Gallagher Series by Ally Carter

     The Gallagher Girl series, all six of them, were much better than I expected them to be. I remember reading the first one (a long, long time ago), and not knowing there would be anymore, so I didn’t look for them. Randomly stumbling upon them in the bookstore, I didn’t really think twice about them. I don’t know what made me decide that I really wanted to read these (even though I really felt like I might be a bit too old), but I am very glad I did. If you read the first one, you too might think you are too old for them, but I urge you to continue on. This series changed into something I definitely didn’t expect it to change into. It gets better and better each book, and it really is a thrilling and enthralling ride. This series takes you through the school years of Cammie, and her friends, as they navigate their lives through spy schools, secret organizations that go back as far President Lincoln, and a plot to destroy everything.

     I am giving this series, as a whole, a four. The first book was my least favorite, but I think that is because it was more of an introduction novel than anything else. There were some characters I wanted to see more of (Josh), and some that I wish weren’t dead. There were a lot of twists that I never (ever) saw coming, and the one that I thought (and was really hoping) was coming, never did. The characters were all so much more than I thought they would be, and all very well developed. I think the author did a great job with the dialogue, and with the relationships between the characters. I think she also did a tremendous job with the locations and situations the characters were put into. This series was funny, suspenseful, entertaining, and much better than I expected. True to one the series titles, you really can’t judge a book by its cover.

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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

     We Were Liars. THIS BOOK!!! This book was about Cadence, and what happened in Summer Fifteen, as well as what is happening in Summer Seventeen. This story chronicles the adventures (and the misadventures) of “the liars” during their summers at Martha’s Vineyard. There is a lot more going on though, like the Aunties’ bitter feuds with each other (and their father) over their inheritances, the broken families that each of them seemed to have suffered, and the migraines and everything that Cadence seems to be forgetting about what happened in Summer Fifteen. This book was about memories and remembering, and pain, and love, and hard truths. This book was absolutely amazing.

“A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate political boy.

A group of four friends- the Liars- whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True Love.

The truth.”

     I am giving this book a solid five. The way this book was written made it a very interesting, fun, and fast read. I did not want to put it down at all (which made stopping to go back to work while reading on my lunch break very difficult). The characters were all really greatly written, and while I detested some of them (the grandfather), I couldn’t help but love a lot of them. The twists in this book…it was wonderful and heart wrenching all at the same time. It was not at all what I expected. I want to read more and more and more of this. I want there to be more to this story at the end, but I know that, sadly, there cannot be. 

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Love, in Spanish by Karina Halle

     Successful, wealthy and absurdly handsome – Spanish ex-football player Mateo Casalles seemed like he had it all.  A high-society wife, an adorable little girl, and flashy apartments in Madrid and Barcelona only sweetened the deal. But there was more to Mateo than met the eye – a life of uncertainty and regret that colored his black and white world.

That was until Vera Miles came into his life like a shooting star. Tattooed, wild and young, Vera seemed like Mateo’s polar opposite at first. But you can’t choose who you fall in love with, and the two lost souls did everything they could to be together, all while suffering grave consequences.

Now with Mateo divorced and living in Madrid with Vera, there is a whole new set of challenges and setbacks facing the couple and rocking the foundation of their star-crossed relationship.

Unfortunately for them, the brighter the star, the faster they burn.

     Love, in Spanish, was told entirely from Mateo’s point of view, and went a lot further along in Mateo and Vera’s story than I expected it too (a fact I am quite pleased about). I am giving this book a four. I loved the story, and getting to read more about Vera and Mateo. I wish his sister and his family were in this book more, but I’m happy for the scraps of them I got. While this book did show some more of the problems the couple had to face, it felt like a really long and fun epilogue. This book felt a little more passionate, but I think that had a lot to do with Mateo being the narrator of the story. One main thing I want to mention about this book, it won’t seem as good if you don’t read “Love, in English,” first. It’s a good story on its own, but it doesn’t have the same impact if you haven’t read the one that comes before it first.

