Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Haze by Paula Weston (Review)



Genre:
Paranormal, Angels, YA
Publication Date:September 9, 2014
Pages:448
Published By:  Tundra Books
WebsiteHaze on Goodreads

Paula Weston Website
My review copy: Provided for honest review from publisher

Where to get:



Gaby Winters' life used to be pretty normal. She lived with her best friend. She worked in a library. She was slowly getting over the death of her twin brother, Jude. And then Rafa came looking for her.

With him, her blood-soaked nightmares stopped. But now they are reality. She is one of the Rephaim - a wingless half angel, descended from the Fallen. Demons exist and they are hunting her.

She knows she's alive when she's meant to be dead. And that means maybe Jude is too. So why isn't she out there looking for him?
(Goodreads)


That other history between us, the one he won't tell me about, melts away under the warm sun.  And then Rafa kisses me, not with the urgency of our last encounter, but softly, thoughtfully.
  Do they blame me for Jude's death too?  Or have I done things over the years to make them despise me the way that Rafa despises Daniel?  Either way, there's no love here.
  I try to imagine a situation when I wouldn't support someone    anyone    questioning authority.  I can't.




  This series is a serious break from the usual when it comes to angels. Shadows blew me away, and I would be lying if I said that I was prepared to be let down by Haze. When it comes to angels, it is often the same thing, followed up with a love triangle of some sort. Paula Weston created and carried on with this original, and captivating story without skipping a beat. 

  There is a consistency in the pacing that I can’t help but admire. I'm not saying it is even, because it isn't. Yet, saying it is slow at any given time is just as incorrect. With these books, and this one in particular its more like a constant pull, accented by moments that you can’t turn the pages fast enough. Now, in order to have a book that doesn't bore you, it’s more than just pacing, it’s the setting, the plot and the characters as well. Shadow’s set the pace and started everything, Haze just picked up where it left and added to it all. There’s hardly a dull moment, and everything just keeps expanding. What I enjoy about this expansion is that despite it, I never have trouble seeing the characters, where they are and appropriately categorizing what is going on.

  Gaby did make some growth movement in this book but not much. This being said she was already a strong character that had the ability to question things when needed, and make her own decisions. She still does have her moments where her decisions are split second but even when I question these decisions, she seems to come through with logical reasoning. I often feel her frustration with her inability to recall her past, and understand that not knowing simply complicates everything further. However, I have a firm belief that her inability to remember her past, is making her stronger this time around. Her judgement is not clouded by what has been fed to her by others, and she can see the light from different angles now.

  There was a kind of progress in the romance department in this book.  I also really started to like Rafa, despite his serious cold shoulder issue.  There is a reason, and most of it is respect for Gabrielle (who Gaby used to be), but there seems to be less and less standing in the way.  Gaby is slowly breaking him down and their relationship is starting to become something.  There is so much that could go wrong, and yet things are finally starting to feel right.  This may also be because there is development from each side as well. Basically Gaby is making up her own mind and in the process she is helping grow the romance.  This isn't saying that there isn't huge ruts that these two go through.  However, I am beyond relieved that there is some give and some movement where there appears to be chemistry.

  This was a great second book.  I loved that I had no problems tearing through this one like I did the first.  Weston has created something with Angels that is different and more importantly lacks the dreaded love triangle that we all hate to love.  I look forward to reading Shimmer in the summer and have no doubt that I will enjoy it just as much as the first two.  With as much action packed into this book there is surely only going to be more in the next, as the story is only gaining speed, and their journey is only really starting.  Pick this up without hesitation if you have read the first book Shadows, or are a fan of angels.  I would also recommend it to those that have taken a hesitant step back from angels, because this story is different.





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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Goals, Goals, Goals + 2014 Challenges

Top 10 Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted over at The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2015

Not fall behind in series. Luckily, this should be a little easier since my goal for this year was to catch up on the series that I had already started. Since that is damn near accomplished, I can now make the effort to not fall behind again. Also, now I can binge on all those series I've been meaning to start!

