Thursday, July 31, 2014

July Wrap Up!


   This month has been a month of distractions. You know how at the beginning of every school break you make some sort of plan to get things done during the particular break? That's been me, I had planned to read more this summer but my computer has been alluring me into it's trap to watch Netflix. So instead of getting a lot of reading done I've been bingeing TV shows. So far I've finished both seasons of Orange is the New Black, half a season of Pretty Little Liars and a few episodes of Game of Thrones. Oops.
   Besides the bingeing I feel like I've gotten a lot of blogging done, well I've had a ton more posts then I normally do in a month. So at least I've kept my promise on that front.
    My most exciting bookish experience this month by far would have to be finally getting my ARC of Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow and to find my name in the acknowledgements! AHH!
 
   That's about it for this month, I can't wait to see what August will bring me(:


Books Read in July:




August Releases I'm Excited For:




Book Haul for July:



Library Book Haul:




Books Reviewed:




Movie Reviews:


The Fault in Our Stars



   That's all for this month my lovelies!



Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (3)


Visions

Author: Kelley Armstrong
The Cainsville Series #2
Expected: August 19th, 2014
Random House Canada


Description from GoodReads:


    In the second book in bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's exciting new Cainsville series, Olivia's newly discovered power to read omens leads to the discovery of a gruesome crime with troubling connections to her hometown.
   "Omens," the first installment in Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.
Their success, however, is short lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel's past mistakes come to light, creating a rift between them just when she needs his help the most.
   Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia's certain it's another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman with a connection to Cainsville went missing just days earlier--the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has Olivia's new home played in this disturbing murder? 
   Olivia's effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don't want revealed.



Why I Want It:


   I love all things Kelley Armstrong, her YA novels, and her adult novels. This sequel happens to be one of her adult novels. I got to meet Kelley in September 2013 for the first book in the series, Omens book tour. I just loved the book, mystery and some paranormal! Kelley is also a Canadian author, which makes me happy because hello! Also from Canada(:


Why You Should Want It:


   Love Mystery? Love Thriller? Throw in some paranormal and this series is the one you're looking for! 


That's my Waiting on Wednesday for this week, will you be picking up it up at the end of August? What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!(:




Saturday, July 26, 2014

Book Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 6th, 2014
Read: July 17th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: The Selection, #3
Format: Paperback, 336 pages
Source: Bought



Description from GoodReads:


The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown--or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose--and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants



Review:


Contains Spoilers:

I'll love you until my very last breath.
   The Selection was just a random book I'd picked up to read for a camping trip a couple months after it had been released. I couldn't put it down! I was done within a few hours, to make it better my sister had just finished her book so I had thrown The Selection at her. It was her first book she's eve finished within a day. We were hooked. The Elite was pre-ordered the minute we got home, and the wait was on. The release came and went and the wait was once again on for The One.
  The One was beautifully written like the rest of the series was. I love Kiera's writing, when she writes about the girls, especially America she writes her character as always doubting herself. Teenagers now a days are always doubting themselves, their clothes, their make up, all of it. Kiera gave us characters we could relate too. Besides being a prince or princess of course.
   Some things that bothered me was that there were a few unnecessary parts/scenes added to the book. For one the rebels, I understand that the selection might not have been enough to keep our full attention, that we might have needed something else to spice things up. But the way the rebels were written in were fine, especially in The Elite, but the way they concluded in The One made some parts unnecessary. Like why were the Northerns stealing the books from the library? I understand that they were looking for the Iléa diaries, but wouldn't they have know right away if they were not the diaries?    Another scene was America's father left her a note with hints saying he was a Northern rebel, unless Kiera had planned to do something with that knowledge later,(Which she didn't) there was no use for it.
   Then finally when Maxon found out about Aspen, I know it was bound to happen but the way the scene was handled could have been changed. I felt that Maxon may have blown it a bit out of proportion. He would have been a heartbroken and angry, but unless he had the temper of his father, he took it a bit too far.
   Even though I've always been Team Aspen, I'm fond of the way the series ended. Everything was nicely put together and everyone had their happily ever after, except for the select few. I'm happy that we even got to read about the white dress!
   I can't wait for Kiera's next big hit to be announced! For now I'll just have to get my hands on her stand alone book The Siren.

Rating:




Favourite Quote:


"The best people all have some kind of scar." ~ America

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance, Sci-Fi, Princesses





Thursday, July 24, 2014

Blog Tour: Drowned by Nichola Reilly


Welcome!

   Hello and Welcome to the Drowned Blog Tour hosted by Lady Reader's Bookstuff Blog Tours! I'm your host for today. Enjoy!



Drowned by Nichola Reilly


Release Date: June 24th, 2014
Read: July 13-15th, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Drowned #1
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Source: Bought



Description from GoodReads:


Coe is one of the few remaining teenagers on the island of Tides. Deformed and weak, she is constantly reminded that in a world where dry land dwindles at every high tide, she is not welcome. The only bright spot in her harsh and difficult life is the strong, capable Tiam—but love has long ago been forgotten by her society. The only priority is survival.

