One Fateful Night (One Fateful Night, #1)
by Wendi Farquharson Finn
Paperback, 430 pages
Published January 17th 2012 by CreateSpace (first published January 1st 2012)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Description:
What if you wake up hung-over the following morning, not dead, but realizing that you had killed somebody? Even worse, what if you wake up in the morning realizing you destroyed the things you loved most in your life? When she regained consciousness in the hospital scared and alone, Kate realized the nightmare was a reality… her parents were dead… her soul-mate was in prison… her life would never be the same.
Through the eyes of many, Troy Trindle had it all… he was good-looking, popular, captain of the football team and dating the head cheerleader. What he lacked were the basic necessities; food, shelter and a family.
Kate and Troy’s worlds collide when she moves to Alabama to resume training for a spot on the Olympic Gymnastics Team
Review:
**The novel was given to me by the author herself through the Goodreads ‘First Reads’ program…**
It’s not everyday that one reads a book of gymnastics and football. A book, that intrigues from the start.
Wendi Finn’s debut novel, One Fateful Night, explores the life of Kate Kennedy, a teenager going through high school and a rising hopeful for the Olympics, when a tragedy changes everything. Throughout the novel, Kate attempts to live through the tragic incident, which causes her to lose her family and her best friend. Kate starts a new life in Alabama, and through new friendships and their support, she is able to survive the horrors of the accident.
Positive aspects of this novel:
-The characters:
I loved how compelling the main characters were, and it just made me want to read more about them. I found myself thinking about the characters from the day I started reading the novel. From the beginning of the novel ‘til the end, I loved the progression of Kate and Troy’s(the main characters) relationship. Their relationship was soooo perfect; how a couple should be; loving, always caring, and worrying for each other.
-The beginning/progression of the novel:
I loved the beginning of the novel, getting to know the characters, especially Kate and all she’s been through. Her relation ship with Troy; how loving and caring he is!! Learning about gymnastics (OMG! It sounds sooo difficult, and painful, i.e, when Kate acquire a injury, which lead to a fever) and football. Kate’s one lucky girl; having the whole Grand Bay High football team care about her!!!!
Negative aspects of this novel:
-The only real issue:
Needs minor editing, but just words, (ie, on pg 80 [near the bottom of the page] >> hear instead of here, and pg 311 [near the top of the page]>> ‘He pushes me when I need pushed (need to be pushed) and he catches me when I fall”)
Some scenarios where hard to believe: like the fact that that adults in the novel would be okay with the living situation (Kate and Troy), the social worker, “Wanda” was mentioned a few times and never officially made an appearance
-The plot: which I loved, but some parts, like A cute little gymnast has a bunch of football players fawning over her after the tragedy, the fact that they have to constantly prove that they are really her friends and they won’t bail on her like her friends in Georgia.
******
Overall, this book was very entertaining. From the start the reader is captivated wanting to continue reading, but their hopes are let down, where the way the story ends. After reading I immediately wanted more. Finally, having won this novel through the Goodreads ‘First Reads’, it ended up being a good read. I also plan on reading it again.
I highly recommend it!
I took a look at the author’s blog, and found out that there’s going to be a sequel [OMG OMG!! I’m soooo excited!! Can’t wait!! >> (A Leap of Faith)]!! I really want to find out what happens when Kate has to choose between Troy and Colton in Alabama.
-Ana @SoManyBooksSoLittleTime
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Tags: Alabama, Amazon.com, Arts, CreateSpace, Fiction, Goodreads, Kate, Novel, Olympic Games, Olympics, Online Writing, Protagonist, Robert Farquharson
Waiting on Wednesday
This is a weekly event hosted by Crystal Walker, Ana Carter, Shannon Medeiros, Cassandra Livingston, Chennel Lee, and Sophia Carter that spotlites upcoming new releases that we’re highly anticipating.
This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:
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Tags: Bone, Days of Blood, Entertainment Weekly, Goodreads, Karou, Laini Taylor, New York Times, Starlight
Waiting on Wednesday
This is a weekly event hosted by Crystal Walker, Ana Carter, Shannon Medeiros, Cassandra Livingston, Chennel Lee, and Sophia Carter that spotlites upcoming new releases that we’re highly anticipating.
This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:
The Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods, #7) by Melissa de la Cruz
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Tags: Bloods, Blue Blood, Crime, Gates of Paradise, Goodreads, Hellhounds, Los Angeles, Melissa, Melissa de la Cruz, New York, Van Alen Legacy, Will Bliss, Will Schuyler
Tags: Art, Cassandra Clare, Cassandra Livingston, E-book, Education, Goodreads, Holly Black, Monday, Nicole Walker, Reading, Simon Holt
Hardcover, 1st Edition, 342 pages
Published September 27th 2011 by Hyperion
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Description:
After their beautiful yet brief bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force are forced to separate. To fulfill
the Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler travels to Alexandria to search for
Catherine of Siena and the Gate of Promise. But Schuyler quickly discovers that everything she believed about the Gate to be wrong. Meanwhile, Jack makes the difficult decision to return to
New Yorkto face his twin and former bondmate, Mimi. But instead of a bitter reunion, he is faced with a choice for which there is no good option.Mimi, with a most unexpected travel companion in
Oliver Hazard-Perry, jets off to Egypt, too, to search for
Kingsley Martin, her long lost love. With all roads leading to
Hell, Mimi learns that not all love stories have happy endings. But she’ll have to put her own feelings aside if she’s going to save her crumbling Coven.
Packed with heartache, twists, and vampiric folklore, Lost in Time is sure to satisfy hungry fans’ cravings for more Blue Bloods adventure.
Review:
Whoa.
Just.. whoa.
So, Lost in Time takes after Jack-s and Schuyler’s bonding.
Now they’ve got to wake up and do what they planned to do all along, to stay true to their duty.
Meanwhile, Mimi decides she cares more about having her love back with her than taking revenge on her betraying twin.
So she sets off for Hell, accompanied by Oliver.
Like Bloody Valentine, we don’t have Bliss’s POV anymore. I wonder what she’s doing, how’s her mission doing. But anyway.
This book is all fighting and adventure, so there’s really not much to say.
I love when Jack gets all worked up when someone dares touch one of Schuyler’s hair haha. He’s so protective and cute.
But I have to say the most amazing scene of the book, sorry Schuyler, was Mimi’s and Kingsley’s.
Now, I’m not getting into the particulars, but for those of you who’ve read it..
You know, when she’s about to leave Hell with Oliver, and they end up in her bedroom? And you know the rest?
I was freaking out.
It was.. the best scene ever in the whole series in my opinion.
I just love Kingsley so, so much.Anyway, one thing I have to say: It’s not fair that Mimi’s so mad at Jack. I mean, it’s true that he left her, but if nothing had happened to Kingsley, SHE would have been the one leaving, so I guess they’re through. She can’t blame him only because the person he loves is still.. how can I say it? in this
realm, and hers is not.
Also, I liked the
Divina Commedia atmosphere that de la Cruz put in Hell.
It’s nice to find some good old literature even in paranormal YA. Even if sometimes it’s all screwed up, haha.