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Love, in English by Karina Halle

Love, in English, is this book.
     "He's 38. I'm 23. He speaks Spanish. I speak English. He lives in Spain. I live in Canada. He dresses in thousand dollar suits. I'm covered in tattoos. He's married and has a five-year old daughter. I'm single and can't commit to anyone or anything. Until now. Because when they say you can't choose who you fall in love with, boy ain't that the truth. ***To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she'd spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love. Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something...more. Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time. Something that can never, ever be. Or so she thinks."
     I am giving this book a 4.5 because I think Vera freaked out a little too hard in Vancouver. Even saying that though, it still felt real. I just wish she handled being apart from him better. This book was silly, serious, sexy, and a really good story. One thing that I really loved about this was how the author didn't paint Vera as someone who was okay with cheating. She made Vera into one of my favorite characters I've ever read about. None of the other characters in the book could compare to her, but that is not to say that they weren't all pretty wonderful (except the mom, fuck the mom and the sister character). I love that the book took place in Spain (I am now dying to go there, thanks), and made it seem like a magical country. I loved that every time I though the book was going to end (e-reader problems), it didn't, and I didn't have to be sad yet. I wish I could have read more about their lives after the fact, but I can see that it wasn't exactly necessary. I also wish we could have seen the Spaniards a little more later on the book, but I'm needy and want everything.
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Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

     "You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you. When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be. I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here. I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to him room. But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him. At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. But things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night. Then, just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California. It had been years since I’d seen Elec. When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again. And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane. I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again”

     Stepbrother Dearest, by Penelope Ward, was…dirtier than I expected it to be. In the beginning of the book I thought that might be what would stand out the most from this novel, but I was definitely very wrong. The love story in this book, as well as the pain and hardship Elec and Greta had to go through, were beautiful. I have to give this book a 4.5. It was so funny, and sad, and moving. Elec’s books (the ones he wrote) were a really fantastic addition to this story, and a great way to give us more background into his life. The puns in this book, between Greta and Elec, were absolutely one of my favorite parts. They were just so casually and perfectly thrown in there you wouldn’t notice if your mind wasn’t already in the gutter (or you were someone who maybe finds ridiculous amounts of joy in terrible puns). I wish I could have read about Greta meeting Elec’s mom, and I am very hoping there will be another book where these characters all pop up in it.

     If you mix up the letters in Stepbrother Dearest you get a seriously great read (obviously not really, but I am not trying to find an anagram right now). 

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My Skylar by Penelope Ward

     My Skylar, by the amazingly talented Penelope Ward, was absolute perfection. There are two other books that go with this one, Gemini, and Jake Undone, but this can be read as a stand-alone (I don’t recommend this, read them both!). The main characters, Mitch and Skylar, go through about every possible thing you can imagine during their long and difficult relationship, including cancer (and contrary to what I expected, this is not another Fault in Our Stars type sad story), unplanned pregnancy, and crazy broads. In the book that came before this, you meet a very interesting Skylar during her time in the hospital when she has cancer. This book takes you to the before and after from that time. This novel also goes into the time she had cancer, but doesn’t spend too long on it.

     This book is above and beyond a five, but that is my highest rating, and there wasn’t a second thought or a doubt in giving it. This book was touching, and heartfelt, and beautiful, and sad, and happy, and real (and real dirty at some parts). It encompassed so many different things over a great deal of time for the two main characters. The author did an amazing job showing a relationship that was beyond difficult, that should have been impossible, but somehow love won out. It was truly beautiful. I was so excited to finally get around to reading this one that I didn’t reread the first two like I wanted. I highly, highly suggest you read those two as well. They are every bit as much as wonderful as this book was.

My Skylar:

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Gemini:

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Jake Undone:

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The One by Kiera Cass

     The last book in the Selection series, The One, has by far been my favorite. This book answered all of the questions I had (finally!) from the previous stories, and shocked me quite a few times with some of the things the characters stood for. While there were a lot of sad parts, there were a lot of funny parts to even it out. This book really delivered exactly what I was hoping it would. There were a lot of characters in here that you learned more about and loved (Celeste) or hated (Kota) even more (the king). We got to see a lot more about the rebels, more the northern rebels than the southern ones, but that definitely made it more interesting. So much happened in this story, and while I think the love story was a bit predictable, that was actually something I am really glad stayed constant.

     I’m giving this book a 4.5. The characters got better and better as the story wore on, and the humorous parts were some of my favorites. I really liked how the author tied the rebels into everything. The father character for America, and everything she came to in her little realizations about him, were absolutely fantastic. I had my ideas on that, and I was glad to see that I wasn’t wrong. In the end, this books was more political than love story status, and while I do love a good happy ever after, I loved the political aspects in this book more. The love story made it a better read, and gave it more character, but I think the themes in this book were way more than that, and absolutely perfect. 

