book review – Page 8 – The Talking Bookworm

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

December 20, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

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

Reviews, ya contemporary

Book Review: #16ThingsIThoughtWereTrue by Janet Gurtler

December 6, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Heart attacks happen to other people #thingsIthoughtweretrue

When Morgan’s mom gets sick, it’s hard not to panic. Without her mother, she would have no one—until she finds out the dad who walked out on her as a baby isn’t as far away as she thought…

Adam is a stuck-up, uptight jerk #thingsIthoughtweretrue

Now that they have a summer job together, Morgan’s getting to know the real Adam, and he’s actually pretty sweet…in a nerdy-hot kind of way. He even offers to go with her to find her dad. Road trip, anyone?

5000 Twitter followers are all the friends I need #thingsIthoughtweretrue

With Adam in the back seat, a hyper chatterbox named Amy behind the wheel, and plenty of Cheetos to fuel their trip, Morgan feels ready for anything. She’s not expecting a flat tire, a missed ferry, a fake girlfriend…and that these two people she barely knew before the summer started will become the people she can’t imagine living without.

My Initial Thoughts:

I was looking for a cute contemporary fluffy and saw this at Barnes and Noble and I thought, why not? And bought it. Afterward I saw Andi (Andi’s ABCs) had read it and gave it a 4 out of 5 so I got really excited to read it.

Review:

(WARNING: THIS IS A VERY SPOILERY REVIEW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED)

Oh Morgan. What am I going to do with you?

The amount of things Morgan goes through in this book makes me want to cry. The summary promised me fun and adventure, and what I ended up getting was a book full of feels and drama and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled about that either.

We are promised a Mr. Jerk by the name of Adam and I kinda wanted to read a story about a jerk boy going good you know, and what I ended up getting wasn’t exactly disappointing per say, but Adam is totally not Mr. Jerk. Not even close. He takes Morgan to the hospital for gosh’s sake in the first few pages.

Now Amy. She’s something else. At first I really did not like her because she obviously lied and her actions made me think of her as a spoiled brat, but during the road trip we were given the opportunity to see a different side of her. I was so sad when she passed away. I would have been so happy to see her get together with Jake. In my head Jake and Amy would have been such an adorable and perfect couple.

The whole Dad issue in the book kind of opened a can of worms for me, but I’m glad that Morgan’s dad decided to try to have a relationship with her in the end. And OMG Morgan’s mom. I was so freaking pissed at her that I didn’t care how badly Morgan’s behavior was towards her mother (although now that I think about it, her actions weren’t that great and she should have been more respectful). I was mad for making Morgan believe that her dad didn’t want her. That is the worst.

I only wish the book was longer. I really wanted to see more of Amy, Adam, and Jake. I wanted to see more character development and actually see Morgan change some more. She was getting there, but in my opinion it ended too soon. I also found the whole Twitter thing adorable and that Adam started following her. So cute.

If you need a classic contemporary young adult novel in your life, you should definitely read this book!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Adult Fantasy, Special Review

ARC Review: The Immortal Crown (Age of X #2) by Richelle Mead

December 4, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Disclaimer: Thank you Penguin/Dutton Adult 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:

Gameboard of the Gods introduced religious investigator Justin March and Mae Koskinen, the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him. Together they have been charged with investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods, both inside the Republic of United North America and out. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: Not only are the gods vying for human control, but the elect—special humans marked by the divine—are turning against one another in bloody fashion.

Their mission takes a new twist when they are assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin’s old friend and rival, going into Arcadia, the RUNA’s dangerous neighboring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work, even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly acquired deity.

Meanwhile, Mae—grudgingly posing as Justin’s concubine—has a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter’s connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission—and with it the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.

Review:

This woman did it again. I have no idea how she does it. The sequel to Gameboard of the Gods is even better than the first, and I thought the first book was pretty darn good. The entire time I was reading TMI I was at the edge of my seat. And I can honestly say I love Richelle Mead for always recapping in the first chapter of every single sequels because that means we don’t have to re-read in order to figure out what happened.

Can I just say I really hate Lucius and finding out he too is an elect made it worst!? OMG! I had a feeling he was an elect, but I thought I was being tricked into thinking that. I can already see him being involved in whatever dirty scheme we see in book three. I’m so glad Mae was able to rescue her niece. That entire rescue mission had me biting my nails, and Justin and Lucius dealing with returning to RUNA without her was crazy. Also, that ending. I died. How is it possible that Justin is now bound to the god even though he did everything to not make it happen?! THAT IS THE REASON WHY MAE LEFT HIM. SO HE WOULDN’T BE BOUND TO THE GOD. I was so mad. I hate those crows, but I kinda like them at the same time. Ugh. It was sweet though when Mae finally admitted she is totally in love with Justin. I really liked how their relationship progressed throughout the novel. A+ for relationship development.

