Review: Wolf by Wolf

"She-wolf. An interesting choice."
"I didn't choose it," she told him. "It chose me."

Back in 1944, Yael was selected for an experiment in a Nazi camp. She received hundreds of injections to turn her into a perfect Aryan girl, and erase whatever Jewish traits she might have. The experiment left her physically transformed. But the memories of the camp and the loss of everyone she held dear left her traumatized. The only thing she could do after such tragic events was kill the Fuhrer.

Graudin did an incredible job at mixing both the past and the present (from 1944 to 1954). Yael might not make the sweetest decisions -- from kidnapping and usurping Adele Wolfe, a famous athlete, to putting Wolfe's family at risk -- just to join a race around the world and get closer to Hitler. But Yael remains nonetheless a brave female character. The other members of the race were well balanced. And a semi-love-triangle was formed. 

Prepare for a twist at the end.

Don't miss The Walled City also by Ryan Graudin 

Review: Black Ice

Love can be as dangerous as black ice. One false illusion that everything is safe and boom, next thing you know, you can't even remember who you are anymore. 

David lost his virginity to Kris, a loner who refuses to see him as anything other than a friend with benefits. He tries courting her with dates, including a weekend at a chalet, but Kris remains unmoved. So David turns to his pals, booze and drugs (just like after his parents divorce) and sets forward some crazy set of events. Can he rescue Kris from her haunting past? Is he willing to kill for her?

Author Stephen Tesher twisted this new-adult contemporary novel into a thriller about a love gone wrong. Although, it was impossible to identify with David's rising anger or some turns of events, the dialogue kept the story flowing. It was realistic; harsh at times when David and his friends talked about girls. 

I'm glad the author ended the story with a lesson. Not all relationships can have fairy tale endings.

Review: I Crawl through it

Far more surrealistic than Alice in Wonderland

Gustav flies an invisible helicopter. Stanzi has a split personality. China's inside out. And Lansdale is a hairy female lie detector version of Pinocchio. Together, they are a time bomb waiting to erupt. It's just a matter of time.

Although, I'm no expert in magical surrealism, I am reader. A curious one! Who was waiting for an Ah-ha moment through all this chaos (like in We Were Liars). But instead, this book just concentrates on adult/teenager relationships. Gustav's dad doesn't care if his son vanishes, Stanzi's parents mourn everyone else's child but their own, Lansdale's dad could care less about how outrageous her behavior is and China lives with active BDSM parents that clean their sex toys in the sink. These issues are bound together by loose treads and odd characters (man in the bush, newsman...)that take away from the story even more.

Read at your own puzzling risk.

Cover Reveal: Convergence

A FUN THRILLER FANTASY FOR LOVERS OF MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION!

It was the first day of school and anxieties were running high. For certain​ ​there was the excitement of moving up a grade, but there was also the dread of anything and everything that could go wrong. Not only were the possibilities endless, they were totally out of your control. Whether or not you were accepted rested squarely on the shoulders of the popular kids. Suppose you were too short or too tall; too smart or not smart enough; too rich or too poor; or just plain different?

These thoughts were fresh on the minds of Otis, Chandler and Marissa. Three pre-teens whose paths had never crossed, although they lived in the same town in Connecticut. Their backgrounds were so diverse they may as well have lived worlds apart. That was all about to change when on their way to school a series of bizarre events lump them together. Literally!

Born and raised in Connecticut, Hayes still calls the Nutmeg State home. The oldest of two children, she remains close to her siblings. When Hayes is not writing or managing her business, she dedicates her time to other creative outlets and artistic pursuits. Feel free to follow Hayes via her Website and Twitter.

Caught my arrow #47

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

Looking forward to some Historical-Fiction this week thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada.

Received from Publisher

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 6 Oct. 2015 à 5h44 PDT

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Borrowed from Library

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot

What are you reading this week?

Feature and Follow Friday: No, I don't want a dud

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

Q: Name a book you hated?

You can read my review of Me being Me is exactly as insane as You being You for ampler details on the plot and twists of the story.

The reason why it made my bottom list this year, is the format (all lists), the unreliable characters and the length (a long story is okay as long as it doesn't drag on purpose). Too bad we didn't click.

Which book do you consider a dud?

Book to Movie Adaptations: To change an ending or nah

Tokyo Fiancée 

Author Amélie Nothomb wrote the book with the same title based on her life experience in Japan. Although, the film maintained a similar script as the novel, with Amélie meeting Rinri at a coffee shop for French classes, to their dates and courting process, the heartbreaking ending was entirely changed to provide the viewer with something easier to stomach. It's even more magical to look at the Japanese customs and scenery on the big screen than on my eBook, but I have to admit that above all else this new ending pleased me even more. A great move.

Paper Towns

John Green's Paper Towns film adaptation was long awaited, casting Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne. The novel centers around the disappearance of Margo Roth Spiegelman, and Quentin's lustful obsession to find her. Their relationship felt odd throughout the book, and I was sad to see the movie pursue this script. But thinking things true, Green had an important lesson about it taking two people to carry on a relationship, and not just one imaginative mind. Although, I would have loved a romantic ending, I'm glad that the film remained faithful to the novel and kept such lesson.  

Review: Half Wild

Kept pausing during this book, a clear example of what happens when short chapters work against you

A lot has changed since Nathan got his magical gifts. He can now transform into a wild animal and rob his preys of their memories and gifts. But Nathan doesn't want to admit he enjoys his new powers. After all, his heart belongs to Annalise, a white witch. Will this new revolution against Soul and his team of hunters bring these two love birds together or tear them apart forever?

With the first book, Half Bad, so well received among YA readers, it was clear that Sally Green had a lot of work on her hands. Although, I enjoyed the precise recap and animal action, I found the travelling scenes between Gabriel and Nathan confusing (couldn't he just drink a potion), as well as the love meter too borderline corny at times. 

"I can't walk ten paces away from you without it hurting me. I treasure every 
second with you. I'll help you with each breath I take and I'll stay with you."

Um, obsess much?

Alliances and relationships were rekindled in ways that didn't make much sense. Perhaps humans have bigger egos than witches, who knows. Prepare for a cliffhanger ending.

Feature and Follow Friday: Love and Hate

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

Q: Pick three book characters... Kiss? Marry? Kill?

As long as it stayed between us, (I don't kiss and tell) I would definitely pucker up with Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey to see what all the fuss is about. I mean, he even got is own book lately. That might inspire me to read it.

Marry a vampire? Just imagine becoming Mrs. Ivashkov. I would need to hit my head ten times before saying no. Adrian from Bloodlines is funny, can be a great travelling and party companion, and best of all, he can read my mood!! Who could ask for anything more?

I'm no killer, but if I had to condemn anyone to such a horrible ending it would be rapists all over the world like Room's Old Nick. The movie is coming out this October. Check out the trailer below...

Which book character would you kiss?

Review: A Million Miles Away

We always hurt the ones we love the most

Kelsey never meant to hurt Peter. When her identical twin sister, Michelle, passed away in a car crash, Kelsey was resolved to tell the "widowed" boyfriend the truth. But when she saw him through Skype, facing the war in Afghanistan, she couldn't. Why cause him more anguish? He seemed so happy to see Michelle's face. 

To be honest, the beginning captures the interest at once. The loss hit the family to the core; Kelsey finding a way to distract herself from the issue by corresponding with Peter, while her parents formed a grieving club in their living room. But then Kelsey goes too far (could she go any lower than impersonating a death person) by lying to Peter's family and friends, cheating on her own boyfriend and worse lying during intimacy. 

On top of all these crazy shenanigans brought on by her grief, Kelsey refuses to be a mirroring effect around Peter and actually becomes Michelle. She subscribes to Michelle's art classes and memorizes a heap of information on many painters just to sound like her dead sister. Even considering all her mannerism. When Peter plays her a song:

"Kelsey thought of Michelle, and remembered to clap."

All in all a good plot. Too bad the main character lacked depth.

Review: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

Love meets circumstances

Clare and Aidan are the perfect high school couple. They share numerous pleasant memories and most importantly they "dove" each-other (John Green would be pleased that more teens are giving the word love a personal touch). But now, Clare wants to break up. Tonight! It's logical that separate colleges will cause them to drift into a long distance relationship, and it's far better, to break up in good terms than later on when they are miles apart. But can these two say goodbye without resenting the other?

It's impossible not to feel a pang of sorrow when reading this book. They are not ending their relationship because someone cheated, or simply stopped caring. Aidan knew from the start what college to apply, and Clare had no choice due to some rejection letters. Sometimes you need to let someone go for your own good and theirs. 

However, despite their good reasoning, Aidan took out his anger with his best friend Scotty and Clare was far too self absorbed, that even her friend Stella had to mention it (in case we hadn't noticed)

"You've been asking me why I'm too busy for you. Why I haven't been there for you. You haven't once asked me where I've been."

All in all, a realistic situation but with characters too into themselves to relate.

Review: Final Orders

Can Anton be stopped once and for all

In this final installment of the series, Anton must face his rivals, as they attempt to stop his dictatorship. To know how to get rid of him, we must face his past and so Anton's education (including a glimpse of his mother) is demonstrated. Why is he so possessive and abusive towards woman? Seeing them as sexual objects more than humans? Who will end his tyranny?

It seemed cruel at times to see how bittersweet the characters got when meeting dead ones in other dimensions. But through it all, Helenowski passed on the message to let go of those "what could have been" questions of our past that haunt us and concentrate on the present.

Caught my arrow #46

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

Got a variety of genres to entertain me for this week. The weather is amazing this weekend in Montreal, and I will certainly be enjoying reading these outdoors.

Received from Publisher

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 15 Sept. 2015 à 5h38 PDT

Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Borrowed from Library

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Received from Author

Black Ice by Stephen Tesher

What are you reading this week?

Review: Jesse's Girl

Could you resist one of 50's Most Beautiful People?

Maya didn't think she'd fall for Country Superstar Jesse Scott when these two are paired up during a career spotting activity for high school class. But with Maya's musical talent put on display, Jesse lets down his guard and shows her an entire different side of himself. Vulnerable, caring, family oriented... Jesse is amazing. Regardless of the fact she's falling hard for him, can Maya risk her heart?

Catching Jordan's writer returns with yet another romantic story worth swooning for. The dialogue sounds genuine, the sex advice is worth noting, and best of all, the climax is not love triangle based. The book also includes LGBT themes. 

A great uplifting romance, free of tears.

Cover Reveal: Magic Brew

A NEW ADULT URBAN FANTASY 

They call me Edge, and I’m the only supernatural in New York City with Djinn powers. My gang is known as the Forsaken. We’re the throwaways of our kind, despised by purebloods for being mixed breeds. Banishment, rejection and abandonment bind us. Yet our differences are what make us powerful, and close to unstoppable. Until today.

We’ve been double-crossed. The one person we trusted above all others, lured us into a trap set by a gang of warlocks. They’ve crippled my powers and tried to enslave me for the rare magic pumping in my veins. I gave them the slip, but now there’s a price on my head and the road home is blocked by gangs of shifters, witches, vampires, demons and deadly fae. Odds are good we won’t all make it back alive. But you can be damn sure, me and my crew won’t go down without a fight.

T. Rae Mitchell is the author of Fate's Fables. Feel free to follow Mitchell via her Website, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.

Review: Summer by Summer

"People say a heart can't be broken. But they forget the rest of the organs. How your mind spins trying to undue what was done. How the lungs ache with each new breath."

To break away from her grief, Summer leaves for Belize, where she'll work as a nanny. The job is like a breath of fresh air, until Bray arrives. He's absolutely pretentious and gorgeous. Of course, he hates Summer (she looks like a librarian). Will getting stranded on an island with her change his mind -- and most importantly, will this new adventure help Summer heal from an empty heart?

To be honest, the story had great potential. Summer and Bray established a dislike from one another at the very start. Then as soon as she adds highlights to her hair and starts wearing a bikini, Bray goes gaga and Summer swoons. Sure, it's nice to be admired (wait he doesn't know her) desired by a hunk, but to call it love is a huge mistake. This is nothing more than an infatuation and to rush into conversations about marriage after mere days of knowing each other is a dangerous way to ruin your life. Even Christian dating has months of courting. Marriage is no joke.

But rushing is all the book would do. Summer would rush into tears at almost every chapter, the action felt rushed (from a deserted island - to abandoned houses filled with food - to a criminal island - to a place where families camp...) and then of course, there's the crazy brokenhearted coma. 

Too bad, because it was nice to have two different point-of-views that sounded genuine.

Feature and Follow Friday: So far from mediocre

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

Q: Undiscovered talent: tell us about a book you loved but no one else seems to have heard of.

Haven't seen many reviews for The Truth About Us even though it was released in April. I enjoyed the romantic/contemporary theme of two lovebirds torn apart by their families.

What book would you recommend?

Review: Ms. Marvel

She's no ordinary girl

Kamala (a.k.a perfection as her dad puts it) feels like a blank canvas. She yearns for more parental freedom, eat a BLT sandwich (bacon goes against her Muslim beliefs), and above all, be accepted by the in-crowd. But when she disobeys her folks and sneaks into a party, Kamala comes at an impasse. It appears Captain America, Captain Marvel and Iron Man believe she has what it takes to play a significant role in society without reinventing herself entirely... just a few supernatural powers will do the trick.

I loved that, like Spiderman, Kamala does not come off as a natural born superhero. She is petite, brunette and interrupted during crazy fights by a call from her mother. She's also the first Muslim comic girl I've seen. Which made me pause! Not because I didn't want a Muslim superhero (I'm all for girl power) but because I didn't want it to be a gratuitous add to the plot just to say "hey, I included diversity." 

Instead, the author did a lot of research on the Muslim background (she is a Muslim herself) and even included a brother who used religion to his advantage, visits to the mosque and religious holidays. 

A great new series!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Blank Space

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP DYSTOPIAN SERIES I HAVEN'T FINISHED YET

Too many books, not enough time. Or did I simply loose interest?

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

I was about to read the third installment, when I heard a fourth book came out. For some reason, this put me on pause. 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Read two out of three. Not that bad of a score.

Eve by Anna Carey

Love the first book of the series. Being searching for the other two, but every time I go to the bookstore my eyes drift. 

Escape from Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith 

The author always finishes each book with a crazy cliffhanger. Had to stop to catch my breath for a little while. 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

What am I waiting for to finish this series!!

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Ordered The Scorch Trials online today. Only a few days until the movie hits the theater. Don't know if I'll make it. 

Review: Treasure Darkly

"He might not have a hero, but he could be hers."

Clark Treasure didn't mean to drink the army vial that would give him powers over life and death. But what's done is done. Hiding at his birth-father's rich estate seems like the only solution. But what happens when he falls in love with his sister? Can Clark really be a rich boy, secret lover, superhero and maintain his identity a secret all at once?

Steampunk meets romance (mostly romance) in Mierek's first book of the series. Characters were well-developed, with lots of secrets and hidden agendas. Although, I enjoyed Amethyst and Clark's lovely and erotic relationship, he kind of went against his word at the end, with a promising cliffhanger surprise. 

Wonder what Mierek has in store for her characters next.

Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

If I were basing my rating on imagination alone, it would deserve ten stars.

A little boy (who shall remain nameless because the character has no name)survives a traumatic experience of finding a dead man in his father's car. From then on, his entire world changes. He is confronted to magic, evil, parental abuse and sadly memory loss. And all because of the ocean at the end of the lane. It makes you wonder, do human beings really belong in the magical realm or would opening that window cause great damage?

Although, I'm a fan of Gaiman's work, particularly Coraline, I found that there were too many lose ends and some characters very easily disposed off. Yes, varmints do chase worms. But who exactly were the Hempstock girls -- Witches...? Fae...? So many possibilities, just like the little boy's name...

Review: The Infinite Sea

"It isn't so much about crushing your capacity to fight as it is your will to fight."

The war between humans and aliens seems to be unending. They are no signs of anyone other than Cassie and her friends helping the cause. And all they keep hoping for is survival -- defending the planet is a long step away. This time around, the group will encounter new and old enemies who will try to infiltrate at all costs. Why such effort? If they are not a threat, why not just annihilate them fast and save time?

Yancey surprises once more by setting up different ruses along the story and making everyone a possible target. The characters have become tougher -- ready to handle whatever this writer throws at them. Even their dialogue is harsher. But above all, Yancey demonstrates the importance of love; and how that aspect alone separates us from monsters. Love for humanity, for innocence ... heck, even puppy love. 

Can't wait to see how the series will end.

Don't miss the first book of the series: The 5th Wave

Cover Reveal: Breach Point

A SUPERNATURAL YA THRILLER

When high school sophomore Clara Tuffney is hired for a summer internship at an engineering firm, she accepts an invitation to live with her Aunt Maureen in the quiet seaside town of Breach Point, New Jersey.

Soon after arriving, Clara learns of the infamous Breach Point Castle, a haunted attraction that once stood on the town's busy amusement pier. While searching out the Castle's former location, Clara befriends Nicholas, a shy local boy. Nicholas introduces Clara to his Uncle Kevin who, along with his friends, worked at the Castle during its prime.

Through Nicholas, Clara discovers that the Castle burned down in a mysterious fire in the early 1980s. She also learns of a local legend – a boy named Eric, rumored to have possessed supernatural powers, was killed in the fire – though many doubt that he actually died. Some of the town's residents even believe that Eric has returned to Beach Point in the form of a malevolent spirit – a story Kevin sternly cautions Clara against believing.

Clara's curious nature soon brings her closer to finding out the secret behind what really happened to the Castle and to Eric – though her search for answers places herself, Aunt Maureen, and Nicholas directly in the path of a danger she does not fully understand.

Steve Spatucci lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He’s been writing screenplays since the 90s, making his first sale in 2012 with his dark comedyPlay Date. Breach Point is his first novel. Feel free to follow Steve via his Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Review: Me being me is exactly as insane as you being you

Maybe everything would be better without these horrible, endless lists

Darren doesn't understand anyone. His Dad drops the bomb that he's gay, and wants to be in a monogamous relationship now that his divorce is finalized. Mom avoids the topic, because she'd much rather talk about work. His brother is living the most amazing college life, yet returns home. And then there's Zoey. Darren's dream girl, who follows him on a bus but refuses to talk to him again after sleeping with him. What is wrong with this picture?

Although, the author did have a good background plot to work on, he decided to tell the entire story with lists. Pointless, headache-provoking, distracting, how-worthless-do-you-think-my-time is lists. 

Ex: 8 Best things Darren ever built out of Lego, in chronological order
Things Darren does with a particular book after putting away the Lego bin and changing into his outfit for the concert but before showing up at school

All in all, this 646 pages novel has about 35% story that was never really closely examined. Except for his mother's insistence on bringing up work, none of the characters get closure. One of them even returns at the end of the story, explaining everything to Darren. Information that he decides not to tell us!! 

Here's hoping there won't be a sequel. 

Feature and Follow Friday: Fly away with me

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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

Q: If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would you pick? Fictional ones count too!

Although my co-blogger Latte would get extremely jealous and relocate, I pick Buckbeak.

He is intelligent, sweet and devoted. He might have taken a swing at Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azcaban by J.K. Rowling, but that only proves he has a good eye for scum. 

I love heights and don't condone feather shedding. So... can I please have a Hippogriff?!? 

What would you wish for?

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