Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Mizb over at Shouldbereading. Anyone can play along, just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two(2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. (BE SURE NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Make sure that what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the author and title, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they enjoy your teaser!
Here's mine for this week:
'I'd like to say I came to the graveyard in search of my past, or out of sentiment or nostalgia. but I came to get as far away from my psychotic stepmother as possible.'
pg 15 - Blood Magic by Tess Gratton - ebook format
It's Monday! What are you reading is a week book meme hosted by Sheila over at Bookjourney. This is where participants share what they read last week, what they are currently reading and what's up next. Here's mine for this week:
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction with photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores it's abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children that once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolated island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
My review:
Once upon a time there was a story, unlike any other story. It was a brilliant, creepy, heartwarming, adventure full of unforgettable characters of epic proportion. The name of that story? Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
I found this book one day while wandering through blogland. As soon as I read the premise, I knew it was something I wanted to read. Then I saw the book trailer! I can honestly say that this trailer is the single best trailer I have seen to date. I have watched it many, many times. Then? I heard that they are going to be making the movie. I had to read this book! I will admit I was nervous when it arrived in the mail this week. What if it did not live up to the expectations I had for it? After the first page? All my worries were crushed and exploded on impacted! Do you remember the feeling that first book gave you? The one that took you away, to another world, another time and left you breathless and excited? This is what this book did to me. It took me back, back to a time, to a place in my heart where magic lives.
Words can not express how much I love this book! Just as Harry Potter, Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland and so many others have become Classics? So to, shall Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children...at least in my heart and soul. Every single one of these characters are brilliant, no matter how minor their role. They have all left their mark on my heart and I will never forget them.
In making my decision to purchase this amazing book, I decided to buy the hardcover instead of the ebook, my choice of reading format as of late. I am so very, very happy with my choice. Why? You need to have the hardcover to get the full effect and experience of this book. The book is filled with these creepy old vintage photos that add so much to this whole amazing experience known as Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
In the end? I 100% recommend that EVERYONE read this book. It is for young and old and truly is a Classic in the making. Now watch these trailers and tell me you are not enticed and in need of devouring more!
The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker March 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks, Incorporated Format: ebook Source: Library
From Goodreads:
Best friends don't send emails once their dead. Kate Lowry may wear fake pearls and shorts so tiny that Nancy Drew would blush, but she's on the trail to prove that Grace's death was no accident. Along for the ride are a couple of knights in (not so) shining armor: the dangerously attractive bad boy, Liam, and her love-struck neighbor, Seth. Together they discover a secret lurking in the halls of their elite private school that threatens to destroy them all.
My review:
We have all heard the phrase, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover', right? I must admit that too often I am a bit of a cover snob. You know. I see a cover and think, this is gonna be an awesome read, or, this one looks terrible. Well, that's how I felt about this one. When it first came out and I was seeing it EVERYWHERE in blog land, I thought it looked like something my 9 year old would want to read. I never paid too much attention. Then I started reading really good reviews. This week I was looking at books on my Library ebook list and found it sitting there, waiting for me. So I caved and decided to give it a read. You know what? I was pleasantly surprised. I actually quite enjoyed this one.
The main character Kate was funny, intelligent and very likable. I found myself connecting with her almost instantly. I absolutely loved Seth, Kate's next door neighbor. I have read some reviews that complained about him and thought he was kind of pointless. I disagree totally. Seth is this nerdy, conspiracy theory obsessed, Kate obsessed adorable kid! I loved, loved, loved, Seth. The budding romance between Kate and Liam was perfect. It was not over done, subtle and very sweet. Anything more would have been a let down and a distraction from the main story. The mystery throughout the book was very enjoyable and the pacing was perfect. I never found the story slow or drawn out at any point. It was a fun page turner.
In the end? I found The Liar Society to be a fun, light read with a very enjoyable main character. If you are looking for a light mystery, I would definitely recommend this one!
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Mizb over at Shouldbereading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the books for others!)
* Share the author and title, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!
Here's mine for this week:
'It's that law where some guy basically says that the worst-case scenario almost always happens. And that night when I stumbled into Starbucks, I was like a walking hypothesis doomed to prove his theory absolutely, unequivocally right.'
Pg 47 - The Liar Society by Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker - ebook format
When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she's never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamours Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life - a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.
Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves - a quest that will determine the fate of both their lives.
My Review:
Timeless, while nothing spectacular or thought provoking, was a nice light and enjoyable read. Sometimes that is exactly what you need. A total escape. And Timeless definitely delivered.
I loved the idea and the story. I have always loved the idea of Time Travel and the history associated with this book was fascinating. Alexandra Monir did a fantastic job of taking you to the heart of New York City during the 1900's, the 1920's and the 1940's. It was exciting and often breathtaking.
However, I did not feel a strong connection to the main characters of the book. Michele and Philip were interesting enough, but their relationship felt very forced and too easy for me. Like too many other YA Paranormal/Fantasy Romance the romance was just not all that believable. I was more drawn to Michele's time travels and her meetings with the female relatives from the past. One of my favorite characters was Michele's Great Grandmother, Lily. When we first meet Lily, she is this young spunky girl just itching to make it in the music business during the roaring 20's. Being able to see Lily, through Michele's eyes was very heartwarming and just a fun part of this story for me.
In the end, if you are looking for a fun, light read? I would recommend it. It is not a life altering experience, but still enjoyable. I do look forward to seeing where Alexandra Monir takes these characters and the story in the next book.
Grave-robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It's true, that Leonardo DaVinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. But none of this matters to Joey Crouch, a sixteen year-old straight-A student living in Chicago with his single mom. For the most part, Joey's life is about playing the trumpet and avoiding the daily humiliations of high school.
