Random Musings

To all you bloggers:

Does it ever get too much? I've now been blogging for over a year but I still feel like a newbie. And I'm wondering and asking all veteran bloggers--does it ever become too much stress or work? Because for me, it's hard juggling all these posts and blog tours, making sure everything is scheduled, that nothing is wrong, that there's no broken HTML, etc. It's hard and it takes up TONS of time. 

So I guess I'm just musing about the question of "Is it worth it?" Is blogging worth all the blood and sweat and, most importantly, time? 

Well here's my answer:

Absolutely. Blogging is worth everything. Honestly, I wonder how I ever survived without! I can't believe how bored I must have been. Hell, I didn't even read good books before I got introduced to Goodreads which I actually started using because of the blog!

The people too. I love the blogging community and even to the bloggers I've never even talked to--we're like a giant family. Mess with one of us and you mess with the whole bunch. And I love all my bloggy friends to bits of course! *Waves* Hey...

The blogosphere is just an amazing place to hang out and be yourself without worrying about people judging you on clothes and looks (because trust me, at least in my school, they do).

Not to mention all you guys, my viewers and followers! Whenever I get a comment I just want to hug you and blush. Because the fact that you read my post is amazing enough. That you took the time to comment is even more stunning and unbelievable!

And of course there are the perks, like sometimes getting inside information on some things, (for me) being less shy around authors, hosting blog tours, and getting ARCs and books! It's really amazing, actually. 

Yes, blogging is worth it. Every second of the work and sweat.

Metaphorically of course.

Thank God I lightened things up. I'm silly and sentimental things, when coming from me, tend to make ramble...and I'm doing that now aren't I.

Waiting on Wednesday

17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost.

Ummm...gorgeous cover, creepy premise, a chilling mystery...I'm pretty sure I want this. It's already preordered. HELLO. I think I'm getting more into horror and thrillers than I was before. Wow, blogging really has made me spread out my tastes...but yeah. This really is one of my top awaited books of 2013 that I recently discovered. It just sounds AMAZING and the synopsis itself gives me chills!

The Lost Girl by Sangu Madanna

Goodreads Blurb

Eva's life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination--an echo. She was made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her "other," if she ever died. Eva spends every day studying that girl from far away, learning what Amarra does, what she eats, what it's like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.
But sixteen years of studying never prepared her for this.
Now she must abandon everything and everyone she's ever known--the guardians who raised her, the boy she's forbidden to love--to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.
What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

The Lost Girl was, in all intents and purposes, a great read that definitely made an impression. But did I absolutely love it like I did others? No, not quite.But it was an amazing book that I did enjoy and, maybe did love the second half!

The Lost Girl was actually pretty slow for me in the first half and I honestly almost put it down.But I decided to push on and continue it and SO glad I did! After we meet Ray things really get to pick up. Because Ray, out of all people, was the closest one to Amarra, and he would be the first one who would be able to figure out that Eva isn't Amarra. That Eva is an echo. And *SPOILER!* he does. That's when things really picked up and I was almost desperate to find out how it ended. There were so many ways this book could go, and I loved the way it did!

Eva did annoy me for a single moment when she was leaving England and she ran to hug Sean. It was sweet! But I couldn't help a little trickle of irritation sneak in.That one thing could get her killed! WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?! But after that one anger moment, I loved her. She was trying to stay alive, but to survive as well. And despite what everyone said, she was human. Just because she wasn't born like a regular one doesn't mean she wasn't one. She had her flaws--she was stubborn and strong willed and she could be cruel if it meant surviving. But she wanted to live and I think that was the biggest tip off and I wanted to smack a lot of secondary characters for thinking of her like an empty machine or something.

The romance actually surprised me and that is one of possibly the hardest things to do in YA fiction nowadays without a solid love triangle. And no, this was not  a solid love triangle. I was thinking "Oh, she'll end up with Sean." then "No no, she'll end up falling in love with Ray and then he'll find out she's not the real Amarra and break her heart, then he'll fall in love with the real Eva then..." and then "Nah, maybe it IS Sean..." And who she did end up with satisfied me because the other guy was a complete butthole to her. 

