Review: Torn by Amanda Hocking

Title: Torn
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: 28th February, 2012
Page Count: 291
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds. 
Favourite Quotes

“Oh yeah. That's why. Like a fairy tale. I was marrying the Prince. I just happened to be in love with the pauper.”

Few Wild Words Quickie

Definitely fun and exciting even when the characters were rather crazy and annoying.

My Thoughts

I can't deny that I loved this book, it made me laugh countless times and the tension between some characters was overwhelming. But I don't think everyone would enjoy this book as much as I did.

The main character Wendy is annoying as hell, this included me cringing various times throughout the book. The thing is, I don't mind that she was being stupid and immature most the time, it was entertaining to read about her craziness and it was part of the reason I laughed so much. However, I know that for other readers, Wendy's annoying actions would probably push them over the edge.

I also can't express how much I loved some of the minor characters. Duncan made me smile because of both his lameness and awesomeness. Then there is Tove who is complicated and slightly crazy but so loveable. We also have Loki, this guy's comments made my heart flutter, definitely someone a lot of fun. Finally Finn, he was the knight in armour that needed to be hit over the head but his decisions were sane compared to what many other characters did. I could go on about the other characters as there is no lacking in the amount.

I just wanted to add on one more character, Wendy's mother, Elora. There is a change in her, the person we meet in the first book slowly unravels to show us another side of her. Hocking also does a really good job of explaining the Trylle world further, giving us much more depth than before.

Overall, the action, the loveable character and the unfolding of the book was enough to make me love it. I am definitely reading the last book!

Anyone enjoyed this? Or maybe you disliked this?

Review: Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe

Title: Dark Heart Surrender
Author: Lee Monroe
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Publication Date: April 5th 2012
Page Count: 390
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 4/5

 

Synopsis

ONE GIRL. TWO WORLDS. SHATTERED. Jane's world has changed now that Luca, love of her live, inhabits it, and she's happier than she ever thought she could be. But how can a werewolf survive in the real world? When an immortal lives in the mortal world, the natural order of things must change. And what seems perfect, becomes destructive. They've overcome different worlds. But nothing could prepare Jane for this...
 
Favourite Quotes

"That our hearts were entwined through darkness and light."

Few Wild Words Quickie

I'm glad I stuck round till the end of the series. Overall it had the right elements of action and romance but I wish the series had gone out with more of a bang.

My Thoughts

I am feeling emotionally distraught right now most probably because this is the last book in the series and the last line broke my heart in a wonderful way. That our hearts were entwined through darkness and light... It feels like forever ago that I read the first and second book. I fell in love with the characters throughout the series even though at times they did make stupid decisions but their flaws made me love them even more. DARK HEART SURRENDER started off slow for me, it didn't entrance me...more I am feeling emotionally distraught right now most probably because this is the last book in the series and the last line broke my heart in a wonderful way. That our hearts were entwined through darkness and light... It feels like forever ago that I read the first and second book. I fell in love with the characters throughout the series even though at times they did make stupid decisions but their flaws made me love them even more. DARK HEART SURRENDER started off slow for me, it didn't entrance me straight away. At first I was disappointed that maybe this series wouldn't go out with the bang I wanted. But, as the plot developed I began to get absorbed into the book and I couldn't put it down. I've noticed the trend throughout all three books, they always begin very slow then halfway it sucks you in. I don't know how to express it but I just love Luca and Jane. They made crazy and rather rash decisions at times, they seemed to fall apart, nothing went their way ever. However, they always fell back together and it's felt so right every time. There's something innocent about their relationship which I loved, they even managed normalcy to some extent considering their situations, Luca and Jane will be OTP forever! Another aspect of the book I really liked was the underlying mystery that appeared here and then throughout the book about the girl trapped. Monroe slowly unravelled the story and by the end all the loose ends tied up perfectly. Some of the new secondary characters were interesting but I think I would have liked to have discovered more about them and their history, I didn't connect well with them and neither did I like them much. I have mixed feelings about the ending, I liked it and I disliked it. It felt a bit rushed for me as though it was being hurried along and needed to be done with. Maybe I would have liked more Luca and Jane time I guess. But that said I also loved the simplicity of the ending and how it beautifully wrapped up everything in the last few lines and messed up my emotions. Overall, I think with this series you have to be sort of patient. The books usually take their time getting into their element and you might even have a love/hate relationship with some of the characters. There is a gem in this series that kept me reading till the end and I'm glad I did.

