tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85936054944280699002024-02-20T06:21:01.897-08:00Book Nerd and ProudUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-47145683354079082972014-01-17T18:27:00.000-08:002014-01-17T18:29:30.016-08:00Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337042881l/9565548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337042881l/9565548.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a><span id="freeText17988698845148918624"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?</em><br /><br />Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.<br /><br />Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?</span></span><br />
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Title: Grave Mercy<br />
Series: His Fair Assassin #1<br />
Published: April 3rd 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt<br />
ISBN: 054762834X <span class="greyText">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9780547628349</span>)</span> <br />
<span class="greyText"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grave-mercy-robin-lafevers/1104512967?ean=9780547628349">Barnes&Noble</a>|</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Mercy-Fair-Assassin-Trilogy/dp/B00CF5Q8BS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375649087&sr=8-1&keywords=grave+mercy">Amazon</a><br />
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First review of the New Year!<br />
Hey fellow readers, it's been awhile! Not going to lie, I almost forgot the password to the blogger account. I know, this is sad. I've kept putting off reviewing this book, and it's about time I sit down and write it.<br />
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This book was freaking amazing.<br />
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Ismae is a girl who runs away from an arranged marriage to one horrendous man. Basically, he was a woman beater. With the help from the priest who married them, Ismae runs away a covent where she is told she the the daughter of St. Mortain, the god of Death. -cue eerie music- She is trained as an assassin to kill those with the mark of Mortain and to carry out his will. While she holds no qualms to kills a traitor with her training, she is uncomfortable when she must pose as Duval's mistress, and her task is to investigate him. Of course, like any good story, Duval is a teasing, handsome man that makes her job so much harder.<br />
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Ismae is an amazing character who is strong willed and lets nothing stand in her way, including death. Her bracelets are made of a wire so that she can garrote a man, she has a knife that can fit into her corset, and pearls that are poisonous. Those nuns have trained her well.<br />
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Everyone should pick up this book if they get a chance, because as a I mentioned before...it's freaking amazing.<br />
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I've missed you all!<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
C.J.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-70098845374441722522013-09-28T18:37:00.000-07:002013-10-01T18:38:00.240-07:00Review: Broken Stone by Kelly Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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UNABLE TO AVOID HER DESTINY ANY LONGER, Emariya has become the leader her mother always envisioned. Before she can focus on embracing her gifts to unify her three lands, she must first stop her own land from dissolving into civil war. Spurred by her brother’s devious policies and thirst for power, the people of the Uplands have surged into revolt. If Emariya cannot convince her own people to stand down and follow her, she will never convince her uncle she can lead all three lands. And he’s only given her half a year to do it.<br />
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AS SHE TRIES TO WIN HER OWN PEOPLE'S HEARTS, the love of her life, Torian Ahlen begins to lose his mind. While Torian is driven into a dark depression by his visions of Terin, Emariya realizes the only way to bring him back from the brink is to confront her brother once and for all and rescue Torian's sister. Unfortunately, because of the pull of the stones, his sister isn’t sure she wants to be rescued.<br />
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IF EMARIYA IS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE AT SAVING TORIAN'S MIND and his sister’s virtue, she will have to go directly to the source, those that bestowed the gifts (or curse) in the first place. But will whoever is waiting at The Cradle Of The Three be willing to help her? Her only chance to get Terin away from Reeve will be to nullify the pull of the Stones, accepting whatever changes that may mean for her and Torian.<br />
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Title: Broke Stone<br />
Series: Souls of the Stones #3<br />
Publisher: Kelly Walker (May 22, 2013)<br />
ASIN: B00CYHVE16<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-stone-kelly-walker/1115408707?ean=2940016675244" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Stone-Souls-Stones-ebook/dp/B00CYHVE16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378175983&sr=8-1&keywords=Broken+Stone" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Warning: Again. If you haven't read the previous two books, which I will link, and you willingly read this review, don't be surprised when you run into spoilers. I feel like I can't write this review without them, and now you can't complain, because you've been forewarned. No worries, there aren't any spoilers from this book though. </span></div>
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This book--wait, this entire series has been so completely amazing (and is now one of my favorites, I am dying to buy the books and just cast them loving looks every time I pass by, is that weird?) and has made me excited to read. It's these kind of books that make me love reading, and are totally the reason that I plan on having a library for myself (and my books), with the perfect comfy chair. Ah...even this cover is pretty, I love it.</div>
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Riya hasn't had it easy, yet I feel that overall she has been pretty graceful at dealing with all of the problems that come her way, from having the person she trusts the most, her brother, betray her so severely, or her father, who was kidnapped for years, die by her side soon after she gets him back. She may be slowed down by difficulties of this sort, but it never completely stops her, and she'll take any risk, go to every length, if she can save her people, and her prince, who she is stronger with, but not hopeless without. </div>
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With that being said, her people do desperately need her, more than they may even know. Her father left her the high seat of a corrupt council, although having them believe that may be a challenge within itself, and her uncle has only given her six months to bring peace to her lands if they are to sign a treaty to bring together the Three Corners, each of which has something the other needs. While trying to bring together the three lands she has to find a way to help Terin, who stays with Reeve by choice because of the pull of the stones, but if the pull is nullifiied, will Torian still love her? Somehow, throughout all of this, she continuously shows herself as a leader, not someone to be feared, but admired. This is why she is one of my favorite female heroines, because of her growth throughout these books, her strength and her independence.</div>
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Riya may have all of this on her shoulders, but she certainly won't face it alone. Garith and Jessa, her best friends from the start, will be there for her no matter what happens. Garith has certainly shown that he can be a leader, and in this book I think Jessa shows just how strong she can be, deciding to go with Blaine during one of the most dangerous points in the book. Blaine and Jessa may also spend a little more time together in this book, and by the end Garith finds someone too, who I didn't find too surprising, though the circumstances weren't necessarily ideal. Torian, who I love lots (and totally didn't expect to when I first started the books), did have the fate of his sister to think about. If she were to have a child, it may turn out evil and become dictator of the three corners, yet, he loves her, the last thing he wants to do is kill her, that's enough to drive anyone insane. Although he has his problems, along with Jessa and Garith, he's there for Riya, supporting and protecting her. </div>
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Every moment of this book, and it's wonderful plot, had me entranced the entire time. I certainly had a hard time putting his book down because of the romance, action, surprises and overall awesome plot. Not only that, but I never got bored, I thought this was a well paced book. Be warned, it certainly has some scenes that made me tear up, yet others that made me laugh or brought a smile to my face. </div>
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The ending was amazing, better than I expected, and I appreciated the epilogue, telling us what happens 15 years later. It ended the series on a great note and tied everything together perfectly, I am sad this series is over yet I'm so happy with the ending, having no questions left to be answered. </div>
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Book Nerd and Proud, </div>
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K.G.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-20226931881873781452013-09-02T19:32:00.000-07:002013-12-24T09:59:01.545-08:00Memorable Quotes Monday: Divergent by Veronica Roth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Moths," repeats Will. "You're afraid of moths?"<br />
"Terrifying," Will says with mock seriousness. "That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls."<br />
"Oh, Shut up."<br />
"Not just a cloud of moths," she says, "like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and legs and..." She shudders and shakes her head.</blockquote>
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*</div>
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"Statistically speaking...you should have hit the target at least once by now, even by accident... I think you’re actually defying nature."</blockquote>
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*</div>
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“Sorry, am I being rude?" she asks."I'm used to saying whatever is on my mind. Mom used to say that politeness is deception in pretty packaging”</blockquote>
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*</div>
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“Can you be a girl for a few seconds?"<br />
"I'm always a girl" I frown.<br />
"You know what I mean. Like a silly, annoying girl."<br />
I twirl my hair around my finger. "Kay.”</blockquote>
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*</div>
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"Got that gun?” Peter says to Tobias.<br />
“No,” says Tobias, “I figured I would shoot the bullets out of my nostrils, so I left it upstairs."</blockquote>
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*</div>
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"You know, most boys would enjoy being trapped in close quarters with a girl." I roll my eyes."Not claustrophobic people, Tris." </blockquote>
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*</div>
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"What did you do, memorize a map of the city for fun?” says Christina.<br />
“Yes,” says Will, looking puzzled. “Didn’t you?"</blockquote>
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*</div>
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"We could visit him," suggests Will. "But what would we say? 'I didn't know you that well, but I'm sorry you got stabbed in the eye'?" </blockquote>
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*</div>
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"Looks like someone had a mood swing.” She rolls her eyes. “Like you don’t want to know what his fears are. He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something."</blockquote>
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*</div>
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"Okay. Then...I can talk. Ask me something."<br />
"Okay." He laughs shakily in my ear. "Why is your heart racing Tris?"<br />
I cringe and say, "Well, I...I barely know you. I barely know you and I'm crammed up against you in a box, Four, what do you think?"<br />
"Maybe you were cut out for Candor," he says, "because you're a terrible liar." </blockquote>
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“Yeah, well," I say, "I left Abnegation because I wasn't selfless enough, no matter how hard I tried to be."<br />
"That's not entirely true." He smiles at me. "That girl who let someone throw knives at her to spare a friend, who hit my dad with a belt to protect me-that selfless girl, that's not you?"...<br />
"You've been paying close attention, haven't you?"<br />
"I like to observe people."<br />
"Maybe you were cut out for Candor, Four, because you're a terrible liar.”</blockquote>
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"I think it would be easier to fight in a dress,” says Marlene, tapping her chin. “It would give your legs freer movement. And who really cares if you flash people your underwear, as long as you’re kicking the crap out of them?”<br />
Lynn goes silent, like she recognizes that as a spark of brilliance but can’t bring herself to admit it.“What’s this about flashing underwear?” says Uriah, sidestepping a bunk. “Whatever it is, I’m in."</blockquote>
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"So, the thing we’re all not talking about,” he says. He gestures to me. “You almost died, a sadistic pansycake saved you, and now we’re all waging some serious war with the factionless as allies.”<br />
“Pansycake?” says Christina.<br />
“Dauntless slang.” Lynn smirks. “Supposed to be a huge insult, only no one uses it anymore.”<br />
“Because it’s so offensive,” says Uriah, nodding.<br />
“No. Because it’s so stupid no Dauntless with any sense would speak it, let alone think it. Pansycake. What are you, twelve?”<br />
“And a half,” he says.</blockquote>
We really hope to get on a more regular posting schedule soon.<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
K.G. & C.J.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-89718925917119534712013-08-16T03:35:00.000-07:002013-08-16T03:35:39.801-07:00Review: Wings of Nestor by Devri Walls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing—how can she stop the Shadow from using her dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it. <br />
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Kiora’s search will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and lead straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years. <br />
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But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, the rebels are hurtling toward one outcome: war. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path, but will fate allow it? Or will it teach her a hard lesson about following her own destiny?<br />
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Title: Wings of Nestor</div>
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Series: Solus #3</div>
Published: June 24th 2013 by StoneHouse Ink (first published 2013)<br />
ASIN: B00DMC4068<br />
