My Rating Scale
Double the Scifi Tour
WiSpY Tour
Top 10 Reasons to Follow Me
Archive for December, 2011
Friday Follow
Welcome everyone to the site’s Friday and Follow! First time in a long time.
If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?
Okay my age is going to start seeping through on this one. If I had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book I would choose The Neverending Story.
1. I have always wanted to ride Falchore. Who hasn’t wanted to ride him? He has this cute puppy dog like face and long body that reminds me of Rainicorn on Adventure time.
2. The story never ends, but when there are close calls, the days become very interesting. Like everything blinking out of existence but a small rock you know?
Everybody have fun! Come follow me, I will most definitely follow you! I have moved my site and GFC has left me like a childhood friend that went off to college. I’m sad but eager to see what will happen next.
Terra Incognita is up first
Terra Incognita sounds like a really good book. I got the request some time ago, and I just sprang to buy it. However it sounds like something awesome so it is first up to bat.
Benjamin Harking is an independent teenager who often comes home from his boarding school to an empty house. During one lonely Christmas vacation, he finds a hidden room, secreted away beneath the stairwell. Inside is an ancient book that opens a doorway into a dark world of myth and magic. Forced on a quest for four magical items, Ben will face danger at every turn, meet new allies, and do whatever it takes to complete his goals before the evil Azothothus has a chance to exact his plans -the awakening of the primeval beings known only as the Hollow.
After reading that description why would I not get this? I’m excited.
Review over Gray by Rachel Karns
Title: Grey
Author: Rachel Karns
Maggie Whitaker decides to forego college to work in her family-run jewelry shop. Ready to embrace her adult life, she becomes entangled with a mysterious John Doe. Through discovering him, she ultimately discovers herself.
I didn’t know if I would enjoy it when Rachel Karns first contacted me. My favorite love is Scifi and Fantasy, but I also do love romance. I checked out the sample on Smashwords before downloading and committing to a review. The first pages were interesting, but I became disillusioned when I hit Chapter 1 and realized the story was in first person and we weren’t even talking about the same person. However I know how Prologue’s work so I kept going. We quickly get to know our real MC, and we begin to travel down a path that does lead back to the character we began the story with.
I got caught up in the world and thought I’d probably finish that night considering the book was about 179 pages long, but when the twist came, I didn’t feel a part of it. It suddenly felt out of character and I put the book down for the night. I picked it up this morning though, and I am glad I did. Her actions are in fact a huge part of the book, no matter how odd they were, I came to understand why.
Margaret Whitaker, our main MC, begins to visit John Doe in the hospital, even though she doesn’t know him. He was alone and she kept hearing and dwelling about him in the papers. She pretends to be someone…and the story begins.
I’m not big into every YA, I admit that. I am 30 years old (Or 29 going on 29) but this book captured me. Our main character is 19, she has moments when her age does catch up to her but she is well read, with an older age charisma. If it was not pointed out she was 19 I would not have guessed this about her until later. However, those moments that point out her age are important. This whole book is about coming of age, and Margaret Whitaker chose one tough way to get through. I also really love the ending, although others may not. They may even be heartbroken, but it’s a real worthy ending, with words that make the title of this book come altogether. There was an epilogue afterward, but personally, I like to imagine it without the prologue or epilogue.
This book is a real winner. Although it’s a short 1-2 day read, there are parts that are going to remind you of bad times, good times, and times in between. It takes you back to when you were in that time of discovering yourself. It also might make you happy that you didn’t get yourself into as much trouble as Margaret Whitaker did during this time in your life.
Or maybe you did? If so, you’ve got some memorable memories no doubt you’d remember ’til your 80!
How could I not love a book that had rings the main character made being named after beloved characters like Jack London, Atticus Finch, and Rhett Butler?
A reader who wants a YA book that feels realistic, like it could happen. Someone who wants to re-engage with that awkward time of growing up and love. Someone who wants a short but meaningful read and a well written story.
This story doesn’t have any violent language or situations. It is a more mature love story for growing teens, and for adults who want to remember what their first love, good and bad, felt like.
*I got a copy from the author in exchange for a review.
Review over Cloud Nine by Melissa Smith
Title: Cloud Nine
Author: Melissa Smith
What happens when you receive a guardian angel? What if you don’t believe you need one? What if one wants you removed?
Claire Grayson is a seventeen year old girl on the verge of graduating high school. Better than a year ago her mother went back to work full time. Her father, being an attorney, has always been gone long hours, so that is nothing new to her. So now she has learned to take care of her basic needs on her own. For spending and gas money she works part time as a tutor for other students who need a little help in various subjects.
Her best friends are the bright spots that helped to keep her laughing when she thought herself in love only to have thim break her heart. After the crash of her heart, it took her a while to come back to the land of the living. Just when she did, when she was finally done waiting for him to realize his mistake. When she decided that it was time for her to move on. She meets Sterling Warde.
Sterling Warde is a Guardian. He helps people in need and helps them get on in life with a better understanding of living. While with a charge that was almost ready to take back his own life, Sterling catches a glimpse of Claire and is startled by his reaction to her. Puzzled, he follows her to see what the spark was. What made her reach out and touch his nerves and steal his breath. When he finally reveals himself to her she is afraid of him and doesn’t want him around. But with time and patience, he works to see her safe.
There are people out there that want each of them for themselves. Someone who will stop at nothing to have Sterling. Someone who will do anything to reclaim Claire’s affections. Together, Sterling and Claire will dissuade them. Someone will fall. Someone will hurt. And others will…
I have never read a book that actually had a cloud in it, so the unique concept struck me first off. The first lines already pull you into Claire’s world as she talks about ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ and meets Sterling as a cloud. Just a puff that grows. I mean, how awkward is that? Would I keep typing out this review if there was a cloud appearing right beside me?…I don’t know, I might, depends on how lazy I’m feeling.
“Hang on cloud, I gotta finish this review then let my mind wrap around your appearance. Abby, get off the couch, no crayons right now.”
Sterling the cloud guardian is actually one of those really sweet guys you don’t see anymore. I mean he’s a cloud but he soon takes on a human appearance (and a nice one at that ladies. Too bad he wasn’t on the front cover.) Sterling isn’t your typical man. Besides being a wish granting entity, he is also chivalrous. I mean it’s hard to explain, it’s like Leopold in Kate and Leopold? Except this Leopold can grant wishes.
I want one. Where can I find one? They are pretty hard to get it turns out, and the cloud guardians only stick around until the person they are helping doesn’t need help anymore. In this book, the person Sterling insists needs help (although she obviously doesn’t) is Claire.
Claire is a sweet girl, kind of in between a boyfriend and single. She hasn’t been treated the best so when Sterling pops into her life he’s hard to resist. The happy ending for them takes a few chapters but the real fun begins when others who liked each of them keep popping up
One is annoying.
One is life threatening.
Overall this too, the cloud and Claire have another cloud above their heads. They don’t exactly know if a cloud guardian and human can have a relationship or not.
I read this book in a day, could not help myself. My only complaint is I wish it were longer. It’s the first book of two though, so I am waiting for the second book to come out to see what else is going to happen to Sterling and Claire.
Meanwhile, I am going to keep my eyes open for any clouds too. I would love to have someone teach Abby not to eat crayons, pick up her toys, potty train, do my laundry and clean my house.:) See? I’m the one who needed help. Any cloud guardian takers?
Oops, maybe potty train scared them all away.^^’
Stars
Those looking for clean YA novels would like this book, but those looking for story dripping in sweet romance to almost the point of cheesy will downright love it.
It does have that romance, which isn’t so appealing to kids. Some talk can be a bit flustery for the very young, but I would think 12 and up (maybe even a smidge younger) would be fine. The author explicitly designed this book so that it could be read by a very large crowd, but look for yourselves first before making judgement.
*I got a copy from the author in exchange for a review.
Recent Comments