Review- Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Shadowland by Alyson Noel


Release Date: November 17, 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 339, Paperback
Source: Bought
Series: Immortals Series #3

Rating from A+ to F: B-

I would recommend not reading any farther, if you haven't read the first two books in the series, Evermore and Blue Moon. This review might contain spoilers. 


-Summary-

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives--and fought off the world's darkest enemies--so they could be together forever. But just as their long awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death--plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick--and gets help from an unexpected source...a surfer named Jude. 


Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love--and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger--and tests her love for Damen like never before....


-Review-

I was a little disappointed in Shadowland, even though I really liked Evermore and Blue Moon. This third book in the series was supposed to (well, I thought) resolve some issues that were started in Blue Moon, but I barely found anything concerning what happened at the ending of Blue Moon. Also, this time around, I found Ever a little annoying, too irresponsible at times, never listening to Damen with whatever he says. Ever never really talks to her friends anymore, the whole story revolved around Ever, Damen, Jude, and sometimes Roman.

Plot- I was a little bored with the plot in this book, nothing much happens. At some times in the story, something remotely exciting would happen, and then...nothing. It would just go back to boring. I might seem a little harsh, but I had high hopes for this book, since I liked the first two in the series. It got to the point where I wasn't interested in what was happening, and would just stop reading. That's never a good sign, but I still finished reading it. 


Characters- Not a lot of character development in this story, but I didn't see much of any characters. I found myself confused with characters and what was happening with them, and some events that happened felt pointless to me. Random characters popped into this story that you didn't see during the rest of the plot. So, I wasn't very impressed with the characters in this book. 


Writing- Alyson Noel is a good writer, I'm sure I'll continue reading her books, and not let this one stop me. Even when I didn't love the plot of the story, I still think that her writing in it was very good, I just wish the plot was a little more thrilling and exciting.


Cover- I think the cover is cool, I like how the amulet is glowing and shining up the cover. ...Is it possible to shine up a cover...? 


I feel bad for being a little harsh in this review, but like I said, I had high expectations for this novel, and wanted it to continue to be as good as Evermore and Blue Moon. Oh, and the ending was a cliffhanger to me, kind of surprising! Overall, I will continue with this series and hopefully find the next one more like the first two in the series! 


RATING ANALYSIS: 

1. Plot- 10 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 11 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 19 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 14 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 3 out of 5 points.
Equals: 82. 80-83 is a B-


PARENTAL REVIEW:
Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ALYSON NOEL

Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times best selling, award-winning, author of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOË, CRUEL SUMMER, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)—an anthology, CRUELSUMMER, KISSES FROM HELL—an anthology, DEAR BULLY—an anthology (Fall 2011), and the Immortals series including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND, DARK FLAME, NIGHT STAR, & EVERLASTING - as well as the Immortals spin-off series including RADIANCE, SHIMMER (03.15.11), DREAMLAND (09.13.11), & WHISPER (04.24.12), as well as a new YA series, SOUL SEEKERS, set to debut in May 2012.

She lives in Orange County, CA where she is working on her next book. 


Visit her website: alysonnoel.com 
Visit the book's website: ImmortalsSeries.com


Check out this book at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound 

Review-Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate


Release Date: December 8, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 452
Source: Bought
Series: Fallen #1

Rating from A+ to F:  A

-Summary-

What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?


There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.


Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move.


Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her. 


Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story. 


-Review-

Fallen was a very well written book by Lauren Kate. Even though I thought the beginning was a little slow, it led up to a great ending which made me want to find out what happens next. This story takes place in Savannah, Georgia and I really liked the mysterious, almost eerie setting of the South. There is definitely a dark feel to the story, but it helps it to be really great, and I had very few problems with the book.

Plot- The plot of this story was very good, but I thought that the beginning of it was a little too slow for me. There weren't many exciting events at the start of the book, but Kate was building the background of the story really well. Around the middle of the book, the plot got better and picked up a little and I had a hard time putting it down. The story is very similar to other books I've read, but I still think Kate did a great job with making this story her own. 

Characters- The characters were great, there are some surprising twists at the end of the story involving a few characters that I didn't expect at all. I really liked the relationship between Luce and Daniel, especially around the end of the story! I think the characters were developed very well, and I think my favorite character would probably be Penn, one of Luce's friends. She was very kind and one of the most normal people at the Sword & Cross boarding school. 


