Feature and Follow Friday: They call me Cupid

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: How did you come up with your blog title?

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 20 Nov. 2014 à 7h28 PST

Although, it's no secret that I'm mixed (half Colombian/half Greek) and that Cupid comes from Greek mythology, that's not the reason I picked the name. Truth is, I really enjoy matchmaking people with good books.

When I first started the blog (this actually still happens) most people assumed that BookCupid was an adult romance/erotica review site. I kept having to explain that I only reviewed YA, MG, or NA. Some authors took it well, and some ... not so well. But that's their problem. I love my blog name, with the little hearts and arrows reviews, and wouldn't change it for the world.

Review: The Shackles of Constantine

Jade isn't your typical teenage girl -- she can summon fire. 

Enrolling at Constantine Academy should have made her more at ease, but no one else seems to share Jade's gift. When one of the students is burned by Jade in self-defense class, Jade is coerced to learn an illegal charm to make amends or face expulsion. But with the founder of Constantine Academy on the loose, will Jade be used as a weapon against evil or for evil?

I admit I felt uncomfortable around Jade's character at first. It wasn't an illogical feeling, as Jade herself felt unwelcome in her own skin. Even when she transfers from schools, every student who approaches her, like fellow classmate Justine, Jade doubts their motifs, unable to see the potential of a true friendship. But as the story flows, Jade starts growing more confident in herself and her abilities, forming an even better crew with Matt and Aaron. 

Looking forward to the sequel.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Flavor

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP 10 FAVORITE AUTHORS

1. Cassandra Clare 

Clare made me love Steampunk with her Infernal Devices series. I know she's mostly renowned for the Mortal Instruments, and to me, an author who is able to juggle two successful series at the same time is quite remarkable.  

2. Sarah Dessen

Another author with a book to movie adaptation, is Dessen. Her work is always character driven, leaving the reader with a complete profile of the MC in and out. 

3. J.K.Rowling 

I'm happy to mention Rowling in this countdown. It means that no matter how many books I read, her work remain with me. She is such a magical being. 

4. Richelle Mead 

Awww, these book covers should have been kept. Of course, no matter what the covers look like, the words inside remain the same -- enchanting. 

5. Ally Carter 

Love her mysteries, particularly, the Heist Society series, which was supposed to be turned into a movie but sadly, never did. 

6. John Green 

I might not have been Paper Towns biggest fan, but that doesn't mean I would exclude Green from this list. I still feel he wrote a masterpiece with The Fault in our Stars. 

7. India Desjardins

The way Desjardins represents the single women of today struggling with Instagram, Tinder, and grandmas who refuse to give family recipes because ''they are written for a family of four''  is funny/bitter/funny again. I can't wait for these to be translated in English. 

8. E. Lockhart

I loved her even before this book, does that count? 

9. Carolyn Meyer

History was never a favorite topic of mine until I encountered a Meyer book. I've been collecting them and sharing them ever since. 

10. Mo Willems

He's a genius to me. His writing is funny/clever. And there is always opportunity to do voices. Hope to one day be able to write a children's book with half his wit. 

Who is your favorite author?

Review: Echo

Harmonicas used to be given to patients that needed to rehabilitate their lungs. I wish one had been provided for me while reading this book -- because that is how heavy the novel felt on my soul. 

Echo combines several sad stories into one -- all connected to a magical harmonica and the power of sibling love. We meet Friedrich, whose disability alienates him from fulfilling Nazi requirements, Mike who must protect his little brother at all costs and poor Ivy who is subjected to racism. All of these kids lives are at stake, turning this novel into a race against time.

Regardless of scene after scene filled with teary moments, Munoz Ryan made her novel extra gripping, by placing careful attention to her main and secondary characters. All of them had the world working against them, and yet their spirit was always positive. At almost 600 pages, I found the novel too long and frankly a little too sad for middle-graders, but can undoubtedly see a YA crowd devouring this. I only wish the first few pages about witches would have been omitted altogether. 

Worth the read!!

Review and Giveaway: The Truth about Us

He's not good enough for her, and she'll only makes his life worse.

Almost everyone is convinced that Jess and Flynn aren't meant to be. Sent to volunteer at a missionary shelter by her dad, after being caught drinking topless, Jess needs to mature and learn that with money comes responsibility. Meeting Flynn might just be what she needed to get out of her lonely state of mind. He's a good listener, understands her, and is going through tough family problems as well. But when their shared chemistry turns into something more, it becomes everyone's goal to tear them apart.

Gurtler did a fine job providing all her characters with realistic flaws and ways of dealing with their problems. There was a lot of tension amongst Jess's family, since her mom was brutally attacked outside her home and nearly beaten to death. This should've brought the family closer, but caused the opposite. It was great to see how communication in all relationships is key to keeping things together. I would have loved to see more background story on Nance. Hopefully, there's a spin-off.

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JANET GURTLER:

RITA Award finalist Janet Gurtler’s young adult books have been chosen for the Junior Library Guild Selection and as Best Books For Teens from the Canadian Children’s Book Center. She has had her writing compared to Judy Blume and Jodi Picoult and that makes her happy. She has volunteered at a few soup kitchens and hopes to do more. Giving back is so important. Janet lives in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son, and a chubby black Chihuahua named Bruce.

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