Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

Title: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Released: August 15th 2013 

Summary from Goodreads:
"You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it."

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

Title: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Released: May 7th 2013 

Summary from Goodreads:

"Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).
Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders."

Short Review: Vintage Veronica

Title: Vintage Veronica
Author: Erica S. Per
Release Date: March 9^th 2010
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Source: Library

My Thoughts:

Vintage Veronica was a story that surprised me in a good way. It was such a nice, light, fun, read with messages of self love and acceptance thrown in. Seriously guys, it was so good. The characters were lovable. Veronica was someone I identified with and I loved reading about her story. The problems she faced and overcame were some I had too go through too. It was just nice seeing her accepting her weight and discovering how to just be happy with yourself. The romance was realistic and I LOVED seeing two flawed characters(not you know, dream boats) get to be together and are just happy. This was a great contemporary and perfect for summer! 

Rating: 3/5

Review: The Lost Girl

Title: The Lost Girl

Author: Sangu Mandanna
Release Date: August 28th 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 432
Source: Purchased 

Summary:

"Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva."

My Thoughts: 

When I first heard the premise of what Lost Girl was going to be about I was very intrigued. Never had I heard of a story plot such as Lost Girl's before. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical on how Sangu could pull it off, but she did. My goodness this book was amazeballs!

The story begins with Eva, who is an echo. An echo is basically a spare person created by Weavers for a family in case tragedy strikes. Eva lives in London where she is learning and practicing on how to become Amarra, the girl she was created to replace.

This book was absolutely incredible! I loved it so much that I highly doubt my words can even begin to give it enough praise.

First of all, Sangu's writing Is beautifully done. The story flows perfectly and best of the writing was able to leave me with so many emotions. I love when books hit me so powerfully that they actually make me think about things in a new way. Sangu's writing did that for me. So many questions are asked in this book. Love, humanity and loss are just a few. This story was so emotional and beautiful and gah I just can't gush about it enough.

Even the characters in this story were amazing. Eva was a strong independent, she took on her fate, yet was still her own person. It was so nice to see a main character in a YA novel not play the victim. That's exactly how Eva was, a fighter. Regardless of her circumstances, Eva never gave up. She always had that passionate spirit in her and I loved it. She was such a remarkable character and she really was an amazing protagonist. Even the minor characters were believable and served a purpose rather than fill up pages. I really liked Mina Ma (Eva's guardian) and her teachers. They added to the story rather than clutter it.

The plot was intense and interesting. I loved seeing Eva change over time and grow up. The choices she made and the obstacles she went through really made the story that much better. I mean, I couldn't step into someone's life and take their place. It's just so odd to think about. I loved her time in India being Amarra. It was so fascinating and heartbreaking.

With love being such a strong theme, I knew romance would blossom in the story. It did, but it was real love. It wasn't the pretty YA version with happy endings – no, it was true love. The love that is devastating as it is beautiful. Sangu intertwined love with loss so greatly in this story and I appreciated that. Not only was it just romance, but a family's love too. It was just all so complicated and it broke my heart often. Books rarely make me cry but this one did. It really makes you think about life and decisions.

So If you haven't figured out yet, I LOVED this book. Do yourself a favor and read this book so you too can experience this amazing story. I can't wait to read the sequel. 

Rating: 5/5!

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

Title: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher

Released: May 7th 2013 

Summary from Goodreads:

"First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.
But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.
Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.
Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible."

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Released: August 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate, Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

In this riveting look at a day in the life of a disturbed teenage boy, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made—and the light in us all that never goes out."

Review: Something Strange and Deadly

Title: Something Strange and Deadly

Author: Susan Dennard
Release Date: July 24^th 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 388
Source: Edelweiss

Summary: 

"The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance."

My Thoughts: 

First off I just want to talk about the cover. Now while the cover itself is pretty, I have to admit I am not a fan of it. I don't feel that the cover represents what the book has to offer. It just doesn't work with me.

Now onto the review

Something Strange and Deadly actually surprised me by how much I ended up enjoying this book. Susan's writing style is what caught my attention and first drew me into the story. Everything flowed together properly and the descriptions were vivid and really brought the story to life. I love the Victorian era so the setting was something that I highly enjoyed and admired.

