First Impressions: The Syndicate

Summary: In a future where time travel has been outlawed, a black market exists for anyone with the money, connections, and nerve to request items from days past. As a Runner for one of the underground syndicates that now controls the timewaves, Stassi 2446-89 has seen it all: the fall of Rome, the rise of Hitler, the end of democracy, the establishment of time tourism, and the devastating consequences of it. Her job is to seamlessly slip through the past, in search of items of value to the syndicate's clientele.

Stassi's next assignment takes her to Paris in the 1920’s, in search of a lost manuscript by one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers. She and her partner, Gaige, are swept up in the City of Light during the height of fashion and culture—as alluring a locale as they’ve ever visited. But a seedier side of life lurks beneath the glamorous façade, and the pair quickly learns this run is more dangerous than any of their previous missions.

Because history isn’t playing out as it should be—a first for the syndicate. When the stakes are raised and it becomes a matter of life or death, Stassi and Gaige must ultimately decide how far they’re willing to go to ensure the future as they know it.

What I am Expecting: Honestly, I'm expecting a lot of action and suspense. Stassi seems (at least from the short description) to be fearless and adventures, but I hope she'll have qualities that make her relate-able or human. I'm not expecting the setting to be too futuristic, but I am expecting a lot of time jumps. I know Stassi and Gaige will be the main characters, but I would like a nice, solid set of supporting personalities. I feel like they help balance the story and plot, as well as, provide more dimensionality. I'd also like for Stassi and Gaige to have some time to develop a "relationship". I can't tell from the description, but I'm almost positive the two will get together. I just hope it's not instantly or unnatural. 

Girl of Myth and Legend: Before vs. After the Read

What I Excepted: With this novel, I am expecting a really cool setting. It maybe a little dark, a little mysterious, but not over the top. The plot will more than likely be similar to other books of this genre, but depending on the quality/style of the writer it might feel a little edgier? (I know, I'm just making this all up. Watch me be completely wrong. Story of my life.) Oh! and Korren, the protagonist's love interest will be ultra tempting, as well as, ultra angsty. One can only dream. 

What I got: The setting was, in fact, very cool. The story starts in the everyday world, then Leonie finds herself traveling to another realm(ish, thingy), and, finally, she arrives in this new dimension that happens to be very unique. The plot was actually was pretty creative, it had undertones of the cheesy storyline, but was mysterious and realistic to the characters, and I wouldn't describe it as "edgy". Finally, while Korren was very handsome, it wasn't the only thing Leonie ever talked about. She respected him as an individual, unlike the rest of her kind, and was curious about him and his past. Also, I wouldn't describe Korren as angsty. I feel like with everything that has happened to him and the way he's been treated he is definitely more guarded, angry, etc., but it's so much more than angst. He has a legitimate reason for acting like he does, and while he does change it isn't flawlessly or fast.  

Girl of Myth and Legend

Rating: 4 out of 5

Favorite Quote(s): I couldn't pick between these two so I'll put both...

"...you'd better stand back because mine is a fire that will consume anyone in my way, and when it does, I'll rip off that mask you hide behind, stare into those eyes of yours, and all I'll see is pure, naked, unfathomable fear looking back at me."

"I am sacred. I am a coward, and even so I will survive, because nothing can beat me. Break my bones, sorch my flesh, haze my mind, discourage me all you want, and I will survive. I have something stronger, something untouchable. I will survive. But I promise you, you won't make it off this mountain, I'll make sure of it."

Summary: Leonie Woodville wants to live an unremarkable life. She wants routine, she wants repetition, she wants predictability. So when she explodes in a blaze of light one morning on the way to her college, it’s enough to put a real crimp in her day.

And things only get weirder…

Leonie learns from her father that she is last of the Pulsar, a phenomenally powerful member of a magical species called the Chosen. It will be her sole duty to protect the Imperium, a governing hierarchy, from all enemies, and to exceed the reputation of the Pulsar before her. So – no pressure there, then.

Leonie is swept away from her rigorous normality and taken to a world of magic. There, she is forced into a ceremony to join her soul to a guardian, Korren, who is both incredibly handsome and intensely troubled, a relationship for which ‘it’s complicated’ just really doesn’t cut it.