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<a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2013/06/07/tour-wings-of-nestor-by-devri-walls/" target="_blank">Xpresso Book Tours</a><br />
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I know, we never do this, posting a review for the third book in a series before the first but these are for a book tour so once it's over I'll have up the reviews for the others, I promise! At which time I'll rewrite this, because I'm not sure what I'll be adding to the first and second review, and I really don't want to spoil anything. </div>
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One of the best parts of this book must be the writing, which I feel is an odd thing to say so I'll explain. Devri Walls is an amazing writer, creating an amazing world and then adding imagery truly allows you picture this world without any trouble or confusion. It makes these books a pleasure to read, and so sad that the next book isn't out yet, but then again I don't want the series to end.</div>
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Kiora is a very strong female lead, and has grown a lot throughout this series. Usually with love triangles it's very obvious who is going to be picked, but I think many readers will come to like both of the males, Emane and Alcander, and have a hard time choosing just one.</div>
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Aside from the romance, there are a lot more dragons, some pretty awesome magic and cool fight scenes. Overall, it was a great read and I'll be waiting for the next book!</div>
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Also, I had to mention the Xpresso Book Tours link goes right to this tour, so you can go check out all of the other wonderful bloggers reviews too! </div>
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Book Nerd and Proud, </div>
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K.G. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-83175237217656543562013-07-30T22:23:00.001-07:002013-11-28T15:45:21.064-08:00Review: Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">As a prizewinning foreign correspondent for </span><em style="line-height: 19px;">The Wall Street Journal</em><span style="line-height: 19px;">, Geraldine Brooks spent six years covering the Middle East through wars, insurrections, and the volcanic upheaval of resurgent fundamentalism. Yet for her, headline events were only the backdrop to a less obvious but more enduring drama: the daily life of Muslim women. </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">Nine Parts of Desire</span><em style="line-height: 19px;"> </em><span style="line-height: 19px;">is the story of Brooks' intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. Defying our stereotypes about the Muslim world, Brooks' acute analysis of the world's fastest growing religion deftly illustrates how Islam's holiest texts have been misused to justify repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once liberating faith.</span>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 19px;">Title: Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Published: December 1st 1995 by Anchor</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">0385475772 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9780385475778</span>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As some of you read this review, you'll probably wonder why it sounds so much more formal compared to my regular reviews and why it's so long. Well, to answer your possible questions, it's an essay for my AP World History class, and since I've been doing nothing but read this book and write this essay, I don't really have anything else to post this week...so enjoy!</span></div>
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“Nine Parts of Desire,” written by Geraldine Brooks, gives readers a glimpse into another world through her first hand experiences as a reporter in predominantly Muslim countries. <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because Geraldine Brooks was a Middle East news
correspondent for two years, she covered stories and met people that average
people could not, and wrote during the time of Khomeini’s death and conflicts
in the Middle East. W</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hen she began, Brooks was outraged women were oppressed in such a way that she did not have the same rights as she would in Western cultures. She could not report in the same areas as men because women were considered a distraction, but later she realized she had been given a greater opportunity to write countless stories about women and gain knowledge about their daily lives.<br />
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Muhammad, the founder and prophet of Islam, received his first revelation from God after his first wife, Khadija, passed away. He was told, “Men are in charge of women, because God has made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property [to support them].” Then after, he was told, “Marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice [to so many] then one [only]." However, Muhammad himself was the exception to this rule and took up eight or nine wives. Each of the wives was scrutinized by those against the new religion, and soon there jealousy grew against the prophet’s favorites. Because of this, Muhammad received another revelation from God telling him to seclude his wives and stay concealed in their rooms; they could only go out when they were completely covered. Soon the rules applied to the prophet’s wives spread to other Muslim women. <br />
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While Brooks didn’t have much to say about Saudi Arabia, she explains other countries aren’t always so restricted. In the United Arab Emirates there are women soldiers, and in Iran, women have been voted into Parliament. While Pakistan is the first Islamic country to elect a woman prime minister, Turkey has both a female economist and prime minister, and within Bangladesh, there is a woman prime minister and leader of the opposition.<br />
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Geraldine Brooks poses the question, “Islam did not have to mean oppression of women. So why were so many Muslim women oppressed?” It is not necessarily the religion of Islam that represses women, but rather it is the varying interpretations of the Islamic religion that create different cultural and political influences. For instance, many people assume genital mutilation in order to preserve a girl’s chastity is solely an Islamic practice, but in reality, Christians also do this. It is not either religion that sanctions this act, but occurs because it is a traditional African practice. <br />
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While genital mutilation is influenced by cultural traditions, it is the political influences in that deny women the right to stay in a hotel room without a husband, the right to drive a car, and the right to an education. Few girls are given the opportunity to an education and only because if parents are able to afford it, and the literacy rates in Saudi Arabia show this. By 1980, while 62% of men were literate, only 38% of women were literate. While countries have made strides in women suffrage, but there is still much work to be done. <br />
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Rana Kabbani, a Muslim woman wrote, “I am always pained by Western misconceptions about the lives of Muslim women. Western ignorance is often inseparable from a patronizing view that insists on seeing us as helpless victims, while hardly distinguishing between the very different cultures we come from.” While there is injustice towards women, they should not be considered weak. Despite everything that keeps females from doing what they want, they still manage to find ways to accomplish their goals. Because of the restrictions of the hijab, many women living in Islamic countries cannot compete in the Olympics. So in 1993, the first Islamic Women’s Games were to take place in Tehran. This alternative gives Muslim females the chance to do sports they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. <br />
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When Emirates’ Muslim authorities were against recruiting women soldiers, they pointed out Nusaybah, a woman soldier who saved Muhammad’s life on the battlefield when all the men had run off. Soon a ragtag group of 74 women were chosen from over 1,200 applications. United States female specialists from Fort Bragg were to run a basic training course for these women. None of these women had been physically active, and were brought up to “lower their gaze and be modest,” so it was an immense change for them to learn to look their officers in the eye and go through four mile runs. Because of their accomplishments, some Emirates officers found it hard to acknowledge their success. Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Nasser, the commander of the academy, could not believe the shooting scores, and ordered the women to redo the test on the men’s shooting range. He was surprised to see each woman shoot with such precision that each bullet hit dead center of the target. <br />
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For years, Geraldine Brooks observed the lives of Muslim women. She sheds light on the injustice towards women in the world, but she also shows women who carry out their ambitions despite all the obstacles in the Islamic lifestyle. Whether that is to become a politician, or an athlete, or a soldier, these women pave the path for others to follow.<br />
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Finally finished!<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
C.J.</span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-36542834512507704842013-07-27T08:27:00.000-07:002013-08-15T19:53:12.120-07:00Review: Second Stone by Kelly Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376159044l/18306035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376159044l/18306035.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
You are only a pawn if you don't know the game you are playing.<br />
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In the second installment in Souls of the Stones, the stakes are higher, the romance is hotter, and Emariya's power as a Cornerstone is growing.<br />
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DETERMINED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE BETRAYALS, lies, and her undeniable attraction to Torian, Emariya and her prince begin the journey to Sheas to confront her uncle and bring her father home.<br />
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Only days after leaving the castle, devastating news threatens to tear Torian and Emariya apart. Overcome by guilt, Emariya wants to repair the rift between them but first she must answer one important question: why can't she wake up?<br />
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A DEADLY FORCE HAS COME FROM THE SEA to claim its daughter, and if Torian wants to save Emariya, he'll first have to find a way to forgive her...and himself. That's easier said than done when both his sister and Emariya are counting on him at two separate ends of their world and the only people who might know how to help him are hiding in exile.<br />
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TO WIN THE BATTLE FOR THEIR LIVES, they will first have to win the battle for Emariya's mind. Only then can she rise up strong enough to face what she has to do.<br />
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Title: Second Stone</div>
Series: Souls of the Stones #2<br />
Published February 15th 2013 by Kelly Walker (first published February 1st 2013)<br />
ISBN: 1482357100 (ISBN13: 9781482357103)<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/second-stone-kelly-walker/1114508296?ean=2940016311517" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Second-Stone-Souls-Stones-ebook/dp/B00BEL8E02/ref=la_B009KLOZM4_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375894755&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Warning: There isn't a way I can write this review without spoiling major plot points for <a href="http://booknerdandproud.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-cornerstone-by-kelly-walker.html">Cornerstone (link to that review here)</a>, the first book in this series, and you've been forewarned so there shall be no complaining. </span><br />
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Even from the beginning I was absolutely enthralled, after I had read that Riya's brother, Reeve, was behind all of it! I couldn't see him being evil, really, but, what you learn in the second book about that is also very interesting, and I thought unexpected. I thought this book had less twists, but more action and more romance between Torian and Riya. There might even be another couple forming, however unlikely it usually would be. </div>
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Something I thought is important to mention is the flawless changing between POV's, and there were a quite a few of them. I never thought the transition was jumpy and erratic, plus in some books there's that annoying re-account of events that JUST happened, and truly provide no further information to the reader, but that didn't happen in this book. Even more important than that is that I could automatically tell who was speaking, I never encountered a moment when I was thinking: "Is this Riya or Jessa? Or maybe even Terin...?" </div>
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Jessa groaned. "So he told you he loves you, and you said 'see you later.' Brilliant, Emariya.<br />
Flashes of Torian's distant and strange looks earlier at the campfire came surging back. Once more, she pushed to her feet. "I think I need to go find Torian" </blockquote>
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As I mentioned there's even more romance between Torian and Riya, I think they're a great couple. It started out as just an arranged married meant to bind the lines but now it's so much more than that. They both understand that part of their pull is because of them both being stones, but I think they would be in love even if there wasn't a pull. They make each other the best they can be, and that's a great kind of love. As mentioned in the description of the book, Riya does make a very bad (unintentional) decision, which really did test them. </div>
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While Torian and Riya are very important, some pretty important things happen to other characters too. Riya's accidentally slip may end up risking the life of Terin, (I was really excited when I got to see things from her POV), and I don't think I'm spoiling anything because it basically says the same thing reworded in the description, plus you learn about this either at the end of the first book or during the first 10 pages of the second book. I can see the third book being important for Jessa, but this book was for Garith. He really grows, showing how strong and smart he is. He graciously takes the leadership he is given (but didn't ask for), leading better than most would've expected, and maybe even better than their formally trained leader did. Someone else you can't forget about is Riya's father, while we all know she's taking a trip to the Shea's to find her father when Reeve actually has him, and maybe they'll figure that out once they find out they've assumed the wrong person has had her father locked up for years. Will he finally be freed? </div>
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While this book isn't free I totally believe it's totally worth the $5 it costs (as an eBook), I'm sad the series is ending with the next book but I'm also very excited to read it. </div>
