Heartstrings and Loopholes

Goddess by Josephine Angelini

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this read: More Than I Should by Hunter Hayes, Angel with a Shotgun by The Cab, Birds of a Feather by The Civil Wars

I'm so sad right now. But it's a good kind of sad... if that makes any sense. I'm devastated our journey with Helen and those beautiful Delos boys is over. But I'm so happy that I'm sad about it. You see, it seems recently ending Trilogies and series have left me more upset, angry and down right frustrated with the final chapter. So to get to be sad, and yet content with the ending is the best feeling. Reading the end of this story only made me want to read them all over again.

Its the end of a trilogy so there is not much summarizing or explaining I can do without revealing everything, so enough to say that this book was just about as close to a perfect ending as you could hope for. I loved everything about it, despite the losses throughout, everything turned out for the best, for the most part. And I for one and going to dare to dream about the tempting little loose ends left dangling at the end there. I would appear to me Angelini left the door open for the legacy to continue if she so chose.
Fingers Crossed!!

In closing I just want to give a shout out to Hector Delos. Lucas is amazing and perfect for Helen, but Hector will always be my favorite Delos boy  man.


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Number the Stars

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this read: Stars by Switchfoot, Broken by Lifehouse, Prince of Nothing Charming by Tyler Hilton


Goodreads Summary:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

10 million beautiful stars to this beautiful book. There are no words. I think this book just broke me. I have been shredded by this story and don't think I will ever be the same. I laughed. I cried. I sobbed. I hurt. I smiled. This book is a work of art-- no wonder it has one of the highest ratings I've ever seen. Anyone who hasn't read this book is missing out on a miracle. Seriously, this book was so powerful I almost couldn't take it at times. I've never experience anything like it. I wish I could express all of my emotions in words to let you understand what this book is, but I can't. All I can do is tell you to read it and hope you understand when I say this book is like nothing else you could ever experience.

Dean Holder fan girl for life.

Excuse me, but now I need to cruel up and cry for a few forevers and thank god that Colleen Hoover wrote this book.



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Balancing Act

The Essence by Kimberly Derting

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this Read: Northern Lights by The Dangerous Summer, and Warrior by Paradise Fears

To recap, Charlie, a vendor girl, has just defeated the evil queen Sabara and been pronounced queen herself. But she has a secret, the queen’s essence did not die with Sabara’s body, it is deep within her. Charlie has tried to keep her at bay but every day it gets a little bit harder. Now with a rebellion on her hands and an assassin out for her life she must flee her palace and set out for “the Summit” early. As Charlie and her friends head for queen Neva’s palace up north for the meeting of many queedoms, known as the summit, they realize the assassin is one of their own. And while Charlie is missing Max terribly, she meets an ambassador who makes her dizzy and conflicted about what to feel. As they make the long journey north, Charlie struggles to keep a grip on Sabara when she no longer can tell her own thoughts from the queens and must fight to see right from wrong. All Charlie really knows is that she needs Max and she would do anything to protect her family—Anything.

I love anything Kimberly Derting puts on the shelf at B&N. She is one of my favorites. The Pledge books never cease to amaze me because they are so unlike anything else out there. I could try to describe them by telling you they are something like a Shannon Hale book meets classic dystopian, but that really doesn't do them justice. These books are in a genre all of their own filled with Queendoms and revolutionaries and magic and so much more that really you just have to read to understand how well it all meshes together.
As everyone knows, sequels always cause me anxiety. It’s the middle book where, now that the story has been set up in the first, everything must go wrong in the second to be cleaned up in the third. And so I started this book with both excitement (because I love them) and trepidation (because I knew this was not going to be all rainbows and butterflies). I think one of the reasons I like I love Kimberly Derting’s writing so much is that unlike some other authors out there (i.e. Cassandra Clare) Derting doesn't torture her readers with every plot twist, there is a balance to her stories. Even when in one sense it seems all is lost, the next chapter will relight that flame of hope that there is still good in the world. That is probably the main reason why this is one of the best sequels I have ever read—ever.
And now for the character shout outs: To Charlie, she such a perfect heroine- she is strong but only human and her weak spots make her a beautifully dynamic character to read. Her best quality is that she is smart; I am never cursing her for stupid decisions. Next is Aron and Brook, these two really grew in this book and all I can really say is that they are some of the best friends a girl can have and that I love them. Thirdly, a quick round of applause for all of those crazy queens at the Summit, I loved all their eccentric queenliness, so fun. And then there is Zafir, who I would love to learn more about, he is quite the man of mystery. And finally, a shout out to my boy Max--> I think I'm in love with you. You wouldn't have to ask twice to be my king ;)

5 stars to Essence, one of the few sequels I have given 5 stars to. I would make it 10 stars if I could.