 
If you've read the book I'd love to know what you thought?

Annoying Characters {My Take}

My take on annoying characters might be a bit unusual but I guess that's what I feel.

There are two categories I put annoying characters into.

For most, I would put these characters into the 'I'm-going-to-tear-my-hair-out' category. However, in my head, there is another category which is the 'entertaining' one.

The 'I'm-going-to-tear-my-hair-out' category:

- This is the common one most annoying characters fall into.

- Usually it means that with these characters I have to withstand the strong urge to rip hair out.

- (Trust me, it's not a happy sight).

- The annoying characters are probably doing stupid stupid things throughout the book, which range from very small actions to the life and death situations.

- These characters can result in me not finishing a book *queue the dramatic music*

- I don't even think I need to go on because we've all probably experienced such annoying characters.

These annoying characters end up making me rate a book low even if the actual plot and setting is pretty fab.

Now with that off my chest, let me tell you about the other category I put annoying characters under.

The 'entertaining' category:

-This occurs when a character in a book is obviously annoying me and making stupid decisions...BUT...their stupidity causes me to smile and laugh.

- An example is Wendy from the Trylle series: I can't express the number of times this character has driven me up the wall but in a good way. Her reaction to situations which usually calls for over dramaticness and a lot of flailing. It is all incredibly funny and enjoyable to see Wendy basically make a fool of herself. I feel a bit cruel saying that, oops.

- Furthermore, if I am being entertained by the annoyingness of the character and enjoying the book, I am compelled to carry on reading the book to see what other crazy thing the character decides to do.

- In a weird kind of way, sometimes these annoying characters are much like people in real life. Maybe it's just me, but I have a friend that is annoying to no end but I still love her.

- You could call it a personality flaw?

This type of annoying character adds up to a higher rating for the book.

This post might be absolutely nonsense to some. I just felt like I needed to get that out there.

If anyone else feels like I do, I'd love to know more about what you think.

Do you have any other categories you put annoying characters under or do they all fall under 'hitting-yourself-over-the-head' one?

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 7th 2013
Page Count: 462
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

Favourite Quotes

"It's our rain Beth." Her head barely shakes to show her confusion while I rub the back of my neck and search for my courage. "I told you I loved you in this rain and when you doubt my words, I want you to look at this bottle.”

Few Wild Words Quickie

Engaging, realistic and definitely another emotionally attaching book from Katie McGarry.

My Thoughts

I don't know what to say other than the fact Katie McGarry managed to hook me with another one of her books. It tugged at all the right emotions and there is no doubt that I love the main character Beth.

There's something about Beth that totally appealed to me. She's strong headed, won't let others push her around and can stand alone. However, Beth is not only that, there are multiple layers to this girl, her fears, weaknesses, broken life and so many flaws that make her who she is. Beth isn't perfect but that's what I liked about her. From the beginning till the end I noticed little changes to her character, Beth doesn't completely change, she becomes a mix of her past and present blended. McGarry beautifully developed the main character and gave us parts of Beth's life piece by piece. By the end of the book, we were left with a character that as a reader I had grown close to and understood.

Moving onto Ryan, I liked him, I liked him a lot. There were times when I totally loved Ryan because of the way he interacted with other characters and that fact he was crazy sweet. Though there were other points which made me think what the hell Ryan, mostly that happened when I felt he was being overly possessive. Ryan was also far from perfect much like Beth, there's a lot more to him than what meets the eye. Then there's Isaiah, I can't work out what I'm feeling about him, there weren't too many moments with Isaiah but my heart went out to him each and every one of those times.

DARE YOU TO for me, was a story about love and change. It presented two teenagers with real life struggles, ambitions and problems. It showed me their journey to find some sort of happy, any solutions they could find, and it told me their story along the way. They were moments during the book where I had thought things were unrealistic but I don't think they bothered me too much. I enjoyed the book and the ending warmed my heart. You should definitely give the book a try.  

Links

Katie McGarry's Website

Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Title: Just One Day
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: January 8th, 2013
Page Count: 368
Buy The Book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Rating: 3.5-4/5

Synopsis

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Favourite Quotes

“Part of me knows one more day won't do anything except postpone the heartbreak. But another part of me believes differently. We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day.”  

