Test Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



*this is a quick little review of a book i read a view months ago. I am writing it now as a practice to see if it will send to my blog.*


I truly and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Every element of the story just captivated me. It is always hard for me to get into a Steampunk story just because there is so much about the setting I am not familiar with. But I fell in love with this book relatively quickly. I loved how deep we got into each character. I really felt like I knew them. I loved how we kept uncovering little secrets here and there and they just Kept building and building.
When I think back on this book I just remember and feel a lot of raw emotion. I remember feeling so frustrated and confused while I was reading because I just wanted to know what was going on. But I didn't hate that feeling because it gave me such a drive to continue and finish the story. And I was so Happy when i realized there was going to be a second!



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General Mills

So now that I am finally posting again I figured I should do a bit of a general update. I kinda forgot how much I like blogging. My own little private journal that anyone and everyone can read. And to be honest i like it that way. Most things I write are meant to be read. whether by one or by many. Even when i write down something private I think of it more as writing down something for people to find in the future. Kinda strange I know, but i guess I just like the idea that someone is paying attention. 

Ok enough of the deep psychology of my actions. Lets start my update with this: I have for the past 2 weeks had some part of an All Time Low* song stuck in my head for the entire day. It's almost always a different song and it comes and goes throughout the day. And when it is stuck in my head it is on constant repeat. This band is great and all but after hearing "Walls" for the 59th time you start to wish you could listen to another song with out starting to hum Walls in the middle of the second verse. 

Next note of this update, Spanish. Here is some advice to you all: if you don't think you exceed in Spanish, if you just got by with a middle to low B in Spanish last year, and if you don't really love Spanish that much, DON'T take Honors Spanish IV. Because most of the people in honors Spanish IV actually like Spanish. And most of the people in honors Spanish IV are actually good at Spanish. And so if you just wanna make it thru the year like you did in spanish III, think again and just drop the class. Because You could end up like me in a class of 26 people (that is a lot actually) half of whom you actually would rather not talk to like... ever. And a slightly over lapping half of whom make you feel like an idiot they speak Spanish so well. And if you decide to look up from your pointless, frustrated doodles and actually try to learn something, well forget about that happening. Not over all the side conversations going n everywhere. Cause remember, the kids in Honors Spanish IV are already fluent in Spanish. Why would they need to listen to the teacher to teach them something? 

so now that it is 4:30 i should probably get off the computer and do some of my spanish homework. Lame. So i guess that is my update. Kinda pathetic i know but thats it for now. I have a couple movies to talk about later so stay tuned. And remember to check out my Goodreads for more frequent updates on my latest books of interest. 

p.s. this post was title General Mills because I was eating cereal while writing it. And because I thought i was clever. 

*If you don't know who All Time Low is go check them out. They are all over youtube, and most all of there songs are on spotify as well. 

Going Postal

I am having a problem. My mailman is incompetent. I'm serious here. They just can't seem to get anything right. We get our neighbors mail and who knows who gets ours. Now usually this really doesn't effect me aside from a magazine here and a lame college brochure there. But This is just too much.
I am part of a program at school that meets at odd times. It is just starting up again with the new school year so I have been waiting for an announcement about our first meeting. Now let me just be clear, this isn't some random little glee club, this is like a real program where we meet and learn lessons to teach our peers. So I am wait for this announcement for a few days when I hear my friends talking about how they are running late on turning in their form for the program this year. I was like, Ummm what in the world are you talking about? Well here's what seems to be the thing: Everyone in the program received by mail a letter abut returning to the program and a form to complete by the next meeting. well thanks to the superb postal service i have yet to acquire this document. And now its awkward b/c i don't know if it really got lost in the mail or if for some reason i purposely didn't get sent a letter.
Either way I blame the Post man. I am So giving his Christmas gift to the UPS man this year.

Like a Spill Canvas Playlist

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Lessons in Love- Cartel, What the Hell- Avril Lavigne, Don't let Your Enemies become Friends- The Spill Canvas

I have read a few other books with this central idea, Something like Fate, The unwritten rule, and now Sometimes it Happens. And i think of the 3 this book it the one that i enjoyed most. I loved the set up, back and forth between summer and the first day of school.
Mostly i just really connected with the main character and i wanted to know her story.
I love Lauren Barnholdt so i knew i would not be disappointed. I think it is one of her best works.

Official Overview:
On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...