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Book Nerd and Proud,</div>
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K.G. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-82700362695229539622013-07-24T13:03:00.001-07:002013-07-24T13:03:16.023-07:00Review: Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328275091l/12578077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328275091l/12578077.jpg" width="206" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Starting over sucks.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">And then he opened his mouth.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. </span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">The hot alien living next door marks me.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. </span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">If I don't kill him first, that is.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title: Obsidian</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Series: Lux #1</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Published: May 8th 2012 by Entangled Teen</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">1620610078 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9781620610077</span>)</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/obsidian-jennifer-l-armentrout/1105621066?ean=9781620610077">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Obsidian-A-Lux-Novel-ebook/dp/B00850ZM28/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374606326&sr=1-1&keywords=obsidian">Amazon</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">For all you blog readers who have been here for awhile, just for your information, Jennifer Armentrout's writing is just as amazing as it was when I read the Covenant series that I fangirled over. There's just something that I love about a relationship that starts out with hate. Even though it's so obvious what will happen in the end, I enjoy it all the same. Like when I read The Host, I didn't expect an alien story to be so entertaining. When I think of aliens, I imagine those nerdy sci-fi movies, which for some odd reason have the hottest main characters. Anyways, this book is a must read!</span></span><br />
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<span class="greyText"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Katy Swartz moves from Florida to a small town West </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Virginia</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> before her senior year in high school. She is definitely one of my favorite female characters to read about...maybe it's because she's a reader and blogger like Kayla (HEY!) and I! </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="greyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">"The day my internet was hooked up was better than having a hot guy check our my butt and ask for my phone number." </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Daemon Black...he definitely goes on the "Favorite Sexy Heroes" list up there with Jace and Will. The constant witty banter kept me laughing and I loved Daemon's arrogant attitude. Dee, his twin sister had a happy personality and befriends Katy when she first meets her. Daemon, being the protective brother that he is (doesn't that just make him hotter?!), doesn't want his sister hanging out with a human, because he knows that they can destroy his life. Why would that be? He's a freaking alien, that's why, and humans tend to enjoy poking, prodding, and experimenting on things that are unknown. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Daemon and Dee are Luxen that take on a human form as they choose, but their real embodiment is light, and they have mind boggling powers. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">While Daemon and Katy try to avoid each other, they find themselves in situations together all the time. He teases and baits her which makes their relationship all the more fun. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys."</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Kiss or kill was the real question throughout the book. There were definitely some hot moments -fans self- which made even laptops explode...you'd get it if you read it. It was such a fun novel to read, and I will never make the mistake of waiting to read one of Armentrout's books again...</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;">C.J.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-30036043555709798962013-07-20T19:46:00.000-07:002013-08-04T19:47:22.415-07:00Review: CornerStone by Kelly Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Emariya's life was nearly over before it started. Hidden under the floorboards while her mother died above her, she escaped a brutal death then—only to go racing toward it now, sixteen years later.<br />
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After learning her father has been captured, Emariya is desperate to save him, no matter who she has to turn to for help. Oblivious to her potential gifts and the secrets surrounding her dual heritage, Emariya makes a bargain with the prince of a rival land, Torian Ahlen. In exchange for her hand in marriage, he agrees to send his forces to rescue her father. With the arrangements made, Emariya embarks on a tumultuous journey through two kingdoms as different from each other as the families that rule them.<br />
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Before long, Emariya comes face to face with her mother's killers, and learns of an ominous prophecy: her and Torian's bloodlines must never be combined. Armed with this frightening new knowledge, Emariya begins to fear the handsome prince may desire more than to steal her heart, and it will take all of her newfound skills to survive.<br />
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Title: CornerStone<br />
Series: Souls of the Stones #1</div>
Published: October 22nd 2012 by Kelly Walker (first published October 1st 2012)<br />
ISBN: 1480086711 (ISBN13: 9781480086715)<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cornerstone-kelly-walker/1113613838?ean=2940044430167">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cornerstone-Souls-Stones-ebook/dp/B009K6K4V0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374875895&sr=1-1&keywords=cornerstone">Amazon</a><br />
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"Your parents, they chose their own path. The time has come for you to choose yours. Don't loose sight of what her path cost her. She tried to save her people, and not only did she fail, but she lost herself. Milady, some bargains, they just aren't worth the risk."</blockquote>
When starting this free book I didn't expect much, but by the end of the novel everything you've learned in the beginning has changed. Riya may have unknowingly placed her trust in the wrong people, enemies becoming friend and friends becoming enemies? Well, both are very likely with all of the twists throughout the story. I loved this book for that reason, when I started the book I wouldn't have guessed it would be this good, and I definitely wouldn't have guessed what happens during the last few pages.<br />
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I must also mention that when I started the book it was rather slow, the main reason that it lost a star, and it wasn't this way the entire book, but I would guess ABOUT the first third of it was. For me, it really didn't take away from the book itself that much, but it wasn't ideal. I should admit that I wanted to just forget about this fact, and give it five stars anyways, because she does create a wonderful world during this time, it wasn't mind-numbingly boring, just slow. If I was you I wouldn't give up, I think that it truly does get a lot better has the book progresses, and really, the ending is so stunning and wonderful that even if I didn't enjoy the slow beginning, it would've totally made up for it. </div>
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Riya is a great main character, while she is saved by men occasionally she isn't the damsel in distress, if she's captured she doesn't sit there and wait for someone else to save her, she tries to save herself. She's also great in the way that she can admit she wants to be protected, and she knows it doesn't make her weak. Adding onto all of this while her family is the head of the council, she doesn't let it get to her head. Her two best friends are the blacksmiths son, Garith, and her handmaiden, Jessa. Riya even mentions that yes, Jessa does work for her but she will always first and foremost be her best friend, and that they all do keep up appearances to keep the public eye happy, because a being best friends with a handmaiden could be very scandalous. </div>
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Before I forget to mention, the cover to this book is amazing, plus it's free, so if I was you I'd read it. Today. Right now.</div>
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Book Nerd and Proud,</div>
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K.G.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-44920518714654097992013-07-13T13:38:00.000-07:002013-07-15T13:38:45.979-07:00Review: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune as an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its next fairy tale victim.<br />
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To break the fairy tale curse on her family and stop these deadly events, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.<br />
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Title: UnEnchanted</div>
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Series: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1</div>
Published: 2011 by Chanda Hahn<br />
ASIN: B006ROK1UM<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unenchanted-chanda-hahn/1108148275?ean=9781475070309">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnEnchanted-Unfortunate-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B006ROK1UM/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373566141&sr=8-2">Amazon</a></div>
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I really like the cover of this book, which just so happens to be a free eBook on Barnes & Noble and Amazon, so if I were you I'd go pick it up right after I finished reading this wonderful review. I'm glad I decided to read it because it turned out to be a great book, I thought it was about a 4 star book, but then I had to consider that the book wasn't edited. It didn't bother me that much, but at times it would ruin the flow of the story and get annoying.</div>
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This is also a very fluffy, stereotypical book. Mina is the ordinary girl, who isn't really pretty and has little to no friends, until she saves Brody from death and he suddenly realizes he needs to be with this girl. He's the most popular guy in school, and a catch for any girl, but now he has fixated on her and they become best friends, the unlikely pair that will get married with a happily ever after. </div>
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Only this book has a twist, one that I love and will not reveal, but great nonetheless. It is definitely part of the reason I am dying to read the next book, but I've heard the third is coming out by the end of this month so I'll try to find the will power to wait until then. When it does come out I will read and review the second and third book, which I do have high expectations for. </div>
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Mina didn't believe in herself in this book, and I would really like that to change. Her younger brother is the next of the Grimm's, he'll get the curse if she doesn't break it and she knows this! She even says that she wants to protect him, yet she relies so heavily on other people, what happens when they're not around? If she wants to stand up for her brother she first has to learn how to stand up for herself. </div>
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Nan is a beautiful girl who is Mina's best friend, but she is also friendly with everyone, and obsessed with twitter, even tweeting a picture of Mina running for the bus. When Mina is need of help, or just a friend, Nan is there, even listening to her crazy story about how she is a Grimm and has to finish a task that the Grimm brothers couldn't. I thought she was a great character because she knew how to laugh at herself, and her confidence could be beneficial to Mina. </div>
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I'm still not sure what to think of Jared and Brody, because of the ending and how mysterious Jared can be. It was either Jared or Brody that would be there to save her whenever she was in any kind of distress. Brody has a great relationship with Mina and I truly liked it but I'm not sure if I rather her be with Jared yet, once I learn more about him in the next book I'll probably have an easier time picking. </div>
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Overall this was a great read, and I'm very glad I read it. The author also has another free book out The Iron Butterfly, and I'll probably try to read that too, sometime in the near future. I can see the next book being better, and cannot wait for the third. </div>
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Now that my review is finished you should really click the Barnes & Noble or Amazon link and read this book (:</div>
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Book Nerd and Proud, </div>
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K.G. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-50955878899063403572013-07-06T16:32:00.000-07:002013-07-06T16:32:26.163-07:00Review: Turned by Morgan Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Eighteen year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her.<br />
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But before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war.<br />
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It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father? <br />
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But Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other…<br />
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Title: Turned<br />
Series: Vampire Journals #1<br />
Published: January 24th 2011<br />
ISBN13: 9780982953723<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turned-morgan-rice/1102475075?ean=2940012120243">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Turned-Book-Vampire-Journals-ebook/dp/B004KSQDEA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1373152483">Amazon</a><br />
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Lately I've been insanely busy, and without much time to read a book. I wanted something short to help me get ahead on my reviews, and that is why I chose the free book <i>Turned</i>. I have nothing against free books, I've found a few that have been delightfully surprising, and become a favorite series of mine, but I must say that I didn't start this book with high expectations, thankfully so, because I felt this might make a decent novella, but not a novel. It has so many holes with no explanations for simple concepts that don't even need a lengthy explanation like what are the difference between good vampires and bad ones? Neither of them would take in a half breed, and I doubt "good vampires" don't eat humans. </div>
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Caitlin is a vampire, but by all means she's is not cunning, manipulative or smart, maybe that only comes with age. It is something I've come to expect with vampires and I must admit that I was disappointed to find that Caitlin was even a bit below average, she quickly decided to run away from home, with what? Only the clothes she has on her, and an extra pair of fancy clothes for her date with Jonah.<br />