One thing wasn’t clear: when I was reading, there was this line: “But look at that hair, those eyes she’s the spitting image of Gabrielle,” the demon protested. – But wasn’t Gabrielle’s hair blond, while Schuyler’s blue-black like Charles? O.o #iwonder
Plus, the book says that it took them a week to finally try to rescue Deming from the demons. And yet, when SHE, Deming, is the center of the scene, she talks about being in the castle for a week. And the castle is in Hell, so time is different. How come it’s a week here and it’s a week there.
Though the ending (as always, Melissa de la Cruz has yet to fail me) was oh-oh.
I wonder how this all will go on.
I can’t wait for the next book.
If you count that at first I didn’t like this series so much, and that I thought the first book had disappointed me, you see how much I’ve changed my opinion.
This series is addicting, interesting, it gets better and better with each book.
I’m glad I didn’t put it down.
My favourite quote:
He was like a shooting star you tried to catch with your hands. She would only get burned.
Also, I liked: When there is nothing but sinful indulgence, sinful indulgence becomes a chore.
Funny quote:
They were standing on a hill, looking down upon a tall city. Tartarus. The capital of Hell. “How strange,” Oliver said. “It looks exactly like New York.” – haha
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Tags: Gabrielle, Kingsley Martin, Melissa de la Cruz, Mimi, New York, Oliver Hazard-Perry, Schuyler, Van Alen Legacy
In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Cassandra Livingston and Ana Carter. The purpose of this meme is to share the books we receive with our readers. These can be ARCs, books we purchased ourselves, books requested for review by authors and publishers, eBooks, free reads we stumbled upon and audiobooks. Posted randomly and sometimes twice a week.
Recently Purchased:
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Tags: Ana Carter, arcs, Book, Cassandra Livingston, Meme, Shopping
Kindle Edition, 291 pages
Published March 28th 2012 (first published January 1st 2012)
Rating:3/5 stars
Description:
In FOUND (Book #8 of the Vampire Journals), the final book of the
VAMPIRE JOURNALS, Caitlin and Caleb awake in
ancient Israel, in the year 33 A.D., and are amazed to find themselves in the time of
Christ.
Ancient Israel is a place of holy sites, of ancient synagogues, of lost relics. It is the most spiritually charged place in the universe—and in 33 A.D., the year of Christ’s crucifixion, it is the most spiritually charged time. In the heart of its capitol, Jerusalem, lies the Holy Temple of Solomon, inside of which sits the Holy of Holies and the Ark of God. And in these streets, Christ will take his final steps to be crucified.
Jerusalem teems with people of all religious backgrounds and faiths, under the watchful eye of Roman soldiers, and their Prefect, Pontius Pilate. The city also has a dark side, with its labyrinthian streets and maze of alleyways leading to hidden secrets and Pagan temples.
Caitlin now, finally, has all four keys, but still, she must find her father. Her search takes her to Nazareth, to Capernaum, to Jerusalem, following a mystical trail of secrets and clues in the footsteps of Christ. It also takes her to the ancient Mount of Olives, to Aiden and his coven, and to more powerful secrets and relics than she’s ever known. At every turn, her father is just a step away.
But time is of the essence: Sam, turned to the dark side, has landed back in this time, too, and as he unites with Rexius, leader of the evil coven, they race to beat Caitlin to the Shield. Rexius will stop at nothing to destroy Caitlin and Caleb, and with Sam on his side, and a new army behind him, the odds are in his favor.
Making matters worse, Scarlet arrives back in time alone, separated from her parents. She roams the streets of Jerusalem on her own, with Ruth, and as she begins to discover her own powers, she also finds herself in graver danger than she’s ever been. Especially when she discovers that she is holding a great secret, too.
Does Caitlin find her father? Does she find the ancient vampire shield? Does she reunite with her daughter? Does her own brother try to kill her? And will her love with Caleb survive this final trip back in time?
FOUND is Book #8 in the Vampire Journals (following TURNED, LOVED, BETRAYED, DESTINED, DESIRED, BETROTHED and VOWED), and yet it also stands alone as a self-contained novel. FOUND is 71,000 words.
Review:
I should have known better. The eighth and last book in this series was pretty much the same as the one before it only set in a different “time and place”. UGH if I see or hear the phrase “this time and this place” written or uttered anywhere one more time it’s possible I will pull out all of my hair. I was ready for the series to be over after the fifth book, and honestly I was not surprised but highly frustrated to find that it ended as every book had before it.
Caitalin found her father, Jesus… which at this point really made no difference to me. I think I came to a point in Desired (book 5) where I stopped caring who her father was. As the books continued I was just reading them to get to the end.
Sam went to the dark side at the end of Vowed (Book 7) and I didn’t care what happened to him after that. Maybe because I had a feeling it wasn’t really over, that some how it was going to be like every other time… but I didn’t care about the conflict between the new Evil Sam and the old Good Sam. I didn’t care about the pending crucifixion of Sam and Caitlin’s father or the betrayal of anyone.
At this point in the series I really only cared about one thing. How was Rice going to wrap this thing up? So many trips to the past – and there was even a line in the book which said “Caitlin felt as if she’d entered a time machine” Ya- don’t say…
*********CAUTION I’M GOING TO TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW IT ENDS************
As I wish someone had done for me
After that I skimmed the book, I didn’t want to waste my time reading it, but I still wanted to know how it ended. So I really read the last few pages. Her father (Jesus) is dieing in her arms (because the keys she’s been collecting unlock the restraints keeping him on the cross) as her mother presents herself (Mary Magdalene) and basically tells her to drink this liquid and you will cure the world of the vampire race. You will die but you get to pick the “TIME AND PLACE” where you live and you will get to choose the people you live with…”You have to live in a world in which vampires do not exist”. so she drinks from the cup (Holy Grail) and as she feels the life slipping from her she remembers all the people all the places…bla bla bla and her last thought is “I only wish that I see Caleb again.” PERIOD
THE END
Now if you want to follow the story further Rice places an excerpt of Resurrected (Book 1 of the Vampire Legacy)in which she tells you that Caitlin is grown, Caleb is grown, Polly is alive and well, Sam is too (oh and they’re together). Scarlet is turning 16 and their big Husky is called Ruth. Rice insinuates (from what I read) that Caitlin put herself back in high school with all of these people in modern day.
You can decide if you will follow the next series – I won’t.
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Tags: Christ, Israel, Jerusalem, Jesus, Mary Magdalene, mount olive, Pontius Pilate, Temple in Jerusalem
Waiting on Wednesday
This is a weekly event hosted by Crystal Walker, Ana Carter, Shannon Medeiros, Cassandra Livingston, Chennel Lee, and Sophia Carter that spotlites upcoming new releases that we’re highly anticipating.
This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:
Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
Pre-Order | Goodreads
Release Date: October 23rd, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Shuster Children’s Publishing
Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga.Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend’s ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn—but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can’t conquer?
What are you waiting on?
Link me up!!! 
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Tags: Becca Fitzpatrick, Goodreads, House of Night, Kristin Cast, Neferet, st martin's press, Zoey, Zoey Bartlet
“I read like a wolf eats.