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Everything comes Naturally

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Bend or Break- Allstar Weekend

Ah! so much to say! i dont wanna go into any spoilers so let me just say I love Kiersten White's voice in all of her writing. It is so strong and humorous and after reading her blog you can almost imagine her laughing at this part she wrote or a little commentary about tasey going on in your head. And i really love that. I think the thing that makes me love these books so much is you can really sense the time and thought and love that she poured into the story and each of the characters. It's not that Kiersten has her fans best interest in mind, its that she has her characters best interest in mind. (ya know, in the long run :]) And that is what makes these special to me. Love Love Love.

Official Overview:

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

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TeenBitches and Tiaras

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Misery Business- Paramore 

I'm not sure what i was expecting from this book but it was definitely not what I just read.
The beginning of this book was intriguing. The concept of beauty queens in the wild sparked my interest for sure. But reading it, i found it very hard to understand what was going on. Supposedly almost everyone on the plane died, yet these girls are just shrugging it off like nothing happened. Which made me question what was really going on. I just found it hard to believe that people could act this way after what just happened. I realize this could have been a copping mechanism, denial. but they never seem to acknowledge it any differently. To add to my confusion Miss New Mexico had a tray sticking out of her forehead...? how was that not damaging to her brain? like, i'm sorry I just can grasp the fact that she really has a hunk of shrapnel in her head. Next on my list of "things I cannot believe": Sosie and the snake. Ummmmmmmm what she was actually swallowed by the sNAKE??

Then in the middle of the story I had no idea where the story was headed. all these background stories of the girls. The actual plot was at a complete stand still. And these stories were bizarre. The WIld girl? what does that mean? i was so confused. I thought she was turning into a werewolf at first.

Ok so lets skip the rant about the rest of the things i cannot believe/ dont understand about this book. towards the end I actually got into the story. This book was like Lord of the Flys meets 1984 meets an ABCfamily TV show.
And so lastly lets just say despite the weirdness throughout this book Libba Bray certainly knows how to wrap up an ending. That was my favorite part of the book. the flash forwards were great and it was the best closure i have had at tthe end of a book in a long time. :)    

Official Overview:
The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program--or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan--or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.


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Not Just another Paranormal Teen Romance

Die for Me by Amy Plum

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: All That I Am-Parachute

I will be the first to admit when I heard about this book i was less than interested. Just the title "Die for Me". Really? how is that going to be any different from every other predictable paranormal book out there these days. And so I ignored it. But last week I downloaded the HarperTeen Dark Days of Summer sampler and started reading Die to Me at random. And despite my first impressions, I really enjoyed it, so must that i had to get the rest of the book right away.
Every since I read Anna and the French Kiss (by Steph Perkins [Amazing book]) I have been really interested in reading books set in Paris. It is such a wonderful setting and brings so much life to a story that Canton, Ohio just can't. (no offense to Canton!) anyway, Reading about Kate's journeys through the city to the cafes and museums was so fun to here about.
What really Surprised me was the originality of the paranormal aspect of the plot. Sure it is the whole "un-dead" thing again but the idea of a Revenant was so new to me. I loved getting learn about them having known less than nothing about them before, unlike in other paranormal books where you already know how a Vampire works but ooooh look this time they sparkle or this time they are vegetarian.(Um what??) Sorry been there read that. *Yawn* But this was new to me and i liked learning about them with Kate.
This book did have its fair share of sappy moments. And i think that is because for 1: its Paris! the city of love and 2: honestly underneath the 200 years or so Vincent is a huge sappy romantic. end of story. Needless to say I would be going for Jules if I had the choice. I have a thing for sarcastic men. (i.e. Jace Wayland)
One last thing I want to praise about this book is the family dynamic. In so many Books of this genre these days the heroine is an only child with absent parents. I loved the sisterly bond Kate and Georgia share and i think there relationship brings something very special to this novel.
Overall, I loved characters of this book, they all had something about them that made me want to get to know them better. I loved the Paranormal aspect. Revenants are so fun to learn about. (And the history lesson isnt bad either!)I wasn't impressed by the cover, it was pretty but kinda typical teen paranormal romance cover that makes me overlook it. But other than that and the relative sap factor i thought this was a great read!


