Review: The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

The Best of Me

Author: Anne Greenwood Brown 
Pages:292
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: October 11th 2011
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Library

THE BEST OF ME is the heart-rending story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they've taken wildly divergent paths, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past.

My Take:

Ever wish you could have one more shot with the first person you fell in love with. For Dawson life was never really easy because of his last name and where he lived, everyone knew his kind would end up in prison. What changed for him was finding Amanda who he didn't see was also looking for him. Amanda was from a well known family and expected to be with someone her parents were proud of, but falling for Dawson Cole was the easiest thing  for Amanda. She knew he would always be their for her, and the thing was she didn't care what his last name was and what reputation it came with. But with great love comes a heart stopping breakup and for Dawson finding someone else was never in the cards, it would always be Ananda. With years passed and both of them grown up, things have changed but, one thing was constant over the years, that was staying in touch with Tuck Hostetler. Tuck was the one to let Dawson in when his own father didn't want to see his face. For Amanda, spending time with Tuck was something she looked forward to even after so many years went by. She told him all her secrets and he just listened which was something Amanda desperately needed.

But life goes on and getting one single phone call can change everything, for Dawson it was traveling back home, the one place he doesn't like going to. With the family hating him and of course his cousins hell bent on killing him going home should have been the last thing for him to do, but for Tuck he would venture into the one place he thought he would be. For Amanda finding out that the one man who gave you something without actually giving you anything wasn't really easy, she knew her mom would of course find out she was in town. But she had to pay her respects, what seemed like a one weekend getaway, turned out to be a trip to the past. Because when two people love each other like they did its hard not to look to past and hope for a better future. Emotions run high and sometimes the things in reality escape the mind for Amanda seeing Dawson again brought back all her feelings, getting to know someone who you knew all those years ago had never felt so easy. She trusted Dawson and repeatedly said she was married, but with lingering eyes and his soft touch its hard not to think about reality and to just live in the now.

This was a roller coaster for me because it touched my heart, I knew because it's a Nicholas Sparks book that I would get emotionally attached with both characters and hope for a brighter ending. While reading though I could guess the ending because of the fact that she was married, even though it broke my heart when they broke up the first time. The second time toke my heart and split it in two. Love was evident, with the way he spoke to her and was even evident when she spoke to him. Yes they were basically strangers but love never really leaves it just lingers until they can't feel it. These two had it all that time ago and for a brief moment they had it again in that weekend. What my favorite thing was that he really did give her his best of himself and she gave him the same. After reading though I needed a pick me up because when it comes to Sparks you need something just incase.

5/5 stars

Review: Betrayals by Lili St Crow

Betrayals (Strange Angels #2)

Author: Lili St Crow 
Pages:296
Publisher: Turtleback Books 
Release Date: November 17th 2009
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Library

She's no angel . . .
Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she's just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn't entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other teens like her, and there's a big problem? she's the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn't be so bad, but Dru's killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .
Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust-and maybe even her heart?

My Take:

When you know things go bump in the night the only thing you have in mind is surviving. For Dru Anderson knowing your one of those things is just the start of it, her best friend is a werewolf named Graves and of course Christophe who is also a djamphir. Problems don't just start with fact werewolves and vampires don't mix well she has a whole new set of problems. Being in a school full of boys seems like a good idea right? Wrong!!!! Because of who she is being allowed to fight with the boys is out of the question. She is stuck in normal classes and the only she is learning is what she already had guessed. She has so many questions and the school doesn't seem to care enough to answer and when Christophe finally shows up after he sent her to the school, he tells her that she needs to be a good little girl and not to trust people. The same people who treat as if she is too delicate, she must not trust, and to make it more worst her stay their seemed to be monitored and of course someone went into her room while she was in class. The only thing to make it worst is that people want her gone from the school and at the mercy to the one who killed her mom. 

When a break in occurs Dru makes the only decision  she has always made, run like you mean it. Running is something that Dru knows how to do, but this time she is leaving someone behind. Graves has been with her, he protects her from basically anything. But because he seems to love being at the school, she decides she needs to leave him because they are after her not him. The only thing she regretted was not saying goodbye to Graves, her best friend who she has no clue how to act in front of all of a sudden. Getting out isn't as easy as it should be and what makes it harder is the fire and of course not being able to breath right can stop anyone. When she wakes what Dru learns is turning back isn't happening and trusting anyone is hard, now on the run to another place that is safe. With her is a bunch of wolves who don't trust her only one of them Graves and also Christophe. They need to keep a low profile and try to get to safety as quickly as possible. 

Try getting to a even bigger school is not easy at all for Dru and being the only girl gets all the guys to act well differently towards her. Who said high school isn't hard enough, for Dru its only the beginning. I actually loved this because Dru is getting to know herself at the same time trying to figure out how her life got that place. She is also figuring how much she really cares for Graves and how much she is willing to keep him safe. There is also Christophe who is easily believed as the one to always be their t protect her, so life is interesting for Dru and even though every clue is presented to her about the death of her mother, Dru must also piece together the reason behind the attacks at the school. Also figure out why she is really important, to her she is just Dru nothing else, so it will be fun to see how she finds herself as I read the series. 