Read more off my TBR books. I have a lot of books that I really want to read that have been hanging on my TBR list for a while. I would love to read more of those and not get so distracted my new pretties. I did really well on keeping up with review books, which I loved most of, but older books kept getting pushed back. I'd like to read more of those older books.

Read more books I already own. This kind of goes along with reading more off my TBR list. I, like most readers, have a habit of buying new books instead of reading those I already own. Currently I have 66 books that I own and haven't read yet. That hurts my heart. That hurts my bank account, but whatever - some of them were gifts. Beside the point! These 66 books need get read and they need to get read stat.

Keep up with scheduling posts ahead of time. I'm nuts when it comes to this. I've have posts scheduled so far ahead it's almost sickening - reviews, TTTs, discussions, etc. I want to keep this up for next year. It's just kind of freeing to have them scheduled and know if things come up it's not big deal because I'm covered.

More discussions. Already I've gotten a little bit better at posting more discussions - either when they come to more or when there's a lull in my posts I'll type up a new Socratic Seminar. I'm hoping in 2015 it'll become a more regular feature and just not something to fill empty blog space.

Re-read more books. I've been wanting to re-read Pride and Prejudice for I don't know how long. And yet, I don't. There was a time (pre-blogging) that I re-read Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series, although at the time much shorter than its current 41 books, and I loved revisiting the characters and stories. I would like to do this with some other books as well. Once a month I'd likee to pull out an old favorite and experience it all over again (thanks to Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner for that goal within a goal).

Not let the 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge Fall to the wayside. We have a definite plan for our 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge and it's awesome. If you haven't signed up yet, there's still time! After you've read up on the challenge and sign up. Once you're signed up, don't forget to vote for our January Read-A-Long.

2014 Reading Challenges

2014 Reading Challenge
2014 Reading Challenge
Andrea {Bookish} has read 87 books toward her goal of 90 books.
hide


Series Catch Up
27/28
If you follow my Top Ten Tuesday posts, you know that I had set myself a goal to catch up on all series I was in the middle of before beginning new series. The second half of this goal didn't stick to well with I had planned, but of those new series I did start I did not fall behind so I gave myself a pass. I kept track of this goal by using the Spring TBR, Summer TBR, Fall TBR, and Winter TBR topics. Over all, the books total up to be 29 books. It sounds simple, but we're talking about reading these in addition to review books, new pretties, stand alone novels, etc. I also had to contend with release dates as some of the books weren't released when I did certain lists. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty impressed with what I did  :)

Challenge Progress
Challenge Progress
Phantasmic Reads
Challenge Progress


What are your reading/blogging goals for 2015? Do we have any that are similar? How did you do on your 2014 reading challenges? Be sure to leave me a link to your list!
  
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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Just One Night by Gayle Forman (Review)


Series:
Just One Day #3
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction
Publication.Date:May 29, 2014
Pages:40 (Kindle)
Published By:  Viking Children's
Website:Gayle Forman

Just One Night on Goodreads
My review copy:
Bought

Where to get:



After spending one life-changing day in Paris with laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter, sheltered American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey discovered her new lover had disappeared without a trace. Just One Day followed Allyson’s quest to reunite with Willem; Just One Year chronicled the pair’s year apart from Willem’s perspective. Now, back together at last, this delectable e-novella reveals the couple’s final chapter.

(Goodreads)



It isn't a first kiss. It isn't even their first kiss. But if feels like one. Not because it is fumbling or awkward. Not because she doesn't know where to put her hand, or he doesn't know where to put his nose. None of those. They slot together like puzzle pieces. As Allyson and Willem kiss for the first time in a year, both are thinking the same thing: This feels new.
But they both know they will see each other sooner than hat. That they will find each other during the play, once more, in the words of Shakespeare.


All. The. Feels.

While I admit that I was a little bummed Just One Year ended at the same place Just One Day ended, this novella is the perfect ending to Allyson and Willem's story. Watching these two characters spend time together after searching for each other was simply grin worthy.

I loved the first few pages where they just sat wrapped up in each other while catching the other up on the last year. It was simply adorable when Willem went into the kitchen to make tea and told Allyson to "stay here. Don't move" as if she would vanish all over again. Some of my favorite moments are when Willem's friends realize that Allyson is Lulu. Especially Broodje who immediately adopts Allyson as a friend and Dee who is beyond thrilled for his best friend.