But Leonie is soon to learn that this ancient world is no paradise. With violent dissidents intent to overthrow the Imperium, and dark entities with their own agenda, she and Korren find themselves caught in a war where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to survive.

Review: I really enjoyed this novel!! The beginning was slow, but once the book picked up, I couldn't put it down. (My iPad had to die before I could stop.) 

The world Simlett creates is flawless, not in the sense that it doesn't have faults or darkness, but in the way she's able to depict it so well with so little words. She also beautifully balances the dialogue and the action in all of her scenes. 

The story is told mostly from the point-of-view of Leonie, but there are a few flashbacks and short chapters from the point-of-view of Korren. I found these to be essential to the reader. They help us better understand Korren, a creature with a complicated past and an even more complicated mind.

One of the best things about this book, however, was the intense mystery. You honestly didn't know who to trust. There was not a set "good" or "bad". The plot was compelling and complex which could mean endless possibilities in the future. 

Becoming Alpha

Rating: 2.8 out of 5

Favorite Quote: "All I know is that everyone deserves a second chance. Maybe that's really human of me. Maybe that's not how things work here. But I really hope it is."

Summary: One stupid party. One stupid boy. One stupid kiss. And my life was virtually over.

Tessa McCaide has a unique talent for getting into trouble. Then again, it isn’t easy for a girl with visions to ignore what she sees. Luckily Tessa and her family are leaving California and moving halfway across the country, giving her the perfect opportunity to leave her reputation as “Freaky Tessa” behind.

But Tessa doesn’t realize that kissing the wrong guy in her new Texas town could land her in far more trouble than she ever imagined. Like being forced to attend St. Ailbe’s Academy, a secret boarding school for werewolves.

Even if the wrong guy did accidentally turn her into one of “them” and doom her to attending the weirdest high school ever, Tessa can’t help her growing attraction to the mysterious Dastien Laurent.

When vampires attack St. Alibe’s and her visions pinpoint an enemy in their midst, Tessa realizes that boy drama and her newfound canine tendencies might just be the least of her problems.

Review: Tessa is your not-so-average teenager. Sure, her life is as boring as the next girl..wait...It isn't. Tessa has "gift". She, potentially, sees things when she touches people or items. One night, at her father's going away party, Tessa sees a boy in one of her "visions". He is very good looking and seems to be able to detect her presence. After arriving to the new town she'll call home, Tessa has a run in with the mystery boy. Turns out (SHOCKER!) he is real and even hotter in person. A few awkward encounters later, she finds herself becoming a werewolf.

I really liked the beginning of the story. Tessa's power was original, at least the way the author wrote it, and the scenes were well put together. Sadly, this didn't last through the rest of the novel. Tessa's power seemed to fade into the background, almost as if the author had forgotten about it. When it was mentioned, or played a part in the plot, it was lackluster.

Then there was Dastien, the romantic interest. Dastien's personality was kind of all over the place. In the beginning, he was this attractive, nice, semi-geeky kid that loved obscure musical groups then he was a douche, and then he was a domineering alpha male. I'm not saying that, with the right writing, these qualities couldn't come together to form a solid character. They definitely could, but the author just wasn't able to make it work. The same thing goes for Tessa. In the beginning, she's portrayed as this shy, scared girl, but through the rest of the novel, she's sassy and aggressive. 

Simply, the first quarter of the book doesn't go with the rest. It feels as if you're reading a completely different story. That being said, it's still FREE. Check out Amazon!

First Impressions: Girl of Myth and Legend

What I'm Expecting: With this novel, I am expecting a really cool setting. It maybe a little dark, a little mysterious, but not over the top. The plot will more than likely be similar to other books of this genre, but depending on the quality/style of the writer it might feel a little edgier? (I know, I'm just making this all up. Watch me be completely wrong. Story of my life.) Oh! and Korren, the protagonist's love interest will be ultra tempting, as well as, ultra angsty. One can only dream. 

Shadows

Rating: 4 out of 5

Favorite Quote: “I know exactly who I am. It’s everyone else who seems to be having a problem.”