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Jonah is the first, and only, person she bonds with at school, which isn't surprising because I think over the course of the book she only goes to school for a full day once or twice. Needless to say, her and Jonah hit it off and he asks her on a date, to which she accepts. Their date really doesn't go as planned, and after it you don't see much of a chance for Jonah as Caitlin has met the all encompassing Caleb, who she immediately falls in love with. </div>
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Caleb saves Caitlin when she finds herself in some trouble with a clan of vampires. This is their first meeting, and by the end of it he says he loves her. I don't know what to think of their ridiculous relationship, or Caleb because he was just introduced and I know nearly nothing about him. </div>
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Unless I get the other books for free, or at the library, I wouldn't read them. I don't expect to read the rest of the series because I truly do not see much potential.<br />
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Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
K.G. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-53522878819518216722013-07-02T19:36:00.001-07:002013-07-02T19:36:57.758-07:00Review: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Title: The Luxe</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Series: Luxe #1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Published: November 20th 2007 by HarperCollins</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">0061345660 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(IS</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">BN13: </span><span itemprop="isbn" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">9780061345661</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/luxe-anna-godbersen/1100718453?ean=9780061345685">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Luxe-Anna-Godbersen/dp/B002IVV3GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372807154&sr=8-1&keywords=the+luxe+anna+godbersen">Amazon</a><br />
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This book was the perfect break from all things paranormal. It seems like after you read a continuous line of magical beasts and hidden powers, everything starts to seem the same. The Luxe focuses on the lives of Manhattan's teenage socialites during the 19th century.<br />
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Elizabeth Holland is the belle of the ball, whom every man wishes to court. Her mother has already arranged her perfect counterpart and very sought after bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker, and her to be married, but Elizabeth finds that her tastes in men aren't quite the same as other society women. Her heart is with their coachman, Will Kellar. Because of his social status, their affair is kept hidden, but when all she wants to do is run away with Will, her mother urges her to marry Henry in order to save the family when they are in financial distraught. In the end, she decides that helping her family wasn't going to give her the life she wanted.<br />
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Diana is Elizabeth's younger sister, who is usually eclipsed by her older sister. While Elizabeth is arranged to marry, Diana is in love with her sister's fiancee, and Henry feels the same way. As this goes on, Elizabeth's best friend, Penelope Hayes, developed a sort of infatuation on Henry. She isn't used to not getting what she wants and is infuriated when she discovers Elizabeth is engaged to him. Penelope is the sort of girl to go to any lengths to break up the wedding. When she begins to plan, there is no such thing as "friendship" in her vocabulary. Anything and everything is fair game.<br />
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When Elizabeth was a child, her closest friends were Lina and Will, who were part of the help. Her mother decided as she grew older, it was no longer appropriate. Elizabeth could not openly speak to either of them, so when Lina and Will became closer friends, Lina fell in love with Will. She became upset with Elizabeth when she found out her secret affair with Will and her jealousy got the better of her.<br />
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It seems that nobody in this book fell in love with the right person. Either because society told them it was wrong, or because that person loved someone else. This was such an amazing novel with pages filled with scandal and jealousy, and with so many twists and turns it makes you wonder if being a part of the elite is worth all the trouble to keep up appearances.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” -</span>Groucho Marx</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Nerd and Proud, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">C.J.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-76874546951484500042013-06-26T20:34:00.000-07:002013-06-26T20:37:24.208-07:00Review: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "Flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time--like when Angel, the youngest member of the "Flock," is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were genetically engineered by sinister scientists. Her friends brave a journey to Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 19px;">Title: The Angel Experiment</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Series: Maximum Ride #1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Published: May 1st 2006 by Warner Vision Books</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">0446617792 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9780446617796</span>)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel-experiment-james-patterson/1100227294?ean=9780316067959">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Angel-Experiment-Maximum-Novel/dp/0316067954/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372291719&sr=8-1&keywords=maximum+ride">Amazon</a></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="greyText"><b>Warning</b></span><span class="greyText"><br /></span><span class="greyText"></span></span></i></blockquote>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not put this book down. I'm dead serious. Your life could depend on it. I'm risking everything by telling you- but you need to know. If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment. I know that sounds a little mysterious- but it's all I can say right now.</span></b></i></blockquote>
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<span class="greyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Max</i> </b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Though I have not read this book recently, I'm fairly confident in my ability to review this novel considering the fact I have read it no less than five times! Ever since the beginning of middle school, this has been one of my favorite series, however, I do not plan to review the rest of the series since I've been doing a lot of re-reading lately, and it can become tiresome...The only reason this review is given four stars instead of five is because in a way, I'm rating the series as a whole. Yes, there is a few books in between the series that don't capture my attention quite as well as the others, but it is definitely well worth the read. </span></div>
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<span class="greyText" style="font-family: inherit;">Max, the leader of the Flock, is my favorite combination of brave and witty in a heroine. While she is only fourteen years old in "The Angel Experiment" she acts well beyond her years, caring for other the other members in her group like a nurturing mother. Gazzy, otherwise known as the Gasman (for more obvious reasons), and Angel (the youngest) are the only actual siblings among the group, but from the way the others act, they all seem like a big family...with their own share of problems. Nudge is the little fashionista of the group, and Iggy, who is blind because of a failed experiment, is a genius in both the kitchen and with explosives (with the help of Gazzy). Fang is the most reserved and mysterious out of the group, but that doesn't keep Max's complicated feelings about him away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="greyText">Like Max, they are all 98% human and 2% bird, but that small percentage makes the biggest difference. They have wings. </span>Most of us dream about such things...the freedom of being able to fly, and while this is a bonus for the Flock, not everything is fun and games. The White Coats are a group of scientists who created these genetically modified humans to begin with, but most of their experiments don't usually have the best of outcomes. However, the avian-human hybrids were one of the few successes, and they want to run more tests. Hoping to never have to face the poking and prodding of needles, the kids hide and run. The Flock may be able to remain unseen from your average human, but the scientists have created the "Erasers" which are a race half human and half wolf hybrids designed to hunt the Flock down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">From the first page, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat. It takes the simple path of good vs evil, but takes a few turns on the way. The novel was fast-paced and exciting, and keeps you wanting more...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” -</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span>Ernest Hemingway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">C.J.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-26921155154442647812013-06-22T05:00:00.000-07:002013-07-05T19:05:23.404-07:00Review: Fall for Me by K.A. Last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Angels aren’t supposed to fall in love, especially with each other. But for the record, you were worth it.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Grace Tate is a Protection Angel and Vampire Hunter, and she has always followed the rules. But some rules are made to be broken…<br /><br />Until now the fight against evil has been simple, and falling in love was never part of the plan. So what happens when it’s beyond Grace’s control, and when she least expects it she falls for the wrong person?<br /><br />All hell breaks loose, that’s what.<br /><br />At Hopetown Valley High, not everything is as it seems, and the one person Grace thought was her enemy becomes her most important ally.<br /><br />Blood will be shed, lives will be lost and friendships will be tested. It all comes down to one decision, and when Grace tries to save all those dear to her, she realises not everyone can be—or wants to be—saved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Title: Fall for Me </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Series: The Tate Chronicals #1 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Published: January 17th 2013</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fall-for-me-k-a-last/1114319439?ean=9780987384904">Barnes&Noble</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">|</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fall-For-The-Tate-Chronicles/dp/0987384902/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371862360&sr=8-1&keywords=fall+for+me+k.a.+last">Amazon</a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My one wish would be to keep Archer and my friends safe. I figured if angels and vampires existed, why not genies? I needed to get one of those. </blockquote>
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<div>
Grace was a great character, in specific points of the book especially. One of the best examples is when Grace, a protection angel sent on to Earth for two basic purposes: to protect her brother and to kill vampires, is the person trying to protect a vampire with a white soul, someone she believes to be a good person who doesn't deserve to die, yet her superiors in Heaven tell her that she needs to "release its soul" (or something along those lines). Grace hasn't seen said vampire commit any acts of cruelty and decides to protect it, sticking to what she believes in. I loved this part of the book, it shows how everything isn't good or evil, there are lot of gray areas, which is really realistic, and I like that.<br />
<br />
Many points in the book I did get a little annoyed with Grace, she's supposed to be a strong protection angel but I would say that she cried more than anyone else in the book, way more than the average human does. Yes, all of this does happen over a week, and I see how it could be very overwhelming, I just wish she wasn't so weepy all of the time.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So much had happened since the first day back at school, was it really just a week ago? I'd fallen in love, betrayed by my home, lost my best friend, hurt Josh, and fallen in love again.</blockquote>
Which also brings me to my next topic, the timing of the events in the book. The book, which is short already at 237 pages (or that's what it was on my nook) seems to try to cram everything in a little too fast. The book is fast paced but I will admit it lost my attention at some spots (could be because I didn't like Josh at all). Grace meets an entire new kind of vampire, falls in love with a guy she's barely said two words to before, has a problem because she kind of likes another guy who she has actually known for a long time, and....I'm afraid to mention the other things, and give away the story, so I won't.<br />
<br />
Seth and Grace were best friends, until Seth decides he can't live with Grace but without her love, and he refuses to let her fall for him, so he falls himself and hides how he feels for her. He ends up providing her with some pretty important information, like how angels can be killed (which I found it to be very creative and interesting). I didn't have any problems with Seth, I liked him and I thought it was cute that he tried to protect Grace, in his own way without her knowing.<br />
<br />
Josh, however, I did have a few problems with. They both admit that they barely know each other, and haven't even had a real conversation, but they quickly start a relationship and fall in love. At the start of the book Josh is still with his long time girlfriend who he hasn't loved for a while but just didn't find the "right time" to end it. Okay, he was trying not to hurt her, but ended up stringing her along in the process, it isn't the greatest thing to do but I can forgive him. She was a bit shallow, maybe she never had any true feelings for him anyways. Except, he decides to publicly humiliate her, which isn't right at all. You just broke up with her at the beginning of the day, do you truly think she'll be over it by the end of the day? I've never known anyone to move on from a relationship so quickly, even if it didn't have its spark anymore! He just seemed like a bad guy to me, not in the sexy way either. It could be hard to tell Grace and Josh apart, but then I'd hear a mean thought and know it was him.<br />
<br />
<i>Sacrifice</i>, the prequel, is supposed to be read after this, but I don't think it gives much away that you don't already know within the first 10 pages. I loved it, I thought it was better than this book. For what I think are two good reasons, it has more Seth, the fallen angel who has fallen for Grace, and it's about when they were still best friends and going on angel missions together. I definitely will read the next book, I have a feeling that the it will be much better.<br />
<i><br /></i>
