Monday, June 18, 2012

Review: Broken City by D. D. Chant

Broken City by D. D. Chant



Publication date: 2/7/2011
Format: e-book
Length: 348 print pages

Summary: 
Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in.
Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her Sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems.....

Review: 
At the beginning of the book, it seemed like Deeta was telling us a story because she was talking directly to the reader. I found this very interesting and i really liked it. 
One thing that really stuck with me through the book was (Spoiler) when Tom told Deeta that she couldn't be friends with them. I get that he was just trying to protect her but he could have been nicer about it.
I got to a major twist in the story then looked down to see how far into the book I was and was surprised to see I was only about half way through! Then I was like YES I get to see what happens!!
So much happens! Loved it. It did kind of remind me of The Hunger Games just without the Games. There are different tribes that live in there own place and they do what they need to survive. Most of the tribes don't trust one another at first. The story had more to it than the Hunger Games. 
Deeta is just so honest and caring. Tom is a man of little words. He is calm under pressure and thinks things through. 
Writing a book that takes place in it's own world must be difficult to write because you have to come up with all new rules and people. If it takes place in our world its easy. It impressive that authors can come up with so many details to bring a new world alive. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. At first, it took me a little to really get into it but after things finally got started, I was really into it.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/350174312

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/RSR5XYTMZDR3F/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005GHMH8A&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text

~Alisia

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Review: Almost Perfect by Julie Ortolon

Almost Perfect by Julie Ortolon
Published Date: March 19, 2011
Length: 290 print pages
Format: e-book

Three friends are happy for another friend for getting her book published. They didn't know that they were used as examples of how fear can control your life. After finding out, they decide to change that. To do the thing they wanted most. They have one year to complete their tasks. Will they finally take control of their lives? Or will fear control them?
Maddy, Christine and Amy have been best friends since college. Opposites really do attract because these girls couldn't be more opposite. It is easy to relate to at least one of these ladies. It's also understandable to have the fears they had. Everyone wants to reach for the dreams but there is always something in the way, a fear of something. Some people get over it, while others don't. 
You are drawn in to this book from the beginning. You want to know if they will be able to overcome their fears and finally get their dreams.  The story is fun, exciting and makes you want to overcome your fear. 
Maddy has to get her artwork shown at at least one place, working at a summer camp near a bunch of galleries makes it easy. But there is one problem, Joe (her high school sweetheart) runs the camp and it didn't end well between them. As Maddy and Joe grow closer and apart again and then closer, yeah you get the idea, Maddy's dream changes but Joe doesn't quite like that. He wants her to have a great art career. She just wants him.  What happens to them?? Find out for yourself in this fun and sexy book. Spoiler (they both get what they want)!
I love that little extra at the end that is set a bit in the future! I believe that the other two books are about the other two friends and how they complete their tasks! Which is just awesome, cant wait to read them!


I really enjoyed this book, i recommend it for anyone looking for a romance read!
4.3/5 stars


~Alisia

Review: HYM and HUR by Phillip Frey

HYM and HUR by Phillip Frey
Publication date: 1/14/2012
Format: e-book
Length: 38 print pages

This is a short story about an immortal couple who have abilities. They help people and play pranks on them, but it must be approved by Death first. As they think of pranks, they come up with a way to help people, Death approves it. But is it because he wants to see HYM and HUR do good? Or does he have his own plans?
I thought that it was a good short story. I just wish that we could have gotten to know the characters more. Like how did Hym and Hur become immortal or were they always?
SPOILER:  I liked the part where Archie and Sarah were drinking champagne and every time they picked up the bottle there was more in it. I knew it had to be Hur or Hym and I was right! Sneaky little immortals.
I also liked that we got to see what happened with Archie and Sarah in the end.
It was very interesting to see this version of Death. Yes, he wisely and a trickster, just like them all. But he wasn't so doom and gloom as most Deaths. He was happy with his job and he let it show. 
Anyone who has a little bit of time and is looking for a book they can start and finish, I suggest this one!





~Alisia




Saturday, June 9, 2012

Review: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
Publisher: EgmontUSA (Apr 10, 2012)
Hardcover with 336 pages. 

Summary:
   Mirabelle lives with her two godmothers, who practically keep her under lock and key. There are so many things she is not allowed to do, but that doesn't stop her from doing the one thing they really don't want her to do. Return to Beau Rivage, the place where she was born and the place where her parents are buried. 
   Beau Rivage isn't your normal town, it where fairy tales become reality. And most don't have happy endings. With the help of two brothers, Mira learns about her past and her own fairy tale. Will Mira take control of her own fate? Or will fate control her?
Review:
   Its easy to relate to Mira, everyone has a set of rules to follow. She goes with the tide and everyone talks around her and say things that make no sense. At first she sweet but then as her life gets crazier, she grows up. She may make bad choices in boyfriends, but picks the right one in the end.It would have been great if we could have learned about the other characters more but they each had an interesting story. 
   I enjoyed this book. It was intriguing to see a new side to fairy tales and to how people could deal with them. Sometimes you could tell what was going to happen, I was doing that the whole book but then there would be a twist and it would go into a new direction. 
   The book was pretty good and i would recommend it to  people who want a book that puts a twist to something we already know (fairy tales).






~Alisia

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

June 2012

Under the Never Sky / Veronica Rossi
Undead and Unemployed / Mary Janice Davidson
Kill Me Softly / Sarah Cross
* Significance / Shelly Crane
*Awaken / Sarah M. Ross
*Ember / Tess Williams
*Once Bitten / Trina M. Lee
*Picture Perfect / Heather MacAllister
*Clockwise / Elle Strauss
*Broken City / D. D. Chant
Taken at Dusk / C. C. Hunter
The Princess and The Peer / Tracy Anne Warren
Heat Stroke / Rachel Caine
Shade / Jeri Smith Ready
Hourglass / Myra McEntire
If I Stay / Gayle Forman
Switched / Amanda Hocking
Slide / Jill Hathaway
Entwined / Heather Dixon
Graceling / Kristin Cashore
*Almost Perfect / Julie Ortolon
*HYM and HUR / Phillip Frey
*365 Days With You / Erica Stanciu
The List / Melanie Jacobson

* = ebook

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Length: 384 pages


Summary:
     After Aria is thrown out of Reverie, she must team up with Perry, an Outsider. She can't survive the Death Shop alone and she needs his help to find her mother. Perry, after Talon is taken, does everything he can to save him even if it means being stuck with Aria, which ends up being better than he expected. 


Review:
     I can't believe that I put off reading this book. I've had it for a while and could always find a reason to put off reading it but once I started, I could NOT put it down. It was mesmerizing. It was interesting from beginning to end, not one page was dull. There was always an adventure or battle or slow-burning romance.  The fact that what made some people special was that they had better senses than other was very fascinating. It makes them easier to related to as humans. The characters are very easy to relate to and you really feel for them. I loved how Aria slow turned from a sheltered girl into a warrior. She never gave up on those she loved.
Anyone looking for a good read should check this book out!
4.5/5 stars!
~Alisia

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

May 2012

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs / Molly Harper
Firespell /Chloe Neill
The Goddess Test / Aimee Carter
Bone Crossed / Patrica Briggs
The Girl in the Steel Corset / Kady Cross
As I Wake / Elizabeth Scott
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men / Molly Harper
Bloodrose / Andrea Cremer
Hexbound / Chloe Neill
A Quick Bite / Lynsay Sands
Undead and Unwed / Mary Janice Davidson
Sleeping with the Fishes / Mary Janice Davidson