Teaser Tuesday (168)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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



Zoo (p. 276)
   - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

"I have a message for you from Mr. Leahy of the NSA. A high-level meeting is scheduled at the White House this morning. The president will be there, as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Leahy has requested you be there in person to present the new theory you and the other scientists have developed."

Home No More - Blog Tour

Synopsis:
My name is Kendall Carrington—or so I thought…

When 17-year-old Kendall gets pulled over during an impromptu joy ride, she not only discovers she is not the girl she thought she was, but neither is anyone else. Kidnapped when she was young, she is thrust back into a life she doesn’t remember. One where her name is Danielle Tucker and betrayal seems to be lurking around every corner. No longer able to decipher the truth from the lies, she enliststhe help of blue-eyed hottie Lincoln Hunt on her quest for truth.

Will she come to terms with her new life? Or will she go running back to the only home she’s ever known?

Review:
Leddy Parker doesn't shy away from the controversial in her novel, Home No More. This novel takes on a lot, dealing with abuse, kidnapping, the definition of family, nature vs. nurture, love, control, and inner strength. Kendall, also known as Danielle, is the main character of this chaotic crisis and readers will find themselves drowning in the drama, jaw dropped open.

Kendall/Danielle is a seventeen year old girl who grew up as the daughter of a man named John. She knew he wasn't her real father and she knew that Billy wasn't her real brother, but she never questioned why she wasn't allowed to leave the property or where her mother was. Though she claims to have had a good childhood, Kendall is a very violent person, verbally and physically. Though she has experienced a traumatic event, it will be difficult for readers to connect with Kendall. I didn't like her as a character for the first 75% of the book. I thought she was mean, selfish, rude, abusive, irresponsible and untrustworthy. She does get better as the novel goes on, but first impressions matter. I couldn't get over how awful Kendall was to better connect with her. I had sympathy for her situation and difficult choices, but it didn't go any further than that.

The plot of Home No More seems simple at first but becomes more complicated as lies mix with truths. Kendall was kidnapped out of the back of her parent's car after an accident. When she is pulled over without a license, she is taken to the police station and it's discovered that she's actually the missing Danielle Tucker. She's having trouble adjusting to this new life and plans on going back to Billy, her angry and abusive boyfriend, as soon as she turns 18. But then, she finds out that she's pregnant and everything changes. Controversy galore. Readers will undoubtedly have various opinions about each of the topics explored in this novel. Some will connect with Kendall better than others. Some will enjoy the drama filled pages while others will think it's too much. The story is entertaining, without a doubt. However, other than empathy and sympathy, Kendall doesn't seem like a relatable girl or a girl I'd even like to be friends with. She'd definitely yell at me all the time. The girl that Kendall becomes in the end, now she seems stable, friendly, loving, thoughtful. And I like that version of her character much better. The journey helped her become that stronger person.

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Meet the Author:
Leddy Harper had to use her imagination often as a child. She grew up the only girl in a house full of boys. At the age of fourteen, she decided to use thatimagination and wrote her first book, and never stopped. She often calls writing her therapy, using it as a way to deal with issues through the eyes of her characters.She is now a mother of three girls, leaving her husband as the only man in a house full of females. The decision to publish her first book was made as a way of showing her children to go after whatever it is they want to. Love what you do and do it well. Most importantly Leddy wanted to teach them what it means to overcome their fears.

Connect with Leddy at www.leddyharper.com 

WWW Wednesday (160)

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:
Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. I don't like thinking that all animals could turn against humans because I am a HUGE animal lover. But, this book has my attention.

02. Recently Finished:
Home No More by Leddy Harper. When a young girl is taken from a car accident and raised under another name, things get complicated. When that young girl is pulled over and discovered, things get even more complicated. Blog Tour Review on Friday!

03. Reading Next:
Eve Brenner: Zombie Girl by A. Giacomi. This is the story of a young woman who slowly becomes a zombie and how she deals. I'm totally over the moon to start this book!

Grave Mercy

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

*May Contain Spoilers*

I'm a little bit behind on this series, as I've been wanting to read this for some time. So, now, let me jump on the bandwagon and say -- Assassin nuns! The idea alone is completely and absolutely wonderful. Robin LeFevers uses historical events and details to weave her own story about the country of Brittany and a convent of sisters who serve Saint Mortain, the saint of death, in her novel Grave Mercy. 

