Evermore Review

Evermore: The Immortals

Synopsis:
After a horrible accident claims the live of her family, 16 year old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way  to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school--but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.
Damen is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head-- wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is--or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

My Thoughts!
This book was pretty good. It's wasn't as good as everyone made it out to be, in my opinion. I like the whole "immortal" thing, which had nothing to do with vampires! Hah! It was also funny how Damon kind of made fun of the idea, that Ever thought he was one. I felt thought, the beginning was a little prolonged. Most of the juicy action parts didn't come until near the end. I hope in the next book we get to learn more about Damon's past. This book was very vague with his and Drina's past. Like why did she turn so evil? How did he fall in love with her? Just things like that. Overall, the book was good and I would recommend anyone who like a good paranormal, coming of age, and romance series!

Cover Revealed!!!!

Ok I know I get behind a lot in the whole "blogging" world, but I just noticed that the cover has been revealed for City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments)!!!! It looks so freaking awesome!! I can't wait to read it!! But darn my busy life, I still haven't managed to finish City of Glass and Clockwork Angels! Urgh! Hopefully my friend will hurry up and give me back my copy of City of Glass!
Anyways...Drum roll please!!!.............

Ta Da!!

I really like it! 

The Lovely Bones Review

Hello readers,

Well I am officially one step closer to my 50 book goal as of a few minutes ago. I finally finished The Lovely Bones which in all honesty lives up to its name, and then some. I will try not to mention much about the plot but in the first paragraph of the book you find out the main character is murdered. So I was a little skeptical how the book would hold my attention throughout my read-through seeing as it told me all the details (including the murderer!) within the first paragraph or so. But it definitely kept my attention. There wasn't a dull moment.

To give you a taste of the book, here's the first paragraph:

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. In newspaper photos of missing girls from the seventies, most looked like me: white girls with mousy brown hair. This was before kids of all races and genders started appearing on milk cartons or in the daily mail. It was still back when people believed things like that didn't happen."

I felt that the book was pretty detailed about certain things without being overly meticulous in the description of certain things, which I really enjoy in a book. The time period helped give a special setting to the book and the way Susie narrated made me feel like I was sitting with her and she was reading it to me. I think the author (Alice Sebold) told it like that on purpose, but if not, more power to her.

The place where Susie is stuck, which she calls the "Inbetween" (between Earth and Heaven) is heavenly in that she doesn't age (as the characters do in the story, she stays exactly the same as the day she died) but the people she meets and friends she makes still do kind of earthly things. She talks about going to school, except she "could run through the halls yelling and nobody would care."

I don't want to give a too in-depth review because it might spoil some things (or I may have already, in which case I'm sorry). There is a lot to love about the characters; there are quite a few main characters that progress the story after Susie dies. Her father, Jack; her mother, Abigail; her younger sister, Lindsey; her younger brother, Buckley; her grandma, Lynn; and her killer, Mr. Harvey (who is played by the amazing Stanley Tucci in the movie adaptation, and who subsequently got nominated for an Oscar for his role).

Speaking of the movie, which I saw several months ago before reading the book (I had no clue there was a book when I saw the movie), I thought that the movie was well written and superbly cast. It was directed by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong, District 9) and I felt that he did a pretty good job at staying as true to the book as possible. However, the book spans almost a decade after Susie's death whereas the movie spans only a couple of years after her death if I remember correctly. Also in the movie, I felt some of the characters did not get as much backstory as they did in the book. I do realize it's difficult for a book to be adapted into a movie because the people working on the conversion process have a lot on their shoulders (dealing with the fans of the book and staying true to it, while trying to create a good movie experience) but with this movie, I think they made it as good as it could be.

For those of you who have seen the movie or plan on seeing it before reading the book, you will know what happens for the most part, but you will be missing out by not reading it. The characters are not as fleshed out in the movie as they are in the book and the story goes quite a bit deeper into the lives of the others, whereas the movie doesn't really explore them.