Everything changes when Joey's mother dies in a tragic accident and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with the father he has never known, a strange, solitary man with unimaginable secrets. At first, Joey's father wants nothing to do with him, but once father and son come to terms with each other, Joey's life takes a turn both macabre and exhilarating.
Daniel Kraus's masterful plotting and unforgettable characters makes Rotters a moving, terrifying, and unconventional epic about father's and sons, complex family ties, taboos, and the ever-present specter of morality.
My review:
Where do I begin? How do I find the words? Rotters is one of those books that leaves you speechless, numb, breathless, disgusted and creeped out, but all in a good way.
Rotters is a story of a boy who goes through hell and back. The pain that Joey goes through, both physical and mental is truly heartbreaking. As a mother and human being I could not help but want to protect him. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that the bullying that Joey is forced to withstand, although extreme? Happens to numerous kids across North America on a daily basis. Although, what happens to us during our lives should not define us as human beings? All too often it can and does.
This book is not a happy story by any means. It is not for the faint of heart or for those with a weak stomach. It took me a little longer to get through this book, simply due to the fact that I had to put it down frequently and regroup before continuing. It should most definitely be read on an empty stomach!
In the end, would I recommend this book? I whole heartily believe this is not for a younger reader. I would recommend this for the 16+ readers. But, yes. If you are prepared to have both your heart and gut wrenched from your body? Give this one a read.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Mizb over at Shouldbereading. Anyone can play along, just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two(2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!
Here is mine for this week:
'I would raise bodies like a hard rain sucks worms to the surface. I would become hero to a few; to everyone else I would be the whip of flame flickering through feverish nightmares.'
It's Monday! What are you reading is a weekly book meme hosted by Sheila over at BookJourney. This is where participants share what they read last week, what they are currently reading and what's up next. Here is mine for this week:
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's powers, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.
My review:
This is a hard review for me to write. The first 50 pages or so I was so excited. I connected with the story and the characters right away and felt that this was going to be an amazing ride. However, it was just okay for me. It kind of fizzled and just left me longing for something more, something was missing. I can't really put my finger on it and say for sure what it was. It was just, okay.
The two main characters Ellie and Will had great chemistry and were very enjoyable. Ellie has a lot to deal with as she learns who she really is and what she really is. Most of the time I found her character to be quite believable, but there were times that it was all a little force and rushed for me. Will too was quite believable most of the time, but he too at times felt a little inconsistent. I realize that he had some inner struggles that he was dealing with, but at times I just found the core of his character too conflicting. I found most of Ellie's friends to be just fluff and not too much substance for me. Ellie's mother was interesting and definitely had some depth to her. I look forward to seeing where her character goes in the next book. Now. Ellie's father. I am not too sure about this character. The man is evil and scary and I was expecting something important to come from this character. But nothing ever happened. I am left with a lot questions and perhaps they will be answered in the next book. But I am just left with an overwhelming feeling of...well, nothing really. I kind of lost all connection for these characters and the story.
In the end? Would I recommend it? If you are fan of paranormal, angels and the Fallen? Then yes, give it a read and see for yourself. I know many readers/reviewers have loved this book. I am not saying I did not like it, I am just left feeling very underwhelmed. I will definitely read the next book in the series. I just hope that it packs more of a punch.
It's Monday! What are you reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila over at BookJourney. This is where participants share what they read last week, what they are currently reading and what's up next. Here is mine for this week:
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am number Four.
I am next.
My Review:
When word of this book first started floating around. I was excited to read it. Then I began to hear little tid bits about the controversy surrounding it. I am not going to go into a long winded tangent. If you don't know what I am referring to and want more info you can read about it HERE.
I had put the book out of my mind and then started seeing all the movie previews. I always read the book before seeing the movie and since Alex Pettyfer was the star? Well, I knew I HAD to see the movie. Thus, I decided to give the book a read.
I admit, the first 50 pages had me really questioning my decision. I found the writing to be very disjointed and the story very slow. Thankfully the story kicked in for me soon after. However, it felt as though two different authors were at the helm. I had that feeling a few times throughout the book. I really started to enjoy it and felt connected to it an then it all came to a halt once again. The last 100 pages really came together though.
The two main characters, John - Number Four - and Henri - John's Keeper - were great together. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow and blossom into this amazing pseudo father/son connection. One of the best aspects of this story for me was when John's legacy's started to show and the anticipation of more to follow. The prospect of becoming flame retardant, being able to become invisible, as well as the things you touch - John's Grandfather had this ability - and being able to communicate with animals. How cool would that be?
Aside from John and Henri? One of my favorite characters was, Sam, John's best friend. Sam is this alien conspiracy theory obsessed geek. But aside from that, he is loyal, funny and brave when he truly needs to be. I can not wait to see where this character goes from here into the next book.
The best character of this book though? Bernie Kosar. The Beagle. I adore books with dogs, but being a Beagle owner myself? I fell in love. I knew the instant Bernie was introduced that there HAD to be something special about him. I was not disappointed!
In the end? Thanks to the last 100 pages being filled with great characters, an interesting story and non-stop action, I look forward to the next installment. And of course, I must now see the movie. Alex Pettyfer awaits!
Rating: 3.5 stars
Favorite quote/scene:
Sam runs into his room and comes out with a backpack. He sets it on the kitchen counter and goes to change his clothes. I peer inside of it. There is a crucifix, a few cloves of garlic, a wooden stake, a hammer, a blob of Silly Putty, and a pocketknife.
"You do realize these people aren't vampires, right?" I say when Sam walks back in.
"Yeah, but you never know. They're probably crazy, like you said."
"And even if we were hunting vampires, what the hell is the Silly Putty for?"
