TGIF: Disney Movie Chat

Happy Friday everyone! So this week's TGIF is going to be a little bit different. It's not really book related, but hopefully something we can all talk about, at least a bit! Well, I suppose it is book related, considering it's about fairy tales! For the past two weeks, I've been watching nothing but Disney movies! Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Robin Hood, etc. I've been reliving my childhood over and over! It's gotten me in such a happy mood, all these amazing stories! I want to know, what's your favorite Disney classic? And who's your favorite character? Hard questions, I know!

 Lately I've been all about Mulan! I have watched the first movie three times in the past week, and the second, twice! I think if I could marry a cartoon character, it would be Sheng. I've also realized that Hercules is really good! I had only seen it once before, when I was really little so when I watched it the other day I was a bit confused as to why I didn't watch it more often! 

I know this was kind of random and not exactly book related, but I've been in such a Disney mood lately, I couldn't help it! Oh, I also want to know, what's your favorite original fairy tale? Not the Disney adaptation, but the original story? Let me know! I'm going to go watch Snow White now!

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Speak

Page Count: 372 pages, Paperback

Date Published: August 4th 2011 (first published December 2nd 2010)

Find it on Goodreads: Anna and the French Kiss

Source: Purchased

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Thoughts: LOVED IT, but did I never thought I wouldn't!

Everyone had been telling me that I needed to read Anna and the French Kiss. So can someone tell me why I waited so long? Everything about it screams "Kristy! Read me! You'll adore me!" and yet I hesitated. UGHHH! I always do this! This happened with The Fault in Our Stars as well! It just so happens that I loved both of those books! *facepalm*

To start us off, let me just say, that I have actually asked my parents if I could go to school in Paris. Sure they said I'd have to raise enough money for it, but hey... I tried. It's been a dream of mine to grow up in the City of Lights ever since I knew what it was, so to go to school there would be the best thing in the world. That being said, I was totally bewildered when Anna didn't want to go! I know it's not for everyone, but COME ON GIRL! Boarding school in the most romantic city in the world and you're mad at your parents for sending you!? Forgive me, but yeah, I was a little reluctant at liking Anna at first. But, she grew on me as Paris grew on her. I learned to love Anna's character. She was witty and smart and an all-around teenager. She was real. I love it when an author can create characters who we as the readers can relate to so well, because the characters have their own flaws. They're not perfect. Speaking of perfect, where can I find an Etienne St. Clair for myself? Sure, he's got his faults, which we clearly see within the book, but man, oh man! When Etienne is first introduced in the book, all I could think was swoon! I most definitely couldn't comprehend what Anna was so upset about. I loved Etienne. He seemed like the epitome of flawless, but he's not. But him and Anna were just two of many great characters in this book. I LOVED their group of friends. They reminded me so much of my own group of good friends, that it made me so happy to read about them! We get to see so much of each of them, so we're not left hanging to who they all are. I felt connected to each supporting character. The plot was great too. It wasn't slow, not fast. Just perfect. Every element in Perkins' book had a place and was important in some way. This book captured the wonderful feeling of what Paris is supposed to be like, and when Anna traveled back to Atlanta for the holidays, Perkins did a great job of making the reader feel that. From the little bookstores to the multiple cinemas, the many museums and the crepe stands, it felt like everything I've dreamed of about Paris. That's an incredible thing for an author to do, to make your dreams appear on a page. But Anna was like my ultimate day dream. I never wanted it to end.


Reading Anna made me so much more excited for my trip to Europe this summer! Sure, there's not a huge chance that I'll end up falling madly in love with an English dude during the four days we're in Paris, but hey, you never know! If you're into contemporary or you really want to start reading more, this book is perfect. It's full of emotions and isn't just a silly little love story. It felt real. Anna went through struggles that we can all relate to on some level and her senior year was filled with everything a girl could ask for. AH can you tell I loved this book!? I'm gonna stop now, before I start talking about Etienne again! Don't be like me and hesitate about this book... Read it!!!

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Cover Reveal: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another cover reveal today! The Indigo Spell is the third book in Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series! 

Oh my Rowling... It's so great! I knew it was going to be blue, considering the title, but it's so awesome! I'm guessing that's Adrian on her right, and... I don't know. The dude on her left could be Keith, or that other guy we find out about in The Golden Lily (I won't spoil it). But my big question is: Where's Sydney's tattoo!? So many questions! The anticipation is killing me. Let me know what you think!