Overall, I give The Lovely Bones a solid 8 out of 10. It's a great read, but it's not my favorite book of all time, mostly attributed to the fact that I read thrillers, murder mysteries, and the like. This book definitely has some thrilling points and there is a murder, but there's not much mystery being that you are told who kills the main character early on. I felt that the book was more about love and the compassion Susie has for her family, as well as the compassion they have for her, and the difficulty with having to let people go after death. It is a great read for book clubs (I believe it was on Oprah's list at one time) and is geared more for women; however, I think it is a classic in and of itself and would recommend it to anyone who loves reading just because it is a truly interesting read.

Thanks for reading and be sure to comment! Also be sure to pick up this book if it sounds like something you'd enjoy!

Holiday

I hope all of you had an amazing Christmas!! If you don't celebrate Christmas, then I hope you had a fantastic holiday!! I hope you got everything you wanted! Oh my sis got a Nook! I'm suppose to get more soon. Yay! My parents said they didn't know I wanted one so they are going to give me the money to get it! I'm so excited!

My Gifts:
Gossip Girl season 3
Bones season 5
Dollhouse season 2
Smallville season 9
Jumper
The Day After Tomorrow
A Nail Kit
A Makeup Kit
$50 Starbucks gift card
A shirt
Money
Turtles
Shaving Cream/Razor
 RoadTrip (which is a thing to hook my iPhone up to my car)
A Holiday in Handcuffs
Of course CANDY!!!

In my hometown we actually got snow on Christmas Day for the first time since 1993! We got some serious snow too!! It snowed all through the night and into the morning! It's so beautiful. I, however, have not even been out in it yet!!! But I'm trying to convince my grams to go out with me. So I better go get dressed very warm!! I hope everyone else is having fun also!

Update- reading Evermore. It's good so far. I'm only on page 68. Haven't really had time to read since I've had all these DVDs calling my name!! Hah!

Happy Readings to All! (Or Happy DVDs to All)

Personal Demons Review

Do you guys remember me telling y'all I won the ARC of Personal Demons, well I just now got around to reading it and finishing it. Hah! Yay me! Next, I'm starting Evermore: The Immortals.

Synopsis: (back cover)

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn't know is that Luc is on a mission. He's been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie's soul. It should be easy--all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can't be far behind. And sure enough, it's not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie's soul.

But if Luc fails, then will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever read a book and thought, this would be so much better if it had a different author?!? Well that’s what I thought throughout this entire book. I did not like the author’s style of writing at all! It was really annoying. Of course it was her first book, so I’m cutting her some slack. It did end up getting better towards the ending.

It really pissed me off that we didn’t get any of Gabe’s POV! The author never even gave him a chance. It really wasn’t a love triangle at all. It was more of Luc and Frannie with tidbits of Gabe, here and there. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t made up my decision about who I like the best. The readers don’t get a chance to get to know Gabe, like we do Luc. So it’s really an unfair advantage. 

Rate: 3/5

Happy Readings to All! 

Urge (and responsibility) to Blog

So it's near one o'clock but I got the urge to blog. I've just been up on the computer for awhile since I've been away from home for about a week. I'm glad to be back home and enjoy the rest of Christmas break. I'll try not to ramble too much. This is a book-ish blog so I guess I should talk about a book.

So yesterday (well actually two days ago--Saturday) I finished the fourth Rizzoli and Isles novel Body Double by the extremely talented Tess Gerritsen. I actually became a big fan of the show and then realized there were books, so of course I got into them. It's a bit strange that I'm so enthralled by the series, but I love murder mysteries and thrillers. So I was immediately drawn to this series. Her books are PHENOMENAL, honestly.

First off, the characters actually make me feel connected to them in that they are irreplaceable (cue Beyonce song, "to the left, to the left"). The storylines are amazing as well, and everything is described in such detail I get thrown into the story. I guess that's a little cliche but it's the God honest truth. There's always a twist (of course) in most murder novels, but in this series there is a brain exploding twist that makes you feel like you should have known. Even after four of her novels, I still am unable to 100% complete the mystery before it's revealed. However, in the one I just finished I actually came about 94% close to the solution to the mystery.