I read myself to sleep every night.”
― Gary Paulsen
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In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Cassandra Livingston and Ana Carter. The purpose of this meme is to share the books we receive with our readers. These can be ARCs, books we purchased ourselves, books requested for review by authors and publishers, eBooks, free reads we stumbled upon and audiobooks. Posted randomly and sometimes twice a week.
Recently Purchased:
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Tags: books, Divergent, Divergent series, Insurgent, Kelley Armstrong, Spellbound, veronica, Veronica Roth
Veil of Pearls
Paperback, 312 pages
Published July 1st 2012 by Barbour Books
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Description:
She thought she could outrun her past…It is 1811, and the prosperous port city of Charleston is bustling with plantation owners, slaves and immigrants. Immigrants such as the raven-haired Adalia Winston. But Adalia has a secret: her light skin belies that she is part black and a runaway slave from Barbados. Skilled in herbal remedies, Adalia finds employment with a local doctor and settles into her quiet life, thankful for her freedom but still fearful that her owner will find her.Born into one of Charleston’s prominent families, Morgan Rutledge is handsome, bored—and enamored of the beautiful Adalia, who spurns his advances. Morgan’s persistence, however, finally wins, and Adalia is swept into the glamorous world of Charleston high society.
But Adalia’s new life comes at a high price—that of denying her heritage and her zeal for God. How far is she willing to go to win the heart of the man she loves? And when her secret is revealed, will that love be enough, or will the truth ruin Morgan and send Adalia back into slavery?
Review:
By land or by sea, MaryLu Tyndall never fails to deliver an exceptional love story full of romance, danger and adventure. Veil of Pearls has all this and more! This Cinderella story set in early nineteenth-century Charleston, South Carolina, whisks readers off to high society balls and horse races, brings them inside a southern plantation and sails them away on a merchant ship under attack.
As a fan of Ms. Tyndall, I love her settings, but it is her unique characters who give heart and soul to her stories, and I found Veils of Pearls’ brave heroine her most admirable of all. Adalia Winston has endured many hardships in her young life, the most horrifying being forced into slavery by a licentious, evil man. She manages to escape and find a new life in Charleston as an assistant to the local doctor. Yet she hides a dangerous secret among this prejudiced, southern community–her one-quarter Negro ancestry is undetectable in her light skin.
Adalia soon catches the eye of handsome aristocrat, Morgan Rutledge. Though born with every advantage, Morgan is enslaved in a different way. Trapped by the expectations of his position and wealth, second son to an overbearing, disapproving father, he escapes to the only place he feels a sense of belonging–the sea. Yet life as a mariner is as much of an impossible dream for Morgan as being accepted into Charleston society is for Adalia when Morgan brings her into his world.
How can these lovers from two vastly different worlds ever find a way to be together? Especially when there are those who conspire to tear them apart? And how long can Adalia hide her secret? The answers will keep you turning the pages. I agonized with Morgan and Adalia in their challenges and emotional struggles and sympathized with their fears. I loved their journeys of discovery in getting to know a loving God. Veil of Pearls is an engrossing, heart-wrenching and inspiring read. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
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Tags: adalia, ruin morgan, society balls
In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Cassandra Livingston and Ana Carter. The purpose of this meme is to share the books we receive with our readers. These can be ARCs, books we purchased ourselves, books requested for review by authors and publishers, eBooks, free reads we stumbled upon and audiobooks. Posted randomly and sometimes twice a week.
ARC:
I have recently received an ARC courtesy of Amber Lin!
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Tags: Amber Lin, arcs
Those of you, who are in our goodreads group please vote for our up-coming August read!!
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Vote for up-coming read here: BOM: October 2012 (must be apart of the group and a member of goodreads)
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Books we’re currently-reading:
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Tags: Arts, August 1 2012, Book, Book review, E-book, E-Books, Goodreads, little time, Otis Chandler, p c cast, Shopping
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Review:
Wow…I’m in love with this book. ( I hate having to wait for the next one to come out, I mean come on!)When my wife told me this book came out, I had to read it straight away. At first it made me think of how the series started and to look back I feel like I walked every step with the main characters Celeb and Caitlin.The 7th book packs a punch in the story line, then it comes with a sucker punch that you never see coming. It makes me really want to tell everyone what happens like It literally is bursting to come out.
With the last book I found a new way to read these books which makes it fun. On Every other chapter you get to read from another characters perspective, It was too confusing when it was , Caitlin, Celeb, Sam and Kyle. Now they are all together except for Kyle, I skipped those chapters so I’m totally in the dark just as Caitlin and the rest find out. It adds to the wow impact.
So come chapter 3#+ When action starts you get blown away by whatever evil plan they came up with.
If you want after you read the book like that go back and just read the Kyle’s chapters.
(this trick will only work for book 6 and 7. Book 8 it wont be possible to do this …because of the SUCKER PUNCH plot twist.
It’s great writing by the author.
The only thing that brings the book down, is the bad editing job. There are lots of little errors throughout the book still.
One rough example,
“Cailtin goes to the window to gather her thoughts after the most wonderful night she ever had. She felt Celeb behind her and her soft hands on her shoulders.”
IT should be She felt celeb behind her and HIS soft hands…
many times mid sentences it reoccupied of this type of mistake,it happens often that it can put you off track and make you have to re-read, what you’ve just read just to get the story straight. Otherwise They are doing a lot of strange things to their selves.
on E-book format there is little numbers that mixed in with the letters. I realized this is the page number that should be at the top. However when it does get mixed in it stops you reading key words at times. Stopping you from being able to understand and just have to guess it.
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Tags: Aiden, Caitlin, Caleb, Engagement, Goodreads, Holy Grail, Kyle, Kyle Broflovski, Polly, Sam, Scotland, Subspecies (film series)
NEW UPDATES:
Currently-Reading:
and more to come ….
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This is a weekly event hosted by Crystal Walker, Ana Carter, Shannon Medeiros, Cassandra Livingston, Chennel Lee, and Sophia Carter that spotlites upcoming new releases that we’re highly anticipating.
This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:
Hidden By P.C Cast + Kristin Cast
Pre-Order | Goodreads
Release Date: October 16th, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Neferet’s true nature has been revealed to the Vampyre High Council, so Zoey and the gang might finally get some help in defending themselves and their beloved school against a gathering evil that grows stronger every day. And they’ll need it, because Neferet’s not going down without a fight. Chaos reigns at the House of Night.
What are you waiting on?
Link me up!!!
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Tags: House of Night, Kalona Iowa, Kristin Cast, List of characters in the House of Night series, Martin, Neferet, st martin's press, Zoey
In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Cassandra Livingston and Ana Carter. The purpose of this meme is to share the books we receive with our readers. These can be ARCs, books we purchased ourselves, books requested for review by authors and publishers, eBooks, free reads we stumbled upon and audiobooks. Posted randomly and sometimes twice a week.
Recently Purchased:
Won:
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
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Tags: Arts, Book, books, E-book, Maria, Maria V. Snyder, Meme, Nancy Holder, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Shopping, spy glass, Susan Hubbard
Review:
Yeah Thanks to the wonderful Morgan Rice this was free e-book for her fans that are on her newsletter started reading it as soon as I got the email.