Sometime this week was my birthday, so happy birthday to me, and everyone else!<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
K.G.<i> </i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-80326264522650478162013-06-19T18:18:00.000-07:002013-06-19T18:19:38.492-07:00Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="line-height: 19px;">Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.<br /><br />This is not that world.</em><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and </span><em style="line-height: 19px;">what</em><span style="line-height: 19px;"> she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed </span><em style="line-height: 19px;">Daughter of Smoke & Bone</em><span style="line-height: 19px;">, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, </span><em style="line-height: 19px;">Days of Blood & Starlight</em><span style="line-height: 19px;"> finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For </span><em style="line-height: 19px;">hope</em><span style="line-height: 19px;">.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Title: Days of Blood & Starlight</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Published: November 6th 2012 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">0316133973 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9780316133975</span>)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/days-of-blood-and-starlight-laini-taylor/1108613282?ean=9780316133975">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Days-Blood-Starlight-Daughter-Smoke/dp/0316133973/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371506246&sr=8-1&keywords=days+of+blood">Amazon</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8duDj9ny3Ic6AvvBk49WtH3b52aRLpV4zQVeHNOmpGbK3fX1mO96tF6tuqa66pvQfhkwFpexHAovtqkF2TYIw34Uz9iZ9bCXNF3kDWHmviaXS5fSQEH7aZuuwOltPsmvkwGI-DV2hEU/s1600/Five+stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8duDj9ny3Ic6AvvBk49WtH3b52aRLpV4zQVeHNOmpGbK3fX1mO96tF6tuqa66pvQfhkwFpexHAovtqkF2TYIw34Uz9iZ9bCXNF3kDWHmviaXS5fSQEH7aZuuwOltPsmvkwGI-DV2hEU/s1600/Five+stars.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to finish the book as quickly as possible, yet I needed to savor every word. Again, Laini Taylor has built a world that goes beyond simple understanding. She has not kept anything back, so we feel the suffering and pain that the characters try to overcome in a world marked by suffering and death, and the only thing that kept them going was hope. Similar to the last book, Laini Taylor's writing is at an artistic level with beautiful descriptions and plots. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last book it ends with Karou realizing that the man she loves has done far worse than she expected, and finds out that sometimes yes, ignorance can be bliss. She tries her hardest to hate Akiva for his actions, but finds that she can't. Karou is living in the middle of the desert acting as the new resurrectionist, creating a new army which gives the chimera a fighting chance. As much as Thiago would like, he cannot outright kill Karou because of the knowledge she possesses. Instead, he turns the rebel forces against her, making sure that she doesn't win their trust by spreading lies. He does this because he continues to hold a grudge from years ago that she did not choose him in her past life as Madrigal. However, not everybody believes the deceit. Ziri who was once in love with Madrigal as a young boy sacrifices much for Karou in order to help her and gain the trust of the other rebels. These circumstances have turned her into a stronger and determined woman, but many times you see how she wishes for her old and now seemingly mundane life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While this goes on, Akiva attempts to prove he is better man by helping the chimera whenever he can, and surprisingly sometimes with the aid of his brother and sister, Hazael and Liraz. At first, he was lead to believe his only love was dead, but discovers that she is alive and is helping the rebels. And though he believes Karou hates him, he watches over her and makes sure she is safe. </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Soon, everything else would come rushing at him. Like the ground to a falling man, it would come rushing up and hit hi all at once - the place, the company, her worlds; one implication would lead to another and shatter him - but around that intake of breathe the world hung silent and bright, so bright, and Akiva only knew this one thing, and help on to it and wanted to live in side of it and stay there forever.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Karou was alive." </span></blockquote>
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Laini Taylor has written a beautiful sequel fueled by the concepts of prejudice, hate, and war. However the beacon of light for both races was hope. Hope that there would be no more loss, hope that everything would be over, and hope to finally be with the love of your life. There is without a shadow of doubt in my mind that I will be reading the final book in this wonderful trilogy next year!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">“I know exactly what I would do with immortality: I would read every book in the library.” -</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Mark Jason Dominus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">C.J.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-15872730782345887032013-06-17T20:28:00.000-07:002013-06-17T20:28:16.418-07:00Memorable Quotes Monday: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Memorable Quotes Monday" is definitely new to our blog, but we've decided it's time to change things up a bit! To start off, this is one of our favorite books, and has made us laugh on numerous occasions, no matter how many times we read it. Not only is it witty but it has an amazing story line...and did we mention how hot Jace is?</span><br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309277410l/256683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309277410l/256683.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?'<br />
Jace said, "Unfortunately, Lady of the Haven, my one true love remains myself."<br />
"At least," she said, "you don't have to worry about rejection, Jace Wayland."<br />
"Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting."</blockquote>
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*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Is this the part where you start tearing off strips of your shirt to bind my wounds?"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"If you wanted me to rip my clothes off, you should have just asked." </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Do you remember back at the hotel when you promised that if we lived, you’d get dressed up in a nurse’s outfit and give me a sponge bath?" asked Jace.<br />
"It was Simon who promised you the sponge bath."<br />
"As soon as I’m back on my feet, handsome," said Simon.<br />
"I knew we should have left you a rat."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: right;">
"Don't order any of the faerie food," said Jace, looking at her over the top of his menu. "It tends to make humans a little crazy. One minute you're munching a faerie plum, the next minute you're running naked down Madison Avenue with antlers on your head. Not," he added hastily, "that this has ever happened to me."</blockquote>
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*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"One of the Silent Brothers is here to see you. Hodge sent me to wake you up. Actually he offered to wake you himself, but since it's 5 a.m., I figured you'd be less cranky if you had something nice to look at."<br />
"Meaning you?"<br />
"What else?" </blockquote>
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*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Don't." Clary raised a warning hand. "I'm not really in the mood right now."</div>
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"That's got to be the first time a girl's ever said that to me," Jace mused.</div>
</blockquote>
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*** </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Come in. And try not to murder any of my guests."<br />
Jace edged into the doorway, sizing up Magnus with his eyes. "Even if one of them spills a drink on my new shoes?"<br />
"Even then." </blockquote>
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*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw Jace shoot her a look of rage - but when she glanced at him, he looked as he always did: easy, confident, slightly bored.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"In future, Clarissa," he said, "it might be wise to mention that you already have a man in your bed, to avoid such tedious situations."</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"You invited him into bed?" Simon demanded, looking shaken. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Ridiculous, isn't it?" said Jace. "We would never have all fit." </div>
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"I didn't invite him into bed," Clary snapped. "We were just kissing." </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Just kissing?" Jace's tone mocked her with its false hurt. "How swiftly you dismiss our love." </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*** </div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Don't tell me," Jace said, "Simon's turned himself into an ocelot and you want me to do something about it before Isabelle makes him into a stole. Well, you'll have have to wait till tomorrow. I'm out of commission." He pointed at himself - he was wearing blue pajamas with a hole in the sleeve. "Look. Jammies."<br />
"Jace," Clary said, "this is important."<br />
"Don't tell me," he said. "You've got a drawing emergency. You need a nude model. Well, I'm not in the mood. You could always ask Hodge," he said as an afterthought. "I hear he'll do anything for a -"<br />
"JACE!" she interrupted him, her voice rising to a scream. "JUST SHUT UP FOR A SECOND AND LISTEN, WILL YOU?" </blockquote>
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*** </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: right;">
"What are all these?" Clary asked.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Vials of holy water, blessed knives, steel and silver blades," Jace said, piling the weapons on the floor beside him, "electrum wire - not much use at the moment but it's always good to have spares - silver bullets, charms of protetion, crucifixes, stars of David-"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Jesus," said Clary </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"I doubt he'd fit." </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Jace." Clary was appalled.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*** </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Even in half demon hunter clothes, Clary thought, he looked like the kind of boy who'd come over your house to pick you up for a date and be polite to your parents and nice to your pets.<br />
Jace on the other hand, looked like the kind of boy who'd come over your house and burn it down just for kicks.</blockquote>
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*** </div>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: right;">
"A diary with no drawings of me in it? Where are the torrid fantasies? The romance covers?"</blockquote>
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*** </div>
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<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Clary felt suddenly annoyed. "When the self-congratulatory part of the evening is over, maybe we could get back to saving my best friend from being exsanguinated to death?"<br />
"Exsanguinated," said Jace, impressed. "That's a big word."<br />
"And you're a big-"<br />
"Tsk tsk," he interupted. "No swearing in church."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*** </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Jace?"<br />
"Yeah?"<br />
"How did you know I had Shadowhunter blood? Was there some way you could tell?"<br />
The elevator arrived with a final groan. Jace unlatched the gate and slid it open. The inside reminded Clary of a birdcage, all black metal and decorative bits of gilt. "I guessed," he said, latching the door behind them. "It seemed like the most likely explanation."<br />
"You guessed? You must have been pretty sure, considering you could have killed me."<br />
He pressed a button in the wall, and the elevator lurched into action with a vibrating groan that she felt all through the bones in her feet. "I was ninety percent sure."<br />
"I see," Clary said.<br />
There must have been something in her voice, because he turned to look at her. Her hand cracked across his face, a slap that rocked him back on his heels. He put a hand to his cheek, more in surprise than pain. "What the hell was that for?"<br />
"The other ten percent," she said, and they rode the rest of the way down to the street in silence.</blockquote>
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***</div>
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<br /></div>
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Book Nerd and Proud,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
K.G. & C.J. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-49587820098975443802013-06-15T18:18:00.002-07:002013-06-17T14:46:09.048-07:00Review: Enchantment by Nikki Jefford <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Barcelona. Summer escape. Or so Graylee Perez thought until her old adversary, Adrian Montez, brings his magic show to Spain.<br />
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Gray seeks out a Spanish wizard to help banish Adrian from her life once and for all. Instead, she tumbles headfirst into a love spell with the arrogant warlock.<br />
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After Gray follows Adrian to Paris, she must face her true feelings and decide if Adrian’s worth fighting for.<br />
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Title: Enchantment<br />
Series: Spellbound #3<br />
Published April 6th 2013 by Nikki Jefford (first published April 5th 2013)<br />
ISBN13: 9781939997425<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enchantment-nikki-jefford/1115060759?ean=9781939997449">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enchantment-Spellbound-Trilogy-3-ebook/dp/B00C845USI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1370183843&sr=8-7&keywords=enchantment">Amazon</a><br />
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From Entangled: </div>
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“Love is a more powerful force than magic. You can trick the mind and even the heart, but never the soul. When a person is not free to love with their soul, that is not love and that is why a love spell can never truly work.”</blockquote>
I realize I expressed some concerns about the plot in the last book, but even if it's only purpose was so Nikki Jefford could write this book, I wouldn't complain. Lately, I've had a hard him really getting into books. I'll read one a week, but the second I picked up this book I had a hard time setting it down. I read it in two sittings, and boy, did I wish it went on forever. I guess that's part of the reason I love books--the intoxication of it all. It's like having a whole new set of friends, who go on journeys to marvelous places, and you can feel what they do, visualize the world around them. It's so entrancing, but not every book does that, it's those books that's make you want to get to the last page, but you savor every word, and once it's over you wish that there was more.
