TBR Pile of October

By: unknown on Monday, September 30, 2013

So many books...so little time...that's like the truest quote ever. EVER. Anyways, since school started there's been less times to read, but I'm squeezing every single opportunity I can! There's a bunch of books I want to read for October, both from the library, and from my own bookshelf. Below are a list of books that I want to read for this month. There's going to be a few that I probably end up not reading, or some books that'll be added to this pile along the month. 

1. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

I'm actually already starting it, but I I'll go into October reading it XD Loving this is far, I miss Rose but Sydney is awesome too and this is a great spin-off of Vampire Academy.

2. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Come on, you expect me not to read this after The Golden Lily? Heck yah I am! Getting ready for The Fiery Heart. Then I'll have to wait a whole year for the next book. The horror. THE HORROR.

3. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I've been putting this off for a whole now, but I'm still determined to read it. The cover is so pretty and I've got a good feeling about this book. I trust my guts.

4. Nick and Norah's Infinate Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

This was sitting right next to Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, so why the heck not. I can guarantee you there's going to be a review for this book. YESH.

5. The Diviners by Libba Bray

This is such a heavy and big book omg. The cover is alluring and the size of the book makes me feel smart. No, seriously. I like reading big books. Plus, Libba Bray seems to be a great author. 

6. Ink by Amanda Sun

Oh, gosh. I've been waiting for this book for SO long. Finally it's in my hands. Seriosuly, the plot sounds so interesting, it's like those books you can't can not read. Double negative there. 

7. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart 

Every girl needs a break from post apocalyptic corrupt worlds with zombies, so what's better than this short chick lit book? 

8. Wild Awake by Hilary Smith

Again, I've had my eye on this for so long. So long, so long. I HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN AHOLD OF IT. I have another good feeling about this book. Trusting my guts XD

9. Hourglass by Myra EcEntire

This cover is like perfection yo. It looks so cool. I believe it will become a new favourite of mine. I've had some doubts whether to read this book or not, but I decided I should. 

10. That Summer by Sarah Dessen

Im not the biggest, bestest fan if Sarah Dessen, but I did enjoy her books I read, so I still decided to read this. I love summer books. I'm actually quite excited to read this. 

11. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Mass

There's this need toward to this book to be read. It demands to be read. It begs to be read. Come on, I can't ignore the pleas of this book. I just can't.

That's it! Well that's my confirmed list for now. It's not a lot, but I can guarantee you that there's gonna be a lot of other books added during the month. I don't follow the rules. Heck, I don't even follow my own rules. XD Comment which books you want or planning to read during October! 

angela 

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Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April GenevieveTucholke

By: unknown on Sunday, September 22, 2013



Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

 by April Genevieve Tucholke 

Published by Dial

Released: August 15, 2013

Hardcover, 360 pages

Source: eBook
Reviewed by Angela

 

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

(SPOILERS) 

  I  need to question my morals after reading this. Geez, fallen angels? Fine. But now the DEVIL. *sighs* There are many times in this book that I would give this book three stars to, then four stars, but in the end, it deserves five stars. Because its just that good.

Don't we all love ourselves some bad boys. Heheh. River West is just that. Dark, mysterious, alluring and hot, what kind of girl would not fall for that. The beginning was kind of slow, we didn't know what was going on exactly. We have our suspicions but nothings true. I didn't like any characters in the beginning either. Luke was an egotistic jerk, Sunshine was shallow. Nothing too interesting. It changes throughout the book though, and I ended up liking them a lot. Despite Luke's attitude and appearance, he really cared about Violet. Sunshine changed too, for the better. 

This book is like origami. Haha origami. Coincidence? You don't know what's happening, when you just start to fold the paper. You can't tell what the result is. Sometimes, it will look like something, then a few more folds then something's else. You can't truly predict the ending. But when the folding is done, the product is amazing. It had to go through all those steps for the finish. And that's exactly what this book was like.

I didn't know how to feel about this book when reading it. Sure, it was interesting, but there's so many places I was confused, lost and frustrated about. For example, was River really the devil? Obviously not. The Devil was just a metaphor in this case. I think. Geez. At times, I really couldn't place my feeling for River. He's sweet one moment, then he's off causing trouble. Bad trouble. You really don't know what is going on with him. The author made him seem like the bad guy, then the good guy...? You just never know. Then along comes a brother. And another one. I love Neelly. He's so cute :) He and River's relationship was really nice, knowing that even your brother has problems but staying by his side throughout it all. That's real man, that's hard. Brodie. That piece of shit. (sorry for my language...) He's seriously twisted. 