This review is basically me fangirling and I am totally okay with that because it’s a Richelle Mead book, and I can only fangirl when it comes to her books.

Please read Ms. Mead’s new adult fantasy series. It’s to die for. 😉

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Reviews, YA Sci Fi

Mini Reviews #2: Control by Lydia Kang and The Archived by Victoria Schwab

November 11, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn’t even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.

Review:

O. M. G. Those three letters sum up this book in its entirety. I LOVED it. Absolutely, Freaking, Loved it. This book makes my science fiction inner nerd happy. All the science and the abnormal qualities most of the characters had made me love it even more. At times I felt like I was in the future X-men world. I don’t want to give anything away about this book (which is why I’m writing this tiny review on it), but I will tell you to read it. I devoured this book in a few hours and it has stayed with me. That reminds me, I should go see when the sequel is coming out…

Rating: 4 out of 5

Goodreads Summary:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what she once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

Review:

I want to hug this book. Ugh. I can’t even. This book is haunting. It is exhilarating. It makes you see the world in a whole other way. Like it makes me like turn into the Southern California girl I have buried deep inside me and horrible grammar and words that add nothing to the sentence (ex: like) spew out of me. But my Dear Lord, I don’t even know what to really say about this book except, please read it. I can’t explain it. I won’t. Just read it. PLEASE.

Rating: 5 out of freaking 5

Reviews, YA Dystopian

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

November 3, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

My Initial Thoughts:

I really can’t write anything here this time… Why? because it’s been so long, I have no clue what I had initially thought.

Review:

(WARNING: TONS OF SPOILERS BELOW!)

One year. That’s how long it took me to read this book. Why? Not because it was bad, but because of the FEELS.

Metias was my favorite character until Ms. Lu killed him off. I read a few more pages after that and stopped. I was furious. It took several months of convincing on behalf of Kayla, and me [sort of] getting over Metias’ death to the point that I was able to continue to read Legend.

Oh my gosh, the action… it was so good! I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. And when June decided to help Day escape, OMG, I was biting my nails because of how anxious and stressed I was. I almost couldn’t take it. (This is where I questioned my sanity and told myself I was crazy for putting this book down in the first place all those months ago.)

What really surprised me was Metias leaving a blog behind for June to find. Metias seemed like such a goody-good that in no way did I think of his death as fishy at first or that he would do such a thing. And. Oh My Word, I couldn’t believe that Thomas killed Metias… he killed his own best friend! Now that was a twist I did not even see coming. Apparently, I didn’t see a lot of things coming.

I had all this stuff I wanted to talk about, making this review more analytic and well thought-out, but this review has now boiled down to me just fangirling and I shall be okay with that. 🙂

Legend is a great first book, and darnet, I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Uncategorized

ARC Book Review: The Edge of You by Theresa DaLayne

September 25, 2014September 2, 2014 Veronica Porras (TTB)

First of all I want to thank Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books/Bloomsbury Spark for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. You guys are the best!

Goodreads Summary:

He left home to escape. She made a new life out of guilt. Neither one expected to find love—but not even the Arctic can cool this steamy romance.

Maya knows she’s doing the right thing by moving to Alaska with her parents, but that doesn’t mean she has to be happy about it. Forced to give up a scholarship to a prestigious art school, she relocates to a Podunk town with one college the size of her high school cafeteria, all to help hold her family together after the death of her little sister. But a fresh start can only do so much.

Jake doesn’t like handouts and he certainly doesn’t need any distractions. Working on a salmon boat in Kodiak, Alaska is the only way to pay for his mother’s surgery back in the lower forty-eight. Juggling college courses and constant worry about his mother’s health, Jake couldn’t imagine anything else fitting into his life. That is, until he meets Maya, the sexy Californian artist who tints his world in technicolor.

But when Maya’s family starts to crumble and Jake’s mom takes a turn for the worse, will they drag each other down, or can they find what they were missing all along?

In this new adult romance, Theresa DaLayne paints a swoon-worthy story about life under the midnight sun, following your heart, and learning to live on the edge.

Review:

As I’m sitting here thinking how to start this review there are only two words that come to mind… chocolate cake. The Edge of You is a delicious guilty pleasure you cannot get enough of, just like a slice of triple chocolate cake. All this cake talk makes me want some.

Alright, Let’s get serious here.

I really like both Maya’s and Jake’s character. At times Maya might have seem whiny and a little… over the top, but honestly once you see the burden she’s caring and what’s going on at home, you change your mind about her. I did! Jake is also going through some tough stuff. I felt like he was more mature in the way he handled things than Maya did, but he did have to grow up from a young age so there is that.

The beginning of Jake and Maya’s relationship and how it continued throughout the book felt very natural to me. I felt like I was reading a true story, something that could happen in real life. It also made me want to visit Alaska and that’s not something I would normally say. Trust me on that. I like the cold, but I’m not in love with it.