The plot was, like I said, slow in the beginning but later picked up at a speed I enjoyed and had me flipping rapidly through the pages. I had no idea what would happen next because Eva was just completely unpredictable! And when we get a closer look at the Weavers, I also realized just how...different they each were. Matthew was actually my favorite character, secondary and otherwise. He was hilarious to read about and, have no doubts, was actually at least the smallest bit human to make us love him. 

I was thinking, though, how many open strands there are for a stand alone book. I have so many questions unanswered but it doesn't seem like we'll be getting a sequel!

The Lost Girl was really a great read that will make you wonder yourself--What really makes us human and what makes us not? The Lost Girl is just the kind of book you need to read if you just need a fun story that really does make you wonder these things. Quick paced and wonderful, it will captivate you!

Pages: 432

Series: Stand alone

Genre: Sci-fi

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Rating: 4 stars

Book Haul + Weekly Recap

OMG AWESOME WEEK. But either Harper lied to me about sending me The Elite or it got lost. I *HOPE* it's the second one. BUT STILL. SQUEE.

Bought

For Review

Borrowed

Isn't this so exciting? SQUEE IT'S SO EXCITING. Books shown in the first picture-
The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Poison by Bridget Zinn
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
The Rules of Disappearing by Ashley Eltson
Everbound by Brodi Ashton
Slated by Teri Terry 
Shadowlands by Kate Brian
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
OMG! I LOVE YOU AMAZON. It shipped 3 days early!!! I AM SO PSYCHED FOR ALL OF THESE. Except Send Me a Sign. WHICH I READ AND LOVED. Shadowlands sounds TERRIFYING and Slated just sounds AMAZING. The Archived has so many amazing things said about it and EVERBOUND IS EVERBOUND.
MY FIRST HYPERION BOOKS ARE THESE TWO AWESOME ONES! Reading The Rules of Disappearing and LOVING IT! Poison has been on my wishlist for sooooo long!
I may have borrowed this from a friend who stole this from her younger brother. LOVED this!


Weekly Recap
Just for Fun
Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison
Waiting on Wednesday
Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Sorry!

WELL, it seems I've been way too busy lately to blog or even answer these few questions for the Venom Readalong! I WILL DO NEXT WEEK'S ONE THOUGH. I SWEAR.

! I don't even KNOW why! Things are normal so why I suddenly have less time is BEYOND me.

Well, okay. So I may have decided that I should take a shot at writing even if my English teacher gave me a failing score on my short story. BUT I HAD THIS BRILLIANT IDEA.

But no worries, blogging always comes first since it's one thing I don't fail at!

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Goodreads Blurb

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.
Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. 

I went into this having no expectations whatsoever, so imagine my shock when it turned out to be an amazing novel that I ended up loving!

My only complaint was that this...was...graphic. Incredibly so at times. And for a YA book...that was just, a bit too much. Other than that, I don't really have any other negative feelings besides that at times it was slow.

In the beginning, you see how Anna was slowly broken down, without even knowing it. She didn't know what was different, what was wrong, not consciously at least. She was...a complicated character that while I couldn't really connect with her, I could understand her. And she really...she really was broken and she couldn't see it. It just...hurt in a way that can't be explained, but I sympathized with her, deeply so. She wasn't solving her problems in any way by doing what she did, and honestly that was a little annoying, but it was her way to cope. She just didn't learn any different.

The writing in this was completely beautiful and it was just stunning. The way this story unfolds is definitely like poetry (but no, it's not in those weird literal poetry form paragraphs!) and I just fell in love with the story. It was emotional in a way that it doesn't make you cry, but it makes you think about your place in your family and in society itself.

Sam, honestly, wasn't very important until 5/6 into the book, near the end. So what we read is really Anna's path towards the person she's wanted to be and the family she's always wanted. Sam was just there to push her on her way, and that wasn't necessary till the end. So no, this isn't really a love story at all, is it?

Honestly, if you're looking for a light fluff, this seriously isn't the book for you. This is a brutally honest book that will make you not only look at the world differently, but yourself. I think I'd recommend this for fans of 13 Reasons Why and even for those who didn't really love it (like I did...)