The characters weren't to shabby either. The main protagonist Elanor wasn't the typical young YA girl. What I mean by that is that she was actually a strong and determined heroine. I loved how Elanor fought for what she believed in and wasn't deterred away from adversity from the obstacles in her way and even the era she lived in. I just liked Elanor a lot and considering what she has to go through in this book I only gained more respect for her.

The Spirit Hunters also were an interesting bunch, especially Daniel. Daniel is the groups inventor and many times I was either swooning for him or wanted to slap him silly. Joseph who is the leader of the group was an extremely calm gentlemen and the complete opposite of Daniel. The last member was Jie, the fighter of the group. The team was crucial to the story but the only character I cared for was Daniel. Joseph came off a little too perfect for me and kinda creeped me out and Jie was awesome but there wasn't that much of her in the story to really get attached to her. So in the end, Daniel ended up being my favorite of the trio.

The plot moved extremely fast in this book. There was always something going on and hardly ever any dull moments. One thing I liked was the zombies and the necromancy used in this story. There were a couple of creepy moments and I really enjoyed the “Dead Alerts” used to warn about the zombies coming. It was just kind of funny to know that the dead were so common they got there own alarm warning. I wished there were more zombies and zombie action but I enjoyed what there was of it. The cool inventions and steampunk elements were really cool. Especially what Daniel created and used. What I really loved was the mystery and adventure in this book. It kept me going because I wanted to know what happened to Elanor's brother and who the big bad villain was raising the dead.

The romance in this story developed slowly and sweetly and didn't result into instalove and idiot characters. It also didn't drown out the book. Daniel and Elanor's romance was funny and sweet and just really worked.

The plot twist at the end killed me and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! I really enjoyed this zombie steampunk novel! Totally recommend. 

Rating: 4/5

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel of Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read.

Question: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre?

Answer: I don't really have a specific genre that I read. To be honest I like variety and I usually pick a book i'm in the mood for versus it's genre. So I guess I have an eclectic taste rather then a set area of books I like. I tend to read YA and Adult more often then others I suppose but i'm game for anything! 

How about you? What book genres interest you?

Review: Shadows

Title: Shadows

Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Release Date: September 25^th 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 528
Source: Gifted

Summary: 

"The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love.
But she was wrong.

Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive"

My Thoughts: 

After finishing Ashes last year, it was no surprise how badly I wanted this book. So when I finally got my hands on a copy I couldn't wait to tear into it. Unfortunately to my disappointment, Shadows fell flat for me. 

A huge problem I had with the story were the new multiple perspectives introduced in this book. To be honest It felt very sudden and confusing at first and it really threw me off from reading. I would have much rather of had Alex been the main protagonist like before because the other perspectives just felt so tedious and I often lost interest through a lot of the book. It was also difficult to care for certain characters because they were so new or I knew so little of them previously to actually care for them. The final blow for me was the climax at the end of the book. I know Ilsa was trying to create an intense atmosphere with the dual perspectives of two particular characters but the switching back and forth completely ruined it for me. Overall the new perspectives just left me with a big headache.

The pacing in this book really seemed to drag on through a lot of the story.The plot felt like it wasn't going anywhere for a long time and I struggled often with trying to motivate myself to finish certain chapters. Certain parts also felt extremely dull and boring. Considering how big this book is I was hoping it would read quicker but it felt even longer sometimes while reading it. It wasn't until the last third of the book that things started to finally pick up in pace and began to flow greatly. I was on the edge of my bed with excitement toward the end. The cliff hanger killed me though!

The horror in this story was just as creepy as the last one. The one thing I admire about Ilsa is how she isn't afraid to bring on the gruesome and ugly. Shadows had tons of violent and intense scenes and Ilsa's descriptions left me with such horrific imagery that I thought about in my sleep (totally creepy)! The ''zombies'' in this book are even worse than before and the things they do to survivors is so disturbing I often had to put the book down and look at kittens to get my mind back to normal. As gross as it sounds the “Changed” were my favorite thing about this book because of how they livened up the dullness and brought back suspense. 

Shadows just wasn't my cup of tea and it really pains me to say that considering how much I loved Ashes. I wouldn't say I hated this book, because I really did enjoy most of it. I think the dual perspectives are what ultimately bothered me the most. I plan to read the next book but hope it resembles Ashes rather than this one. 

Rating: 3/5  

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

Title: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington 

Released: January 1st 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?"