There were so many twists I didn't expect, so, I feel it's a bit difficult to review without unveiling a few, and I definitely do not want that, so I'll step around it as much as possible.<br />
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Gray chooses to go to a retreat for young people who want a break from magic. Well, considering that Gray is the only person enroll on her own, maybe the other students aren't taking a willing break from magic. She means new people, makes new friends, and finds a cute guy, everything is going great. That's until the cute guy is groping another girl, and her friends decide to take her to a magic show. A magic show featuring the one and only Adrian Montez. Now, could it be a complete coincidence that Adrian took his magic show to Spain? Sure. Does Gray think it is? Definitely not. She uses one of her new friends contacts to try to get rid of Adrian, make him leave her life, forever. When she least expects it, she gets put under a love spell. It just so happens that Adrian didn't put it on her.</div>
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He keeps pushing her away, knowing that once the spell is broken she'll regret their time together. After a while Gray starts to doubt the spell is the only reason she has feelings for Adrian. I loved the romance between Gray and Adrian, you get to see another side of Adrian, a loving and caring side. A part of Adrian that will protect Gray even if she doesn't love him. Adrian's past is also uncovered, and we learn what the accident is, and why he's in this body. </div>
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Charlene does make an appearance in this book, and an amazing one at that. I was actually glad she made a come back, not that she's suddenly a good person or anything, but she was a great addition to the book. </div>
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Lee and Raj also make a small appearance in the book, an interesting one at that.</div>
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I love seeing the two different sides of Graylee, I think it shows how one event, or decision can change a person so drastically. </div>
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This book did not disappoint me, it was even better than the first two, with even better writing and an entrancing plot line that left me hanging on to every last word. The ending was amazing, and not bittersweet at all this time, I loved it. I love this cover too! The entire series had great covers.If not another book, a short story would be so great.<br />
<br />
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ― Charles William Eliot<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
K.G.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-34730109107439612932013-06-08T11:09:00.000-07:002013-06-08T12:46:01.180-07:00Review: Edge of Truth by Natasha Hanova<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord’s laws, and stay off the Synbot’s radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives.<br />
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It’s not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion-based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression. <br />
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Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena’s suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she’s willing to kill to protect what’s precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn’t holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she’s trying so hard to escape?</div>
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Title: Edge of Truth</div>
Publication date: June 6th 2013 by Sapphire Star Publishing<br />
ISBN-10: 1938404599 (ISBN-13: 978-1938404597)<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/edge-of-truth-natasha-hanova/1115469946?ean=9781938404597">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1938404599/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=">Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.xpressobooktours.com/">Xpresso Book Tours</a><br />
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Budding love, new friendships, and undying loyalty are only a few reasons I loved this story.</div>
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I did have a few problems with the book. Well, not problems really, just questions that weren't answered. Two of them being: How did Overlord Andrick come to power? Why are some people <i>Others</i>? It doesn't seem to be genetic, but I would've liked to know a lot more about them. Although, because they're all in hiding, Rena might not know either. A second book definitely could answer all of these questions and then show us what happens after the ending. The great ending, which I will expand on later.</div>
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Rena has a huge secret, she's <i>Other</i>, and even her best friend doesn't know. That's until she accidentally caused an earthquake bigger than she expected and almost hurt her. Blaze promises to keep her secret, about her powers and the cave they find with treasures. Treasures that later cause Blaze to be kidnapped. Her kidnappers will try to have her show them the caves, but with her awful sense of direction, she doesn't know where they are. Blaze might have sold some of them treasures, but that's because of her amazing bargaining skills (and because Rena was grounded), only Rena knows where the caves are. Rena will go to all lengths to get her best friend back, but Nevan finds out and won't let her do it alone. I'm really glad Rena wasn't alone, Nevan was a great addition to the story (as well as his sister, Chai, but I rather you find out how amazing she is on your own), once they started talking I knew they'd be a great couple. Nevan seemed like he would be a very quiet character in the beginning, but he opens up as the book goes on. </div>
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Rena and Nevan had never spoken before, but when she and Blaze show up to his house after curfew looking for a place to stay. His presence makes her heart race, and she can't thin or stop saying exactly whats on her mind. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Sweet Mother Earth. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to sit on your bed. I mean, I always wondered what it would be like but..." She caught the flash of crinkles on Nevan's forehead and the slackness of his jaw before she spun toward the door.</blockquote>
Their romance was sweet, and took it's time. They were friends, more than that even, but Rena would be confused when she was with Blaze and Nevan, should she sleep on her side facing Nevan, or Blaze? She wanted to keep her long term friendship while also nurturing the new friendship with Nevan, someone she's dreamed about being with, and maybe, she finally can be.<br />
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So I won't ruin the plot, I won't mention who kidnapped Blaze, but I can mention the Synbot's, and the Overlord. Synbot's are like the police of this world, only worse. Rena hasn't started earning wages yet, and she's already over 200,000 units in debt, for simple things like kicking a can or twig and talking back to the Synbot's, if only to explain that what she did wasn't wrong. The idea of Synbot's is nice, but the Overlords laws seemed very overwhelming.<br />
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I must mention I love the entire time they're in the Underground, but I won't say anything more about it. The ending made me so happy, but I really, truly think she left ample space for another story to be written. The book, as a standalone, would be fine. With another book to tie up all of the loose ends, plus tell the readers more about the <i>Others</i> and the world Rena lives in would be great. I would definitely buy the second book, and hope enough people agree to convince the publisher to publish another one of these books, and Natasha Hanova to write another.<br />
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"A blessed companion is a book! A book that, fitly chosen, is a life-long friend." -Douglas Jerrod</div>
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Book Nerd and Proud, </div>
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K.G.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-33390280973755816212013-06-06T14:51:00.003-07:002013-06-06T14:52:21.888-07:00Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Published: September 27th 2011 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">0316134023 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9780316134026</span>)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8duDj9ny3Ic6AvvBk49WtH3b52aRLpV4zQVeHNOmpGbK3fX1mO96tF6tuqa66pvQfhkwFpexHAovtqkF2TYIw34Uz9iZ9bCXNF3kDWHmviaXS5fSQEH7aZuuwOltPsmvkwGI-DV2hEU/s1600/Five+stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8duDj9ny3Ic6AvvBk49WtH3b52aRLpV4zQVeHNOmpGbK3fX1mO96tF6tuqa66pvQfhkwFpexHAovtqkF2TYIw34Uz9iZ9bCXNF3kDWHmviaXS5fSQEH7aZuuwOltPsmvkwGI-DV2hEU/s1600/Five+stars.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">This is probably one of the most original stories I've ever read, and I mean this in every good way. Laini Taylor fashioned a whole other world that nobody has ever read about while also creating memorable characters and detailed storylines. The author created all this while maintaining flowing and beautiful writing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Karou is definitely different from your typical heroine. She has hair that is blue, she draws monsters in her sketchbooks, and she runs errands for a chimera. More specifically, she collects teeth. While she herself has the appearance of a human, she was raised by chimeras. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">In this novel, there is no exact definition of the appearance of a chimera. They may have the legs of a deer with the head of a wolf and varied from monster to monster. At first, it was hard for me to imagine these characters with different animal body parts, but as the story progressed it became easier. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">While the image of a horrifying monster may come to mind, they were actually kind and nurturing. Even the secretive Brimstone made sure she was looked after. It took so long to figure out Brimstone, but no matter what his motives were, we knew there was a reason. Also, I loved his wisdom, and there was one quote that particularly stood out for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">"Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope has it's own magic."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Daughter of Smoke & Bone took the concept of angels versus demons and and spun the stereotypes completely. What if really the chimera, or demons, weren't actually evil? What if really, nobody was evil, but a war for power had changed them? Both sides had their own stories and myths to explain how they came to be, and both put the other in a bad light. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Normally, I grow tired of the theme of star-crossed love, but Laini Taylor even changed this in a way that kept me reading. With so many twists and turns, it was impossible to guess what would happen next. Akiva and Karou start out as enemies, but feel there is something more between them. As their relationship grows, they realize the truth of their past. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">I only wish I could express my love for this book without sounding utterly stupid. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” -</span>Garrison Keillor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">C.J.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-90583081244934483002013-06-01T12:25:00.004-07:002013-06-05T17:13:13.965-07:00Review: Duplicity by Nikki Jefford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If Graylee Perez thought sharing a body with her twin sister was bad, dealing with a duplicate of herself is two times worse. Gray the second doesn’t seem to get that Lee’s boyfriend, Raj McKenna, is off limits. Then there’s the problem of Adrian Montez. He expects one of the Graylees to be his.<br />
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Nearly a year later, the council is on to them for past misdeeds; Lee, along with the rest of the coven, has lost control of her powers; and Gray is being stalked by what looks like the Grim Reaper.<br />
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If they work together, they may stand a chance of setting things right and making it out alive.<br />
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Title: Duplicity<br />
Series: Spellbound #2<br />
Published May 20th 2012 by Nikki Jefford (first published May 19th 2012)<br />
ISBN: 1477688684 (ISBN13: 9781477688687)<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/duplicity-nikki-jefford/1110951776?ean=9781477688687">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Duplicity-Spellbound-Trilogy-2-ebook/dp/B0084V0L7E/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1370183441&sr=8-1">Amazon</a></div>
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Lee is happy with her new life, and everything is going perfectly for her...that is, until her magic is uncontrollable, plus someone shows up saying that she's Gray. Oh, and to top it all off the council believes they have an idea of who broke into their houses almost a year ago and stole the amulets that kept Adrian's powers blocked.</div>