Gayle knows how to end a series and this ending is not only perfect, but beautiful. If you haven't read Just One Day or Just One Year yet, I suggest you get on it. Not only because those stories on their own are wonderful, but you need to experience the magic of this ending to fully appreciate the wonder that is Gayle Forman.




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Saturday, December 27, 2014

Announcing January's TBR Pile Read Along!


Hi guys! Thanks for joining our 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge! As you know, every other month we'll be hosting TBR Pile Read-a-Longs to help you (and us!) tackle our TBR Piles :)

Last week we posted a voting poll and asked you to vote on the book you'd like to read together with us in January! And the winner is . . . *drumroll*

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas!

As a bit a side note, there was actually a tie. It ended up being between this book and Steelheart by Brandon Anderson. I planned on flipping a coin, but decided to go this route instead:


I know it's pretty crappy video quality (Blogger's fault) and it's short horizontally (my fault), but this seemed like the fairest way to break the tie.   :)   And if you're wondering, yes. I gave him the treat that was in front of Steelheart too.

About the Book

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Published: August 2, 2012 by Flux
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?


A bit of assistance with names from Sarah's website if you need it.  :)
Read-A-Long Schedule:

There will be two discussion posts. For each discussion we'll be talking about favorite quotes, characters, and scenes!
  • 1/15: Chapters 1-28
  • 1/30: Chapters 28-55
Let's have lots of fun tacking our TBR Piles together and then discussing the books we've read over a cup of delicious tea/coffee :)

Never Too Late To Join!
And remember, it's never to late to sign up for 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge and/or join our monthly Read Alongs, so spread the word and invite your friends to join the fun!

Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines (Review)

Twisted Perfection (Rosemary Beach, #5)
Genre:
New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publication.Date  July 30th, 2013
Pages:247
Published By:  Atria Books
WebsiteAbbi Glines

Twisted Perfection on Goodreads
My review copy:ARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Where to get:





Della Sloane is not your average girl. Yearning to break free of her dark and sheltered past and the memories of the illness that claimed her mother, Della plans a solo road trip to experience real life on her own terms. But the trip is nearly cut short in the little beach town of Rosemary when she realizes she can't even pump her own gas--until Woods Kerrington shows up, more than willing to help out a pretty girl in need.

Woods’s family wants him to settle down with a wealthy woman in pearls, but he can’t resist this carefree girl in cutoffs passing through town. A one-night stand should have been enough, but months later, Woods can't get the irresistible Della out of his head.

When a twist of fate brings Della back to Woods, all signs point to trouble if they don’t keep their distance. Neither is truly free, and a relationship could destroy both of them. With their hearts on the line, Della thinks the safest bet is to walk away. But Woods isn't about to let that happen . . .

(Goodreads)


I eased back onto her bed and she kept her hold on me. I let go long enough to pull the covers over us, then wrapped her up in my arms again and let my eyes close. She was okay. She was safe. 
"Don't cry. I can't stand to see you cry. I just want to make you happy."
His words wrapped around my heart and I knew in that moment I had fallen in love with Woods. It might be stupid for me to love anyone, but I did. I loved him. I couldn't tell him, though. He did't know everything about me, and telling him I loved him was unfair. But I did. I loved him so much.
Woods's hand reached over and covered mine, holding it firmly in his. He didn't look at me. His eyes stared straight ahead at the waves crashing on the shore. When his fingers threaded through mine, I let them. That simple touch was all I needed. Being here with him pushed back all the darkness. All the pain and sorrow was forgotten. I was okay. It felt good.

I was a fan of the Too Far trilogy. I got pulled in with Fallen Too Far, came back again for Never Too Far, and ended up reading Forever Too Far. Overall, I enjoyed that trilogy even though it was a lot of repetitive drama. In that trilogy, I grew to heart Woods. He was nice to Blaire when she needed someone, and he was a good friend. I wanted to read his story and watch him get his happy ending, since he seemed to deserve one.

Then I got Twisted Perfection. Started it forever ago--beginning of this year, I think? I'm not sure--but then I put it down because I found out something that would happen in the next book and it pissed me off. I had no idea when I'd pick this one back up. But then it was Christmas. I finished Wicked by JLA and needed something fluffy to bridge into whatever I'll read next. So I grabbed Twisted Perfection and finished it.

Oh dear. This did not go anywhere near my expectations. And, unfortunately, that is not a good thing.

Right now I kind of feel like if you've read one or two--maybe three--Abbi Glines books, you've read them all. Pretty much the same stuff happens every time, but different details are used.

There was Blaire: mom just died, dad absent but she wanted to go to him to help her anyway. Beautiful. Innocent.

Now there's Della: mom died, dad not there (though this one for a much more sad reason), and she left to get away. Beautiful. Innocent.

Their physical attributes are different and their backstories are not the same, but everything else? SAME. If I didn't know this was supposed to be Della, I'd think I'd missed a book and something traumatic happened to Blaire to give her weird flashbacks. Della and Blaire's voices are that coinciding.

And then there's Woods and Rush, and I don't need to list out things for them. Only difference there? Rush's dad is a rockstar. Oh, and Woods has a family empire to lead. But their mannerisms and whatnot were the same.

Twisted Perfection felt like another Blaire and Rush story. I highly enjoyed that couple. I would not have had a problem with another one--so long as it was actually a NEW one and not just the same thing regurgitated over and over. Love, hugs, kisses, Nan interferes, oh wait I love you most, repeat. It actually probably would have made an amazing book if Blaire HAD gone through something traumatic and then another book was written as the result. Interesting, fun, and not annoying.

But this book is not that book. This is Woods and Della, however similar to the first couple they may be. And I did not like these two. Della was weak. And I don't mean because of her issues. I mean because she let Woods get away with so much crap. Where was her backbone? Woods was engaged. She knew this, and he was the one choosing to do things, and yet she still saw him as the victim. Woods was a GROWN MAN. There is no "I have no choice OMG I'll never be happy." He needed to stand up for himself. He didn't need pity and someone else to agree with his excuses.

And Woods. It irked me how he didn't stand up for himself. It also annoyed me how he was engaged to Angelina, yet he kept on barking up the Della tree. Wishy washy to the core, this guy, and I got so irritated with it.

Oh, and their friends! They KNEW Woods was engaged. They reminded him of this fact over and over. But still they updated him on all things Della.

"I'm totally trying to get with her tonight, man. I know you'll be pissed, but whatever. She's worth it."
"Don't you dare, asshat." *glares*
"Whoa whoa whoa. You're engaged, Woods."

"Tripp's coming back and I think it's for Della."
"SAY WHAT" *growls*
"Dude. You're engaged."

Really. He's engaged. But they all did this. They told him things, he reacted, and then they were like "You're engaged, Woods, take a chill pill." WHY would they inform him of things, then? Why enable him to bark up that Della tree? It made no sense.

So the first half of the romance grated on my nerves. When Woods was still playing puppet and with Angelina. After he broke it off with her, it got infinitely better, and I enjoyed the second half of the romance. I was skeptical since he knew virtually nothing about Della--they'd never really talked about much of anything--but their romance grew on me and made me swoon several times.

The rest of the story wasn't bad. I got through it pretty quickly. It was just...typical Abbi Glines. If you love her, pick this one up. If you're on the fence with her and you've read the Too Far trilogy, it's probably best to skip. And if you hate her books, well... you already know.

Now the question is: Will I read the sequel?

Probably, yes. Because I read this one, and now I'm curious about their full story. And I know a certain THING is going to happen in the next one, and I know it's going to make me so angry, but I'd like to see how it happens. I want to hate that part for the right reasons. And who knows, maybe the book as a whole will work for me. Maybe Della and Woods will establish themselves. And their romance shouldn't be an issue for me anymore, since Woods already broke it off with Angelina.

So yeah. I'll read the next one. Book by Abbi Glines have this way of making me devour them even when I'd most likely rather not. I've learned to live with it.




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