Cover Crush (44)

 Cover Crush is my meme here at On The Shelf where beautiful and eye-catching covers are spotlighted!  Any cover can be showcased whether it be old or new, read or still sitting in your TBR stack.  Please join in, link up and enjoy some beautiful covers!

My Cover:

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Why I’m Crushing:

I am so excited about this cover being out!  I didn’t realize it had been released, and it is awesome!  I like all of these covers, but this one packs the most punch for me.  I think it is because it is like my soul is being stared into.  I also love the title and the pop of color of the antlers.  I am very drawn to colors that are black and white with a colorsplash, my last week cover also was like this.  And doesn’t it sounds like an exciting ending to the trilogy?  I can’t wait!!  What do you guys think of the cover?

Just One Day Read Along Week 1

Jenna over at Jenna Does Books is hosting a Read Along for Gayle Forman’s Just One Day, and I am excited to be participating in the read along!

1. At the start of Just One Year, Allyson, a girl just out of high school, attempts to “reinvent” herself by cutting off her long, dark hair. Have you ever “reinvented” yourself, either physically or as a break in your usual routine? Why?I guess maybe in a way I did once.  It was after I ended a relationship and I ended up getting a new car, my first tattoo and chopping off my hair.  I think it was because I wanted something different and wanted to focus on me.  The car was actually very needed since I was T-boned and the passenger side was crushed, but the hair and tattoo were totally a spur of the moment thing.  That was 8 years ago and I still don’t regret my tattoo – I actually ended up regretting the car since the people at the car lot were the devil and did me wrong >.<
2. When we first meet Allyson, she is an all-American “good girl” who has just undergone a European Tour. But other than her hair, she is no different than she was in high school. On the other hand, Melanie has managed to reinvent herself, turning from a “good girl” to a party-all-night flirt. What did you think of the ease with which Melanie reinvents herself?I think Melanie could have wanted to be that way the whole time and now is her chance to be this different person, the party girl has been unleashed and her true colors just may be showing.
3. After watching Twelfth Night at the waterfront, Allyson finds herself at a morose standstill. The play is over, but Allyson continues to clap and clap, hoping to make the moment last, so lost was she in the play. She hesitates to return to her “normal” life, associating the play (and also movies) with a “greater” reality. Have you ever felt the same, that a movie, play or book seemed more “real” than your own life?I have definitely immersed myself completely in a book before and didn’t want it to be over.  I love the worlds of some of my favorite books and the way I end up attached to some of the characters.  This is the exact reason there are book hangovers!  
4. When Allyson decides to go with Willem to Paris, Melanie is not happy. It seemed as though, even though Melanie was trying to encourage Allyson to change, when Allyson actually did something adventurous, Melanie still wasn’t happy. Do you think maybe Melanie liked having a friend who was more serious so she could be the exciting one?I think that it could have been that, but also I think Melanie is a bit jealous.  We saw her trying to flirt with Willem and be the one with the attention, but then it turned out that Allyson was the one who got to go on the adventure with this hot guy, so I think that jealousy plays a part as well.
5. At this point in the book, who do you find yourself more similar to? Allyson or Melanie? Why?Definitely Allyson!  I am no where near as outgoing as Melanie and even something as small as cutting off my hair can have me riddled with anxiety.  I am one of those people that likes the calm situations, though unlike Allyson, I do love to travel.  And every now and then I do like to do something spontaneous.
6. Allyson seems to experience more with Willem over the span of just one day in Paris than she did during her entire European tour throughout the summer. What do you think it is about Willem (or this one day) that brings out the adventurous side of Allyson?I think, not only is a hot guy giving her an awesome day, but she is able to do it at her own pace and see the things she really wants to see.  She likes the “real life” side of the countries, not the touristy part, and Willem is able to show her the every day life of foreign culture.  Also, it is just one day, so she can be whoever she wants to be (Lulu) for this one day and not be inhibited by what others are going to think.

I am enjoying this book so much so far and I am only 10 chapters in.  Definitely glad I decided to participate and enjoy this book with others 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday (45)

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish.  Each week a new top ten list is posted, and to participate all you have to do is fill in YOUR top ten for the list.

This week the topic is:

Top Ten Best Sequels Ever

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer:  Cinder is by far one of my most favorite books ever, so of course the sequel has to be on this list.  It was so awesome and I love Wolf 🙂

2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: I thought The Hunger Games was great and I really loved Catching Fire and seeing Peeta and Katniss become closer and everything they have to go through.

3. Asunder by Jodi Meadows:  Incarnate was definitely one of the most beautiful books I have read with gorgeous scenes, and Asunder was a fantastic follow-up and we get to see so much in this one.

4. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor: Boy was this one awesome!  The chimaera are just amazing and we get to see things from their side and the angels’ side.  The world building and characters are fantastic.

5. Fins are Forever & Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs:  I really do adore this series.  It is very cute and fun and I love Quince and Lily.

6. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins:  I know this one is really more of a companion novel rather than a sequel, but it counts.  The characters are great and who couldn’t love Cricket?