Caitlin and Caleb and Sam and Polly are taken back to London 1599. Caitlin and Caleb and the too cute Ruth are together at the Westminster Abby. It took a minute for Caitlin to remember got me scared for a minute that she would not remember Caleb after all they have been thru but after a couple of minutes her memory started coming back like a computer uploading data of course her trusty wolf Ruth is there to welcome Caitlin. Caitlin and Caleb are on a mission to find the 3rd key in quest to find her father and get the shield to save the
human race. Caitlin and Caleb are joint by those in her past her brother Sam and the funny and happy Polly and those from her last travel also join them in the quest to help Caitlin get the key. This is alway not easy for Caitlin as Kyle and Sergei are always causing trouble this time they are doing it in their own ways. Betrothed did have a wonderful unexpected turn with a smart cute little girl named Scarlet I believe it was a perfect timing to bring this little girl into the storyline. To make up to Caitlin for losing her child when she had to
time travel to save Caleb. However when things start to make sense to Caitlin and she is finally getting the family she wants. Kyle trouble maker he is starts to bear its ugly head effecting Scarlet and her fiancé (yes I said it!!) Caleb now does Caitlin continue her mission to get the key to save the human race or does she finally puts her family first and save Caleb and Scarlet? Does Sam and Polly get together? Those are questions that are answered. If you have been a fan of the Vampire journals you will want to get this book. Morgan Rice takes you back Shakespearean time were there is twist and turns and makes you needing to remember your history lesson because at my age I could not remember and was reminded of time were life was a bit more easier and simple. I was able to read this story in one day only because once I got started I couldn’t put it down and crying and laughing with Caitlin.
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Tags: Arts, Bubonic Plague, Caitlin, Caleb, Human, London, NOTS-EV-2 Caleb, Shakespeare
Kindle Edition
Published July 31st 2011
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Description:
In DESIRED (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover that she has once again traveled back in time. This time, she has landed in eighteenth century Paris, an age of great opulence, of kings and queens but also of revolution.
Reunited with her true love, Caleb, the two of them finally have the quiet, romantic time together that they never had. They spend idyllic time together in the city of Paris, visiting its most romantic sites, as their love grows ever deeper. Caitlin decides to give up the search for her father, so that she can savor this time and place, and spend her life with Caleb. Caleb takes her to his medieval castle, near the ocean, and Caitlin is happier than she ever dreamed.
But their idyllic time together is not destined to last forever, and events intercede that force the two of them apart. Caitlin once again finds herself united with Aiden and his coven, with Polly and with new friends, as she focuses again on her training, and on her mission. She is introduced to the lavish world of Versailles, and encounters outfits and opulence beyond what she ever dreamed. With never ending feasts and parties and concerts, Versailles is a world of its own. She is happily reunited with her bother Sam, who is also back in time, and having dreams of their father, too.
But all is not as well as it seems. Kyle has traveled back in time, too this time, with his evil sidekick, Sergei and he is more determined than ever to kill Caitlin. And Sam and Polly each fall ever deeper into toxic relationships, which just might threaten to destroy everything around them.
As Caitlin becomes a true and hardened warrior, she comes closer than ever to finding her father, and the mythical Shield. The climactic, action-packed ending, takes Caitlin through a whirlwind of Paris most important medieval locations, on a hunt for clues. But surviving this time will demand skills she never dreamed she had. And reuniting with Caleb will require her to make the hardest choices and sacrifices of her life.
Review:
I started reading the first book because it was free on my brand new kobo reader. I was excited and I very happy to see that I could download books for free. I should have known better, what you pay is what you get. I got the rest of the series, as the first book was obviously not finished, even though it ended… I hate not finishing books, but I’m struggling this time. The more I read, the harder I find it to go on.
Caitlin is simply put, a huge drama queen. She’s 18, yet she doesn’t act like one. Hell, she doesn’t act like a 15-year-old either, as another reviewer mentions. She seems more like a 13-year-old, just into puberty. Caleb on the other side is over 3000 years old. A parenthesis here, in the first book I thought Caleb was 3000 years old, then I thought he was 4000, and let’s not forget Kyle, I have no idea how old that vampire is… Now, coming back to Caitlin and Caleb, how is it possible that a vampire such as Caleb, with thousands of years of life experience, who can’t attach himself to people but only memories (or something like that), can be attracted to a superficial girl like Caitlin? Vampires do not get married, but if they do it is sort of permanent (something like the mating and imprinting in the
Twilight series…). How is it possible that Caleb has been married to Sera for only 10 years and has already fallen out of love with her. He loved her enough to marry her! Also, how can a father, who has lost his child so violently, think about his lover above all? Caitlin is supposed to have loved instantly Caleb’s child, how can she think that he’s running to his estranged wife when he gets a message that his son is alive? And how can a thousands year old vampire think that he can remove the child from his mother and have him live with his lover and be happily ever after? Oh, and I just remembered the weird
time travel. Caleb’s son died in 1791 somewhere in Italy. When Caleb and Caitlin return to 1789 in France, Caleb is already in that period, maybe in another part of Europe and he’s married to Sera and their son is alive. Jade (the son) is not 10 years old, but 8, we’ve gone back in time people!!! So how can Caleb think his son is not alive? Furthermore, where is Caleb of the year 1789, because this Caleb is of the year 1791, unless there’s another type of time travel… And I just remembered that Kyle mentions he’s anxious to return to
New York and be a part of the war… but I thought once you go back in time you can’t go back to the future, or present or whatever…
Another thing, the names, what kind of thousands of years old vampire has a name such as Kyle? Because 4000 years ago, when the civilizations on earth were the Greek, the Egyptian, the Chinese, the Viking, the names Kyle or Caleb or Robert or Samantha or Samuel were very common… Seriously? Oh and Kendra (not the playboy mansion girl) is a very French name, and especially used in the 18th century… At least Sergei is a Russian name.
And Mozart? In 1791 playing in
Venice? Mozart became quickly and violently ill in the autumn of 1791, and finally died on December 5th 1791. When did he go to Venice to play for the vampire ball?
If you’re “mad” like me and can’t stand to not finish a book, please do not start reading the series, otherwise, you’ll find for yourself how poorly written the books are, how there’s no character development at all, and so many mistakes, either typo (wrong names in wrong places “Caitlin and Caitling” when it should have been “Caitlin and Caleb”) or no editing, and you’ll eventually stop reading.
But don’t let my review, stop you from reading it, just because I didn’t particularly enjoy it doesn’t mean you wont
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Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, Caleb, NOTS-EV-2 Caleb, Paris, Seth Grahame-Smith, Twilight, Venice
“The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere.”