Writing- Lauren Kate did a fantastic job in writing this book. The descriptions of places like Sword & Cross and the cemetery were great and they made the story a lot more interesting. I loved the setting of the story, the South is always mysterious and mystifying and it makes a story better to read about. The setting reminded me of the setting in Beautiful Creatures, and I liked both so that was great. Great writing by Lauren Kate in this book! 


Cover- I love that cover! It's so pretty, and it ties in well with the story. The girl I think represents Luce, and I really like her dress and her hair! The background of the cover also coincides with the story because some of the plot takes place in the woods. Amazing cover and it kind of shows you how dark this book is! 


Overall, I really liked this book, and didn't have that many problems with it. I can't wait to read Torment, the next book in the Fallen series. Also, I really want to check out The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate, because she writes really well! I recommend this book to anyone who likes books like the Immortals series by Alyson Noel or the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. 


RATING ANALYSIS: 

1. Plot- 18 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 15 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 20 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 13 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 9 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 14 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 94! 94-96 is an A


PARENTAL REVIEW:
Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use
Recommended for ages 13 and older.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LAUREN KATE

Lauren Kate grew up in Dallas, went to school in Atlanta, and started writing in New York. She is the author of The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove and Torment, the next book in the Fallen series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and is learning how to surf.

Visit her website: http://laurenkatebooks.net
Go to the book's website: http://fallenbooks.com 


Check the book out at Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound 

Review-Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver


Release Date: March 2, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 470
Source: Bought
Series: Standalone book

Rating from A+ to F: A+

-Summary-

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your life?


Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High--from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.


Instead, it turns out to be her last.


Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is danger of losing.

-Review-

Wow, this book was probably one of the best books I have ever read. It was incredible, wonderful, fantastic...any other words to describe how good this book was. I loved the idea and concept of this book, and it had amazing writing by Lauren Oliver.

The plot of the story was great, there wasn't a dull moment in this book. The characters were great, I really loved Kent, he was so adorable! The writing of this novel was fantastic and I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. This book is definitely creative because I don't know how anyone could create such an interesting idea and plot for a book. I really liked the ending but to be honest, I didn't want it to end! I wanted the book to keep going, but it was definitely a great ending. I love the cover, I think it is really cool!

I don't think I need to explain what this book is about, probably everyone has read this book or heard about it. I wish that I read it sooner because I absolutely loved this book, and anyone who hasn't read it yet, definitely needs to! You won't regret it at all, I promise you. Such an amazing story by Lauren Oliver, and I really need to get and read Delirium, her newest novel.

RATING ANALYSIS:

1. Plot- 20 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 14 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 20 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 15 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 99! 97-100 is an A+


PARENTAL REVIEW:

Violence- Car accident & bullying
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use
Recommended for ages 14 and up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LAUREN OLIVER

Lauren Oliver was previously an editorial assistant at a publishing company in New York. A graduate of the University of Chicago and the MFA program at New York University, she is now a full-time writer and lives in Brooklyn, New York. This is her first novel.

Check out her website: http://laurenoliverbooks.com/

Check out this book at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Friday Blog Hops!

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee, and this week's question is:

Q: In light of the Summer Solstice, also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

My favorite fairy tale would probably be Cinderella, because...doesn't everyone love that story? I haven't read many stories about fairies, but two series that I want to read that involve them are: The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa and the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr. They both look like good series and I really want to get them soon, so I can read them!

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books.

Q: When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?

This is a really good question, but it's hard to have an answer. I've always loved reading, since I was in Kindergarten, and I always have to have a book that I am currently reading. But, I guess I didn't truly start feeling like reading was my passion until I started reading young adult books and I realized how much I loved reading them. Probably when I was around twelve years old, I knew that reading was an important part in my life.



TGIF at Greads! is hosted by Greads! and this weeks question was:

Q: Where is your ideal place to take a summer vacation & get lost in a book?

My ideal place to get lost in a book would definitely be at the beach: the sun, the sand, and the waves. But, I'm not always able to get to the beach, so the next best thing would be: to sit by my pool, with my feet in the water, and read a good book. Hopefully, I'll be able to do one of these things soon, if the rain goes away!