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So close and Yet so Far

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this Book: The Fight Song- Sanctus Real

*Spoiler Alert*    So lets begin with saying i couldn't put this book down. And let me follow by saying i was really mad at this book for like pretty much all of it. I was expecting awkward encounters at the beach between Ally and Jake, not no contact at all. So that was a let down i guess. Because i really didnt want to read about Ally and that tool Cooper, her summer beau. I didn't want to read about Ally being a beyotch about everything either. Her attitude severely pissed me off. (not saying i don't understand these events. I get why she was acting this way. just saying i didn't really wanna read them) Things on Ally's side I didn't mind: Hammond, he really isn't that bad a dude. wouldn't have thrown a fit if they got a little closer. Faith, she wasn't there much but i felt bad for her. she seems to have good intentions. I was so happy about her and Shannon being civil to each other again.
With Ally being so unreasonable and hanging hanging with sleazy delinquents most of the time, i found i preferred reading Jake's side of the story more often. Yes, he was pretty whiny about his job but it was easier to deal with than Ally's bitching. And despite being a coward and not calling Ally he stayed true. That is until he got a little sidetracked. back to that in a minute.
Before i finish that I wannna make a shout out to Annie. I loved her little observation pages before each chapter. They gave me as a reader an unbiased look at what was truly going on around Jake and Ally. Plus her notes are totally relatable, (her comments towards work) and usually could make b=me laugh when i would have otherwise have been cursing Ally or Jake's newest dumb move.
Ok back to Jake's demise. So like i was saying, to me he was the good guy of the story (the options being Ally or Jake. Of all the characters in the story i would say Hammond is the ultimate "good guy" cause he just wants to take care of Ally and gain her love. poor Ham.) but all epic heros have a quality or event that leads to their downfall. Jake's being: he was too much of a coward to call Ally and fix everything and he is tired of waiting for her. Also he is not very cautious with his lady friends, he is a little naive, never realizing what the lady wants out of the relationship until its too late. i.e. Shannon sabotaging his relationship w/ ally and him not realizing why, and later his little late night "study date" with Chloe.
So just when you think the story is over and its time to wheel out the confetti and happily ever afters; turn the page. Yeah its not over. See in Crestie world Parties mean drama and Major issues. In our hero's case they didn't even making inside before the decent from their fall from grace began.   There are several lessons to be learned from Young Jake's story. One of them being: do not hook up with your sorta ex-girlfriend's ex-friend/good friend's on again off again girlfriend/study partner/neighbor/friend.  A more important lesson however is: Use a condom.

Welcome to the Secret Life Of the American Teenager Orchard Hill! Your life just became a bad tv drama. And Watch out Cresties, as if your recent housing rearrangement hasn't got you all hot and bothered, this news is sure to put your panties in a twist. :P

Side note: i say i didn't want to read a lot of this book but i want to clarify i simply mean it wasn't my ideal turn of events. I was totally hooked on this book i just was upset with some choices. But i realize that is what you sign up for with a book like this an i embrace it, it was a great story but i still get to hate a character now and again :)

Side note*: My prediction is Jake didn't actually get Chloe preggers.it was actually Will (forgot his last name.. the norm electrician dude.) at least that's what i'm hoping for anyway!!

Side note**: Sorry if my review is really cryptic or overly personalized. I have a tendency to over dramatize my reviews for my own amusement. My English teachers say i use a lot of voice in my writing.



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A Boy Among Men

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Don't Worry Now-Britt Nicole

by the end of the 17th summer I felt the book had reached its climax and i was ready for the ending. I kinda skimmed the 18th summer but i still cried. i cried a lot in this book. more than in any book ive read in quite a while. i didn't weep mind you. just a tear here and there. Chase and Noah's relationship just gets to me some times. There are no words for what those two share. So the fact that Moskowitz can make you feel what they have, if even for a moment, shows true talent.

Despite the cover, this book really wasn't about girls,bikinis on the beach, or any kind of girlfriend relationship. What it was about was love. Not falling in love, but simply Being in love. Being in love with the people around you. It's about a brothers love for his family and the cost of that love.

If you ask me this is anything but a happy tale. It has its moments but truly I see this book as real, pure raw emotion.

Read this book. It is in a class of its own.

Official Overview:
Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

Not your typical beach read.


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City of Dirty Sexy Alleys

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Animal- The Cab, Problematique-Hot Chelle Rae 

AHHhhh!!!! Yes, Yes, Yes!!! but NO, No, No!!! i don't think i can explain my feelings about this book any better.