~Kristy

Cover Reveal: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Well these past two weeks have just been full of cover reveals! Today Lauren DeStefano, author of The Chemical Garden trilogy revealed the cover of her final book, Sever! I cannot describe how excited I am... So without further ado, here it is!

ISN'T IT AMAZING!!!??? I was so not expecting green, but I love it! Looking at all the different details, it makes me wonder about what they all mean to the story. I am 100% Team Linden, so the fact that she took off her wedding ring, but is still holding it (I think), makes me hopeful. :) Anyways, let me know what you think of the cover and what you get from all the details! I'd love to know if what she's holding is her ring or a june bean... Those are the two things that have been going around!

Have a great day/night!
~Kristy

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters Who Remind Me Of Myself Or Someone I Know In Real Life (11)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.This week's topic is: Top Ten  Characters Who Remind Me Of Myself Or Someone I Know In Real Life. 

1. Auden from Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride - Auden has always been my favorite Dessen character. She's an insomniac, is very set on school and her future. I... well I don't really sleep (I don't need a lot of it, therefore I spend my time doing other things... Like reading), I'm very focused on school and my future.

2. Sydney from Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - Well this is kind of like Auden, as well. Sydney's super focused on school, as I am. She's also a little socially awkward and I have to admit, I am too.

3. Grace from The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater- Grace really reminds me of my best friend Jenna. They're both independent, very caring and great cooks!

4. Lena of Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl's Caster series -She really reminds me of another one of my best friends, Bethany. They both have long black hair and sort of an exotic look. They're also both kind of dark and... disturbed.

5 & 6. Stevie Rae & Zoe from the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast - Well, this is actually kind of an actual thing with Bethany and I. She's Zoe and I'm Stevie-Rae. I'm the cute little bumpkin and she's the vampire chick who's extremely popular. We actually nicknamed each other Z and Bumpkin!


7. J.K. Rowling's Hermione Granger, from Harry Potter - I must seem like the biggest nerd, considering the people I'm comparing myself to. But, Hermione was always my role model growing up. I always try and hold myself in her fashion, as she is so loyal and brave and intelligent. Plus, she's extremely focused on school... Yeah, I love school.


8. Owen from Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - Owen reminds me of my friend Slater, just because of their great love of music. They are both extremely passionate about music and neither of them can stand the 'Top 40' stuff.

Well, I didn't get to 10, but that's alright. I really liked this week's TTT! So as always, leave me a link in the comments to your TTT and I'll be sure to  check it out! I'd love to see which characters remind you of yourself... It's a great way to get to know everyone better!

Have a great day/night!
~Kristy

Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

Author: Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

Published: Emily Bestler Books/Atria/Simon Pulse

Page Count: 358 pages, Hardcover

Date Published: June 26th 2012

Find it on Goodreads: Between the Lines

Source: ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter present their first-ever novel for teens, filled with romance, adventure, and humor.What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?     Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.     And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom. Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

My Thoughts: I think the idea of this book is great, but could have been executed differently to make it more enjoyable to a large audience.

I had a really difficult time getting into this book. The story was great, but it wasn't easy adjusting to all the different fonts and point of views. The story is told from three different perspectives: Oliver's view, Delilah's view, and then we have the actual fairy tale, Between the Lines. And each POV is written in a different font. Which is really, quite annoying, to be blunt. I know that really doesn't matter in the long run, but... well... it kind of irked me. The illustrations are excellent, though. I'm really excited to see them in color; They truly add so much to the book. If you're into fairy tales, as I am, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book. It's filled with everything a great fairy tale should have, but so much more, too. It has many moments where I just sat there and sighed happily, because it was so cute and fluffy. That's exactly what this book is. Cute and fluffy. All of the characters are extremely likeable. Delilah, the girl who is in the 'real world' was easy to relate to, with the fact that she's an outcast who escapes within her books. Yeah, that I can relate to... A lot. I also really liked Oliver. He was cute and complex, with such a need to escape his continuously repetitive life. Can you imagine having to act out the same story you entire life, on the command of someone else? Although I liked the two protagonists, I really loved the other supporting characters! Frump and Socks were so adorable!