Summary:  It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series.

Review: I started reading this series because I craved a book that involved angels/demons.  I don't know what it is about these type of story-lines, but they always seem to pull me in. I was a little nervous because the cover seemed a bit off. (I know. I know. We aren't suppose to "judge a book by its cover", but we all do it anyway.) It wasn't that the cover was necessarily ugly or bad, it just didn't seem to fit with the summary.

Don't worry, I sucked it up, and after reading a few chapters, I was like "Okay. Yes. Yes. I'm getting into it." The author does a great job of setting up the main character and establishing the mundane world before introducing the angelic world. Most books have a few chapters or a chapter where the protagonist is living out their everyday, normal life, but unlike other novels, I didn't feel rushed. I got to know Gaby, understand how she sees the world, and create my own opinion about her.

I especially  appreciated the way Gaby's special "amnesia" played into the plot. Although,  Gaby was learning and exploring this new world with us, she had a history with many of the characters.  This allowed for a greater build-up of suspense, and allowed for an overall more satisfying story.

Last. but not least, the characters. If you have read any of my past reviews, you have noticed the emphasis I put on the importance of solid literary personalities. Gaby was easily relateable without being  too unrealistically good.  As much as I liked her, Raffe was my favorite character in this novel.  I thoroughly enjoyed his complexity. At first, he seemed to be nothing more than stereotypical bad guy turned good, or bad boy with a heart of gold, but after finishing the novel, I see that giving him such a vapid label would be a cruel injustice.

Chapter One - Continued

...Here’s the thing, when I died I didn’t see a great light, my favorite memories flash before my eyes, or anything earth-shatteringly cliche like that. What I saw, well, I don’t really remember. Truth be told, the whole thing is a little fuzzy. I get bits and pieces, but most of what I know about the whole ordeal comes from what my family has told me. Simply, one day my heart just stopped beating. I was in English class, like any other Tuesday. I felt the corners of my mouth turn up as I admired Mrs. Merlyn's one yellow wall. Though it was littered with tons of inspirational quotes, photos of famous authors, and pages of books you could still see the sunny, lemon paint underneath. It was like the color refused to be drowned out by all the chaos, and instead built upon it. A perfect metaphor for a happy existence--appreciating the imperfections, letting them be a strength rather than a weakness. Maybe I was crazy for thinking a wall could mean so much, I preferred to believe I was a keen observer that saw what others didn’t take the time to see. Brought back to the present by the deep voice of the audiobook Mrs. Merlyn played as she graded the test she had forgotten to look over this past weekend, I heard the not-so-soft voice of Olivia Dunham behind me, telling her friend Margaret about her “puke-worthy” first date with some guy she had met at a club a week prior. I rolled my eyes. Girls. Why were they all so dramatic? Then nothing. Apparently, this was the point in time my lifeless body fell out of the sad wooden excuse for a desk and onto the dirty classroom floor. I think that’s called irony. Anyway, after waking up from that traumatizing experience in the E.R., I found myself in a hospital room. It was standard as far as hospital rooms go. There was a bed, a old, crappy tv, an uncomfortable-looking chair, two doors, and bland, beige walls. At first, I was thoroughly confused. Was that nightmare not a nightmare at all? Why was I in the hospital? What the hell happened? Where was the bathroom because I really needed to pee? Before I had the chance to get my mind together, one of the doors opened, and an ebony face popped out from the other side.

“Well, look who is awake, the walking dead,” said a rich voice tinted with a bit of laughter.

“Hi,” I tried to say, but it sounded a bit weak, which worried me.

He stepped into the tiny space, and I got a better look at him. Dressed in scrubs, he had a shaved head, high cheekbones, and deep chocolate brown eyes that seemed to know things I’d never understand. His pearly-whites were on full display, offering warmth and cheer at an otherwise frightening time.

“Don’t talk too much. You are still recovering. Nice to meet you though, I’m Darren,” he grabbed the clipboard at the end of my bed, “I’ll be your nurse until eight. If you need me, click that button to your left. I’ll take your vitals, answer any questions you may have, and unless you need me, you won’t see me for another half-hour.”

