Review: The Elite

Only six girls are left in the competition to win prince Maxon's heart. 

From what we saw in The Selection, the first book in the series, Maxon prefers the company of America over the other girls. But how long will his interest last when America is not ready to let go of her ex-boyfriend? Worse, what can happen if Maxon finds out he is being betrayed?

Kiera Cass caught the readers interest by mixing dystopia and romance. Thankfully, this book isn't a repetition of the previous. Instead of jealous girls backstabbing one another, Maxon gets to deal with rebels endangering the entire kingdom. What good does it do to win a crown when there will be no throne to sit on? If America is going to stay with Maxon, then she'd better do it out of love. 

Love-o-meter: Sex, betrayal, and pleasurable indiscretions.

The series conclusion comes out in May 2014.

Top Ten Tuesday: Heart Medicine

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP TEN BOOKS TO SWOON OVER

Valentine's Day is approaching and what a better way to celebrate the month of Love than by sharing these beautiful quotes.

10- Can You Keep a Secret

“It’s the way he had a cup of tea waiting for me when I woke up. It’s the way he turned on his laptop especially for me to look up all my Internet horoscopes and helped me choose the best one. He knows all the crappy, embarrassing bits about me that I normally try to hide from any man for as long as possible… and he loves me anyway.” 

9- The Time Traveler's Wife

“Don't you think it's better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?” 

8- The Fault in Our Stars

“You realize that trying to keep your distance from me will not lessen my affection for you. All efforts to save me from you will fail.”

7- Anna and the French Kiss

“I'm saying I'm in love with you! I've been in love with you this whole bleeding year!” 

6- Shiver

“right in this moment, I can´t even remember what unhappy feels like.” 

5- Matched

“But if you were Matched," I say softly, "What do you think she'd be like?"
"You," he says, almost before I've finished. "You.” 

4- If I Stay

“If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too ... I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.”

3- Graceling

“I wanted you to go away, because it hurts to be with you when I can't see you." 

2-  City of Fallen Angels

“You don't get to decide," she said, "where I go, or when."
"I know." His voice was ragged. "I've always known that about you. I don't know why I had to fall in love with someone who's more stubborn than I am.” 

1- Ten Things we Did and Probably Shouldn't Have

 “Sometimes you don't need lightning to start a fire. Sometimes, it builds on its own.”

Caught my arrow #30

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Got a pleasant surprise in the mailbox this week!!

Received for review

Far from you by Tess Sharpe
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
(Thank you HbgCanada)

Received from Netgalley

Don't Even Think About it by Sarah Mlynowski

Borrowed from Library

Unwind by Neil Shusterman
Blankets by Craig Thompson

What are you reading this week?

Review: Luminary

Threatened of extermination due to an emotional personality, Thalli escapes the Scientists who created her and enters our world which she believed to be destroyed. Along with her is Berk, long time friend and love interest. And her best friend Rhen. But as Berk and Rhen begin to spend more time together, Thalli learns that being free to demonstrate emotions can lead to uncertainty and jealousy.

Krista McGee put a lot of effort to keep the action going in this sequel to Anomaly. Adding new characters, like handsome yet secretive prince Alex who brings out a different side in Thalli's character. Same as the previous book, lots of plot twists kept me second guessing the climax to the point where I had to restrain myself from skipping to the ending. 

The series conclusion Revolutionary is set for July 2014.

Top Ten Tuesday: Cry me a river

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP TEN BOOKS KLEENEX SHOULD SPONSOR

I read to escape. To live several lives without having to leave the comfort of my living room. How could I pass up emotional reads?




10- Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows

Too many loses and secrets revealed. It was the first time I ever had to control myself not to skip to the ending.

 9- The Kite Runner

They say people cry out of frustration. Well, this book made me tear with anger. How could that little boy be so mean to his friend? Argh! It still gets to me now.

8- The Fault in Our Stars

 I dare anyone to read this and not cry.

 7- On the Jellicoe Road

 Not sure if this book will make other folks list, but the subject is too close to home for me not to feel the character's pain.

6- Before I Die

Beautifully written. Not only dealing with dying from cancer, but also mother/daughter relationships and accepting that even though you are gone others will continue living their lives.

5- The Lovely Bones

Although the murder scene is shocking, the saddest part of the book is watching her father helpless.

4- If I Stay

This was in my top four last week (how weird is that). Losing her entire family -- too tragic to simply swift through the pages.

3- Wonder

A little kid being bullied for his appearance. The Halloween scene got me plucking the Kleenex box.

2-  Frostbite

The mother and daughter moment at the end. There is something sad when you see a strong character cry.

1- Twenty Boy Summer

 Not having anyone to share your grief with.