Pages: 240

Genre: Contemporary/Mature YA

Series: Stand alone

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: January 15, 2013

Rating: 3.5-->4 stars

Waiting on Wednesday

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Sweet Evil was one of my Fictious Freakouts so it's about time that this made an appearance on my WoW! But even if it wasn't, the fact that there's more Kaidan makes me squee! I can't wait for this! Also--Kopano? What is it with Anna and her going on road trips with some hot Neph? ;) But I really can't wait for this and I'm desperately hoping it won't be a sequel syndrome book! If it is I will be sorely disappointed...but I'm 80% sure it won't be! Can't wait! April can't come soon enough!

Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

Goodreads Blurb

They say first love never dies...
From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it's only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death. 
There's a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there's a good chance she's losing her mind completely--just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn't really there?
With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It's the only way she can save herself.

This book was...interesting. I have so many conflicted feelings about this! On one hand it was amazing, with absolutely gorgeous writing, a likeable love interest, with a decent plot, but on the other hand it was predictable and didn't focus on the mystery as much as I would've liked. Not to mention that her colorblindness doesn't seem to be a key role or anything and while I was hoping for one of those character-you-can't-trust stories, I didn't get it.

The writing was simply stunning! There were so many gorgeous examples, but I decided to choose this one since I think it's my favorite of all (and it's actually the first paragraph too.)
"Think about a moment, a little centimeter of time you'd happily exist in forever, if time could be laid out along the spine of a ruler. Maybe it haunts you in that blue inch of half consciousness just before you're fully awake."
Instantly I fell in love and I think that's when my hopes went soaring. The writing flowed well and I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the lull of these words. If I had an audio version, I bet I'd be listening to it forever!

As a mystery, this book was disappointing, but as a contemporary and realistic fiction, this book had it all. I loved (this will sound mean) how her life just fell apart all at once, and showing how delicate family and friend bonds can be. I loved how Olivia dealt with these problems, truthfully, and I just loved the book as a whole. It shows how a seemingly great, if not perfect, life can spiral so quickly out of control and how it's best to let go.

As for the romance, is there a love triangle? Not really. Because Stern is...dead. And Olivia knows that. So while she does still have feelings for him, I got the vibe that she knew she couldn't really do anything about them besides telling her that she really did love him. Then there's Austin who, while I did love him, was a stereotypical character--hot, rich, a bit of a player, smug, and interested? I think we've seen that. But I have to admit, I find them a lot better than sweet innocent guys. I don't know, I'm weird like that! But the romance is sweet and it has a bit of a twist!

As for the mystery part, it wasn't really a mystery since it was predictable, sadly. Right when we met the culprit, my mind was jogging, thinking, "He/she's going to be important...". so while it was an enjoyable read, it didn't necessarily have me at the edge of my seat. If it wasn't as obvious, I'm sure I would've completely adored this book! But with the ARC, I just couldn't love it as much as I wanted.

By the end, I had a thousand questions left unanswered, but...I liked it. The reason for Olivia's colorblindness was never explained, but the way this conflict was resolved symbolized something, though I can't tell you just yet! Something that irritated me, though was that *SPOILER* Almost everything becomes a Happy-Ever-After and I was disappointed by that. It sort of ruined the ending, and as evil as it seems, I honestly think some things should've been left as a tragedy rather than a miracle.

Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery/Paranormal
Series: Stand alone
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: February 12
Rating: 3.5--->3 stars

Just For Fun

So. As a Just for Fun thing, I thought I'd show you some of the cover changes of the year (Well, 2012)! You probably know all of these, but hey. It's Just for Fun! I don't really hate any of these or love any of these. Though I do miss the old covers for Across the Universe...

Book Haul + Weekly Recap

Slow week! BUT I GOT SOME AMAZING STUFF. Or really, one amazing thing...or 2!

Catherine by April Lindner
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

AND

SO excited about Catherine...although a whole bunch of friends said it's not that good. :\ I'm hoping I'll be the black sheep in this! AND YES! A hardback of Black City! SIGNED too! And yes...I *may* have a signed ARC of it...well...And the Prey. I don't remember requesting this...? And I don't think I'll be able to review it. I may pull an Eileen and give it to the first person who wants it.
OMG YES. YESYESYESYES! My first Apple product ever...whoops. I'm so behind. BUT OMG THIS IS SO AMAZING! The only reason I got on this computer was to blog lol...SQUEE

Weekly Recap
Out of the Easy by Ruta Septys
Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
Waiting on Wednesday
Tidal by Emily Snow
Venom Readalong Week 2
PLAGIARISM

Random Musings

TOPIC OF THE DAY-
Plagiarism.