As much as I may have liked the characters and the concept of this book, it still wasn't all that I wished it to be. I believe this has been said multiple times now, but I think this book would be better suited for girls ages 11-13. It has simple, juvenile language and it lacks a certain aspect that YA should have. If I had read this book back when I was in middle school, I'm sure I would have loved it. But reading it at this age has me not loving it, but not hating it. There were some holes in the story that could probably be overlooked by others, but I like to think that I'm a fairly experienced reader and so, I notice these things. Also, I'm not that big of a Jodi Picoult fan. I've just never gotten into her books. I think her daughter will grow to be a great writer, if that's what she plans to do, but I feel that she needs to try stepping away from her mother's usual style of writing, even if this book wasn't in Picoult's usual genre.

Once again, this is a book that is great if you're looking for something that doesn't make you think too much. A book that will make you say "aww," and  reminisce about all those dreamy book characters you've fallen in love with. (Admit it, there's got to have been at least one!) It's always been a dream of mine to be able to speak directly to the characters in the books I read, so I openly envy Delilah. I'm sure a lot of readers can relate. Between the Lines was a great book to be released at the beginning of summer. It will please those who need a quick read for the beach. But if you're hoping for something that is darker and less Disney-esque, this isn't the book for you.

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Review: Purity by Jackson Pearce

Author: Jackson Pearce
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Page Count: 218 pages, Hardcover

Date Published: April 24th 2012

Find it on Goodreads: Purity

 A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order.

Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex.

Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity.

My Thoughts:  I was kind of disappointed by this book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. 


Purity was another contemporary that fell short for me. I was looking for something light and enjoyable to start summer off with, and what I got was a funny story that was all too predictable. By the end of the first few chapters, I could already see where the entire book was headed. This book doesn't have that many pages, but it took me a lot longer than it should have for me to finish.

I have nothing to complain about the author's writing. It was solid, it was funny, it was light. The characters were realistic. I actually enjoyed reading from Shelby's POV, as most of her thought process was funny and made me laugh. (In a good way.) But what got me was that I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. I read it, it was good, now I'll probably never think about Shelby again. (Well, other than this review, of course!) I found Shelby to be funny, yes, but also cold and stiff. The other characters, I felt as if we don't get a lot from them. I thought the idea of this book was great, but because I couldn't connect with the characters, it wasn't as great as I would have liked. This is definitely a book that teaches a big lesson, but it could have perhaps happened in a better fashion. There was a lot of focus on family and faith in the story, which was nice, but I honestly found Sheby's whole mindset on the Promises a bit unbelievable.

In the end, my verdict on this book was that it was too rushed. I think the author could have drawn it out a little bit longer to help us connect with the characters better. I would have liked to learn more about each of them. Perhaps that would have helped me enjoy it more. I found the conclusion to this story much too cliched and predictable, but I don't regret reading Purity. If you're looking for an easy read to relax with, this is a great book for that.

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking the Shelves is a book haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews -This is a great way for us to share what books we added to our shelves each week! 

Purchased:

 For Review:

 Thanks to Bethany House Publishing!

So I finally caved in and bought Anna and the French Kiss! Yeah, so I read it and umm... LOVED IT!  Plus I am really excited about Storm, because it finally appeared in my local bookstore! I'm planning on reading a lot this week, so even though the blog's been kind of slow for a while, I'm hoping that there will be a lot of reviews scheduled up soon! Anyways, as always, leave me a link to your haul in the comments below and I'll check it out!


Happy reading!
~Kristy

TGIF: Some More New Covers!

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! There have been so many cover reveals this past week and although I'm sure a lot of you have seen them already, I still wanted to share in case you haven't!

 Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

OK, so I'm really not sure what to think of this... I mean, I know that the first book's cover has been changed to match this one, but I still don't really get the whole icy eyelashes. I think I still have to warm up to the covers! But I am of course, super excited for the cover!

Echo (Soul Seekers #2) by Alyson Noel 

I haven't read Fated yet, but I'm hoping to this summer. The covers on both books are absolutely gorgeous. I love the wintery theme to this one... So pretty!

Rise (Eve #3) by Anna Carey

 Ok, as much as Eve disappointed me, I am getting really excited for Once and this cover is making the suspense even worse! I'm not a huge fan of the covers of this series, but I do still love the font of the titles. Plus, this one looks very... Mysterious. Hmmm....

 Blood-Kissed Sky (Darkness Before Dawn #2) by J.A. London

I haven't read the first book in the series yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! The covers are so dark and beautiful and the font of the title is so great. I love the birds in the background, and her dress is simply amazing. 

Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton

SO GORGEOUS! I loved the cover of Everneath so much and I was worried how they were going to do this one. I love it! I'm so glad they stuck with the dark cloudy mist and the flowy dress. 

 Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand

 I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE PINK!!! I love this cover. These books have some of the prettiest, girly-est covers I've seen. Even though Hallowed left me disappointed, I'm sure Boundless will be great!

Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5) by Tahereh Mafi
Ok, yeah, I like this one. I really hope I'll be able to read this, since it's only in ebook format... :/ But YAYY cover reveals!

So, what do you think of all these new covers? Did any disappoint you? Impress you? Let me know your opinions in the comments below! 

Happy Reading!

~Kristy

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Author: Kiersten White
Published: HarperTeen

Page Count: 368 pages, Paperback

Date Published: July 26th 2011 (first published August 31st 2010)

Find it on Goodreads: Paranormalcy
 

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts: Although the protagonist was a bit annoying, I enjoyed the huge paranormal aspects to it (hence the title).

Paranormalcy is a great book for any fans of paranormal romances.Well, obviously it would be considering what it's about. I've never been a huge fan of books that involve a ton of different paranormal creatures. I like them enough, but I rarely find one that I can throughly enjoy. But I really liked Paranormalcy! It was really well written and there was lots going on. A perfect book to get caught up on during a boring day. From vampires to faeries, from hags to werewolves, this book has it all. Whichever paranormal creature you prefer, Paranormalcy will have at least a snippet of it. Considering how many 'main stream' creatures there are in the YA genre, it was nice to be re-acquainted with some of the paranormals that I remember from my childhood. 

The only thing I didn't really like about the book was Evie, the main protagonist. I found her to be quite annoying and a tad childish, though that is understandable considering how she was brought up. I didn't relate to her that well on any level, honestly. I found her obsession with her TV show a bit overbearing, as well as the fact that everything had to be pink and sparkly! I found her voice to be irritating, as well as her 'flirting' with Lend, cringe-worthy. Speaking of Lend, I liked him. I didn't love him, I didn't hate him. There was nothing overall special about him, save the fact that he's a one of a kind shape shifter. I'm realizing a trend more and more within the love interests in YA fiction, even more so in paranormal/fantasy/dystopia romances. They're all that sweet guy with the possible bad boy exterior. Totally swoon-worthy, but not exactly original. Though Lend didn't have that bad-ass, totally hot bad-boy front about him, he was still kind of a cliche. Underneath his ever changing face was that guy we see in YA a lot. So, yeah, I liked them enough, but all in all the main characters in this book didn't do much for me.

In the end, what made me like Paranormalcy as much as I did wasn't the characters, as it usually is, but the story. It was filled to the core with suspense and mystery and romance and all the best things a Paranormal Romance should have. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel, Supernaturally, and then the last book that comes out this summer, Endlessly.

Happy reading!
~Kristy

Cover Reveal: Hidden by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Hey guys! I've got some exciting news to share for all you House of Night fans who have not yet seen it! The tenth installment in the series is titles Hidden and is being released October 16th! Today the cover was revealed and I just had to share. My opinions on this series are a bit jumbled, because of how many books there are and how complex the story line is, but all in all, these are really great books. So, without further ado... THE COVER:

What do you think? Personally, I think it's pretty great. I love the fact that Zoe is looking out from behind a tree. It gives a huge air of mystery to an already mysterious looking book. The only thing I'm unsure about is the tattoing all around it. Each book has some of it on the cover, but it's usually a lot more subtle. I like the cover a lot though, and although I need to reread the series before reading this book, I'm super duper excited for its release!

Sound off in the comments below with your opinions on the cover and how you think the story will go! You can be sure there will be a ton of Neferet drama... Of course!

Happy Reading!

~Kristy

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Summer TBR List (11)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.This week's topic is: Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List. There are so many great books coming out this summer, plus some books that have been on my TBR list forever that I desperately need to read!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - I've got my signed copy from May and I still haven't read it! But I have moved it to the top of my list so hopefully I will soon!

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman - I'm extremely excited to read this! Considering I live in a place with not so great weather, on a rainy day a dark book like this will be great. :)

Once by Anna Carey - I am SO excited to read this book when it comes out!

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong - I've started it but still haven't finished yet. Hopefully I will this summer!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - I finally bought it! I'm going to Europe in August so I thought this would be a great book to read before then!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - I have been dying to read this book so once I find it you can be sure I will buy it!

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay - I love how tiny this book is! I'm hoping to purchase it the next time I'm at Chapters.