This first installment focuses on Ismae, a girl scarred from birth and claimed as one of Mortain's daughters. Saved by an herbwitch and a priest, Ismae is hidden and taken to the one place she can be safe and learn to survive (and more). She's taken to become an assassin for Death himself. Ismae is a quiet creature, very reserved. She's so unsure at the beginning that it's difficult to assess her personality. Ismae is incredibly self-conscious. She's also nervous yet eager to prove herself as a skilled, competent assassin. Her loyalty and dedication to her gift is remarkable. Her ability to survive any type of poison is impressive. Readers will enjoy these little characteristics at the beginning. The connection between Ismae and readers will start to thicken as Ismae becomes a key player in the plot of Brittany politics. Her seemingly emotionless stature is replaced by a woman who is learning that life is more complex than ever imagined, and serving Saint Mortain isn't as black and white as the convent made it seem. As Ismae starts thinking for herself and using her own judgement, not to mention falling in love with Gavriel (!), readers will see her open up. 

The plot of Grave Mercy loosely follows real historical events. The band of Saint Mortain's assassins serve their country first. When they learn that Gavriel Duval, the duchess's half-brother, may be in cahoots with France, they send Ismae to keep an eye on him and to gather information by pretending to want to help him. Soon Ismae starts to believe the traitor is someone other than Gavriel and she is determined to flush them out, but her heart serves as a distraction making the assignment more difficult than it first seemed. The story line completely captivated me. I love historical fiction and this was absolutely delightful. I think readers who enjoy tales of royal betrayal and slow blooming love will devour this book, much like I did. I absolutely do not want to wait to get my hands on the next one. This is definitely a trilogy for the book shelf. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (167)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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



Zoo (p.73)
   - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

"And what did they do with the bodies?" Abe said. "Lions usually feed where they kill. I've never seen anything like this."

The Elite

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

*May Contain Spoilers*

America Singer is still in the running to be the country's next princess in The Elite by Kiera Cass, the second book in The Selection series. At first, America wanted nothing to do with the competition. She was heartbroken. Prince Maxon understood and appreciated her honesty. But now, she's in to find out whether Maxon or Aspen (the first boy to break her heart) is the right guy for her. 

America, sadly, loses points with me in this sequel. She's still compassionate and caring. But sneaking around with Aspen while she's supposed to be dating the Prince...? Erhm. That definitely doesn't sit well with me. Watching America begin to fall for Maxon in the first book, combined with her generous and loving personality, was what won me over. But she seems so wishy-washy in this book that I just wanted to yell at her to make up her mind. I understand, two great guys, each one so unique in their abilities and natures, but seriously. Seriously. It was a little tiring watching her bounce between liking Aspen and then disliking him, liking Maxon and then disliking him. Over and over. America also becomes so closed off that it's tough to take. I loved her openness with Maxon in the first book, tiptoeing to the edge of bluntness. Now, she draws one negative conclusion and she's racing away from him like he's the devil incarnate. I feel like these situations, assumptions, and indecisiveness will disconnect readers from her character. Though her relationship with her father truly warmed my heart. 

The Elite's plot is quite similar to the first one. Obviously, she's still in the competition and Prince Maxon is the bachelor. But now, Aspen is working in the palace as a guard and is determined to show America that he was wrong by ending their relationship. However, she has decided that she should attempt to win Maxon's heart, and give her own time to decide if she could ever love the Prince. But then after she admits it's a possibility, she begins to sabotage her own happiness. Why? That's a good question. She's obviously scared about her duties as the Princess and the future Queen, which is very understandable. And that may be the only reason I still feel connected to her at all. At the end of this installment, *spoiler alert* America is nearly kicked out of The Selection, but she gets to stay on a technicality and a promise of good behavior. I am going to read the third book, don't get me wrong, but I'll be reading it to find out the end to Maxon's story and the mystery behind the rebel attacks. I hope America can bring me back to her side, cause I'm caught in the middle between her and Kriss.

Rating: 2/5 Cups

 

Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229120699769207897/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/creative-bookshelves?sub=2011723_866169#.msBnm4Qo7

I have enough books...

I think I should do this.

WWW Wednesday (159)

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 Elite by Kiera Cass. Sequel to The Selection, America has two men fighting for her. One is the Prince and the other is the first love who broke her heart in the first book.