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The Elite by Kiera Cass

     The second book in The Selection series, The Elite, answered some of the questions I had, but also created a lot more. Prince Maxon is something of an enigma, and I can’t tell if I love him or hate him. I also think that America is acting like an idiot sneaking around to see Aspen. Did she not witness, first hand, what happened to the other girl (notice how I didn’t tell you the name? I’m so good at not giving out spoilers)?! I really thought (aka was hoping) that Aspen was going to die during a rebel attack in this book; he doesn’t. I don’t know why, but I just really don’t like his character at all. It doesn’t make sense that he wanted America to participate in the selection so she could have a chance for something more, and then goes about trying to ruin it. I also HATE the king. You will also hate the king after reading this (if you don’t, you’re wrong).

     This book definitely was a little bit better than the last one. I’m giving this one a four, mostly because it actually answered some questions I wanted answered. I think this book went a lot further with the character development for the main characters. We got to see about twenty different sides of the prince’s personality, and learn a little bit more about some of the other girls in the selection, and America’s father (who reminds me a refined kind of hippy that’s actually kind of cool). I’m really excited to start the next book, not because I care about what happens in the Selection, but because I want to know what happens in the country and if there’s a change in the castes, and what it is exactly that the rebels are looking for. SEE! So many questions!

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The Selection by Kiera Cass

     The first book in The Selection series was both very much what I expected, and not at all what I expected it to be. I haven’t really gotten into kind-of-futuristic books before, so this was a little unexpected. This takes place after America has been taken over by China, attacked by Russia, and then turned into its own kingdom. I think what keeps me the most interested in these books are the questions of: who the rebels are and what do they want/what are they looking for? There are love stories intertwined, and it is very much like what I assume the bachelor is (I haven’t ever actually seen the show, so I have no idea). There is only one character’s point of view so far, and I’m glad it’s hers that we get, because out of all of the girls in the selection, she’s my favorite. One character I’m really hoping to see more of is the queen. I really think she’ll end up being a champion to the main character (probably not so ironically named America), and give us another interesting avenue to look down in this series.

     This book is getting a 3.5. It has left me with way more questions than answers, and while sometimes I think that’s appropriate, I don’t know how well it will bode for this series. In my case it’s leading me to read the next book. The writing was very well done in this, none of the dialogue seemed forced, and the setting was done just enough that I wasn’t bored with details, or left with no image of the scenery at all. I love the characters so far, and I have so many questions about some their motives, or what’s going to happen to them. I am SURE (okay, not really, I’m guessing) one of them is going to die in one of the future books, and I know it’s mean but he deserves it. So far, this book was an easy read, and an enjoyable one at that. I don’t exactly know what it could have done better (other than answering some of these damn questions I have), but I’m hoping to see whatever it is that I want in the next book. 

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The Waiting Room by Alysha Kaye

     The Waiting Room was my first request from an author to read and review, so naturally it’s going to hold a special place in my heart forever (this would have been whether I loved it or hated it). When I read the summary on Amazon for this book, I honestly didn’t think I was going to like it. It just didn’t give you enough. …Then I read the story. The summary is pretty accurate, and I think, that after reading this book, I understand why it couldn’t give more away; it would be giving the whole story away. This isn’t just some ordinary love story (not to be a GIANT cliché or anything), it is about so much more than just love, and it is about one and one hundred love stories, all at the same time.

     This book, to me, is definitely a 4.5. This was unlike anything I have ever read before (there could be more in this kind of genre, but I haven’t read them yet). I don’t think I would have picked it out were it not for being asked to read it. I am so glad I was asked to read it. The stories within the story are beautiful. There was not one instance where I didn’t like what they were doing or who the characters were. This book was uplifting (and I usually hate that overly optimistic stuff), but not in a way that made you want to vomit sparkles, and rainbows, and the sound of children’s laughter. It makes the idea of death not so scary, which is something I think most people fear. I’m not trying to start a discussion on what happens after you die, or to say anyone is right or wrong, but this book made me want to believe in something a little bit more than I had imagined. The writing in this book was very well done. The dialogue was all very well done, believable, and interesting. Some stuff was funny, and I was glad for the comic relief, it was placed appropriately and that really matters in a book like this. The only part I didn’t like, but at the same time loved, was the ending. It left you hanging in a way you could appreciate. 

