Top Ten Tuesday: Sun gone shine

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP SUMMER 2014 TBR LIST

With school behind me, I can fully concentrate on my passion -- books and FIFA 2014. Lots of sports themed books made my list this year.

10-A Blind Spot for Boys

Justina Chen

Romance, sports and Machu Pichu!! Can't wait to dive into this one. 

9-The Bridge from Me to You

Lisa Schroeder

Secrets and sports again. The cover just screams summer to me. 

8-Vengeance

Megan Miranda

Been looking forward to reading this sequel the entire winter. Sadly, exams got in the way. 

7-Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

I always try to read a classic as often as possible. This is my summer pick. 

6-Catching Jordan

Miranda Kenneally

Starting this sports novel next week. Comes highly recommended.

5-The Indigo Spell

Richelle Mead

Need to catch up on this series. 

4-No One Needs to Know

Amanda Grace

Love triangle plot -- including twins!! How awkwardly entertaining.

3-Endless

Kate Brian

The end of the series. 

2- Wish You Were Italian

Kristin Rae

Best example of reading to escape -- the country that is. Wishing I was in Italy right now.

1-Only Everything

Kieran Scott

Ahh!! A book about Cupid. How could this not top my list. 

Which book made your list?

Review: Shift

Sometimes a relationship ends not by choice, but because someone dies. 

Logan overdosed on his birthday, and now, everyone born after the shift, including his girlfriend Aura can see him until he decides to cross over. In this sequel to Shade, Aura thought she'd lost Logan forever, but it turns out he's still around with plans to start a band made out of post-shifters. Unfortunately, his presence still means turmoil for Aura's current boyfriend, Zachary. How will they get through this again?

Although Shade had an intense amount of romance and tension, Shift was too explanatory. Why are ghosts visible in the first place? What role does Aura play in it all? This time around, Aura was harder to connect with. Guys are not toys -- and playing with other people's feelings just because one is confused doesn't make it right.

Hope she redeems herself in the third installment.

Feature and Follow Friday: Paris, je t'aime

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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Q: Armchair travel! Tell us about your favorite book in a setting you'd like to visit.

J'aime Paris -- and yet I've never been. It's the idea of it. Imagine the late night walks in the city of lights. The Moulin Rouge. The culinary experience. Imagine Versailles.

A book that sells France quite well is Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. A great romance/contemporary story worth the read.

Film Review: The Fault in our Stars

John Green's bestseller The Fault in our Stars premiered last thursday -- shocking the film industry with a $48.2M gross so far.

Whether it was John Green's presence on set, or the cast incredible performance, the film remained true to the novel. I can't think of one scene that was altered.

Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort shared a raw chemistry on screen, and Nat Wolff taking over the role of best friend Isaac, kept us smiling regardless of the tears impossible to contain.

Just when I had run out of tissues, a woman in the front row let out a loud sob, and bang, the whole theater exploded in tears.

Make sure you bring lots of kleenex.

Review: We Were Liars

An ambiguous plot that will leave you guessing until the very end. 

Summers hold the best memories for Cadence -- and all because she gets to spend them with the Liars, a group of relatives and friends. Laughter. Swimming. Romance. This pose goes through everything together. Until one summer everything changes. Now, Cadence is being left out. If only she could remember what happened the night that scared them all away.

Lockhart's writing seems unusual compared to her Ruby Oliver series. Lots of fragmented sentences, short chapters, and a pace that will make you want to tear your hair out along with Cadence.

Thankfully, the gratification comes at the last chapter. Can you guess the ending? Read and find out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Savers

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOKS FOR THE BEACH

Summer is around the corner. Just a few more weeks of school, and I will be sipping sangria by the pool with as many books as I can handle. Here is my list for best summer reads: 

1-We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

Summer is the best time to feel mysterious. Pick this one up on a hot night when you want to live a little, and unravel this crazy vacation plot. 