The first two books were about Jane Rizzoli only, then Maura Isles is introduced in the third book, The Sinner. The books and show are much different because they obviously can't fit a whole book into an hour-long show each week; however, one of the episodes was based on the first book The Surgeon.

These books will have your heart pumping and adrenaline running, which is a difficult thing for me because I watch scary/horror/thriller movies and shows all the time (take Dexter, courtesy of the last post). The novels are by no means "scary" like supernatural or anything (like what you readers are most likely more acquainted with) but are more thrilling in their nature.

Just because it may not sound like "your type of book/genre," you might be surprised how enjoyable they are.

Books in Order of Publication:

• The Surgeon
• The Apprentice
• The Sinner
• Body Double

So here is the section where I tell a fact about me and the book I'm currently reading. Another fact about me is that I'm a Macintosh fanatic. There. Now let the hate mail ensue.

I was intensely reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter in the last post, but I kind of strayed. I can't really say I'm reading one book because I normally start about three to five but mainly focus on one.

My "subordinate reads":

1. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
2. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
3. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

My "main read":

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Au revoir readers. Keep on reading. In case I don't blog before Christmas/the New Year, Merry Christmas (screw "happy holidays") and Happy New Year! Woot: 2011!

Firelight Review

Wow guys, I'm on a roll!! Two book reviews the day after each other! Oh Yeah!

 

 Firelight

Synopsis: (Inside Cover)

A Hidden Truth.
Mortal Enemies.
Doomed Love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away--if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.  

My Thoughts:

Wow..............I really love this book. It was so different from all the other books that I have read. I have never read a book about draki. It was purely amazing! Nowadays all you see is vampire books or werewolves. Ok people, seriously it gets old after a while! Ever since Twilight got made into a movie, all the authors seem to write are vampires! Give us a break! Please! Hah. Anyways, this book was highly different then what you see on shelves now. The author, Sophie Jordan, really wrote the romance in this book, greatly and not too overbearing. It wasn't all just some sappy love story. It actually had some action. I never saw dragons are loving creatures, until I read this book. This is really random, but I love the name "Jacinda". 
Jacinda was faced with a lot of difficulties everyday. Her pride was controlling her and her mom also. Every way she turned she was being told what to do and what not to do. I felt really sorry for her. Everyone kept secrets from, even all the way to the end of the book. 
Well I don't want to ruin any of it for you. I highly recommend this book though!! Can't wait to fins out what happens next.....

Happy Readings to All!!

13 Little Blue Envelopes Review

So I started 13 Little Blue Envelopes about three days ago and just finished the book. Once I turned the last page I was like that can not be it!!! I've gotta know what happens!! I just look on Maureen Johnson's website. Her website is really pretty, you should check it out. Anyways, I found out there is going to be a sequel! YAY! It comes out spring 2011. It's called The Last Little Blue Envelope.

Synopsis: (Back of the book)

Would you follow the directions?
Would you travel around the world?
Would you open the envelopes one by one?
Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.
Inside envelope 2 are directions to specific London flat
The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.
Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a plawright/thief/bloke-about-town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous-- though utterly romantic--results. But will she ever see him again?

Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.

My thoughts........

I actually really liked this book. I even surprised myself, with how much I liked it. I was excepting it to be a cheesy love story, but it was far from it. Don't get me wrong, there is a love story, but it isn't overbearing. I had to keep reading and turning the pages to find out what the next task was. Her Aunt Peg was really a crazy one. Hah. In my paperback of the book, it had extras. It contained an interview with the author, Maureen Johnson, and also the character, Keith Dobson. I loved Keith. He was perfect for Ginny.