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon - I've read Infinity but never got to read the next one... I will soon though!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - All I can say is I am super duper thrilled to read this book.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne - I adore the concept behind this book so I am really excited to read it this summer!

That's ten of the books on my summer TBR list! I'm planning on reading a ton this summer, so I'm really excited that school is finally over! I have my last exam today and I am so ready to be finished! As always, leave me a link in the comments below and I'll check out your TTT! Happy reading everyone! ~Kristy (P.S. Guess who's laptop is ready to be picked up!!?? YAY!!! I can finally get back into routine!)

Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Author: Richelle Mead
 Published: Razorbill

Page Count: 418 pages, Hardcover

Date Published: June 12th 2012 

Find it on Goodreads: The Golden Lily

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

My Thoughts: ASIJBADLKGNOISBJOFNOG!!!! Words cannot even describe my feelings for Richelle Mead's books about the Moroi and Strigoi.

You may or may not know that I originally had a page on this blog dedicated to a countdown to this book. To say I was excited for this book is an understatement. Richelle Mead's writing has a way of drawing you in and keeping you immersed in her world. It's extremely hard to resurface from the story until you're done.

First of all, I'll start with the characters. I know the big question with the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines books is Team Dimitri or Team Adrian. Well, in my opinion, Dimitri will always be for Rose and Adrian has to be with Sydney. I love Adrian a a character. He's funny and charming and an all around likeable guy. Then there's Sydney, whom I adore. I relate with her so much more than I did Rose, so reading these books are extremely enjoyable. The rest of the characters are all amazing as well. I adore Eddie. He is a character filled with emotion and he's extremely complex. Then there's Jill who is very loveable. That's really the only word you can use to describe her. And then DIMITRI! We actually don't see a lot of him in this book, but boy, what we do see of him had me longing for more. He's still that protective western-loving Dimitri that we fans of VA know and love.

The story in this book was, of course, really well done. Richelle Mead has such a great imagination. There's a huge new twist that will definitely change a lot in the upcoming books. I've always loved books set in boarding schools, so I'm so glad that Richelle has continued that aspect in this series. TGL is no different. It is also really nice that Sydney is able to drive around town so that we are not stuck on campus the whole story. One of the reasons that I love Richelle Mead's stories is that she always plans everything out so well and everything fits. There's never loose ends hanging that you know won't be resolved in later books, unless they absolutely need to be left unsolved. I'm excited to see more of what Sydney can do with the magic her teacher is forcing her to learn, as well as what will happen between Eddie, Angeline and Jill. Plus, of course I'm so anxious to see if Sydney and Adrian will end up together or not! PLEASE RICHELLE MEAD!

If you have not yet read the Vampire Academy books, go do that now. They are incredible and now this follow up series is just as amazing. I know some people may be reluctant to read them because of the vampire aspect, but it's so much more than that. VA is one of my top ten series I've ever read. So then if you read VA, you can read Bloodlines!!! I'm so so so excited to read The Indigo Spell now! I, once again, threw the book on the ground when I finished it because I really don't want to wait another year... But I know it will be worth the wait!

Happy reading everyone!
-Kristy

Stacking the Shelves (5)

Stacking the Shelves is a book haul meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews -This is a great way for us to share what books we added to our shelves each week!

Hello my dear followers! This week has been pretty hectic for me, because it was the last week of classes, and my laptop is in for repairs, so I've been a bit stressed about that. But you know what made it better? That's right!! A certain book came out this week that I was so totally excited about! It's the only book I got this week and that is completely okay with me!!!

THE GOLDEN LILY!!!

(By Richelle Mead)

I've read it already and it was so incredible and now I'm dying for the next one. Once the release date of The Indigo Spell is announced you can be sure there will be a countdown to that one as well. So, what did you add to your shelf this week? Leave me a link to your haul in the comments and I'll check it out!

Have a great Sunday!

-Kristy

Review: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publication

Page Count:  438 pages, Hardcover

Date Published: October 4th 2011

  

 Goodreads Blurb:

 The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

My Thoughts: Suspenseful and breathtaking, Silence left me hanging, dying for Finale. But at the same time, I'm wondering: Where's the story going to go next?

