really disappointed by the amount of swear words and innuendoes throughout the entire novel. There were too many for my liking and I even think for most people.

The romance was cute. George and Katie are both funny and perfect for each other. Even though I didn’t know half of the gaming vocabulary, I was still able to enjoy the novel. I have not read a novel where a lot of secondary characters are present in the novel constantly until now. I don’t think it can work unless its in this novel’s setting. The secondary characters didn’t feel two-dimensional at all. They all had distinct voices, which helps a lot when at one point there are 12 characters involved at the same time. I’m telling you, this book is crazy in a really good way. Also, having both George’s and Katie’s POV worked really well for the novel. It added that much more to it and made it even funnier.

If you are a fan of cosplay, gaming, and any other “geeky” things as the system likes to call them, well then you have found the novel for you.

But seriously, if you don’t like a lot of swear words or innuendos in your novels, don’t read this book. I regret reading it even though I loved the romance between these two adorable geeks. GATIE ALL THE WAY!

Rating: 4/5

Other

Roommate Story + Giveaway: Roomies by Sarah Zarr & Tara Altenbrando

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Roommate Story:

I have so many roommate stories… mostly bad ones. My last year of University I had a wonderful roommate, one of my close friends, and we were great together. Just to make this interesting I’ll give you my roommate story of my first year of college which scarred me for life.

I went to a small private university in California. Everyone raved about the close-knit environment and how everyone got along. Boy, was that totally not my experience. My freshman dorm was a old building which was the farthest from the main campus and housed about 250 students. I was stuck in a triple (one room for three girls) and the room was already small to begin with. One of my roommates was hispanic (like myself) and the other was Japanese-hawaiian. Need less to say, the hispanic roommate was out of our room within two weeks of school starting. Why? Because she was impossible to live with.

We had all talked before school started and she didn’t seem that bad, but when she came to the dorm with her parents, I had a bad feeling which turned out to be true. Let’s call her Maria for the purpose of the story. Anyways, Maria was such a snob. Her parents drove a Mercedes and she was all about flaunting what she had. When she saw my mom bought me an iTouch, she was filled with rage. She was like you’re so lucky, but her tone was anything but sweet. Once I came from class and my bed looked like someone had jumped all over it and there was dirt on it. My other roommate was with me in the previous class so the only one who could have done that was her. She denied it of course. Also, when she saw my dad bought me a new car, she was so mad. She just left the room. Also, she had to have her afternoon nap and since she was a light sleeper, we couldn’t even go into the room or we would wake her up and she would be pissed. She kept having a bad attitude about everything until one day I went to the RD and said, either she leaves or I do, but I’m not living with her anymore. Let’s just say she left.

Now, to the GIVEAWAY part of this post where I tell you how you can win a copy of Roomies!

Giveaway Rules:

  • Must have a US Street Address, No PO Box’s please.
  • Must share a quick story about a roommate situation (It can be camp, college, etc.) in the comment section below.
  • Giveaway Ends January 13, 2013 by midnight PST.
  • Must fill out this form (Asking for your email address and US address)

Sara and Tara’s confirmed tour dates:

  • January 12, 2014 – New York, NY: McNally Jackson [venue link]
  • January 15, 2014 – Salt Lake City, UT: The King’s English [venue link]
  • January 16, 2014 – Provo, UT: Provo Library [venue link]
  • February 4, 2014 – San Francisco, CA: Books Inc, Opera Plaza [venue link]
  • February 5, 2015 – Petaluma, CA: Copperfield’s Books [venue link]

This is all possible thanks to the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers who are kind enough to let me host a giveaway!

Special Review, ya contemporary

Book Review: Pretenders By Lisi Harrison

Veronica Porras (TTB)


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I obtained a ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Goodreads Summary:

Three girls, two guys, five secret journals.

The five most popular students at Noble High have secrets to hide; secrets they wrote down in their journals. Now one of their own exposes the private entries…

I am leaking these because I’m tired and I know you are too. The success bar is too high and pretending has become the only way to reach it. Instagrams are filtered, Facebook profiles are embellished, photos are shopped, reality TV is scripted, body parts get upgraded like software, and even professional athletes are cheating. The things we believe in aren’t real.


We are pretenders.

Review:

The summary of the book got to me. I love those exposure type stories. When I saw the book was diary-style, I was even more excited because we don’t see a lot of those in YA. After I started reading the book, I was sadly… disappointed.

All five characters in the novel think like seventh graders and not freshman in high school. If all five students were a part of the Phoenix Five, they should have been smarter, different. I think back to when I was a freshman and I thought differently, or it could just be that students nowadays are going backwards instead of forwards. That honestly is a very scary thought.

Since this book was character-oriented let’s focus on them. Some characters I felt bad for, while others I just didn’t care for. Finding out at the end of the novel that this will be a series was another turn off. The story built up and we never got a resolution, all we got was a “keep reading to find out.”

I’ve read other work by Lisi Harrison like The Clique series and her middle schoolers in that series are smarter than these freshman. This book had so much potential. At least it kept my attention until the end. That’s saying something.

Overall, Pretenders could have been something big. It could have been the next Pretty Little Liars. It had potential to get a TV show made out of it. One thing I did love is that the writing went with each character. The way each journal entry was written, the grammar, the style, it all matched the character. I applaud Ms. Harrison for that. Thank you for giving each character a distinct voice.

Rating: 2.5/5