7. Black Heart by Holly Black: I loved this one and getting to see the transfiguration scenes in my mind was super awesome!

8. Where She Went by Gayle Forman: I actually liked this one even more than If I Stay and enjoyed seeing it from Adam’s POV.

9. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan:  All of the follow-ups count for this one.  I loved the whole series and all of them where wonderful and I couldn’t pick a favorite.

10. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling:  Same as above.  It’s Harry freaking Potter, all the follow-ups are awesome.

There are still so many more sequels I need to read, so this list may be very different by the time it comes up again.  What are your favorite sequels?

Cover Crush (43)

 Cover Crush is my new meme here at On The Shelf where beautiful and eye-catching covers are spotlighted!  Any cover can be showcased whether it be old or new, read or still sitting in your TBR stack.  Please join in, link up and enjoy some beautiful covers!

My Cover:

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl’s journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Why I’m Crushing:

This is such an elegantly beautiful cover!  Both simple and complex, and I love the red with the black & white.   It’s so gorgeous and impressive how you can see clear down into the rose between the petals to the bottom of the staircase that is intertwined with it.  I also like how the girl is running down the stairs in a dress the same shade of red.  Lovely!  What do you guys think of this cover?

Top Ten Tuesday (44)

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish.  Each week a new top ten list is posted, and to participate all you have to do is fill in YOUR top ten for the list.

This week the topic is:

Top Ten Picks for My Fall TBR

Ok, so this is a very tentative list.  I know I am not going to get this exact list read, because honestly, I never do.  I often find other books I would rather read instead of my mood shifts to a bawl my eyes out book or I find a book I need to read because it has been in my list forever and I feel guilty for not having read it yet.  So, this is my CURRENT fall TBR 🙂

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell:  I just finished Fangirl and it was so great!  So I would really love to also read this one and have it signed when I go to YALLFest this year.  I’ve heard so much good stuff and I am excited to read it.

2. Wavecrossed by Andrea Colt: A review request that I promised and an interesting sounding book about selkies.  I read Tides earlier, which was my first selkie book and look forward to another.

3. Dare You To by Katie McGarry:  Because Pushing the Limits was awesome and I can’t wait to start this one.

4. 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil:  I really enjoyed Ten and this one sounds pretty exciting with alternate realities.

5. Antigoddess by Kendare Blake: Anna Dressed in Blood is easily one of the mot exciting books I ever read and I have high hopes for this one, too.

6. Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma:  Because anybody who can make a taboo story as beautiful as Forbidden is on my auto-read list.

7. Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows: I know this is only a novella, but I’m still counting it.  I love the Newsoul trilogy and can’t wait for the final book, and to hold me over until it is released I have this wonderful novella about my favorite book boyfriend to keep me company.

8. Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey:  I have been itching for this one so bad!  It’s based on a Poe story, how can I not be excited??

9. 5th Wave by Rick Yancey:  I don’t know how it is I haven’t read any alien books even though when I was younger I loved anything about aliens.  I have heard great reviews about this book and it is one of the very next on my audio list.

10. Divergent by Veronica Roth:  Another author that is going to be at YALLFest!  The trailer really has me excited for this book and my cousin was raving about it, so I have to read this one.

11.  Just One Day by Gayle Forman:  This is one I am going to be starting on first on this list because there is going to be a read along over at Jenna Does Books and it just sounds like an amazing read!

Yeah, I know that was 11, but I just couldn’t think of one to shorten my list because these are ones I am most excited about.  What awesome books are y’all planning on reading this fall?

*Review* Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell

 Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell

433 pages

ISBN: 9781250030955

Read 9-13-13

Format: Paperback ARC

Source: Lit Lushes ARC Tours

Add it on Goodreads!

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. Cath is a Simon Snow fan.Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Wow, this book was so much wonderful!  Though I very recently bought Eleanor & Park, I haven’t read it yet, I got it just before Fangirl and since Fangirl was for an ARC tour, I read it first, and based on it, I can’t wait to start Eleanor & Park!  This book is just so magical and real and relatable.  Thanks to the girls at Lit Lushes for letting me part of the tour for this amazing book!

Cath is definitely many people are going to be able to see themselves in, I know I did.  I was also the quiet girl who was often the “teacher’s pet” and got the high GPA and didn’t go to parties; the nerd who would rather stay home in her own little world rather than go out and get drunk like the other college students.  I also wrote fanfiction (though I haven’t in a little while now) and I have always been a high anxiety kind of person, though maybe not quite as high as Cath’s.  The only real complaint I have for this book is sometimes Cath gets a bit too whiny with a couple of things, but other than that this book is magnificent.  Levi was awesome for the most part, definitely crush worthy and I loved how loyal of a friend he was.  My heart was breaking for Cath with her sister, her twin sister, who didn’t seem to want to be part of a twin pair anymore going into college.

This book deals with some pretty deep issues that I wasn’t expecting and they were handled really well and very realistically.  This whole book was so realistic and touching and heartbreaking and hopeful.  It was also very creative with how be got to see tidbits of the Simon Snow books and Cath’s fanfiction mingled in.  The writing style is fabulous and I was certainly won over and am now a loyal fan for Rainbow Rowell.  I had to force myself to stop reading several times when I had to do “more important” things.  Loved the whole thing!  A truly fantastic book!

