Review: Half-Blood: A Covenant Novel

Title: Half-Blood: A Covenant Novel (Covenant #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 281
Challenge: None
Source: Own
Buy the book: BN / Amazon


My Rating:

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck. - Summary from goodreads.com

I was very much excited to read HALF-BLOOD when I first heard about it, but I'll admit that after having read a couple reviews saying that HB was alot like Vampire Academies, I became a bit hesitant.... but you know what, I was missing out *lowers head in shame* this book rocked my world. This story follows 17-year-old Alex whom, after a series of unfortunate events, is forced back into the Covenant, a place she had once fled. She is thrown back into a life of training to prove that she should be able to continue where she left off and not become a servant. Her greatest motivator? She wants to hunt down the Daimon that killed her mother.

Alex was such an interesting character to read about. After basically witnessing the murder of her mother she still is able to push forward. She doesn't let anything get in her way. She doesn't take crap from anyone and always has a witty comeback. The relationship between Aiden and Alex was so intense. The pureblood offspring are not supposed to fraternize with the half-bloods, making Alex and Aiden’s relationship take on the appeal of a forbidden love (U-la-la! Forbiden love? Yes, Please!!). Whenever Aiden and Alex were together I could feel the tension between them. I won't lie, my stomach did little flip flops every time they were together in anticipation, I was literally screaming, "JUST KISS HER ALREADY!". Overall, yes, there are many VA similarities, but I read HALF-BLOOD without reservations and the risk paid off; I LOVED this book.

Review: Across the Universe

Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 398
Challenge: None
Source: Own
Buy the book: BN / Amazon


My Rating:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules. Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming. -summary from goodreads.com

When Amy is abruptly unplugged 50 years too soon she finds herself in Godspeed, the space ship that was set to land on a new planet. She befriends Elder, the future commander of the ship, who feels just as much as an outsider as Amy. Together they must find out who is behind the “unplugging” of the ships passengers. From the very beginning, I was hooked! The opening cryogenic freezing process scene- CREEPY! Through Ms. Revis’ writing, I pretty much felt everything Amy was feeling…. The authors’ writing is so powerful. You can’t help but feel connected to Amy and Elder in every single way. Oh and I loved Elder. Just throwing that out there. A really neat treat was the inside flap of the hardcover book; Godspeed's blueprint/interior. BEAUTIFUL! From time to time I looked into its different levels and info while I was reading the book. Godspeed really did come to life right before my minds eye.

My only complaint; not enough romance. I had heard so many great things about the romance before reading ATU, that when I finally did read it I thought, “That’s it?”… I mean LOOK AT THAT COVER! Doesn’t that cover just scream sexy space make out scenes? Sadly, there aren’t many. Either way, I will definitely be picking up A MILLION SUNS as soon as it hits the shelves. Can’t wait!

Happy late Christmas and New Years!

First post of 2012... yay!

Just wanted to say Happy (late) Christmas and New Years to all my blogging friends :) I hope you all had an blessed holiday season, I know I did!

This was actually the first year where I didn't go anywhere for Christmas. Typically, we're the ones that are always on the road, but this year my family came to me. It was so nice to have the whole family together under one roof.

COUSINS <3 .... yeah, I know. My Grandma had 15 children.

I cannot begin to explain how awesome it was to not travel during the holidays. I pretty much spent the majority of my time in my Pj's with a good book in hand. I read so many GREAT books. Can't wait to post all my reviews.

My sister and I also participated in our annual City League Soccer tournament. And although we had to get up at the ass crack of dawn on New Years day, we won first place ;) Our team pretty much rocks!

Besides the holiday parties, we also had 2 birthday parties. Both my younger brother and sister have a birthday in December. Sister turned 20 and youngest brother turned 18.... Eight-freaking-teen..... Gosh I feel so old!

I'm apologize for being a bit absent from the blog, but I just had so many things going on, I don't think I would have been able to sit down and write a coherent review with all the visiting family and madness going on around the house. But I promise that you NOW have my full and undivided attention :) How did everyone else spend there holidays? Any funny stories? I LOVE hearing funny family stories :)haha! Share the love....

Paramount Pictures acquires screen rights to "Tiger’s Curse"

From Ms. Colleen Houck herself-

I have been getting tons of emails, tweets, and notes from my fans asking about the latest Tiger's Curse news that came out the other day: that Paramount Pictures has optioned the film rights to the book. Well I can tell you officially that this is true, and I am SO thrilled. As you all know from previous posts and discussions, we have been working on this for a while and I couldn't be more happy with the dream team assembled to bring my books to life on screen. I have no doubt that Paramount Pictures along with producers Mary Parent and Raphael Kryszek will make this into a beautiful, amazing film. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to every single one of you who has continued to read my books. Without all of you, this would never have been possible. We are in kind of a top-secret mode right now as the movie develops but I cannot wait to share more news with you as soon as I can!

Official Statement-

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures has acquired screen rights to the Colleen Houck novel Tiger’s Curse. Mary Parent will produce through her Disruption Entertainment banner with Raphael Kryszek. The novel is about a 17-year-old girl who takes a temp job caring for a white tiger at the local circus and sets off on an epic adventure when she discovers the tiger is a cursed Indian prince who turns into a man for only 24 minutes per day. Their quest to end the curse leads them through exotic locales in India and brushes with Hindu gods and goddesses. Houck originally self-published the title on Kindle Books; after it reached No. 1 on the bestseller fiction list, the book was published by Splinter and is currently near the top of the New York Times Children’s list. The book has been translated into 15 languages. For more news or updates, you can follow the producers on twitter here: Paramount Pictures Twitter User: @ParamountPics

I cannot begin to explain how excited I am! *squee* I have loved Ren ever since I first met him in Tiger's Curse. I then bawled my eyes out in Tiger's Quest, and now I'm just mad at the world because of Tiger's Voyage.... So sad </3 Can't wait for the next book! Can it be Nov. 2012, please?! Someone needs to invent a time-machine NOW!

But either way, I love Ren and I am beyond thrilled to hear that we will be getting a movie! :) woo whoo! I Can't wait to see who they cast. Do you all have an prefences? He you have time you should totally check out MY BOOK BOYFRIEND- REN post, so some swoon worthy pictures and quotes.


Memorable Ren quote/scene:

Kelsey- "What were you saying to her about me?"

Ren- "I told her that we would be having our dessert…later.”

I laughed facetiously.

“You mean you will be having dessert later by yourself this evening because I am done eating with you.”

He leaned across the candle lit table and said, “Who said anything about eating , Kelsey?”

Yes, you can thank me now!.... :D haha! Haven't read the book, stop what you are doing and go read it now!... Gosh, I sound like a broken record!

Check out my reviews here;
Tiger's Curse
Tiger's Quest
Tiger's Voyage

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara #1)
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 452
Challenge: None
Source: Own
But the book: BN / Amazon


My Rating:

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can. She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. There is. She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong. -Summary from goodreads.com

"What the HELL just happened?"
Those were my exact 5 words after having finished The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I've read many reviews for Mara and you either LOVE IT or you HATE IT. There's no in-between.... Personally, I freaking LOVED it! This book BLEW me away! And I hate it that I can't really get into the story without giving to much away... After reading the first couple of chapters, I thought this was going to be a story about demon possession (or around those lines). Could not have been more wrong! This story is more of a compelling, mystery-thriller, because you don't know what's real and what isn't. There are so many twists and surprises... Such a crazy ride.

Of course, you have your typical YA cliche aspects;
-typical mean girl (evil blond girl, who does the impossible to patronize Mara)
-cocky male lead (Noah; British, gorgeous and he knows it. Doesn’t let anyone “in”, until he meets Mara)
-cliffhanger ending (in this story its more like Ms. Hodkin throws us off the cliff rather than keep us hanging… Yeah, that bad)

But you know what, if anything, the whole cliche feeling actually worked in favor of the story. Ms. Hodkin worked her magic to make this novel super addicting; I could not put it down! The only sucky thing about this book is the ending. The author clearly ties up some loose ends, but only to untie others. The end seemed rushed and just a big mess. Plus, this book has the WORST cliffhanger in the history of cliffhangers! I kid you not when I say that after I finished the last page, I seriously thought my book was defective. I even went out to my local B&N to check other MARA books to make sure. Alas, my book was in perfect condition (booo!) and I now how to wait a whole flippin' year for book 2 to come out.... O_o Lord, help me!

Top Ten Tuesday (2)- Books I Want To Give As Gifts

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted at The Broke and Bookish.

This week's topic:

Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts

(in no particular order)

1. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick- 

A different take on fallen angels. Patch is just a bonus ;)

2. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz-

I love this series. Got me back into reading. After Harry Potter, I went a long time without picking up a book *lowers head in shame*... But Blue Bloods got me back in the game :)

3. The Body Finder by Melissa Derting-

Jay, Jay, Jay! ENOUGH said.

4. Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck-

I seriously believe that this series is underrated! BIG TIME! This book is magical and I love it. Ms. Houck has a way with words.... she will pull you in from page one!

5. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin-

Probably the craziest YA book I have ever read. But in a good way.... If that makes sense.

6. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins-

Will be lending this one out to all my sappy romantic lady friends :)haha!

7. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi-

Awesome debut!

8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater-

Such a poetic read ;) great start to an awesome series.

9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins-

Everyone and their moms should read this series. I've actually just ordered numerous copies to give out to my cousins on Christmas.

10. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey-

Will be handing this one out to my older female cousins. Believe it or not this story is deep, don't let the name fool you.

What Ten books do you want to give out as a gift? Share your links.

Book to Movie: The Lucky One

So a couple years ago, I picked up my first Nicolas Spark novel; THE LUCKY ONE. Not ashamed to admit that I enjoyed it very much.

It was a great and very fun read, BUT when I heard they were going to make it into a movie, I was not very fond of the idea. I constantly find myself saying to other people, "READ THE BOOK, IT'S BETTER!" ... because it's the truth. Honestly, when was the last time you saw a movie that surpassed the book? I don't think I can remember. Maybe HP1? MAYBE.

Either way..... for that reason, I just didn't give the book/movie deal much thought.... until yesterday afternoon. When I saw this trailer/interview.

After seeing the chemistry between Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling, my excitement level is HIGH! I'm not a big Zac fan, I kinda liked him in CHARLIE ST. CLOUD, but that's it! Wait... no, I lied. I also thought he'd make a good Tamani from WINGS (check out Haley's post here).... but now, I'm really looking forward to next April. Yeah, APRIL 2012.... it seems light-years away....

Has anyone else read THE LUCKY ONE? Are you excited for the movie?