I nodded my head.

Darren did his thing, fast and efficient, but gently as though not to hurt my fragile state. I asked him what had happened to me, and he explained it calmy.

“I can’t tell you much. All that I know is that when the ambulance arrived, they thought you were dead. They couldn’t find your pulse. They tried reviving your heart, and it seemed to work, but your heartbeat was still weak. Dr. Karver’s the specialist. He told your parents that he didn’t know what was wrong, but that something needed to be fixed. That kind of stuff doesn’t just happen, you know. Anyway, they ran a few tests. Apparently you had coronary artery abnormalities. They took you into surgery and fixed you right up. A damn miracle if you ask me,” he down looked at me and smiled again, “Excuse my french.”

I gave him two thumbs up and a smirk. He then took off his gloves and patted my head. When his hand made contact with my hair everything turned to black.

First & Then

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Favorite Quote: "Close your eyes, real tight, and then count to three hundred. That's all you have to do. You just count to three hundred, and when you open your eyes, five  minutes will have passed. And even if it hurts or things are shitty or you don't know what to do, you just made it through five whole minutes. And when it feels like you can't go on, you just close your eyes and do it again. That's all you need. Just five minutes at a time."

Summary: Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive jock, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them--first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

With wit, heart, and humor to spare, First & Then is a contemporary novel about falling in love--with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Background Noise: I find that I listen to music a lot when I read, and I feel it can greatly enhance the reading experience. For this particular novel, I found myself listening to the Acoustic Spring playlist on Spotify. Check it out!

Review: I honestly don't know where to start. When I picked up this book, I expected it to be another cutesy love story that made me smile, but didn't stick with me for long. I expected it to get me through a few mindless hours and offer a bit of entertainment. What I didn't expect was how much I enjoyed this book; I simply devoured it. The writing was absolutely fabulous, almost poetic, and the characters were pleasantly dynamic. It has been a while since I have read a story where I have found myself captivated by even the simplest of appearances from characters/personalities that barely rank as minor. Mills has a gift for creating realistic, multi-dimensional beings. Devon, the protagonist, is commendable but not perfect. The author doesn't try to portray her as the epitome of good or beauty, but as someone who has flaws, knows them, and accepts them. Devon also has a life of her own; her mind doesn't just revolve around her love life, and she evolves not through her relationships with her romantic interest, but with her relationship with her cousin, Foster. I guess it has just been awhile since I have read a novel where the main focus was not on a protagonist's romantic woes. (Don't get me wrong, I love those books, but it nice to have a change of pace every once in awhile.) Foster, was an equally fascinating character. In the beginning, I thought he be nothing, but the sad, peculiar kid that needed a little kindness and understanding; however, as the book progressed, you see how strong he really is. As for the rest, I can not really put it in to words. I guess you will just have to read it and find out. 

(By the way, hope you had a great Easter!)

A Little Update

I'm currently working on a schedule for posting. I've been complete crap, but I have made the decision to commit to this amazing activity because it brings me immense joy. To hold you over until I have everything sorted out, I'm leaving you with a snippet of something I wrote recently. If you guys like it, I might consider writing more. Have a great day or night!

Chapter One

My body is completely frozen, and I feel as though each of my limbs have been superglued to the surface below. I hear voices and strange noises all around me. Metal clangs together softly, momentarily drowning out the constant, ominous beeping of what I can only guess is some kind of machine. I want to open my eyes, but I can’t. My eyelids refuse to budge.“Dr. Karver, her parents have just arrived.” My parents? What are they doing here? What am I doing here? Where is here? Horrible thoughts and questions flood my mind; I can feel my heart beating so fast...too fast. Then, there was nothing.