2-The Maze Runner

James Dashner

The film will be out in September 2014. There's still time to read it before the premiere. Not sure the book is up your alley, watch the movie trailer.

3-Inhuman

Kat Falls

Summer is the perfect time to start a new series. The best part about Inhuman is that you won't have to wait long for the sequel. It comes out in the fall!!

4-Twenty Boy Summer

Sarah Ockler

Inspiring, heartbreaking story that takes places during a summer getaway.

5-Keeping the Moon

Sarah Dessen

Summer job story about friendship and self-esteem problems.

6-Ten

Gretchen McNeil

Getaway weekend on an island that turns deadly!! Need I say more.

7-Roomies

Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

Is this the last summer before you start college? Then this could be the book for you. 

8-Queen of Babble

Meg Cabot

Escape to France for the summer through this funny YA chick-lit read.

9-Perfect Chemistry

Simone Elkeles

This series has some of the sexiest covers out there. This one in particular has an embarrassing beach scene that makes it impossible to put the book down. 

10-Chopsticks

Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

Want to experiment this summer? Chopsticks is told through a recollection of IM's, photographs, drawings... a trip down a character's memory lane.

Which book made your list?

Review: Desires of the Dead

She can see sense dead people. 

Although Violet is used to sensing the dead, keeping it hushed has always been a priority. The problem is what do you do after you find the body. Let's face it, what harm could come of placing an anonymous call to the cops -- it's not like it might get the FBI on your trail?

This sequel to The Body Finder is much more emotional than the first, dealing with domestic abuse and the rollercoaster ride of considering sex with that special someone. Derting introduces new characters such as Mike and Megan, charming siblings that will stir up lots of troubles for the happy couple.

Bring on book three.

Feature and Follow Friday: Yay or Nay

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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Q: Which do you prefer: (1) Great characters and plot with lousy writing or (2) Middling character development and plot but gorgeous writing?

Hard to imagine a published book with lousy writing. Before it can hit the printer, a critique partner goes through it, followed by an agent, then an editor... Can so many people produce lousy writing?

Sometimes.

Usually when that happens the characters are filled with potential, not greatness.

My answer: neither. A great author has his/her thinking cap on, and should produce the best of both worlds.

Review: Emily and the Strangers

Win a haunted guitar!

The prize is too good to pass on, especially if the only requirement is performing in a battle of the bands. Although Emily prefers the company of cats, she isn't shy and enjoys spending time with others, as long as she can have creative control. But joining a band means letting go and learning how creativity can go even higher when you find others to contribute to the inspiration.

The illustrations were beautifully done. I had yet to see a graphic book displayed with so many layers. It made Emily look like a badass rockstar. Not having read any other Emily Strange books, I found the beginning strangely peculiar as she rattled on about time machines and odd ideas, but once the radio announced the band search everything fell into focus.

Looking forward to many more Emily comics.

Review: Better off Friends

Why can't we be friends?

Sometimes, when we meet someone as fun and awkward as we are  -- we just click. For Levi it was fast. Macallan took longer to open up, but soon, these two became best friends, finishing each other sentences and sharing family dinners. So why should growing up change everything?

Now, Macallan is angry that Levi spends too much time with the boys, while he's angry over the feelings he has for her. Worse, no one can date them without getting in the middle. It's a fiasco! Why can't they just be friends?

Eulberg wrote an compelling story about the coming of age (first period and kiss), bullying, dealing with a parent's death, and falling in love. It's clear that the most beautiful relationships out there take place between two people who are friends to begin with. It's what being soul mates is all about. But for these two, who refuse to take the risk of rejection, pretending not to be in love is difficult and extremely entertaining for the reader.

Feature and Follow Friday: Snapshot

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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Q: Have you met a favorite author and have a picture? Share. 

Not many authors come to Montreal. How depressing!!

I did, however, get to meet author Karen Avivi at Chapters less than a year ago.

Review: Catch a Falling Star

Late at night, when all the world is watching television stars strut their stuff on the tele, Carter is lost in the sky watching real stars shine bright. Her best friend's Chloe's fangirl obsession over Adam Jakes never appealed to her. Who needs all that media fuss? Not Carter. Ironically, her unimpressed behavior toward Adam, grants her an offer to play the role of his fake girlfriend for a couple of weeks until the press forgets his rehab story.

Paparazzi? Keeping secrets from your best friend? Celebrity ego?

Seems like a lot to handle. But when her brother's life is on the line, and the only way to save him is by raising a heap of money, Carter will have no choice but to take the lifetime offer and risk her heart in the process.

Lots of romantic dates are in the plot. We see so many actors fall in love while working together and wonder what is the exact moment when fiction and reality crashes. Catch a Falling Star is a really great example. Culbertson mixes in the story of Carter's brother's gambling problems, and her Dad's struggle to maintain the cafe alone while his wife travels the world, providing the story with a bit more of a spark. If only the climax would have combine all the subplots.

Top Ten Tuesday: Write Something, I'm giving up on you

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOKS I ALMOST PUT DOWN BUT DIDN'T

Call me old fashion but I just can't DNF (did not finish). As a book reviewer and a virgo, I need to read from cover to cover before I can rate it in any form. Sometimes, the ending makes up for the whole story. Sometimes not.  

1-Go Ask Alice

Anonymous

I hoped it would get better and the character would be taught important life lessons, but she was far too immature for that. 

2-The Scorpio Races

Maggie Stiefvater

Both MC's had too many problems to smile. I felt quite disconnected, but am glad I stuck to it. 

3-Hanging by a Thread

Sophie LittleField

Gorgeous cover and great mystery plot, but I kept putting it down due to the slow pace. 

4-The S-Word

Chelsea Pitcher

The plot lacked depth, leading to several confusing ends. Not for me. 

5-Crash

Lisa McMann

Huge fan of McMann -- this book not so much. The MC has a vision, then has it again, again. And again... Books shouldn't drag like that.

6-Beautiful Disaster

Jamie McGuire

He's jealous of all the guys who approach you because deep down he cares, he just doesn't know how to tell you plot gets tiring after a while. 

7-Demonglass

Rachel Hawkins

Very slow paced, but worth reading. Especially for the end. 

8-Delirium

Lauren Oliver

Oh that ending!! I'm glad I didn't put it down. 

8-Where she Went

Gayle Forman

This book was heavy, emotionally that is. I had to put it down for a while and come back to it later.

9-After

Amy Efaw

I couldn't stand the character, even after getting to know her better. Too bad. Abandoning a newborn was a great topic to focus on for a YA book.

10-Dreams of Significant Girls

Cristina Garcia

There was no need for the lack of dialogue. Sadly, the story never picked up. 

Which book made your list?

Feature and Follow Friday: Full-bodied and Mature

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

Q: What living author would you like to have diner with? 

I would most certainly eat Shakespeare.

Wait, it seems I was too hungry and misread the question.

Let me rephrase that. I would serve Shakespeare to John Green and his wife to celebrate the upcoming film The Fault in our Stars. A perfect occasion to celebrate!!

Review: Fire with Fire

Is karma worth the price of a great revenge?

Reeve bullied Mary when they were younger, and left a void in her heart that time has not been able to mend. So the girls did the best thing they could do -- they drugged him. Vulnerable from the effects, Reeve tumbled off the prom stage and broke his leg, ruining his football career in the process. You'd think this would be enough to stop the sabotage, but the girls hate that he still refuses to apologize to Mary. The best thing to do is make Reeve fall in love with Lilia this time, then make sure he gets humiliated in return. But what happens if Lilia loves him back?

There were so many things going in Fire with Fire that did not involve Kat, causing her to disappear into the background and render her point-of-view quite pointless (hard not to skip those pages). Nevertheless, Mary and Lilia heighten the stakes like never before. Lots of love and jealousy scenes made the book impossible to put down. 

Prepare for a yet another cliffhanger ending.