Review-Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott


Release Date: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 250
Source: Bought
Series: Standalone book

Rating from A+ to F: B

-Summary-

I miss her, but not like I should. I want her to wake up so I don't have to be tied to her forever. 


Abby long ago accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister, Tess, but at least she knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.


Until the accident.


Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.


Abby's got a plan to bring Tess back, though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli. But then she learns a shocking secret about Tess. Something that was always right there, but she'd never seen.


Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could.

-Review-

Okay, so I'm going to be honest by saying that I didn't love this book. It had good parts and bad parts about it, and even though I wanted to exclaim my love for the book, that love just wasn't there for me. In my opinion, it was an okay book: a book some people will adore and others, not so much. I am a person that it was in the middle of adoring or disliking the book.

Abby has always been jealous of her sister, but ever since the accident and when her sister, Tess, is now in a coma, she just wants Tess to wake up and go back to her own life. Where Abby isn't constantly told from people that they miss Tess and want her back. Abby wants to be free from her sister and her shadow. Abby meets Eli, and can't deny the fact that she likes him, even though she is using him to try and get her sister to wake up. But, Abby begins to learn surprising details about Tess and her life, and starts to understand her sister a lot better.

So, I guess I'll start off by saying what I disliked about the book. The main character, Abby, was too whiny and always thought Tess was better than her and that she will never be as perfect as Tess, which annoyed me. All I wanted to do was tell Abby to just forget about Tess and stop thinking about Tess as a perfect person who doesn't have any flaws. Around the time the book was ending I also thought that the ending of the book wasn't what I wanted it to be; it felt unnecessary to me. If people have read the book, they might know what I'm talking about (the secret about Tess that was talked about in the summary).

But, there were also parts I liked about the book. Elizabeth Scott is an amazing writer, and even though I didn't particularly like this book by her, I am definitely going to read her other ones! I am also a fan of Eli, and I was definitely surprised by what we learned about him, around the middle of the book. But, that's all I'm saying about it...  I thought the concept of the book was very good, I just didn't like how the book turned out. The cover is also beautiful, I love that flower!

I hate to say that I wasn't a fan of the book, it just wasn't there for me. I am definitely reading other books by Elizabeth Scott though, because she still is a great writer.

RATING ANALYSIS:

1. Plot- 14 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 13 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 18 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 12 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 13 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 85. 84-86 is a B


PARENTAL REVIEW:

Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ELIZABETH SCOTT

Elizabeth Scott is the author of Bloom; Perfect You; Something, Maybe; The Unwritten Rule; and Living Dead Girl, among others. She lives outside Washington, D.C.

Visit her website: http://elizabethwrites.com/

Check out this book at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Waiting on Wednesday #2

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder


This is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and this week I'm excited for The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder! Here is a summary of The Day Before:

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last. 

This book looks really good, and I just love that cover! It comes out soon, so I can't wait to get it! 

Release Date-June 28, 2011

Review-Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl


Published: October 2010
Publisher: Little Brown
Pages: 503
Source: Bought
Series: Caster Chronicles #2

Rating from A+ to F: A

I'd recommend not to read any farther, if you haven't read the first in the series, Beautiful Creatures, since this review might contain spoilers! 


-Summary-

A few months ago, I believed nothing would ever change in this town. 


Now I knew better, and I only wished it was true. 


Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.


Sometimes life-ending.


Together Ethan and Lena can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there is no turning back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

-Review-

This book was a really good sequel to the first one in the series, Beautiful Creatures! We learn a lot more information about the Caster world, and we will probably learn tons more in the third book in the series! There were tons of surprises and things I never expected to happen that occurred in this book.

I really liked the new characters that were in this book, like Liv and John, and I thought they helped make the plot more interesting to read about. The only problem with the book that I had was that some parts were too slow for me. I felt like they were too long, and I just wanted to get to the end! Nonetheless, the ending was amazing and WOAH was I surprised! But, that's all I am saying about the ending, I'm not giving away any spoilers! I think Ethan and Lena grew and developed as a couple, and some events really tested their relationship. The minor characters really developed well and I liked them a lot, especially Amma and Link we see a little bit more of than we did in the first one.

The cover is really cool, I think it ties in with the story's plot, but that's just my opinion. Overall, a really good book, and I can't wait for the third in the series, Beautiful Chaos!

