Cover Reveal: United We Spy by Ally Carter

Oh. My. Gosh. You guys. I am having a minor fangirl attack at the moment. Okay, okay. A MEGA fangirl attack. I just need to let out a little scream.

Why, you ask? Because, of course, the title, description, and cover reveal for the last book in the Gallagher Girls series was released today. Yes!!!

Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever.

This cannot come out soon enough!! I can't wait!

Review: A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Description: This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog’s Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey’s search for his new life’s meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog.

But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey’s journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders—will he ever find his purpose?

Language: Mild (hardly any)

Violence: Moderate

Sexual: Mild (From the dog’s view, it says that he sees a couple “wrestling” on the couch and thinks nothing of it, but the dog falls asleep after mentioning that. Also, it says something about a “new game” that the dog discovered, which he soon lost interest in after being fixed)

There is a reason this novel was on the top list of 2o1o on GoodReads! I just cannot get enough of this story, with its interesting and fresh premise and lovable dog as the narrator.

The reason I picked up this book was because I was hoping this would make me smile. You see, I find it difficult these days, with stress and drama, to find a reason to smile, especially since fairly recently one of my best friends, who had been with me since I was a baby, died (my dearest dog). I was also hoping I would get some closure. But this book did so much more than make me smile; it made me laugh, grin even, and feel close to tears a few times. People were right to say that this is a story you will not forget.

Never once have I had mixed feelings about this novel: it was all love for it. Considering I’ve never read a book with the dog as the heroine, I wasn’t exactly certain what to expect. It was a little out of my comfort zone, but I am so relieved I took the plunge and dove right into this incredible story. Although it is quite short (at roughly three hundred and twenty pages), you will fly through the pages, and I am not sure whether it is the story itself or the amusing writing style that makes it so addicting. It did not take me long at all to complete this novel.

Whether you are quite familiar with Mr. Cameron’s works or you just love dogs, I can guarantee that this will move you and leave you with a comforting and settling feeling.

Cover: I love the simplicity of it. Refreshing.

Setting: Whether it’s the Yard, the loving home, or anywhere else, this dog faces new excitement and troubles along the way.

Characters: The dog. I love that dog. The owners were unique as well.

Storyline: Several adventures from the eyes of a dog.

Writing: The loose and easy-going writing style purposely tells us that dogs truly are simple creatures.

Surprises: I was impressed that there were a few surprises in this novel.

Overall: 4.5 stars. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2013 so far, and I won’t hesitate to pick up the second book.

Recommended: I would recommend this book to all dog lovers out there, along with the loyal fans of this author.

Review: Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

Description: Once, a long time ago, I walked down a night-darkened road called Firefly Lane, all alone, on the worst night of my life, and I found a kindred spirit. That was our beginning. More than thirty years ago. TullyandKate. You and me against the world. Best friends forever. But stories end, don’t they? You lose the people you love and you have to find a way to go on. . . .

Language: Moderate/Heavy

Violence: Moderate (deaths, drugs, comas, etc.)

Sexual: Moderate (mention of sex and molesting, but never specifically shown)

We all know those books; the ones of which you cannot help but fall in love with because of the enchanting, yet far from complex, writing style and the lovely characters that surround the pages and twist the story until it is completely its own, and not about the past story of Firefly Lane. I can tell you, without a doubt, that this is certainly one of those books.

This isn’t one of those stories that you can easily place on the shelf or toss aside and just forget with a shake of your head. It is an emotional roller coaster that you will not want to escape from. It pulls out your heart straight from your chest and shakes it up before returning it to its rightful place, with a dull ache and warmth of memories to flood your soul.

I was reading some reviews recently, and quite a bit of people stated rather unfairly that the pacing was slow, the plot was reused so much that it was a tangled and shredded mess, and there were more than a few still parts of flashbacks. Yes, the pacing was incredibly slow at some parts, but that brought forth character growth and brought me up to speed with the previous book, which I have not had the privilege to read yet. Sure, the plot may have been used before, but I do not believe that it was written exactly like this—how could something be written with such emotional triumph to the soul as this one? How could there be such original and relatable characters, as this one has? And perhaps there were flashbacks; in fact, it took up the majority of the book. But like I previously stated, it caught me up to the charming storyline and I did not mind reading about their past lives at all.

So, is this story for everyone? No. Why, then, should you bother giving it a try? Because I believe that this is a beautiful story told through the crumbled lives that is uplifting and overall satisfying, that you will never know you can enjoy or not unless you pick up the book and open to the first page.

Cover: The cover appears to be very nice beside the first novel, simple but captivating.

Setting: The story is set in several occasions, but I’d prefer to just put the original location: Firefly Lane.

Characters: All of the characters in this story are original and have their own personalities and backgrounds. You may assume dreadful facts about many of these characters, but as the story progresses you will learn their reasoning and suddenly be unable to judge them on their pasts. The author purposely does this before telling you the full story, letting you see the world through their broken gazes.

Storyline: A family and best friend learn to cope with the death of their precious relative.