5/5 stars

Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath (Lies Beneath #1)

Author: Anne Greenwood Brown 
Pages:303
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 
Release Date: June  12th 2012
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Arc from egalley

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

My Take:

What happens when you must put an end to a life that means so much more to others, even when that life is a debt that should have been paid all those years before. Calder White knows that for a wrong to be right he must do what his sisters say, the one thing he isn't supposed to do is fall in love. Seducing Lily Hancock was just by chance but him falling for her was just another thing his sisters hold over him because love is a very strong weakness. The target they have searched for is Lily's father and his sisters want his life. Getting close to Lily was just to be temporary and just to be a means to and end. What he never realized was that his sisters were wrong in taking a life and because he is different he has to choose between  the love of his family or the love from a girl who likes him for him.

Being made into what he is has never been a problem and even though he stays away from his sisters as much as he can, he really does love them. He knows that they have love for him and even though his mother changed him, he will always love his sisters. Because of what he feels though, that compassion towards humans is what makes sure he doesn't take lives as often as his sisters do. Who said being a mermaid was any easier than being human, to survive you have to steal the person's energy. But when you can stray yourself like Calder can, you must distance yourself from any and all human contact.

Yup love can complicate things and even though Calder cares he knows he really isn't right for Lily. What he never expected was how much she cared about him and how far she is willing to keep him safe. Something no one saw coming was that love is as powerful as it is strong. The thing is when his sisters find out Lily and her family needs protection and what it comes down to is, distancing himself is never going to good enough for his sisters. He has to stand his ground for what he believes in even when secrets of the past come to the surface Calder still feels he has love and that is all that matters. I fell for Calder as he came to grips with what was right and wrong and even though he was put to seduce Lily, his change is perspective for me changed as he was able to get to know her. With his sisters ready to basically start war Calder is ready and he really does care. Sometimes he seemed to full of himself, but with each page he made me swoon and instantly I was intent on reading the last page even though I wished there was more after that last page. Anne's Calder will have everyone chanting his name by the end and wanting to be his. Mermaids have been this sexy and enchanting, please I need more.

5/5 stars

Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pure (Covenant #2)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages:330
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: April 3rd  2012
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble
Source: Arc from Publisher

There is need. And then there is Fate... 
Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. 

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her. 

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

My Take:

When your important and everyone has eyes on you, its kinda hard not to want to do something to change what they might think of you. For Alex living under rules that she more than likely breaks anyways is hard enough, even liking a Pure is a big no. What makes it even harder is he seems to feel the same way but since he isn't like other Pures, he leaves Alex alone, well tries has hard as he can. What makes it hard enough though is when he tells her she is ready, one minute she is training with Aiden and than not so much. What stinks is that she first had to split her time with Seth and Aiden and since because she is getting better, all of a sudden its with the class and who else but the annoying Seth. To make matters worse though is Alex is summoned and has to repeat what happened to her when she came across her mother. But when strange things happen to Alex while at court its hard enough not making yourself look bad. Especially since she doesn't have the power everyone is afraid of. What she says doesn't paint the prettiest picture for her, and because of many occurrences involving her during her stay at court, seem to make up the court decision much more easier.

With someone wanting Alex out of the picture, its hard to think who would want and half-blood/ Apollyon gone. With Seth's help Alex is able to keep out of trouble but for how long and with Alex going through mazes its hard enough trying to figure out who is behind everything Alex is being accused of. Many fingers are pointed and even though Alex isn't a Pure doesn't mean she is behind  everything. Its hard to really enjoy the higher court either, many would think though Alex is a key to everything.

I really enjoyed this, it seemed every step took could lead to other questions. Alex is gaining more and more attention and because of her affections towards a Pure is against the law, she has just one more thing standing in the way of her being with Aiden. Of course with her getting closer to Seth its kinda hard not to see him in a different light, he was able to bring me in. Since reading this I've been trying to figure out what is to happen, and of course with an ending like that its hard not draw some pictures in my mind. So looking forward to Deity which is out later this year. Who said 2012 isn't going to be a kick ass year, especially when an author like Jennifer its hard not be swooned in and of course wanting the days to any release date draw closer. Jennifer draws in the audience leaving us all in book coma, waiting is the only thing that draws the coma and once the book is in your hands its devour time. Jennifer is awesome like that leaving the reader never wanting to get to that dreadful last page. So yeah i need my next JLA fix pronto.

5/5 stars- because its ten times swoon worthy

Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Slide 

Author: Jill Hathaway
Pages:256
Publisher: Balzer + Bray for HarperCollins 
Release Date: March  27th 2012
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Arc from  egalley 

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. 

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. 