02. Recently Finished:
Finding the Rainbow by Traci Borum. Holly Newbury has been taking care of her sisters since their mother passed away. Now her idle life is about to shift into drive when a film company comes to town, bringing a rather nice American writer with it. Such a slow sweet story of falling into friendship before love.

03. Reading Next:
Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers. A girl named Ismae escapes a marriage and seeks refuge in an assassin training convent. Excited to finally read this one!

Teaser Tuesday (166)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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



Grave Mercy (p.57)
   - Robin Lafevers

For one brief moment I fly through the air. The painful landing on my back forces all the breath from my lungs, and I gasp like a caught fish.

Finding the Rainbow

Holly Newbury’s life is on hold in the cozy English village of Chilton Crosse. While her friends are marrying, having children, and embarking on successful careers, Holly is raising her three younger sisters and working part time at the village art gallery. Her life feels incomplete, but family is more important to her than anything. Then a film crew’s arrival galvanizes the community, and Holly becomes fast friends with Fletcher Hays, the movie’s love-shy American writer.

The production of an Emma film isn’t the only drama in town, though. Their father makes a choice that threatens everything she gave up her dreams for. Holly’s sisters endure growing pains. And Fletcher plans to return to America as soon as filming is over, ruining any chance of their relationship blossoming further. After years of sacrificing for others, Holly must find the courage to take a risk on a future she never dared to expect.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Traci Borum continues sharing Chilton Crosse with readers in her new book, Finding the Rainbow, the sequel to Painting the Moon. Though Adam and Noelle make their own appearances, this novel focuses on Holly, who has her own love story to share. 

Holly is a young woman in her late twenties, living back at home, helping raise her three younger sisters since their mother passed away six years prior. Holly is an engaging, busy, aspiring woman who feels her life is in a sort of limbo. She left college to help her family, and though she continues to take online classes, Holly is unsure of her purpose. This is a foundation for readers to build upon. We've all wondered where our paths will take us, what our future holds. This uncertainty and vulnerability allows readers to care about Holly and her future. Her loving personality and understanding nature will only add to the initial character connection. 

Readers will also enjoy Fletcher, the Texan who's transplanted himself onto English soil. He's a sweet man who plays the hero to a few damsels in distress. Though the love story is slow, emulating Emma, I believe, since a film adaptation is being shot in Chilton Crosse, there is a romantic plot. The main focus of the novel is really just Holly. Borum explores her career goals, the relationship between her and her sisters, as well as her love life. Through ups and downs, readers watch as Holly's life becomes her own. 

The relaxed nature of the book did drive me a bit batty towards the end, as everything wraps up. I wanted a bigger climax in the romantic plot. Though the big scene is deliriously sweet, it's a little predictable. I loved watching the relationships between Holly and her sisters shift with various situations and events. I think that dynamic was my favorite. Also, I am a little jealous of a certain part of Miss Holly's happily ever after. The career that drops perfectly into her lap is a fond dream of my own (and other book lovers, I'm sure!). Finding the Rainbow elicits various emotions throughout and shows that there is also calm after the storm, when the rainbow appears. Readers who enjoy a book that takes its time and a love that is slow to bloom will thoroughly enjoy this meandering story.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Book 1 of the Chilton Crosse Novels

Photo Friday

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172262754473945831/
http://bookshelfporn.com/post/3480325544

A suitcase full of stories. 

Vacation bound.

WWW Wednesday (158)

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:
Finding the Rainbow by Traci Borum. The second novel taking place in Chilton Crosse, this time with the focus on Holly, a young woman who is helping raise her three sisters, six years after the death of their mother. When a movie version of Emma comes to town, things heat up in terms of family and romance.

02. Recently Finished:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Amazing emotional roller coaster of a book. If you were in a coma, and the decision was yours alone, would you stay or let go? It isn't an easy decision for Mia after a tragic car accident takes her parents.

03. Reading Next:
The Elite by Kiera Cass. The second book in The Selection series. We'll see how America changes her tactics when she decides to participate in the contest to become the next Princess.

If I Stay

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

*May Contain Spoilers*

By now, a lot of Gayle Forman fans have seen the movie adaptation of the book, If I Stay. I have to admit, I saw the movie in theaters when it first came out and have only just now finished the novel. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to read it; it is quite wonderful, poignant, heartwrenching, and more. However, since I had already seen the movie, I knew what Mia's choice was going to be. (Unless something happened like in My Sister's Keeper and the endings were totally different... but that isn't what transpired.) That being said, knowing the ending did not save me any emotional exploration or experience with Miss Mia. And wow, what a day we both had. 