I really am enjoying this book series. They're sort of addicting. I couldn't put them down, even when I wasn't liking them as much as I had been before. But I feel like they're starting to stretch really far and the author is trying to surprise us readers with unexpected twists that are well... Expected. Although, the beginning of this book threw me for a loop. Nora couldn't remember anything!? What in the world!?!? She didn't remember anything after the moment before she met Patch. N.O.T.H.I.N.G. But after that huge surprise, it was all kind of the same. Nora and Patch discover some deep dark secrets that aren't too surprising and I'm sad to say that this book did disappoint me.
This is going to be a pretty short review because I don't have a lot to say. The writing is really great still, so nothing about that has changed. But I really hope that the final book, Finale,  will change my opinions on this. The story line didn't excite me at all. It was just another generic paranormal/angel romance. Which was odd, because the first two weren't bad. Actually, I really loved the first book in this series. The second wasn't terrible, and neither was this one, but it was too predictable. I still love Patch, Nora's still kind of annoying and Scott actually isn't too much of a jerk anymore. But something about the way everything has gone down in this series has disappinted me. I'm definitely looking forward to Finale, to see what happens next, but I'm also worried that because this book ends on an ending that is so obviously going to lead into war, that the next book will be condensed and tight. I guess we'll have to read and find out!

Obviously if you've read Hush, Hush and Crescendo already, you're probably wanting to read this book as well. I don't blame you. But if it disappointed you, let me know in the comments! Or maybe you loved it and if so, let me know why. I always love hearing other people's opinions on books.

Have a great day/night everyone!
-Kristy

TGIF: Title Reveals!!!

So, I was just browsing my dashboard and saw that Words I Write Crazy had posted a reveal for two sequels I'm really looking forward to! So then I thought, well hey I should look around for more titles that I had no clue about. So I found a few and I am so freaking excited!!! You may or may not know about some of these, but I've missed the announcements on them, so I thought I'd  share!


1. Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead (Bloodlines #3) - IT HAS A NAME. !!!!! Oh my Rowling. I cannot describe how excited I am for this book. Once there's a date you can be sure that I will have a page dedicated to a countdown for it!

2. Boundless by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #3) - As much as Hallowed kind of disappointed me, I'm still really excited fo this! I can't wait to find out what happens with Clara and Christian and Tucker!

3. Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder #4) - I love these books! They're so cool and creepy, and the title of this one implies some pretty big changes!

4. The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (Darkness Rising #4) - I haven't even been able to finish the second book, but I will soon! These books are really cool!

5. Rise by Anna Carey (Eve #3) - I'm SO excited to read Once! To even think about this one is torture!

Anyways, those are just a few titles I was excited about. If you've found out about any cool new titles, let me know! I'd love to hear about them!

Happy Friday!
-Kristy

Review: Silver Knight by Caron Rider

Author: Caron Rider

Page Count: 278 pages, Paperback

Date Published:  February 24th 2012 (first published December 1st 2011)

Find it on Goodreads: Silver Knight

Source: Received for review from author in exchange for an honest review.

When seventeen-year-old Diana recognizes an elderly priest in a video on YouTube, she realizes that reincarnation is real and that she’s been alive before! Every night in her dreams, she relives her past learning that it’s kill or be killed. Now a bishop at the Vatican whom she saved in another life calls on her once more. She is needed to help defeat evil within the catacombs of Rome. But when she arrives in Rome, she meets Alexander – the man of her dreams! Through the centuries she has loved him…betrayed him...been killed by him. Will she give him another chance or this time will she strike first?        




My Thoughts: Silver Knight was fast paced and captivating.

Caron Rider's book was great. It was relatively well written and had a really great story line. Diana was a very loveable protagonist.  She was strong willed and confident and a great role model. There were so many paranormal creatures in this book and so much going on. It all happens very quickly and save for the occasional akward sentences, it was a great read. The historical aspects were all really neat as well, and they made this book even more so enjoyable to me, being a bit of a history buff.

I love books about reincarnation, but this one was unlike any I've ever read. The author most definitely succeeded in making it unique, in both good ways and bad. Though I understand the need for the flash backs, they were disorientating and pulled me out of my rhythm plenty of times. There were a lot of times where I was unsure of which time period Diana or whichever other character it was, was in. Perhaps if there had been a different formatting with these flash backs, in that they were each their own chapters, they would have been much easier to interpret and enjoy. There was also the fact that the author sometimes randomly threw in a chapter that was from the first person perspective of a different character. Yes, it says at the beginning of the chapter if it isn't Diana, but that was really confusing at some points.