Until the day their King falls ill, leaving no male heir to take his place. Unrest grows, and for reasons Coe cannot comprehend, she is invited into the privileged circle of royal aides. She soon learns that the dying royal is keeping a secret that will change their world forever.

Is there an escape from the horrific nightmare that their island home has become? Coe must race to find the answers and save the people she cares about, before their world and everything they know is lost to the waters.


Review:


R-U-N.
   Ever since I first heard about Drowned I was dying to get a hold of a copy of it. The thought of a dystopian world where the world is ending because of flooding is some what relatable. This could somewhat be our future one day with the glaziers melting and all.
   No one plans for apocalypse or a worldly disaster. They do the best they can in the limited amount of time given, and even the best they can never seems to be enough. The people planning tend to only plan for the near future rather then the distant one. Planning ahead wasn't in the idea. This is the situation for the people of Tides. They have their platform to keep them safe for a while but of course everything good must come to an end. What I didn't understand was why they hadn't tried to find an escape sooner, I understood that the king was greedy and wanted to continue to be king but there is no need for a king if there are no people to rule. What did he expect to rule then? Sometimes people make pointless decisions.
  This was the second time I'd read a book where the main character has a deformity or rather is physically different. I'm sure the situations are different in real life but to me and I hope to other this book proved that people with deformities can live a good life and make a difference to others. Though I wouldn't call Tides a good life. 
   Drowned was an intriguing and thrilling read, I was definitely enticed by it and will be impatiently waiting for the Buried, the sequel to Drowned. Nichola Reilly who also goes by Cyn Balog also has 8 other published books to check out while we wait for Buried to be released in 2015!


Rating:



Favourite Quote:


"Those crazy, stupid wishes...... They're all coming true." ~Tiam


Recommend to People Who Enjoy: 


Young Adult, Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Fantasy





Nichola Reilly is Cyn's post-apocalyptic fantasy-writing alter-ego. Cyn Balog is the author of the young adult paranormal novels FAIRY TALE, SLEEPLESS, STARSTRUCK, TOUCHED, and DEAD RIVER. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters. 


Follow Nichola:




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stoping by!

   Make sure to check out the rest of the tour on your way out!






July 14th – July 25th 


July 14th 



July 15th 



July 16th 



July 17th



July 18th



July 21st 



July 22nd 



July 23rd 



July 24th

Ohana Reads  


July 25th 




Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (2)



Oceanborn

Author: Amalie Howard
The Aquarathi #2
Expected: July 29th, 2014
Harlequin Teen

Description from GoodReads:


   The coronation is over. 

   But the battle has just begun. 

   Nerissa Marin has won her crown. But can she keep it? Already, her ties to the human realm are driving a wedge between Nerissa and her people. When word arrives that her part-human prince consort, Lo, has been poisoned, she makes the difficult choice to leave Waterfell and return landside. As the royal courts debate her decision, even more disturbing rumors surface: a plot is rising against her, led by someone she least expects. 

   On land, Nerissa learns another shocking truth: Lo does not remember who she is. As her choice to try to save him threatens her hold on her crown, changing loyalties and uncertainty test her courage in ways she could never have imagined. Nerissa will have one last chance to prove herself as a queen …and save the undersea kingdom she loves.

Ohana Reads: Waterfell Review


Why I Want It:


   Mermaids are one of my favourite things to read about, The Aquarathi are so much more then mermaids. They are some what Aliens as well. Who wouldn't want to read about Alien Mermaids?!? Along with the alien mermaids, I loved Nerissa in the first book. She's the perfect blend of sassy and attitude. 

Why You Should Want It:


   It's Alien Mermaids guys, like seriously. Why aren't you reading it already?


   That's my Waiting on Wednesday for this week, will you be picking up it up at the end of the month? What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!(:




Monday, July 21, 2014

Book Review: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: May 27th, 2014
Read: July 10-12th, 2014
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Format: Hardcovers, 725 pages
Source: Bought


Description from GoodReads:


Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?


When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Review:


Contains Spoilers:

Let them come.
    In 2011 I had first picked up City of Bones, the plot twist that was the end had me puzzled and intrigued. Obviously I had to get my hands on Ashes and Glass. When I finished City of Glass I was happy and satisfied with the ending. I had then moved on to Clockwork Angel, the first book in the Infernal Devices series. It was a little bit later that I learned that there was to be another 3 books in the Mortal Instruments series. I guess they were some sort of encore? Either way I had pre-ordered the fourth one. While I was somewhat disappointed with it, I continued on again to read the fifth book. City of Lost Souls had me again somewhat disappointed, none of these new books to me were better then the original three. By this point I had finally finished The Infernal Devices trilogy, I loved this series so dearly that when City of Heavenly Fire snippets were being released I would squeal when a snippet would contain a Infernal Devices character. With all these little connections being announced I just had to read City of Heavenly Fire. Truth be told, I read this book for the Infernal Devices connections.
   At the beginning of the novel Brother Zachariah was mentioned as that, a brother. After reading the epilogue of Clockwork Princess I had thought that Brother Zachariah would be Jem again through out the novel. But it turned out that the actions from City of Heavenly Fire that cause Brother Zachariah to be a shadowhunter again. Thus putting City of Heavenly Fire between the novel of Clockwork Princess and it's epilogue. In the epilogue of CoHF, Tessa Grey was introduced along side *Brother Zachariah* and I couldn't have been happier. Although they didn't say much or have a lot to do with the novel, I was happy to learn that both Zachariah and Tessa are going to be in Cassandra's new shadowhunter series The Dark Artifices. I hope they along with Church, who they stole will have a larger role then they did in CoHF.
   My favourite scene from CoHF was when Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Alec and Simon enter Edom and all the characters started to have these fantasies about what this demon controlling them thought their hearts desires were. While most of all the dreams were unrealistic, Clary's stood out for me. To see what life would be like if Valentine had not been demented in his ways, because of this Jonathan Morgenstern would be a normal shadowhunter. It broke my heart to see Clary's dream because everything was so perfect. I would have loved to see a story about Jonathan when he was not Sebastian but normal, happy, loved. Even the little bit at the end when Jonathan was dying was heart touching.
   Although I may not have enjoyed CoHF as much as the original three books, or the Infernal Devices, I still loved reading this book because of Cassandra's writing and because I finally got to see a happy ending for the characters of The Mortal Instruments. I look forward to reading the Dark Artifices when the first book, Lady Midnight.

Rating:



Favourite Quote:


"I've never felt so . . . light." ~ Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern 



Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Angels, Demons, Hunters






Friday, July 18, 2014

Ohana Talks: Book Acknowledgements


   For the past week, every day I've ran to my mail box waiting for a special parcel. I think I might have driven my family a bit mad with me being so anxious, oh well. Anyhow after all that running back and fourth my parcel finally arrived today! What's so special about this particular parcel? Well for one it's a book. Obviously. This book happened to be Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow.  I had many different reasons for this book to be special to me.



1. It's an ARC!



   I was very lucky to have received an ARC of Diamonds in the Rough from the lovely author herself because I am a part of her street team.

   (You can still join the street team if you'd like! Click here!)



2. It's Signed!


 
   Since the ARC was from the author herself, she was marvellous enough to sign it for me as well!

Even as incredible as those two things sound, they are not what have me going out of my mind with giddy.



3. I'm in the book!



   As a blogger you always hear about other bloggers getting acknowledged in books. Sometimes they're good friends with the author or sometimes they just happen to be on the author's street team. I'd like to say that both of those apply to me:) My blogger friends would say that soon enough my name would be in a book, and now I am! 
   When I first open my package and started to flip through the pages to the acknowledgements, I started to cry when I saw my name. Getting your name in a book doesn't happen everyday, but when it does happen it reminds you that even though you may be a lesser known blogger, you are still making a big difference in the lives of authors everywhere. I have to say that it makes all the hard work worth it. 
   So thank you Michelle for making my day, no my year. I don't think I could ever thank you enough,  having my name in one of your books means so much to me. Thank you. I just know I'm going to love Diamonds in the Rough and all of the other books you'll write. 





Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow


Release Date: October 28th, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #2


Description from GoodReads:


   All-access doesn't mean no problems.


   The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Movie Review: The Fault in Our Stars


The Fault in Our Stars

Contains Spoilers



Movie:

Film Corporation: 20th Century Fox
Released to Theatres: June 6th, 2014 
Audience Rating: PG13
Length of Time: 126 minutes
Director: Josh Boone









Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: January 10th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 318 pages








Movie Review:


Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.
   After waiting a whole month after the release, I was able to see The Fault in Our Stars. No matter what was left out the adaption was a wonderful experience. The Shailene Woodly and Ansel Elgort were perfect Hazel and Augustus's. They portrayed the characters faultlessly, even Ansel's limping was flawless. I only had one problem with these actors, they both played a major part in the Divergent movie. The fact that they were in the movie wasn't the problem, it was the fact that they played siblings. So at the odd moments I would picture them as siblings once again and flinch. 
   Adaption wise the creators did a fair job with sicking to the main plot of the book. I noticed though where the book was very witty the movie was not, or well not with the John Green humour from the book. The movie focused more on the romance, doing this they left out somewhat big things like the Isaac scenes or the humour and reason behind the swing set. (Lonely, Vaguely Pedophilic Swing Set Seeks the Butts of Children.) I was rather disappointed that they focused it on the romance, Augustus's and Hazel's romance was not what The Fault in Our Stars was written for. There was so much for, I'd like to think that John Green had written to show that your life is what you can make it to be, you can let yourself waste away or you can live it. 
    I laughed and I cried, and I appreciated the movie as much as I did the novel. The The Fault in Our Stars movie adaption was an delightful adaption to watch and I would definitely see it again. So if you were wondering if seeing it on screen is worth it, take my word for it and see it. You won't regret it.


Overall Rating:



Favourite Scene:


My favourite scene was when the camera started to move from Augustus's and Hazel's legs to their heads as they were in Augustus's bed in Amsterdam. My favourite part was seeing Hazel's legs wrapped around Augustus's one. There was just so much love and trust in the scene that one could not adore it.



Favourite Quote:


  " I am quite unextraordinary." ~ Hazel



Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Drama, Young Love, Cancer Stories, Romance