I kept feeling there was going to be a love triangle, with Neelly, Gianni, but turns out, there's just Violet and River. Maybe, something will develop in the next book. REAAAAAAD THIS. At times, you'll feel unsettling, but trust me, it's worth it. The ups and downs of this wild roller coaster ride. Awesome. It was creepy, twisted, kind of scary (not really, just creepy) but so, so good. 

3/5 stars

 

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Blog Tour Stop: The Summer of Me & You by Rae Hachton

By: unknown on Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Summer of Me & You by Rae Hachton 

Published by Teen Pulse 

Release Date: September 19, 2013

Source: ARC was provided for tour purposes

Summery:

This is the summer of first love. The summer of magic. The Summer of Me and You. Kaleb has loved Kayleigh ever since first grade, even if he's never admitted it to anyone. Not even himself. But this summer, that's about to change.

Kaleb's had a troubled past, and Kayleigh's life has always been perfect. He'd love nothing more than to be the guy who ruins it all, and make her fall for him against her mother's wishes.
Kayleigh is a complete nerd. She's got the glasses to prove it. She just knows that a guy like Kaleb would never really want to be with a girl like her. So she's going to avoid him at all costs.
But then why do they always end up hanging out together?
When a secret that both their parents kept from them comes out, it will define the true meaning of love. But when this summer ends, will Kaleb and Kayleigh have to say goodbye, or is this just the beginning of many more summers to come?

I'm having a hard time trying to write this review guys. Mostly because there's so many feels going through me right now. It was really sweet, sometimes frustrating, basically an emotional roller coaster. I've now gotten off and don't know how to feel. The premise was really entrancing, which made me grab interest in this book. Summer with two childhood unprofessed love? Yes please! It really did not disappoint. Though at times I wanted to tear my hair out.

Kayleigh and Kaleb. Kaleb and Kayleigh. Has a ring to it. Kaleb has had a crush on Kayleigh since grade one, when she stole everyones blue crayons and gave it to him. Kayleigh likes Kaleb too, though she thinks that someone like Kaleb won't ever like a complete nerd like her. Misunderstandings, misunderstandings...asdfghjkl. At times, I really couldn't understand why they had to be so uncivil towards one another. They both know how one another felt about each other, yet they wouldn't take initiative and just tried to stay away from each other. What is this. I understand the reason why, but still.

Let's talk about characters, shall we? My favourite character in here was probably Kaleb's mom. She herself was like a teenager. My least favourite here is...Kayleigh's mom. We know her reasons, blah blah blah but she was still a biatch about it and was so mean. Seriously, she took too far sometimes. Finally, we get to the MCs. Kaleb has some "issues" which was sometimes a bit unpleasant. Especially when he and Kayleigh fought, it hurt to read. Of course they make up after though. Deep down, Kaleb is still a very caring and sweet person, and that's all I care about. I felt so bad about him for prom. Just ask the girl, son. I actually really like Kayleigh. With her Bud Holly glasses and all. She was strong and quick mouthed, which I am not. It sucks for her to have such a harsh mother. I loved it when her mom told her to not see the boy, she's grounded, yadda yadda and the next thing she does is go out and see him. GOOD FOR YOU. 

I loved reading the parts where the went on their date and the ending part when they did all those things together. Sigh, it makes my heart cringe knowing that there will never be something like that in my life *sad face* Honestly, it was so cute. The carnivals, cotten candy, *-* The ending was just speechless, well it left me at that. I was just awwing the whole time. <3

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. There were its ups and downs, but hey in the end, we got our happy ending and I loved it. 

4.5/5 stars

angela 

LINKY LINKS and all that

Buy this book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Summer-Me-You-ebook/dp/B00F4GRTT0/ref=sr_1_2

                       http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summer-of-me-you-rae-hachton/1116884676

Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18310925-the-summer-of-me-you

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rae Hachton writes Dark Romanticism-sometimes with gears and clockwork. Has cemetery obsession. Misses Victorian London and ancient Rome. Believes in vampires and magic. If imaginary, she would be an automaton fairy. Corvidophile. Content.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4776365.Rae_Hachton

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RaeHachtonYA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rae-Hachton/157803127631450
Website: http://www.raehachton.com/
Blog: http://corvido-phile.blogspot.com/ 

One of my favourite quotes :) 

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Review: The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

By: unknown on Saturday, September 07, 2013



The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Released: June 1st, 2010
Paperback, 295 pages
Source: Library
Reviewed by Angela
 

There Are Some Summers You'll Always Remember

Sometimes I wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.
My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.

(May contain spoilers)

This book messes with your emotions big time. It's not even funny. 

