Winger (Winger, #1)

 

Author: Andrew Smith
Series: Winger, #1
Pages: 439
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Contemporary
Acquired: Simon & Schuster Pulseit
Rating: ★★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Ryan Dean West, also known as Winger, is definitely that kid that just doesn't fit in at his new boarding school, but maybe that's because he's two years younger than everyone in his grade. As he struggles to find his way, he learns lessons in love, friendship, and acceptance along the way.

I always root for the underdogs, and Winger is all that and more! He is a super smart 14 year old on the rugby team, and he is CRAZY and MADLY IN LOVE with his best friend Annie. I mean.... what could go wrong.... right?.... haha.... nearly everything.... and I loved every minute of it! I thought that this was well written story with a heartbreaking twist at the end that I partly saw coming. Nevertheless, I was still loved the story in its entirety!

Winger's character development: It chronicles his growth from a little, bullied kid who just wanted to get through junior year without his head stuck in a toilet.... to a boy that his peers like, respect, and in turn stick up for. I enjoyed reading about his transition especially from the perspective of Winger and how he tries to deal with the ups and downs of high school.

I would definitely say that this was different from what I expected! I had convinced myself before that I didn't want to read this book, for no real reason at all. I kept telling myself it didn't look like it was a book that I would enjoy.... DON'T judge a book by its cover guys! :) Sometimes you're pleasantly surprised.

My favorite scene was when Winger and Annie spent the weekend at her parents' house. That weekend changed EVERYTHING, it was great! I would say that what I liked most would have to be all of Winger's different friendships throughout the book, he had a way of connecting to the other characters in different ways, and I loved that he came into himself with the help of these friends. I also LOVED the cartoon aspect, it was such a unique and different way to balance out the book. I liked that although some parts of the novel were heavier and heartbreaking, the pictures incorporated with the story made for a nice balance within the funny and lighter moments. I liked least the twist at the end, but it shows the real life horrors of how far terrible and cruel individuals are willing to take their actions when all could have been avoided with acceptance.

I liked the direction Andrew Smith took this book; its storyline was well thought out and I enjoyed reading every bit of it! I tend to not pick up contemporary books because..... to be honest..... they bore me to sleep, LITERALLY, so I was naturally happy when I gave this book a chance and it kept my attention long enough to allow me to finish it and appreciate the story! I can say that I was not ecstatic about the ending as it was heartbreaking, but I was satisfied with it. This is not your average super cheesy happily-ever-after contemporary story, so if you're looking for a light, happy read, I don't this is for you.

Cover: 4/10. The man on the cover looks WAY too old to be14 year old Winger! But I love the cartoon version of him on the back.
Rating: 5/5!!! It was GREAT! Highly recommend! I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish especially with the incorporation of the cartoons throughout added to the overall reading experience!

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

White Cat (Curse Workers, #1)

 

 Author: Holly Black
Series: Curse Workers, #1
Pages: 310
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Paranormal
Acquired: Bought
Rating: ★★★½

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Cassel comes from a shady, magical family of con artists and grifters. He doesn't fit in at home or at school, so he's used to feeling like an outsider. He's also used to feeling guilty; he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago.

But when Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat, and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila. In his search for answers, he discovers a wicked plot for power that seems certain to succeed. But Cassel has other ideas and a plan to con the conmen.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Cassel Sharpe is the black sheep in his family of curse workers. His family can influence people's emotions, luck, dreams, and more just by the touch of a bare hand. To top it all off, Cassel killed his best friend, Lila. Now he must uncover the secrets behind her death as well as secrets within his own mysterious family.

Overall I liked Cassel's character well enough. I didn't really connect with any of the characters or their stories and backgrounds. I did like the mystery surrounding Lila's character and Cassel's brothers.

My favorite scenes were when I was able to learn more about curse work and its different types. I liked  finding out why Cassel was the black sheep of his family as well as the secrets behind why he felt this way the most. I disliked the incorporation of Cassel's friends from school and their roles in the story. I felt that they weren't necessary enough to the plot to really be woven into the story like they were. I also disliked that some scenes in the book were over-explained/ or explained too thoroughly, and then some other scenes that required more detail were short and brushed over too quickly.

I really wanted to like this story more than I did because of how interesting I found the overall concept of this book.... but unfortunately we win some and we lose some. :( I did like the story, but I wasn't excited or blown away by the events in the book. I was an overall Meh read for me.

The ending was interesting, but I'm definitely not itching to get my hands on the next book right away.

Cover: 4/10. It does go with the story line, but its not amazing.
Rating: 3.5/5. It was an okay read.
I would recommend to those looking for a quick, mysterious paranormal novel with a little over 300 pages. So if you are looking for a shorter read to read in-between 2 big books this could work for you!