RATING ANALYSIS:

1. Plot- 17 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 15 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 18 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 15 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 95! 94-96 is an A


PARENTAL REVIEW:

Violence-Very mild
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use


ABOUT THE AUTHORS: KAMI GARCIA & MARGARET STOHL

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl came up with the concept for the world of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness over lunch. Margaret had always been captivated by fantasies and wanted to write a supernatural novel, while Kami loved stories set in the South and wanted to write a book that drew upon her deep Southern roots. With nothing to write on, they scribbled their ideas for a story that combined their shared passions on a paper napkin. By the time they left, the world of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness was born. Both Kami and Margaret live in Los Angeles, California, with their families. They now write on computers, instead of napkins.
Visit their website at: http://beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/
Visit the book's website at: www.somelovesarecursed.com


Check out this book at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Update

Hi Everyone!

I recently got a Goodreads and Twitter page, so to people with these websites, please comment on this post with your usernames for them! You can find my Goodreads and Twitter pages on the right sidebar under Places to Find Me. If you comment and put your usernames, I will definitely check them out and follow you! Thank you!

In My Mailbox and Week In Review

This meme was started by Kristi at The Story Siren, and I am finally getting around to doing it! I got a few books this week that I bought so here they are!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 


I have been wanting to get this book for awhile now, and I'm so happy that I got it. I love the cover too!















Shadowland by Alyson Noel

I recently finished the second in the series, Blue Moon, so I went and got the third. I am trying to finish some series I have started, so I began with The Immortals Series.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter


I've heard really good things about this book, so I can't wait to start it! Looks like a great book!















Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott


I can not wait to start reading this book! Looks sooo good, and I've heard wonderful things about it!















Reviews from this week:

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Follow Friday!

This is my first Follow Friday and I was really interested in this blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View!


Q: Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

I'd have to say that paranormal romance has to be my favorite genre. It is true that the Twilight series started my love for paranormal romance, but I also have read other books in this genre, including the Beautiful Creatures series, which I am currently reading. I'd love to hear recommendations from people on good paranormal romance books!

 Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy-for-Books is another meme I'm just starting!

Q: How many books are currently in your To-Be-Read (TBR) Pile?

Oh my gosh, there are way too many! But, I doubt there as much as other people because I don't have a huge pile, but it's still pretty big. I probably want to read so far about 30-40 books that are in my pile. See! I told you it isn't as many as other people!

Review- Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel


Published: July 7, 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 284
Source: Bought
Series: Immortal Series #2

Rating from A+ to F: A

I'd recommend not reading this review if you haven't read Evermore, the first in the series, yet. This review might contain spoilers to it! 


-Summary-

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers increase, Damen's begin to fade after he is stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, where she uncovers not only the secrets of Damen's past--the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden--but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them--or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker by the day...

-Review-

Wow, what a sequel to Evermore! I loved the first one, but I was even more blown away by this one! The plot was so surprising to me that it really made me one to get to the end to find out what was happening! This book is a real pageturner and I absolutely loved it.

Ever is finally getting used to the fact that she is an immortal, like Damen. But, strange things are happening to him that she is desperate to figure out what is wrong. She travels to Summerland in hopes that it will help her figure out his past and what to do to save him. While there she learns that she can choose to go back to her past with her family and make sure the accident doesn't happen again or save Damen, who can't remember anything.

I think the characters in the sequel were developed a lot better than in the first. I was excited to learn more about Damen and his past and a little bit about Ever and her lives in the past. We learn a little bit more about the minor characters, but not as much as I was hoping. But, still Ever and Damen's characters were developed very well!

I can't believe how surprised I was by this plot, it was so different than what I expected from the summary! At first the book starts a little slow, but it quickly picked up and made the book full of suspense. While I was reading it, I just wanted to find out what happened next! The ending is amazing, and I can't wait to get the next book in the series, Shadowland, to find out what happens to the relationship of Ever and Damen!

RATING ANALYSIS:
1. Plot- 19 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 13 out of 15 points.
3. Writing- 19 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 15 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 96! 94-96 is an A


PARENTAL REVIEW:
Violence- There are a few small parts of violence at the end of this book.
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use
Recommended for ages 13 and older.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ALYSON NOEL

Alyson Noel is the author of Evermore and seven previous novels for St. Martin's Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series.