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Prefectly Imperfect

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

These books are so beyond unreal. I have never read into every word of a book the way I do these. I marked this book up like it was a notebook. Michelle has little "easter eggs" hidden all over this book which I am determined to get to the bottom to. I might do a whole post on my blog later about some of my finding. This book played heavily on my emotions. I kind of break it up into segments based on the core feeling. It goes from cautious and picks up speed to heart wrenching and takes a stop at the creepy crazy psycho station then we get to the secret part and the avoidance and then a brief moment of acceptance and peace only to be followed by terror and the most gnawing feeling of frustration that makes you want to pull your hair out, you are rewarded for you patience with this uncomfortable feeling with revelation which of course then brings you crashing down to earth at warp speed, stripping you of all prior theories, hopes, or ability to feel joy. The latter side effects could last for hours, days, or months after reading, for Michelle Hodkin has once again left us all holding our breaths.

I will most definitely have more of this review and/or a post of my findings in The Evolution of Mara Dyer, including a playlist, in the very near future on my blog, so be sure to check it out soon!





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Losing Control

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a sequel (to the amazing Hunting Lila, if you haven't read it, what on earth are you waiting for?!!), so I don't like to say too much but that these books are by far some of the best I've ever read. The characters are so genuine its hard to believe they are not real people walking around somewhere. Jack, Lila and Alex have some of the greatest relationships, I find myself turning green with envy at times about how strong their bond is. I seem to always be either laughing crying or stifling a scream when reading these. Suki and Nate just do me in, I love those guys and their less than innocent jokes. Everything about these books is masterfully crafted, Alderson's alternate reality welcomes you like a firm embrace had doesn't let you go till ages after the last page. I look forward to rereading these many times over.



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Belong. Long To Be.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Over You by Miranda Lambert, Concrete Girl by Switchfoot, Back to the Start by The Summer Set



The pages of this book are laced with sadness. An it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. Sometimes it makes me cry, and I can't tell if it's because I am so saddened by it or if it is just so beautiful I can't handle anymore. I can't put my finger on it but every word I read about Webb and Tate and narnie give me chills and I this feeling some where between being wonderstruck and utterly disheartened.
You know how in "Because of Winn-Dixie" they describe the candy as melancholy? This book is like that. You don't know how such a thing and elicit such an emotion but you know that it does, and something about this unknown feeling is so beautiful that you can't contain you emotions and you cry. Those candies made people cry, the irony being how can something as sweet and good as candy make a person cry? In this case the irony is how can something do basic as symbols in a page stir such strong emotions in a person?
I can't say I know the answer or that I ever will but I'm glad I know enough to ask the question because the feeling I get reading this book is something that will stay with me forever.



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Ohana Means Family...

...Family means no one gets left behind. 

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Songs for this book: Hey Summer by The Bigger Lights , Only Place I Call Home by Every Avenue, Dark Blue by Jack's Mannequin


Wow, so how to write a review after an ending like that?

So at first I didn't know how I felt about Helen. In the first chapter she was so shy and self conscious it was so irritating. The the next few chapters she was a bitchy, self contained, zombie girl and that was probably even more annoying. Then we finally found some middle ground when Lucas stepped up to the plate. Let's all take this time to take a large inhale an then let it out in a gigantic group sigh for Lucas. Ready? Ohhh Lucas! *sigh* he is quite the dream boy.
But it's not jut Lucas I'm in love with I adore the whole Delos family. honestly I'm infatuated with this family. Ari is the kindest person, Jason is all sauve but so gentle hearted, hector had to grow on my bit he is kinda the perfect older brother. Cassie also took some getting used to but she just loves her brother and doesn't want to see him get hurt. Plus she has got a lot on her plate for 13 years old.
This whole story is pretty heart wrenching. But kinda in the best way possible. The story is full of ups and downs which give it so much dynamic you can never be bored. Once you finish this story it is so difficult to then look back and see that the beginning is the same book. The characters grow so much. I also want to give kudos here, this book must have taken so much research and it shows. Really a killer job.
As with any good book of this genre, the ending left me hanging on to the tiniest sense of hope, City of Bones style. In the awful way where part of you wants to throw the book against the wall in frustration ( which would be a bad idea since I read this on my kindle) and the other is immediately scanning the Internet for the release date for the next book and any kind of spoilers you can find. All that said it truly was a beautiful ending, and while I didn't see it coming (should have paid more attention to my percent finished tracker), Where it ends only makes me all the more excited in anticipation  for the coming book. I have been trying to think of possible outcomes and loop holes and coming up blank. I can't wait to see what ends up coming to be.
This book definitely made it on my favorites for this year, I completely recommend it. But if you don't handle cliffhangers very well, suffer from fiction boyfriend obsessions, or are a really impatient reader when it comes to sequels, I suggest you proceed with caution and anticipate your possible side effect from reading this book. But read it cause it's totally worth it!


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