Review: Shooting Stars

Title: Shooting Stars
Author: Allison Rushby
Published: February 28, 2012
Source: eGalley

Synopsis:

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

Review:
Shooting Stars will capture your attention and make you see stars. Shooting Stars was and easy enjoyable read and I loved it! It was so cute and just what I wanted at the moment. It was the first book I have finished in 3 weeks. Every other book I have given up on because I didn't like them.

Cover:
The cover is what originally drew me to the book. I loved how the flash is a heart and she's at the forefront of the  crowd! Which is sooo true in the book! :)

Plot/Writing:
The plot had a very good flow to it. The way the book was written made sense, it wasn't all over the place with random facts that made no sense to the story. I felt myself smiling and laughing as the story progressed. The writing was very good, there were some things that I felt were a little repetitive, but it made sense on how it was written.

Characters:
Jo is a determined little spit fire of a girl. She doesn't let anyone push her around and is set on what she wants to do. She has a very clear conscience though. Even though she takes a job she doesn't feel is right, she feels guilty as she takes every picture. She believes in what is right and in the end does what is right.

The there's Ned. I loved Ned. He was so sweet and not to mention sexy! Which even makes Jo notice him. Which is a tough feat. He cares about everything and isn't afraid to show it. He is one of those trust worthy/swoon worthy guys that everyone wants!

All in All:
I really enjoyed this book. If your looking for a nice easy read then Shooting Stars is for you. 4 out of 5 Tacos! :)

Friday 56: 3/30/12

This weekly meme is hosted by Freda's Voice!!!

Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Turn to page 56

• Find any sentence that grabs you

• Post it

• Add your URL to her Linky!

"But how do you know the difference between a demonic reaper and an angelic reaper? Like, really know without testing with angelfire. It's not like tattooed on their foreheads or anything. Do they feel different to you? A vir reaper is just a vir reaper until it tries to kill me, and then I know it's demonic."
Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Alison Moulton

Waiting on Wednesday: 3/28/12

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!

This week I'm waiting on Arise by Tara Hudson!

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

Release: June 5, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: 3/27/12

This lovely weekly feature is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Rules:

• Grab your current read!

• Open to a random page

• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page!

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

• Share the title and author!

"I love you"
"I know."
"Why are you so crotchety tonight?" She tugged even harder on my hair, and my head tilted back to look up at her. - Page 102 of Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Alison Moulton

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have)

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.
If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.
In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time. --bn.com

In lieu of this book, I have made my own list entitled Ten Things I Didn't Do (And Probably Should Have):


1.My math homework
2.Any reviews for the month of February
3.Finish my ever growing pile of unfinished books
4.My laundry
5.Practice my flute
6.Clean the red crayons out of the bottom of my backpack
7.Finish that  last episode of Castle
8.Write my word goal yesterday
9.Stop procrastinating
10.Sleep


This book was a very quick and easy read. It was fun and cute, and yet I felt that out main character April was a bit naive. Maybe I'm just mature for my age, but I felt that she made some pretty rash decisions, that I would never make. Ever. But maybe the no parents thing had something to do with it.


April and her friend Vi together have many problems. Vi seems a bit OCD sometimes, and has a bit of issues that I don't know that I want to spoil, but she's a nice girl. April's boyfriend, Noah is... Interesting. I didn't like him very much, right from the start. Hudson on the other hand...


But I digress. This book is awesome. It was real and down to earth, and everything had a consequence, which I found nice considering not everything I read does that. I absolutely adored it though, and the ending was just perfect. 36 out of 51 tacos! (If I could get a picture of a taco with a bite out of it, I totally would.)

Notes To Self

Two climbed up. Two fell down.
One woke up.
In the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, Robin Saunders has to relearn who she is and find out what happened the night everything changed. --goodreads.com

When I started this book, I figured it'd be somewhat along the lines of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac. A happy, if slightly resentful book about a girl learning who she really was, blah blah blah. You know, the classic tale.