Visit her website: www.alysonnoel.com
Go to the book's website: ImmortalsSeries.com

Check out this book at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This week, I can't wait for: Enthralled, which is an anthology of books from some great authors!

I'm pretty sure this is going to be released on August 20th of 2011, and I can't wait for it because it looks like an amazing book, written by amazing authors, like Melissa Marr, Carrie Ryan, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl...AH! I really want it!

Review-Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg


Release Date: January 1,  2011
Publisher: Point
Pages: 227
Source: Bought
Series: Standalone book

Rating from A+ to F: A-

-Summary-

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date. 


After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennett, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn't interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be--especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.


Lizzie is happy about her friend's burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles's friend, Will Darcy, who's snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn't seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it's because her family doesn't have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk--so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?


Will Lizzie's pride and Will's prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season--prom or otherwise.

-Review-

I think people have already guessed that this is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and I think it follows the story quite nicely (from what I know about the original book, because I'm ashamed to say I haven't read Pride and Prejudice yet). I would describe this as a cute, fun, and quick book to read, but isn't it always great to have one of those?

I think Lizzie was great to have as the main character, she can be very relatable to most girls who are picked on because they aren't as good or wealthy as the popular kids. I had mixed feelings about Will Darcy from the start, I felt like his character was a little confusing at times. Along with the plot, some characters were dropped pretty quickly and I didn't learn much about them. The writing was good, it wasn't the best I've seen, but it definitely wasn't the worst I have seen. It was really cute to read a book about prom, when many proms have been going on recently, but I felt like the topic of prom isn't really as important as it sounds in the summary. The ending surprised me, I might have liked it to end in a different way, but it was also good because it stayed true to the story. I think the cover was really cute!

So, overall I have a few mixed feelings about the book, but I still think that this was a really cute and fun read for me! I finished this pretty quickly, so I recommend this to people who love a simple, but cute romance. I haven't yet read The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg, but I feel like I want to because I've heard good things about it! So, don't let my review stop you from going to check out this book, because I still liked it, but it wasn't my favorite!

RATING ANALYSIS:
1. Plot- 17 out of 20 points.
2. Characters- 12 out of 15 points.
3. Writing-18 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity- 15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 13 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 90! 90-93 is an A-


PARENTAL REVIEW:
Violence- Some minor parts, but not much to worry about!
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use- Again, minor parts and don't need to worry about it.
Recommended for ages 12 and up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ELIZABETH EULBERG

Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to Syracuse University and then making a career in the New York City book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. In researching The Lonely Hearts Club, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn’t work. She did, however, learn how to play Rachmaninoff’s Eighteenth Variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on the piano while writing Prom and Prejudice, so she’s not a total slacker.


Visit her website: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/

Check this book out at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Review-Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl


Release Date: December 1, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 563
Source: Bought
Series: Caster Chronicles #1

Rating from A+ to F: A+

-Summary-

Some loves are meant to be...others are cursed.


Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin haas ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a cure that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.


Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.


In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

-Review-

Oh my gosh. Let me start out by saying how much I was blown away by this book! I had never expected it to be this good! This was a great book with a wonderful plot written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I could write pages and pages of how much I loved this book, but I'll try to keep it a little bit shorter than that for you.

I think my favorite part of this book was the romance between Lena and Ethan, and how it worked out so well. The characters are developed beautifully and I don't think there was a moment in this book that wasn't filled with exciting events that kept readers turning each and every page until they reached the last one. The setting of the story was great--a very mysterious place, in the South, where things are much different than they seem. I loved Lena and Ethan together, and you could feel the connection they had. The minor characters were also written really well, and you could tell how they acted and their personalities as you read it. What creativity these two great authors have! I can't even imagine how they can think of all the spells and events that you will read in this book.

The ending is amazing, and let me advise you that you might want to buy the sequel to go with the first one immediately, since you're going to want to start reading the sequel as soon as you finish Beautiful Creatures. Another thing I liked about the book was the fantastic cover. I love purple, so you already know I adored this cover and the font on it. I think the title was really well thought of, and I think the cover can show you a glimpse of how mysterious the book is.

