Word of the Week Wednesday[24]

Word of the Week - Lauded - Mystic City - Page 13

Meaning - Praised highly, especially in a public context.

UPDATE

As some of you may noticed I missed this weeks Mini Review Monday. I was in the hospital with kidney stones and other health issues and when I got out I literally couldn't function. I could barely keep my eyes open for more than 10 minutes. So today I decided to sit down and plow through all of these reviews and such that I need to do. But then my father had a stroke this morning. I was sleeping because that's all the pain medicine really allows for me to do and my mother came and told me she was waiting on an ambulance for my dad. That is literally the scariest thing I have heard in my entire life. My father has done some pretty terrible things to me throughout my life but he is still my dad. So now I am sitting here TRYING to write my reviews for the Mara Dyer books and I just find myself staring at the page thinking that last night when I went to pick a book up I said goodbye to my dad and I didn't think he heard me but a minute later her opened the front door and yelled goodbye and laughed. I keep thinking what if that was the last thing he ever said to me?

I just wanted to let everyone know that's why I haven't been posting. I will be working all day and night to have stuff pre-posted for the future. 

Thanks for listening

Word of the Week Wednesday[23]

Word of the Week - Callipygian - Anna and the French Kiss - Page 43

Meaning - Having well-shaped buttocks.

Top 2 Tuesday[1] Book to Movie Adaptations

I decided to do something new! So instead of Top Ten Tuesday I made up Top 2 Tuesday. It's harder and I like that. I have to narrow my choices down to two books each week and sometimes that feels impossible. I hope you guys enjoy this! 

1) The Hobbit

I seriously LOVED the Hobbit movies. They made me laugh and cry and they were so amazingly done. A few things were tweaked here and there and some details were off but overall I really love how well the movie was adapted from the book.

2) Divergent

I didn't think I was going to like the movie. Things just didn't look right when I saw the previews. But I really did like it. I hated that they cut out Edwards character entirely but other than that the movie was pretty true to the book. I pictured a few things different in my head while I was reading the book but everything is open to interpretation when you are reading. I will probably not like Insurgent, however. I have read that it's not going to be like the book.

What are your top 2 book to movie adaptations? Let me know!

Mini Review Monday[28] Gilded Ashes by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Gilded Ashes

Author: Rosamund Hodge

Publisher: HarperTeen Impulse

Publication: April 1st 2014

Cover Rating: 3/5

Goodreads | Amazon

I am in love with Rosamund Hodge's fairy-tale retellings. Gilded Ashes was a great book to bridge the gap and lessen the waiting period between Cruel Beauty and when Crimson Bound comes out.

This one was a Cinderella retelling but it had so many different twists and turns. I actually like the step-sisters, Kore and Thea. The step mother went crazy after her husband died. She used to be a decent woman unlike the step mother in the real Cinderella. 

Maia has been cursed. But it's not exactly HER curse. Her mother made a death with the Gentle Lord and now Maia must suffer the consequences AND deal with a horrible step mother. Even through all the trials she suffers Maia still doesn't have a selfish bone in her body. I really loved that about her. She would have sacrificed love and happiness just so others could continue to live.

We all know how Cinderella ended. The Prince married her. The Prince in this book, Anax, is a lot different though. He found out his true love didn't love him so he cut off their engagement using his own means to do it. The his father forced him to find a bride and thus began the invitations to the grand ball, celebration, thing. He did, however, have the same determination as the prince in the original Cinderella.

Kore wants to marry the prince so she has Maia do errands to try and convince the prince to marry her. Little by little though the plan goes astray and another plan forms that Maia isn't aware of. 

I just completely adored this book. It's a shame about Maia family home at the end but she will have a new home now. And the prince even agreed to help with Kore! 

Overall, I gave the novella 5/5 stars.

#RYBSAT Round 4 - January 16-23

Yet ANOTHER read-a-thon that I will most likely fail, lol. But I am going to try.

TBR:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Evolution of Mara Dyer

The Retribution of Mara Dyer
All The Bright Places
The Gemstone
The Kiss of Deception
The 100

EXTRAS:
Stop Pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy

UPDATES

16th:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - 452 pages
Stop Pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy - 145 pages
The Evolution of Mara Dyer - 82 pages

17th:
The Evolution of Mara Dyer - 50 pages

18th:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer -

19th:

20th:

21st:

22nd:

23rd:

Word of the Week Wednesday[22]

Word of the Week - Sumptuousness - Anna and the French Kiss - Page 19

Meaning - Splendid and expensive looking.