“Or maybe it's not a miracle. Maybe this is just life. When you open yourself up to it. When you put yourself in the path of it. When you say yes.”

“You have to fall in love to be in love, but falling in love isn't the same as being in love”  

Few Wild Words Quickie

A cute read with awesome characters throughout, a wonderful and thoughtful story about self discovery.

My Thoughts

I've read previous books by Gayle Forman and I've enjoyed them. So I had to pick up 'Just One Day' when I got the chance. I had mixed emotions about this book, it was very much a rollercoaster of thoughts.

The first quarter of the book disappointed me, I was already preparing to give the book 2 or 3 stars. I was completely sure it wouldn't be as good as Forman's other books. The book lacked some sort of connection with me and couldn't really hold my attention. I guess there wasn't enough to engage me and keep me reading. However, it wasn't all that bad at the start, Forman created a beautiful description of all the places Allyson visited with Willem and really captured the mood of the different places.

For me, things got A LOT better after the first quarter of the book. One reason was the new characters introduced when Allyson starts College. The new characters were fun and quirky especially D'Angelo (Dee), and as you keep reading you get to know other characters better who gave off a bad first impression like her roommate Kali. There are so many other characters who I loved and they made the book all the more interesting, including the people at the French classes, the people where Allyson worked to save money, the people she met on her second trip to Europe.

The main character Allyson did change through the course of the book, mainly through self-discovery and experience. Allyson did annoy me at times because I felt like sometimes she was overreacting or being stupid but I guess her flaws made her who she was and by the end of the book I noticed a change. One word to describe Allyson by the end of the book would be: Brave.

The ending of the book took me on a journey, it was beautiful and exhilarating. I was feeling the emotions Allyson was, I was cheering her on to achieve what she wanted. The writing was wonderful and thoughtful, it made me think about change, how there is so much you can take from personal experience. The last few pages of the book nearly killed, did there have to be such a painful cliff-hanger?!?!

Then there was the snippet at the end of 'Just One Year', I wanted to cry, there are so many possibilities running through my head right now. I will probably be reading the next book.

I'd recommend the book if you enjoy reading about different places in the world, romance, and if you like books about self discovery. Or just pick it up and give it a try, I think there is something in this book that you'll probably like, even if it's one small thing.

Have you read this book yet and if yes what did you think?

Reading Slump: Solution?

In the past 3 weeks, I've started about 6 different books but haven't been able to finish a single one. I don't have it in me to pick up any of the books and read them. It drives me crazy to be at a point where I can't bring myself to read. Usually when I'm in a reading slump I just let it pass even if it means waiting a month. Well I want to find myself a few different alternatives.

Source

I'd love to know about ways you combat your reading slump so I can experiment on myself. I'm already an impatient person so I have my fingers crossed that it will pass VERY soon. There has been a lack of reviews on my blog mainly because of the fact I haven't been able to finish reading anything.

What do you do when you're in a reading slump or having a book hangover?

Do you ever just wait it out?

Divergent Casting News: Four + Jeanine

Twitter exploded with the news about the casting of Four from the Divergent books. If you haven't read the series by Veronica Roth, head out and get a copy so you can join in the fangirling that takes place when casting news is made.

 

Introducing the actor that will play Four...

 

*DRUM ROLL PLEASE*

 

Theo James!

 

 

 

 

My intial reaction was:

 

Who is this Theo James?

 

This is when google search comes in handy, specifically google images. I spent about 5 minutes staring at his pictures. Theo James was definitely not how I imagined Four but I couldn't deny his rough edged hotness. The next place I explored was Theo James IMDb. I wasn't familiar with many of his acting credits except 'Downtown Abbey'. Then, I came to a point I had to just express my feelings in a post.

 

So here I am.

 

I have to say I can see Theo James as Four, he is NOTHING like in my head but the Four in my head is very much perfection so I don't think that was possible. I can't judge the actor just yet because I haven't seen him in role and usually I wait until the trailers and character posters before I make my mind up about the actor.

 

More Divergent casting news:

 

KATE WINSLET AS JEANINE MATTHEWS.

 

I'm doing fist pumps in the air right now. That is all for now.

 

What are your thoughts?

Did you have another actor in mind?

Have you seen Theo James in other roles?