As a reader you grow to love all of Cassie's characters so much, you watch them develop and grow. She can make someone you hate at first seem like the nicest person in the world in a few paragraphs if she wants. So to watch these characters get so close to happiness only to have it crushed by some new force in their lives is like a seraph blade to the back. And then in the end she has set up the puzzle so that there is only one piece missing. Just when you (the reader) think you have that piece to make everything right, BAM. Guess what? Your wrong. Just when you think she is slowly withdrawing the Blade from your back... She gives it a sharp twist and leave you hanging. laying there with that Seraph Blade in your back until City of Lost Souls hits shelves.

For everyones sake, I hope we don't all bleed out from these twists before the story's over.


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Girl Power

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are so many things I could say about these books. How  really like them and how they are dfferent. How I genuinely like this heroin (which is more than I can say for some books these days) ect ect. Andi hope I get around to writing that but I'm not going to now because I just got City of Fallen Angels in the mail and if I don't read it now I know I'll simply die. :) SM & AC forever <3


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A Shallow Grave

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Song for this book: Roses-Meg & Dia

*this review may contain spoilers*
*i didn't mark this review with the "hide for spoilers" cause i dont think i gave away anything really, but there are somethings that might be considered spoiler-esque to some. to those people i apologize :) *





The entirety of this book is a contradiction. Generally the plot was predictable but it had a few twist here an there. I didn't like the twists but they helpped mix things up from every other paranormal-horror-fairytale-wannabe-just-like-but-different-than-twilight-teen-book I found the writing sappy best most of the time. Yet i still wanted to continue reading. I actually kinda liked Theia after you got past her "woe is me" vibe. I liked Donny's strong personality and i loved Gabe for being the good guy.
So i liked the human world of this story; its just once you get to the Under part where i get reallly confused. So this world is like in her dreams yet when she is really there its different and for some unknown reason she is immune to the Lure... I was so confused when i first read about Theia's dreams. She talks about being out in the yard yet its different and she is in a dream but awake and it was just a mess of pretty sentences on a page adding up to nothing but befuddlement. gradually i began to grasp more but even now after finishing the book im am still at a lose as to what exactly happened in those first few scenes.

Lets talk ending. THis is the only part of Falling Under that truely surprised me with its turn of events. It was a very risky move by the author if you ask me. She ran the risk of confusing her readers even more with the switching of perspective and the state of the characters in general. This was a risk that i dont think paid off. I hated the perspective switch. Not only was it confusing but it was boring and HAden wasn't even himself so why would i want to be in the head of basically a random stranger. plus Nothing was going on. It was just a blabbering of words and no action. and while i endured through that agonizingly boring and uneventful section I was all the while fighting my self not to just skip to whenever HAden and Theia went back to normal. Needless to say it took wayyy to long. And even in the final scene the was still this awkwardness as i read. It just seemed forced.

so overall i didn't mind reading this book but i found much to be desired. I will probably read the sequel but lets just say i wont be pre-ordering it.


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Mashup

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ok, yes, I know it's late but I just finished Hex Hall and I really wanted to write this review tonight.

To start off, I'll be candid: I judge books by their covers. I know it's wrong but think about it, why read a book where the cover doesn't make you wanna sit down and finish it. And to me the cover of Hex Hall just looked like a strange mix or sabrina theteenage witch meets Halloween Town meets Rory Gimore at chilton. (sorry that was kinda harsh but true)
But over this spring break I was bored so I picked up this book and started it. And I kept reading cause it was so easy to read. Igetting into the story wasn't a struggle and geting to know the characters wasn't forced. I for one, and I great mega_fan of the mortal instrument series along with the other paranormal books I've read. Really helped me understand what was going on with te different references to the seelie court and ect. (wondrous strange is also a good book to rference)

The plot here was slightly cookie cutter, I saw enoug of the twists already coming but at the same time the book didn't fail to surprise. And as far as Archer Cross goes the relationship hthere greatly reminds me of the Gallager Girls books. (i would say more but I try not to spill to many secrts :)


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Back for seconds

The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviors, Plus Techniques for Taming Them by E. Lockhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story even more than the first. I donlt know if this is because this one is sligtly less soul shatteringly empethetically depressing or because our heroien, Ruby, isn't so irriating when it comes to descion making. She also doesn't whine as much; althougt there is some whining involved but give her a break it's teen angst. Mostly I think I liked reading this book more because it follows more of a strict pattern and time line. With Roo #1 she seemed to jump around from past to "present" to future wthin her narrative. In the Boy Book she follows more of a strict retative pattern with her story. It starts with an entry from the real boy book that has relavance to the chapter then goes on telling her story n order with a few back stories and te occasional nutshelling of key events from the last book. And to my great appreciation Ruby never got ahead of herself in her story like she used to.
over all I truly enjoyed reading this book.  Found the style, writing, and plot of this book to altogether superior to the previous Ruby Oliver book. I look forward to reading the next few aswell.