Why I want to read this: 

I LOVE Kim Harrington and I will read anything she puts out. I can not wait to read her take on ghosts and haunted houses! This book has me excited for New Years day even more now! 

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel of Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read.

Question: What book do you think would make a great Halloween movie? Please explain in graphic detail of goriness...

My answer: I would have to say Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick would make a great Halloween movie. Ashes is filled with violent gory scenes made of fleshing ripping and head bashing action. I mean, who doesn't want to see a zombie movie on Halloween? 

What were your picks? :) 

Short Review: Undead

Title: Undead
Author: Kirsty McKay
Release Date: September 1st 2012
Publisher:The Chicken House
Pages: 272
Source: Netgalley


My Thoughts: 
I had no expectations for Undead and I think that's the best way to come into this book. Undead for me was a really funny and likable read! The humor is what I loved most about this book, it made the living dead seem slightly comical and fun. The actual story itself moves really fast. No long drawn out beginnings, just straight into the action.  The zombies in this book weren't too nasty, but Kirsty still gave them the element of creepy. The characters in this book were cliched with the typical mean popular girl, the nerd, the bad boy and the down to earth protagonist. Even if they were cliched I still enjoyed them. The plot was decent - fighting for survival in the cold English mountains. Although I didn't take away much for this book I still enjoyed it. Overall this book was a fun light read perfect for Halloween! 

Rating: 3/5 

Waiting On Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

Title: Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Released: January 8th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?"

Why I want to read this: 

I love thrillers and this one just sounds amazing! I can't wait to find out what happens to Rory! (That cover ain't bad either).

Review: Anna Dressed In Blood

Title: Anna Dressed In Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Release Date: August 30th 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 316
Source: Purchased 

Summary:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

My Thoughts: 

The first impression I had of this book was cover lust. I LOVED the cover and how totally creepy it was. Never had I seen a cover so pretty and disturbing at the same time and that made me really want to at least see what the book was about.

When I first began reading, I really enjoyed how I was reminded of the show Supernatural (huge fan)! It set the whole mood of the book for me and I just knew I was gonna love this book (and I did).

The mood of this story was fantastic, it was creepy, intense and foreboding with huge amounts of suspense and vivid detail strewn through out the story. It had everything I love in a creepy novel. Not many books can give me chills but Anna Dressed in Blood definitely did, especially during the violent parts which were super gory and intense! Even the characters were enjoyable in this YA horror novel.

Cas (the main character) is extremely snarky and sarcastic and hilarious protagonist, while his new friends Thomas (the psychic) and Carmel (bearable popular girl) served as great companions on the hunt for Anna (ghost bust team)! Speaking of Anna, she was my favorite character of all. Anna was one kick-ass anti-hero. I love characters that have depth, and Anna had that. There was so much more to her than a demonic killer ghost. Awful things happened to her that caused her to become what she is now. Anna was a complex character that added a lot to the reader experience. 

The action scenes in this book were great and kept me reading all night. The romance between Anna and Cas was sweet and tragic. It warmed yet broke your heart at the same time. The ending of the book left me craving more!

Overall this book is great for Halloween and horror lovers! I can't wait to pick up the second book Girl of Nightmares and continue on with Anna and Cas's story! Highly recommend! 

Rating: 4.5/5

Stacking The Shelves (1)!

So this is my first ever Stacking the Shelves! I only got three books this week but I am really excited about them! 


For Review: 
Ironskin by Tina Connolly 
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff


Gifted: 
The Betrayal - R.L. Stein (From Andrea @ The Busy Bibliophile, Thanks so much!) 


That's all I got this week! What did you get :)? 

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Goals and Updates!

I will be participating in the Once Upon a Read - a - Thon and am super excited! It starts tomorrow and lasts until Wednesday. For more information on the readathon or to sign up, go here!
Goals:
I have been super behind on my reading this month so this readathon came at a good time. I'm hoping to finish three books, but if I read more than that's great! The books I hope to get through are...

Undead by Kristy McKay

Drain You by M. Beth Bloom 

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard 

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry 

Rosebush by Michelle Jaffe 

So far those are the only books I have planned, and if by some miracle I read all of them then I will feel like  a champion! I plan on updating through twitter (#OUreadathon) and making a wrap up post on here. Happy reading everyone! 


UPDATES: 
07/09 
12:34 AM began Undead by Kirsty McKay 
1:25 AM I participated in IB Book Blogging's mini challenge! She asked two questions.