I do wish we could have seen more of Maya’s family before the tragedy and her best friend. Her best friend is a riot and I really wished she would have had a few more scenes in that book. She kinda brought some life and a bit of comedic relief to the story.

Overall, I advise you to read it. It’s the perfect read for a cold rainy day. (Don’t forget to eat some cake while you’re eating it!)

The Edge of You is now available for purchase in the United States.

Rating: 4/5

NA Romance, Reviews, ya romance

Book Review: Take Me On by Katie McGarry

September 19, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she’d never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can’t stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she’d stay away from. Yet he won’t last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it’s his fault his family is falling apart. He can’t change the past, but maybe he can change Haley’s future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they’ll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

My Initial Thoughts:

The only thing I can tell you is that I knew I was going to love it. Why? Because I basically love everything Ms. McGarry writes. It’s like written in stone by now. 🙂

Review:

Wes. That adorable boy. He infuriated me a lot, but I forgive him for it. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t so fond of him in Crash Into You because of what he did then, but now after knowing his background story I can at least understand. I don’t know what exactly Katie McGarry does, but she makes me fall in love with every single one of her male protagonists. Seriously. It’s like magic or something.

I really liked Haley. I don’t think Wes could have found a better match. I loved that she was independent and kicked butt all on her own. I love it when we have female protagonists that can take care of themselves. I think what I loved the most about Haley was that she was willing to leave Wes behind to do what she had to do. Often we see a ton of female protagonists leave it all for the guy and honestly, I don’t think that’s good. A relationship is made of two people, not one if you know what I mean. Both people compromise, not just the girl. Okay, let me get off my soapbox.

I’ve been writing this review for almost 3 months now so I’ve forgotten a lot of what happened, but what has stayed with me was the development of Wes’ character. I can’t believe how much he changed from the richie rich guy in CIY to this new Wes at the end of TMO. (and one of the reasons why it has taken me almost 3 months to write this review was because I could not put into words how awesome this book was and honestly I still can’t, but dear gosh it was about darn time I did)

If you haven’t read Take Me On or any of the books in the Pushing The Limits companion series I suggest you do. It’s by far one of my favorites and you are seriously missing out.

Rating: 5/5

Reviews, ya romance

Book Review: A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

September 13, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out. But somehow even when nothing is going on, somethingis happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together….

My Initial Thoughts:

I had none except that Kayla really wanted to read this so I said well I’ll give it a chance!

Review:

An ode to shipping. That is what this book is and OMG it is amazing. People who want profound literature this is probably not for you, but if you are looking for an entertaining, sweet, hilarious read, then this is the book for you.

At first I thought that having that many point of views would ruin the story, but it actually worked. My favorite point of view was the squirrels. It was so random and funny, it was great. I do wish we got to see more of their point of views, the main characters. The novel does have a serious side to it which I think many will appreciate.

For once I don’t have much to say except read it. It’s cute, fluffy, and just what you need if you’re having a bad day. A Little Something Different is exactly what the title describes it to be, a little something different.

Rating: 4.5/5

Reviews, YA Sci Fi

Book Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

August 25, 2014July 7, 2016 Veronica Porras (TTB)

Goodreads Summary:

Incapable. Awkward. Artless. That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: She wants to fail. Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen to work the looms is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to manipulate the very fabric of reality. But if controlling what people eat, where they live, and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and used her hidden talent for a moment. Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her dad’s jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because tonight, they’ll come for her.

Crewel is the first book in Gennifer Albin’s gripping young adult series.

My Initial Thoughts:

I’d never heard of Ms. Gennifer Albin which nowadays is probably a good thing for authors. It’s rare when you’re a blogger and you NOTHING about the author. News travels fast in this industry.

Review:

(Warning: This entire review may feel discombobulated, but forgive me for giving you such quality. I don’t think I can make I more coherent one though. This book just left me…. *mind blown*)

Woah… this was an intense book. It’s been at least a little over a week since I finished it and I still can’t fully digest it. The world Ms. Albin created is so different yet it almost seems plausible that it messes with your head so much that you’re left stupidly smiling yet utterly confused. Confused in a good way though.

The entire book is in Adelice’s point of view and in a short amount of time in the beginning we come in contact with so many characters that at first it’s a little overwhelming. At a certain point you feel like there is a love triangle coming on and you groan to yourself, but trust me, it’s not a love triangle and it get’s better once you figure out what’s really going on. muahahahhaha

This is 100% a young adult science fiction novel. I don’t even think we find out what year it is so I can’t even say it has a little bit of dystopian in the mix at this point, but I can assure you that we will know by the end of the second book (or at least I hope we do).

What I really liked about this book was the entire concept of weaving. In Crewel, you can weave something in or out of existence. Very few are those that have that gift. The main character is one of those few that can weave and what is so amazing about her is that she can weave without having to use the special weaving board provided by Arras (whom is the country/government).

This is a pretty solid first book in the series and I cannot wait to pick up the second book. 🙂