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Fire And Ice: Always second best

Fire by Kristin Cashore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always love my trips into Kristin Cashore's magical world. She first captured my imagination with Graceling (i was head over heels for PO) And now with Fire. I feel like both of these books have a similar dynamic to them but with different characters and altered situations. I found that i wasn't as drawn into Fire's story as i was with Katsa's. i think it was because there was so much more going on in Fire's world. It was a love story and there was are and political conflict and the whole backstory of Cransel and soo many more characters it was hard to keep track at times. I enjoyed the story but i liked reading Graceling better.

I loved the royal family. They we all just so lovable. Nash was so sweet its impossible not to fall for him. Clara is so open and put together she is easy to like. Garan i had to warm up to but in the end he won my trust. Roen is such an amazing queen. She has served her people and her son's well. Hanna is so cute she reminded me of Bitterblue at times. And hanna's dad, Brigan. I didn't trust him at first but i just like fire i fell pretty hard for the hard working army man.
And then there is Archer. I loved him from the start, and from the start i knew Fire would break his heart. Archer was so dedicated to her it was suffocatingly sweet. His fate made me cry.

over all i enjoyed this book, not as much as Graceling, but i did like it. I can't wait for Bitterblue


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Sweetarts

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jenifer Harris was the girl people bullied on the play ground. The girl who went home to an empty house. That girl everyone called Fattifer. Everyone that is except Cameron Quick.
Cameron Quick was the shy boy who alway spoke is mind. The boy who dreaded going home to more problems. That boy who was always by Jenifer's side.
Jenna Vaughn is the girl with the perfect family, loving step dad and all. The girl who has the great friends and hot boyfriend. That girl who feels she is half alive.
8 years ago Jenifer Harris made a promise to herself. A promise that she would never be Fattifer again. She promised that she would change so that people would like her. And everything was going just fine until he came back. The day she sees Cameron again for the first time in 8 years something pops in Jenna Vaughn's perfect made up world. It's like all Jenna wants to do is be Jenifer again but the pain is too much. She has to keep smiling her happy Jenna smile, she can't let fattifer out of the bag. But this is easier said than done. Especially with Cameron showing up and bring back floods of memories. Some of which are better left forgotten.  But no matter how hard she tries the shell of Jenna Vaughn is breaking, the secrets are boiling over.

___

I really loved this book. and yes i say this about a number of books but this one really surprised me. It's not really written in a style i writing i often enjoy but there was just this draw in the book that I couldn't help but love it. There was something about this book that was different from others. I couldn't put my finger on it. I always felt as if something were missing to the story. But at the same time thats what made it unique. This book was real. And in real life sometimes you don't get all the answers. Sometimes there is unfinished business.
What i think kept me reading was the sincerity of Jenifer and Cameron's relationship. The was this level to it of which there is no describing. It reminded me of my own best friend since childhood. How when you are with that person there is a peter pan mentality. how with this one person you will always be young and innocent together. Granted my friend and i didn't go through the tragedies Jenna and Cameron did together so we don't run as deep on those levels. But I think that same basic principal that there is one singular person in this world that knows you like know one else and no matter when the last time you talked, you know has your back, thats the feeling that we all crave. and its not just falling in love. Its so much more than that. That's what Jenna and Cameron have.
And that's why i really loved this book.


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Jace Wayland: BILF (boy/brother i'd like to f***)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great book it was really compelling. I was slightly lost there at the start but as a read on i got reallly into it.

[EDIT]
So the first time i read this book i was really upset by the ending. Not only was a still really confused by all the details but i was livid about the whole Jace and Clary situation. So at first my review was... well angry and harsh and anything but nice.
I went on to read the second book of course. And not so much because I really wanted to read it but because i like to finish what i start (and by then i was in love with Jace w/ or w/ out clary) And i must say despite my infamous hatred of 2nds (2nd books in a series, 2nd movies, 2nd helpings, 2nd anything) City of Ashes still made me want to keep reading.

Clare's story telling is truly amazing. SHe can weave her sarcasm and witty lines into her books like no other author i have every read. The whole reason i even pick her books up was because of some of the quote people had put up on goodreads from these books. Her characters are just so elaborate and i love that about a story. I love how her no matter how Huge her plot line is for a story it never swallows up her characters, she always leaves plenty of room for character development and a snide comment along the way.

