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.

Forever and Mockingjay

Two different series...Two different books...Same feeling. 

They both left me clutching the first two books, sobbing "WHY?  Why did they do these to two perfectly good 1st and 2nd books?!"  Both final trilogy books made me feel stabby.  They were both well written books but left the series unsatisfying.  Mockingjay had too many dangling wonders...like well, Gale.  And although Maggie Stiefvater can say its not a cliffhanger...you can roll a duck in mud and call it a pig but if it don't squeal but quacks, the dirty thing is still a duck. 



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.

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes (Review)

Can't Wait Wednesday: Past Destinies by Constance Ruth Clark

PAST DESTINIES by CONSTANCE RUTH CLARK
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2011

One spurned lover, one pissed off horse and one goddess bent on happy endings.

Elizabeth isn’t interested in anything male unless he is her stallion, Black. Unfortunately men don’t feel the same about her and she has so much unwanted male attention she disguises herself as a man to escape it. One man sees right through her disguise and surprises her with a toe-curling kiss to prove it. Surely he is just like all the others……isn’t he?

Doug isn’t sure why he woke up in 1868 but one thing he can’t deny is the attraction he feels for the spirited blonde he rescued. Until he knows for sure if he’ll return to the future one thing is certain – he needs to keep her out of his thoughts ….. and his bed.

WARNING: Sappy sweet happy ending.



Synopsis from author's blog where you can read an excerpt.  Connie's Blog

Must Reads: Peachville High Demons series by Sarra Cannon

I love indie books.  I have to admit it because I like non-traditional stories.  Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy big publishers too but indie books are far less molded.  Books all have a formula and rules even indie books but much less so.  One gem amongst the indie jungle is a series I devoured in one weekend and I'm on the edge of life waiting for the next in the series.  And what is a YA book without a YA boy who isn't YA only looks like one.  Demons has one too and boy is he swoontastic enough to make any avid YA reader or writer proud...Jackson Hunt!!!!  Nuff said, read this series and you'll get it.

Harper Madison isn't like other girls. She has extraordinary powers, but her inability to control them has gotten her kicked from so many foster homes she's lost count. Shadowford Home is her last chance, and she hopes Peachville High will be the fresh start she needs. But when evidence ties her to the gruesome murder of a Demons cheerleader, Harper discovers this small town has a big secret.

Becoming a Demons cheerleader was the last thing Harper Madison expected when she moved to the small town of Peachville. Now that she's an official member of the squad, her training can begin. Only, this is no normal group of cheerleaders. Harper isn't there to learn dances and cheers. She became a cheerleader in order to finally learn how to control the magic inside.

The Peachville Demons cheerleading squad is really a training ground for a powerful coven of witches called the Order of Shadows. The training opens up a new world for Harper. It's a world of beauty and magic beyond her wildest dreams, but also a world of pressure and impossible expectations.



A world where every secret hides an even darker secret.

Bitter Demons - Book 3 of the Peachville High Demons series.

So far, life in Peachville has been tough for Harper Madison. She's survived attacks on her life, learned how to control her magic, and met the most gorgeous boy - who also happens to be a demon. After her latest stunt at Brighton Hospital, the Order of Shadows is determined to tighten their control on her life. So when a future Prima from a nearby demon gate comes to town, she and Harper decide to use magic to switch places at a party. All Harper wants is to have a little fun.  But the night will end in blood.
                                     And Harper will find out the attack was meant for her...

The first two book synopsis is taken from the author's site Sarra Cannon where you can go and read an excerpt.  Bitter Demon synopsis is taken from Smashwords.com were all 3 books are sold.

 

The author is on Twitter Sarra's Twitter and a Tumblr Sarra's Blog