But other than some formatting and jumping around, I really did enjoy this book quite a book. It just wasn't the simplest read in the world. I loved the fact that some of the warriors had actually been in their 'past lives' great historical figures we all know, like per say, Helen of Troy. I loved the fact that Ms. Rider took so much history and put it into this book. There was plenty to learn from this book, that's for sure. The story left on such an incredible cliff hanger that I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. This was a book that kept me thinking and I enjoyed it for sure. It's a book full of mixed genres and it works well. If you're into books filled with action, this book would be a great choice for you.

Have a great day/night guys!
-Kristy

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Recommend As Good Beach Reads (9)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.This week's topic is: Top Ten Books I'd Recommend As Good Beach Read. 

 The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells -  This is one of my absolute favorite summer reads, but it's so sad that you'll need to have tissues.
The Selection by Kiera Cass -  This book is so girly and since it's so similar to the Bachelor, it's a light, funny read that doesn't take a lot of effort. I read it so quickly, it would be great to take to the beach.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - This is an incredibly sweet road trip book full of heart. I read it last year on vacation with my friend and it was perfect for the beach.
Twenty boy Summer  by Sarah Ockler- I've read this book many, many times. It's a great portrayal of a summer romance and best friends. It's real, and sad and it doesn't sugar coat anything.
Peace, Love & Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle - This is just a really cute book. Lauren Myracle's style is so nice to read from and this is a perfect book for a lazy beach day.
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson - If you're into traveling and friendship and romance, this is a great book. It's another that both my friend and I read last summer on vacation and it really is the perfect remedy for a broken heart. It's cute and girly and the perfect beach read.


ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen - Honestly, do I have to say more? I know this is kind of cheating, but hey... Carpe Diem! (I will not say that other saying... Y....O... NOPE! Can't do it! :P)

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour - Another road trip book! I really liked this one because it was filled to the core with friendship and music!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - If you're not into summer romance books like some of these ones, and you're looking for more of a dystopia romance, this book is one that I'll be recommending for a long time. It's one of my favorites because it's filled with action, swoony kissing scenes and a great artistic writing style that is such a delight to read.

Under the Moon by Deborah Kerbel - I recently read this and absolutely loved it. It's fantastic. I really think it deserves a lot more attention, because it was a book that sucked me in and let me escape my own head while reading it.


So, summer is almost here! That means it's time to go to the beach and soak up some sun while reading all those incredible books we've been longing to read. These are just a few I'd bring to the beach with me, so I'd love to see your list and see what you'd recommend to bring to the ocean! Leave a link to your TTT in the comments below and I'll check it out!
Happy reading, everyone!
-Kristy

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Author: Anna Banks

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Page Count:  357 pages, Hardcover

Date Published: May 22nd 2012

Goodreads Blurb:

 Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.

 My Thoughts:  Of Poseidon was an incredible book with so many great, great qualities. LOVED IT.

Let me tell you this in advance: I, am a fish out of water. It's just what everyone says. I love the water. When I was younger, all I wanted to do was swim. I don't like to swim competitively or anything like that, but just enjoy the soothing water and picture myself as a fish. That imaginary fish-self was able to talk to other fish. SO. When I found out about this book, I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did, because it was great. I was so jealous of all the Syrena characters with their fish qualities.
The POV alternated each chapter between Emma's first-person and Galen's third-person. I liked how the author did this, because it wasn't confusing at all. The writing was smooth and easy to read. I got lost in the story, not the words. I really loved Galen's point of view, as well as Emma's. They were both loveable characters with their own quirks and problems. I really liked Emma. She was a strong, independant character and yet she went totally mushy around Galen. But when he tried to tell her what to do, she was a bit... Headstrong, so to speak. I liked Galen a lot as well, except he seemed to fit in with the humans a bit too well. I wish we could have seen more of his transition from being Syrena to fitting into Emma's world, because what we did see was delightful. The way he spoke so formally and blunt in the beginning was really cute, but then once he became more 'accustomed' he was a little annoying. I did like the other characters as well, although I felt like it took a long time for us to learn all of their back stories.

The story was really interesting as well. I loved the Syrena folklore; It was super interesting and fascinating. All the history of the royals and Triton and Poseidon seemed so real, as if it all really happened. The author did an incredible job of making it all seem believable and real. At least, to me. I would believe anything to do with mermaids or, sorry, Syrena, because of how much I want to.. umm... be a mermaid. *blushes* Goodness me I feel like a little kid saying they want to be a princess. BUT I AM NOT ASHAMED! If I could be any element I would be water, so.. I guess that explains it. Anyways, I'm getting off track. The romance between Galen and Emma was really sweet and swoony. Kind of irresistable. Plus, there's an air of mystery that's subtle enough to start forgetting about it until BOOM! The author hits you with a tidal wave (haha, pun intended) of it and you're reminded that this isn't just a story of sweet romance and fish who can talk. There's a war between the two kingdoms under the surface and Emma and Galen are at the centre of it.