I knew before I started this book, that it's going to be surprising? That it will give you mixed feelings? Anyways it starts out fine, interesting, then the whole world crumbles. The title gives you a feeling that it's all fluffy and rainbows. Haha no. At all. It reaches deep issues, life and society.

Mia. She's a very relatable character. Mia and Corinne have been best friends but they haven't seen each other for three years. So when the long anticipated summer comes, Mia sees Corinne has changed. In a good way? Not so much. Life is now all about high society, parties, and suddenly Mia feels like she doesn't fit in. Though she feels like she doesn't fit in, she still tries. Because that's how humans work. Always wanting to be in with the crowd, not standing out and fitting in. And this is where Simon comes in. An "LC" who's looked down upon by Corinne and her friends. I really liked Simon, he wasn't those perfect guys. He had flaws, family problems, and that's what made him real. Slowly, after an interesting encounter, a friendship blooms between them. Midnight swims and walks turn into something more. 

In the beginning or the first three quarters of the book, I pretty much hated everyone. Mia's mom was unsupportive and stuck up, her sister was a little brat, Corinne was a shallow B, Beth was also shallow and weak, Gen pissed me off especially. The people I actually liked was her dad and Aunt Kathleen. But this book is all about illusions. Appearances and how fake everything is. 

The ending. Just. Crushed. Me. I really loved this book, the title fits so well with the story. This is honestly one of the best summer books I've read.

5/5 Stars

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Review: Crash by Lisa McMann

By: unknown on Saturday, September 07, 2013



  Crash by Lisa McMann

  Published by Simon Pulse

   Released: January 8th, 2013 

   Hardcover, 233 pages

   Source: Library
Reviewed by Angela

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Timesbestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more shesees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

(May contain spoilers)

 Jules has been in love with Sawyer, the son of their rival family since...well forever. Lately she's been seeing a vision everywhere. Billboards, TV, a movie without sounds, no credits and no one but her sees them. A truck hitting a building, bam the building explodes and there are nine body bags in the snow. One day she sees one of the faces in one of the body bags and it's...wait for it...drumroll...Sawyer. So she decides she'll do whatever she can to save him. Slowly, she starts figuring out the vision and what she needs to do to stop it from happening. 
 

Okay I seriously don't understand the point of this book. I've been waiting through the whole book for and explanation for the visions. Guess what? It doesn't have any. I feel like I have to read the next book because there are too many untied strings and unanswered questions. Is there going to be a explanation for the visions, like she's been chosen to save humanity or something? Or did the author just throw in the vision element for something to write about with no explanation whatsoever?

 

To a certain degree, the story was entertaining. Wanting me to keep reading to find out what happens. I really liked Jules siblings, Trey and Rowan. They were supportive and were actually civil towards one another, unlike ahem me. But I feel like this book lacked depth, aside from the whole vision aspect, what else was there? Maybe I missed it but I couldn't see it. There are so many questions I think I might be going crazy. Why does Jules see visions? Why did Sawyer start seeing them at the end of the book? Arrrggg it's driving me crazy. I'll definitely read the next book, Bang, because with that kind of ending, how can you not.

3/5 Stars

 

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Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

By: unknown on Saturday, September 07, 2013

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

  Published by St. Martins Press

  Released: February 23, 2013

    Hardcover, 328 pages
   Source: Bought
Reviewed by Angela

two misfits.

one extraordinary love.

Eleanor...Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park...He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen year olds--smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. 

(May contain spoilers)

Guys, I found my next favourite book. Like my favourite favourite. Along the shelves of Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars and Ella Enchanted. Oh my, this book just made my heart flip, then flip then it basically just died. Yeah. In my opinion, there are two types of books I love. The one that is extremely interesting and keeps you on your toes, such as Vampire Academy and The Mortal Instruments. Then there are the kind that the plot itself is nothing extraordinary, but the writing and message and the deepness of it totally overlaps it. Such as Eleanor and Park and The Fault in Our Stars.

Let's take a minute and admire the cover shall we? It simple, yet beautiful. Eleanor with headphones on the left, and Park with headphones on the right, connected by the wire, string I don't know what's it called okay. It fits the book so perfectly and is probably one of my favourite covers ever.

Aren't we all used to the perfect protagonists? The guy is unbelievably sexy and hot, and the girl is like gorgeous and perfect? And that always makes us feel like butts, nothing like that will ever happen to us. *sighs* Not in this case. Both characters are flawed. Eleanor, bright red curly hair, all the wrong clothes, and not the skinniest girl around. Park, a half Korean boy. Nothing against Koreans at all, just that in most books, both characters are of the same skin colour.  Yet, these two star crossed lovers fall in love. When two people are meant to be together, nothing will keep them apart. 

Eleanor was a really relatable character. Her thoughts, emotions, you could really connect to them. How she felt about kissing Park, and when they went a bit farther than that. It made it much more realistic. Her family was just horrible, I wanted to just kill her stepdad. I was so sad for her, the environment she had to live in. So many kids, a poor family, a mother that's powerless and an abusive, effed up stepdad. 

This is simply one of the best romance, and sweetest one I've ever read. The comics, the tapes, their relationship was so cute. But of course, all good things come to an end. The ending was just asdfgghjklpoiuyttrewadfghjkknjbyvtdrs. Obviously, I knew something would happen, due to the beginning and I knew my feelings would be like floating but I was just sobbing and my nose was running and...But seriously. This was tear-jerking, breathtaking and mostly heartbreaking. Please read it, then we can cry together. In all honesty, this book was sad, but it was also moving and sweet. You won't regret it. Unless you're that kind of person that just hates all the books that are amazing. Eleanor and Park is the kind of book you'll be thinking of long after you read it, and your emotions would be all over the place again. 

5/5 Stars

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Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

By: unknown on Tuesday, September 03, 2013





Angelfall by Susan Ee
Published by Feral Dream
Released: May 21st, 2011
Paperback, 254 pages
Source: Library
Reviewed by Angela

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

 

(May contain spoilers)

 

Wow. Just wow. This book definitely wowed me. Wowed me from beginning until the end. After reading Embrace, I had little desire to read more angel books. But so many good things were said about this book, and it was just sitting on the bookshelves waiting to be read. So what the heck, why not?

 

Angels are good guys. Right? Not so much in this case. Angels of the apocalypse have come down to Earth and basically demolished the modern world, without anybody knowing why. Penryn, her sister and her mother are one of the only survivors. One day, they accidentally encounter an battle between angels. And, well, she got noticed and her sister got kidnapped away. On the ground after the battle, there lay a broken, almost dead angel. Seeing that this was her only chance at finding her sister again, she helps and heals the angel, now known as Raffe back to health and makes an ally.

 

 

The writing in this book was very intriguing. It made you want to read more, and was very easy to put yourself in that position or atmosphere. The humor, the thoughts were funny, which instantly adds a bonus. Penryn was so kick ass, with her knowing how to fight, and her preservation.

 

Oh Raffe. I want to add a GIF in here but its not loading. -.- Anyways, Raffe was such a great character. He was funny, snarky but good nature. Too good. In a bad boy kind of way. Does that make sense.

 

Oh my god. Her mom. Is as scary and weird and messed up as "insert bad word". I was reading this at night and it seriously freaked me out. Are there actually demons possessing her or is she actually communicating with them? The dead bodies with lipstick, the rotten eggs and her obsession with the dead just *shiver*  There might be a big possibility that the reason Paige, Penryn's sister was crippled by her own mother. The collection of mothers harming or killing their own child news. Her mom seemed like two different people at times. The freaky demon one and the caring and the one that takes initiative. There must be some kind of explanation as to these actions hopefully explained in the next book.

 

We are use to nephlim the badass demon hunters, right, right? But no. Again. The nephilim in here are these little cannibalistic demons made from angels and humans intermingling. This was closer to the biblical version than all other books about nephilim, whereas they being the good guys, in here they were actually portraying the evil beings in the bible.

 

Anyone like forbidden romances? Heh, I do. Raffe and Penryn have an absolute damned one. Raffe the angel and Penryn the human. What does that make? Little demon babies! Not funny. Totally forbidden. Love works in its own twisted ways. Oh my god, when they finally kissed, and Raffe was like "You should know, I don't even like you" I was so sad for Penryn. She probably was like wtf? You kiss me and then you say that? But obviously, theres stuff going on between those two. We just have wait till the next book or the next, next book to know how they'll turn out. Hopefully together.

 

One part that I found intriguing was the part that Raffe said, "I'm agnostic." Penryn then said "What?! But God made you" and Raffe said "but God created you too, didn't he? Do you believe in God?" Or it went something like that. God supposedly made both of them, yet both, even an angel doesn't really believe in God. This really questions beliefs doesn't it?

 

The big question is why are the angels killing and destroying our world? What is the purpose behind all this? Hopefully it will be explained in the next book, World After. We better get some explanations to Raffe's demon wings, and Penryn being paralyzed. Ahhhhh cant wait for the next book! The plot, the characters, and the writing is just so good, you just have to love it. Read it guys. READ IT. Thanks :)

 

5/5 BIG GLOWING STARS



 

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