We all know how wrong this is. I mean, with all the drama early last year (we all know it. I won't bother mentioning it!) I thought people'd finally learned a lesson...and then, this tweet pops up on my Twitter Timeline where one of my friends, Annabelle @ Sparkles and Lightning says that she's been plagiarized!

This is not okay. And I'm saying this to all of plagiarism.

No! Don't worry, it's not a giant blogger. I won't link to the website (though you probably will find it since a bunch of us are talking about this today, including Annabelle) since what she did is wrong, but I feel that doing that is like bullying. I'm not saying it is! But I've never been one to make someone feel bad--even when she really really REALLY should.

Because this blogger plagiarized at LEAST 2 of my favorite blogs: Sparkles and Lightning and Mundie Moms.

*listens to Eileen while typing this*

This just in, the plagiarizer just took down all plagiarized reviews.
But I'm still going to write this! Because honestly? Plagiarism is completely wrong and a bit pitiful. It's like saying you're not creative enough to come up with something on your own, so you have to take from others. And I'm just saying, plagiarism is always going to be found if someone does it. there are a thousand people in the blogosphere and they're going to one day stumble across some plagiarized work and they're going to recognize it. The fact that people think they can get away with it makes me want to slap them.

The fact that they did it makes me want to punch them.

It's SO NOT FAIR TO THE BLOGGERS WHO ACTUALLY WROTE THE REVIEWS.

Lesson? DON'T PLAGIARIZE. ITS WRONG. AND WE WILL FIND OUT. BECAUSE WE'RE EACH OTHERS' EYES AND EARS SO WE'LL KNOW IN 5 MINUTES OF DISCOVERY.

I just don't get the reason for this. If it was for the free books? Oh man, that is the WORST REASON EVER.

Rant OVER. I promise this time.

EDIT: THAT IS A LIE. I'm sorry! But update: we got an email from the coblogger of the plagiarizer and it wasn't apologetic AT ALL. I swear...it was all "You ruined my first 5 months of blogging" "I'm so awesome" "I forgive you in advance" ACK. WHAT IS THIS.

Other protesters:
http://eileenlisblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.auntiespinellireads.com/
http://bookhavenextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
http://sparkles-and-lightning.blogspot.com/

Venom Readalong (9-16)

WEEK 2 OF THE VENOM READALONG!!! Made by MOI and Annabelle (Sparkles and Lightning!) Yes, this is late, but I just wanted to do Friday. You know, for no particular reason...

I will be answering this and pretending like I haven't read this awesome book already.
(Here are some other posts for this week! Just click here)

Rereading this has been a blast and having read the ARC first, I see some changes being made! Awesome changes, of course!

Do you think Cristian rescuing Cass was a coincidence?

Well, I've learned that, in books, nothing's ever a coincidence. ;) 

Do you think the tossing of her stays symbolizes anything? Or is it just a fun scene (that totally made me grin!)?

I think it symbolizes the way she thinks--that she doesn't want to be caged in and sheltered anymore.

Who do you think was behind the falcon mask?

Well, I've read this so I honestly can't say, but definitely the murderer!

What do you think of the whispered conversation between Falco and his friends?

Well, there are some people up to no good! Definitely suspicious here...Please don't be the murderer.

In this chapter, Cass comes across prostitutes up close for the first time and finds herself enthrall we by the strangeness of it. How would you, as a sheltered high-class girl, have reacted?

I'd, personally, be revolted. I'd have run away as fast as I could lol! I don't do well out of my areas of comfort!

It's obvious Falco is keeping secrets. What do you think they are? Why do you think he's hiding the truth from Cass?

Well...here's another question I can't answer. But he's definitely hiding the fact that he knows that person from the cut up body parts...I forgot his name. And I think he's trying to be the person Cass THINKS him to be, which is why he's not telling her the truth. 

When Cass asks Falco, "Why should I trust you?" he responds, "Because you want to." Is that a good reason for trust? Why or why not?