Boy, was I wrong.


This book was very guilty. That was one of the strongest themes throughout. Robin's best friend is in a coma because of what they did, and she's fine. Well, not fine. Unlike Teenage Amnesiac, she has issues with the amnesia. She can't stand loud noises, she's forgetful.Robin realizes she's lonely. She's depressed and has to figure things out all over again.


In the end, I felt as if the book ended like it theoretically should end. All loose ends tied up, dainty and happy. I didn't feel like it was the ending that the book deserved. There was closure, sure, but not really. I didn't feel it. I give this book 28 out of 51 tacos, which I'm sure you bright people can figure out is 3 tacos on this new rating system. Give this book a chance if you want a quick read that doesn't leave you hanging at all.

Friday 56: 3/23/12

This weekly meme is hosted by Freda's Voice!!!

Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Turn to page 56

• Find any sentence that grabs you

• Post it

• Add your URL to her Linky!

"Something tore at me heart a little, at the thought of Jack and Jules together. Maybe I was imagining it. Tasting the air was still so new to me, I didn't' know which emotions belonged to the people around me and which ones were mine."
Page 56 of Everneath by Brodi Ashton 

Review: Die For Me

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Published: May 10, 2011
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Review:

"Would you risk your life for love?" This question is on the cover of the book, and it’s defiantly answered! My.Oh.My! This book was amazing, just the right amount of paranormal fiction and love for me! A job well done Amy Plum!

Let’s start with Kate! She has just lost her parents and to say she’s heart-broken is an understatement! She is crushed and really doesn’t know what to do with herself. At the beginning of the book, she’s this scared girl who doesn’t really know what to do with herself! Yet, she meets an interesting person and she blossoms into this grownup 17 year old who can take down anything that stands in her way!

Then there’s Vincent! OHMIGOSH!! Yes my screaming fan girl comes out! He is everything you would want in a guy all wrapped up in one. Handsome, chivalrous, sexy, and a little or maybe a lot, dangerous! He is this mysterious French man Kate meets in a little cafe that Kate likes. He immediately draws her attention and then boom! She gets thrown into his world!

I absolutely love this book! It’s another one that is going onto my shelf to read again! I hope there will be a sequel so we can continue on with the story! It is worth it to read and if you’re looking for a laugh, or just some romance, then this is the book for you!! Enjoy!!

P dot S: This is an old review refurbished for a new purpose! :)

Waiting on Wednesday: 3/21/12

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!

This week I'm waiting on Gravity by Melissa West!

In the future, only one rule will matter: Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed--arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know--especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Released:  October 2012

Breaking Dawn Part 2 Teaser!

Well guys, here marks the beginning of the anticipation for the next movie! I can't wait for the movies to be done and have my collection complete!

So what did y'all think? I've already watched it about 5 times and I'm most likely going to watch it many more times throughout the day! :)

Teaser Tuesday: 3/20/12

This lovely weekly feature is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Rules:

• Grab your current read!

• Open to a random page

• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page!

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

• Share the title and author!

"Because I'd have to use my own energy." When I protested he continued. "Too much time has passed since I've been in the Everneath. I don't have any extra energy to waste giving you the five-cent tour."
Page 94 of Everneath by Brodi Ashton 

Review: The Académie

Title: The Académie
Author: Susanne Dunlap
Published: February 28, 2012
Source: eGalley

Synopsis:

Eliza Monroe—daughter of the future president of the United States—is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris. But the young American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when—ooh, la-la!—she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte; and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general. It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies—and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes.
Loosely drawn from history, Eliza Monroe's imagined coming of age provides a scintillating glimpse into the lives, loves, and hopes of three young women during one of the most volatile periods in French history. 

Review:
I got 70 pages in and I gave up. My attention was grabbed by the synopsis, but it wasn't kept with the writing. I thought this was going to be a good book, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

Cover:
The cover describes the book perfectly. This cover is exactly what the book is about. It shows how the girl really are.