Wonderful characters, great writing, super relatable, Cath a bit too whiny in a couple places.

 

Cover Crush (42)

 Cover Crush is my new meme here at On The Shelf where beautiful and eye-catching covers are spotlighted!  Any cover can be showcased whether it be old or new, read or still sitting in your TBR stack.  Please join in, link up and enjoy some beautiful covers!

My Cover:

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

In order to save her home, the lives of her family, and all of humanity, Madly must learn to wield her exceptional powers and recapture the Lore before it’s too late and all is lost. But Madly’s only help are her two best friends and the Sentinel, Jackson Hamilton, that threatens both her heart and her destiny. Madly has loved Jackson as long as she can remember, but he is the one thing even a princess can’t have. Can she resist love to become the queen she was fated to be? Or can she find a way to have both?

This novelette introduces you to Madly and prepares you for the quest of a lifetime.

Why I’m Crushing:

I just think this cover is so lovely!  It has such nice detail and swirls and I also like the colors.  This artist is incredible! The details are so fine it’s like it was drawn with a very sharp pencil and I love the burst of green.  The title is nice, too and very swirly.  I don’t think this font could work on a long title, but it is perfect for only 5 letters.  So what do you guys think of this cover?

Top Ten Tuesday (43)

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish.  Each week a new top ten list is posted, and to participate all you have to do is fill in YOUR top ten for the list.

This week the topic is:

Top Ten Books I’d Like to See as a Movie or TV Show

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer: This is one of my all time favorite series in quite a while, so of course I would love to see this on the big screen.

2. Ink by Amanda Sun: I love all things Japanese and since this book is set in Japan, I would love to see this as a movie and all of the beautiful scenery and culture.

3. White Cat by Holly Black:  This series was a fun read and it would be cool to see this as a show and see the abilities in action.

4. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows:  This book was very lovely and I would love to see so many of these scenes come to life and hear the beautiful soundtrack with plenty of piano music.

5. On The Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta:  This was such a beautiful book and a beautiful story.  I’d love to see it as a movie, only if it was done perfectly.

6. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake:  I want this for Halloween!

7. Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter:  These are not your ordinary zombies, plus who wouldn’t want to see Cole and his violet eyes??

8. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs:  Because there just isn’t enough mermaid movies and this was such a fun book.

9. Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly:  An angel movie where the angels are bad?  Yes, please.

10. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr:  I think this one could be so colorful and visually pleasing, plus there is also a shortage of good fae movies.

There are plenty of other books I would love to see as movies or shows and I did not include any of the ones I knew for a fact are going to be movies (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, The Fault in Our Stars, Delirium, etc).  So many I can’t wait to see on the big screen or as shows (supposedly I Hunt Killers is in the works for TV).

*Review* Two Boys Kissing – David Levithan

 Two Boys Kissing

David Levithan

208 pages

ISBN: 9780307931900

Read 9-6-13

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Add it on Goodreads!

New York Times  bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. 

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

This was my first Levithan book and certainly won’t be the last! You guys, this book!  It was so good in so many ways, and not really what I expected, but so much better. The Greek chorus was different but a great new reading experience and it worked so well with this story.

This book tugged at my emotions in good ways and bad ways and I found myself tearing up more than once. We go back and forth between multiple main stories and see so much and experience so much that gay couples and singles so through, which is basically the same as straight people, but with the stigma and hate of people who don’t agree with the love they have. We see both the good and the bad for them. Love is love, unfortunately not everybody gets that.

I love the message in the book, that people should be able to love who they want to without being  criticized for it because they are the same gender and that even if they are flawed, they are still beautiful. I am all for equality and people being true to themselves because it makes them wonderful and this book shines with this message.

The characters are so wonderful and real and I really liked seeing their stories and their troubles and flaws and I wanted to hug them all. My heart broke for them and I was happy for them and I cheered them on, and the Greek chorus make it even more powerful and it was so hopeful.  I just loved the whole thing. A definite recommendation for those who want a touching read that will take hold of your heart.

Powerful, beautiful message, great writing, a new favorite!

 

Cover Crush (41)

Cover Crush is my new meme here at On The Shelf where beautiful and eye-catching covers are spotlighted!  Any cover can be showcased whether it be old or new, read or still sitting in your TBR stack.  Please join in, link up and enjoy some beautiful covers!

My Cover:

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

Why I’m Crushing:

This cover is just so pretty and sparkly!  There are several things I like about it, especially the bubble.  I like that they used a bubble since it makes it seem so disconnected from the real world (which makes since for an escapist program) and the beautiful world within it.  The world inside the bubble has some incredible detail and lots of eye catching color.  The title is nice and simple; no fancy font to take away from the main spectacle inside the bubble. It’s beautiful and colorful and an excellent cover.Plus, the story sounds pretty interesting as well.  What do you guys think of this cover?  If you have your own Cover Crush, link up below and share beautiful covers!