Yes! You have to trust your gut, right? And so far, he hasn't given much reason why not to. If he was (or was aquainted to) the murderer, wouldn't Cass be dead?

Check out Fiona Paul's blog here!

Blog Tour: Tidal by Emily Snow

Goodreads Blurb

Now that Willow Avery is out of rehab, she's got one chance left to prove herself before she’s officially on every producer’s shit list. At least, that's what her parents and agent are claiming. She doesn't really give a damn if she never makes another movie or not—she just wants to get on with her life, get back to her friends, and find her next escape. But Willow is broke. And whether she likes it or not, acting is the only job she knows how to do.

When she accepts the lead in a beach drama, Willow finds herself in Hawaii. And in Hawaii, she finds Cooper, the gorgeous surfer hired to train her for her new role. With the bluest eyes she’s ever seen and the sexiest Australian accent she’s ever heard, Cooper’s different from the men she’s used to. He doesn’t want to use her. And he refuses to let her fail. But when an old friend re-enters Willow’s life—a friend whose toxicity she’s been drawn to time and time before and whose presence brings about the painful memories she's tried so hard to suppress—Willow will have to choose between the girl she was and the person she’s becoming. The lifestyle that helps her forget the pain and the guy she’s falling hard for.

Tidal, Tidal, Tidal. I first want to say that when starting this, I had no idea that it was a New Adult book. I probably should've suspected it, given the summary, but I didn't. So I was definitely surprised when some pretty...steamy sections popped up! Like, really. (Cue awkward cough)

I actually really enjoyed this contemporary though! In all it's fluffy and cheesiness. It was a fun read that I think I would've actually liked more if I read it during the summer, but without a doubt this was a great book! As a girl who loves chick flicks I absolutely adored this! As a reviewer and blogger, I didn't adore it, but I did enjoy it to a certain extent. So I would definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a break from the paranormal and hardcore contemporaries!

What I didn't like though was that the main point, the romance, wasn't very well developed and they seemed to fall in love (or rather, lust) at first sight. And that's when I really rolled my eyes. And the plot twist really wasn't surprising. Instead of the huge "OHEMGEE" it was more of a "Mhmm". But then, in these types of books not many people really care, do they?

I honestly think that anyone who goes on Wattpad (if you know it, you know it) will absolutely love this as well as any fans of Beautiful Disaster maybe? With a less dysfunctional relationship! It was written well, and I had tons of laughs and giggles reading this! Though, my advice--wait till summer maybe?

Author Bio

I'm the 26-year-old author of the forthcoming DEVOURED series (2012, 2013) and TIDAL (2012). I love books, sexy bad boys, and really loud rock music, so naturally, I write stories about all three.

Media

Blog

Facebook

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Waiting on Wednesday

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

Oh my goodness. I absolutely LOVED Claudia Gray's other work (the vamp series and the Titanic retell!) so hearing about this? HELLO? Plus I did love Hex Hall, I love witches, though I'm a bit iffy and suspicious of insta-love! But as if I'm not giving this a try! (Also, I'm totally a sucker for gorgeous covers!)

Nobody But Us Kristin Halbrook

Goodreads Blurb

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. 

Oh my GOODNESS. This was such an amazing book that made me tear up in the end. But, you know, sometimes I'm a rare crier, other times I'm the biggest wuss ever. But that ending. I just kept thinking "Please don't let what I'm think about to happen happen." 

When people talk about a raw and gritty story, I'm now going to always think about Nobody But Us.We have two teens who're running away from their harsh lives and while running away can sound stupid...it can definitely happen. No one said teens were smart, and teens with a hard life are desperate. I sympathized with them and both characters definitely had their own problems and were far from perfect...they were, perhaps, the most broken characters I've read about and my heart ached for them. The way this story is told, from both point of views, gives us more information, and more reasons to shed a few tears over what's happened to these teens. 

As for their trip, I enjoyed it? If that's the right word. I don't think I've ever read about runaways and I'm shocked by how...dangerous it was and how much risk they were taking. Trouble and suspicion became their companions and I found myself squeezing my eyes and hoping everything turned out okay in the end. Here's a spoiler--it doesn't. 