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Redeemed by P.C. and Kristin Cast

     Redeemed, book twelve (TWELVE), and quite sadly the last in the House of Night series, was exactly what I wanted from beginning to end. There were many things that I wish didn’t happen (those deaths though), but I know they needed to for the story to be what it was. I can say that I never truly trusted Thanatos until the end, and she really just made me so happy in her role in this last book. There were so many characters, and so many moments, that just stood out and really shined in this book, the touching moment between Zoey and Aphrodite definitely being one of my favorites.

     I am giving this book a five, because after everything we’ve had to go through in these stories, the authors really came through for us in the end. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I knew what I was hoping for, and that is exactly what I got. The fact that the book seemed so dark and gray in the beginning, and then slowly grew to be less gray until it shone, was something that really surprised and pleased me in this one. I wasn’t sure if that foreboding shadow that darkened the feel of this book would really go away, but one character’s death is what actually made things feel a lot less gloomy (it’s not who you think and no I am not telling you who!). There were many times when I have read a book, especially a series, and they don't give me a really good epilogue. This book gives you a really great epilogue; so while you’re sad that it is done, you’re happy you’re not left wanting (let’s be real: NEEDING) more. I think I could probably read quite a few more books (not twelve more though) that just show the characters being normal and not fighting for their lives, but sadly that is not to become. I wish I could say “until next time, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again,” but alas, this is the last book.

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Revealed by P.C. and Kristin Cast

     Revealed, the next book in the House of Night series (I should really come up with a better opening sentence), was unlike any of the other books. The feel of it was just completely and totally 100% different. It was much darker than the others, much bleaker, and there were a lot of shocking things that took place. Kalona continues to surprise and please me, as he grows, and his brother (who is supposed to be the good one) is seriously annoying. The whole Seer stone thing, being almost exactly like one of the horcruxes from Harry Potter, was not lost on me either. I really, very much, disliked that part.

     I don’t know whether I think this book was really great or really good. It was important for the overall series. I know that much, but it was also very much, even more so than the others, a leading up to something book. I didn’t realize I was at the end (damn you e-books), when the book was just finished. I might have said a big what the eff when it read, “the end.” I think, even though this was a leading up to novel, that it merits a 3.7. It was not quite at that four potential, but again I don’t think the point of this book was to be big and explosive in the way the others were. I think this book was exactly what it was supposed to be, and is very much setting us up for the big stuff that is about to happen. With that being said, I think it actually is a four. While there wasn’t a great amount of action, there was a great deal going on. I want to tell you all of it. I want to give away all of the book, and the crazy stuff that goes down, but instead I’m going to leave you with the links to buy and read this book yourself, and then get going on the next book.

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Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast

     Hidden, book ten, was absolutely phenomenal. From start to finish this book was just really good. The official breaking up of the twins, and really getting to see them as separate entities was pretty fantastic. I also take back what I said about Shaylin and not caring about whether or not she was a part of the next few books. I was wrong. I also foresee her and Aphrodite becoming close (even though at this point that would equate with hell freezing over). The one part of this book that did not need to happen, that I don’t ever want to read about again, was Neferet killing a cat. There did not need to be any gruesome detail (at the same time I am extremely biased, I love cats more than people and have recently lost one of my own). That terribleness aside, seeing Erik actually do something nice, and not act like a huge jerk (look at me censoring myself like an adult) was a good change that was long needed.

     I have to give this book at least a 4. There wasn’t a whole mess of the usual bickering we often have to read. There was more action, and growing up, especially for Zoey (it’s about damn time someone told her to stop crying) in this one than in the previous (at least more so throughout the entire book). One theme that continues to be prevalent in these books is giving others second chances. For those characters that want them and prove themselves, reading about those changes has been very interesting and enjoyable. Even for those who are pretending, seeing justice come in and kick their behinds has been fun. This book, as with most of the others, left me hanging and wanting more, which will surely leave me exhausted and hoping to sneak a peeks at my book tomorrow. Here’s hoping I stay strong against it, and if I can’t, that I don’t get fired (I’m mostly just kidding).