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh
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Tags: Gift from the Sea, quotes
Destined (The Vampire Journals #4)
by Morgan Rice
Paperback, 220 pages
Published May 26th 2011 by Morgan Rice (first published May 25th 2011)
0982953755 (ISBN13: 9780982953754)
RATING: 5/5 stars
Description:
In DESTINED (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. She finds herself in a cemetery, on the run from a mob of villagers, and seeks refuge in the ancient cloisters of Assisi, in the countryside of Umbria, Italy. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind.But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice.Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb.But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late.At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she?Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak.In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome‘s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves….DESTINED is Book #4 in the Vampire Journals (following TURNED, LOVED and BETRAYED), and yet it also stands alone as a self-contained novel. DESTINED is over 60,000 words.
Review:
This is less of a review and more of a plea to the author… Contains information about the 4 books currently released in the series. I do hope that the Morgan Rice reads this review.
I am not sure if you have an editor or are doing the editing yourself. If it is yourself the books are your vision and if we the reader can notice the discrepancies then it would be obvious to the Author. Also if you have an editor, fire them, they must be screwing with your work. If you don’t have an editor please have your work looked at by several trusted people to find the most obvious mistakes. Not only were there major timeline and storyline issue but simple word placement, misspellings, and wrong words throughout. These issues that have a simple fix truly ruin an amazing premise.
Storyline & Timeline issues:
Major issue is with Caleb/Sera’s marriage. Book #1 it is stated that the marriage was 800 years ago. Book #2 & #3 was listed at 600 years ago. By Book #4 they show up happily with their son Jade only 300 yrs ago in Venice. Since Sera could only conceive Jade while still human it makes it all the worse. Easiest fix is to change all the marriage times to 300 years earlier throughout the series.
Major issue #2: Polly. In Book #3 we are introduce to Polly, she tells us her story. Dropped off at Pollepel Island as a small child, raised by Aidan & the Pollepel coven. Named for said island & coven. Yet in Book #4 Caitlin stumbles upon her in an alley during an attempted rape and ultimately we are taken to Aidan’s coven which is now in Venice. Even though it is 1790 in this time it still does not account for Polly or the coven‘s whereabouts. It was stated the Pollepel Island was since the dawn of time as a sacred place to vampires that even the Native American would not enter the island. So 1790 or not does not account for the coven or Polly in Venice. Simple fix go back to book 3 change up the story by adding that this particular coven left to Venice for a time period after Polly was of age.
Problems with Book 1: Most readers had issue with the way Caitlin was in love with both Jonah & Caleb, especially in the end of the book . I realize that Caitlin is a teen, but she had lived a hard life without a father. Saw her mother go through endless romances to the detriment of her and her brother. So at 18 she would not be your typical boy crazy girl, more of a grown woman. Yet she displays the emotions towards boys as if she were a tween. She knew Jonah a matter of hours in total and was infatuated with him to the point of picking out curtains. Then she meets Caleb and forgets about the love of her life Jonah, within an hour she is upset that Caleb isn’t in love with her and may or may not love his wife. Come on, if he didn’t love his wife what kind of man is he? Not the type I would want. & my feelings wouldn’t be hurt by a Man of 3000 yrs of age that has a wife. 1 hour after she meets this man she professes undying love for him. & to my total disgust 2 pages later he admits his love for her as well. I wanted to stop reading right there, never to read anything you wrote again. & for a fact many readers did. You lost a lot of readers because of this. My fix for this REMOVE the I loved yous from this book. Have them start a friendship that obviously grows in book 2 as book 2 was written. It will be more realistic and honest.
Also, Caitlin’s mother is killed by Kyle in this book. Caitlin never mourns her loss and it’s barely mentioned again. Caitlin never tells her brother Sam of her death either. Fix, add a scene in book 2 where she tells Sam about the death. It will prove that Sam & Caitlin have a close relationship and it will allow us readers to feel that the characters are not one dimensional.
This book had the least of the misspellings and word placement.
Book 2: I will say that I loved the imagination that went into this book also the research of the history. With all of that work it was lessened by the mistakes. To spend that much time and not fix these simple things baffles me. Only one issue with the story, Caitlin’s constant internal dialog about Caleb. Remove half of it and the romance would seem possible and their night on the beach would be a surprise for readers. A lot of misplacement of words such as “Caitlin turned and smiled at Caitlin.” Caitlin has a clone several times throughout the rest of the series. Plus spell check changed several words in to others. Also where did Caleb’s issue with Caitlin’s humanity come from? She is already a half breed more vampire then human. Has to drink blood to survive and has killed during bloodlust. It is WAY too late for that worry! I will not say the name of the Author that was being channeled during that storyline blip.
Book 3: not much to say about that since it now felt right for Caitlin to love Caleb and I enjoyed the betrayed part, made it realistic, like they had to work to be able to say “I LOVE YOU” I enjoyed the new characters and the storyline. This is where the author shines. Editing was the disaster! Also the vampires on Pollepel Island with the exception of Aidan all act as teenagers. Where they may have been turned as teens some are thousands of years of age. they would not act as such or wish to be treated as such. I understand that they would not fit into other covens. That makes sense. They are NOT children so written that way is annoying. While Polly’s personality is childish, is should be her personality not her age that effects her behavior.
Book 4: Major issue: While Caitlin, Kyle, and Sam all travel back in time they remember who they are. Where-as Caitlin & Sam were never in 1790′s Venice, Kyle had been. This is my issue, Caleb also traveled back where he was in Venice living the life he lived in that time as if the next 300 years haven’t happened. But Kyle “on the other hand” (lol) just dropped in as his 2011 self. HUH? Also we are told that “vampires” can only travel backward in time, but Kyle says twice he can’t wait to kill Caitlin and return to 2011 New York City. HUH?
“ON THE OTHER HAND” & sometimes there wasn’t even another hand after. Was in this book countless times in Caitlin’s internal dialog. If this were a drinking game I would have had alcohol poisoning. Once it was twice in a paragraph. Editor needed!
Jade: His coffin is in the Cloister’s in New York. Sera prayed upon it before going to battle in the end of book 3, yet he is buried on the isle of dead at Aidan’s coven.
Caitlin was cloning herself a lot again, including Caleb changing to Caitlin in an entirely different scene. Also Sera was named Samantha 2 times during a battle near the end of the book. Some sentences had words that didn’t go in them, like madlibs.
This book the storyline and plot were thin. Too much visual description, which was a total change to the concise description of the earlier books. I found myself skimming, something I frown upon, especially in a short book.
With all this said, I love the series. I want the Author to fix this stuff and it would be amazing! The main plot is tight, the history research is concise. The series premise has a lot of promise. I want to know what happens next. A lot of readers do not have as much patience as I do and will give up on the story out of frustration with all that is amiss with it. Morgan Rice fix this not only for your readers but for yourself, let your true Vision shine. Thank You!
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Tags: Assisi, Caitlin, Covens, Pollepel Island, Rome, Umbria, United States, Venice
Well you didn’t have to wait that long….
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I know it’s a bit early to be thinking of what we’re going to read in October, but let’s compile a list of books, that could potentially be our October BOM.
October’s Reading List:
Let’s Start Collecting!