So thats my rather lengthy edited review. I just wanna say that if you read this, please make sure you finish the series because it's not just one book that makes "The Mortal Instruments" its all the stories melted together. And then once you finish all three (that are out as of now, besides Clockworks) then go back and read this one again. Its 10 times better the 2nd time through b/c you understand the shadowhunter world better and so you can enjoy the story more.

<3 RCR


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Voulez-Vous M'embrasser?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book totally surprised me! I can't say i was expecting much more than another typical teen romance novel (can you even say that their is anything typical about those these days?)But this was sooo much more. I was dragged into Anna's word for page one. She was funny and vulnerable and sad yet she lacked something most heroines have way too much of these days: Awkwardness. if there is something i can't stand its those super embarrassing awkward scenes. Blame my second hand embarrassment problem. But Anna always kept herself together when it mattered and i liked that.
I loved all the characters. Even those who were only in a few chapters you could still feel like you knew them. and of course i LOVEEEEd St. Clair. the charisma he had and how his name could light up a page. Iloved how just when you think something is gonna happen with him and Anna Perkins throws in a monkey wrench. But it always seems to happen a moment too late (in a good way)
This book was sooo much more than i ever expected. I true emotional roller coaster  for every character, with a plot line practically over flowing with action.there is never a dull moment. I was enticed by the beauty of Paris in a whole new way. So thank you Steph Perkins for leaving me wanting so much more. Consider me your newest fan. I can't wait for you next book. :)


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Trebeled Angels

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

loved this one!

the middle kinda bored me cause as we all know sequels mean the author must break apart the main power couple and then have an epic reunion when they each come to their senses at the end of the book.
But the beginning snapped you right back into the story without wasting time on recapping (thank goodness cause that the worst if you don't know whats happening read the first book duhhh).

We saw much more character development in this book and not just with Nora and Patch. In fact Nora is probably the character with the least development. She was mostly just adapting to the new information gained about other people. I love the dynamics of Vee and Nora's relationship. they have no friends and they know it but they don't pity themselves which is rather rare in a heroine these days. I really enjoyed the new characters introduced. As with most books like Hush,Hush and Crescendo you never really know who you can trust and the book really lives of that air of mystery and who's right.

Then of course there is Patch. I find myself simply enthralled by Patch's character. I trust him more than i do Nora. Which often leads to my getting rather annoyed with Nora's decisions. But that comes with the territory.

The ending blows me away. I can honestly say i did not, EVER, see it coming. not even a little. Made me rethink everything. And now i need to read tempest!! (if anyone can hook me up with a ARC let me know ;])

Over all i can say i truly loved this book. I love the mystery and characters and learning about the Nephilim is more than interesting.


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How Two Can Share One Soul

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

took me a while to read. a bit choppy because of the way it is set up, but over all im glad i read this book. I enjoyed to honesty of it and even shed a tear near the end. truly heart-wrenching a parts but other time it make u want to laugh out loud. Its impossible not to grow to love Kathy Ruth and Tommy as you read this.


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Don't Judge a book by it's Movie.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this about 6 months ago but I just saw the movie so i thought i should share my thoughts.

I for one thought that the idea for the books were really good. Who doesnt love a dude with light coming out of his hands (Sam from Michael Grants GONE series for example) But i thought for such a great plot the presentation of the idea was less that satisfactory. I still read and enjoyed the book but it didnt amaze me.


So i just went to see the movie and was especially surprised. I read this book because i heard it was going to be a movie before it even came out and that made it sound awesome. as i said not so much for the book but the movie was reallly good. It stuck really well with the book and when it didn't i couldn't really complain about the parts they changed. and of course Alex Pettyfer made it so much more than amazing to watch ;)


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Some Like it Pink. (and sparkly)

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I learned about Kiersten White and the making of the book about 6 months ago thanks to blogs and Goodreads. I decided to follow her blog. one of my best decisions ever. i have waited many long months waiting eagerly to catch a glimpse into her world.  Kiersten has such a witty and vibrant personality that shines through her writing.
Her characters are larger than life. She can mike you fall in love with someone after just a paragraph or two. Evie is just so likable with her taser Tasey and her Easton Heights tv drama obsession and love of high school lockers.
She does an excellent job of showing the growth of Lend and Evie's relationship without making it sappy and mushy.
five stars goes out to Kiersten White's Paranormalcy!  and i can't wait to continue Evie's story


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Tinkiwinki, Dipsy, Lala, Po

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Super great book. I love all the characters. Po and Bitterblue and Raffin mainly oh and of course Katsa, although her type (independent beyond all reason) always has sorta bugged me i think Po really gave her balance. Super Great read! the cover sorta thru me off but i totally recommend it!