Mini Review Monday[27] We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

Title: We Are The Goldens

Author: Dana Reinhardt

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Publication: May 27th 2014

Cover Rating: 3/5

Goodreads | Amazon

This book is written in a way that feels like the main character Nell is writing a letter to her older sister. Moments come up that made me really sad because you could feel the emotion that Nell was putting into this to her sister. Though it is written in this way there was still conversation and I liked that. It was strictly just Nell writing to her sister. 

We don’t know for sure if Nell is actually writing a letter or if it’s a diary entry. It could be either one. Nothing really gets explained much. We have to infer from how it is written if she is writing a letter or not. 

We know that it deals with a secret between sisters and we see what that secret is. The ending I found to be a bit rushed. It really didn't have a conclusion. We don’t know why Nell was telling her sister all these things. You have to infer either she passed away or that she ran away for what Nell did do at the end. The author could have explained more about what was happening. 

During this we get introduced to Nell’s best friend Felix, who by the way I love. The author hints at something more than just best friends, but doesn't go any further into that like she could have. 

Though I have a lot of issues with this I really did enjoy it. It showed the bond two sisters can have and how the younger one can adore the older one so much. Not only that, but how just one thing can cause them to become not as close. It was heartbreaking how Nell was writing everything. I enjoyed how there were quotes that popped up in their conversations or when Nell was just reminiscing. 

Felix was the sweet boy who was the comic relief and I just loved him. The relationship between Nell and Felix I just loved. They were so cute. You could just tell that they would eventually become more than just best friends because they had such chemistry. It was cute. I wish there was more of ending and things got explained instead of it just ending abruptly. Still a good read to me.

 

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”-Layla

Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.

Author Spotlight: Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

Lori is the author of Gates of Thread and Stone and The Infinite. She has a borderline obsessive fascination with unicorns, is fond of talking in capslock, and loves to write about magic, manipulation, and family. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, kids, and a friendly pitbull.

Title: Gates of Thread and Stone

Author: Lori M. Lee

Publisher: Skyscape

Publication: August 5th 2014

Cover Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

I am still getting used to reading fantasy type books. As I read more I realize how much I like fantasy books and I just think about how much I have missed out on over the years. I am so glad I didn't miss out on this book.

Kai is such a strong female character. She is a little clingy but that can be explained away by the fact that she was found on the side of the river, has no living relatives and has only ever had her adoptive brother, Reev. She is also extremely stubborn and strong willed. Once she decides on something she sticks to it until she is done.

She lives in a place called The Labyrinth. Basically its like a train yard. Lot's of metal boxes stacked on top of each other. I have read about people living this way in other books so it is definitely something I can picture existing or happening some day. 

The entire book is centered around Reev going missing and Kai trying to find him. She risks her life and loses everything she even knew just to find and save her brother. She is a very admirable person. 

Avan is a that dreamy guy that everyone wants. Unfortunately, everyone actually does seem to get him. He has very loose morals and it effects my feelings for him. I don't like loose guys. His feelings for Kai are very vibrant. I do adore the way he feels about her and how he would, AND DOES, do anything for her. 

You become attached to every character. It's impossible not to. Everyone has their own amazing personality and they are all very addicting. 

The book is some what of a retelling. I don't want to say what it is a retelling of because I didn't even figure it out until I sat down and talked to my fiance about the book. If you aren't familiar with religions and history then you probably won't get the retelling. Either way, retelling or not, the book is still amazing and brings you into a world of magic, death and love.

Upon meeting Irra is when I fully became away of the retelling aspects. The irony of who Irra was and the Hollows was pretty awesome. Let's just say that you won't be going hungry in his house. HAHA!

Mason/G-10 was definitely swoon-worthy. He was sweet, caring and helpful but he would also kick some mean ass if he needed to. He has some feelings for Kai but as I stated preciously, Kai is stubborn and strong willed and she was on a mission and nothing was going to get in her way. Not even a cute, blue eyed guy.

At the end is where everything comes into pretty clear focus. Everyone was in on some big elaborate plan and all Kai wants is for her brother and Avan to be safe. She doesn't exactly get what she worked so hard for but she gets some semblance of it. And that semblance can be viewed as good or bad. But either way it is heartbreaking. 

I am now dying for the next book! I need to know what happens to everyone. I want to know what happens to Ninurta and all the people. Did Irra bring all of the Hollows back with him? So many questions! 

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.

1) Where did the idea for Gates of Thread and Stone come from?

A friend said something in passing about the "children of time," to which I thought: "Oooooh." So I jotted it down into a word doc and forgot about it for a year while I worked on something else. Then when it came time to begin something new, I came back to that small phrase and really wanted to do something with it. But I was also rather smitten with a scifi idea about mind-controlled super soldiers (which I've always been fascinated with because that seems like a normal thing to be fascinated about, right?). And then it just made total sense to combine the ideas into one!