So Far We Have:
Anastasia Forever – Joy Preble
Angel Fire – LA Weatherly
Bloodlines – Richelle Mead
Bound To You - Christopher Pike
Caged In Darkness – JD Stroube
City of Fallen Angels – Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Angel – Cassandra Clare
Crusade -Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Cryptic Cravings – Ellen Schreiber
Cryer’s Cross – Lisa McMann
Dark Visions – L.J Smith
Dracula – Bram Stoker
Entangled – Cat Clarke
Everlasting – Alyson Noel
Fearscape – Simon Holt
Gad’s Hall by Norah Lofts
The Gathering – Kelly Armstrong
The Haunted – Jessica Verday
Hush, Hush – Becca Fitzpatrick
Invinsible – Sherrilyn Kenyon
Midnight – L.J Smith
My Soul To Keep – Rachel Vincent
Night Walker – Lisa Kessler
Of Poseidon – Anna Banks
One in a Full Moon – Ellen Schreiber
Promises – Amber Garr
Season Of Risks – Susan Hubbard
My Soul To Keep – Rachel Vincent
Spy Glass – Maria V. Snyder
Uglies – Scott Westerfeld
Vanished – Meg Cabot
Automatic Must-Read For October:
Divine By Blood (Partholon, #3) by P.C. Cast
(Comment on which book {please include authors name} you would add to the list, and i’ll add them to the above ^ list)
Goodreads Discussion: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9…
We will update this each time a new book is recommended….
Also look for your BOM: Book List Page (Coming Soon)
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Tags: Angels, books, Cassandra Clare, City of Fallen Angels, International Standard Book Number, literature, Nancy Holder, October, p c cast, Religion and Spirituality, Shopping, Spiritual Beings, Susan Hubbard, Wicked: Witch & Curse
Review:
Betrayed was a very well written story.. This is 3rd book in the Caitlyn and Caleb series.. Caitlin wakes up as a full vampire fully turned due to the events at the church. It was her request to Caleb to change her so she could live. Caitlin is now on a island for vampires that are not excepted. As a new vampire she is happy to be alive but yet again Serena comes and ruins things causing Caitlin to banish Caleb from her sight. While Caitlin is dealing with her own issues her brother Sam has been kidnapped by Samantha and has been taken. Little did anybody know that not only is his sister is special so is Sam.
Kyle finds this out after seeing him as a fully turned vampire Kyle wants to use him to be his warrior. The humans in NY are dying, vampires are fighting and the white coven is not wanting to do anything about it. That leaves Caleb and his brother and some good vampires to try to take down Kyle and his evil coven. What I like about Morgan’s writing is that she shows different points of view from each main character and what there going thru and there feelings. Caitlin and Caleb story of the love they have for each other without really knowing each other. Caitlin is new to love and how relationships work but regardless of what happened she knows deep down that Caleb is the one.
This is a story that will have you wanting more.
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Tags: Arts, Caleb, Horror, NOTS-EV-2 Caleb, Otherkin, People, Vampire, vampire diaries
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies #1)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Description:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.
Review:
I tried to resist. When everyone starting losing their shit over this book and pre-ordering it, I told myself that this was a literary bandwagon I wouldn’t jump on. I read the reviews posted here, and saw that for the most part the consensus was that this book was grossly overrated. All the parts that Grahame-Smith wrote (and there aren’t many) weren’t very well done, the zombie device got old quickly, and the thing could have been better.
It was with all this evidence in mind that I went into a bookstore a week ago and bought a copy.
All of the mentioned criticisms are true. But you know what I decided? Criticism be damned, go ahead and revoke my Intelligent Reader membership card, I don’t care. Because this book fucking rocked, and was the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a long time.
It’s the same plot as the original story, except it takes place in an alternate universe where England has been overrun with zombies for “five and fifty years”. Why did this happen? It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that zombies are cool, and the Bennett sisters (thanks to their Shaolin training) are the best zombie slayers in Hertfordshire. Enter Mr. Darcy, who “drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien – and the report which was in general circulation withing five minutes after his entrance, of his having slaughtered more than a thousand unmentionables since the fall of Cambridge.”
I don’t really know what else to say about this that hasn’t been said already in the 1,000+ reviews already posted on this site. If you enjoy zombie movies, either genuinely or ironically, you will like this book. If you’re a Jane Austen fan, you’ll either think this book is brilliant or are already setting fire to Seth Grahame-Smith’s lawn.
We now present our closing arguments in support of the awesomeness of this book:
-The story appears exactly as it does in the original, but with infinitely more general badassery. The scene where Darcy first confesses his love for Elizabeth becomes much more interesting when the entire converstation occurs while Elizabeth is beating the shit out of Darcy.
-”‘It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and youought to make some sort of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.’
He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say would be said.
‘Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones.’
‘On the contrary, I find that balls are much more enjoyable when they cease to remain private.’”
-Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a famous zombie killer, and has a personal army of ninjas. NINJAS.
-”The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the couterpart of the first. On one such occasion, Elizabeth was solicited to spar with several of her ladyship’s ninjas for the amusement of the party.
The demonstration took place in Lady Catherine’s grand dojo, which she had paid to have carried from Kyoto, brick by brick, on the backs of peasants. The ninjas wore their traditional black clothing, masks, and Tabbi boots; Elizabeth wore her sparring gown, and her trusted Katana sword. As Lady Catherine rose to signal the beginning of the match, Elizabeth, in a show of defiance, blindfolded herself.”
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Tags: Darcy, Elizabeth, Elizabeth Bennet, feisty heroine, Jane Austen, jane austen novel, Kyoto, literature, Prejudice, Pride & Prejudice, pride and prejudice, Satan, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Seth Grahame-Smith, social prejudices, Zombie
Those of you, who are in our goodreads group please vote for our up-coming August read!!
Vote for up-coming read here: BOM: September 2012 (must be apart of the group and a member of goodreads)
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The Postmistress
Hardcover, 326 pages
Published February 9th 2010 by Amy Einhorn Books/Penguin Group (USA)
Rating:3/5 stars
Description:
Filled with stunning parallels to today’s world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.
On the eve of the United States‘s entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn’t deliver a letter. In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.
The residents of Franklin think the war can’t touch them- but as Frankie’s radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen. The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during wartime, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.
Review:
I discovered this book after reading a friend’s glowing review of it. From her review, this sounded like a book that I would love, the kind that I gravitate toward, and for the most part, it fit the bill perfectly.
This is a story that examines many sides of an issue, namely war and injustice, and how we’re all, whether we know it or not, affected by that issue. We can ignore it, we can rail against it, or we can face it head on, but it will affect us just the same.
Sarah Blake tells her story with three different women, and three different storylines. The three women were real and felt honest and true, and they all spoke to me in different ways. I couldn’t really identify much with Iris, honestly, as she is set in her ways and unbendable about a lot of things, content when her little environment is in order and content not to know what happens in the world outside her bubble. But I could understand, if I didn’t agree, with her feelings on this, because it’s easier to not know the terrible things that we can do to each other.
In contrast to Iris is Frankie, a war reporter who wants to show the world what is REALLY going on in Europe, and make it personal, so that people will stand up and be outraged and want to stop it. I identified most with her, because she was brave and honest and willing to try to make a difference. I loved her.
Lastly, we have Emma, who was the outsider of the story. Newly married to the town doctor, she is the kind of link between the two extremes of Iris and Frankie. I liked her character, she was plucky and brave in her own way, but innocent and small in a world that is bigger than she is, and cruel.
I loved the way that Blake brought the scenes and story to life. Maybe it was the reader, but I don’t think so (as I have some complaints about her). I think it was just her ability to portray life in a real way, and make us feel it. I got goosebumps listening to the soldiers when Frankie was with them on the watch-lines. There were also a great many deaths in this book that hurt. I have an overactive empathy gland, I freely admit that, but when an author can bring me to care about a character in a chapter, or a few pages alone, to the point that I feel their loss when they die, I think that’s saying something. It’s always the personal stories that get to me when I read books like this, and this one delivered so much in that vein that I almost felt overloaded at times. As I’m sure Frankie did.
I do think that sometimes the descriptive language went a little too far into floweriness. Blake would describe all the little things that one notices during times of stress, when time seems to slow or stop, like the ticking of a clock, or the bang of a shutter, but it seemed to be just a little too flowery in the way that it was described. Just a bit less wouldn’t have been as distracting to me, and would have allowed me to focus on what was being said, not how it was relayed.
The last quarter of the book lost a little steam for me as well. I wanted it to pull all of the storylines together with a grand finale ending, but instead it was more like a regular firework show that just ends. It’s satisfying, because it is beautiful to watch and experience, but it’s just missing that little something to tie it all together and let you know it’s over. Listening to this on audio, the reader went straight into an afterword, and I had to rewind a bit and listen again before I realized that it wasn’t part of the story.
The reader was a bit disappointing to me. She did a good job, but often, her conversation tone was very different from how I’d have “heard” the same dialogue if I was reading it. Every female seemed to sound a little unsure, questioning and apologetic. Every male seemed to sound smug and sure and condescending, especially when it was a male news-guy talking to Frankie – even when you could tell that they had a rapport and seemed almost as equals. Will was the exception to this rule, but he was one of the few main male characters, so maybe he got his own personality to the reader… Even outside of the dialogue, her voice just sounded… off. A descriptive sentence would sound as if she’s trying to impart a lot of emotion, while an emotional sentence will sound like she’s trying to inject a little levity. I had to try hard to not listen to her tone and to listen to the context, because that told me what I needed to know more than her voice did.
All in all, the story was very good, and the reader was OK. I would suggest reading the book over the audio, but if the audio is all that’s available, don’t skip it. The book outshines the reader here and is well worth the time.
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Tags: amy einhorn, Cape Cod, Edward R. Murrow, Frankie, iris james, literature, London, Postmistress, Sarah Blake, United States, World War II
My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living.
-Anais Nin
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Entangled by Cat Clarke
Paperback, UK, 372 pages
Published January 6th 2011 by Quercus Publishing Plc
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Description:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
Am I going to die?
17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper—and no clue how she got there.
As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she’s tried to forget. There’s falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there’s something missing. As hard as she’s trying to remember, is there something she just can’t see?
Then, in a story full of dangerous revelations, Grace must face the most important question of all: why is she here?
Review:
When Grace wakes up locked in a plain white room she has no idea how she got there. Held captive by the mysterious Ethan the only distraction she has is some pens and paper so she starts writing her story. As she writes about her friendship with Sal and falling in love with her boyfriend Nat we begin to unravel the mystery of how she ended up in the white room.
Entangled is a captivating and powerful debut and one that will take the reader on a roller coaster of emotions from laughter to tears and everything in between. When I sat down to read I was only intending to read a couple of chapters but I became so caught up in Grace’s tale that I finished the entire book in one sitting. This is a dark and uncomfortable read at times but that just makes it even more compelling and it does manage to leave you feeling hopeful by the end. I really admire the fact that Cat Clarke made me laugh out loud despite the difficult topics covered.
I’ve seen several reviewers say that they didn’t find Grace very likable in the beginning but I have to say I didn’t have the same problem with her. I didn’t like some of the things she was doing or her attitude at times but her character really spoke to me on a personal level and in some ways she reminded me a lot of myself as a teenager. Grace is in self destruct mode, she has so many emotions that she just doesn’t know how to deal with and this shows in the way she acts. In many ways she comes across as a normal teen – she seems friendly and outgoing and is doing well at school but this is just a front that she puts on. Underneath it all she is messed up – she uses alcohol to escape from reality, sleeps with boys she has just met and resorts to cutting as a way to feel in control of her life.
Her reasons might be different to mine and her behaviours differ to some degree but at her age I was in a very similar destructive pattern. Grace’s voice was so real to me and made for painful reading as I watched her make similar mistakes to me & I just wanted to reach into the book and be the voice of experience to tell her that things can and will get better. This particular quote has stayed with me for days since reading the story and for me it captures the essence of Grace perfectly:
“It’s when I’m alone that the doubt sets in. It’s been that way for years. As long as there are people around, I can pretend everything’s OK. But I need that audience to pretend for, otherwise it doesn’t work. Alone, I’m not that easy to fool.” Page 214
It is hard to go into too much detail about the rest of the story without giving spoilers, I really do think that this is one of those books that the less you know about before going in the better the reading experience will be. I will say that although I thought I’d figured out the twist at the end (well I had several theories anyway and was sure one of them would be correct) Cat Clarke still managed to surprise me. Entangled is a gripping and powerful read and one that I would thoroughly recommend, I know this is a story that will stay with me and one that I’m looking forward to reading again now I know how it ends.
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Tags: Arts, Book, Clarke, God, Grace, laughter to tears, literature, read, Religion and Spirituality, Shopping
Those of you, who are in our goodreads group please vote for our up-coming August read!!
Vote for up-coming read here: BOM: September 2012 (must be apart of the group and a member of goodreads)
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Review:
I realized yesterday, (as I sat staring at a blank white screen for an hour,) that sometimes the right words are hard to find. For many of us, our words are confined to the simple (and sometimes idiotic) phrases that fly from our mouths each day, while others of us feel the need to put them on paper, (offer them up to a wider audience if you will,) and it is those words that are judged differently. While normal conversation is free flowing and spontaneous, words written for the specific means of having them read are planned, plotted, written, re-written and then eventually edited to convey EXACTLY what the author meant. Both forms have consequences and significance, but only one of those can be picked apart and overanalyzed to death. The WRITTEN word.
Ok, my point (I assure you I have one.) In the last several books I have read (some I have reviewed others I have not) I have found myself taken aback by the authors need to throw around the “L” word. While the word (sadly) has taken a somewhat “less than meaningful” tone in everyday society, (thank you very much horny teenagers) it’s importance in literature is the exact opposite, (heavily weighted and to be accompanied by sincerity.) Why exactly am I giving you a lesson in word placement instead of telling you about “Turned?” Because this book is a prime example of misplaced affection, and unfortunately…it detracted from the story instead of adding to it.
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Now, onto my soapbox I go. I would first like to state that I had some pretty severe reservations about “Turned” by Morgan Rice before I even turned on my Kindle. While the synopsis sounds exciting, (“action packed” if you are going by my first impression) the book in it’s entirety is only 196 pages long. Seems a little condensed for so much going on right? I thought so. Anyways, I was certain that unless Ms. Rice had a magic wand and the best damn thesaurus in town there was no way she was going to pull this off successfully in so few pages. I was both right…and wrong. (Damn I hate it when that happens.)