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Life, Love, And Golf Clubs

Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Eric Luper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

great book!
I grabbed this book of the shelf only because i recognized it from my to reads list and if was the only one i could find. But as a began reading i really enjoyed myself.

Seth Baumgartner (if you have trouble with the last name like i did listen to Eric Luper's Harperteen Podcast) is ready for the summer of his life, happy family great friends (or friend) and a girlfriend he simply adores. but then nearly his whole summer plans change in one fatal day.
His girlfriend, Veronica, Dumps him.
Then he sees his dad with another woman. And so does Veronica.
And then because of all this crazy emotional sh** he is going thru he is late for work and get fired. from his 4th job.
Poor, poor Seth. this book is the journey he takes into discovering what is really going on in his life and along the way he vents to his new Podcast "The Love Manifesto" about it all.

the characters in this book are great, the plot although it has its fair share of cliches is a fresh idea, the idea being if you knew your father was cheating what would you do? its a tough question to answer but this book trys to give the  answer to you straight, In this very real book that im sure you'll enjoy!  


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One Night That... was Like the Movies

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOWOWOW! i loved this book. I read Two way Street by Lauren and loved it so once i got a goodreads and heard she had 3 new books coming out i was so excited. this is the first of her new ones i have read and it rocks!

This book reminds me of that older movie Sleepover (you know the one where all the little middle school girls challenge each other to a scavenger hunt one night all over town) except of course way better, more mature and a deeper plot.
I loved the characters. they were very well developed. It took me a little bit to keep Clarice and Marissa apart but i got it. Cooper is a sweet heart! and although Eliza is a little psycho (with good reason) i totally fell in love with her!

This book is a great quick read filled with fun, humor, love, hate and every other emotion you can think of. All told in one night that takes these friends on the adventure they will never forget!


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Pretty Little Finale

Wanted by Sara Shepard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow so i saw none of this coming. I mean i knew that Ali was going to have a twin, i figured that out as soon as hanna saw that picture at the mental place. But this whole courtney is ali and ali was courtney confused me so i'm going to just explain it here to help me understand(incase you didnt notice before SPOILER ALERT! im about to give away the answer to the whole series):

ALI was friends with Naomi and Riley until the day the girl went to steal ali's piece of the flag. Then Courtney became ali ditched naomi and riley for the PLLs because naomi and riley have a history with the real ali and would see through her game. and so on the day of spencers sleepover in the barn the Pll's Ali was inside while Naomi and Rileys ALi was outside. the Naomi and rileys ali killed the Plls ali.

sooo as far as the Courtney was ali and ali was courtney goes ali was ali for 11 years then courtney was ali for about 2 years, during that time ali was courtney. then ali wanted her life back but ended up with another 4 years as courtney.


After i finally got all this through my head i was so surprised. I really thought that it was melissa al these years. ever since she brought spencer to their grandparents lake house and ripped the heads off barbies haha but then of course one every one started seeing melissa everywhere i knew sara would never make it so easy to guess who it was.

Know that it is all over i still have some unanswered questions, nothing huge just minor little details, but im sure thats how sara wanted it to be. To give us closer but to still sorta leave us hanging. and some one once said "always leave them wanting more."


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Very Im-Crestie-ed

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was absolutely Kieran Scotts best book yet!!! and that is saying something cause i realllllly like her books! I cannot wait for the next book in this series! Jake is too cute! Annie and David always reminded me of the two friends in Mean Girls, ya know the punk kinda gothic girl who knew everything about the plastics and the fat gay guy. not that i saw david as a fat gay guy he just for some reason reminded me of him.


Love this book! two thumbs up, a foam finger on my feet and a #1 tattoo on my forehead! way to go Kieran!!!!


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Cross That Line

The Line by Teri Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first started this book I was rather excited. I had just finished reading the hunger games and this book had the similar theme of the over barring government and struggle to not let them run their lives. But 75 pages i and I felt as though nothing had really happened and the author was just feeding me way too much back ground information way too fast. Around the 100th page when pathik is introduced I thought things were about pick up buttt they didn't at least not until about 50 pages to the end. Once Rachel crossed the line It finally got really good. The last pages were good enough to make me want to read the next book. I believe that now that Rachel is Away I think the story could get really good. Hopefully we are now done with most of the back ground info and we can get on to the story.


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No Such Thing as a Splendid Ending

Splendor by Anna Godbersen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So i waited 2 months to get this book from library (somebody sure took their sweet time returning it...) because i was soo psyched for the last LUXE book. I was reading it and i couldn't stop, i ended up starting tuesday night and finishing it by 6th period the next day. but despite how much i enjoy these books there were a few things i didn't so much enjoy.

1. these books could be half the size if they didnt have so many little details all throughout. I think i just skim half of these books because i don't care what lina is wearing or the arrangement of the chairs in the room.

2. I strongly dislike half the characters we are supposed to be following in the books. in the first 3 i read it all because although the chapters were all about diffrent people they all were of the same parties and would talk about the others too. in this last book i found i simply wanted to skip all lina and penny's chapters. I didnt cause i thought it may say something about Henry and di but the characters seemed soo out of touch in this book.

3. now i must beak the ending up into sub groups.

a. In the end. What happened t Tristian? yes he was really mean in this book (it was rather uncharacterist really. i always thought he and lina were so cute together but i suppose i was incorrect) and in the end was that a hint that henry and penny were back together?  I didn't like how elizabeth and teddy's relationship was (although we saw it coming) cut so short in the end. i felt like everything in the book was so rushed. I would have liked for Henry and Di to have had a few weeks in Havana and teddy and liz to have had a bit more time.

b. Now the big thing that has been bothering me. DIANA AND HENRY BROKE UP!?!!?!?i spent all this time to see if they could finally make it work and i was reading the last few pages just waiting for them to sail into the sun set but no. instead they make out on the dock, henry proposes and she tells him she is leaving and he shouldnt come! after all they have been through?! oh and she loses his hat! the hat from when the first met.  i couldnt believe it. and just like that, (just like the 3rd uglies book) just like that the series is ruined in my eyes. i must now erase the last 75 pages from my memory forr ever.


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I'm Laughing on the Inside...

The Blonde of the Joke by Bennett Madison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 honestly as much as i wanted to understand it, i couldnt. I waited and waited to find out wats was wrong with val's brother only to find out no one knows. I waited and waited to find out what the holy grail was only to never find out any more than it was $3.(unless i just missed a paragraph?) I truly wanted to love this book but i couldnt wrap my head around it. i was left with too many questions. (why did max disappear? why did her brother die? what was wrong with everyone in this town?)


One thing that really bothered me was how the narrator kept sliping in and out of reality. just when something added up she would be like "psyc! that never happened". ok so i didnt get the end. maybe i will try again sometime because when Val asked me if i was laughing i want to know why i should have been laughing.


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Deja View

Derby Girl by Shauna Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

the other night i was at my friends house and her mom suggested we watch whip it cause she said it was a wonderful movie. so we rented it and we were only 20 min in when i realized i knew his story a little too well. when they showed bliss with the pig apron on it suddenly came to me. I had read a book just like this movie. Of course after my epiphany i had to ruin the whole movie for my friends but it was worth it. I was so surprised how well the movie followed the story line of the book. they only thing i missed was how in the book bliss is always reminded not to fall in love with a guy in a band.


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Quick FYI

So I know I haven't posted in like a year, but that is cause I do most of my reviews on Goodreads these days. But I just found out I can have my reviews sent to my blog :). So now i am in the process of taking my old reviews and posting them here. So it will say i have a bunch of reviews from today but in actuality they are from months ago. To see exact dates, other reviews, comments or details click on the book titles and that will redirect you to that books Goodreads page.

Mix Tapes for her Favorite Man

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

i loved this book. I would be crying one minute and laughing through my tears the next.


side note: if this was ever to become a movie i think Better in time by leona lewis would be a great song for the movie.


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Life's Like That

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love E. Lockhart's writing. I hate the endings. When ever i read one of these books i love it right until the last 20 pages when the girl looses the man of her dreams and they never speak again. Yet i keep coming back for more. over all it was a good book with great characters, just not a fairy tale ending. I guess you could say E. Lockhart just tells it like it is, reality check: its not always a happy ending.


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In my Ivy Tower

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down but i never wanted it to end either! the whole thing was captivating. I love the character development throughout the story and i can't wait for the next!!


and if I had to pick a favorite chapter GO ASK ALICE would soooo win. I couldn't stop laughing. Epic :)


READ THIS BOOK!


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