Writing: The writing style of Kristin Hannah is unlike any that I have read before. It is not the most intellectually stimulating, but it is rather addicting and flowed so nicely and wonderfully that it in itself was beautiful in its own way. People tell me that her other books are better, but if it is, then I will be both astonished and pleased with this new discovery.

Surprises: This story is not one that will completely shock you, although there are some surprising moments. I did not find a large quantity of it; however, the surprises could have been wavered from trying to catch up with the different sides of everyone.

Overall: 4.5 stars. The only reason I did not give it a full five stars is because of the characters’ unique stories that seemed to pop back and force sporadically.

Recommended: I would recommend this to all fans of Firefly Lane (not to mention Kristin Hannah) and anyone who wants a refreshing and emotional read that will leave you satisfied with the ending and scanning the shelves for more pieces by this bright author.

Part One: Book-Related Presents for Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you had a great day celebrating Jesus' birthday.

There are a lot of things I love about Christmas. Obviously the first is being reminded of the day our Lord and Savior was born from the Virgin Mary, but the second has to be seeing the reactions of my family and friends as they open gifts I gave them. The third, well, is pretty obvious. Opening presents myself! I can't deny that I'm pretty sure we all love doing this.

I had some great surprises. I got a laptop (which I received before Christmas, but I still count it), a very nice camera (because I love photography), a small camera from my sister that gives it automatic vintage frames around the photo, some candy in my stocking, and Barnes & Noble gift cards. Guys, you have no idea how many of these I received. Four. FOUR. And I am so happy and grateful with all the things I was gifted!

So obviously I used the gift cards right away.

The first gift card was for NOOK, and those books I bought on Christmas Eve and listed on the December Book Haul. But the rest are for physical books. Yes. Physical books. It's been awhile, guys. It has. (Not that I don't love NOOK Books, because of course I do!)

After all the presents were open and my family who visited retired to their own homes, I went straight to B&N and ordered some books for myself. More than half of these books are used, but they are in great condition (either Very Good or Like New, for around two dollars or less, not counting shipping prices). The newer ones you see near the bottom are brand new from the website.

I'm so excited to get started on these!

z

Have you guys read any of these books? If so, please comment and tell me how you like them, and which you'd like me to review. And any recommendations are always welcome!

By the way, I also received a check from my grandma, which I will use to buy more books (I think I'm obsessed with using everything to buy more books. Aren't we all, though?), so look forward to Part Two!

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Description: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Language: Mild

Violence: Heavy

Sexual: Mild

Take a journey through the future, where everyone is able to choose a category they fit best in at age sixteen; a place where you will stay and follow the rules, or else you will be factionless and tossed into the streets, with few to help you get by.

Let me just get this fact out there in the open: I fell in love with Divergent.

Basically we are all Divergent. Our attitudes and actions are mixed together between all the factions. In this time, Divergence is normal. It’s what everyone is. But in this novel, Divergent may as well be a demon sent from hell. It’s unusual and yet not unexpected to not make it into any of the “normal” factions, but you will either be factionless or executed. You can act like you fit in, follow the rules, or you can take charge and fight for what’s right, with the high possibility of making it through the battle.

Many deaths were in this book, a whole lot of action and suspense that’ll make you chew on your nails in nervousness and almost fall right off the edge of your seat, and a romance that wasn’t over the top, which I was happy about. It’s awful when a gushy romance is too much for the story and it coats it in gooey insta-love, which also wasn’t the case here.

This book left me thinking long after I pried my eyes away from the intriguing story. How would you handle being brought up to be someone you aren’t? What would you do if you didn’t fit in any of the factions, if you didn’t want to follow the rules, and if you knew this world you lived in wasn’t fair and you would be willing to follow Tris and risk your life and others’ lives?

Cover: I love the cover! It’s very fitting, in my opinion, and original. Simple covers do not mean the story isn’t amazing.

Setting: A Dystopian world where everything is chosen for you.

Characters: Four: the man who is basically the assistant trainer in Divergent. He’s cruel, stubborn, and will push anyone their hardest. But deep down, he has a kind heart and will do anything to protect those he loves.

-Tris: the willful girl who is strong, fierce, and is still human enough that she is compassionate and tries to protect everyone, no matter the cost. Whether it’s putting her own life on the line or training in battle, Tris will win you over. And hopefully she will win the battle for the truth as well.

-Al: the betrayer. That’s all I have to say.

-Christina and Will: they were some of my favorite characters as well. Even though it seems more time than not that Christina should just shut her mouth and keep quiet, she was a great secondary character and won me over, along with the accompaniment of Will, who actually wasn’t in the book as much, but I loved him just the same and was extremely sad when… well, I can’t say…

-Peter, Molly, and Derek: I hate them. Sure, they’re Dauntless, but I wouldn’t call them brave. Brave people wouldn’t hurt others for the sake of winning the game or for their own benefit. That’s just cruel.

-Eric and others: most others were ones I had a strong dislike for, especially Eric. There were a few others that I do like, whose names have oddly escaped my mind at the moment…

Storyline: The beginning of this novel starts off as the usual Dystopian tale, which made me somewhat hesitant to continue if I hadn’t been sucked right into the story. But rest assured that this book is nothing like the usual ones out there. Just read it and you will understand.

Writing: It was so easy for me to lose myself in Tris’s voice. It’s right between simple and elaborate, but exceptionally enthralling and intriguing. It makes me feel as though I’m actually walking through this Dystopian world, following the rules and then breaking them, going through dangers and risking my life for those I love, right along with Tris, instead of making me feel like I’m just reading it.

Surprises: There were so many things in this book that I never saw coming, but I find I can’t state these surprises unless I want to spoil it for all of you. Which is tempting, but not my thing.

Overall: 5 stars! This book is one of the best that I’ve read in 2012. Even if you’re not a fan of the particular genre, there is everything in here that I can guarantee you will love if you give it a chance.

Recommended: I would recommend this book for years thirteen and over and for all of those who love unique Dystopian stories.

-         -“I might be in love with you.” He smiles a little. “I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though.”

-         -“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”

-         - “Peter would probably throw a party if I stopped breathing.'

“Well,” he says, “I would only go if there was cake.”

-         - “Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.” 

-         -“Sometimes crying or laughing are the only options left, and laughing feels better right now.” 

-          -“I am selfish. I am brave.” 

Cover Reveal: Free Souls by Susan Kaye Quinn

I am so excited about this one. It is the third and final book in the trilogy, and the cover is amazing. Susan Kaye Quinn is a self-published novelist, with fresh and intriguing stories to pour into that'll leave you wanting more.

When your mind is a weapon, freedom comes at a price.

Four months have passed since Kira left home to join Julian’s Jacker Freedom Alliance, but the hole in her heart still whistles empty where her boyfriend Raf used to be. She fills it with weapons training, JFA patrols, and an obsessive hunt for FBI agent Kestrel, ignoring Julian’s worries about her safety and repeated attempts to recruit her for his revolutionary chat-casts. When anti-jacker politician Vellus surrounds Jackertown with the National Guard, Kira discovers there’s more to Julian’s concerns than she knew, but she’s forced to take on a mission that neither want and that might be her last: assassinating Senator Vellus before he can snuff out Julian’s revolution and the jackers she’s come to love.

Doesn't this sound awesome? I can't wait!

Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Description: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Language: Heavy

Violence: Moderate/Heavy

Sexual: Moderate

   I have several different emotions souring through me after reading this book. Anticipation, adoration, the need for more, and an even stronger love for the story itself and Daemon and Katy; nothing was boring to me and there were only a few typos in the eBook version, which I forced myself to ignore and focus on the greatness of the overall book.

   There were so many things I want to point out, but that would be spoiling the whole thing for you guys. But it’s so hard not to gush about it! I mean, just think about it. Daemon: he’s his amazing and arrogant self who will make you wish you had a Daemon of your own just to cuddle with, despite the fact that he’s an alien. Oh, and Katy? She’s even feistier. Just register all of this.

   Overall, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, but at the same time releasing a breath you hadn’t known you’d been holding.

Cover: I love all the covers! The models on the cover (aka Pepe Toth and Sztella Tziotziosz) resemble the characters I’ve imagined as Katy and Daemon extremely well. The couple looks very well together, and I really like the background as well as not just the models.

Setting: West Virginia.

Characters: It’s pretty obvious who my favorite character is: Daemon. Oh, Daemon. Who wouldn’t like him? The reason I like him is because, well… Daemon is Daemon. The sarcastic, charming Daemon. And I don’t like him just because he’s hot. Even though he can be rude and definitely envious, it’s almost impossible for most people not to fall for him, much like Katy did (another one of my favorite characters, who is feisty and somewhat relatable), even though she denies it through most of the book, which I found quite annoying.

Storyline: Onyx starts right where Obsidian leaves off. The entire storyline I found was awesome and flowed really well. Very suspenseful and intriguing, but I will say no more because no one likes a spoiler.

Writing: I absolutely adore the writing style of this! It makes me never want to stop reading the book, but once it’s finished, I’m begging for more.

Surprises: There were quite a few things I didn’t see coming laid out sporadically throughout the book, ones that made my jaw drop. There was rarely a dull moment in this story—heck, in this series in itself—but this is to be expected.

Overall: 5 stars! Once again, Jennifer L. Armentrout does not disappoint. She is one of my all-time favorite authors, one who you can be guaranteed will have a great and intriguing romance, an interesting and thrilling story, and loveable and wonderful characters included in her novels.

Recommended: I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a unique alien story, and any sci-fi or paranormal lovers! Even if you don’t like aliens, this book changed my liking of them and it’s possible to change yours as well.

Jennifer L. Armentrout + Opal

   As you all know, I've been sort of obsessing over Jennifer L. Armentrout. But I can't help it, she's just so awesome! Why is she so awesome, you ask? As if you didn't already know.
   Not only does she write one of my favorite series (Lux), and write she does extremely well, but she just seems really cool. She's probably one of the few people who would put up with my weirdness. Maybe. Ha.
   Anyway, another reason why she's awesome: She's having a giveaway on the third and newest book in the Lux series, Opal! If this doesn't make everybody love her even more, I don't know what will.
   Just seeing this makes me so excited: 

Bask in its awesomeness!

Link: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/want-to-read-opal/