The first twenty-four hours are critical for a patient in a coma. The readers experience this limited time frame with Mia as she realizes her grave condition, learns that the outcome is her choice, and finally makes a decision. Mia is a high school senior who loves the cello and a boy named Adam. She's modest, sophisticated, loving, generous, and knows exactly how blessed she is. Mia is open with the readers in her uncertainty and nervousness at living in a world without her family in it. Readers will completely understand how difficult her decision is. And either way, we accept that it's her choice to make. The terrible tragedy of her parents dying instantly at the beginning immediately forms a foundation with readers. The bond is solidified forever when Teddy, her little brother, passes. The hope of Adam and Mia's love story, the faith of Mia's grandparents, and the fierceness of her best friend give Mia a reason to fight, but is the loss too much to bear? 

If I Stay covers a little more than twenty-four hours of a random day in Oregon when a family of four went for a drive and tragedy struck. Inspired by true events, Gayle Forman explores the choice of life or death, struggle or peace. Readers will undoubtedly connect with Mia as she shares her life story while watching the consequences of her accident unfold. The honesty of Mia's indecision is both powerful and honorable. The writing style is clear and concise while sharing the most intimate details of Mia's short life. I am very interested in where Mia went after her decision and, though I am probably the last one, I cannot wait to read the next book. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (165)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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



Finding the Rainbow (11% on Kindle)
   - Traci Borum

"Characters can seem like real people sometimes, can't they?" Mildred's nod extended to the entire room, encouraging reciprocal nods.

The Man Who Loved Too Much: Archipelago

This is the story of Billy Green. When he was just turning four, his father tried to throw him in the trash. He was a smart kid but that just seemed to create enemies.

His mom did everything to protect him. But this was Detroit, armpit of the wasteland! Catholic school didn’t help much, except the time he got his first kiss from an atheist nun. Home life was dismal. Was his father capable of anything but drinking beer and farting? And what was with that neighbor who made puppets and tried to molest Billy? Golly! Detroit was sucking the life out of him. At such a young age!

Then adolescence swirled around him. Like water in a toilet bowl. High school was a B movie. Only without a plot. So finally he did something about it. Billy ran away… to college. Cornell University. That was a good move for sure! He studied hard, lost his virginity, met the love of his life. Things were definitely looking up! What could possibly go wrong? Isn’t that what we always ask?

*May Contain Spoilers*

I finished reading John Rachel's novel, The Man Who Loved Too Much: Archipelago , a couple of days ago and have been struggling to put my opinion on character strength into words. The entire novel is undoubtedly about Billy Green, from infancy to sophomore year in college. The writing style is unique and fresh. But somewhere the book has an itch that I can't seem to scratch. 

Billy Green is a singularity. He was raised by an over-attendant mother and an alcoholic father. He should have been a spoiled brat or a resentful rebel but he grew up to be neither. Readers witness his growth into a deep thinker who's honest, loyal, confused by love, and a genuinely good character. The way that Rachel shares Billy's entire story, instead of a snippet of time with references to his past, lets the reader connect more with his character. 

However, the main plot seems to be the love story between Billy and Natalie, which doesn't start until his college years. Though the relationship with his father is an interesting novel aspect, as is the reaction to his mother fighting cancer. But, again, that doesn't start until his college years. I enjoyed Billy's character, and his adventure into the beginnings of adulthood, but I think I would have enjoyed the novel more if the focus was on the struggle of evolving relationships as the character comes of age. It seemed like the first parts of the novel, which revealed a near pedophile incident and a chaste first kiss with a nun, were just long-winded introductions to the main story line. 

It's tough to weigh character connection and in-depth descriptions against the overall intrigue of the story when also trying to assign a rating to a book. John Rachel's novel was well-written, with only a few mistakes here and there. It was funny, witty, and shocking at times. But most importantly, I cared about Billy and sincerely wanted him to end up with someone good. Not sure if that's Natalie, as she seems a little flighty and secretive (Pam = step mother?), but as a reader I want Billy to have a happy ending. And I think most readers will feel the same way, which shows a definitive bond between reader and character.

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups