Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768869286/
http://amandaonwriting.tumblr.com/post/74743591259

Two of my favorite things: books and bumblebees. 

WWW Wednesday (157)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
Minutes away from starting The Man Who Loved Too Much by John Rachel. The story of Billy Green who seems quite unlucky and marked for a disaster.

02. Recently Finished:
The Selection by Kiera Cass. The first novel in the series about a young woman, America, who enters a contest to marry the Prince, but she has to beat 34 other girls to do so.

03. Reading Next:
Probably Find the Rainbow by Traci Borum. The second in the Chilton Cross series, I'm excited to see where this book travels.

The Selection

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Kiera Cass gives readers a futuristic, written version of "The Bachelorette" with a royal twist. After WWIV, the United States has become Illea, ruled not by a president but by a King and Queen. Now, the Prince is looking for a wife and to find one he must go through The Selection, a contest for 35 girls who go up against each other to see which one will become the Princess. 

The main character of The Selection is America Singer, born into caste level five which include musicians and artists. America has a positive outlook, always keeps her head up, and is very level headed. She loves her family and wants nothing more then to spend the rest of her life with the man that she falls in love with. America is very talented on the violin, among other instruments. She's giving, caring, compassionate, and friendly. Readers will fall in love with her more and more with each chapter. Though it's difficult to connect with her specific situation, if we zoom out a little bit, it's easier to take it in. America is growing into an adult and wants to be able to provide for her future. A future that she would like to choose for herself. As she discovers what she wants in a life partner, through the selection process, readers can relate to the surprising nature of desires and the uncertainty of shifting feelings, hopes, and dreams. 

The Selection begins with a letter announcing that the search for the next princess is about to begin. Though America doesn't want to take part, she is convinced to give it a go. Surprising to everyone, except the reader, America is chosen as one of the 35 lucky girls. She, however, is only going to get away from Aspen, the first man to break her heart. She quickly becomes friends with the Prince, in a quite hilarious way, and tells him everything. Feeling quite lucky to have found a friend, the Prince agrees to let America stay though she doesn't want to actually participate in the contest. But, as previously stated, feelings shift and unexpected kisses do happen. Kiera Cass keeps readers entertained with witticism and sticky situations. I literally laughed out loud more than once! Though I'm not sure who I'm rooting for in the selection or for America, I am intrigued enough to keep reading. But would it be incredibly predictable if America did win? She is the one who the story is about. I hope there's a big twist somewhere in the next two books, or I may be left feeling a little disappointed. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (163)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers



The Selection (p.313)
   - Kiera Cass

We dropped to nineteen, and it suddenly felt like this was all moving too quickly. Still, I couldn't have predicted how much faster it would become.

Parsen Holt - Slinger

A taut, gripping western filled with unexpected encounters, interesting characters and exciting adventure!
Join Parsen as he's forced to layover in a small town that he doesn't want to be in. And whose residents don't want him there either.
Will Parsen make it out of town alive?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Novella Parsen Holt - Slinger, by Robert Dellamano, puts a renowned gunslinger in a small town that is more dangerous than it seems. Stuck for a few days because of an ailing horse, Parsen Holt faces death more often than most men and must hold his own if he wants to survive. 

Parsen Holt is a seemingly good man. His background includes being a soldier in the Civil War, which demonstrates to readers his bravery, courage, and loyalty. Readers also learn that during the war, Holt killed fellow soldiers in order to save a young girl from being raped. His morals and strong sense of justice may have readers raising an eyebrow, but they will undoubtedly understand his actions. Holt is also a very unreactive man. He doesn't anger easily and tends to think things through, though he will definitely defend himself if need be.

The plot is simple. Holt is waiting on his horse to rest and heal in a western city that is known for both sides of main street. The good and the bad. Holt faces down multiple people in this novella, each with a different reason to kill him. Or try, rather. The writing style and character background is interesting and it makes me wish there was more to the story. I thought Holt's stay could have been extended a little longer so the plot could build to a more exciting climax. With a deeper background, I also feel I could have connected with Holt a little more. Though, I did like his smirk and vigilante style of justice. 

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768768403/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/adorably-tiny-versions-of-normal-sized-things#.mjgjMnQX7

Tiny book collection!

I need this. Or something similar.

Wonder if it's real or just a beautifully handmade craft.

WWW Wednesday (156)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

     

01. Currently Reading:
Fallen in between books again.

02. Recently Finished:
The Best Kept Secret by Wendi Nunnery. Wow. What a powerful book! Cannot wait to share my review with everyone on June 3rd!

03. Reading Next:
Parsen Holt - Slinger by Robert Dellamano. Switching things up with a little western reading coming up next.

Teaser Tuesday (162)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers



The Best Kept Secret (p.35-36)
    - Wendi Nunnery

I don't think Andy knows how much I've relied on him to keep me anchored, especially during situation like this. But for the last few months it has seemed like I'm drifting away from shallow water, away from the safety of the person who knows me best.

The Short Life of Sparrows

Beneath the light of a full moon, the Nightbloods and Seers are dancing. They are dancing as they await another Awakening, a dream that defines every witch’s destiny.

It doesn’t matter that the coven is cheering and anticipating her turn into womanhood, because Calli doesn’t want any of it. She doesn’t want to see the face of the hired hand Isaiah, nor does she desire the pursuits of a very determined Nightblood as she runs from a future with the Ordinary help. She knows that regardless of whether she taps into forbidden magic or not, an Awakening is rumored to hold ultimate power over the Seer who dreams it.

While the other Seers her age are given to their parties, their enchantments, and the lust of Nightblood suitors, Calli must choose how she'll endure the worst of her visions. There may be a way to survive her sleep, but she's not sure she can defeat the truth that will find her when she’s wide awake.

Does real love even stand a chance against the darkest of magic?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Seers and Nightbloods hide themselves from the world, practicing magic and calling upon both the angels and the underworld to provide justice to Ordinaries in The Short Life of Sparrows by Emm Cole. As Seers dream of horrible acts, the Nightbloods curse those who appear in them. Calli has reached the age of enlightenment, the age of her curse, and the dreams begin. 

Calli has just reached her eighteenth year. She's an orphan of sorts, being raised by her Aunt to avoid magic and the toll it takes. Calli is quite a rambunctious young woman with a blunt way of speaking and a mind of her own. She rarely listens to any advice, whether good or bad, and is quick to anger. Readers will enjoy her feisty attitude, her loyalty, and her determination. They will connect with her as she begins this unknown journey into adulthood as a Seer. 

Isaiah shares the role of narrator with Calli. He's an Ordinary who has been accepted to help out Calli's Aunt over the summer. He's a kind young man with a gentle heart, almost unbelievable with all he's been through as a poor orphan. Isaiah works hard, trying to avoid the Nightbloods while becoming friends with Calli and falling in love with her cousin. Readers will respect Isaiah and love his caring nature. 

The Short Life of Sparrows begins with a celebration of Calli's awakening, where she dreams of running away from her home with Isaiah, the recently hired help. She is determined to never see that come true and tries everything in her power to change it. When Isaiah's feelings for Daphne are revealed, she thinks she is in the clear, but there is much more going on than what meets the eye. The coven has secrets and soon Calli finds herself falling for someone worse than Isaiah. Readers will be enchanted by this new world of magic and curses. All of the characters have great depth and various characteristics that will allow readers to connect with them. The novel is a collection of character journeys and readers will enjoy each one, though the bittersweet ending left a metallic, melancholic taste in my mouth.

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699768768397/
Posted on: http://saltlakecomiccon.tumblr.com/post/106630408094/the-easiest-way-to-get-away

Traveling the worlds, one book at a time.

WWW Wednesday (155)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
The Short Life of Sparrows by Emm Cole. Calli is about to come of age. For someone like her that means nothing short of nightmarish predictions of the future.

02. Recently Finished:
The Shackles of Constantine by Kelsey Anne Young. A young girl travels to Constantine Academy in hopes of receiving enough magical warrior training to find her father.

03. Reading Next:
The Best Kept Secret by Wendi Nunnery. Blog tour coming up in a couple of weeks!  Senior year for Emma promises secrets, strangers, and unexpected situations.

The Shackles of Constantine

In a world brimming with dark magic, talented students are being called upon from far and wide to fight to the death, or earn themselves the title of a warrior, at the greatest institution the Illysium knows: Constantine Academy. As Jade Orwell struggles to reconcile with the discovery of her father's secret past and sudden disappearance, she finds herself torn from one world and plunged into another...with secrets even darker.

Soon, rumors begin to swirl that the founder of Constantine Academy may still be alive, and the very fabric of authority, the Oculus, threatens to unravel. The Oculus races to silence such notions, but the longer Jade stays, the deeper she entangles herself in the cunning snare of lies being woven behind the scenes at Constantine Academy. When she finally uncovers the strength of her own magic, Jade realizes all too late what her father was trying to protect her from: Attention.

In this elite world of magic and mystery, Jade will find intrigue, betrayal and the enduring strength of friendship. With her classmates Matt and Aaron, and her roommates, Justine and Camilla, Jade moves to take action against the threats that imperil their school. As their lives hang in the balance, Jade is forced to question how much she is willing to risk for the sake of avenging her father's untimely disappearance.

*May Contain Spoilers*

The Shackles of Constantine by Kelsey Young shows how a safe haven can quickly turn to a nightmare when a threat from the past appears. Constantine Academy is a school that teaches those with pure blood and promise to wield magic and power to protect the world. A world that is a lot bigger than humans could ever imagine. 

Jade Orwell is a tough, quick to anger, misunderstood teenage girl. She finds herself in the principal's office quite often. That is until she is expelled. When she finds herself admitted into the Constantine Academy (after her father disappears and she kills a demon as an entrance exam), Jade hopes that the school will lend her safety while teaching her how to find her father. Jade has a good heart, is very loyal, and pretty brave for a fifteen year old. Her circumstances are a little difficult to relate to but she's a likeable character. Readers will connect with Jade empathetically through her fear of a new place and the sudden disappearance of her father. However, when first introduced, Jade was presented as a fighter and troublemaker, but when she gets to Constantine Academy that doesn't really seem to apply any longer. (She does get into trouble but it's of a different sort.) Her traits are a little inconsistent and I couldn't help but be bothered by it. It's hard to connect with someone who's traits are in flux. 

The plot of the novel begins with Jade being ejected from school due to fighting. To help her, and protect her, Jade's father sends her to live with her Aunt for a while. Then Jade discovers that there are people coming after her father. Before he's captured, he begins to tell Jade about Constantine, but never gets to finish. A demon appears and somehow Jade manages to kill it. In doing so, she is accepted into Constantine Academy. But not everything is as it appears at the Academy. Jade is suddenly hiding her identity, lying, and trying to stay on top of her studies.

 I was a bit disappointed with Jade's "plan" to find her father. The entire book doesn't involve any searching, questions, requests for help or anything until the last couple of chapters. The plot kind of evolves into a witch hunt for "tainted" students. The why and how are a bit confusing, though it seems that the original Constantine has come back from the dead to do something... maybe seek revenge? She was locked in a tower basement and murdered... just for liking humans. Apparently a bad thing. The other problem I had with the book was the timeline. Some situations, events, and consequences didn't seem to line up with the described passing of time. Regardless, the story is creative and entertaining, even if the plot is a little muddy. I am still intrigued as to what the second book will hold.

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

 

Teaser Tuesday (161)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers



The Shackles of Constantine (76%)
   - Kelsey Young

"They took her Matt." The words came out in a squeak--a slight, weak murmur that cast down her face. "I shouldn't have left her this morning. She was safe, and now--they were just waiting for me to leave; I'm sure of it."

The Art Forger

On March 18, 1990, thirteen works of art today worth over $500 million were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It remains the largest unsolved art heist in history, and Claire Roth, a struggling young artist, is about to discover that there’s more to this crime than meets the eye.

Making a living reproducing famous artworks for a popular online retailer and desperate to improve her situation, Claire is lured into a Faustian bargain with Aiden Markel, a powerful gallery owner. She agrees to forge a painting—a Degas masterpiece stolen from the Gardner Museum—in exchange for a one-woman show in his renowned gallery. But when that very same long-missing Degas painting is delivered to Claire’s studio, she begins to suspect that it may itself be a forgery.

Her desperate search for the truth leads Claire into a labyrinth of deceit where secrets hidden since the late nineteenth century may be the only evidence that can now save her life.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Claire Roth is a master at copying the Masters of the art world. In The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro, Claire moves from blacklisted copier with empty claims to a forger who finds herself caught in the aftereffects of an art heist. For lovers of mystery and impressionists, this novel is incredible. 

Claire is a broke artist semi-happily working for a website called Reproductions.com that sells copies of famous paintings. As a certified Degas copier, she is the perfect accomplice when trying to reproduce a masterpiece that was stolen years before. Claire is a hopeful romantic with the perfect eye for detail. She's passionate, intelligent, driven, and methodical. Readers will enjoy her situational blunders and her wariness when it comes to the truth. They will connect with her through her passion and past. Though not a lot of her past is explored, the story behind her blacklist status in the art world is shared piece by piece. When she jumps at the chance to have her own gallery show, readers understand why she would gamble everything,even if they disagree morally and/or legally. When she falls in love with the man who hired her, readers may think it's naive, I did, but they hope for her happiness anyway. And when it hits the fan, readers respect her honesty, even if it's with a slight head shake that says "I knew this was going to happen..." 

The plot begins with Claire being offered an opportunity to make fifty thousand dollars by simply copying a Degas masterpiece that was stolen in a museum heist. It has to pass authentication by experts so that it can be sold under the radar as the original. She is given a copy to work from but she quickly learns that the one she is given is the original. Or so it seems. As Claire works, she begins to think that the original is actually a forgery, but she keeps the information to herself and hopes she is wrong. Readers can see where this is going and it definitely involves the FBI and the Boston PD. The story is incredibly pieced together. I absolutely loved every chapter. And I think most other readers will too. For art lovers, I admit that I am a HUGE impressionist and Degas fan, the techniques and painting descriptions, as well as the research and the play with historical facts, is delectable. The ending didn't exactly give me the greatest satisfaction but with everything that happened, I feel it was the only way. There can't be a happy ending for everyone... 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (154)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

     

01. Currently Reading:
Starting The Shackles of Constantine by Kelsey Young today. Jade finds herself called to Constantine Academy to become a warrior with the determination to avenge her father.

02. Recently Finished:
The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro. Finished this one last night. Wow. What an amazing and intriguing book! Especially for an art lover. Review coming soon!

03. Reading Next:
Unsure at the moment. Maybe something unexpected, maybe something off my reading list. Keeping my options open for the coming week. :)

Teaser Tuesday (160)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers



The Art Forger  (p. 307)
   - B.A. Shapiro

I then add a touch of brown paint to the original varnish, explaining that the tint mirrors aging, and cover the canvas with it. When I'm done I hold the canvas up for their inspections.
Alana gasps.