Review: When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

Pages: 352

Publisher: Simon & Suchesters Children's Book

Pub date: April 26th 2012

Synopsis:

In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo's original intended--Juliet's cousin Rosaline--tells her side of the tale. "What's in a name, Shakespeare? I'll tell you: Everything.

"Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her--and when he finally does, it's perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose's best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn't even stand a chance.

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet's instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob's heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends....

Review:

I knew that when i read the synopsis of this on Goodreads that i had to read it. Who wouldn't want to see Rosaline's side of the story from the greatest love story of the "Star-crossed lovers"?

Rosaline is head over heels for Rob, her best friend since kids. And they're trying to figure out what to do. But it all goes wrong when Juliet is back, Rose's cousin. Rose hasn't seen her for ten years. When Rob sees Juliet he tells Rose that it feels like fate. Maybe it is.

"She looks up at me, and there are new tears in her eyes, but they are not bitter or angry. They're filled with something else entirely. Something like love. And i think, for the first time in ten years, that we may be alike after all."

First of all, it struck me after a few chapters (acts) that Rose and i are similar. She forgives easily, keeps her feelings in and doesn't speak much unless she has to. I think Rose is the closest character to me that i have ever encountered. I forgave and felt sorry for Juliet when i got to know more about her. I did love that fact but, I also thought that Rose had to step up a bit. She said that she felt fine when Juliet took Rob from her, which obviously she was not fine with.

The plot is like what Romeo and Juliet is suppose to be. ("Because the greatest love story ever told might not be the right one, but we all now how it ends".) The only difference is that we see Rose's side of the story and that it's a modern version. Rebecca Serle stirs our feelings for Rosaline. She makes us think that Rose and Rob were supposed to be. But after a while we see that maybe Shakespeare did get it right. This is what made me cry. I knew that it will end like it is Romeo and Juliet. But i did feel happy for Rosaline's happy ending. I think, if i don't stop here i will spill it all and spoil it for you, so, i have to end this review.

To conclude, i think i will never see Romeo and Juliet ever again. I will always see Rosaline. I would definitley say check this out because this has a heart-throbbing romance that you will love!

My rating:

(4.5)

Comes with minor flaws but i do recommend it.

{More about the author (Rebecca Serle) at: Goodreads/ Her blog/ Her website/ Twitter/ Facebook}

 {Find it on:  Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon USBook Depositary UK/ Book Depositary INT}

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1)
by Michelle Hodkin
Pages: 452
Publisher: Simon & Suchester Children's Publishing
Pub date: September 27th 2011

Synopsis:
Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger. She wakes from a coma in hospital with no memory of how she got there or of the bizarre accident that caused the deaths of her best friends and her boyfriend, yet left her mysteriously unharmed. The doctors suggest that starting over in a new city, a new school, would be good for her and just to let the memories gradually come back on their own.

But Mara’s new start is anything but comforting. She sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere, and when she suddenly begins to see other people’s deaths right before they happen, Mara wonders whether she’s going crazy! And if dealing with all this wasn’t enough, Noah Shaw, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen can’t seem to leave her alone… but as her life unravels around her, Mara can’t help but wonder if Noah has another agenda altogether…

Find it on: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon US/ Book Depositary UK/ Book Depositary INT

Review:

Hi, guys! I'm starting the week with a review. I've been holding this review up because i don't know how to bring justice to it. It left me completely speechless when i was finished with it. Anyway, here it is...

I didn't know what to expect because there was a lot of positive reviews for this. When i first read the blurb i thought it was an ordinary thing where Mara comes back as herself before the death of her friends and her boyfriend with help from Noah. But, no, i was totally, totally wrong.

Mara doesn't know what happened. She just doesn't remember anything from the incident. Even though, she was there when they died. After the incident Mara and her family moves away. Her mom thinks it's better for her, but in reality it isn't. She keeps on seeing Rachel (her best friend), Claire (her "friend") and Jude (her boyfriend), who all died in the incident. Everything has changed since that incident. Then she meets Noah Shaw at her new school, the schools bad boy.

From the story line i didn't know what to expect of Noah and Mara's relationship. Noah was too normal for Mara. But then we learn that Noah has big secrets that's he's keeping as well. I couldn't stop flicking pages to know what was going to happen next. And just when i thought the mind-blowing attacks were done there was one more thing that blowed my mind even more.

And oh my, Noah Shaw! I was literally melting and giggling when it came to him! No one can resist a bad boy! And the cherry on top? He's got an accent! *Swoon* This was me (and i'm sure everyone else was as well):

2nd step

1st step.

3rd step

*I don't take credit of these pictures.

Unfortunately, even though i loved The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (and Noah Shaw!) there is one thing that stands in the way of giving it a 5 star rating. The one thing that stood in the way was the slow paced until the middle of the book. At the start i was hooked but then it just became slow paced for me until the middle of the book. However, i still think that many people will love The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Michelle Hodkin keeps you in a knot because of the mystery and suspense. Even after reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer you will be screaming for more and pulling you hair out with rage.

My rating:

(4.5)

Comes with minor flaws but i do recommend it.

About the author:

At the age of sixteen, Michelle Hodkin lost the rights to her soul in a poker game with pirates just south of Natchez. Shortly thereafter, she joined an acting troupe and traveled the world performing feats of wonder and mischief. She has been seen on stages nationwide and earned rave reviews for her one woman performance of Titus Andronicus before writing The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, her first novel which is available now. The sequel, The Evolution of Mara Dyer, hits shelves October 23, 2012, and the third book in the trilogy, The Retribution of Mara Dyer, hits shelves Fall 2013. Michelle currently lives with her three pets and may or may not be a reliable narrator of her own life. *From Goodreads.

{More about Michelle Hodkin: Goodreads/ Her website/ Her blog/ Twitter/ Facebook}

Review: Fae Not by Lea Spiegel and Megan Summers

Fae Not by Leah Spiegel and Megan Summers

Pages: 258

Publsher: 

Pub date: March 25th 2012

Synopsis:

Ashton has never had a problem being able to turn heads, or being able to persuade humans do to whatever he wants. After the accidental death of a childhood friend, Ashton knows all too well the dangers that come along with channeling humans and begins to resent his existence because of it.

Ashton now spends his time trying to “fix” humans at a therapeutic camp in his colony. When Claire comes to the camp, not only is she different in the fact that she’s shy and innocent, but his abilities don’t seem to work on her either.

Distraught, Ashton discovers who her real parents are and what Claire must be, but he knows he’s also running out of time because another more powerful fae is erasing the memory that she even existed. He must find her before they find him or the memory of Claire, the only girl he’s ever loved, and the knowledge of what she truly is will be erased forever.

Find it on: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon US

Review:

  *Given a copy for a honest review.  

Ashton is a fae. Faes channel (feed) off human and they can persuade humans. But when Claire arrives at the institute Ashton knows there's something wrong. She's different. She can give off heaps off energy and she can control the channeling. It's as if she knows. The big mystery of Claire gives the readers an adrenaline and keeps them on the edge of their seat. I couldn't put it down. I haven't had good old thrill, like this, since ages.

Claire, our main character, is adopted by two faes and they both channel off her. When she arrives at the institute she's quiet as a mouse but when we go through the book we see her character developing into a stronger one. We find out how Claire is used and how she goes around been channelled by many faes. It's filthy and wrong. *shiver* Along with Claire's character developing, we also see the relationship between Ashton and Claire developing. Ashton is not like other Faes. He doesn't like what he is. When Ashton meets Claire for the first time he knows that she's different from other humans. She doesn't swoon after him or follow him around like a lost puppy. Then, we see that Ashton is growing special feelings for her. The thing that ticked off was that when Aston and Claire had a romantic moment Claire would always run away and it was not explained. Despite this, Ashton and Claire were cute together.

Although, Fae Not was addicting and had great character and relationship development there was also a flaw. The ending was just like there. There was all this thrill and action, then bam! It's the end. I thought this hadn't ended yet, but after flicking through a few pages i finally got that it had finished. I was devastated, a little exaggeration but yes i was devastated. Nevertheless, i still enjoyed Fae Not and would recommend it, especially, to paranormal readers.

My rating:

Comes with minor flaws but i do recommend it

About the authors:


Leah Spiegel:

An Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Graduate who once spent years drawing imaginary worlds and now writes about them. I am addicted to writing, usually fall in love with all my characters, and lean towards the comical in all my books! *From Goodreads.

Learn more about Leah Spiegel at:

• Goodreads.
• Her website.

Meagan Summers: 

*No information found.

Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched (TyrelleTrillogy #1) by Amanda Hocking

Pages: 303

Publisher:

Pub date: July 12th 2010

Synopsis:

What if your whole life was built on a lie?

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.
Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.
Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

Find it on: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon US/ Book Depositary UK/  Book Depositary INT 

Review:

*Many spoilers and a very log rant ever on this blog!

Wow. Just wow. Switched is a not my typical. There were many things i loved and didn't like. The story starts with Wendy as a little girl and how her mother tried to kill her saying how she wasn't her child. At this point i found myself saying "what?!" and then craving for more. As the story progresses we meet Finn. Finn tells Wendy that she's a Changeling and that she should return home, where she belongs. With Finn we also meet Vittra- the baddies. Wendy doesn't know what to do until she's desperate and wants to save her loved ones. She's coming home to Tyrelle.

Before i had read Switched i thought it was about Fae's but now i think that i am utterly stupid. We are talking about new things here guys! Amanda has hooked me with trolls i tell you! Trolls! Who would have ever guessed?

Two or three things i didn't really like were Finn, Wendy and the pace. One, Finn was really cold and didn't let his feelings out. He was like a statue. He didn't even tell Wendy the important things that she needed to do or attend to. Moreover, he didn't even say a proper good-bye to Wendy when he left! Although i didn't like him that much i still think that i would like to see more off him in the next book. Wendy was a great character to read but sometimes i just couldn't take her. She acted like a damsel in distress.

What i did like in this book was the plot and how it made me grab it when i had a chance to read. The plot of this book is what i call truly amazing. Trolls in YA book are very rare. Nobody talks about them except in the shadows. I think that Amanda did an excellent job with holding everything together and not get the reader get lost. Every time, i started to read in the middle of the book i knew what was going on and who was who. I think that this is the hardest thing that the author can acomplish. However, the pace of this book was slow then fast then slows again. So it is confusing, sometimes.

Another thing or i guess a character that i loved was Tove. Tove was a gentleman. He was kind and sweet. He was an ideal boy that you would love to meet in real life. He is psychic. He can't read minds but can move things around by his will without touching anything and sees peoples' emotions.

To conclude, Swiched is a must read for all people. You can't let it go and definiley unique. I ned to read the next book ASAP!

Ooooh my! So good!

My rating:

Perfect but not that perefect.

About the author:

I live in Minnesota with my dog, two cats, two fish, a turtle, and my roommate/assistant/platonic lifemate, Eric. I actually live in Austin, a.k.a. SPAMTown, USA. They invented SPAM here, and the town is quite proud of it.

 I do many things, most of them lame and boring, but the thing I get paid to do is write young adult books. *From her blog.

Learn more about Amanda Hocking at:

• Goodreads.
• Her blog.
• Twitter.
• Facebook.

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)

by Maggie Stiefvater
Pages: 416
Publisher: Scholastic
Pub date: July 20th 2010

Synopsis:
Grace and Sam must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ...and figuring out a way to survive the future.

But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected...

Find it on: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon US/ Book Depositary UK/ Book Depositary INT

Review:

I've read this a while ago but don't really know how to write this review now. Anyway, here it goes.

Sam and Grace are finally together. But when new problems arise they don't know what to do. Beck's gone and never will turn back to a human again and he has left new wolves for Sam to look after. One of the new wolves, Cole, is weird. He picked to be a wolf. He likes to be not human but when he meets Isabelle he doesn't know if he wants to be a wolf anymore. Grace is sick with a high fever and she knows what's coming. Sam is finally free but there are still bits and bobs to sort out. With everything is going bad like this Sam and Grace are caught together in her room. Sam doesn't know what to do. Grace doesn't know what to do. Cole doesn't know what to do. Isabelle doesn't know what to do. But it's there somewhere in the back of their heads that they do know what they need to do.

You know when the book is so slow paced that you're flicking through it every 5 second? Yep. That's what you do when you read Linger. Maggie doesn't leave you disappointment after Shiver. With everything going good there always has to be problems.

The new characters in this book are interesting and i also love the new POVs of Cole and Isabelle. Right now, for some reason, i am favouring Cole and Isabelle over Grace and Sam. I can't wait to see what happens between Cole and Isabelle in Forever.

And the million dollar (I can't say pounds. Dollars sound cooler.) Question is: When will she turn into a wolf? Linger kept on teasing you with every page on Grace becoming a wolf. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I highly recommend Linger. I can't wait to read Forever. I hope it doesn't disappoint me.

My rating:

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1): Review.

Side not: I found the website for this series and it's pretty col. Click HERE to check it out.


About the author:

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

*From Goodreads


Learn more about Maggie Stiefvater at:

• Goodreads.
  
• Her website.
• Her blog.
• Twitter.
• Facebook.

Review: Frost by Kate Avery Ellision

Frost (Frost #1)

by Kate Avery Ellison

Pages: 194

Publisher: Createspace

Release date: 18th April 2012

Synopsis:

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person might end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing weather and threat of monster attacks, or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and treachery just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest, a young man from beyond the Frost named Gabe, Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.
She saves his life.
Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in serious trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel, and her village has nothing to do with them. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love... *From Smashwords

Find it on: Godreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon US

Review:

*Received a copy for a honest review.

I have got to say Frost is not your typical read. It is in the shadows and the darkness.

Lia Weaver lives with her siblings, her sister, Ivy and her brother, Jonn. Her parents were killed by watchers. In Frost there are secrets that could kill you and if you roam around you won't live for long. The Watchers watch your every step. They are monsters. The Fathers are from another land. It all starts when Ivy finds him lying on the snow bleeding. By Lia looking after him it means betraying the villages trust. But when they find out that he (Gabe) is a Father and a rouge, Lia's world turns upside down. She finds secrets that have been hidden from her and also finds love. But some time's it can be too late.

Hold on, i need to breathe! I just can't stop boasting about this! Everything was perfect except *one little thing*, and i repeat: "one little thing." Anyway, moving on. First things first: i love Kate Avery Ellision! Her writing is so beautiful and the way she puts twists in her story! The plot of this story is set in a fantasy world, where people live in Frost and the Fathers live in a world of dull days. There are also Watchers (god are they creepy!) Every time, the pop up into the story it sends you shivers down your spine (and let me tell you, it's not in a good way.) These people do not mix together! And oh how i loved it! I just loved each and every single thing about the plot, the Fathers and the Watchers.

The only thing that annoyed me was that Lia, our main character, was brave but  she couldn't make her mind up! Seriously! Make your mind up, girl!! Gabe, i thought, was a interesting character but he was more of a normal guy to me. The story didn't really look into him in more detail of his feelings and i would have loved it if there was. The only things we know are little detail was his story of how he got here. Other than these things i loved every single thing about it!

The mystery in this story is just mesmerising. You can't help but wait in anticipation (and maybe skip a few words or paragraphs.) The different characters in this book are all for a purpose and oh was i shocked when i found out some things. Some of these characters don't even look like they could kill people!

So, in the end, i have to say i loved reading Frost! It's one of my favourite book for a creep-you-out read. And i would highly recommend to read Frost or one of Ellison's work.

My Rating: 

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

About the author:

I've been making up stories since I was five years old, and now I'm thrilled to be able to do it as a full-time job. I have an obsession with dark fantasy, dystopian futures, and Pride and Prejudice-style love stories full of witty banter and sizzling, unspoken feelings. When I'm not writing, I spend my time gardening, composing music, and... look, who am I kidding? I spend most of my time tweeting, reading funny blogs, and watching TV. I live with my geeky husband and our two bad cats in Atlanta, GA.

*From Goodreads.

Lear more about Kate Avery Ellison at:

• Goodreads.
  
• Her blog.
• Twitter.

Reviw: Die For Me by Amy Plum

Die For Me (Revenants #1)

By Amy Plum

Pages: 344

Publisher: Atom

Release date: May 11th 2011

Summary:

Would you risk your life for love?
My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Find it on: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon US/ The Book Depositary UK/ The Book Depositary INT  

Review:


This book is love at first sight!

Kate who has just lost her parents gas moved to Pars to her grandparents with her sister, Georgia. There she meets Vincent, with his good looks and charming manner (what do you expect? It's France.) He seems to look like a normal guy, but he isn't. Vincent is a Revenant a fancy word for saying the undead-zombies, ghost whatever, but not vampires. But been undead has a payment to give. Vincent and his friends have to save people when they are in danger of ending their lives. And with every good guys you get the bad guys as well. The bad guys: Numa. They are just like Revenants but they are made out of cold murder and many bad things. Without knowing what is still out there Kate turns a blind eye to the negative points and still carries on walking towards danger.

As i said before : "This book is love at first sight!" So this is why everyone is making a fuss out of this series and i have to i agree with them. Die For Me just sucks you in with it's crazy world and characters.

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater

Pages: 434

Publisher: Shcolastic

Summary:

The wolves are calling.

Everything you know will change.
When a local boy is killed by wolves, Grace's small town becomes a place of fear and suspicion. But Grace can't help being fascinated by the pack, and by one yellow-eyed wolf in particular. There's something about him - something almost human. Then she meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away...

Find it on: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ Amazon UK/ Amazon US/ The Book Depositary UK/ The Book Depositary INT

Thoughts before the read:
Everyone says that this is a must read, so here it goes.

Thoughts after the read:
Right. Where's the next book?!


Review:

Review: Eden by Janelle Stalder

Eden (Eden #1)

by Janelle Stalder

Pages: 236

Publisher: iUniverese

Published: September 20th 2011

Summary:

Trapped within the cruel world of hormones and bullies, fifteen-year-old Aiden is convinced life has more to offer him. His instincts are proven correct on the night he is awakened by a voice calling to him from outside his window. As he sleepily peers into his yard, his eyes slowly focus on a woman who says she is there to take him to Eden. Aiden is about to fulfil the life purpose he never knew he had.

It is in Eden, a land on the brink of war, where Aiden will finally learn to trust himself and those around him. Accompanied by Wolf, his sidekick Logan, and the beautiful archer, Elisa, Aiden is soon thrust into a battle to save Eden. Meanwhile Elisa, the only girl in the King’s Army, is in the midst of her own struggles. Betrothed to a man she has no intention of marrying, Elisa is caught between the need to prove herself and her desire for true happiness. And now that she has met Aiden, she is more confused than ever.

In this action-packed fantasy tale, romance, adventure, and intrigue surround Aiden as he learns just what he is capable of when he discovers confidence and courage

Review:

*i received this book for a honest review from Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! (Read 2 Review)