Review: Shattered Dreams by Ellie James

Okay, I guess I should let the world know one fact about me first...I have a huge thing for bad boys. Now, for fact number two, my love of bad boys is eclipsed only by my soft spot for the mysterious good guy who had no idea he is good. This story had both and I was in delicious heaven I tell!

The story was pure brilliant, the setting brilliant (made me text my sister and ask her to move to NOLA with me), Pitre (bad boy I am sure I wasn't supposed to puddle over) and Dylan (can I just say O my frakkin Gawd, right now) those 2 lovely boys made my heart all a flutter. Those were the good points that made me race to read this story at a break neck pace and read much too late into the night. Trinity, our heroine, was interesting enough and she had some awesome traits I like in my YA girl. Angst, the angst, I love the angst! She also had some inner turmoil going on that made her hop off the pages but boy was that chic so flip floppy, I was often annoyed and Chase is so bland and wishy washy I can't figure what anyone would see in him. I think it was because the story started at a good point but their connection was already established and they had already started falling for each other so I didn't get to nosey in on it.



This book left me anxious waiting for the next installment and praying for more Pitre and Yes, oh yes...more Dylan.

Review: The Catastrophic History of You And Me by Jess Rothenberg

Admittedly, I have been a very absent blogger.  I have been neglectful, but ever looking for a book to pull me from my book funk.  I had grown weary of Paranormal…so weary of the genre.  The gggggrowly alphas, the bumbling heroines, I even got sick of the YA variety.  But I was still hopeful.  That hope was rewarded.

My daily browsing of the Walmart book section paid off big this weekend.  I often buy books from there (it’s the only story we have in my city.) but rarely do I buy the book, rush home, crack it open and never stop until the end.  It has been a while that I fell in love so fast and so completely.

I guess it is time to tell you the title of the book that ‘woke me up inside.’  The Catastrophic History of You And Me by Jess Rothenberg.  The book is amazing, beautiful, funny, heart breaking (heehee) and romantic.

 Brie's life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart - literally. But now that she's in heaven, Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend knows a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost - and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul who's been D&G (dead and gone) much longer than she… and who just might hold the key to her forever after. With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on… but how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

The book is full of music references that just made the book completely fun to read.  I looked forward to see how the lyrical chapter titles tied into what was going to happen next.  Brie was very likable, relatable and understandable.  It was easy to be swept into her emotions and feel them like they were your own…because we all have felt this way before or easily can.  There was only one time that seemed a little off to me.  Brie was in the middle of her dark moment with Patrick and she realized see was acting insane and regretted it but then went further and KEPT DOING IT!  It felt like it was done to push the two into the next plot but really didn’t make a lot of sense with what she was thinking, her realizing what she was saying, the regret and wanting to take it back but then the next second say more stupid crap. It was the only real wtf moment and though it was enough to piss me off, it wasn’t enough to ruin the story.

Die For Me by Amy Plum

I stumbled across this book browsing emusic and decided to download a few sample chapters from Amazon. I can say I am hooked right away. I instantly told my book buddy about the book before I even reached chapter 3.

I downloaded the full version and the audio for when I can't sit and read. I find myself wishing I had more time to just devour this book. I also find myself wish I wrote this book! It is amazing!

The cover is breath-taking.  The hero, Vincent, is so damn wonderful.  Kate is one of the less annoying YA heroine but she has her moments or it wouldn't be YA.  Its like an unwritten rule, that YA girls must make you want to strangle her.  But so far I can't stop reading.

GET IT NOW! READ IT! You will thank me forever.



Synopsis

“In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.”

“When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Library semi-fail

So I hate to admit but my city's library is pretty lame. Selection-wise. They don't have any of the books that we bloggers are talking about. So once a month I feel it's my duty to send in my new release and sometimes not so new but insanely popular book request. Then for the next I watch the emails roll in. Saying they are getting such and such book I requested. They should really hire me or go to the list of book blogs I suppy them with when they order books for the library. It is so embarassing. And then the good books they have they get only 1 copy so the hold list is insanely long that I end up just ordering the thing. But that said, I did find some good books to check out.

I guess I should list them okay starting from the top.

Devoured by Amanda Marrone-Rising high school senior Megan has been haunted by her twin for ten years, but now Remy is trying to warn her about terrible danger surrounding Megan's summer job at an amusement park called the Land of Enchantment.

Angel Time by Anne Rice

A kiss before the Apocalypse & Dancing on the head of a pin : a Remy Chandler novel  by Tom Sniegoski

Storm Glass & Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

Once aWitch by Carolyn MacCullough-Born into a family of witches, seventeen-year-old Tamsin is raised believing that she alone lacks a magical "Talent," but when her beautiful and powerful sister is taken by an age-old rival of the family in an attempt to change the balance of power, Tamsin discovers her true destiny.

Time of the Witches by Anna Myers-Orphaned Drucilla finds a home with the beautiful but troubled Mistress Putnam as accusations of witchcraft start to swirl in Salem Village.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan-Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

Darkborn by Alison Sinclair

Not Pictured: Fade by Lisa McMann-Using her ability to tap into other people's dreams, eighteen-year-old Janie investigates an alleged sex ring at her high school that involves teachers using the date rape drug on students.

I also got Under the Dome by Stephen King The small town of Chester's Mill, Maine, is faced with a big dilemma when it is mysteriously sealed off by an invisible and completely impenetrable force field. With cars and airplanes exploding on contact, the force field has completely isolated the townspeople from the outside world. Now, Iraq war vet Dale Barbara and a group of the town's more sensible citizens must overcome the tyrannical rule of Big Jim Rennie, a politician bent on controlling everything within the Dome. On audio but my mommie snagged it for her commute to work.  She is the one who turned me on to King as well as Anne Rice.   Which see the new book by her in the picture.  Angel Time.

Ciao,
Casse

PEEN-atration please?

What do yall think of sex in YA books? How do you feel about it? I mean yes I supposed some teens are having sex (I want to go on record and say, I did not and I do not agree with minors having sex. It's complicated enough for adults and kids are not ready for the complications. Heck I'm still not. Yes I am old fashion and YES I'm good little Catholic girl who doesn't agree with pre-marital lovin that said moving on.) But that said, I am on the fence about sex in YA books. The house of night series by Cast squared (P.C and daughter Kristen) had a sex scene with minor-teacher no less and it kind of pulled me out the story. But should it be included? I remember thinking "oh, is this?- oh they are really?- They are really going to take it there. Woah!" Felt sorta like hebe-porn! I am not sure if as a teen would I have appreciated sexing invading my book. Teens are curious about it, so would it help them explore there sexuality without doing anything or would it make them want to try it? I am not sure. I would love to hear from yall. Leave a comment please.

Ciao,
Casse