Zoe and Will's love was so real, but I feel it may have been born out of desperation for understanding. They were both broken and they were both reaching out for someone to get them. The result? A real love, but one that made them both a bit dysfunctional. Will and Zoe...wow. I think my only complain was how dysfunctional they got and how...well, how alike they were to Beautiful Disaster's characters. Travis and...Abby?  

The thing about this book is, well, it passes by so quickly. Their trip seemed so short, and by the time over 200 pages had passed by, I was shocked by how far I had read. I felt as if only maybe a hundred or so pages had passed before I finished and closed the book, shocked. It was just... exhilarating. This is, perhaps, one of the more raw books I've read, ever.

Pages: 272

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Stand alone

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Jan 29, 2013

Rating: 4.5-->4 stars

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Goodreads Blurb

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

So, just starting with this, I''m not quite sure why I loved this so much. When I think about it, the plot was everywhere and the romance was iffy...but, there's just something about Out of the Easy that just draws you in. Maybe it's how real the story is? How there are absolutely no happy endings, how once things look brighter, something, someone, just rips that hope away? Maybe how nothing is perfect, how Septys captures this perfectly imperfect world in her writing? Maybe, possibly, probably.

Just like Just One Day, there's no way I can use my usual reviewing...format(?) because like I said, I'm not quite sure what made me absolutely adore this book.While the plot was really all over the place, a few questions left unanswered, I think that it really does portray how the world is. You know that quote up at the top? "Books say she did this because. Life says she did this"? I think this book was more realistic than most others and just left those questions unanswered because they didn't need to be answered, I think. Or am I just overthinking?

So as there are in the real world, there are some...harsh characters. Willie seemed to me like a mother for Josie, sometimes cruel, but always there and always supportive. However, Josie's real mom? Talk about a character you're supposed to hate! And the other characters, the secondary characters...I loved how they were written. No matter how small a part they played, they each had their own story, their own reasons, and  some of them reminded me of people I actually knew, in a nicer way, of course...sort of.

I'm not quite sure how much this got me thinking how lucky I am not to have a life like this. I mean, this could actually be, for all I know, completely real! Everything touched me in some way and as a person who hasn't read Between Shades of Gray (never mind that it's on the Lone Star List, for all you Texans), I definitely have plans to soon! And hey, I can now brag that I've read Ruta Septys next book!

Stunning and captivating, Out of the Easy was an amazing read that entraps you with an engaging tale about a girl who's trying to find herself and her future in a bleak present. It'll make you cry, laugh, scream, all within minutes. This is not a novel you want to miss!

Pages: 348
Series: Stand alone
Genre: Historical/Romance
Publisher: Philomel Books
Release Date: Feb 13, 2013
Rating: 5 stars

Book Haul + Weekly Recap

No pictures guys! Sorry!

For Review
Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Bought
Crash by Lisa McMann
Just One Day Gayle Forman
Timekeeper Alexandra Monir

Thanks to Lenore for sending me a signed copy of this! I loved it! 4 stars! My review is going to be up mid-February though, since this month's schedule is full!
I preordered these so I'm so glad they came! My first time preordering! ;) I'm reading Crash and it is AMAZEBALLS. I already read Just One Day and LOVED it. (find my review here), and I can't wait to read Timekeeper! THE CLIFFHANGER OF TIMELESS WAS JUST CRUEL


Weekly Recap
Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum
Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black
Waiting on Wednesday
The Storyteller by Anotnia Michaelis
Venom Readalong Week 1

Venom Readalong (1-8)

WEEK 1 OF THE VENOM READALONG!!! Made by MOI and Annabelle (Sparkles and Lightning!) Yes, this is late, but I just wanted to do Friday. You know, for no particular reason...

I will be answering this and pretending like I haven't read this awesome book already.
(Here are some other posts for this week! Just click here)

What do you think of Falco so far? Do you trust him?
So far? Absolutely NOT. I mean, he suddenly leaves before dawn for "work", he pops out of nowhere, and HE'S IN THE GRAVEYARD AT MIDNIGHT. I don't buy that story of reading...he's up to something.

Thoughts on Siena?
She seems very timid and super shy...that's about it!

If you were in Cass's place, would you sneak out and try to solve it or try your best to shake it off?
Probably shake it off. Actually, I wouldn't be IN a graveyard in the first place. Those things freak me out.

Is it stupid of Cass to trust Falco so much? Would you, in her place?

YES. I mean, hello random guy who lazes around in graveyards at night. Creepy, no? But I probably would. I mean, FALCO.

Do you think Cass' Aunt Agnese is smothering her?

Without a doubt! Stuffy lady...but I'm guessing not all the high society women were exactly like Cass, then. 

Did anything seem off about the funeral to you?

Nothing, unless you count the fact that the preacher's eyes seemed to dark to Cass at that one moment...

Short answers, but trust me, the next questions are going to definitely have more in depth answers!

NEXT UP:

Chapters 9-17!

Check out Fiona Paul's blog here!

The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

Goodreads Blurb

A good girl.
A bad boy.
A fairy tale that's true.
A truth that is no fairy tale.
It begins the day Anna finds the child's doll on the floor of the student lounge. When it's claimed by Abel, the school drug dealer, Anna becomes determined to learn more about this mysterious boy with the military haircut and deep blue eyes. She follows him after school and discovers a secret: Abel is caring for his six-year-old sister, Micha, alone. Anna listens in as he tells her a fairy tale, the story of a little orphan queen pursued by hunters across the oceans for the treasure she carries: her pure, diamond heart. 
It's a story with parallels to reality. Social services and Micha's abusive father could take her from Abel if they discover the truth.
Despite friend's warnings, Anna is drawn to Abel and Micha, and falls under the spell of the story of the little queen and her desperate voyage.
But when people Abel has woven into his tale turns up dead, it's Anna whose heart is in danger. Is she in love with a killer? And has she set out on a journey from which there is no return?

I absolutely hated it, 100% hate.
I hated hated hated...
That I cried so much.

This book was absolutely spectacular, though a bit confusing at first. The writing was gorgeous and lyrical, poetic and beautiful, but there was a complexity to it that, if you couldn't figure it out, led to a lot of hard thinking about what this meant, who that was, etc. and honestly, it was sometimes hard to know until the straight-out tell! But it did create an atmosphere that added to the story--both the story and the fairy tale.

Honestly, while I did love the actual story, I found that the fairy tale actually captivated me more--just a tad! But I've always loved fantasy stories where nothing makes sense. But I was just as eager as Anna and Micha to find out what would happen next! Because this story was just what happened, what's happening, and what happens, in a more innocent and magical way.

Beyond anything, even how beautiful and touching the writing was, was how absolutely real the characters were. They were so...broken. All of them had their problems, even Anna who seemed to have a perfect life. There wasn't a mean girl, necessarily, who was a jealous (insert word), and there was no real evil person. It was just...life. How we decide who's our antagonist is really up to us and this book does accent that. (Ironically, I'm doing a presentation for Teen Leadership called "There is no Reality, Only Perception.") and I felt just sick how some people could seem so...kind and then have something ugly beneath. And this isn't just one character. I think this is, by far, the most accurate description of the world translated into a book. And I've read a lot of tries.

This book was absolutely touching and insanely emotional. I was almost SOBBING in math and that's not comfortable with people giving you strange looks and muttering "There she goes again", but the ending...Oh my GOD that ending. I think I melted into a puddle of tears. I couldn't...couldn't understand it, couldn't fathom it. I was just...shocked. Or maybe, like Anna, not shocked at all. This book didn't really have one conflict either, it was just...life as it sometimes is. I don't think there's ever going to really be another book that can beat it--it surpasses The Fault in Our Stars! (And I'd say 13 Reasons Why, but I never liked it anyways.)

Should you read it? Absolutely. Will you cry? Almost certainly. Will you wish you never read it, just so you could experience it over again? Without a Doubt. And will you love it? Of Course. Will you thank me later? OH, YOU BETTER. Because this WILL become one of your favorite books, and I can guarantee that you won't forget this. This is one that will leave it's own imprint on your heart--after it tears it up, glues, and breaks it again and again.

(Only reason it's not 10, though, was because of how depressed I felt afterwards. Not that it's necessarily bad...also, I just didn't see the romance. And Bertil creepeed me out)

Pages: 402
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Standalone
Publisher: ABRAMS
Release Date: Jan 1, 2012
Rating: 7 stars