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Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast

     Destined, the ninth book in the House of Night series, was the best at the end. I’ll be honest, this one seemed like a lot of filler and leading up to stuff, until the ending of the book; WHICH WAS AWESOME!! I can now make a Pinocchio joke when I say that Aurox is a real boy (and so is Rephaim!!)! The whole Zoey having to wait, and wait, and wait to use the Seer Stone until she felt it was “right” was a little bit annoying though. I really think she should have used it during the whole tree incident (which isn’t really that big but I still won’t tell you about it). The biggest thing that came out of this book, for me at least, was Kalona. I knew eventually he was going to play the part he’s probably going to play in the books to come, but it still surprised me at the end. Even though I am finally kind of sure this is the last book in the series that I have read previously, I still didn’t remember a lot of parts that happened.

     I don’t want to do it, but I have to give this one a 3.4. The ending was absolutely amazing, but there were some things that seemed mildly pointless. I understand the whole marking new fledgings red as being important (honestly this isn’t even really a big spoiler or anything so don’t worry), but everything else involving the new character Shaylin seemed kind of useless so far. I’m not really sure if I care or not whether she’s in the next books, because from the sound of her gift it’s both going to be used for bad or for good, and no one is going to have any idea. The entirety of the ending is what brought this book up to the point five. If there had been more stuff like we saw in the end, woven throughout the book some more, I think it would have gotten a higher ranking. All of that being said, there was still a lot of stuff that I know is going to be important in the books to come. I don’t really know what, but I know there will be more. Thinking on that, it is possible I have read the next one and don’t remember anything except for parts about Erin. I am hoping that it is just time, and not lack of content, that has caused its removal from my memory. 

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Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast

     Awakened, the next book in the House of Night series, was just a whole mess of ridiculousness. I want to make a Pinocchio joke in reference to a character, (and actually thought of it for the blog while I was reading) but realized that: a) I would be giving stuff away that I am so not giving away, and b) I will, more than likely, be able to make a Pinocchio joke about ANOTHER character in my next entry. I flew through this book. I can’t even tell you what about it made it fly by so fast (other than I have no life apart from reading). There was no character development in this book, there was a whole lot of serious character CHANGE going on. There were so many different things going on, and I just cannot tell you any of them because you need to read about them for yourself. What I can tell you is that I love Rephaim even more than I did before, and I am beyond pleased with Stevie Rae and her coming clean on some things. I will also give away that she finally talks to her mama (who she still hadn’t told that she was undead!), and there is one part that may or may not make you cry (please note that I am a giant crybaby though; it does not take much to make me leak from the eyes).

     4.5! This would have been a five if Nyx would have just put things out in the open (if the characters need to stop hiding things, than she can stop being so f’ing mysterious when she manifests). The truth coming out for some things really made this book better. I’ll be honest, I wanted as much of Stevie Rae’s and Raphiem’s stories as they would give me, and every little bit I got made this book that much better. I also really liked how consequences were appropriate, and not too harsh, for the characters that received them. The ending of this book though, the ending of this book! It is a good thing I don’t have to go to sleep yet, because I do believe I will be continuing on and reading until my eyes can no longer bear it. I would like to suggest that you follow my lead. 

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Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast

     Burned, the next book in the House of Night series, was completely and totally different from the other books so far. This one was told from quite a few different perspectives than the others, with Zoey’s voice being heard the least (which makes sense, seeing as how her soul was shattered and all). There was so much about this book, compared to the others that I absolutely loved (writing this, and not immediately diving headfirst into the next book, is a serious challenge). I think, and from the other character’s points of view it would be considered awful of me, that Rephaim was my favorite character. While all of the others, Aphrodite especially, were really wonderful, they didn’t have that raw bluntness that he had. As much as I love the nerd herd too, I’m really glad they didn’t have as much of a prominent role in this one as they have in the past books.

     I am giving this a 4.4 (why the .4 I can’t really explain, other than it just feels right). This book wasn’t exactly all action, but it was more of a journey and growing up novel for a lot of the characters. This also means that there wasn’t a lot of “high school” type drama that we’ve seen in some of the previous books. I really, really loved how much more of a role Stevie Rae played in this than in the past. I think her character really helped make this book what it was, and I think she’ll continue to have bigger parts in the next few as well. This book was also, while serious in many parts, sometimes funny. There were a few parts that had me laughing out loud (mostly from Aphrodite’s big mouth), and I think this book needed, and got, the few pieces of comic relief that it had. Overall, I’m excited to start the next book and am letting that color how much content I can continue to put into this review. If that’s not a selling point for you, you’re wrong.

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