 If you're into magic and mermaid-esque stories, Of Poseidon would be a great book for you to read. Then ending was both a surprise and predictable, but enjoyable none the less. If you've never read a mermaid story, I think this book would be a great one to start out with. It's human enough to not be overwhelming, unlike some stories that are completely under water. The beginning sucks you in with a tragic attack and the rest keeps you hooked on this excellent debut.

Happy reading!
-Kristy

Guest Post: Andre Alan

 Hey guys! Today I'm welcoming Andre Alan, author of Heaven's Fate, a novel due to be released June 26th. It's filled to the bone with martial arts and so today Andre will be talking about his book and why he decided to have such a huge aspect of it be on martial arts. I personally love watching my brother do his Karate, when I get the chance, so I'm really excited to read Heaven's Fate. Here's the sypnosis:

 Thame Elliot, an expert Rietsu martial artist, is consumed with thoughts of avenging his father’s death and rebuilding the legendary Tundra Sword. Little does Thame know that his aunt, the first empress of the human continent, Eioda, Autumn Augustus, has set the nation on a course that can only lead to war with the Orcs. The mystical inhabitants on the planet, Threa have been plunged into a struggle for the ancient artifacts buried in the mysterious, Consummate of the Trust. Not only that but his aunt is hell bent on marrying him to a corrupt military admirals daughter while Thame’s spiritual guardian, Masaya from the Astral Plane tries to manipulate him in order to keep the heavens from falling apart. The fate of mankind rest in Thame’s young hands but does he even want the responsibility that goes along with being the chosen one. Or will Thame’s spiritual twin, imbued with dark powers granted by the evil one, assassinate him before he can fulfill his destiny.

Martial Arts is Only Natural

My debut novel, Heaven’s Fate, due to be released on 06/26/2012 in ebook and hardcover, focuses heavily on science fiction, fantasy, young adult, sword & sorcery and of course, martial arts.

I have loved martial arts for as long as I can remember. Ever since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bruce Lee dominated the television and movie screens it has been something that has fascinated me. Not only is martial arts a great discipline that helps people young and old stay in shape but also generates, promotes, and extends a persons mental capacity in terms of helping the mind and body focus to become one. Therefore, after learning different forms of martial arts while growing up, now as an adult and choosing to go into the profession of fantasy fiction novel writing I chose to focus on and make martial arts a major part of my novel, as most (if not all) of my characters are great martial arts masters.

Not only does martial arts refer to the physical hand-to-hand combat but also the ‘science and art’ of sword play which also plays a major role in Heaven’s Fate. As I am an avid collector of swords, knives, and throwing projectiles which fascinate me to no end, it was only natural that it gets thrown into my debut novel. As they say, ‘write what you know’; and one of the things I know more than anything else is weapons and physical combat.

In Heaven’s Fate, there are several different forms of martial arts in the world of Threa. Since there are different races (species) of humanoids that live on different continents, it is only natural that in order for the novel (story) to be believable, then different peoples from different parts of the world will specialize in different forms of martial arts. Not only that but another major aspect of martial arts incorporated into the novel is the relationship and integration with magic seamlessly flowing together. With a plethora of weapons to choose from and draw upon in the ‘real’ world it was almost easy to transfer those into unique martial arts styles in the world of Threa. Not only that but I love to keep the action live and dynamic as you read the novel. A major part of making the story compelling to readers is having the characters focus on using long range weapons; because then what happens when the characters confront each other in an enclosed area where long range weapons are of little use. Even in the military, they focus on the basics of hand to hand combat and since Heaven’s Fate has a heavy ‘futuristic’ military presence, it was only natural to have martial arts styles and masters in the book.

Andre Alan is from Hartford, CT and attended college in New Haven, CT. After graduating with a degree in international business and a brief career as an IT data analyst, Andre Alan decided to follow his lifelong passion of creating fiction entertainment. With a small amount of artistic talent, some of his first memories are of drawing. After a brief stint at poetry and comics, the timing seemed ripe to pursue fantasy novel writing. An avid video gamer, when there is time and an addict for cup noodles. Andre is a sports fanatic and a lifelong student of business.