Question One: What is your favorite cover that has been revealed this summer and why? 
Answer: My favorite cover that has been revealed this summer has to be Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff! I have always had a soft spot for Japanese culture and when I laid my eyes on that cover I was in love. Just look at it! I love everything about it, the Thundertiger in the top corner and Yukiko on the cover looking all bad ass. I LOVE IT. Even the subtle hints of the red sky make the cover pop even more. Seriously, I am in cover LUST. 


Question Two: Do you rely on the cover to help you choose whether you want to read a book or not? 
Answer: Well, If I were to be brutally honest I'd say yes. A really pretty cover lures me in and makes me want to pick the book up and look at it. Most of the time when i'm at the bookstore I gravitate to books with covers that catch my eye. So yes, covers do play a role in the beginning, but the actual story makes me adore the book! 
9:15 AM I finished Undead by Kirsty McKay 
9:47 AM began Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry 
Total Books read: 1 
07/10
Didn't get much reading done as I'd hoped. About halfway on Pushing the Limits. 
07/11
4:15 pm finished Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry (LOVED IT) 
4:47 PM entered Kindle Fever's mini challenge! 
Challenge: As the story teller, I want you to tell me which to characters are fighting and why!  
Story: Tris and Katniss are fighting in an arena of death to determine which kick-ass heroine is finally THE BEST! It's a tough fight coming from two strong willed characters! 
4:51 pm entered Stiletto Storytime's mini challenge! 
Challenge: Share a foreign author whose work you adore.
Answer: I love Markus Zusak's work. Absolutely everything I have read by him I have loved. His prose and characters are amazing!  I highly recommend anything he has ever written but my favorites are I Am the Messanger and The Book Thief. 

Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Title: Eve
Author: Anna Carey
Release Date: October 4th 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased

 Summary (from Goodreads):

“The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life”

My Thoughts:

I first heard about Eve way back in the fall when the plethora of dystopian books seemed to be popping out. I remember being intrigued at the premise of the book, I mean it kind of sounds like a movie synopsis rather than a book summary. Needless to say, I think I would have enjoyed this book better as a movie.

A major issue that I had with reading this book was the pace. Don't get me wrong, I love books that get the plot rolling, but with Eve it just seemed too fast. Within only a few chapters the main character (Eve) drastically changed in a rather unbelievable way. She changed because of a major point in the plot but the issue was, I just couldn't see why Eve would change her mind so quickly. Eve spent years in a school that taught her to fear men and the world outside the school's protective fence. Eve had everything at the Girl's school - best friends, a bright future, and she was even a leader there, her classes valedictorian . One conversation was all it took to completely crumble Eve's world and send her onto her journey. I just couldn't wrap my head around why it was so easy for her to change! From that point on I just feel as though the story progressed way too fast. Also, I had a HUGE problems with Eve herself. When I read books I like being able to peak inside the main characters head and feel what they do in order to make difficult decisions. I didn't get that with Eve. In fact, Eve was a really annoying protagonist. Many times through out the book I just wanted to slap her the crap out of her.

I know this review has been mostly negative, but there are good things about Eve too. The world building was interesting and was on good route. The side kick characters (Arden and Caleb) were pretty enjoyable and made up for some of Eve's downfalls. Even the romance between Caleb and Eve was okay. About a third of the way through the book things started to

slow down and the book got better. A lot better in my opinion. While this book didn't leave that big of a lasting impression on me, I still loved Anna Carey's writing style. Eve was just a decent read for me, but don't let my review scare you off from reading Eve though. Other bloggers loved it and I always encourage people to make their own opinions on books. I have higher hopes for the sequel which comes out July 3^rd.

Rating: 2/5

July R.A.K!

The wonderful girls over at Book Soulmates created this monthly event! Each month you sign up with your wishlist and can also view other people's wishlist too! The whole goal of Random Acts of Kindness is to make someone's day by sending them a book off their wish list. Sometimes other people even send you books off your wish list. I think its a really sweet idea and have participated in previous months! I think if you haven't you should! :) 

Ahem. There are rules though! (taken directly from Book Soulmates site): 

• Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
• Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).
• Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
• Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
• E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post.  This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren!

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

My Top 3 Books! 

A Million Suns by Beth Revis 

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/16L57NRRWP1JR/ref=topnav_lists_1

Happy Reading everyone! <3