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

My Take:

Being able to slide into people isn't all fun and games especially when you witness the one thing everyone send you away for. You witness a murder, for Vee sliding isn't all that hard to do grab something with someone's imprint and than she is able to slide. Ever since she was little she has been able to slide into people and she hates the feeling after words, what stinks is not being able to pull yourself out and having no mobility at all, its like your riding in the backseat and unable to complain about it. Her gift though is useful, she is able to see when a teacher a sudden drink when they are not supposed to and also the worst thing was when she saw her own body being dragged off into the locker room through the eyes of her best friend. Yup having this gift sometimes sucks, especially when she witnessed a murder, the one thing is though she has no idea whose eyes she was seeing out of. If she goes to the police they will want to know how she got her information and the last time she said something she was sent straight to a therapist. While everyone thinks Sophie killed herself, Vee knows the truth its just telling people is hard to do. 

When another student is found dead, Vee has to try and figure out who is actually behind this and why target them. The only clue she has is a date left outside her front door which of course triggered her to slide, and since a new cute guy is paying more attention to her, she is also being out of touch with her best friend. With the clock ticking away Vee has to stop the killer because she believes her sister is next on the killer's list. With a gift of being able to slide Vee has to count on her instincts and come to grips that not everything is what it seems.

This was a wonderful roller coaster of a story, Vee pulled me in like I was sliding along with and of course her gift came in handy. Seeing all the events unfold I couldn't believe the ending and of course Vee is alot tougher than she thinks, her instincts are the key to helping her figure out being able to slide and not let the sliding take over her life. Plus when it comes down to her family is the greatest thing in her life and even though she can slide it helps to know the answers everyone else needs to know, even when they are the answers she wasn't searching for. I really loved this and I am so looking forward to the next one. I wish I can slide so that I knew what was coming for Vee. Because knowledge is key to everything that everyone holds onto, but when its out the truth will only set free those wanting to understand what they are searching for.


5/5 stars 

Book Trailer:

Review: Shadows by Jeniffer L. Armentrout

Shadows (Lux #0.5)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Pages:179
Publisher: Entangled Publishing 
Release Date: December  6th 2011
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Own

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable. 

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in. Captivated. Lured. Loved. 

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence...and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

My Take:
When the government has a handle on what, where, when, and how you do things its tough to even consider love into that equation. Especially when your in their sights because of where you come from, and its not from Kansas thats for sure. For Dawson, life is supposed to be like this school, protect your family and find someone just like you. But when a new girl transfers in and sits near Dawson, its kinda hard to think straight. For Bethany, moving into a new town was hard and making new friends was even harder, so being new isn't always a good thing. Unless of course their is a hot guy looking at you the way you dream about being looked at. Falling in love wasn't ever suppose to be so hard but because of their differences and of course his family on his case, falling for someone of is human never felt so easy for Dawson. Being with Bethany is like as easy as breathing of course its until she knows what he is she might not feel the same.

Finding out your boyfriend isn't from around is just another obstacle that Bethany has to think about, of course with danger at every corner its even harder to have one simple date. With weird glares from others like him Bethany also has to very cautious about the government and of course enemies even greater than the feds. Yup life just keeps on truckin' right, love isn't always easy and in order for them to be together they need to go through all obstacles.

I really enjoyed this just like I did with the first one, Dawson is so much more easy to actually swoon over I mean Daemon is HOT but his brother is more soulful and he appreciates what he has and lives in the now, I guess reading from Dawson point of view made me also realize how is brother can be so hostile and because of any threat. I loved the fact though that even though Daemon didn't like them together he knew she made his brother happy and he left them, I so swooned after that. Yup with these two brothers its hard to choose its like TVD all over again don't know which on I want more all I know is that this was so epically written I am so looking forward to the next one 2012 coudln't have been a better year to bring us these amazing men.

5/5 Stars

Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Shooting Stars

Author: Allison Rushby
Pages:272
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: February 28th  2012
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed 

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

My Take:
Being able to sneak into places never has been hard for Jo and it kinda comes in handy when she needs those perfect shots of celebs for her dream to come true. Even though being a pap was never the end result for Jo it was just something to do along the way. Since it was summer she had the time to kill and getting those shots for the cash never had felt wrong. The celebs needed the paparazzi just like the paparazzi needed the celebs so that they will be seen throughout the world. It was until Jo was given an assignment that would end all of her paparazzi business and help her to her goal, which is of course to take the classes she needed for her career to take of as a professional photographer. But falling in love never suppose to come into the equation. Her target was the one person she never thought to see and because of money she knows doing the job would require he to leave her feelings aside.

If only life was that easy, getting to know Ned and the others is hard because even though she is on a time schedule, she can't help but feel guilty taking the pictures. If being a pap included all of this pain than whats the point in keeping with it. Jo wants out and the only way out is to have a plan. With Ned helping it hard not to follow in his plan right? Jo has so many doubts and of course the guilt eating at her, she must decide a future where she is out of the game or in it for a little while longer.

I fell for this because even though I know the job is ruthless, the pain to get that million dollar shot is probably the most dangerous decision ever. Because of her age Jo has a gift and be able to enter places paps dream about going into and because she has so many gadgets to help her she able to get the shots ever pap in the business wanting. I loved the fact that the game never changed for Jo and was able to see that even though money can help its not always the best decision to make. Plus Jo and Ned and some good scenes together and it was just wonderful to be able to read this.


5/5 stars