2) Who would you pick? Avan or Mason?

Yikes, tough choice. There are things about both boys that I like. Ultimately, I'd probably pick Avan because my brain conceived him first so I'm a little partial haha.

3) How many books are going to be in the series?

Hopefully three!

4) Would you want to be an Infinite?

Gosh, no. Sounds dreadful! lol. The character of Ninu shares a smidgen of my personal views on immortality--probably not all it's cracked up to be.

5) How would you react if you found out you were the Daughter of Time?

I'd probably get up to ALL KINDS of mischief. It would be a nightmare. The River would unravel. I'd be fired.

6) Who is your favorite character from your book?

Probably Kai. She's been with me the longest (you can see that I don't have the best method for naming favorites lol). After her, it would probably be Irra simply because he's so fun to write.

Word of the Week Wednesday[21]

Word of the Week - Flouting - Fates - Page 34

Meaning - Indulging in scornful behavior. Openly disregarding.

Mini Review Monday[26] Numbers by Rachel Ward

Title: Numbers

Author: Rachel Ward

Publisher: Chicken House/Scholastic

Publication: November 8th 2008

Cover Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon

I’m sad to say this, but I just couldn't finish this book. I have never, not finished a book. I have put some down before and finished them later, but never, not finished a book. That’s not the case with this one.  I have put this book down so many times and tried to continue to read it and just couldn't. I wanted to finish this before the year was over, but I just couldn't. I had to stop. I got 200 pages in though because I forced myself to just sit and read it. 

I have many problems with this book. But I will first start with what I did like. I liked the plot of the book. It was interesting which is what made me want to read the book. Being able to see the death date of someone by looking into their eyes? It just sounds like it’s going to be good. I also like that it took place in London. I love London so I enjoyed being able to read that the characters were there. 

That’s where the good ends and the bad begins. I think it was poorly executed. I didn't like the characters at all. I just found Jem to be annoying all the time. I did like Spider a bit more because he wasn't annoying to me. Both come from not the greatest home lives, but it doesn't give them the excuse to act the way they do. Also, they weren't the smartest of characters. They ran away from something that they had no reason to run away from. 

I also found this to be very slow. The details were boring and just made me not want to read it any further. I don’t like saying anything bad about a book I have read, but with this one I can’t help it. I don’t feel bad for not being able to finish the book.

Overall, I gave the book 2/5 stars.

Author Spotlight: Intuitive by Kat Fugate

Kat Fugate is an English teacher in Ohio and the author of Intuitive. She started writing this story when she read and article about a girl who died mysteriously in a bathtub. She is currently working on the sequel, Transcendent. Kat lives outside of Cincinnati with her husband, two kids, and two dogs.

Title: Intuitive

Author: Kat Fugate

Publisher: Self/Smashwords

Publication: October 26th 2014

Cover Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon

I really enjoyed Intuitive. It was a great book to end my 2014 year with and I am so glad that the author sent me a copy to review.

Miah is a very depressing and overly dramatic character in the beginning. But that is to be expected from a girl who is entering her senior year as part orphan. Her mother mysteriously died during the summer and now Miah feels like she really has no reason to live.

There are a lot of more modern references in the book. Things were mentioned and I actually knew what was being talked about. The Big Bang Theory was mentioned and after that I was hooked.

In the beginning of the book you sort of think it's just going to be a NORMAL books where a girls mother dies and a new boy comes to town and he makes everything all better and it's all Happily Ever After crap. But that is definitely not the case.

Miah's relationship with her father was strained. Her dad slipped into a terrible depression and he should have been seeking help for himself instead of being all over Miah about her life. Jamie was adorable and it really sucks that he pretty much has no parents now. 

Cameron was a whiny boy. I understand he had been through A LOT but he seriously has the emotional standing of a pmsing woman. He gets upset too easily and he storms off and has temper tantrums. I honestly don't know what Miah sees in him. He also felt very possessive to me. He tried to control Miah and certain aspects of her life. He would get mad at her and make her feel like shit and then he would sweep her into his arms and expect everything to be okay. Miah didn't help because she LET him do these things.

I think Cameron took things a little too far with the whole wooing Olivia situation. I don't know that Miah would have kissed Rhett without him manipulating her energy but Cameron kissed Olivia with no second thoughts, it seemed. 

Now, Rhett... I would much prefer Miah to end up with Rhett, but that will probably never happen. He might be from this super evil villainous family but he was so amazing and very mature. Maturity is something Miah's other love interest lacks severely.

The plot line of the book was very neat and tidy. It flowed very well and all of the characters complimented each other perfectly. The only thing that I can say was bothersome was the fact that the beginning of the book, the first 150+ pages, spanned over months and months of Miah's life. The last 110+ pages spanned over a few days. It just felt like the beginning was drawn out. Either that or the ending was rushed.

The cliffhanger ending was murder! Haha, no pun intended. The second book doesn't come out until Summer of 2015 and the wait is going to kill me.. HAHA. 

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.

1) Where did you get the idea for Intuitive?

The idea for Intuitive roamed around in my head for a few years.  I actually started the book 2 other times; once from the mother's perspective even.  Locally, there was a young woman whose husband was actually convicted of murder but there was no concrete evidence.  I  believe that he is guilty but during the trial, etc. this story came to me.  The dream where Miah runs around the house actually was a dream I had after my grandmother died.

2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Reading and writing are my two passions after my family.  I have always done both.  I became an English teacher so that I could make some money--even if not a lot--lol--doing what I love.

3) Do you watch The Big Bang Theory?

Yes, I love The Big Bang Theory, which is why I referenced my favorite episode in the book.  I love how the show juxtaposes real life--Penny--with the scientific genius of the guys and yet each is shown as a valuable asset.

4) What are your favorite type of books to read?

I love all types of books.  I've read everything from classics to simplistic YA.  BUT, my favorite is a book in which I feel the characters' joys and pains.  This is why I tried so hard to connect you to the emotions and decisions of my characters in Intuitive.

5) Are you intuitive?

I think a lot of people are intuitive.  I think the more we tap into our intuitiveness, the more aware of it we become.  I don't believe it's a special power like it becomes in the book but I do believe it's a gift that some people have for sure.

6) Who would you pick? Cameron or Rhett?

I'm partial to Cameron but I love both my characters.  I believe everyone has to choose between following their hearts and following their minds when it comes to love.  I'm partial to the heart.

7) Who was your favorite character to write?

I enjoyed writing Miah the most because she goes through a metamorphosis throughout the book.  It was fun to create a character that grows stronger.

8) How do you feel about cliffhanger endings?

If it's a series, then a cliffhanger is good because it brings your readers back.  It makes the reader more vested and whether the reader realizes it or not, I believe that he/she spends a lot of time wondering where the story will go next.

9) Have you ever been to L. A.?

I have actually never been to L.A.  I watched several tour videos before writing Part II.  Now, I definitely want to go there!  :)

REVIEW: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Title: The Titan's Curse

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Puffin Books

Publication: May 5th 2007

Cover Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

Percy Jackson yet again goes on a quest that was not given to him. You can’t help but admire him for the reasons why he goes on these quests. Percy is very loyal to those he loves and will do anything he can to protect and save them even if it means he may die. 

At the end of The Sea of Monsters, Thalia is back to being herself because of The Golden Fleece. Throughout this quest we get to learn more about this character for who she is instead of who she was before being a tree. Thalia comes off as rude, but once you get to know her and find out who she is you can’t help but respect her. 

In the beginning before there is a quest we get a look at how satyrs find half-bloods and try and rescue. We got a taste of this in The Lightning Thief because that’s what Grover was there to do. But here we are in Percy’s perspective and get to oversee everything. 

At one point during this rescue Percy is alone and trying to protect the two half-bloods Grover found and tries to use the empathy link between the two of them. He never tried before; Grover was the one who always used it. Which at one point is the rescue of the two half-bloods and saving Percy, Annabeth gets captured. When she does you can clearly see how much Percy actually cares about her and goes on this quest that isn’t his because all he wants to do is save her. 

We get introduced to more gods as well as another titan. First off we meet the goddess Artemis, who helps Percy and his friends. She calls on her twin brother Apollo. She calls on him because he can help them for what they needed at the moment and helps them again down the road. Not only do we meet them, but also the goddess Aphrodite. These gods and goddesses that come along are all there to help them in any way that they can. 

Heroes like Percy are looked down upon and yet there are gods and goddesses who help them on their quests instead of hurt them for them to not succeed. 

Surprisingly, Mr. D helps Percy twice, even though from the very beginning he shows little interest in him or the other campers. 

While on their quest and they reach where they need to be we get introduced to another Titan; Atlas. After their quest is completed, they go to Olympus and they face The Council of Gods to be told their fate. As always these characters face one thing after another and I like seeing what they will do in each situation they are thrown into. The story has become more complicated and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 

While Percy talked to Aphrodite I liked the one thing she told him. “Not knowing is half the fun,” Aphrodite said. “Exquisitely painful, isn’t it? Not being sure who you love and who loves you?...”

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.