Writing/Plot:
I didn't get very far, but the plot was sort of boring. I wasn't interested in the story line. It just seemed like nothing was going to happen in the 300-something pages and I didn't want to read about nothing.
The book was actually very well written. There was some formatting errors, but other than that, nothing was wrong with the writing. It was written in older writing though and that was a little difficult to understand, plus half of it was in French and wasn't translated.

Characters:
Eliza was very boring. She was all about image it seemed. Very self-adsorbed and about who she is seen with. Sure that is my take on her, but she was still undecided when I put the book down.
There is Hortense, and she seems very nice. She doesn't seem to care about what goes on, as long as she doesn't get in trouble for it and everything is safe in her world.
But Caroline is the most self-adsorbed of them all. She wants to have everyone under her control and if she doesn't have it then, well, she's not a very happy camper.

All in All:
I wasn't into this book. All the girls seemed self-possessed and pompous. It wasn't the book for me. 2 out of 5 Tacos!

Cover Reveal!

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie. 

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life. 

She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar. 

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation. 

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

Isn't that cover gorgeous! Can't wait to read this one! :) 

Review: Gift

Title: Gift
Author: Andrea J. Buchanan
Published: March 17, 2012
Source: eGalley

Synopsis:

High school sophomore Daisy Jones is just trying to get by unnoticed. It doesn't help that she's the new girl at school, lives in a trailer park, and doesn't even own a cell phone. But there's a good reason for all that: Daisy has a secret, unpredictable power-one only her best friend, Danielle, knows about. Despite her "gift" (or is it a curse?), Daisy's doing a good job of fitting in-and a cute senior named Kevin even seems interested in her! But when Daisy tries to help Vivi, a mysterious classmate in a crisis, she soon discovers that her new friend has a secret of her own. Now Daisy and her friends must deal with chilling dreams and messages from the beyond. Can Daisy channel the power she's always tried to hide-before it's too late? Extra features include:
A short graphic novel illustrated by Alexis Seabrook, telling Vivi's story
Danielle's journal, revealing her deepest thoughts.

Review:
The book captured my interest from the synopsis. It was very interesting and I liked the idea of it. Then I started reading it.. and I didn't like it.

Cover:
The picture is a little grainy but I really liked the color. It was purple, so I instantly loved it!

Writing/Plot:
The writing and plot wasn't superb. The story line was a little dull. Nothing much was happening and the things that were happening weren't very interesting or explained well enough. It was like we had to strain to understand what was going on. I didn't finish the book. About a 150 pages in I gave up.
The writing had some flaws. I know that it was an early release copy so it wasn't going to be perfect, but there were some major mistakes. Before each chapter, which I couldn't tell if it was a new chapter or not, I kind of guessed, there was this little paragraph that made no sense to the story.. It was interesting.

The Characters:
Daisy was very introverted. She only has one friend and she is very sectioned off from her life. She seems very determined though. She's inquisitive and has a very different power. The power isn't explained throughout the story so you're left wondering what the power is exactly.

Vivi, Danielle and Kevin are all very different. Vivi is sort of suicidal and a little odd. Danielle is the typical teenager and is just dealing with the usual issues a teenager deals with, plus Vivi's and Daisy's problems. The there is Kevin... Kevin is frankly quite creepy and to me a little stalkerish... Just my opinion..

All in all:
I didn't enjoy this book. I couldn't finish it. It wasn't up my alley and not my forte. 2 out of 5 tacos!

Friday 56: 3/16/12

This weekly meme is hosted by Freda's Voice!!!

Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Turn to page 56

• Find any sentence that grabs you

• Post it

• Add your URL to her Linky!

"My second-favorite story is the Year of Dreams, when we began trying to understand the hot mud pits and everyone started hallucinating from inhaling the fumes around them." He flipped through the book, steady-handed, sure of himself.
Page 56 of Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Waiting on Wednesday: 3/14/12

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!

This week I'm waiting on Embers and Echoes by Karsten Knight! 

Ashline Wilde is about to discover that when you’re the reincarnation of a Polynesian volcano goddess, “new beginnings” are just a myth. 

Leaving the fiery ruins of her sophomore year behind her, Ash travels to the sizzling beaches of Miami, hot on the trail of the little sister she’s only seen in visions. But her happy family reunion isn’t all palm trees and paradise. A cult of evil gods-on-earth, known as the Four Seasons, has kidnapped her sister to use in its terrifying new religion. Soon, the streets of Miami erupt in chaos and violence…and Ash gets caught right in the tropical crossfire 

Ash isn’t without help, however. Unexpected romance arrives in the form of Wes, an Aztec god of night with his own vendetta against the Four Seasons. As memories of Ash’s previous life begin to flicker into her dreams, the boundaries between ally and enemy, life and death, and love and hate all bleed together. And when a mysterious trickster from her past reappears to derail her new quest, Ash must choose between the echoes of a once-forgotten yesterday and the embers of an uncertain future. 

Because when old flames return from the dead, even a volcano goddess can get burned. 

Release: August 8, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: 3/13/12

This lovely weekly feature is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Rules:

• Grab your current read!

• Open to a random page

• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page!

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

• Share the title and author!

"That's why I had to go out and find a new one. The others all left me." He winked before I could tell if her was serious. "When we go to Heart, I'll introduce you to anyone you want to meet. Even the friends I don't deserve."

Page 70 of Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Review: On the Bright Side

Title: On the Bright Side
Author: S.R. Johannes
Published: January 31, 2012
Source: Review copy

Synopsis:

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, SkyFones and InnerNets are all the rage. At her first Bright ceremony, G.O.D., the automated assignment system, spits out Angela Black, Gabby’s arch nemesis and longtime fencing rival. As a Bright, Gabby has to protect Angela, her assigned mortal, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven.
Back on earth, Angela starts hitting on Michael, Gabby’s crush and should-have-been boyfriend. Gabby’s pranks to quell the love are harmless at first until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, Celestial Sky Agent, Lawrence, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, steps into reveal that Angela has big problems, and what she really needs is Gabby’s help.
Determined to right her wrong and ease her mother’s grief, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to earth for just one day. But if Gabby’s not careful, her well-meaning mission just might shift the very foundation of Heaven, Earth, and every place in between, causing the danger of the dark side to roam free.
Determined to right her wrong and ease her mother’s grief, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to earth for just one day. But if Gabby’s not careful, her well-meaning mission just might shift the very foundation of Heaven, Earth, and every place in between, causing the danger of the dark side to roam free.

Review:
I was really interested in Gabby's story. It was an new take on a haunting ghost story. On the Bright Side is a MG book and it wasn't really up my alley, but S.R. Johannes wrote it in such a way that it was.

Cover:
The cover was so cute and fun! It ft the story perfectly and what Gabby was like perfectly! Well.. Minus her white fat pants her mom buries her in! :) Plus, I want those shoes.

Plot/Writing:
The story was okay.. I found myself wanting the book to end, it seemed like it just went on and on.. I really did like it... It was just a little young for my taste. The writing was really good. She described everything and I could visualize everything that was going on.

Characters:
I loved Gabby. She was a ball full of sarcastic energy.. She reminded me of myself.. A lot actually. She is quirky and maybe just a little bitter. But I mean, who wouldn't be when they were just killed? Gabby just can't seem to stay outta trouble.. She always knows the right buttons to push with her Sky Agent! :)

All the other characters are perfect for the story! They all have great motivations and they are fully developed. Each and every one of them had different personalities that made them unique and made me want to read about them. I even used Angela as an example for a paper in English class!

All in All:
This book was okay, if you want an easy read then definitely pick this one up! It's a quick easy read and you should like it! :) 3 out of 5 tacos!