Overall, a fantastic read (if you couldn't tell from my review). Okay, the book might have been a little long, but that doesn't mean the book wasn't good. I think a longer book for this plot of Beautiful Creatures is better than a short one with all the information it gives you in this book. It is a great way to take your time in reading the story, and processing the information that is given to you. So, I really recommend this to all readers, and Beautiful Darkness, the sequel, is a book I can't wait to buy!

RATING ANALYSIS:

1. Plot- 20 out of 20 points.
2. Characters-15 out of 15 points.
3. Writing-20 out of 20 points.
4. Creativity-15 out of 15 points.
5. Originality- 10 out of 10 points.
6. Ending- 15 out of 15 points.
7. Cover- 5 out of 5 points.
Equals: 100! 97-100 is an A+ and the first time I've given a book a 100!

PARENTAL REVIEW:
Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Use
Recommended for ages 13 and older.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: KAMI GARCIA & MARGARET STOHL

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl came up with the concept for Beautiful Creatures, their debut novel, over lunch. Margaret had always been captivated by fantasies and wanted to write a supernatural novel, while Kami loved stories set in the South and wanted to write a book that drew upon her deep Southern roots. With nothing to write on, they scribbled their ideas for a story that combined their shared passions on a paper napkin. By the time they left, Beautiful Creatures was born. Both Kami and Margaret live in Los Angeles, California, with their families. They now write on computers, instead of napkins.

Visit their website at: http://beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/
Go to the book's website at: www.somelovesarecursed.com

Check this book out at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

What's Your Status?

This is a meme started by Butterfly Feet Walking on Life and I really like this, so I am going to try to put this into a weekly routine. Unfortunately, I am a little late on it, but look for this each Saturday (unless I am late like I was this week!)

Finished This Week: 

 Click here for my review on this book!

Click here for my review on this book!











Currently Reading:

Very good so far! On page 247.


















To Be Read Pile: 

Haven't gotten to read this series yet (I know-gasp!), so really looking forward to it!

Still another series I haven't yet read! I know...what is wrong with me?! Sounds very good also!

Another great series I want to start!


















Looking forward to reading all of these series! Any recommendations for me? Feel free to leave some comments explaining what is wrong with me for not starting these series sooner!

Review-The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell


Release Date: April 23, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 389
Source: Bought
Series: The Carrie Diaries #1


Rating from A+ to F: A-


-Summary-

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small town girl who knew she wanted more. She’s ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend’s betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself, and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we’ll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

-Review-

The Carrie Diaries is the story of Carrie Bradshaw before Sex and the City. I found this book to be hilarious, and what really made it funny was all the drama inside of it! Candace Bushnell wrote a great book, and I enjoyed this chick-lit! 

There was a lot of dramatic events, especially between Carrie and her friend, Lali. That was probably what made me a little annoyed at the book: way too many events that were filled with drama. But, that was also what made it funny to me, so it was a win/lose situation. Carrie is a character who wants to be a writer, so this also tells the struggles of starting to become a writer in Carrie's life. The development in the characters was well written, I think Candace was able to help readers understand their personalities well. The only character I didn't quite get was Donna LaDonna and how Donna and Carrie could become such good friends after being rivals. I didn't like the ending that much, it confused me. The cover looks really cool, like a purse, and that was what drew me to buy this book! 

I think young adult book readers should check it out and see how you like it! You will not be disappointed in this book and you will definitely get a good laugh! Look for the sequel to this book: Summer and the City! I can't wait to see what happens to Carrie.

RATING ANALYSIS: 

Plot- 18 out of 20 points.                                                                                                                                  

Characters- 14 out of 15 points.

Writing- 18 out of 20 points.

Creativity- 15 out of 15 points. 

Originality- 10 out of 10 points.

Ending- 13 out of 15 points.

Cover- 5 out of 5 points.

Equals: 93! 90-93 is an A-

PARENTAL REVIEW: 

Violence

Mild/Excessive Cursing

Mild/Excessive Sexual Content

Drug/Alcohol Use

Recommended for ages 14 and older. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CANDACE BUSHNELL

Candace Bushnell is the critically acclaimed bestselling author of Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle, One Fifth Avenue, 4 Blondes, and Trading Up, which have sold millions of copies. Sex and the City was the basis for the HBO hit show and films of the same name. Lipstick Jungle became a popular television show on NBC. Candace lives in New York City. 


Visit her website: http://www.candacebushnell.com/ 


Check out this book at: Goodreads | Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound