tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42623846087677927852024-03-14T01:55:48.170-05:00Her Fiction Fix | Reviews.Book reviews of the (mostly) Young Adult variety.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-71783953234343182872014-03-08T20:00:00.000-06:002014-03-08T20:00:35.944-06:00Site Revamp: HerFictionFix.com<blockquote><center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluEWCuBoli0Er5gUEjZBzt1K-6jDvcW5JplwsIwClWGEKKmiKi5B4sKiyo_WJKn_aA_6sbQCtsb2EngjG8oP3KLM44b1-4wbDfdHdVnhOj9MzfjVz02OUPidFfw1MtUBkt7Bpd48_arg/s1600/hffcom.png"></center></blockquote>It's been a while (9 months and 8 days, to be exact), but yes, <b>I'm back</b>. I've been spending the last few weeks revamping the site and <i>finally</i> I can breathe and say it's finished. What's been happening prior to those last few weeks? I won't bore you with the details but I basically became a workaholic and had fallen off the face of the earth. One good thing that came out of my long and unannounced hiatus (which I'm sorry for, by the way) is that I've caught up on a majority of my reading list and started expanding my tastes a little bit. Which is why I'm happy to say that I will now be reviewing other books outside of the Young Adult genre. I've also got my very own spiffy domain, so you can now visit the site at <b>HerFictionFix.com</b>. <br />
<br />
I've always planned to continue blogging and reviewing, but for a while I wasn't able to find a balance with the site and my life offline. There's still so much I want to say and share with you all... you can't get rid of me that easily! With a few reviews already up my sleeve, I'm really excited to be getting back into the swing of things, and I'm feeling better about being able to maintain HFF now that I have my life a little more under control behind the scenes. Thanks to everyone who has been patient with me and have kept in touch, and to those reading this right now; I appreciate you all to the moon and back. <br />
<br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-79536343266180898772013-05-31T15:41:00.000-05:002014-03-06T15:11:08.172-06:00Cover Reveal: Speak Easy by Melanie HarlowToday, I'm happy to be a part of the cover reveal for Melanie Harlow's debut New Adult novel, <i>Speak Easy</i>. I find the roaring 20's super fascinating with the flapper dresses, sharp suits, mobsters, cocktails, and everything in between. If you're like me, then you'll definitely want to keep this title in mind. Check out the gorgeous cover below. <br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsWrkLfOaGdqCf6v3t49vKG_4SOgbAMNYfVB9Mf6_JyTWBMj2ebT-XIcfWsMFD0nN6F52gCU1_iX40mBJ4_xAXWxZvvOV9ESZELtzEPRnY5JPl-OONnieNh7z0ds3uhQx-oZqsb9Vs8o/s1600/Speak+Easy+Cover+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsWrkLfOaGdqCf6v3t49vKG_4SOgbAMNYfVB9Mf6_JyTWBMj2ebT-XIcfWsMFD0nN6F52gCU1_iX40mBJ4_xAXWxZvvOV9ESZELtzEPRnY5JPl-OONnieNh7z0ds3uhQx-oZqsb9Vs8o/s400/Speak+Easy+Cover+Final.jpg" width="250" /></a></center><br />
<b>Title:</b> Speak Easy <br />
<b>Age Group: </b>New Adult <br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical<br />
<b>Expected Release:</b> July 22, 2013 <br />
<b>Cover Design: </b>Tom Barnes Design<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17935785-speak-easy" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesXRGB_WooefDjDS6mw3AF_zwDyXUyUAEO9xLPIpos1VgFob7RQBQH8-s4g12II4uTuxIaZ_AuSQcu2G2GGDdlH7Nssc-4hyyYJasKBTXYr4nCFZOstyRem2eMqhwdKjCeBOJgkHwZrQ/s1600/goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" /></a></center><br />
<b>Synopsis:</b><br />
July, 1923. The ‘20s are roaring, and twenty-year-old Tiny O’Mara is desperate for a little anything-goes excitement. But when her father is kidnapped by a mobster in Detroit's exploding organized crime scene, she’s shocked to find herself caught up in the bootlegging wars of Prohibition—and torn between two gorgeous gangsters on opposite sides. To save her father’s life, she’ll have to choose between them. But deciding whom to trust isn’t easy in a world where everyone wants something—be it booze, money, power, or sex—and no one cares what it takes to get it.<br />
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Temptation is everywhere.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><img border="0" height="100" src="http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a597/Julie_Brazeal/MelanieHarlow_zpsb336e2d3.jpg" width="100" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" /><b>About the author:</b> <br />
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. SPEAK EASY was inspired by her cocktail-culture obsession, her affection for good gin, and the view from the end of her street. She lifts her glass to NA readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.melanieharlowwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melanie Harlow</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-HarlowAuthor/413310215442787?%20bookmark_t=page" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MelanieHarlow2" target="_blank">Twitter</a></center></blockquote><br />
<center><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/19fbe20/" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxLMLatuhGakZWxFRtk7WU5SHpKC2KrTfJImRM5dJ9wk8uPcbJ-nx4o1wPXSftLb7-rXiXUk99Zbucmt1_p5XtBMw8wC9CbZWqkc4Go0sgXW6zOzkNQxqq3d2BywWKcm71EXxid34xd0/s1600/enter.png" /></a><br />
The author is also offering a chance to win a $25 Barnes & Noble or Amazon gift card.<br />
<br />
Cover reveal organized by<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4262384608767792785&pli=1"><img border="0" height="43" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgcjyiN30a8/Uaelunrd5cI/AAAAAAAAN_A/8ZG3lF6F4dA/s200/AToMRTours_large.jpg" width="100" /></a></center><br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-13966487961760980112013-05-26T00:01:00.001-05:002014-03-06T09:39:51.709-06:00The Sunday Post: 11th Edition<blockquote><center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA93AWKwf6feTJshZIaYnQ11uJiUBixcPDrGYsRJ1Y_5eZqBZ3Zanp3-DRw4G0TIKdSH7nsL6s51PIwoYsQ5mxYCXdXgKJaRI3egjp1JrsaIZuV3uU0C2ReXjnYax2-3j7kw5SbDBaSyA/s1600/meme_sunday.png"><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a>:<br />
<i>It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.</i></center></blockquote>Sad to say it's been a slow week for me reading-wise. Instead, I found myself knee-deep in PVR recordings and Netflix. I started watching Showtime's <i>The Borgias </i>about two weeks ago and managed to finish/catch up on seasons two and three in the past six days. I have a problem, guys. I'm absolutely addicted to this show. And now I'm learning they might not make a fourth season? No. You can't just dangle the show in front of my face and then snatch it away just like that. The show did awaken my love for history, which has died down a little since I graduated and decided to distance myself from it (Roman and Greek in particular) after 4+ years of studying it every day. But now it's back and I found myself scouring the shelves for even more historical literature, both fiction and non-fiction. If you guys have any recommendations -- I'm open to any era, really -- just leave a comment!<br />
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<u><b>Last week on the blog:</b></u><br />
<ul><li>Reviewed <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2013/05/review-meant-to-be-by-lauren-morrill.html">Meant to Be</a> by Lauren Morrill</li>
<li>Reviewed <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2013/05/review-piece-of-my-heart-by-lynn.html">Piece of My Heart</a> by Lynn Maddalena Menna</li>
<li>Giveaway: <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.com/2013/05/giveaway-les-miserables-by-victor-hugo.html">Les Misérables</a><i> </i>by Victor Hugo: Book (movie tie-in edition) and film (Blu-ray + DVD combo)<i>, </i>ends June 5th</li>
</ul><br />
<u><b>Coming this week:</b></u><br />
<ul><li><i>Come See About Me</i> C.K. Kelly Martin</li>
<li><i>Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side</i> by Beth Fantaskey</li>
<li><i>One Last Thing Before I Go </i>by Jonathan Tropper</li>
<li>Cover reveal for Speak Easy by Melanie Harlow, hosted by <a href="http://atomrbookblogtours.com/" target="_blank">AToMR Tours</a></li>
</ul><br />
<u><b>New bookshelf additions:</b></u> <br />
<center><i>Purchases / Downloads</i><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKcY7-_11PtCkTUzTmunZnabOF4tJnFpGxZx7NfPsp8XvXy6nCnfhA-fHltlswVuYmi_ZuwRRh4DBJKMDOmyzXJs1R1-wbQMopt9bP9cby5YEamuROm_EXeXZS6CW6ILVGk2La7z9PVA/s1600/TheProgram.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcPwO_OgSW58aAOfPZ7smMwRSiet2L8XYOW1bXGa-fS5iULMcPZzxJyIDUF8-ExnjV04aImjN4RQgefwLbOtjeckjxJ2eSZejn9shAm36ojdyoePAGhDyoT8gsNQXhUApPb-2Ufd-tNY/s1600/poison.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tbh6wJW2_FJXrHn8UNSCHBW4S_yNfjqWLsNWOOtvl1gAGfXGUGO95yWdqQ08iwBudEosqJ2kFkLUEOIjx_09FrOdGjxabZs2snFAcefDDHGxM9z4mhryVa4ijd8C5DIp1HNWjZwrzY4/s1600/snowwhiterosered.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R2_k6LHwUWVYhUxQHS2BQwR0oip2cmhXmH8FzFQCfJHN3Bag4rLE3c4AOQkoSYzXtVAfgORRY5ynKY6wh5_dLJzRZr1vUj90q3tx9neu2QBCrG7aDDZddHISlbt37R_bi-oWv3HgV-E/s1600/everyday.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoAfK0j8sU2wTcav1Yli93hdsTFbyQB3unM0yRqJxGzJ9M8wsYFJ9aKaFfO_sR6jX-ls4DrdLr5gPTB654QobmWKat5F2ON-CpE2gKyBnDIKPPGTiBQtT0pLBQs30MjnmO1NP58wpuas/s1600/chaperone.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjQhuFfVpJuUrqYwq43D9JA27lm-h2_ILTcKM_ObcLjfbO-tdHFLLCHrDX9D_MgGtH_Rmr5HZw5Ll9Q6zzWQnB6wQtNa502KjhpKF9XdINjjIknDN2deH-W3VmsinkaFhehbk5DHSElI/s1600/madonna.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Q_W-3gbIv3Iw-ErfW6u_SJWmmjOje-ObjzlBzMYQIirsjGRmTICchbe59Vq81CazlTOXVb2Ramn9_Htrx11gvFyUaem6kv8Vdf4N3TD9u8kbi3JXicXYTsdBpN_uJzi3aeyvp-ooqOQ/s1600/Light+on+Lucrezia+-+Jean+Plaidy.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11366397-the-program" target="_blank">The Program</a> by Suzanne Young<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8113512-poison" target="_blank">Poison</a> by Bridget Zinn<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14896739-snow-white-and-rose-red" target="_blank">Snow White and Rose Red: The Curse of the Huntsman</a> by Lilly Fang<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13262783-every-day" target="_blank">Every Day</a> by David Levithan<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13056159-the-chaperone" target="_blank">The Chaperone</a> by Laura Moriarty<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9169336-madonna-of-the-seven-hills" target="_blank">Madonna of the Seven Hills</a> by Jean Plaidy<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9169358-light-on-lucrezia" target="_blank">Light on Lucrezia</a> by Jean Plaidy</center><br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-55326833613889628802013-05-21T10:21:00.001-05:002014-03-06T08:39:04.757-06:00Review: Piece of My Heart by Lynn Maddalena Menna [ARC]<blockquote><img alt="" border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/9639a-pieceofmyheart.jpg" height="200" width="132" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"/><b>Title:</b> Piece of My Heart<br />
<b>Author:</b> Lynn Maddalena Menna<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Music, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Merit Press<br />
<b>Release date:</b> June 18, 2013<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1440561052<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9781440561054<br />
<b>Format:</b> ARC<br />
<b>Source:</b> NetGalley</blockquote>Still in high school, Marisol Reyes gets the chance of a lifetime to be a real singer, and she leaps at it. After all, this is the dream she held on to, all the days and nights she spent growing up on means streets of East Harlem. Marisol never gave in--no matter what her boyfriend or her best friend had to say. Who cares if only one in a hundred pretty, talented girls make it? She will be the one. In her rush to fame, Marisol tramples on the heart of her loyal best friend, and Julian, the boy she loves. But will it be worth it?<br />
<br />
One night at a private gig in the Hamptons, the little Latino girl with the big voice from East Harlem gets a severe reality check. A famous rapper who claims to be interested in her talents turns out to be interested in something else, threatening not only Marisol's dreams but her body and soul. Will the realities of the gritty New York music scene put out the stars in Marisol's eyes forever?<br />
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<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16287785-piece-of-my-heart"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" /></a><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
'Piece of My Heart' is your typical musician's fairytale; small town girl with big dreams suddenly gets thrust into the industry and finds out that it's not all it's cracked up to be. It's all very Sherrie Christian in <i>Rock of Ages</i>... minus the stripping. But instead of taking place in Hollywood, we're taken across the country to New York. Marisol is blessed with golden pipes and knows that she's made for more than small gigs at weddings and birthday parties. But is she ready?<br />
<br />
Told from Marisol's perspective, Menna paints a pretty picture of both the gritty streets and glamorous side of the Empire State with its music, fashion, and nightlife, all of which are described very vividly. The music industry is all about connections, and boy does our starlet encounter a lot of those. Marisol, with all her teenage naïveté, is easily pulled into different situations that she gladly jumps into because, well who doesn't want to become a famous singer, right? She's travelling all over New York and playing gigs with people who, just months before, only played in her stereo as she danced and lip-synched to them in her room with her best friend. Speaking of best friends, while Marisol is living the high life, her relationships with her friends back home goes through the ultimate test and finds out that even those nearest and dearest to her might not be the people she thought them to be.<br />
<br />
While I liked the premise (and the fact that the title is undoubtedly taken from one the greatest songs ever), I felt disconnected from all the characters throughout the whole story. But it had potential overall. Marisol's relationships with everyone went back and forth so much that it was hard to keep track of who she was actually friends with in the beginning. Maybe I would've liked it better if it wasn't written in first-person perspective, because Marisol's always moving around and there are a <i>lot</i> of other characters that it's hard to keep track of what's going on. I also wished that the issues Marisol faced were more fleshed out. Sometimes she went through big, big changes in her life and career, but it'd be over and onto the next issue just pages later. The narrative made me cringe at a few places, especially when she was performing. It just got really cheesy sometimes. Like Marisol was too good for her own good, if that makes sense. There's belief in your own talent, and then there's being cocky about it. There was also a lot of focus on describing the settings and fashion that it took away from the characters. Yes, it's interesting to know how great you think you look in that white dress with white-gold shoes, and how gorgeous your friend looked in her skin-tight mini dress that reached just above her knees, but for it to take up that much space? It all felt a little superficial.<br />
<br />
'Piece of My Heart' is a light read, but if you're looking for some deep, thought-provoking fiction about someone truly struggling to make it in the music industry, this might not be for you. Behind it all is a rather relatable story about a teenage girl struggling to find her place in the real world as she finds out that sometimes the only person you can trust to make the best decisions for your life is, ultimately, yourself.<br />
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<i>A huge thank you to NetGalley and Merit Press for providing me with the ARC.</i><br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/50d89-3stars.png" /><br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" /></center><blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lynnmaddalena.menna">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6647373.Lynn_Madelenna_Menna" target="new">Goodreads</a><br />
<b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781440561054" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Piece-Heart-Lynn-Maddalena-Menna/dp/1440561052" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/piece-of-my-heart-lynn-madelenna-menna/1113317498" target="new">BarnesAndNoble.com</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-80834100851039862262013-05-20T23:05:00.001-05:002014-03-05T20:36:25.654-06:00Top Ten Tuesday (6): Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read<blockquote><center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_7L6eqwLfEGPCP8luzfel0M666gGC3vasxc0R_IPISIbmLdhzxmR321bcvqCMWhXh_rv72ScZy_m5K1wRMUGSGH07pvqrZyIKKfXqyzqgc9M1T6eqASJD_LrlZwFp2ypZLBEAn__Ctk/s1600/meme_tuesday.png"><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>:<br />
<i>This week's topic is your Top Ten Favourite Book Covers Of Books I've Read, in no particular order.</i></center></blockquote><br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94ihnhoUU-JmLNKI-GmOrv7v3Octn2srciiJ-3MxqJ6PEOOi1FhA0hiW2lJGVboJa_jF55uPUgT1jv_cVzBgLc2mJWqIr4YuclbILbh5UTa0MAuQul3usaSS_r0sHc2gwFn2j7Jl7cGk/s1600/t10t0521.jpg" /></center><br />
<ol><li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13494718-midnight-city">Midnight City</a> by J. Barton Mitchell <br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9681214-the-goddess-test">The Goddess Test</a> by Aimée Carter<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8591107-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer">The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer</a> by Michelle Hodkin<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6131164-clockwork-princess">Clockwork Princess</a> by Cassandra Clare<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park">Eleanor & Park</a> by Rainbow Rowell<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11043618-what-s-left-of-me">What's Left of Me</a> by Kat Zhang<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11721314-meant-to-be">Meant to Be</a> by Lauren Morrill<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9166877-the-girl-in-the-steel-corset">The Girl in the Steel Corset</a> by Kady Cross<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls">City of Lost Souls</a> by Cassandra Clare<br />
<li> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder">Cinder</a> by Marissa Meyer</ol>
<center><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/66166-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-74025573720028696732013-05-20T00:15:00.001-05:002014-03-06T15:16:05.614-06:00Review: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/9c58e-meant-to-be-cover.jpg" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" width="132" height="200" border="0" /><b>Title:</b> Meant to Be<br />
<b>Author:</b> Lauren Morrill<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Random House Children's Books<br />
<b>Release date:</b> November 13, 2012<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0385741774<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9780385741774<br />
<b>Format:</b> eBook<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased</blockquote>It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").<br />
<br />
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts... from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.<br />
<br />
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11721314-meant-to-be"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
<img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
Julia is the kind of girl who mostly keeps to herself and is quite the stickler for rules; a model student if there ever was one. When the chance to go to London for Spring Break comes along, she jumps at it and is ready to have the ultimate cultural experience. That's until she's buddied up with the class clown, Jason. Next thing she knows, she's breaking rules (against her will, of course) and getting in trouble. She thinks things will turn around thanks to an unexpected mystery person suddenly sending her romantic text messages after attending a party. She enlists Jason's help in figuring out who it could be, and <i>that's</i> where the story really begins.<br />
<br />
The main girl -- Julia, right? -- wasn't that likeable (for some reason I kept forgetting her name was Julia. I kept thinking it was Judy). There's following the rules, then there's following the rules to the point where it gets annoying. If I was in one of the most historical cities in the world, I'd be jumping at the chance to go anywhere and everywhere. She was also very judgemental and whiny, which put a damper on my whole reading experience. And then there was Jason, who was a little too childish for my liking, even if he did get Julia to loosen up a little. They were such opposites and personally unrelatable for me, so I had a hard time connecting with either of them. I did like that the progression between them wasn't rushed, even if their romance fell flat for me.<br />
<br />
Another thing that bugged me about the book was how it felt like it was trying too hard to be, dare I say, hipster; just pointing out that artwork came from Etsy, milking the Beatles, the word "meta", Julia's friend Phoebe's weirdly awesome and original wardrobe, etc. It just felt unnecessary to point those things out in such detail. The Anglophile in me did appreciate the cultural references and descriptions of London, so there's that.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate the book. I did like how things unfolded in the end. I kept expecting some weird but predictable plot twist involving Jason actually being Chris, but luckily the book at least kept <i>that</i> cliché out. The explanations tied everything together, and I found myself surprised at some of the reveals. Kind of a "why didn't I think of that?" thing. The last half was definitely better than the first, which is kind of a downer for me, as I want to be engaged throughout the entire story, not just a certain part of it. But that <i>cover</i>, my goodness. Absolutely gorgeous.<br />
<br />
It was a good book for me to pick up on my vacation when I was lounging by the beach every few days, but am I jumping for joy over it? Not really. Not much to say except that it was a good book to pass the time.<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/62806-3stars.png" border="0" /><br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" /></center><blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://laurenmorrill.com/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenEMorrill">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4948810.Lauren_Morrill" target="new">Goodreads</a><br />
<b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385741774" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385741774" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Meant-To-Be-Lauren-Morrill/9780385741774-item.html" target="new">Indigo.ca</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-28130150219767040062013-05-18T23:09:00.001-05:002014-03-05T21:21:30.326-06:00Giveaway: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo [book + film]<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpogJQToM43ausPQQKwSlr0ooqkG1pUzzcNAqcGlKggWO2nCvYeYi_Ub8XXwWPCwHFyX94FKSC7QlLGIezig_5KNDw3jtFt6cty_ygrfTSxNqwfDJsvooT0UcGn-Gr7oVOprt1iV17E1s/s1600/ga_004.png" /></center><br />
If I remember correctly, I posted about seeing the <i>Les Misérables</i> movie back in December and falling absolutely in love with it. That <i>still</i> hasn't gone away. I've been a quiet admirer of Les Mis ever since I was in junior high; I'm particularly fond of the musical... ugh, gorgeous. It was one of the first stage musicals I became interested in when I started taking drama classes in the 8th grade (my desk in that class was also situated conveniently under a huge Les Mis poster), and I read the brick in high school (took me a very long time, too). I knew the story was loved around the world, but it wasn't until the movie came out that I found out just <i>how much</i> people loved it. And so, like every other movie/tv show I become obsessed with, I looked into the online fandom. And <u>wow</u>. There are some passionate Mizzies. It's fascinating and scary and probably the most intense fandom I've been a part of. And allow me to be shallow for a minute, an additional reason I've been heavily invested is -- let's not beat around the bush here -- two words: <i>Aaron Tveit.</i> My precious Broadway boy finally got that recognition he deserves. <a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/aa1b01e6cd02e49e11706c6bb61db051/tumblr_mgbyuyieBq1rfztloo1_500.jpg">I mean look at him</a>. I know, I know. Settle down, girls.<br />
<br />
Anyway, if you're a fellow fan, you'll notice that the anniversary for the June Rebellion of 1832 is in our midst. I recently got gifted a copy of the movie tie-in edition of the book, but I already own a copy of the same translation (Norman Denny), so I've decided to hold a giveaway. I'm throwing in a copy of the film (Blu-ray + DVD combo)... I have 2 of those, too. The movie discs have only been watched once, and the code to retrieve an online digital copy hasn't been used at all, so everything's in very good condition. This giveaway will start today and end at 11:59pm on... yes, June 7. Same day the barricades fell 181 years ago. Good luck to those who enter!<br />
<br />
<blockquote><img border="0" width="180" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1354388924l/15812846.jpg" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><b>LES MISÉRABLES</b> by Victor Hugo (2012 edition; first published 1862). <i>From <a href="http://goodreads.com/" target="new">Goodreads</a>:</i><br />
<br />
Victor Hugo’s tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged policeman Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty. A compelling and compassionate view of the victims of early nineteenth-century French society, Les Misérables is a novel on an epic scale, moving inexorably from the eve of the battle of Waterloo to the July Revolution of 1830.<br />
<br />
This striking edition features the widely celebrated and eminently readable translation by Norman Denny. <br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812846-les-mis-rables"><img src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" border="0"></a></center></blockquote><blockquote><img border="0" width="180" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/849e2-91uvsdsvl8l-_sl1500_.jpg?w=240" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"/><b>LES MISÉRABLES</b> directed by Tom Hooper (2012). <i>From <a href="http://amazon.com/" target="new">Amazon</a>:</i><br />
<br />
Hugh Jackman, Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway star in this critically-acclaimed adaptation of the epic musical phenomenon. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Mis‚rables tells the story of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman), hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe), after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. This enthralling story is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit and "an unforgettable experience".</blockquote><br />
<center><a id="rc-2b8af613" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2b8af613/" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxLMLatuhGakZWxFRtk7WU5SHpKC2KrTfJImRM5dJ9wk8uPcbJ-nx4o1wPXSftLb7-rXiXUk99Zbucmt1_p5XtBMw8wC9CbZWqkc4Go0sgXW6zOzkNQxqq3d2BywWKcm71EXxid34xd0/s1600/enter.png" /></a><br />
Since the film is a Region 2 DVD, <b><u>this contest is open to<br />
Canada and the United States residents only.</u></b> Good luck!<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-13317902199761324302013-05-18T23:06:00.002-05:002014-03-05T21:36:18.307-06:00The Sunday Post: 10th Edition<blockquote><center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA93AWKwf6feTJshZIaYnQ11uJiUBixcPDrGYsRJ1Y_5eZqBZ3Zanp3-DRw4G0TIKdSH7nsL6s51PIwoYsQ5mxYCXdXgKJaRI3egjp1JrsaIZuV3uU0C2ReXjnYax2-3j7kw5SbDBaSyA/s1600/meme_sunday.png"><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a>:<br />
<i>It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.</i></center></blockquote>I know, I know... <i>"Audrey, where have you <u>been</u>?!"</i> Well, life has been hectic with school and work, among many other things in this exciting life I lead (it's not all that exciting; I'm just bad at multi-tasking. Also, blame the sudden Les Misérables phenomenon for sucking me into their online fandom). I had to take a hiatus on such short notice, and for that, I'm very sorry. But thanks to everyone who has been e-mailing and still showing support for my little old blog! You are very much appreciated. This Sunday Post will be pretty short, as I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things and haven't had much time to read. Not as much as I've wanted to, anyway.<br />
<br />
But as you can see, I have a shiny new layout! I'm still working out some kinks; I'm not completely happy with it, but I'll get there. I've also decided to change this blog around a little. I'm not going to be reviewing <i>just</i> Young Adult books anymore. While I do love me some YA, that's not all I read all the time. Lately I've found myself reading more adult fiction and even going back to some classic pre-1900s titles, so I figured I would have more to talk about if I didn't limit this blog to just YA. During my absence, I <i>have</i> been keeping up with my challenges as best I could, and reading some ARCs from NetGalley. While I haven't been on top of things in terms of reviewing, I definitely will try my best to crank out some reviews for what I've read since I've been away, so look out for those. :)<br />
<br />
<u><b>Coming this week in reviews:</b></u><br />
<ul><li><i>Meant to Be</i> by Lauren Morrill</li>
<li><i>Come See About Me</i> C.K. Kelly Martin</li>
<li><i>Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side</i> by Beth Fantaskey</ul><br><u><b>This week on the blog:</b></u> <ul><li><i>Les Misérables </i> by Victor Hugo: Book (movie tie-in edition) and film (Blu-ray + DVD combo) - <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.com/2013/05/giveaway-les-miserables-by-victor-hugo.html"><i>click here</i></a></li>
</ul><br><u><b>New bookshelf additions:</b></u> <br>
<center><i>via NetGalley</i> <br>
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/24695-fangirl.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/f3b77-pieceofmyheart.jpg?w=99" width="99"> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/7589a-favor.jpg?w=99" width="99"><br>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl" target="_blank">Fangirl</a> by Rainbow Rowell<br>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16287785-piece-of-my-heart" target="_blank">Piece of My Heart</a> by Lynn Maddalena Menna <br>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17133942-the-favor">The Favor</a> by Megan Hart
<br><br>
<i>Purchases / Downloads</i> <br>
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/5743e-bookthief.jpg?w=99" width="99" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/797f6-sweetnessofforgetting.jpg?w=99" width="99" /><br>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief?ac=1" target="_blank">The Book Thief</a> by Markus Zusak (Hardcopy) <br>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12986965-the-sweetness-of-forgetting" target="_blank">The Sweetness of Forgetting</a> by Kristin Harmel (Hardcopy)</center><br>
<center><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-62834428285645993382013-02-12T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-05T21:43:02.678-06:00Fire & Ice: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare [Couple excerpts +giveaway]<center><a href="http://cambriahebert.com/fire-and-ice-blog-hop/" target="_blank" title="Cambria Hebert"><img alt="Cambria Hebert" height="166" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j467/cambriahebert/flamingheartBanner_zps2dd369c4.jpg" width="250" /></a></center><br />
Shame on me for being absent for a whole month -- work and school have been drilling me into the ground. But I'm very excited to be taking part in the <a href="http://christysloveofbooks.com/fire-ice-hop/">Fire & Ice Hop</a>, hosted by a lovely group of ladies that you can find in the link above. Please feel free to peruse the lists they have up to visit the many other blogs that are taking part in the hop, and enter to win many amazing giveaways.<br />
<br />
As much as I would have loved to reach out to the author and do a little interview for my post, Cassandra Clare is one in-demand, busy lady. In addition to writing, writing, and writing, she's spent a while in Toronto back in September/October, hanging out with a fabulous -- and may I say very, <i>very</i> good-looking -- cast and watching her book <i>City of Bones</i> come to life for the big screen (August 23 of this year! Get ready!). She's also working on a new Shadowhunter series, co-writing <i>The Bane Chronicles</i> with Maureen Johnson and Sarah Rees Brennan, co-writing a series with Holly Black, <i>and</i> her next (and last) installment in <i>the Infernal Devices</i> is coming out next month. I don't know how she does it! Plus she's always interacting with the fans over Twitter and Tumblr and is just all-around amazing. Superwoman, if I've ever seen one.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/06314-cols.jpg" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/06314-cols.jpg?w=198" width="132" /></a><br />
But for my stop, I've chosen to let out my inner fangirl and feature Cassandra's 5th book in <i>the Mortal Instruments</i>: <i>City of Lost Souls</i>. When it comes to <i>the Mortal Instruments</i> and the "ships", as the kids call them these days, I get kind of crazy. Like a One Direction fangirl on crack. The main theme for this Fire & Ice is <i>romance</i>, and boy is there a lot of it in CoLS. Even the cover is romantic, no? I think this is the most relationship-focused book of the whole series thus far. I swear, after I finished this book for the first time, I put it down and immediately took to tumblr to like and reblog all the brilliant fan arts that people have made of these couples like a maniac, too immersed in infatuation to even be embarrassed about it. I'd literally be sitting there clicking away and going "they're so cuuuute!" and "oh my god oh my god oh my god!" "get married and have babies plz!!!1!" ...Yeah.<br />
<br />
Ahem.<br />
<br />
In lieu of Valentine's Day (no, not Valentine Morgenstern, that'd be frightening), this post will highlight the three core couples with some excerpts of my favourite moments between them. Also, it comes at a <i>perfect</i> time, as the people behind the <i>City of Bones</i> film are holding <a href="http://instagram.com/mortalmovie" target="new">#ShareMortalLove</a> on Instagram this week, releasing exclusive new character images every day. Exciting, exciting stuff. Some movie tie-ins to give this post a bit of a visual. Then there's a pretty awesome giveaway at the end! So without further ado...<br />
<br />
<center><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" /></center><br />
<center><b>JACE & CLARY</b><br />
[ Jace Wayland/Lightwood/Morgenstern/Herondale &<br />
Clary Fray/Fairchild/Morgenstern (<i>whew!</i>), aka <b><i>Clace</i></b> ]<br />
<br />
<a href="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/c7547-fireice_clace.jpg" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/c7547-fireice_clace.jpg?w=300" /></a><br />
<small>Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland & Lily Collins as Clary Fray </small></center><br />
<blockquote><b>Chapter 17: "Valediction", pages 396-398</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Jace,” she said softly.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">It suddenly seemed insane that there was this much space between them, that she was standing across the room from Jace, and that they weren’t touching. She started toward him, but he held up a hand to ward her off.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Don’t.” His voice cracked. Then his fingers went to the buttons on his shirt, undoing them, one by one. He shrugged the bloodstained garment off his shoulders and let it fall to the ground.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Clary stared. Lilith’s rune was still in place, over his heart, but instead of shimmering red-silver it looked as if the hot tip of a poker had been dragged across the skin, charring it. She put her hand up to her own chest involuntarily, her fingers splaying over her heart. She could feel its beating, hard and fast. “Oh.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Yeah. Oh,” Jace said flatly. “This won’t last, Clary. Me being myself again, I mean. Only as long as this hasn’t healed.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“I—I wondered,” Clary stammered. “Before—while you were sleeping—I thought about cutting the rune like I did when we fought Lilith. But I was afraid Sebastian would feel it.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“He would have.” Jace’s golden eyes were as flat as his voice. “He didn’t feel this because it was made with a <i>pugio</i>—a dagger seethed in angel blood. They’re incredibly rare; I’ve never even seen one in real life before.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The blade turned to hot ash after it touched me, but it did the damage it needed to do.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“You were in a fight. Was it a demon? Why didn’t Sebastian go with—”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Clary.” Jace’s voice was barely a whisper. “This—it’ll take longer than an ordinary cut to heal… but not forever. And then I’ll be <i>him</i> again.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“How much time? Before you go back to the way you were?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“I don’t know. I just don’t know. But I wanted—I <i>needed</i> to be with you, like this, like myself, for as long as I could.” He held out a hand to her stiffly, as if unsure of its reception. “Do you think you could—”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">She was already running across the room to him. She threw her arms around his neck. He caught her and swung her up, burying his face in the crook of her neck. She breathed him in like air. He smelled of blood and sweat and ashes and Marks.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“It’s you,” she whispered. “It’s really you.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He drew back to look at her. With his free hand he traced her cheekbone gently. She had missed that, his gentleness. It was one of the things that had made her fall in love with him in the first place—realizing that this scarred, sarcastic boy was gentle with the things he loved.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“I missed you,” she said. “I missed you so much.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He closed his eyes as if the words hurt. She put her hand to his cheek. He leaned his head into her palm, his hair tickling her knuckles, and she realized his face was wet too.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;"><i>The boy never cried again.</i></div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“It’s not your fault,” she said. She kissed his cheek with the same tenderness he had showed her. She tasted salt—blood and tears. He still hadn’t spoken, but she could feel the wild beat of his heart against her chest. His arms were tight around her, as if he never meant to let go. She kissed his cheekbone, his jaw, and finally his mouth, a light press of lips on lips.</div></blockquote><br />
<center><b>ALEC & MAGNUS</b><br />
[ Alec Lightwood & Magnus Bane, aka <strong><em>Malec</em></strong> ] <br />
<br />
<a href="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/cceef-fireice_malec.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/cceef-fireice_malec.jpg?w=300" /></a><br />
<small>Kevin Zegers as Alec Lightwood & Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane</small></center><br />
<blockquote><b>Chapter 21: "Raising Hell", pages 491-493</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent:.2in;">Alec didn’t remember scrambling down from the top of the stone tomb, or pushing his way across the stony plain among the litter of fallen bodies: dark Shadowhunters, dead and wounded werewolves. His eyes were seeking out only one person. He stumbled and nearly fell; when he looked up, his gaze scanning the field in front of him, he saw Isabelle, kneeling beside Magnus on the stony ground.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">It felt like there was no air in his lungs. He had never seen Magnus so pale, or so still. There was blood on his leather armor, and blood on the ground beneath him. But it was impossible. Magnus had lived so long. He was permanent. A fixture. In no world Alec’s imagination could conjure did Magnus die before he did.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Alec.” It was Izzy’s voice, swimming up toward him as if through water. “Alec, he’s breathing.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Alec let his own breath out in a shaking gasp. He held a hand out to his sister. “Dagger.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">She handed him one silently. She had never paid as much attention as he had in field first aid classes; she had always said runes would do the job. He slit open the front of Magnus’s leather armor and then the shirt beneath it, his teeth gritted. It could be that the armor was all that was holding him together.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He peeled back the sides gingerly, surprised at the steadiness of his own hands. There was a good deal of blood, and a wide stab wound under the right side of Magnus’s ribs. But from the rhythm of Magnus’s breathing, it was clear his lungs hadn’t been punctured. Alec yanked off his jacket, wadded it up, and pressed it against the still-bleeding wound.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Magnus’s eyes fluttered open. “Ouch,” he said feebly. “Quit leaning on me.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“<i>Raziel,</i>” Alec breathed thankfully. “You’re all right.” He slipped his free hand under Magnus’s head, his thumb stroking Magnus’s bloody cheek. “I thought…”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He looked up to glance at his sister before he said anything too embarassing, but she had slipped quietly away.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“I saw you fall,” Alec said quietly. He bent down and kissed Magnus lightly on the mouth, not wanting to hurt him. “I thought you were dead.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Magnus smiled crookedly. “What, from that scratch?” He glanced down at the reddening jacket in Alec’s hand. “Okay, a deep scratch. Like, from a really, really big cat.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Are you delirious?” Alec said.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“No.” Magnus’s eyebrows drew together. “Amatis was aiming for my heart, but she didn’t get anything vital. The problem is that the blood loss is sapping my energy and my ability to heal myself.” He took a deep breath that ended in a cough. “Here, give me your hand.” He raised his hand, and Alec twined their fingers together, Magnus’s palm hard against his. “Do you remember, the night of the battle on Valentine’s ship, when I needed some of your strength?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Do you need it again now?” Alec said. “Because you can have it.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“I always need your strength, Alec,” Magnus said, and closed his eyes as their intertwined fingers began to shine, as if between them they held the light of a star.</div></blockquote><br />
<center><b>SIMON & ISABELLE </b><br />
[ Simon Lewis & Isabelle Lightwood, aka <b><i>Sizzy</i></b> ]<br />
<br />
<a href="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/18941-fireice_sizzy.jpg" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/18941-fireice_sizzy.jpg?w=300" /></a><br />
<small>Jemima West as Isabelle Lightwood & Robert Sheehan as Simon Lewis </small></center><br />
<blockquote><b>Chapter 7: "A Sea Change", pages 156-158</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent:.2in;">He pushed open the door to the first bedroom on the left and stepped inside. It was dark, the lights off; if Simon hadn’t had vampire sight, he probably would have seen only blackness. As it was, he saw the outlines of a wardrobe, chairs with clothes thrown over them, and a bed, covers thrown back. Isabelle was asleep on her side, her black hair fanning out across the pillow.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Simon stared. He’d never seen Isabelle sleeping before. She looked younger than she usually did, her face relaxed, her long eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheekbones. Her mouth was slightly open, her feet curled up under her. She was wearing only a T-shirt—his T-shirt, a worn blue tee that said THE LOCH NESS MONSTER ADVENTURE CLUB: FINDING ANSWERS, IGNORING FACTS across the front.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Simon closed the door behind him, feeling more disappointed than he had expected. It hadn’t occurred to him that she’d already be asleep. He’d been wanting to talk to her, to hear her voice. He kicked his shoes off and lay down beside her. She certainly took up more real estate on the bed than Clary did. Isabelle was tall, almost his height, although when he put his hand on her shoulder, her bones felt delicate under his touch. He ran his hand down her arm. “Iz?” he said. “Isabelle?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">She murmured and turned her face into the pillow. He leaned closer—she smelled like alcohol and rose perfume. Well, that answered that. He had been thinking about pulling her into his arms and kissing her gently, but “Simon Lewis, Molester of Passed-Out Women” wasn’t really the epitaph by which he wanted to be remembered.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He lay down flat on his back and stared at the ceiling. Cracked plaster, marked by water stains. Magnus really ought to get someone in here to do something about that. As if sensing his presence, Isabelle rolled sideways against him, her soft cheek against his shoulder. “Simon?” she said groggily.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Yeah.” He touched her face lightly.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“You came.” She stretched her arm across his chest, moving so that her head fit against his shoulder. “I didn’t think you would.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">His fingers traced patterns on her arm. “Of course I came.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">Her next words were muffled against his neck. “Sorry I’m asleep.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He smiled to himself, a little, in the dark. “It’s okay. Even if all you wanted was for me to come here and hold you while you sleep, I would have done it.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He felt her stiffen, and then relax. “Simon?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Yeah?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Can you tell me a story?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">He blinked. “What kind of story?”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Something where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. And stay dead.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“So, like a fairy tale?” he said. He racked his brain. He knew only the Disney versions of fairy tales, and the first image that came to mind was Ariel in her seashell bra. He’d had a crush on her when he was eight. Not that this seemed like the time to mention it.</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“No.” The word was an exhaled breath. “We study fairy tales in school. A lot of that magic is real—but, anyway. No, I want something I haven’t heard yet.”</div><div style="text-indent:.2in;">“Okay. I’ve got a good one.” Simon stroked Isabelle’s hair, feeling her lashes flutter against his neck as she closed her eyes. “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”</div></blockquote><br />
<center><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" /></center>Of course, in addition to these 3 lovely couples, there are the other equally loveable ones like Luke & Jocelyn, and Jordan & Maia. Who's <i>your</i> favourite TMI couple? Sound off in the comments (I'm more of a Sizzy fan, myself).<br />
<br />
I'm giving away one (1) hardcover copy of <i>City of Lost Souls</i> signed by Cassandra Clare, one (1) copy of <i>Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader</i>, <u>and</u> one (1) necklace -- made by yours truly during one of my many craft binges. The necklace features a mini <i>City of Lost Souls</i> book pendant. By the way, it's not waterproof, so don't like... shower with it on or anything, lol. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter below (make sure to add all information asked so your entry won't be deleted). The giveaway will close on <b>March 1st at 11:59pm</b> and a winner will be contacted within 48 hours. Good luck!! <br />
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<center><img border="0" height="400" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/2cf16-fireicegiveaway.jpg?w=300" width="399" /><br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2b8af611/" id="rc-2b8af611" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9WKfjJW1dcGAoKRGjOVGBZoZ_99Pk39i9dv6telt4uXQABVoFbNBuXDC1hKet5C1PcSc1uxmMGt1w71g6sWzhKAJJsSgsrTHtd4aSlMOmpjRb9KxPq1aN7UuzwF1DzTcVy8zGckxrJo/s1600/enter.png" /></a><br />
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<img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-50641818886150339382013-01-12T23:00:00.001-06:002014-03-06T08:43:26.717-06:00Giveaway: Lullaby by Amanda Hocking [Signed]<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp4wUNVo-uLzsAg5bDSSZyztuhwdEcZhhz6knXzqdhsh2BeII20I0p171ThLQR7UjrC8dfo78hlf_YwMCxYsw8PK4yxEF20UF4F6Xf17Gxf-gypCIDaUroQ_W1WjJp2OX75CsnYGYfMs/s1600/ga_003.png" /></center><br />
When I was on vacation, I managed to pick up a signed copy of Amanda Hocking's novel, <i>LULLABY</i>, which is book 2 in her <i>Watersong</i> series. I had a pretty good time reading it as soon as I got home and thought I'd pay it forward. Pictured below is the actual item, and if you want a chance to win it, just fill out the form below!<br />
<br />
<blockquote><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/7e160-lullaby.jpg?w=225" height="244" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" /><b>LULLABY</b> by Amanda Hocking (2012). <i>From <a href="http://goodreads.com/" target="new">Goodreads</a>:</i><br />
<br />
Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers. <br />
<br />
While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life. Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world. It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs. Just as she's drifting far away from her old life, Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed. All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14759334-lullaby"><img border="0" src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a></center></blockquote><br />
<center><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2b8af612/" id="rc-2b8af612" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxLMLatuhGakZWxFRtk7WU5SHpKC2KrTfJImRM5dJ9wk8uPcbJ-nx4o1wPXSftLb7-rXiXUk99Zbucmt1_p5XtBMw8wC9CbZWqkc4Go0sgXW6zOzkNQxqq3d2BywWKcm71EXxid34xd0/s1600/enter.png" /></a><br />
<strong>Deadline:</strong> Saturday, January 19, 2013<br />
The winner will be contacted through e-mail within 48<br />
hours after the close date and have 48 hours to respond <br />
if picked as winner. <b><u>This contest is open to Canada <br />
and the United States residents only</u></b>. Good luck!<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-62541680726128604482013-01-07T23:57:00.001-06:002014-03-05T22:05:18.677-06:00Top Ten Tuesday (5): Bookish Goals for 2013<blockquote><center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lziiVoRKR3E2_rVa6OGW0zTSz66-wuPHC0sp244FW5tVvHbh3EP5jRhD9_HEIBvTUnLmCJQCCyW1iwBp_2K1s-ZTsVwltWveIm9a4-U4w6MBB_9ZmBVkmRd39sW_fl1Oy9nGmm_OI-g/w412-h73-no/meme_tuesday.png"><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>:<br />
<i>This week is a great one that I can refer back to if I feel like I'm slipping. These are my Top Ten Reading Goals for 2013.</i></center></blockquote>First post of the new year! Hope you all had a lovely holiday season, and a very happy new years celebration. I had to get right back into school when I got back from vacation, hence the absence for the last 3 days. That, and obsessing over the <i>Les Misérables</i> movie (seriously, have you seen it?! Brillant). It's disgusting how many videos I've watched on YouTube on this movie. Plus I'm going to see it again this weekend... and maybe another time after that. As if I didn't love the musical enough already, this movie heightened my love for it so much. So worth it. <br />
<br />
But it's a new year, and I'm really gearing up to make this blog more active, especially since my school schedule isn't as demanding this time around (yay!).<br />
<br />
<ol><li> Read at least 100 books.<br />
<li> Successfully complete all the challenges I signed up for.<br />
<li> Read and review 5-10 books that have been in my TBR list.<br />
<li> Read books by at least 10 new-to-me authors.<br />
<li> Organize my GoodReads shelves.<br />
<li> Re-read and review an entire series.<br />
<li> Read at least 5 non-YA books. <br />
<li> Read more books by Canadian authors.<br />
<li> Finish series that I've started but neglected to continue.<br />
<li> And of course, review more; at least 3 reviews per week.</ol><br>
<center><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-71670433446254824652012-12-29T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-05T22:11:43.327-06:00Review: Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes<blockquote><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECjprnr0lsiGuaL50qHUegY4aPVRq5cdu-q2pW8d-UtSDiahCOaEgNsdKXFsA7xjTBbbRdrZL1cRT8-osXbPvrL5bubCbI0-TXAqQwvHJWDVtJjwlcDG1nxjfp5N64aFo2lgCtgb8hZY/w328-h498-no/lm.jpg" width="132" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> Lemonade Mouth<br />
<b>Author:</b> Mark Peter Hughes<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Music, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Delacorte Books for Young Readers<br />
<b>Release date:</b> March 13, 2007<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0385733925<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9780385733922<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcopy<br />
<b>Source:</b> Borrowed</blockquote>Poets. Geniuses. Revolutionaries.<br />
<br />
The members of the legendary band Lemonade Mouth have been called all of these things. But until now, nobody's known the inside story of how this powerhouse band came to be. How five outcasts in Opoquonsett High School's freshman class found each other, found the music, and went on to change both rock and roll and high school as we know it. Wen, Stella, Charlie, Olivia, and Mo take us back to that fateful detention where a dentist's jingle, a teacher's coughing fit, and a beat-up ukelele gave birth to Rhode Island's most influential band. Told in each of their five voices and compiled by Opoquonsett's "scene queen," freshman Naomi Fishmeier, this anthology is their definitive history.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/420849.Lemonade_Mouth"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
This is the story of how the band, Lemonade Mouth, came to be. Stella, Wen, Mo, Charlie, and Olivia met one fateful day in detention. They discovered their mutual love for music and slowly, the idea of starting a band formulated, thus turning them into a sensation. Even still, nothing ever comes easy. Individually, they weren't popular; every other student like them who took part in activities and clubs that weren't considered "popular" got demoted to the high school's basement. They're labelled as the freaks of the school, and it's up to Lemonade Mouth to use their newfound popularity to change things.<br />
<br />
The characters that made up Lemonade Mouth were so <i>odd </i>and easily classified as misfits. There's a freakishly tall green-haired girl and a guy who's really insecure and hears the voice of his dead twin brother in his head, to name a few. But when they were together, it was magic. It was interesting to read how they formed, as it wasn't a sudden thing where all five kids completely went for it. It took time, and it was realistic. After all, they weren't really friends; they only really got together through detention, and they barely knew each other beforehand. They each had their own stories and struggles, which were touched upon equally and made their story as a band more believable. Hughes never gave one character more importance over another.<br />
<br />
The core of the book is about five strangers who never really fit in anywhere, coming together and making something out of nothing. They became influences to their fellow classmates, and even though their journey wasn't an easy one, they never gave up. They were able to cope with the insanity known as high school through their growing friendship, all the while, touching the lives of their fellow classmates with their music and their message.<br />
<br />
The overall concept isn't original by any means, but the way the author wrote it really puts it in a class of its own. The book was offbeat and funny; definitely had its own unique brand of humour, which I found totally refreshing. It's original in the sense that when you think of a high school band-- or any band, your mind immediately goes to a guitarist, singer, bassist, and a drummer. <i>Lemonade Mouth </i>throws all conventions out the window. Here, you have stuff like a ukulele, trumpet, bongos, and congas. In other words, this book is not full of your typical high school characterizations.<br />
<br />
I picked up the book because I watched the Disney Channel movie that was adapted from it. I <i>loved</i> the movie, I'm not even going to lie. Even bought the soundtrack and everything. I'm such a sucker for feel-good teenybopper DCOMs. So sue me. I was curious to see how the book compared to the film; what they left out and kept in, what they changed, etc. I was surprised at how different a lot of things were in the book, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's a fun and interesting read, filled with quirky characters that I'm sure all of us can relate to, one way or another. The book is definitely more mature than the movie if you've ever seen it; I'd say it's appropriate enough for teens 14 and over. There is, however, now an age-appropriate edition for middle-grade readers as a movie tie-in, with content slightly adapted by the author. Just look for the blue dot on the cover!<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/c6b18-4stars.png" border="0" /><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://markpeterhughes.com/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkPetrHughes">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/237385.Mark_Peter_Hughes" target="new">Goodreads</a></p><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385733922" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385733925" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Lemonade-Mouth-Mark-Peter-Hughes/9780385735117-item.html" target="new">Indigo.ca</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-10177111842823627592012-12-27T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-05T22:16:04.769-06:00Review: Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/4a067-13557124.jpg?w=195" width="128" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> Stalk Me<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jillian Dodd<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Keatyn Chronicles, Book 1<br />
<b>Genre:</b> New Adult, Contemporary, Romance<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Bandit Publishing<br />
<b>Release date:</b> September 1, 2012<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0985008660<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9780985008666<br />
<b>Format:</b> eBook<br />
<b>Source:</b> Author</blockquote>Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table.<br />
<br />
She’s just not sure she wants it anymore.<br />
<br />
Because, really, things aren’t all that perfect.<br />
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.<br />
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.<br />
It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.<br />
And, deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends.<br />
<br />
To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.<br />
A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.<br />
And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating him would mean committing social suicide.<br />
<br />
So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.<br />
But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13557124-stalk-me"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
Keatyn has everything; she's popular, has a loving boyfriend, cool friends, the trendiest clothes, and her mom is a famous actress. Growing up around the movie industry, she has a knack for coming up with her own scripts, reflecting how she wants her life to go. She's been doing a good job... until now. Her relationship isn't exactly perfect, her best friend is threatening to tell everyone about it, she's crushing on someone else, and to top it all off, her mom has a stalker. Can she come up with a script to fix it all, and will real life actually follow it?<br />
<br />
The first few chapters were hard to get into. The plot was a little too vapid for me. I'm a fan of the Gossip Girl books (not a <i>huge</i> fan), so I thought, sure, I can probably get into this. I didn't.<br />
<br />
Things seemed to pick up after Keatyn broke up with Sander. Although, I don't know why that was. Sander seemed to be a pretty stand up guy; got a little too into his tortured artist role for me, but that was better than surfer boy d-bag over there.<br />
<br />
Her "friends" were absolutely heinous. Vanessa was straight psycho and RiAnne was basically her lapdog. I had a huge issue with the parental figures in this book. Almost as bad as the kids...<i> almost</i>. I get being friends with your kids, hell, my mom and I watch tv and go to the movies together all the time, we even go shopping together, and she knows what's going on in my life more than anyone. But Keatyn's mom and Tommy -- throw Kym with a 'Y' and the rest of the "entourage" in there, too -- were just not good people. The biggest issue of all was that they were barely involved in Keatyn's life and were so flippant when it came to all the crap she was pulling. Plus, what mom gets excited that her 16-year-old daughter loses her virginity? Really, you're going to pout over the fact that your daughter forgot to mention that she slept with her friend? "I still can’t believe you slept with Brandon and didn't tell me!" (Actual quote.)<br />
<br />
Keatyn's use of "Ohmigawd" made me want to scream into a pillow. Or rip my hair out. Or scream into a pillow while ripping my hair out. Anything to numb the pain. Don't even get me started on the actual use of "OMG"/"OMFG" in the book. ...When I think about it, though, I actually would have preferred the acronym to "ohmigawd". How seriously aesthetically unappealing does that word look?<br />
<br />
The writing style worked for this type of book, I'll give it that, but it's just not something that I favour. The scripts that Keatyn wrote were a nice touch. It gave a glimpse into how her mind worked and into her deepest desires... it was strangely romantic, in a way. Her realizations that sometimes things don't always go as planned but everything works out anyway could've been refreshing... if she hadn't been so annoying about it. Kudos to her for actually feeling bad for being a grade-A bitch at times. That's about the only positive thing I have to say.<br />
<br />
I literally had the strongest urge to stop reading when she and Brooklyn got matching tattoos for her birthday. First of all, smoking weed before a tattoo? I'd be fidgety as all hell while getting it done, are you kidding? Second, tacky. But no, I didn't stop reading there. I actually did make it to about 80% into the book, but so much kept happening all of a sudden with Keatyn moving to a new school and yet again caring only about boys... it just got tiring.<br />
<br />
The stalking aspect took up about 10% of the book. <i>Weird</i>, considering the book is called <i><span style="text-decoration:underline;">STALK</span> Me</i>. I found myself literally throwing my hands up in disbelief more than enough times. I felt bad about publishing this review, as I took part in the blog tour earlier with the intent of reviewing. I switched to a promo post, but I felt dishonest about not posting this. The author seems really lovely, and this review doesn't affect my opinion of her as an author, but this book just wasn't for me. I have seen a lot of positive reviews for it, so it really is a judgement call.<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<big><big><b>DNF</b></big></big><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /></center><blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://jilliandodd.net/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jilliandodd">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4833990.Jillian_Dodd" target="new">Goodreads</a></p><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780985008666" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985008660" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Stalk-me/book-zBvxdM-Fhk-BKDb9NV2wWA/page1.html" target="new">KoboBooks.com</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-75069227879470148582012-12-25T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-05T22:18:41.455-06:00Merry Christmas!<center><img border="0" height="180" width="356" src="http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3416/holidays15.gif" /><br />
<br />
However you may celebrate this season, I hope it's a joyous one filled with family, celebration, and of course... lots and lots of food. Be safe and see you all in the new year!<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-17070251005775099052012-12-23T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-05T22:41:09.207-06:00The Sunday Post: 9th Edition<blockquote><center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFECcQDsQsnSaiULTo22xxvwZuMxp0N7Rx3v5DKpUbnwNkdb-fNKUzVBPWv-_P2amj7lVSwGaJMt5py1BeRV_8RjGcnZ73nypWg5kXGq9jJgfGUx7SDpz8WBGAtBYm0uxYCkAtuC4rvA/w412-h73-no/meme_sunday.png">Hosted by <a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a>:<br />
<i>It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.</i></center></blockquote>I figured since I'm off to Cancun in a few hours (I'll catch up on sleep on the plane), I might as well crank out one last Sunday Post before the new year. There won't be much activity on the blog in the next two weeks, though the hotel does have wifi and I have a few reviews queued up, but I will definitely be reading... poolside. ;) Then it's off to Calgary at the end of December for New Years. Can't wait to see my grandma and my other family members.<br />
<br />
The last week was made up of finishing up school, spending time with family, and packing for this week. The latter started way, way late... I'm not even fully packed yet and our flight is in 6 hours. I lost count of how many times I've watched the series already, but I killed so much time watching my favourite Filipino soap opera on DVD over the week, too. I don't usually buy these soaps on DVD, but I <i>had</i> to with this one. I can't get enough of it. It's brilliant.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><a href="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196172_150454031681215_3042739_n.jpg" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196172_150454031681215_3042739_n.jpg" width="132" /></a><b>Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin</b> (internationally released as <b>One Great Love</b>)<br />
<br />
Two brothers estranged and thrust into contrasting worlds finally meet and get into a secret accord but are eventually led by fate to choose between fulfilling the duty they have vowed to honor and protecting their own family.<BR><BR><BR></blockquote>As far as the blog goes, I'm still trying to find a way to get a reply link on my comments page, or debating on whether or not I should just change my layout completely; start the year off with something new. We'll see! I got a great haul in the last week, as I'm starting to collect books for the 2013 challenges I signed up for, as well as for giveaways in the coming months. If you want to join in on the fun, check the sidebar for some awesome challenges! I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone's reading.<br />
<br />
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and to those that don't celebrate, enjoy the holiday season! Also, have a happy and safe New Years. Until then!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Last (2) weeks:</b></u><br />
<ul><li>Posted a review for <i><a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/review-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer-by.html">The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer</a></i> by Michelle Hodkin</li>
<li>Posted a review for <i><a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/review-thirteen-reasons-why-by-jay-asher.html">Thirteen Reasons Why</a></i> by Jay Asher</li>
<li>Posted a review for <i><a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/review-dancing-in-dark-by-robyn-bavati.html">Dancing in the Dark</a></i> by Robyn Bavati</li>
<li>Took part in the blog tour for Charlotte Abel's <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/blog-tour-rivers-recruit-by-charlotte.html">River's Recruit</a>, where I posted a review.</li></ul><br />
<u><b>Coming this week in reviews:</b></u><br />
<ul><li><i>Lemonade Mouth </i>by Mark Peter Hughes</li>
<li><i>Stalk Me</i> by Jillian Dodd</li></ul><br />
<u><b>New bookshelf additions:</b></u><br />
<center><i>via NetGalley</i><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/85fe5-rapunzeluntangled.jpg" width="99" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16225157-rapunzel-untangled" target="_blank">Rapunzel Untangled</a> by Cindy C. Bennett<br />
<br />
<br><i>Purchases / Downloads</i><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/06314-cols.jpg" width="99" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/142fd-jessicasguidetodatingonthedarkside.jpg" width="99" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/9b1e1-mtb.jpg" width="99" /><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/6634c-blogger.jpg" width="99" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/0f791-6644117.jpg" width="99" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/aa969-hexhall_finalcover.jpg" width="99" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls" target="_blank">City of Lost Souls</a> by Cassandra Clare (Signed hardcopy)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3389671-jessica-s-guide-to-dating-on-the-dark-side">Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side</a> by Beth Fantaskey (eBook)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11721314-meant-to-be">Meant to Be</a> by Lauren Morrill (eBook)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6357708-sisters-red">Sisters Red</a> by Jackson Pearce (eBook)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6644117-the-iron-king">The Iron King</a> by Julie Kagawa (Hardcopy)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5287473-hex-hall">Hex Hall</a> by Rachel Hawkins (Hardcopy)<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-69077351482806945632012-12-20T16:20:00.003-06:002014-03-05T22:44:42.926-06:00Review: Dancing in the Dark by Robyn Bavati [ARC]<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780738734774_p0_v1_s600.JPG" width="132" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> Dancing in the Dark<br />
<b>Author:</b> Robyn Bavati<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Flux<br />
<b>Release date:</b> February 8, 2013 (North American release)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0738734772<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9780738734774<br />
<b>Format:</b> ARC<br />
<b>Source:</b> NetGalley</blockquote>He tossed her into the air as if she were weightless, and just for a moment she seemed suspended there, defying gravity. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I knew what she was feeling. It was in every movement of every limb.<br />
<br />
Here was a power I had never seen before, a kind of haunting loveliness I had never imagined. Seeing it made me long for something, I didn't know what...<br />
<br />
Ditty was born to dance, but she was also born Jewish. When her strictly religious parents won't let her take ballet lessons, Ditty starts to dance in secret. But for how long can she keep her two worlds apart? And at what cost?<br />
<br />
A dramatic and moving story about a girl who follows her dream, and finds herself questioning everything she believes in.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15862108-dancing-in-the-dark"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
Ditty Cohen comes from a strict Jewish household; she is a Haredi Jew, one of the most conservative branches of Judaism. One day, during a bout of rebellion, she discovers ballet and is instantly hooked. She dreams of taking ballet lessons and of a future as a performer. However, she knows her family would never allow her to do so. This story takes readers on Ditty's personal journey through the years, witnessing her struggle with family, faith, and her passion.<br />
<br />
I need to start off and mention that it was so interesting to me that this was set in Australia, because everything was unfamiliar. Locations, seasons, how school years work and everything. I actually learned quite a bit of cultural information that I've never known about before.<br />
<br />
I felt like I related to Ditty quite a bit, in terms of expectations while growing up. Not necessarily in a religious sense, though I have grown up in a religious household and still practice Roman Catholicism (quite progressively, mind you); going to mass, receiving the sacraments, etc. I've never personally felt the same pressures and lifestyle that Ditty had, but on a broader note, I feel like quite a lot of people can relate to her, in the sense that she had a dream that seemed far from her reach and she was willing to overcome everything that it took to get there. I admired her zeal. As for the other characters, I loved that there were no catty ones competing with Ditty in her ballet school. As if she needed any more people to come into conflict with. Everyone was supportive, very nice, and realistic.<br />
<br />
The only issue I had with this book, which unfortunately stuck through the whole thing, was how negative the family came off. It wasn't even just the family, but the whole ultra-orthodox community. Almost everyone came off as brainwashed and it felt like the only way for Ditty to pursue her dreams was to <i>have</i> to leave her community. I'm not going to pretend like I know a lot about the different Jewish communities and how much Bavati's portrayal rings true, so I can't really expand on this. But reading that Bavati grew up Modern orthodox made me think that this was why it came off the way it did. Linda (Ditty's cousin who, like Bavati, was Modern orthodox) was very detailed in her arguments with Ditty and the latter could never really defend herself or her community. It felt pretty one-sided, which made me feel a little uncomfortable. As a reader, I really did sympathize with Ditty, which I'm sure was the intention. You <i>want</i> Ditty to succeed, to break free from whatever's holding her back, but at the same time I wish she tried a little harder to find some common ground with her Judaism.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, this is a universal story about a girl with big dreams, and her journey in doing whatever it took to achieve it. I loved Ditty's transition as a dancer and that the story brought us through her entire experience from her discovery to finally being an actual performer. It sped through five years of her life, which could have made the story feel really rushed, especially considering the length of the novel, but it was done surprisingly well. It didn't drag on, and I felt like all the important pieces in Ditty's life were touched upon enough for the story to end the way it did.<br />
<br />
<i>A huge thank you to NetGalley and Flux Books for providing me with the ARC.</i><br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb1nw7A4XpXnjtwYQAdSoLlyR8Tb0G3m3nS3fEUHrGRp-A4rgieGO_U7fjEJsRW9C9kthkQ59vFNTI9nseiFTnrdqChtOfLz99HWTAwiJFDHskMNgdvxj9ro5q_HNp2yFBxAluZShYn8/s109/3halfstars.png" border="0" /><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /><br />
<blockquote><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.robynbavati.com.au/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3451741.Robyn_Bavati" target="new">Goodreads</a><br />
<b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738734774" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738734772" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dancing-in-the-dark-robyn-bavati/1111647147" target="new">BarnesAndNoble.com</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-31188936685768111082012-12-19T02:38:00.002-06:002014-03-05T22:48:38.226-06:00Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/a585c-13rw.jpg" width="132" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> Thirteen Reasons Why<br />
<b>Author:</b> Jay Asher<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Razorbill<br />
<b>Release date:</b> October 8, 2007<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 159514188X<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9781595141880<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcopy<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased</blockquote>You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret. . . is to press play.<br />
<br />
Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her.<br />
<br />
Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.<br />
<br />
All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town...<br />
<br />
...and what he discovers changes his life forever.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1217100.Thirteen_Reasons_Why?"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
<i>Thirteen Reasons Why</i> touches upon the issue of suicide through Hannah Baker, a teenager who committed suicide and told her story through a series of cassette tapes. Clay Jensen comes home one day to find these mysterious tapes boxed up and addressed to him. He discovers that Hannah sent seven tapes with thirteen reasons to different people who played a part in her ending her life. Clay, as a recipient, apparently affected Hannah's decision, but he couldn't figure out why. Through each tape, the story ultimately tells the tale of how people's actions can cause a ripple effect on someone's life.<br />
<br />
It ultimately turns out that Clay, the narrator of the story, was the only one on Hannah's list that didn't leave such a negative effect on her. With each passing tape that he listened to, he started feeling more and more guilty and felt that he could have done something to prevent Hannah from killing herself. He was a good enough character; of course every story has to have a narrator that virtually has no flaws... that's cool. But he was kind of just <i>there</i>. Hannah was the real focus of the book. She didn't really jump off the page for me, either. However, I've seen several people say that her reasons for killing herself "weren't even a big deal" and all these other things, and to that I say: who are we to judge? No one knows the extent of someone's problems or their feelings but themselves. Just because someone doesn't deal with problems the same way you would doesn't mean they're less inclined in any way. Not everyone has the same amount of strength to deal with tough situations.<br />
<br />
That being said, I have to commend Asher for not going too over the top with the "reasons". Was it realistic? Maybe not. Was Hannah at fault for a lot of the things that happened to her? Definitely. But she dealt with realistic teen problems, and this book just showed how even the simplest actions can affect someone, and it's possible for it to build up into something that might end in a similar, if not same, situation. I wasn't too invested in the characters, it was more the plot itself and that message of the book overall that kept me invested.<br />
<br />
The book got an extra half star from me because of the intricacy concerning the tape concept. The story-telling was done well enough and I kept reading on, interested to read about the next tape. I would've given it a whole star if I wasn't so creeped out by the fact that she sent out tapes for specific people; talk about being haunted for the rest of your life. I found myself asking what exactly the purpose was with the tapes. Was it to make them feel guilty? For revenge? That's a little cruel. And if that doesn't make these people feel like complete crap for a lifetime, knowing that they contributed to her death, then I don't know what would.<br />
<br />
The plot is original and I sympathized with both Hannah and Clay, but I didn't love the book as much as I wanted to. It was recommended to me by a friend and I've seen a lot of people talking about it, so I decided to check it out. It only took me a couple of hours to read, and while I was entertained, I wasn't blown away or anything. The ending was also a little disappointing. I would have liked for it to be more fleshed out. It's a good, quick read, and I'm glad to have read it because it seemed to have impacted a lot of people, but I was conflicted. It does send a good message that people should be mindful to how they treat others, because you never know what kind of impact your actions can have on someone. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I listened to it via audio book; that would've been interesting considering the context of the story. Of course, if the plot sounds interesting (which it is) and you're the kind of person who is intrigued by these kinds of stories, then definitely check it out for yourself and be the judge.<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb1nw7A4XpXnjtwYQAdSoLlyR8Tb0G3m3nS3fEUHrGRp-A4rgieGO_U7fjEJsRW9C9kthkQ59vFNTI9nseiFTnrdqChtOfLz99HWTAwiJFDHskMNgdvxj9ro5q_HNp2yFBxAluZShYn8/s109/3halfstars.png" border="0" /><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /></center><blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://jayasher.blogspot.com/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jayasherguy">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/569269.Jay_Asher" target="new">Goodreads</a></p><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781595141880" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159514188X" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Thirteen-Reasons-Why-Jay-Asher/9781595141880-item.html" target="new">Indigo.ca</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-24723898803292961952012-12-15T01:26:00.005-06:002014-03-05T23:01:27.390-06:00Blog Tour: River's Recruit by Charlotte Abel [Review]<center><img alt="" src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/48b0adb2db02224042a2218e4/images/banner.5.jpg" width="400" height="142" border="0" /><br />
<br />
<img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<blockquote><img src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/48b0adb2db02224042a2218e4/images/RiversRecruit_cover_200.jpg" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" width="132" height="200" /><b>Title:</b> River's Recruit (Sanctuary, #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Charlotte Abel<br />
<b>Genre:</b> New Adult, Paranormal, Romance<br />
<b>Age group:</b> New adult<br />
<b>Release date:</b> September 1, 2012</blockquote>Devastated by the death of his identical twin, Jonathan McKnight flees to the Sawatch Mountain Wilderness. He seeks redemption, but all he finds is trouble... and a beautiful young woman named River that belongs to a primitive and dangerous cult.<br />
<br />
Jonathan wants to rescue River and taker her back to his world. River wants to recruit him. Fate has other plans for both of them.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16036141-river-s-recruit"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<Center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
Jonathan McKnight has lost a lot; his identical twin brother, his left hand, and himself. After serving in Afghanistan, he goes off on his own to find himself. On his journey, he encounters River and her people. River and her tribe harbour a secret -- they are shifters, and their lifestyle bothers Jonathan. While River claims responsibility over him, he wants to take her away from that life; keep her safe. But could there be a reason Jonathan was sent there?<br />
<br />
Jonathan and River are characters that worked well together and apart. As individuals, I felt their vulnerability and their struggles, and both had their own stories to tell. River came from a tribe that separated itself from society; they never relied or indulged in anything from the outside world, and they never really needed to. The society that their people had built was its own world. But of course, every world comes with its own problems. Traditions and rules were to be upheld, but there were times where River found herself at a crossroad. She was arranged into an engagement with a man she didn't love, and the man's mother would stop at nothing to ensure her son climb up the political ladder. Jonathan, on the other hand, grew up in the modern world to a loving family. He went to school, did extracurricular activities, and went on dates. His story really started when he and his twin brother enlisted in the army. Tragedy struck one ill-fated day, and it left him alive while his brother died. While trying to fight a depressed state, he decided to venture off on his own and camp out for a while. He encountered River when he saved her from a mountain lion, and she provided him with a means to survive in the wilderness. As the story progressed, it's revealed that they might have more in common than they thought.<br />
<br />
Jonathan and River worked very well together. While it might not have been an instant head-over-heels scenario, their build-up was worth the read. They did get a little too reliant on each other towards the end, but the mind frame and the way the shifter's world worked made it understandable. The romance between the two main characters was well-balanced by the other characters throughout the book. Specifically, there was major concentration on the characters in New Eden, where River was from. Everyone was unique and had their own voice and motive. When you think you have these characters figured out, they go and do something to throw you off, and to me that's one of the most exciting things you can come across in a book. All the characters had more than one dimension.<br />
<br />
The world of New Eden, located on the outskirts of Denver, was such a treat to read about. Everything was explained: traditions, politics, hierarchy, and even the mechanics of how they engineered different parts of their living areas. Abel wrote in such a descriptive way with every part in her story. The emotions and actions from all the characters jumped off the page and the world she created was easily drawn up in my mind.<br />
<br />
The ending left me wanting more, very soon. River's Recruit was definitely a page turner of a book, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I would definitely recommend this book to those interested in wolf lore and just paranormal romance in general. I'm already looking forward to the next installment in the series and can't wait to see what else fate has in store for Jonathan, River, and the people of New Eden.<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/c6b18-4stars.png" border="0" /><br />
<blockquote><img alt="" src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/48b0adb2db02224042a2218e4/images/CharlotteAbel_HeadShotRT.jpg" width="130" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>About the author:</b><br />
Charlotte Abel was born and raised in Oklahoma where she met her soulmate, Pete. She chased him to Boulder, Colorado and finally convinced him they were meant to be together forever. They've raised three kids, two ferrets, three dogs and countless hamsters -- and are still happily married.<br />
She's in love with "real" life and paranormal romance. When she's not reading or writing, Charlotte enjoys hiking, bicycling and primitive archery (although she's never shot at anything other than a target!)<br />
The final book of The Channie Series, "Finding Valor," should be available by Christmas.<br />
<center><a href="http://charlotteabel.blogspot.ca/">Charlotte Abel</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/charlotte_abel">Twitter</a></center></blockquote>Check out the other stops on the tour, hosted by <a href="http://http//supagurltours.blogspot.ca" target="new">SupaGurl Tours</a>:<br />
<br />
<small>Dec. 1 - <a href="http://bendthebind.blogspot.com/"> Bend in the Bind</a> *Review, Guest Post, Giveaway *signed paperback*<br />
Dec. 2 - <a href="http://www.nightowlreads.org/">Night Owl Reads</a> *Excerpt<br />
Dec. 3 - <a href="http://bookluvrshaven.blogspot.ca/">Bookluvers Haven</a> *Review, Giveaway *ebook copy*<br />
Dec. 4 - <a href="http://bookcrookreviews.blogspot.com/">Book Crook Reviews</a> *Review, Author Guest Post<br />
Dec. 5 - <a href="http://inspirationsbysimone.blogspot.com/">Bookworm Babblings</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 6 - <a href="http://www.angelsdemonsandvampires.com/">Better Read than Dead</a> *Review, Author Interview, Giveaway *ebook copy*<br />
Dec. 7<br />
Dec. 8 - <a href="http://nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com.au/">Nomi's Paranormal Palace</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 9 - <a href="http://starrynightbookreviews.blogspot.com/?m=1">Starry Night Book Reviews</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 10 - <a href="http://nightskydarkstar.blogspot.com/">Books & Other Spells</a> *Review, Giveaway *ebook copy*<br />
Dec. 11 - <a href="http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/">The Cover Contessa</a> *Review, Interview<br />
Dec. 12 - <a href="http://bethartfromtheheart.blogspot.com/">Beth Art from the Heart</a> *Review, Author Interview, Giveaway *ebook copy*<br />
Dec. 13 - <a href="http://adragonslove.blogspot.com/">A Dragon's Love</a> *Review, Guest Post<br />
Dec. 14 - <a href="http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot.ca/">Howling Books and Design</a> *Review, <a href="http://megantalksbooks.blogspot.com/">Megan Likes Books</a> *Author Interview<br />
Dec. 15 - <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/">Her Fiction Fix</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 16 - <a href="http://areadersdevotion.blogspot.co.uk/">A Reader's Devotion</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 17 - <a href="http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/">Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books</a> *Review, Playlist<br />
Dec. 18<br />
Dec. 19 - <a href="http://www.sweetsouthernhome.net/">Sweet Southern Home</a> *Review *RR Tour*<br />
Dec. 20 - <a href="http://www.vampandstuff.com/">Vamps and Stuff</a> *Review, Guest Post, Giveaway *Paperback copy*<br />
Dec. 21 - <a href="http://thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com/">The Cover (and Everything In Between)</a> *Author Interview<br />
Dec. 22 - <a href="http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/">A Bibliophile's Thoughts On Books</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 23 - <a href="http://www.snifferwalk.org/">Sniffer Walk</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 24 - <a href="http://www.bookishlydevoted.blogspot.com/">Bookishly Devoted</a> *Review<br />
Dec. 25 - <a href="http://simplyinfatuated.wordpress.com/">Simply Infatuated</a> * Author Guest Post<br />
Dec. 26 - <a href="http://magluvsya03.wordpress.com/">Happy Tails & Tales</a> * Review, Author Interview<br />
Dec. 27 - <a href="http://blackliliesaredeadly.blogspot.com/">Black Lillies Are Deadly</a> *Review, Giveaway *ebook copy*<br />
Dec. 28 - <a href="http://nightowlreads.org/">Night Owl Reads</a> *Review, Giveaway *Necklace*<br />
Dec. 29<br />
Dec. 30<br />
Dec. 31 - <a href="http://www.readergirlsblog.com/">Reader Girls</a> *Review, Excerpt</small><br />
<blockquote><center><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A6JI9D0" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a></center></blockquote><center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/66166-sig.png" border="0" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-27798437245038915162012-12-13T11:21:00.002-06:002014-03-06T09:43:54.498-06:00Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/625d4-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer.jpg?w=198" width="132" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer<br />
<b>Author:</b> Michelle Hodkin<br />
<b>Series:</b> Mara Dyer<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster<br />
<b>Release date:</b> September 27, 2011<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1442421762<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9781442421769<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcopy<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased</blockquote>Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.<br />
<br />
It can.<br />
<br />
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.<br />
<br />
There is.<br />
<br />
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.<br />
<br />
She’s wrong.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11408650-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<Center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
Mara Dyer woke up in a hospital with no memory of what happened. She was involved in an accident that killed her best friend, her boyfriend, and his sister. She was the only survivor. To help ease her pain, her family packed up and moved to Miami, Florida to start a new life. While thinking she left the tragedy behind her, Mara starts having visions. It's possibly PTSD, but things start getting out of hand; visions come true and things around her get destroyed, just the way she sees them in her head.<br />
<br />
I have conflicted feelings about this book. On the one hand, I loved the way it was told; Hodkin is quite the writer. But the biggest problem I had were the characters. Mara was an okay character; what stood out for me were her narrations. Hodkin gave her a great voice and I literally laughed out loud at some of the stuff Mara said internally because it reminded me of how I talk. She was also clearly disturbed and dark at times, which was understandable considering what had happened to her. But then she took a dive after getting to know Noah. It all became kind of Bella and Edward at that point. Noah was the typical bad boy love interest who had girls dropping their panties left and right, but he never gave a damn about anyone until he met Mara. There's pretentious and cocky, then there's Noah Shaw. He was scruffy and unkempt and a total prick because all the girls dig that, but it turned out he was actually filthy rich with a <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">butler</span> valet named Albert, spoke six languages, was well-read, smoked while he drove, had "la vie boheme" parents, massive daddy issues, <i>and</i> was British. Oh, and he drove a Prius. Of course he drove a Prius. It also bugged me that Mara's older brother, Daniel, seemed to always not have a problem with this guy taking his sister out and asking him to lie to their mom about stuff. It was especially unbelievable after Daniel being so protective of Mara in the beginning. It's like the whole story shifted into this weird place after Noah showed up. Then there was Mara's new friend Jamie... who was black. And Jewish. And gay. Who had a tongue ring. And dreads. Even <i>he</i> pointed out how token he was. Then he just disappeared... shame, because I actually wanted to know more about him. On the paranormal side, it was another story. I really liked how Hodkin pulled it off with Mara's ability and the descriptive way it was written. I just wished there were more details, but that's why it's a series, right?<br />
<br />
Plot-wise, there were some random things near the end that just came out of nowhere. Stuff like strange rituals, animal sacrifices, blood consumption, gunshots, something about alligators and leeches and chickens (oh my)... I don't even know. I was confused throughout the book; it just lacked something. I think it would've warranted another star from me if Mara wasn't so obsessed with Noah. It seriously took up 70% of the book once he was introduced, and I'd probably be less confused if there was more focus on Mara's ability and why she had it, instead of Mara wanting to "have his babies" (no, seriously). It also wouldn't have hurt to expand on Noah's ability and why exactly they were meant to connect with each other. It was all so vague and disjointed; I think a lot of it had to do with the lack of differentiating between hallucinations and real-life. About a third into the book, I kept going, "what the heck is even happening?!"<br />
<br />
But to be fair, in all my questioning, I couldn't stop reading. I literally could not put it down. I wouldn't rate this book 3.5 stars if I didn't like at least half of it. I kept on reading hoping my questions would be answered; they never really were, but wow, was I ever entertained. The style that Hodkin wrote in made me want to keep reading and I've already gone out and picked up the second installment. A+ for the cover, too. Look at it, it's absolutely gorgeous.<br />
<br />
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a compelling, creepy read with romantic overtones. If you're curious, definitely check this book out. Then come back and explain it all to me because I'm still confused.<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb1nw7A4XpXnjtwYQAdSoLlyR8Tb0G3m3nS3fEUHrGRp-A4rgieGO_U7fjEJsRW9C9kthkQ59vFNTI9nseiFTnrdqChtOfLz99HWTAwiJFDHskMNgdvxj9ro5q_HNp2yFBxAluZShYn8/s109/3halfstars.png" border="0" /><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /></center><blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.michellehodkin.com/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleHodkin">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4126827.Michelle_Hodkin" target="new">Goodreads</a></p><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442421769" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442421762" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Unbecoming-of-Mara-Dyer-Michelle-Hodkin/9781442421776-item.html" target="new">Indigo.ca</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-74968935400356126262012-12-12T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-06T21:04:18.908-06:00"Waiting On" Wednesday: 6th Edition<blockquote><center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxQjUQxKklVbr4_6UmxpjPcMY_gCFrzkUetWi-zUwcmOzZUP5vY8Z9N_HIEOq-I76Lm9abDUmCCWTfYdfW3Ho7fj69_blr7GHdMmQUemJGAv2S1TjBr1c0VBI5y-XrUUA6hA8mb0cEm4/s1600/meme_wednesday.png"><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Jill from Breaking the Spine</a>:<br />
<i>"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</I></center></blockquote>Like my last "Waiting On" post, here's another steampunk book. This one is the first in a four-part series called <i>Finishing School</i> and is set 25 years before the <i>Parasol Protectorate</i> in the same universe. Also, I feel the need to point out that the cover is really pretty.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><img border="0" height="200" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/e70d2-etesp.jpg?w=200" width="132" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><b><u>Etiquette & Espionage</u></b><br />
<b>Author: </b>Gail Carriger<br />
<b>Series:</b> Finishing School, Book 1<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Little, Brown Books for Young Readers<br />
<b>Pages: </b>320<br />
<b>Release date: </b>February 5, 2013</blockquote>It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.<br />
<br />
Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.<br />
<br />
But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.<br />
<br />
First in a four book YA series set 25 years before the Parasol Protectorate but in the same universe.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10874177-etiquette-espionage"><img border="0" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" /></a></center><br />
<center><img src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/247a2-sep.png" /></center>In addition, it was just announced on Monday that Cassandra Clare will collab with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson to write <b>The Bane Chronicles</b>. Crying. There's another to add onto my "Waiting On" list. The "Bane" in question is the one and only High Warlock of Brooklyn from Clare's Shadowhunter universe, <b>Magnus Bane</b>. I was on my way home when I read Sarah Rees Brennan's fantastic blog post, and her other one on Cassie's blog; I'm pretty sure I let out a little yelp of excitement. <br />
<br />
A series of 10 short stories will be released starting February 2013 in e-book format. A new issue will follow every month until the release of the City of Bones movie in August, then a print edition of all The Bane Chronicles stories will be released in 2014. We finally get to find out what happened to Magnus in Peru?! Um, exciting.<br />
<br />
The following is an excerpt from Sarah Rees Brennan's tumblr post, complete with a photo of the gorgeous, gorgeous, <i>GORGEOUS</i> Godfrey Gao, who will be portraying Magnus on the big screen (and a cat! Chairman Meow, anyone?):<br />
<br />
<blockquote><img border="0" height="150" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcwr9i5W6J1rdbo1uo1_500.jpg" width="150" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" />We bring to you THE BANE CHRONICLES, chronicling (you see what we did there) Magnus’s adventures through the ages.<br />
<br />
Have you ever wondered about Magnus’s past loves and lies? Magnus and Alec’s first date? How Magnus and Camille got together? What happened in Peru? Starting in February 2013, in the run-up to City of Handsome Magnus: the Movie (Also Starring Some Other People Who Are Pretty Good-Looking) we will put out a Magnus Short Story every month.<br />
<br />
There will be ten of Magnus’s magnificent adventures all in all. Some of them Cassie and I are writing, some of them Cassie and Maureen are writing, some Cassie is writing herself as we cruelly abandon her! All of them, we think, are lots of fun. (<a href="http://sarahreesbrennan.tumblr.com/post/37648443291/the-news-at-last" target="new">Read More</a>)</blockquote>Also, here, have a link to the news posted on <a href="http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/12/10/cassandra-clare-the-bane-chronicles-sarah-rees-brennan-maureen-johnson/#more-17820" target="new">EW.com</a><br />
<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" border="0" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-50396414331835249312012-12-11T00:30:00.001-06:002014-03-06T09:55:40.190-06:00Top Ten Tuesday (4): Favorite New-To-Me Authors in 2012<blockquote><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_7L6eqwLfEGPCP8luzfel0M666gGC3vasxc0R_IPISIbmLdhzxmR321bcvqCMWhXh_rv72ScZy_m5K1wRMUGSGH07pvqrZyIKKfXqyzqgc9M1T6eqASJD_LrlZwFp2ypZLBEAn__Ctk/s1600/meme_tuesday.png" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><center>Hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>:<br />
<i>This week is your favourite authors that are new to you this year. Here's my list in no particular order.</I></center></blockquote><ol><li><b>Rainbow Rowell</b>: I've had <i>Attachments</i> in my eReader for a very long time, but it wasn't until <i>Eleanor & Park</i> that I started to read Rowell's work. After reading it, I told myself that I have to get on <i>Attachments</i>, because she's an amazing writer. I immediately went to see if she has any more books coming out. Luckily, <i>Fangirl</i> will be out next year!</li>
<li><b>Suzanne Collins</b>: Yes, I'm one of those people that got into <i>The Hunger Games </i>only after I heard there was going to be a movie. I'd heard of it before that, but I didn't bother to pick it up for a reason that I can't remember anymore. I'm really happy I finally gathered my wits and started reading the trilogy.</li>
<li><b>Kady Cross</b>: A book store employee at my regular book store recommended the <i>Steampunk Chronicles</i> to me after we talked about some favourite YA titles we had in common. I'm super thankful to her for introducing me to the Steampunk genre, because I was totally blind to it prior.</li>
<li><b>Gail Carriger</b>: The same employee recommended the<i> Parasol Protectorate</i> series after I asked if there was a Steampunk book that wasn't YA, and I instantly fell in love with the first 2 books. I've yet to read the others, but I'm looking forward to finally getting into them.</li>
<li><b>Marissa Meyer</b>: <i>Cinder</i> was one of those books that I picked up solely for the cover art. It's gorgeous. Then I read it and the story made me love the whole thing even more. Marissa wrote with this style that just pulled me in and I could barely form coherent thoughts after reading.</li>
<li><b>Scott Westerfeld</b>: I bought <i>Uglies-- </i>again, as with the case of <i>Cinder--</i> because the cover was pretty. It was just so white and eerie and the layout of the whole thing just intrigued me. After reading <i>Uglies </i>I had to buy the rest of the series immediately. I also picked up <i>Leviathan</i> without knowing it was written by him as well, funnily enough.</li>
<li><b>Cassandra Clare</b>: As if I don't mention her enough on this blog. I only started <i>The Mortal Instruments</i> and <i>The Infernal Devices</i> this past summer, even though I've had the first books of each series sitting on my book shelf for well over a year. I'm glad I finally picked them up. Because I'm obsessed. Like <i>please-get-me-professional-help</i> obsessed.</li>
<li><b>Ellen Hopkins</b>: Every time I walked into the YA section, I had always passed by her books and was intrigued by the covers and titles. I finally decided to pick one up and was surprised to find what was inside. I've never been fond of verse until I read <i>Impulse</i>, and after that I had to go get more of her books. I currently have about 5 sitting on my shelves.</li>
<li><b>Tara Lynn Childs</b>: I've had one of her other books on my TBR list since 2011, but I actually started reading <i>Medusa Girls</i> in October and fell in love. Since then I've added more books by her to my list. <i>Sweet Venom </i>and <i>Sweet Shadows </i>made me want to actually start reading <i>Oh. My. Gods. </i>even more, and I swear, I'll get to it asap. Can't wait.</li>
<li><b>Karen Marie Moning</b>: I started really, really late on the<i> Fever</i> series, which is a shame because I'm currently in love with it. Of course I'd heard of the series (as it seems is the case with most of my list, lol), but I never got around to reading the first book until October. I'm really excited to get further into the other books.</li>
</ol><br />
<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" border="0" /></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-77386598701971167572012-12-09T23:21:00.001-06:002014-03-06T21:06:50.187-06:00It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (4)<blockquote><center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM02a2wcj6kd1o8k2DtTOccXLTjJOczRKjXgFiwOTgzLxRNVu_a9_YxSNOajByc5wE6YuA3zVFINU8nuV-aQlzyc62xbi9QADOgLUR_N1C1Xe-wFx_cKlCUAaK4Td1hMwo9P2os0DYxSM/s1600/meme_monday.png" /><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sheila at Book Journey</a>:<br />
<i>This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!</i></center></blockquote>I'm dedicating most of December to catching up on my reading list (save for studying for finals, lol, <i>kind </i>of important). Here are the books that I'm currently reading this week:<br />
<blockquote><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3Uy_M2muzn1YDU0LlECcmYzao3ebFHHZpitZPx26FrOtNMTv7ao3SoHS-4qY-HkpGjBbnIltQTSP6QELIcjXeh600W0AjZQndokz3b2eaUwLywqujk80cRRhoCI_qboo0f0gltppsyY/s512/Dancing%252520in%252520the%252520Dark.png" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;" height="200" width="131" /><b>Dancing in the Dark</b> by Robyn Bavati<br />
<br />
He tossed her into the air as if she were weightless, and just for a moment she seemed suspended there, defying gravity. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I knew what she was feeling. It was in every movement of every limb.<br />
<br />
Here was a power I had never seen before, a kind of haunting loveliness I had never imagined. Seeing it made me long for something, I didn't know what . . . <br />
<br />
Ditty was born to dance, but she was also born Jewish. When her strictly religious parents won't let her take ballet lessons, Ditty starts to dance in secret. But for how long can she keep her two worlds apart? And at what cost?<br />
<br />
A dramatic and moving story about a girl who follows her dream, and finds herself questioning everything she believes in.</blockquote><blockquote><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348100819l/16036141.jpg" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348100819l/16036141.jpg" width="131" /><b>River's Recruit</b> by Charlotte Abel<br />
<i>Sanctuary series, Book #1</i><br />
<br />
Jonathan McKnight lost everything in Afghanistan. His left hand, his identical twin and his self-respect. He searches for redemption during a solo backpacking trip into the remote Sawatch Mountains of Colorado and discovers a secret tribe of shifters.<br />
<br />
River, the beautiful young shifter that rescues Jonathan from certain death, wants to recruit him. He is equally determined to rescue her from her cult-like society — even if he has to kidnap her.</blockquote><blockquote><img src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/8bc86-shadowhuntersdownworlders.jpg" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;" border="0" height="200" width="132" /><b>Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader</b> by Cassandra Clare (Editor)<br />
<br />
Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, epic urban fantasy set in a richly imagined world of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and more, has captured the imaginations and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of YA readers. Originally a trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass), the series has extended to six titles, plus a prequel trilogy, the Infernal Devices, and a planned sequel series, the Dark Artifices. A feature film is planned for 2013.<br />
<br />
Shadowhunters and Downworlders, edited by Clare (who provides an introduction to the book and to each piece), is a collection of YA authors writing about the series and its world.<br />
<br />
<small>Authors Who Contributed:<br />
Holly Black / Kendare Blake / Gwenda Bond / Sarah Rees Brennan / Rachel Caine / Sarah Cross / Kami Garcia / Michelle Hodkin / Kelly Link / Kate Milford / Diana Peterfreund / Sara Ryan / Scott Tracey / Robin Wasserman</small></blockquote><br />
Have an amazing week, everyone!<br />
<br />
<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png" border=0></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-12240574094834645312012-12-09T00:00:00.001-06:002014-03-06T11:31:25.018-06:00The Sunday Post: 8th Edition<blockquote><center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFECcQDsQsnSaiULTo22xxvwZuMxp0N7Rx3v5DKpUbnwNkdb-fNKUzVBPWv-_P2amj7lVSwGaJMt5py1BeRV_8RjGcnZ73nypWg5kXGq9jJgfGUx7SDpz8WBGAtBYm0uxYCkAtuC4rvA/s320/meme_sunday.png"><br />
Hosted by <a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer</a>:<br />
<i>It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.</i></center></blockquote>Wow, I haven't done a Sunday Post in a few weeks. School has been ridiculously busy with final projects and papers and final prep... I was on the verge of a break down. I haven't even been able to catch up with my DVR recordings. I'm going crazy. Lol. But thankfully everything's been handed in on time and now it's just a matter of getting through finals. That reminds me, I'll have to find time to study today. The first one is already on Wednesday. Then I'll have to get ready for Christmas vacation! Super excited. The family and I will be getting out of this cold Canadian weather and heading to Mexico for a week. Can't wait! <br />
<br />
Reading-wise, I've had a pretty good week -- weeks, actually. I've gotten quite a few reviews done in the time that I haven't done a Sunday Post, which you can see <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/p/reviews.html">here</a>. I'm keeping my haul pretty light again so I can catch up. <br />
<br />
I'd also just like to thank everyone who has commented on my reviews and posts. I'm trying to sort out an issue I have with my comment form; for some reason I can't reply. I do read them and greatly appreciate the comments and reading your thoughts, so, thank you! I'm glad to share these titles with you all. Hope everyone has a great week, and happy reading!<br />
<br />
<u><b>Last week:</b></u><br />
<ul><li>Posted a review for <i><a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/review-eleanor-park-by-rainbow-rowell.html">Eleanor & Park</a></i> by Rainbow Rowell</li>
<li>Posted a review for <i><a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/review-lighter-side-of-life-and-death.html">The Lighter Side of Life and Death </a></i> by C.K. Kelly Martin</li>
<li>Signed up for two more 2013 reading challenges: <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/2013-fairy-tales-retold-reading.html">Fairy Tales Retold Reading Challenge</a> and the <a href="http://herfictionfix.blogspot.ca/2012/12/paranormal-reading-challenge.html">Paranormal Reading Challenge</a>.</li>
</ul><br />
<u><b>Coming this week in reviews:</b></u><br />
<ul><li><i>The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer </i>by Michelle Hodkin</li>
<li><i>Dancing in the Dark</i> by Robyn Bavati</li>
<li><i>Lemonade Mouth</i> by Mark Peter Hughes</li>
<li><i>Thirteen Reasons Why</i> by Jay Asher</li>
</ul><br />
<u><b>New bookshelf additions:</b></u><br />
<center><i>via NetGalley</i><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/c125c-shadowhuntersdownworlders.jpg?w=99" width="99" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13583766-shadowhunters-and-downworlders" target="_blank">Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader</a><br />
by Cassandra Clare (Editor), Holly Black, Kate Milford et al.<br />
<br />
<i>From the Author</i><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/a4dfe-barbiegirl.jpg?w=99" width="99" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/42e99-prophecygirl.jpg?w=99" width="99" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12950372-the-evolution-of-mara-dyer" target="_blank">Barbie Girl</a> by Heidi Acosta<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16133799-prophecy-girl">Prophecy Girl</a> by Faith McKay<br />
<br />
<i>Purchases / Downloads</i><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/b97b9-evolutionmaradyer.jpg?w=99" width="99" /><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12950372-the-evolution-of-mara-dyer" target="_blank">The Evolution of Mara Dyer</a> by Michelle Hodkin (Hardcopy)</center><br />
<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBTfGqw5TtSk6d5hoTH1ovVU6ydyGrdFRHqQIipOnSnq5FTOPDBSk1zDQaAJCL5NzS-vobsTl8qO86rqH6VvCPewvSdqiNkw3ISvqV_YUOoFaWUF4zdrRf5PAiaC9PQ8sHTTtdKyw07A/s1600/sig.png"></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-21490607416287194142012-12-06T09:30:00.000-06:002014-03-06T14:24:25.148-06:00Review: The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/7e082-tlsolad.jpg?w=198" width="131" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> The Lighter Side of Life and Death<br />
<b>Author:</b> C.K. Kelly Martin<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Random House Books<br />
<b>Release date:</b> May 25, 2010<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0375845895<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9780375845895<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcopy<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased</blockquote>Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true and the future looks golden. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive 23-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world. Fans of John Green and Sarah Dessen will savor C. K. Kelly Martin's sexy, smart, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue in this feel good celebration of friendship, first love, first lust, and second chances.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6696339-the-lighter-side-of-life-and-death"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
Mason Rice is living the life. With good friends and a successful run in the school play, nothing could touch him. After one amazing day, he heads over to a party to celebrate his recent accomplishments and finds himself alone with his best friend, Kat. They end up sleeping together, and this changes everything. Kat wants to pretend nothing happened so she starts avoiding him, and their other best friend, Jamie, is mad at Mason because he's also in love with Kat and was kept in the dark about what happened between the two. At home, Mason is dealing with some big changes in his family. He butts heads with his step-sister-to-be and they can never seem to find common ground. Mason then meets Colette, his future stepmom's 23-year-old friend, who he starts a secret forbidden liaison with. As their relationship prolongs, Mason starts slipping away from his old life.<br />
<br />
Here's a little personal history for you: I first read this book the year it came out. I just turned 21, but was at that stage where I still felt 20; right smack in the middle of Mason and Colette's 7-year age gap. Fast forward to today, 23 on the verge of turning 24-- same age as Colette. When I was reading this book in 2010, I was just "meh" about their relationship. I got that it was taboo but for some reason I wasn't as affected as I am now. What a difference 2 years makes. My feelings about their relationship changed immensely! Can I imagine myself messing around with a 16-year-old? The thought makes my stomach feel weird. And <i>not</i> in the good way. God, no.<br />
<br />
The plot was great and the execution was better than I can imagine. Martin had this style that never went overboard, no matter how big the issue. It was nice and made for an enjoyable light read. The book was full of adolescent problems but instead of taking them and making a big unnecessary show out of it, she wrote it so that the characters actually <i>could</i> deal and the reader could actually see these kinds of reactions to things in real life.<br />
<br />
What set this story apart for me was the narration from Mason's perspective. I've never really come across a lot of contemporary romance novels from a guy's point of view. It worked really well for this story, and his voice was so refreshing. He went through a lot of emotions, like every teenager goes through, and it was interesting taking a look into the inner workings of a teenage boy's mind. Mason was easy-going and handled everything great on the outside, but he was slowly losing it inside as the story progressed. He had this illicit affair with an older woman and eventually admitted to it, but the consequences weren't too drastic. Actually, the whole book wasn't as dramatic as it could have been. I personally love Martin for that; the story could have gotten really over-dramatic and cliché, but it was all done with subtle grace. Of course Mason wasn't without his flaws, as all the characters in this book were, but he was definitely a great narrator for the story.<br />
<br />
The other characters were all very diverse, which I commend Martin for. Various age groups, ethnicities, and sexual orientations were represented without going overboard. It gave it a more realistic feel that I definitely appreciated. The story went in the direction it did because of Kat, Mason's crush who just so happens to also be one of his best friends. It was interesting that she was Filipino when there are virtually none of us in contemporary literature, so that was kind of cool. And hey, look at that, the story took place in Canada. But that aside, Kat reacted to what happened between her and Mason in such an odd way. It was exasperating. I wanted to like her more and wanted to know more about her. But of course, she was avoiding Mason for more than half the book so that didn't happen. I had mixed feelings about her, but I'm happy with how the story ended. Jamie, though. The other best friend. I could have done without his whining and total abandonment of Mason. I can't even talk about him properly without getting worked up. Colette... I don't know if the readers are <i>supposed</i> to like her. It's just bad right off the bat; she had a relationship with a 16-year-old boy. Freakin' illegal. If it's not illegal, then it's definitely lacking in common sense. She clearly had some issues that she needed to work out; re-evaluate her life a little bit, maybe, because... woah. Ick. All in all, I think every character served their purpose, and it was done well. The fact that both of the leading females in the story were so different in every single way was a nice touch. They could have been severely butchered, one being an immigrant teenager and the other a 20-something woman having an affair with a minor, but Martin managed to stay away from stereotypes.<br />
<br />
Funny thing, while I was reading this book the first time in 2010, I always pictured Logan Lerman as Mason. I don't know why. Seems like a character he would play if a movie adaptation was ever made. I've seen several other places online suggesting Aaron Johnson, which would have been good, too, at the time (not now, though). I've always thought he and Logan looked pretty similar. Anyway. When I start getting into potential movie casting is when you know I like a book a <i>lot</i>. It was one of my favourites in 2010, and re-reading it now brought back the feelings. They've shifted a bit, because like I mentioned earlier, 2 years can change a person, even by the slightest. A lot of things that I liked during my initial reading, I changed my opinion on. To add onto that, I noticed more things the second time around that I wasn't really paying attention to before. Regardless, this book remains one of my favourites, and I would recommend it to those looking for a light and not so over-exaggerated read, considering the subject.<br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkGzcFNvffgf-bVxV3sS_zw5JkiTv_jOG0UtgDFcU-83KXSFtkeGKIu6pKcg92F9hrlhxE8hu44k7jEH0TyThfkESF2QdqwkKadkEHluVOG-56JB0ZaAmRoFvaBhnztVhRftnNchg0PY/s109/4halfstars.png" border="0" /></p><center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://ckkellymartin.com/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CKKellyMartin">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3015727.C_K_Kelly_Martin" target="new">Goodreads</a></p><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780375845895" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375845895" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Lighter-Side-Life-And-Death-C-K-Kelly-Martin/9780375845895-item.html" target="new">Indigo.ca</a></p></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262384608767792785.post-75712926706560357312012-12-06T00:46:00.001-06:002014-03-06T14:27:46.811-06:00Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell [ARC]<blockquote><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/653e4-eleanorpark.jpg" width="132" height="200" border="0" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;" /><b>Title:</b> Eleanor & Park<br />
<b>Author:</b> Rainbow Rowell<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> St. Martin's Press<br />
<b>Release date:</b> February 26, 2013 (North American release)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1250012570<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 9781250012579<br />
<b>Format:</b> ARC<br />
<b>Source:</b> NetGalley</blockquote>"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.<br />
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.<br />
"I’m not kidding," he says.<br />
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."<br />
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"<br />
"Shallow, confused, then dead."<br />
''I love you," Park says.<br />
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.<br />
"I’m not kidding," he says.<br />
"You should be."<br />
<br />
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park"><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/de9e8-goodreads-badge-add-plus.png" border="0" /></a></center><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/306be-sep.png" border="0" /></center><br />
<b><u>My Review:</u></b><br />
<i>Eleanor & Park</i> is the story of adolescence and first love. It takes place in the 1980s in the Midwestern United States; Omaha, to be exact. Eleanor is the new girl at school. She's described as being slightly overweight with wild red hair and dresses in ill-fitting clothes. She's a target for your typical high school bullies, and unfortunately her home life isn't any better. Park is well-liked at school and has a loving family, but he still stands out from everyone else. He's half-Korean in a neighbourhood full of white kids, his younger brother looks way older than him, and he'd rather read comic books than play sports. Both are misfits in different ways, and after begrudgingly encountering each other one day on the bus ride to school, they find themselves drifting closer and closer together.<br />
<br />
As the title suggests, the book focused on Eleanor and Park's relationship, all the way from the ground up. It started with Eleanor getting on the school bus and being forced to pick a seat, only to discover that everyone already had some pre-arranged seating plan. One kid, Park, speaks up (unwillingly and rather rudely) and lets her take the seat next to him. They didn't interact initially -- in fact, they developed preconceived notions about each other that made them speak pretty foully about one another. But after a while, they started discovering common interests, taught each other a thing or two along the way (which was done beautifully, by the way, through wordless interactions) and found themselves enjoying each other's company. By the middle of the book, they were clearly past sneaky glances and silently sharing comic books. It moved a tad fast for me at this point (there's a line where Eleanor stated that he made her want to have his babies and give him both of her kidneys. Woah. And they were only setting up a <i>phone</i> date!), but that aside, the build-up prior to that was near perfection. They fell in love, though Eleanor kept her guard up for most of the book, not wanting this part of her life destroyed by her situation at home. Eleanor lacked self-confidence, but Park always made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, even though everyone around them didn't quite understand why they picked each other.<br />
<br />
They weren't only great together, but they were likeable as individual characters as well. I feel like this is such a plus when it comes to romances. It pains me when I love two people together, but not apart; that just emphasizes their dependency on each other. I loved Eleanor. She was snarky and hi-laaarious, and she liked the Beatles, so obviously she had great taste in music. Park, on the other hand, didn't know much about the Beatles. Which was a shame, but he made up for it with his adorable love for comic books and nerd references. They were completely different from each other, from their looks and personalities to their families. Eleanor's family was broken and impoverished while Park's was whole and very involved in his life (he even lived next to his grandparents). Their contrasting lives eventually weaved together and ended the story on a very heart-wrenching, very high note.<br />
<br />
Rowell is an amazing writer. She ended off paragraphs with quotes and lines that had me clutching my chest and aww-ing more than once. There were parts that made me laugh and parts that made me cry. It was a whole range of emotions for me while reading. The book was written in both Eleanor and Park's perspectives, where Rowell would switch between the two. Thankfully it was written in third person narrative and not first, otherwise it would have been pretty confusing. The switching perspectives worked because it gives readers an inside look at both of their lives away from each other. Their familial situations were so different, and I felt horrible for Eleanor especially. Rowell didn't hold back on tackling the serious issues when it came to Eleanor's home life. It was utterly heartbreaking to read, but it made the story as a whole more <i>real</i>. It wasn't just a romance perfectly packaged and tied up in a pretty bow.<br />
<br />
Ah, the pre-90's references. Loved them. I was born at the tail-end of the 80's, so a lot of the pop culture references were still pretty fresh; that, and my parents totally brought me up on all of it so I wasn't lost along the way. The references that Rowell used were the ones that stood out in the 80s; the timeless ones that won't be forgotten even 20 years later. I also think it's safe to say that we live in a time where the younger generation can actually appreciate a more older sound in music. I was at a bookstore one day and an older gentleman was talking to the cashier about how he and his 20-something year old son bonded over Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. I'm the same with my parents and know a lot of people who are also, so for me, this book wasn't dated at all. In fact, it seems like the perfect time to release this book.<br />
<br />
Also, how perfect is this cover? It's the perfect representation for this story; simple but attractive, quirky, innocent, and depicts the connection that Eleanor and Park have with each other, away from the prying eyes of those around them. The incorporation of music in the cover also adds to the overall effect, as music plays quite a big part in the two character's relationship. This US edition will be released by St. Martin's Press on February 26, 2013. I'm happy to admit that this has been one of my favourite YA reads for 2012.<br />
<br />
<small>I also have to point out that Rowell has a book coming out in late 2013 called "Fangirl". About a girl who would rather live in other people' stories instead of her own. Are you kidding me? Sign me up.</small><br />
<br />
<i>A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with the ARC.</i><br />
<br />
<b>My rating:</b><br />
<img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/30713-5stars.png" border="0" /><br />
<center><img alt="" src="http://herfictionfix.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/786f3-sig.png" border="0" /></center><blockquote><center><b>Visit the author:</b><br />
<a href="http://rainbowrowell.com/" target="new">Official website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/rainbowrowell">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4208569.Rainbow_Rowell" target="new">Goodreads</a></p><b>Buy this book:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250012579" target="new">IndieBound.org</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Park-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250012570/" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> | <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Eleanor-Park-Rainbow-Rowell/9781250012579-item.html" target="new">Indigo.ca</a></center></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16800721509927570613noreply@blogger.com4