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

Unbreakable (The Legion, #1)

 

Author: Kami Garcia
Series: The Legion, #1
Pages: 305
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Paranormal
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★½

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

When Kennedy finds her mother dead, she is launched into a paranormal world she never knew existed. As she uncovers secrets about her mother's past, she realizes that in order to stop an incredibly powerful demon from basically taking over the world, she must assume her mother's position as a member of the Legion along with four other members all teenagers like her.

I really liked Kennedy's character; she gets thrown into this paranormal world so quickly after her mother's death you would expect her to be a wreck and overwhelmed by it all. But on the contrary, she handles herself well considering her circumstances. She was definitely a strong, determined, and independent character that wanted to try her best to help and understand everything despite her position and situation.

On to the other characters: I loved the twins, especially Jared for obvious reasons as he is the bad boy twin with a story and an interesting past! Also Priest is pretty bad-ass in his own right. He is the brains within the group with his great inventing and engineering skills.... hooking the group up with crazy weapons and tools to help them along the way. All the members fit together so perfectly as a group with all their strengths and weaknesses.

Problems? I just felt that it took really long for Kennedy to find her place in the group and purpose in the book. But even with that flaw, I liked that she was head-strong and refused to be looked at as the weakling of the group since she didn't quite understand her place right away.

It was definitely different from what I expected, it was suspenseful and mysterious with a bit of paranormal romance thrown in for good measure. My favorite scene was the scene with Priest and Kennedy in the the well. It was creepy, intense, and suspenseful! I liked the group's sense of togetherness and how they looked out for each other at all times the most. I disliked how choppy and thrown in the stories of the other character's past were; I really wanted more of a cohesive, clear understanding of each of their stories and how they were all connected and came together. The info about their parents/guardians were vague and brushed over so quickly that I couldn't really grasp who they were and where they can from.

Cover: 2/5. Not a personal favorite.
Rating: 4.5/5 I loved the overall story and plot twist! It was definitely an enjoyable read.

The ending ended in a bit of a cliffhanger so I'm interesting in seeing where the story goes with the next book in the series!

I would recommend to someone who wants to read a paranormal book with demons and ghosts with action and adventure throughout!

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

Immortal Beloved (Immortal Beloved, #1)

 

Author: Cate Tiernan
Series: Immortal Beloved, #1
Pages: 407
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Paranormal
Acquired: Bought
Rating: ★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

When you're immortal change is common and frequent, having to reinvent yourself, literally, is a must to keep suspicions at bay. When Nastasya is out partying with her friends one night, she sees something that knocks her back into reality. In seeking help, Nastasya remembers River's Edge and it soon becomes her safe haven. There, she meets the sexy, mysterious Reyn, who has secrets of his own and whose past partnered with Nastasya's could end in disaster. Can they both unlock the secrets of their pasts to move on with their future?

Nastasya is an interesting character with an interesting past. I liked her spunk and personality; she is definitely strong-willed, independent, clever, and funny at times. I liked that she wasn't all-knowing and perfect; she had big problems and issues that made her story more believable and exciting to read.

River, Incy, Reyn, and Nell were all very intriguing characters as well. They all either had interestingly disturbing pasts ( River, Nastasya, and Reyn) or had weird, mysterious quirks (Incy and Nell) that helped add to the story and make it even more complex. I also like how vague some of the stories of the characters were. It made you think, come to conclusions, and make up assumptions to find out later if you were right or wrong.

This was different from what I expected, I had put off reading it for a long while after I bought it because I didn't feel that the blurb was interesting enough. But.... I can say that after I picked it up I flew through it quickly because it was SO good! I liked the magical element most in the novel. I disliked how vague Incy and Boz and Nastasya's other friends from before River's Edge were. I really wanted to know their roles in the storyline, why she kept having flashbacks of them, and their significance. Hopefully all will be explained in the next books in the trilogy. My favorite scenes were the memories of Nastasya's past with her family! Really mysterious, brutal, and interesting.

Some of the twists in the storyline were annoying and delayed the inevitable. It took Nastasya and Reyn too long after the reader found out to realize what was going on. I thought the twist was obvious after hearing both their stories, but it took them almost 3/4 of the book to figure it out themselves. Other than that the story was executed well and I liked the writing. It was easy to follow and quick to read.

The ending ended "calmly"....meaning at the end you aren't left with a crazy cliffhanger making you die slowly from Book 2 withdrawal.... :) But a couple of questions were still left unanswered obviously with it being the first book, so this next book in the trilogy should be very interesting since I am betting a LOT of stuff is about to go down!

Cover: Old cover 3/10. New cover (the one above) 7/10 especially with the other covers now matching.
World Building: 6/10. It was okay, it's set in the real world so not so much to explain there, but the 8 original powerful family houses story could have been explained wayyyy better or could have been more detailed and elaborate to provide the reader with a better understanding of their significance.
Rating: 4/5. Really enjoyable read, mainly fast-paced throughout.

I would recommend this to urban fantasy lovers as well as paranormal book lovers ( I think it's paranormal.... I think.... I mean if you are immortal you're paranormal right?... I'm sticking with that for now. :) )

As always if you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

Ruby Red (The Ruby Red Trilogy, #1)

 

 Author: Kerstin Gier
Series: The Ruby Red Trilogy, #1
Pages: 336
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Sci-Fi
Acquired: Bought
Rating: ★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Gwyneth Shepherd has always known that there was a time traveling gene in her family. She has also always known that her cousin, Charlotte, who has been preparing since birth to travel time, would inherit that gene. That is until one day Gwyneth slips back through time. Now she must come to terms with her new ability as well as help unravel the mystery surrounding her family and time travel.

Gwen is an interesting character. She has always accepted Charlotte as having the gene thankfully and willingly. I enjoyed her funny and strong-willed personality; I am curious as to how her character evolves in the next books in the trilogy. Another character that I am beginning to like in Gideon, Gwen's time traveling partner. He is an arrogant boy who I grew to love once he stop being such an enormous ass-whole!.... I mean that's how almost all boys start out right? Haha Soooo it wasn't hard to warm up to him and enjoy reading about him. :)

With this book I didn't really have any big problems with the plot that couldn't be fixed and addressed in the next books. All of my questions were more based on vagueness or understanding of the act of time travel.... which should be easily explained more in the rest of the trilogy. Also I would like to point out that this book reminded me of All Our Yesterdays, but seeing as I never finished that book I can't really compare the two. So if you enjoyed this book, All Our Yesterdays would be a recommendation. :)

I liked the mystery of literally EVERYONE in the book... I honestly didn't and still don't know which characters to trust or believe or whose side to be on. I disliked the explanation and details of the chronograph. Still COMPLETELY confused as to its purpose or how it worked but... it could just be me....

My favorite scene was the ending scene with Gwen's cousin. Although it made me even more confused as to who to trust and believe, I liked the placement of that scene in the novel. It makes you think and come to your own conclusions about what you think will happen until you read the next book. Also not a hug problem... but I felt that not much happened in this book. It was like a teaser to what the story could become in the later books. But of course it is what to be expected with this being Book 1.

Cover: 5/10. Not amazing, but the covers match so that's a plus!
World Building: 5/10. Still confused, but it's Book 1
Cliffhanger? Not really. It ended calmly and I wasn't fretting over having Book 2 immediately.

The ending was okay: it satisfied me well enough for me to want to read the next book soon-ish.
I would recommend this to someone who wants a light book with time travel and mystery!

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

Obsidian (Lux, #1)

 

 Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux, #1
Pages: 335
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Paranormal
Acquired: Bought (Kindle Ebook)
Rating: ★★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

When Katy moves from her hometown in Florida to West Virginia, her life was turned upside down when her mom gets the urge to start over in a new town. As she settles into her new life she is moved across the street from the mysterious Black family. When suspicious events start to unfold, Katy finds out an unbelievable secret about the Blacks.

I felt that I immediately connected with Katy's character because she is a book blogger, although it was completely unnecessary to the story I still liked the little shout-out to the book blog community. I was also more interested since we both shared a common hobby. I liked Katy's spunk as well, she has a no-nonsense attitude that expels a sense of "Don't try to walk over me, because you won't succeed."

Among the other characters, the Black family and their friends were a crowd of very interestingly mysterious people. Daemon Black was the epitome of an arrogant, cocky, over-protective, guarded, and insanely good- looking Alien of sorts (the Alien bit is definitely not a spoiler since you can get that from the Front Cover and synopsis of the book but I wished it would have not been so obvious, would have liked the mystery of trying to figure out what he was). And then there's Dee (sister to Daemon), a very sweet and friendly girl that just wants to live as normal a life as possible with human friends like Katy.

This story is pretty far-fetched, but that's what I love about it. With this being my second alien book, I was definitely happily hooked. The first alien book I tried I had to put it down due to disinterest but with this book that was not a possibility since I read it in a matter of hours.

I liked Katy's character development into a stronger, braver, and more understanding girl with a good head on her shoulders. With Daemon, he developed into a less guarded, less blunt and harsh boy-alien with more compassion. Overall this book was definitely something that I wasn't expecting to love especially with one of the ugliest and cheesiest covers I've seen in a long time. My favorite scene was really anytime Daemon was described as being shirtless.....and also the Arum action scenes. I liked Daemon and Katy's complicated love-hate relationship most. What I liked least was the vagueness surrounding the D.O.D. and the goverment's significance. It was all confusing to me and I just wanted more clear information that I could understand. Maybe in later books this is fixed and questions surrounding them are answered.

On another note, the plot was very addicting and the characters were all likable (meaning I didn't find myself screaming on the inside at any annoying or ridiculous characters, so A+++). I felt that the storyline was executed well and I loved the entire book from start to finish. With the ending, I was satisfied with how Jennifer L. Armentrout left it and now I will have to buy the next books in the series to marathon the rest of the story ASAP.

I would give the cover a 2/10 (In this case it pays to not judge a book by its cover!) I give the story a big 5/5 stars!!! I would recommend to paranormal lovers who like books about Aliens. I think everyone should try it out, it was a quick read, very addicting, and at the least you will be entertained with a good story to possibly get you out of a reading slump. I at least was NOT left disappointed!!

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1)

 

 Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns, #1
Pages: 423
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Fantasy
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Elisa's fate was chosen the moment they found out she was the chosen one. She is soon secretly wed to a king, whose country is heading towards great destruction. With Elisa being the chosen one, she is the only one who can save the people.

At first I found Elisa INCREDIBLY annoying! She constantly put herself down and thought less of herself and wished that she wasn't the chosen one. It was like a never ending whining party!.... I just wanted to forcefully shake her and tell her to have some self-respect and accept her situation. She fortunately gets off of her rain cloud...hallelujah!... and actually realizes her worth and impotance during the remainder of the book.

I absolutely loved the plot, for me it was new and different and I really needed that from the YA that I was reading. This novel explored so many elements and topics like deceit, relationships, self-worth and self-esteem, loyalty, suspense and more. I also found the supporting characters intriguing and necessary to the plot's twists and its progression.  

My favorite scene was the ending fight scene and its intensity. I loved just about any scene with Humberto in it, he was such an sweet character to read about. So as far as what I liked and disliked.... I liked Humberto as well as Elisa and her captors' journeys. Throughout the story their journeys made the plot that much more interesting and worth the read. It was definitely a major part of the story as well as the effect of Elisa being the chosen one.

Now as I have already mentioned... Elisa's problems with accepting herself ruffled me as well as the actual descriptions of Elisa's character in the novel. She was described as being overweight and loving to eat, and she didn't feel that she was as pretty as her older sister who was thinner. I didn't like that she seemed to dwell on the fact that she wasn't like her sister, who seemed to be their family's golden child. I feel that the author may have tried to incorporate real life issues into this fantasy plot to better connect with the readers, but honesty I felt that it was unnecessary within this plot. I felt Elisa used it as more of a handicap and excuse to some of the things that she did or went through. Maybe in a different novel or plot, this concept could have had a real meaningful impact but within this story I felt that it was just too much.

Okay lol.... done with my mini rant....

Now as far as other problems with the story I found the pacing to be a bit off. So hopefully this makes sense and you see what I mean....For some events that happened, they were brushed off and briefly mentioned or explained when at some times they could have been developed and further elaborated on to avoid ambiguity within the storyline. Vice versa, some events were explained to thoroughly and dragged out, when I felt that they could have been explained concisely and briefly since their relevance wasn't as significant as say some of the other plot events.

The ending was very interesting, it ended in a way that made me want to know what happened afterwards. I do really want to know how the story will progress in the other novels in the trilogy. Although there could have been better character development, I did really enjoy this book. It took me a minute to read this... like a week... but that could be in part due to the pacing issues I mentioned, if I got bored with an event or the chapter I was reading I would often put it down and come back about a day or so later. Overall I gave it 4/5 stars and I would recommend to those who like to read fantasy or those who are looking for a new and interesting plot.

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

 

 Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Series:No
Pages: 359
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Contemporary
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is told from the POV of Aristotle (Ari). This book is more of a coming of age story about a teenage boy and how he comes to understand the meaning of life rather than your typical contemporary novel. With strong focuses on family and friendship, this book was an incredible account on the pressures and the uncontrollable nature life and the surprises it brings.

Although Ari is one of those characters that you grow to love, in the beginning it was hard for me to understand him well enough to connect with him. His negative nature in the beginning made it difficult to want to get to know him as a character. Dante, on the other hand, was completely lovable from the moment he was introduced. I found myself loving all the characters in this book especially Dante's parents. I even loved Legs!

I liked the realistic elements and problems the characters faced in this book like bullying, moving states, and acceptance. All very strong issues in this book that made the story even more powerful. All the problems the characters faced were believable and allowed the reader to better connect to the story's message because of how most can relate with common issues such as bullying.

I was very pleased that Ari changed throughout the novel for the better and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his story and how different events that happened in his life went into shaping his character and personality. I really loved that this story wasn't what I had originally expected it to be. It was better I feel to go into this story blind, you get more out of it that way. I feared that the hype would kill my love for the book by setting my expectations too high, but for me the hype was rightfully deserved!

My favorite scene had to be Ari's recovery. It put a lot into perspective and allowed me to understand why he behaved as he did. I liked the friendship between Ari and Dante the most.... Duh lol.... it's the main focus of the story's plot. I liked the bullying aspect least for obvious reasons. It was heartbreaking but served its purpose in the novel.

I feel that the ending was very well done and I was left content with how it ended. I would recommend this to those looking for a coming of age story from a boy's POV. I would not recommend this to someone who is close-minded or judgmental. I feel that you have to be open-minded to really enjoy this story and appreciate it for what it is. I rated this 5/5 and rate the cover 8/10 despite the novel's crazy long title! It's a very quick, enjoyable read with amazing writing. I was thoroughly pleased with this novel and can say that it is different in a good way from what I have read in contemporary lately!

*****

The Testing

 

 Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Series: The Testing, #1
Pages: 336
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Dystopian
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★½

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

The Testing follows Cia Vale and her life after being chosen as a testing candidate. I first got wind of this book due to its heavy comparison to The Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins. Both novels deal with candidates representing their districts, or colonies in this case, to compete in the Testing to earn one of the coveted spots to attend the University and become the world's future leaders. In that aspect the plot differs but the similarities are noticable.

Cia's character overall was a little too pristine and squeaky clean for me. She was a little too nice for me to even take her seriously. I really wanted a bad-ass, kick-butt character but instead I feel like I got a somewhat complacent and too perfect version of the character I wanted. Now with that being said, I did like her character not to confuse you; I just wanted more from her.

As far as the other characters go, Will and Tomas were very interesting characters that made the story more unpredictable. They kept the plot fast paced and exciting. Cia on the other hand slowed the plot a bit with her character being one dimensional and not complex at all. She was clever and smart in some scenes but overall her character was boring to say the least.

Action? I could have gone for more a little bit more in the action department. Although the book was a fast read (read it in a few hours) I wanted more suspense and chair- gripping moments. Maybe the plot gets better with the following books in this series. Now on to The Hunger Games comparison, this was definitely a softer version of The Hunger Games as far as "graphic" scenes or the element of thrill go. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a post- Hunger Games read due to the similarities I observed in this first book.

The way this novel ended was completely anti-climactic. I feel like it just slowly ended. No big cliffhanger. Just a slow rolling stop to the last page. I felt that it had a lot of potential to redeem itself and end on an amazing climactic cliffhanger leaving me desperately needing the next book..... but instead the story just sort of stopped.

I'm still on the fence on if I should continue with the next installment in this trilogy, I'm certainly in no rush but I am curious as to if it gets better as the trilogy progresses.

If you have read this book, let me know your thoughts below!!

*****

Frozen

 

 Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Series: The Heart of Dread, #1
Pages: 336
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Paranormal/ Fantasy
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Frozen follows Nat, a blackjack dealer, with a very interesting past and a couple of dangerous secrets. When she hears of the "the Blue", a place of freedom and safe haven where she won't be persecuted by her secrets when and if they come to light. She soon sets off on a journey with a boy named Wes and his band of misfits who promise to get her to "the Blue".

I really liked Nat's character and her secrets even more. She was easy to connect to with her strong demeanor and determined nature. I also thought the supporting characters were interesting and enjoyable as well. The problems the characters faced were believable for their specific storyline, and I loved the fantasy aspects throughout the novel and the mix of magical elements, pirates, "the Blue", and the other intriguing people and creatures we met along the way.

I enjoyed reading the book and seeing Nat's transformation and evolution from a scared yet determined girl with a huge secret into a key figure with extreme importance to the storyline as the book progressed. Was the book different from what I expect? Yes actually! I was pleasantly surprised with the plot and its originality. I haven't read a book like it and it was refreshing. Really liked the fantasy and magical elements and how they balanced each other out in the novel.

My favorite scene was the ending scene as well as the pirate showdown. I liked learning more about the characters and finding out more about their stories. I least liked the romance between Nat and Wes. I felt that it seemed a little forced and wasn't needed or necessary to the story. I feel that more and more recently authors are including romances in their stories possibly because they feel that there should be one.... they are not always necessary and as a reader I don't mind reading a novel without a romance especially if it isn't needed.

I found the plot to be new and interesting and different from what I've read recently and I think that's why I liked it and really enjoyed reading it. For the most I was kept guessing but some events I could easily pinpoint what was coming before it happened, but otherwise the story didn't bother me much. The ending was pretty good and was a nice wrap to this installment and I will check out the next book when it comes out.

I rate the cover 7/10 and give the story a 4/5 stars. I would recommend this to those looking for a action-packed and different story in the fantasy genre.

*****

Miss Match (Lauren Holbrook, #1)

 

 Author: Erynn Mangum
Series: Lauren Holbrook, #1
Pages: 365
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Contemporary
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Lauren Holbrook has found her life's calling: matchmaking for the romantically challenged. And with the eclectic cast of characters in her world, there's tons of potential to play "connect the friends."Lauren sets out to introduce Nick, her carefree singles' pastor, to Ruby, her neurotic coworker who plans every second of every day. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Miss Match follows Lauren Holbrook on her journeys to wed off all her friends. She, however, wants nothing to do with marriage but prides herself on setting up everyone she knows with their perfect match. Lauren is a cool character who works at a photography studio that her childhood bestfriend Brandon has now acquired from his father. She is very spontaneous and lively as a character and I connected with her the most. I related to her and also shared her love of drinking coffee and devouring virtually almost anything covered in chocolate, which was a bonus!

As far as other interesting characters, Lauren's sisters  as well as Brandon had frequent appearances throughout the book and I liked that aspect because it really put emphasis on the importance of family and friendship within the book.

Also the problems that Lauren faced with setting up some of her friends were realistic and believable with made the story that much more interesting. I also liked the Lauren had a small character change later in the novel as she evaluated her views on life and what was best for her.

Was this different than what I expected?  No not really. I specifically picked this up from the library because I wanted a light  chick-lit book to read so this was exactly what I wanted to read that the moment. My favorite scene was the "pact" that Lauren and Ryan made. It was interesting to see where it went and how it affected the two of them. I liked Lauren's character most as well as her and Brandon's cute friendship. It just goes to show that some friends will always be there with you even as you transition into adulthood. What I liked least was the lack of an interesting or surprising storyline. It was a bit boring in some parts. I didn't expect this book to be full of action and adventure or anything but I still found myself wanting a little more from the story.

With the ending, I thought it fit the book well and was a good conclusion to this book and I look forward to continuing on with the story in the future. Cover gets a 3/10 from me, it's not very eye-catching or appealing and I rate the book 3/5 as a whole. I would recommend this to someone looking for a laid back read and isn't expecting much from the story other than a light, enjoyable read. I think this would be a perfect winter read or even a beach read.

*****

Gated (Gated, #1)

 

Author: Amy Christine Parker
Series: Gated, #1
Pages: 339
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.

Appearances can be deceiving.

In the Community, life seems perfect. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pioneer invited Lyla’s family to join his group and escape the evil in the world. They were happy to be chosen, happy to move away from New York and start over in such an idyllic gated community. Now seventeen, Lyla knows that Pioneer is more than just their charismatic leader, he is their prophet . . . but his visions have grown dark.

Lyla is a loyal member of the Community, but a chance encounter with an outsider boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. And if there’s one thing not allowed in the Community, it’s doubt. Her family and friends are certain in their belief. Lyla wishes she could feel the same. As Pioneer begins to manipulate his flock toward disaster, the question remains: Will Lyla follow them over the edge?

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story of the Community from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker’s beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Gated follows Lyla and her life in her more than average community. Led by their leader, Pioneer, Lyla, her family, and a cluster of more families have come to believe that they are the chosen and have secluded themselves away from others to prepare for the apocalypse. They are preparing for the end that the Brethren have concluded is upon them. Near the last couple weeks, Lyla meets a boy from the outside and soon starts to question everything Pioneer has been telling everyone for the last few years. But will anyone doubt Pioneer and believe Lyla after all that they have been through?

Lyla is a weak girl that is set in her beliefs and is slightly struggling with her lifestyle and training. Overtime she becomes stronger and proves to be an extremely important factor in the survival of her community.

As a reader the book was good and interesting even though I could not connect very well with the characters since this book is more plot-driven than character-driven. But the problems the characters faced where believable especially with the cult aspect which made the story more interesting.

I would say this book was different than what I expected. When I first saw it I thought it would be more of a paranormal book of sorts but its everything but. It was thrilling, suspenseful, and psychological. My favorite scene was when Lyla and her friends sneak out for the night and what happens after. I liked the scene of when everyone went into the Silo, that started the events into the climax of the book. I least liked Pioneer's character. He was overall extremely creepy and slightly scary with what he was capable of.

With the ending, I was left satisfied. In my opinion there wasn't really a cliffhanger for the next book and it could have actually been a standalone in my eyes, but nonetheless I will check out the second installment when it comes out later this year.

As far as ratings go... the cover gets a 6/10 and the overall story gets 4/5. I would recommend this to those looking for a psychological thriller with a bit of suspense and an interesting climax and ending. The plot was different than what I've read recently with it being a small break from the dystopian and paranormal reads out now.

*****

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)

 

 Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Infernal Devices, #1
Pages: 479
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Paranormal
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★½

*****

Goodreads Summary:

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 Thoughts:

Clockwork Angel follows young Tessa Gray, who after the death of her aunt, goes to London in search of her brother. But upon her arrival, Tessa is met with surprises, uncertainty, and secrets. Clockwork Angel  follows Tessa on her interesting journey to discovering herself and also uncovering secrets about her past and family that she could have never imagined to be true.

I really liked Tessa's character. She was interesting and different, especially after the discovery of her ability. I related to her the most and her determination to find her brother as well as the sacrifices she made in the process. With him being the only family she had left, I thought it was awesome that she made finding him a top priority above all that she went through. It was always the goal and she never deterred from the goal no matter what happened.

Other interesting characters? Ummm yes, Mr. William Herondale! I now see what all the fuss is about. Will is full of mystery and intrigue as well as stubbornness and sarcasm. In addition to Will, I also found Camille the vampire and Tessa's brother Nathaniel to be interesting characters as well.

With the story being in 3rd person, you were able to see how all the characters interacted, but also not knowing their inner thoughts kept the story interesting and mysterious. The problems faced in the book fit this particular storyline nicely and how the characters tried to solve those problems were realistic and clever.

Tessa changes and grows from the first page to the last as she learns life changing things that make her an even better character to read about. I can say that this book was definitely different from what I expected. I loved it 10x better than the first and only other Cassandra Clare book I've read so far which was City of Bones.

My favorite scenes in the book were the vampire party scene and the scene that starts with Tessa and Jem on the bridge and basically everything that happens afterward. What I liked most about the book was definitely Will and also the mystery of the Magister. What I liked least would have to be Nathaniel (those who have read the book can probably relate).

As far as the ending goes, I really liked it! It was interesting and action packed through and through and it definitely made me want to get my hands on the sequel as soon as I can! Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! I really enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more from Cassandra Clare. The plot was very different from what I've read in Young Adult books so far and it gave me a nice break from dystopian and post-apocalyptic worlds. Also the world building and setting were both amazing. I can also say that I was kept quessing throughout the novel especially with the mystery of the Magister and how the outcome panned out in the end.

With the cover, I would rate it 6/10. I really like it and think it fits the tone of the book nicely. Also with the actual rating of the book, I gave it 4.5/5 stars. A really enjoyable read!

*****

Weekly Reading Update (WRU #5)

This week I managed to read two books and start two more. When the week first started I finished Miss Match by Erynn Mangum. Afterwards I moved on to Gated by Amy Christine Parker which I finished on Thursday. Currently I am reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz and Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and both are pretty good so far!

  Miss Match (Lauren Holbrook #1)

Author: Erynn Mangum
Pages: 305
Acquired: Library
Published: 2007
Rating: 3/5

Goodreads Blurb:
Lauren Holbrook has found her life's calling: matchmaking for the romantically challenged. And with the eclectic cast of characters in her world, there's tons of potential to play "connect the friends."Lauren sets out to introduce Nick, her carefree singles' pastor, to Ruby, her neurotic coworker who plans every second of every day. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything.

  Gated (Gated #1)

Author:Amy Christine Parker
Pages: 352
Acquired: Library
Published: 2013
Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Blurb:
A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.

Appearances can be deceiving.

In the Community, life seems perfect. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pioneer invited Lyla’s family to join his group and escape the evil in the world. They were happy to be chosen, happy to move away from New York and start over in such an idyllic gated community. Now seventeen, Lyla knows that Pioneer is more than just their charismatic leader, he is their prophet . . . but his visions have grown dark.

Lyla is a loyal member of the Community, but a chance encounter with an outsider boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. And if there’s one thing not allowed in the Community, it’s doubt. Her family and friends are certain in their belief. Lyla wishes she could feel the same. As Pioneer begins to manipulate his flock toward disaster, the question remains: Will Lyla follow them over the edge?

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story of the Community from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker’s beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.

  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Pages: Currently reading on page 157 of 359
Acquired: Library
Published: 2012


Goodreads Blurb:
A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

  Frozen (House of Dread #1)

Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Pages:Currently reading on page 16 of 336
Acquired: Library
Published: 2013


Goodreads Blurb:
From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

***** 

Tell me what you're currently reading or what you've read this week!

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)

 

 Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & the End of Days
Pages: 283
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Dystopian, Paranormal
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Angelfall is a novel that follows seventeen-year-old Penryn in her search to find her sister and rescue her from the angels that took her. Penryn is a brave and determined young girl with one mission in mind... to rescue her sister and get her family to safety which includes herself, her sister, and her deranged mother. When her sister is taken by warrior angels, she goes after them with the help of a broken and battered angel named Raffe who has his own agenda and secrets.

I really liked Penryn and her dedication and unwavering resolve to get her sister back and to protect her family in the midst of the apocalypse. I related to her most and admired her maturity for her age and how she dealt with having to grow up fast to support and look after her family especially when her mother goes through her deranged, crazy spells.

I also loved Raffe and how interesting he was as a character. He is an angel, who in the midst of a fight with a crew of warrior angels, get his wings brutally and forcefully ripped off. When Penyrn saves him and nurses him back to health after this incident, she convinces him to help her find the location of the angels who took her sister and in return will help him try to get his wings repaired and sewn back onto his body. Another interesting character was definitely Penryn's sister at the end of the novel..... one word.... freaky.

The problems faced in the story suited this particular story nicely. The characters dealt with a kill or be killed mentality as well as the survival of the fittest aspect whilst on their journal to the angels location. Penryn learned early on that she would have to build an alliance with Raffe if she ever wanted to survive and also find her sister.

Penryn also got stronger and more cunning throughout the novel in preparation to try to kick angel ass and rescue her sister. I loved this part in reading the book! I can say that this book definitely took me by surprise a little bit and I loved that! Susan Ee's take on angels and the apocalypse as well as the interesting turn of events near the end of the novel made me shake with excitement. It was soooo good!

My favorite scenes were the camp scene and the club scene at the end. Both were a bit scary and suspenseful but added to the storyline nicely. I also liked the relationship between Penryn and Raffe. As far as ratings go, I give the cover a 7/10 I thought it was very pretty as well as symbolic to the story. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a different take on an angel story with lots of action and adventure along the way! I gave the overall book a 4/5 and will definitely pick up the next book.

Also the ending was crazy! The cliffhanger at the end.... Ugh.... it ended a little abruptly especially with the Raffe aspect but otherwise it was done really well! Check this one out for sure.

*****

Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)

 

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me
Pages: 338
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014, 2014 Book Bingo Challenge
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic
Acquired: Own
Rating: ★★★★★

*****

Goodreads Summary:

I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

  *****

 My Thoughts:

Shatter Me follows a girl named Julliette whose world completely fell apart when she found out that her touch kills whoever she comes in contact with. Soon the government finds out about her and plans to use her lethal powers to put down the resistance and intimidate anyone who tries to interfere with their plans. But things go awry when Julliette doesn't plan to cooperate.

I really like Julliette's character and her spunk and will to not comply with the plans of Warner, a young male who is charge of a brutal army of soldiers. I liked that she remained true to herself and grew into herself as a character throughout the novel. Written in Julliette's POV, the novel takes you through her struggle with accepting herself and her abilities as well as her struggle with trying to escape from those that want to use her for power and destruction.

The characters and their problems were definitely believable in the regard that they dealt with real life issues including war and how it affects families and dealing with family issues because of war. All the while, the story stayed action packed and full of interesting plot twists through it all.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book as well as T. Mafi's writing especially the mark outs, they were new and interesting. I can definitely say that this book lived up to all the hype it rightfully deserved. My favorite scene was definitely Julliette's escape and her realization of that moment afterwards. What I liked most was Julliette's determination to escape and leave her prison and also even though it was disturbing and twisted, Warner's persistence. I think he made the story scary in the sense of what he was willing to do and did do, it made the story even more interesting.

What I liked least was one of the last scenes at Adam's house. The ending was very action packed and full of  chair-gripping suspense...that is all I will say so that I do not spoil anything for anyone, but I loved it! Now on to my ratings. Cover appeal for the copy that I have, which is the original cover gets a 5/10. I prefer the "eye" covers SO much more since most importantly they all MATCH! But I got my copy for only $4 so I'm not complaining but will more than likely buy it again with the new covers so that when I buy the rest of the trilogy they will all match beautifully. New covers definitely get 8/10 from me. Also my actual rating of the book was a 5/5 of course! I loved it and really hope to continue the series very soon when I purchase the others.

*****

In Honor

 

 Author: Jessi Kirby
Series: Standalone
Pages: 235
Challenge: Goodreads Challenge 2014
Genre: Contemporary
Acquired: Library
Rating: ★★★½

*****

Goodreads Summary:

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

  *****

 My Thoughts:

In Honor follows Honor a young girl who recently lost her older brother, Finn. With a letter that arrives after his death Honor makes it her plan to fulfill Finn's request before her first day of college starts. As the book progressed Honor grew up and grew stronger to ultimately learn to cope with the death of her brother and the secrets she discovered from Rusty, Finn's best friend.

Although this book was an okay read I would not say it was one of my favorites unfortunately. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I felt that they all were a bit boring. Rusty was one of the only characters that I liked which made him all the more interesting to me.

The story is told from Honor's point of view and the problems she faced were realistic and I liked that. For example, she experienced car trouble with was expected, when taking an across country road trip, and realistic. I also liked that she did not fall for Rusty the minute she laid eyes on him again. They were actually enemies for the first half of the book and only stayed connected by Finn. I liked that this wasn't a story centered around romance and more about learning to deal with the death of a loved one while uncovering secrets along the way.

I also felt that Honor became more of an independent and capable person out from behind her brother's shadow. She learned to make her own decisions and choices for herself and her life.

One of my favorite scenes was the airplane scene at the end as well as the secrets that were uncovered to Honor by Rusty about Finn. It really let you see into the kind of person Finn was and how he was as a protective brother and loyal best friend. The thing I liked least was actually Honor's character. For some reason I did not like her at all and found her boring and dull. I really wished that she would have been more interesting; I think I would have liked her more if she added more to the story as a whole with either her personality or actions.

The ending of In Honor was predictable but good to end the story with. It did not really keep me guessing but as a whole it was okay. I would give the cover a ★★½; it describes Honor's features and clothing and it also matches the setting of the book. I would recommend this book for contemporary lovers who enjoy reading about road trips and realistic situations. I ended up giving In Honor a ★★★★½.

*****