For starters the first 20% or so was VERY one dimensional, (as in generic YA fluff with no legs) it was not until Rice introduced multi-narration that the story actually (pardon the pun) grew some teeth and became interesting. With the introduction of additional characters we also found ourselves immersed in action, (chase scenes to be exact which…by the way…were expertly penned.) The action led to Caleb, which in turn led to the “series plot” (as apposed to this specific books “sub plot”) and the story took flight. This (“lets save the girl…she is the “One”) moment is also the point where Rice should have slowed her story down. It is obvious in most books who the love interest is going to be, but it is an authors duty to maneuver their relationship in a way that creates an attachment between the reader and the characters in the book, (*cough* this is where the “L” word lesson would have come in handy) Though the “I Love You” in “Turned” came at 86% (which seems late) it was VERY premature. Caleb and Caitlin had known each other for approximately 3 hours and (while yes) there was a “connection” the immediate revelation of “love” dwindled every ounce of anticipation the reader might have had towards their next encounter (this little slip up also makes the next book much less appealing.) If (for example) Rice would have waited until book 2 to declare feelings, the intimacy between the two would have fueled the readers desire to keep going.
“I love you” issues and ”fantastic action sequences” aside, the book was…average. There were a few discrepancies through-out the writing (tenses) and I whole-heartily believe that if given more room to write the book would have felt more complete, but overall it wasn’t that bad of a read. It was quick, it ultimately kept my attention, and it had both evil and nice vampires with is a nice change of pace.
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Tags: Amazon Kindle, Anne Rice, Arts, Book, Caitlin, Caleb, Eighteen, Jonah, New York City, Rice, Shopping, Writing
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by Ednah Walters
Paperback, second edition
336 pages
Published June 5th 2012 (first published April 12th 2011)
RATING: 5/5 stars
Description:
Lil isn’t just an average teenager. She’s one of the
Nephilim–the descendants of
humans and
angels–which gives her some serious psi skills and a mission for redemption. Just when Lil thinks she’s found a
balance between her normal life with human friends and her training to become a Guardian, she’s warned that someone close to her will betray her. When the boy she loves starts acting strangely and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability, Lil begins to realize that someone is manipulating the people she loves… and won’t stop until she’s been lured to the dark side.
Review:
2 words, baby: Utter brilliance.This book takes all angelic novels a whole league up, and it was more than i expected after
reading AWAKENED and more. Seriously people, you have to read this or you’re really missing out on life.Anyway, this book follows our beautiful, smart, witty, powerful – in short, real perfect – protagonist, Lil as she starts getting used to her life as a Guardian(half-angels). Previously, she hated the idea of not being fully human, to have such crazy powers was a waking nightmare to her, but now, she doesnt mind it; In fact, she pretty much love
hunting now. Which is totally awesome since it means that there was much more action in this book.
However as the book moves along, Bran(her beau) receives an assignment from the Cardinals, and to him, this was THE chance to finally prove his worth to them. He starts to get obsessed with it, and started to keep secrets, to the extent of pushing Lil away, even ignore her at some points and those parts, i tell you, were painful. Not only to Lil, but i felt the pain too:(. lol. But yeah, that’s how good Walters’s writing is.
Lil was devastated(no surprise there. I mean, who wouldn’t be right? If you weren’t, then i have to hand it to your cold stone of a heart, you heartless ba*****. whoops, vulgar much.) anyway, even with her broken heart and finding out who it was that betrayed her (actually, who it were is more accurate), she sucked it all up and dealt with it like a real warrior. Oh oh, the betrayal part was a real kick in the head. It was sooo unexpected!! Don’t try to guess it as you read..I tried and failed terribly. I started doubting everyone but oh well..Let’s just say i cant be a detective in the future.
I loved Lil (not in the lesbian sense, God no. Not that i am against it or anything). I loved her kick-ass attitude, her stubborn will and determination, her wit, her powers, her steely guts, her unwavering loyalty, her everything! Oh and finally, her boyfriend;). Yes, he is swoon-worthy, but fret not, we will get to that. Lil is everything a she-warrior is supposed to be, but without a hint of manliness. Add to that, she deals with all the shit life throws at her with a level-head. She does cry at times when things get too hard, but hey, a girl needs to indulge once in a while, ay?
Bran was…sigh. Can you picture a girl with glazed eyes, mouth a little askew with drool hanging on her chin? Yeah, that’s me now. Ok maybe not the drool part, but you get what i mean. He was so fiercely protective of her, even when he was pulling away! Did that make sense? But he was! How does Walters do that? She is one hell of a writer..a force unto herself! Lol, melodrama-sm doesnt become me.
One thing that bugged me tho, was that Lil suddenly LOVED hunting. Y’know how she was really repelled even at the thought of it in the earlier book? But at the start of book 2 she just.. loved it. It was like from, “ew no I don’t want to hunt” to “hunting is in my blood and i miss it” kind of thing. But it was no big deal. I don’t think I could’ve remembered this if I didn’t note stuff down as i read along.
I loved her relationship with her grampa in this book. There were the quarrels and all, but they are really sweet together. I can really feel the bond between them as they exchanged their witty banters, or when they asked how was the other after a brawl. And even when they’re yelling at each other. It wasnt a major part of the book, but it told much about the bonds in a family, and i really liked that. (And i think it’s really cool that both granddaughter and grampa are in this hunting thing. Seems kinda like the family line of business. Wicked!)
Y’know how some YA heroines meet with a crossroad in life and have choices to choose from? One choice is obviously dangerous and wrong and the other is the glaringly right one but they choose the wrong one instead so that there was a story to write? This one wasnt like that, not at all. Lil did have many choices at many points in time, but she always chose the choices that i would’ve chosen too but trouble somehow always manages to find her in the end. It made the story a whole lot more exciting and engrossing.
It was very saddening when i flipped the page and the epilogue’s staring at my face. And when the The End came out, i wanted to tear that little square part away. Sigh. It was a damn well-written ending too. Tied up all the loose endings and finished with Lil in Bran’s arms.
(This is the last six lines of the novel. Totally sweet, totally freaking romantic. Please do not read it if you do not like spoilers!)
[ "What took you so long? I asked.
I wanted you to finish with your guests first. Now, you’re all mine.
I giggled. Silly guy. It didn’t matter where I was and what I did, I’d always be his." ]
Overall, the pace was fast(and furious. Hmm..furously fast?haha sounds weird), the plot was absolutely jam-packed with unexpected twists and turns, action, and such lovable characters, i dont see how anyone can not like this book! This book just brought this series to a whole new level and i am eagerly waiting for its sequel, HUNTED.
.:A must-read for anyone who calls themself a reader:.
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Tags: Ednah Walters, Goodreads, Guardian Legacy, Guardians, House of Night, Human, Lil, Nephilim, Reading (process), Religion and Spirituality, Spiritual Beings, Walters
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