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Gray, unlike Lee who has memories from the past few months, befriending Shay and Max, and spending time with her boyfriend, doesn't remember anything from after the purge, the world has moved on without her. It seems like everyone will side with the Graylee who has been around longer. </div>
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In my opinion this book was better than the first, but also, it confused me. Gray got kicked out of Charlene's body and went to Stacy Morehouse's, now it's Charlene and Gray (who is now known as Lee). Two separate people in two separate bodies, so how does it end up that suddenly a year later there's another Gray? After getting over this fact, the book was really great and well written.</div>
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It was interesting to see Lee and Gray, the same person, only one has lived a few more months than the other. It's very obvious the months have changed her, and that Gray and Lee, however alike they originally were, are set on two different paths, to be two completely different people. Two people who, at the beginning of the book, don't seem to be very fond of each other. That puts the reader in an odd place, do I like Lee better, or Gray? I've decided to read the last book, and then decide, because the third book is about Gray, only fair to read her story as well.<br />
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Raj made some mistakes in this book, but he truly does try to fix them. I understand how he could be confused when Gray looked how Lee used to, how the girl he fell in love with looked, but they're not the same person anymore. Gray is more edgy and dangerous, while Lee is more tame and forgiving. </div>
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Adrian, however, was an intense and compelling character, I found him to be very surprising. At the moment, he is one of my favorite characters, and I can not wait to read the next book about Adrian and Gray!</div>
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The Contact has a part in this book, and was surprising to me, it wasn't what I expected it to be. I'm not sure if I actually like the ending or not, it was bittersweet. The cover, once again, was great. Overall, the both writing and book were better, I'm very excited to start the third! </div>
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“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero<br />
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Book Nerd and Proud, </div>
<div>
K.G.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-69299637900002928602013-05-29T19:48:00.000-07:002013-05-29T19:48:19.239-07:00Review: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311967868l/10808965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Temptation of Angels" border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311967868l/10808965.jpg" width="211" /></a>When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.<br />
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Title: A Temptation of Angels<br />
Published: March 20th 2012 by Dial Books for Young Readers<br />
ISBN: 0803737262 (ISBN13: 9780803737266)<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/temptation-of-angels-michelle-zink/1101575279?ean=9780142424230">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Temptation-Angels-Michelle-Zink/dp/0142424234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369337041&sr=8-1&keywords=a+temptation+of+angels">Amazon</a><br />
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This is another one of those books that is nearly impossible to rate. It was a good book, but it wasn't exactly great either. My expectations were already high from reading Michelle Zink's other series, The Prophecy of the Sisters, so I expected something as interesting.<br />
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The storyline was an original concept of angels versus demons. The writing flowed and the pacing was perfect. Putting the story into very simple words, there were twenty Keepers on earth to keep humanity safe, however, organizations have been murdering them off one by one to get what they want...the key to the records of the past, present, and future. It would give that person the power to change it to their own benefit, but the only problem is, they don't know who holds the key, and now only three Keepers remain.<br />
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This novel was the timeline of how much Helen had grown from a coddled little girl to a woman. From her change in attire to her new found confidence, we see how she has matured. It was definitely a suspenseful start when Helen's mother hides her in a secret passageway that she had never known about. Helen didn't know what was going on, but listened to her mother's instructions. As her house begins to go up in flames, she follows the address her mother had given her and finds Darius and Griffin Channing's home. Griffin immediately trusts her and begins to ease her into this new and strange world. He later becomes her love interest and become very protective of one another. Darius on the other hand is more wary of her arrival and keeps her at a distance, but they do have biting conversations that would leave the other fuming. There was another side to Darius when he went to visit Anna, the daughter of Galizur. Galizur was a father figure for most of them since their own parents were killed. He made amazing inventions that made their job so much easier. Raum shows up surprisingly, and is an old childhood friend caught in the middle of the Keeper's deaths. He comes from a family of traitors, so I wasn't so sure about him, but his actions in the end spoke volumes. He was another love interest of Helen's, so it was a sort of love triangle, but she makes her decision quite clearly instead of dragging it on. In my opinion, the characters did fall a bit flat. There wasn't exactly anything special about them, but it would be nice to read another book and see them develop more.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live.” -</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span>Gustave Flaubert</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">C.J.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-29555152653327640132013-05-25T17:40:00.002-07:002013-06-02T07:01:44.766-07:00Review: Timeless by Michelle Madow <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.<br />
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In Remembrance, Lizzie and Drew changed the course of fate so they could be together. <br />
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In Vengeance, Chelsea set fate back on its original, deadly path. <br />
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Now, strange things keep happening to Lizzie. Things that are omens of darkness to come. A curse has doomed her to die an early death, just as she did in her past life. To make matters worse, even if she can figure out who cast the curse, it's irreversible. There's only one option left for her to save herself. It's crazier than anything she's heard yet, and to do it, she'll need Drew and Chelsea's help.<br />
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Because to make things right, they must go back to when it all began ... and Lizzie discovers that the final events in her past life were more sinister than she ever imagined.<br />
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Title: Timeless</div>
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Series: Transcend Time #3</div>
Published November 14th 2012 by Dreamscape Publishing<br />
ISBN: 0615692931 (ISBN13: 9780615692937)<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/timeless-michelle-madow/1113793741?ean=9780615692937&itm=1&usri=9780615692937">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615692931?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0615692931&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2">Amazon</a><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Sometimes there are still days when I wake up and wonder if this has actually happened, or if it’s been one long dream.</blockquote>
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Why was it that when you were looking forward to a specific day, it took forever to arrive, but when you were dreading a day, it was there immediately?</blockquote>
I loved these quotes, and this book was a page turner, at times it could be really hard to put down, even when I knew I had to. Instead of the entire series just being about reincarnation, in this book there are elements of magic and something else (it was so amazing), which was pretty awesome. While I was reading the first book, I really wouldn't have guessed that it was about anything other than reincarnation. In general this book had so many surprises, I constantly saying things like "<i>That's </i>what was in the potion Chelsea drank?! Oh my god." (really, wait until you find out what it is), and I loved how it wasn't predicable. The plot was just great, I would've even liked the book to be longer and have more romantic Lizzie and Drew moments, I loved them as a couple and felt like now that they're together they'd actually have more scenes together, but it really isn't the case. Although, she did a very good job of having them in love without over doing the physical side of the relationship, they rarely kissed and I'm almost positive there isn't a make out scene in the book. That being said, I thought it was also a good idea because they didn't really have a chance to be friends before, and even though they're dating now they're getting to know, and wholehearted trust each other, not just as best friends but has partners too. I found it to be incredibly sweet.<br />
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Lizzie is such a good person overall, she doesn't hold a grudge against Chelsea, even though she almost killed her. She even tried not to be too affectionate to Drew while Chelsea was around because it might still be too soon for her! Chelsea really did change, I didn't like her at all in the beginning of the book and by the end I didn't mind her, I even liked her. She's completely changed, and even assists Drew and Lizzie in saving Lizzie's life. She seems to realize, even though she doesn't say it, that she'll find the one who is truly meant for her too. Jeremy, who doesn't have a big part but is in the beginning, is starting to see that he's meant for someone else, and is very sweet to Lizzie in the...one scene they have together. As for Drew, I wanted more of him, he's so sweet and determined.<br />
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The ending was really great, I loved it. It made sense and brought the story to a nice close without many questions being unanswered (I say many because I want to know who Chelsea will be with! Maybe she hasn't met him yet.) I really can't say much about it without ruining the book, other than: wait until you get to the epilogue, the first lines of it left me speechless, and then I read on...it was amazing. One of the better endings I've read, and again, I wish the book was longer, or there just another book about Drew and Lizzie!<br />
<br />
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short." -Jane Austen<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,</div>
<div>
K.G.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-43880765927069471402013-05-22T11:12:00.001-07:002013-05-23T09:42:10.471-07:00Review: The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson <div>
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Elisa is a hero. She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country’s ruler should be secure. But it isn't. Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from both foreign realms and within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled. To conquer the power she bears once and for all, Elisa must follow the trail of long-forgotten—and forbidden—clues from the deep, undiscovered catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her goes a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man who—despite everything—she is falling in love with. If she’s lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost. </div>
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Title: The Crown of Embers </div>
Series: Fire and Thorns #2<br />
Published: September 18th 2012 by Greenwillow Books<br />
ISBN: 0062026518 (ISBN13: 9780062026514)<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Amazon</a><br />
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When I read the book jacket of The Crown of Embers, I was laughing at the comments of how amazing this book was. I'm not exactly sure why I picked up the sequel to this series. Quoting myself, "Will I be reading the next book in this series? Probably not...unless I feel like wasting a few hours of my day." I hated the first book, but I'm so glad I did decide to read the second. Never in my experience has a series started off with two stars then moved up to five stars! It definitely wasn't what I expected.<br />
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Unlike the last book, the relationships between characters is much more visible. Elisa has grown so much as a character. She's stronger, smarter, and braver. Also, she doesn't feel as dependent on food as she used to and has learned to embrace herself instead of constantly thinking negative thoughts. She deals with sacrifice and after her journey through the desert, actually thrives through hardships. Elisa works so hard for the good of the country, and has accepted it as her home. She is a natural born leader.<br />
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Ximena is a character who is the closest thing to a mother, warning boys away and caring for Elisa's safety. Mara, her lady's maid, is always there for her like a true friend while also making witty comments that would make me smile. Oh! And how could I forget about dear little Rosario? He is such a sweet kid, and I absolutely loved the scene when he asks her to dance!<br />
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However, my favorite relationship was between Elisa and Hector, the Commander of the Royal Guard. They could have a conversation simply by their gestures and actions, and always seemed to know when the other was upset. It's a love full of struggle, but I hope to see them together soon.<br />
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I picked up this novel with the lowest of expectations, so I never thought I would be saying this about this novel, but it was one of the best I've read. Like her characters, Rae Carson has grown so much as a writer and I am actually excited to read the next book, The Bitter Kingdom, which comes out on August 27th!<br />
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"Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them." -Lemony Snicket<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
C.J.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-71415288038164070022013-05-22T07:52:00.000-07:002013-05-23T12:50:05.180-07:00Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400l/10507293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400l/10507293.jpg" width="211" /></a>For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.<br />
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But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.</div>
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Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.<br />
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Title: The Selection</div>
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Series: The Selection #1<br />
Published: April 24th 2012 by HarperTeen<br />
ISBN: 0062059939 (ISBN13: 9780062059932)<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-selection-kiera-cass/1106580335?ean=9780062059949">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Selection-Kiera-Cass/dp/0062059947/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363312668&sr=8-1&keywords=the+selection">Amazon</a><br />
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<span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">Thirty-five girls are chosen to compete for Prince Maxon's affections to be the next Queen. For America, this is an opportunity to be able to provide for her family with enough food so they don't go to bed hungry. But what was once a way to simply hide from her past romance turns into a love triangle. In most novels, I have been getting tired of the concept of a love triangle, but in The Selection, it was suspenseful. America starts off telling Prince Maxon she isn't interested in him, and friend-zones him within their first conversation, but as they talk and confide in each other, they begin to trust each other and new feelings develop. </span><br />
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<span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">America is such a strong character in this book, and very humble and compassionate. When there is a raid in the palace, she refuses to leave her maids and brings them to the hideout despite the fact they were part of a lower caste, which has never mattered to her. She also grows as a leader throughout this competition and finds her voice. She doesn't let people push her around, and tells them how she feels right away. That was one of my favorite aspects of the relationship between America and Maxon. When they first met, she went as far to call him stuck-up and that was a refreshing change for Maxon who has been used to the royal lifestyle of everybody practically kissing the floor he walks on. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">He isn't confident in himself and has never had a real friend because of his sheltered life. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Their banter is always friendly and witty, and he always acts like a perfect gentleman. Except when they're mad at each other, of course. No relationship is perfect! </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Personally, I didn't like Aspen. He was much too proud for my liking and throws a fit when America tries to help his family and cooks him food. I understand he feels a man should provide for his family, but she just wanted to do something nice, especially when she heard he had been saving up to propose to her. I hate how just waltzes back into America's life as if nothing happened. He should respect her more than that, he just left her crying. Then again, if I were America I probably would have kept up more of a grudge too. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Celeste is one of the minor characters who we all know in real life. She thinks she's better than everybody else and sabotages all the girls, but when Prince Maxon comes into the room she acts innocent. A lot like The Bachelor! However, Marlee, who is America's closest friend during The Selection, is quite the opposite. She is very loving and kind and tries not to let the other girls bother her.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Overall this was an amazing novel, the characters had their own unique personalities that are unforgettable. Since the second book, The Elite, has come out recently, I hope to read it at soon as possible!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">"You cannot open a book without learning something." -Confucius </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;">C.J.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-59280945836483862062013-05-18T20:34:00.000-07:002013-06-05T17:13:20.925-07:00Review: Vengeance by Michelle Madow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>How far would you go to get revenge?</b><br />
When Chelsea Givens discovered that her ex-boyfriend Drew dumped her to be with her former best friend Lizzie, she'd never felt so betrayed in her life. Then her new friend Shannon tells her she can help set things right. Chelsea's willing to listen, but what Shannon wants her to believe -- that she shared a past life with Drew -- is impossible. And what she wants her to do to get him back … well, it's downright crazy. <br />
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Could Shannon be telling the truth? And if she is, what lengths will Chelsea go if it means making Lizzie pay? <br />
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Title: Vengeance </div>
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Series: Transcend Time #1.5</div>
Published December 8th 2011 by Dreamscape Publishing<br />
ISBN13: 9780615559711<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vengeance-michelle-madow/1106954761?ean=9780615559711&itm=1&usri=9780615559711">Barnes & Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vengeance-Michelle-Madow/dp/0615559719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367779519&sr=1-1&keywords=9780615559711">Amazon</a><br />
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This book is only 66 pages, for this reason, my review is going to be shorter than usual. </div>
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For starters, I never was a fan of Chelsea in the first place, when she decides to turn evil, I truly wasn't surprised. I understand she was hurt because her boyfriend left her for her best friend, but my boyfriend recently broke up with me too, and I honestly thought he was meant for me, but because I still love him, if he's happy with someone else I wouldn't take that from him for my own happiness. Being with him while he's unhappy isn't better than just being friends. I guess I was right not to like Chelsea, she doesn't think like this. She's ready the ruin Drew's life, who she supposedly loves, all because she thinks they're meant to be. I think if she truly loved him, his happiness would come first, but that's just me. It's not like he wasn't happy, he was, she could tell and he told her he was. He even goes as far as telling her that she will find someone else, someone who truly loves her like he loves Lizzie, yet she can't seem to take a hint.<br />
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The way in which Chelsea finds out about her past life with Drew and Lizzie was very creative, and I truly didn't expect it. I do think you get the impression that Shannon has a lot more to do with Chelsea figuring out her past than she actually does. This book was meant to bridge the first and the second book, and it does a very good job at that. The way she plans on getting Drew back seemed a little far fetched, and simple, but choosing something a little more simple that she could fully explain in so few pages rather than briefly explaining a complicated concept was probably a much better idea.<br />
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Shannon actually seemed to be different in this book, although Lizzie did mention the awful criticism of her friends was behind their backs, so I guess it made sense. Although, Chelsea does mention more than once that she knows she has a act specific way, and say the right things around her. I think she may be trying so hard to replace Lizzie that she doesn't seem to care if she can't be herself around her supposed friends.<br />
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"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book."<br />
Book Nerd and Proud,<br />
K.G.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8593605494428069900.post-68631750325024484212013-05-15T20:19:00.001-07:002013-05-19T19:13:17.157-07:00Review: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Can true love be forgotten?</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.</span><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><br style="line-height: 19px;" /><span style="line-height: 19px;">As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Title: Dreamless</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Series: Starcrossed #2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Published: May 29th 2012 by HarperTeen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">0062012010 </span><span class="greyText" style="line-height: 18px;">(ISBN13: <span itemprop="isbn">9780062012012</span>)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreamless-josephine-angelini/1105340827?ean=9780062012029">Barnes&Noble</a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreamless-Starcrossed-Josephine-Angelini/dp/0062012029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367778781&sr=1-1&keywords=dreamless">Amazon</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8duDj9ny3Ic6AvvBk49WtH3b52aRLpV4zQVeHNOmpGbK3fX1mO96tF6tuqa66pvQfhkwFpexHAovtqkF2TYIw34Uz9iZ9bCXNF3kDWHmviaXS5fSQEH7aZuuwOltPsmvkwGI-DV2hEU/s1600/Five+stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8duDj9ny3Ic6AvvBk49WtH3b52aRLpV4zQVeHNOmpGbK3fX1mO96tF6tuqa66pvQfhkwFpexHAovtqkF2TYIw34Uz9iZ9bCXNF3kDWHmviaXS5fSQEH7aZuuwOltPsmvkwGI-DV2hEU/s1600/Five+stars.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll admit, this book wasn't quite as good as the first one, but I couldn't bring myself to rate this book lower than five stars! For a group of people who are apparently geniuses, these Scions really don't know their basic math. If Helen is seventeen years old, and Ajax died nineteen years ago, how can he be her father? For me, this book was a slow start and hard to get into, and it really only got interesting towards the end of the novel. I didn't exactly love the way Angelini threw in a love triangle in the midst of all this. Orion was a great character who had it all, but I didn't think this series needed another guy who Helen can't be with to go after her....and it made me sort of uncomfortable reading how Lucas and Helen couldn't stay away from each other even though they thought they were first cousins...ew. But since that whole drama about blood debts owed to Houses is over with and the war with the gods has started, who knows what will happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her mother seems a bit dodgy to me, why would she lie to her daughter that Lucas is her cousin? I think she has her own agenda in store for us in the next book. I absolutely loved Hector! In the last book, he was sort of a jerk but now he's probably one of the sweetest guys to read about. He definitely has that whole protective older brother role towards Helen, and gives amazing hugs. However, Claire wasn't as good of a friend or as supportive as she used to be, and that was disappointing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, Dreamless keeps up a strong plot and was an interesting and worthwhile read. I believe the next book, Goddess, has come out recently, so I hope to read and review that one soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"I like big books and I cannot lie." LOL, I found the quote on Pinterest...had to share that one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Nerd and Proud,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">C.J.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0