------------------------------------

My name is Eloise Garner. Before you ask, there really is nothing very special about me. I’m smart, but not enough for it to really mean much. I love to read and I even write a little, but that’s not very original. As if my fate wasn’t already sealed, I’ve been blessed with middle child status. Bernard, my older brother, splits his time between “developing computer software” and taking too many mixed martial art classes. Bertie’s that weird breed of human that has the ability to humiliate someone using their fists or their intellect. Don’t get me wrong, in high school, he was a total nerd whose only friends were those that appeared on the screen of his favorite role-playing games. Then he met Riven, a guy who thinks all that it takes to be “cool” is to have a stupid name and some bad manners, at Walmart while picking up some tortilla chips for nacho night. The two of them have been inseparable ever since. Sarah, my younger sister, is the epitome of everything sunny, cheerful, and good. She volunteers at the local retirement center three times a week, is an active member of every stupid club, and is the worship leader of our small youth group. I kid you not, words flow out of her mouth like silk. There isn’t a person in town that doesn’t think Sarah is the kindest, holiest thing to ever touch earth. Now me, I’m the sarcastic introvert that spends her free time tucked beneath a blanket, a book in hand. Of course that’s not all that I do, I also watch tv, and sometimes I might hang out with a few of my friends. Overall, my life is a ball of fun, and at this point, you’re probably wondering why you are even still reading this? You remember that little paragraph from before? It was the one that described some dark, terrifying scene. Yeah, that one. That wasn’t just some story meant to trick you into turning the page. That happened to be the day I died.

Slammed

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Favorite Quote: (It is really the letter at the end, but that gives too much away. Don't worry though this quote is extra long and equally as good.)

"Sometimes life gets in your way. it gets all up in your damn way. But it doesn't get all up in your damn way because it wants you to just give up and let it take control. Life doesn't get all up in your damn way because it just wants you to hand it all over and be carried along. Life wants you to fight it. Learn how to make it your own. It wants you to grab and ax and hack through the wood. It wants you to get a sledgehammer and break through concrete. It wants you to grab a torch and burn through the metal and steel until you can reach through and grab it. Life wants you to grab all the organized, the alphabetized, the chronological, the sequenced. It wants you to mix it all together, stir it up, blend it."

Summary: Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

Review: This book gave me some serious feels.  I mean, throughout the whole book my feelings resembled a rollercoaster. The plot is so full of twists and turns that enhance the reading experience, but it also makes it very difficult to write a review without spoilers. For this reason I am just going to do an overview of some of my favorite characters:

Lakeyn: Lakeyn is a magnificent protagonist. In the beginning, she lives in this pit of immaturity and hatred, but by the end of the book she turns into a strong woman.

 Will: Ugh…and Will. Will starts out being the simple boy-next-door; however, as the story progresses we learn how truly multidimensional he is.

Lakeyn’s Mom: I was extremely skeptical of Lakeyn’s mom in the beginning of the book. To be honest, I got the feeling their relationship would take a dark turn towards the end, but I was totally surprised! Lakeyn’s Mom instead inspires Lakeyn to take a hard look at her life and decide what matters. She also gives some insightful and powerful views on “life”.

Eddie: I absolutely loved Eddie. She is the epitome of the perfect best friend. She is extremely loyal, honest, deep, and just plain amazing. (Very descriptive right?)  Despite her outward appearance, she is a very kind and gentle. She also supplies Lakeyn with much needed support, as well as, a new perspective.

Read it! You won't be disappointed!

White Hot Kiss

Rating: 5! out of 5

Favorite Quote: “People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. No one is perfect, no matter what they are or what side they fight for.” 

Summary: One kiss could be the last.  Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Review: I'm not going to lie. I decided to read this book after seeing Erika and Cody's book event. The stuff they were saying about the story line and the characters really got me excited! So make sure to check them out at Books, Stars, Writing and Everything In Between and Literary-ly Obsessed. Okay, continuing on...I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. Recently, I have been in a reading slump, due to all the exhaustion summer classes has brought me, but this book has definitely reignited my flame. (Which sounds oddly disturbing, but let's just move past that...)

 Any way, the book is centered around a girl named Layla. Layla is a "hybrid" sort of thing. (I don't think they really have a name for what she is in the book.) Any way, She is half demon, half gargoyle. (I know you're thinking "Gargoyle?" but let me assure you that Armentrout does a fantastic job at making the gargoyles fit into to the story without making them seem too unrealistic.)  Gargoyles and demons are sworn enemies. Gargoyles are the warriors of  "good" and demons are the epitome of "evil." For this reason, Layla has never truly been accepted any where. Sure, she lives with the wardens (a.k.a. Gargoyles) and even has a close knit relationship with of few of them (Zayne, her childhood friend and crush! *winky face*) , but it seems as if they will never be able to get past her differences. One night, after an outing out with a few of her human friends, she runs into a little situation. (And by a little I mean life-changing.) All of a sudden, she finds herself befriending a (ridiculously hot) demon, and exploring the side of herself she has always been taught to hide.

Ugh! This book was packed with adventure, butt kicking, and steamy romantic connections. However, besides the obvious appeals (*cough* HOT DUDES) this story really pushes the idea that good and evil is beyond what lies on the surface level--which I really appreciated. As Layla moves through the story and her character (along those of others) develops, the reader gets to see Layla embrace more of who she is.

Finally, I'm team Roth all the way! I mean, I get the appeal of Zanye, but I don't think he will ever be able to completely understand Layla the way Roth does. UGH!

Book Combo Tag

First of all, I would like to thank Confessions of a Book Addict for nominating me! (Sorry it took me so long!)

I tag:

Erika from Books, Stars, Writing. And Everything In Between

Tasya from The Literary Huntress

Mia from Mia in Narnia

1. Which two authors would you like to see put their writing skills together and write a new book?

Sarah J. Mass and Sarah Dessen. Mass has really great action scenes and the ability to produce strong characters, but Dessen is able to create such beautiful romances and realistic relationships. I feel like together they would make THE ultimate action-packed romance.

2. What’s your favorite author collaboration?

I don't know if this really counts as a "collaboration," but I have always loved the House of Night novels. (For those of you who don't know, that series is written by a mother-daughter duo. AND you should totally check them out!)

3. If you could combine two completely different stories and make them a book of their own what would it be and what would their combined title be?

This one is hard....Let me consult my kindle for a moment..(twenty minutes later) Angelfall by Susan Ee and Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. They both have this really cool dystopian future thing going on, and I feel like you could make it into a really awesome story. For instance, angels are taking over earth and so the government is building "pretties" (specially engineered soldiers) to fight the war. (A title...I want it to be more than just a mash up of the names...) The Invasion.

4. Which two characters from different books would you ship?

This is another hard one...Gale from the Hunger Games and Dee from the Lux Series. Gale is a good guy, but he has been through a lot. Dee is super sweet and would be able to mend his broken heart, but she is still stubborn enough put up a good fight.

5. Which two worlds from two different stories would you like to see come together to make one  epic world?

I think it would be cool to throw together Evermore and The 5th Wave. The Evermore world is filled with illusions and other dimensions, and The 5th Wave has an apocalyptic feel. 

6. Which duology/ trilogy/ series would you have liked to have been one book?

None. Yep. I honestly, haven't read a dulogy/trilogy/series where I would want less books. Call me a nerd, but that's just who I am.

Psychic Eye

Rating: 2.8 out of 5

Favorite Quote: “You’ve missed a lot of things. But mostly I think you’ve missed several opportunities to leave. Let me assist you to the door so that you won’t miss this next one.”

Summary: In Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit, thirty-something Abby Cooper lives a life that's kind of like vanilla ice cream - good enough, but a little bland. Her work as a P.I. - Psychic Intuitive - can be rewarding, but she feels like somehow she's missing out on the hot-fudge topping...Now she's getting what she wished for - when a client winds up dead and the clues start pointing in Abby's direction. Turns out she knows too many details about the murder for her own good. To make matters worse, the hot blind date she just met is the lead investigator on the case. And gorgeous Detective Dutch Rivers is convinced she's a fraud. No matter how great her psychic abilities, Abby doesn't know if she can solve this case. Unfortunately for her, though, the killer thinks she can....

Review: This books was a fun and easy read. I went into it having low expectations, but I really enjoyed it. It had lots of good puns that had me laughing a little too loudly.  Abby, the protagonist, is fun, sassy, and relateable. The whole psychic thing may throw you off at first thought, but the way the author portrays Abby's "unique" abilities is light and simple. Dutch, her love interest, is a cop and a skeptic, so it's entertaining to see that dynamic work itself out. However, as much as I liked the story, it was kind of predicable. Definitely, not life changing, but overall it was a decent book.

Laugh Out Loud

3 out of 5

Favorite Quote: "Nightgown? You think I sleep in a nightgown? What century is this?"

Summary: Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go. Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with— secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross. Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand—a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed. But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

Review: This book was fun, light, and easy to read, but it lacked that special something to really make it great. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I just wish that some of the characters' stories where more dimensional. (I mean, come on. Sonny had so much going for her...a father in jail, a crappy mom...) I love romance, but I would like a little more substance. (I get it. The dude is hot, but with everything else going on in her life you would think she would be worrying about him a little less...I really just wanted to shout: GIRL, YOUR HOMELESS! Get your priorities straight!) However, I did enjoy the Wesley and Bianca snippets. (The movies is COMPLETELY different from the book! If you haven't read it, you should! It was GREAT!) 

Flat-Out Love

Book Rating: 5 out of 5

Favorite Quote: (The struggle of finding a good quote that doesn't give away anything...ah!) "Flat Finn, this Julie. Julie, this is Flat Finn."

Summary: Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it. When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes. And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul. To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Review: I loved this book! Why? The suspense! The mystery! The characters! Julie, is a fun-loving girl who falls in love with a broken family and makes it her mission to pick up the pieces. (Seriously, it's so cute how much she cares.) Along the way, she confronts some of her own struggles that change not only her life, but the lives of these people she has come to know....polarplunge. She also grows quite close to a particular someone(s)....;) Finn, because of his adventure and charm. Matt, for his kindness and brain. The best part? I really had no idea what the big secret was...(the reveal at the end completely shocked me!) I mean I knew SOMETHING was up, but not that.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

Book Rating: 4 out of 5

Favorite Quote:
"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them."

Okay, so moment of truth....I don't know how to feel about this book. Honestly, the beginning is slow and I sort of knew the plot considering my brain has been poisoned by watching the movie, but even with that in mind, I found this book to be quite enjoyable. Seriously, if I was thirteen I would definitely have a thing for Harry. (I mean come on, he is nice, he has magic abilities....and my tween self had very low standards.) I also, really appreciate the fact that you get to learn about this new world through the point of view of someone as clueless as you. It deepens the connection between the reader and the main character. However, what really makes for a great story is a combination of  a strong protagonist and quirky minor characters (the main character's friends, family, and mentor) which this novel obviously has *cough* hermioneandronforever. The overall story was very unique, and I did laugh on more than one occasion. HOWEVER,  I did feel a little underwhelmed, but I think that was mainly because of how young Harry is. I feel that as he grows older and the series continues I will become more emotionally invested....maybe?! (What? I can't know for sure yet, GOSH!)

Group Read-Along

Okay, I know I'm new and pretty much talking to myself here, but I am looking to FINALLY start reading the Harry Potter series. I know what you all are thinking. (How can she call herself a book lover without reading one of the most famous series?) But I am committed to falling in love with this series, and I thought: Why not do it with others? So, if your interested in reading this series (again or for the first time) leave a comment below with either your e-mail address or goodreads name. I promise to get back to you!

Update 5/25/15: I found someone to being my reading buddy on this series and I'm SO EXCITED. Sadly, she had already read the first book, so I had to read that one alone. (I know, poor me.) Anyways, I have no idea how this "reading buddy" thing works, but if any one is interested comment below. (It does not have to be a Harry Potter book.) I would be truly honored to read with you!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Book Rating: 5 out of 5

First Book Review = SO EXCITED! 

So I was a little skeptical about this book at first because I loved the Throne of Glass series so much and I was afraid that this book would not be able to live up to my Sarah J. Maas standards.....but I was SO wrong! I absolutely loved this book. (I practically love every book, so you better get used to it.) It had everything I wanted and more: an action packed plot, a kick-butt heroine, and dreamy love interest. Honestly, I found the main character to be relatable in a way that completely draws you in. I would recommend this book to any of my friends.