All of the task her aunt sent her on, really helped Ginny opened up to her full potential. If it hadn't have been for the letters, then Ginny would have never done any of those things. Before the letters, Ginny was a quiet, shy, stay-to-herself kind of girl. The letters really helped her to get out and experience the good (sometimes bad) parts of the world. 

I don't know if I would have been able to do all what Aunt Peg wanted Ginny to do. She couldn't contact any one in the U.S. That would be hard for me, not to be able to talk to my friends. I, also, don't think I would have been able to sustain myself from opening all of the envelopes at once. In the end the 13th letter got stolen from her........I wondered if she will ever get it back..? I seriously cannot wait until the 2nd book comes out! I really want to know what happens with her and Keith!!

Happy Readings to All!!  

Teaser (Tuesday) on Wednesday!

Ok, as you all know, I'm a HUGE slacker!! So that's why this teaser Tuesday is a day late and being done on Wednesday! Aren't I the best? Jk. Well I started 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and I haven't really been able to put it down since! It is such a cute book! I just have to keep turning the page to find out what the next task her Aunt has sent her on. I highly recommend it!

Teaser:
"She followed the tour group out of the Colosseum and meandered along with them for almost an hour, stewing over this latest command. Go and see old virgins! Now ask a strange boy out, you shy, retarded thing!"


Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson


Update: I'm on page 168 out of 336.

New Addition to the Blog

Hello all,

I suppose I've been formally introduced in the last blog post by its creator, so thank you for having me. I was called on to come and write posts occasionally about the books I read but hopefully I will be posting regularly. I will try to share things about myself that way you can get to know me and I will most definitely be bringing a variety of book genres to this blog.

The books I read tend to be more of the murder mystery and psychological thriller types, but I also enjoy a good humorous or satirical book. I also am trying to read some of the "classics" but overall I'm just exploring different genres in literature because I aspire to become a writer myself one day.

This was just a brief introduction and I hope to be blogging more soon to all you readers. With each post, I'll try to share at least one piece of information with you about myself and the book I'm currently reading.

This post's tidbit is that I'm currently reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. It is now on the Showtime channel and has been running for five seasons; it's been picked up for a sixth.

And a fact about myself is that this is my 32nd book since July 1st. I know that seems like a strange fact to keep up with the number of books, but I'll elaborate more in the next post as to why that's so important.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

J. Pardue

Be sure to check out my blog (which I've been slacking off with lately) at: http://www.fujitsumaniac.wordpress.com

And hit me up on Twitter: @Pardooki

Early Christmas Present!

Guess what guys............ I have another author on my blog now. He is one of my closet friends. I asked him to be an administrator, since I've been really slacking on my duties as a blogstress! Yes, I'm completely aware that I just created a word. Which, personally, I think is wicked! Anyways, totally distracted there for a bit. I'm so busy with High school, college, and work that I don't have enough time to read as much as I use to. A few years ago, I read about a book or two a day! Now it takes me several weeks to complete one.
Another reason I asked him to team up was because he reads different kinds of books than me. So maybe we can hit a wider range of follower's interest. Plus he is like ten times better writer than I! Lol

Update: I finally finished Hunted (A House of Night Novel). I will try my best to post "what I think" by the end of the week.

Happy Readings to You All!! 

Teaser Tuesday!

So I was over visiting Lexie's  blog, which is http://booklover-bookchicks.blogspot.com/, when I noticed the whole thing about Teaser Tuesday. I thought it sounded like a pretty wicked idea. Soooo I've decided to do it too! Whoop Whoop.

"Let's get it straight right now that I'm not sharin' my bed with no one," Kramisha said, weaving her head around and looking bored and pissed off at the same time.
"Kramisha, I told you about a zillion times, don't make an issue outta somethin' that isn't one," Stevie Rae said.


Title: Hunted (A House of Night Novel) 
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast


Update: I'm on page 303 of 323! So most likely I'll be finishing it up this afternoon! Whoop Whoop!

Happy Readings to You All!!