Book Review: Wake by Lisa McMann

Title: Wake
Author: Lisa McMann
Series: Dream Catcher, Book 1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: 2008
Format: Paperback
Pages: 210
Source: Bought
My Rating: 3 stars

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

It was very interesting to see Janie getting sucked into dreams. Because that was what was happening. She couldn't help but be sucked into someone's dreams when she was near them. Some of them were nice but some of them were pure nightmares and it was almost impossible to get out of them.

The story is short just about 230 pages and the writing is simple and to the point. It didn't take me long to finish it. The plot was pretty much simple too with the big surprise in the end. I did not expect that about Cabel!

The romance between Janie and Cabel was pure sweetness. That's what it comes to my mind-sweet-they were so cute together and you could see how they bonded with each other, because they both have scars and burdens but they helped each other.

Overall I liked it. I wouldn't have read this if I hadn't seen it at the bookstore at the time. It was a sweet story and I'm looking forward for the rest.

Frosy

Perfect Chemistry >> Book Review

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry, Book 1

paperback pages: 357

My Rating 4 stars

At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south siders and north siders aren't exactly compatible elements. So when cheerleader Brittany Ellis and gang member Alex Fuentes are forced to be lab parters in chemistry class, the results are bound to be explosive. But neither teen is prepared for the most surprising chemical reaction of all-love. Can they break through the stereotypes and misconceptions that threaten to keep them apart? 

"Miss Ellis?" Mrs Paterson says. "It's your turn. Introduce Alex to the class."

"This is Alejandro Fuentes. When he wasn't hanging out on street corners and harassing innocent people this summer, he toured the inside of jails around the city, if you know what I mean. His secret desire is to go to college and become a chemistry teacher, like you, Mrs Peterson."

Brittany flashes me a triumphant smile, thinking she's won this round. Guess again, gringa.

"This is Brittany Ellis," I say, all eyes now focused on me. "This summer she went to the mall, bought new clothes so she could expand her wardrobe, and spend her daddy's money on plastic surgery to enhance her, ahem, assets. Her secret desire is to date a Mexicano before she graduates."

Game on...

My Review

I loved Perfect chemistry. It was so sweet! I don't really read YA contemporary romance since most of them are predictable but this one almost wasn't it. And what I mean about that? Well the ending. The author leads the story to an end most romance stories have but then something happens and you're not so sure.


Even though it was a YA book there was a sex scene in it and the author managed to describe it very well without being graphic at all. It was really a sweet scene and to my surprise it was from Alex's point of view. The book changes between Alex's POV and Brittany's POV. This way we get to know both of them how they feel and think.


I loved Alex. Such a nice guy even though he acted as a touch guy. Even though he is a gang member he had never actually done something pretty bad. And he tries to stay clean as possible. The only reason he's in it is to protect his family. 


Brittany is you normal girl that tries to act perfect. Her life though isn't perfect as it looks like. It's better than Alex's but still, her family has big problems. You get to see that no matter how much money you have, money can't buy happiness. I love how this couple completed each other. They are so different and similar at the same time.


The writing was refreshing and I liked the voice of Alex the most. It's hard to capture a boy's voice when the author is woman but she managed well.


Overall I loved it. I had heard so much good things about this book that my expectations were high when I grabbed it and it didn't disappoint.  
The only thing I didn't like and it's the reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is the ending. Not the final chapter but the conclusion in general. After a big event that changes both Alec and Brittany, the book felt rushed. I wish she could have taken it more slowly.




*For those who have read it*
Another thing that it struck a little weird to me and didn't result in a lower star, since that's how the character is, is that Alec never said I love you to Brittany. He says and does other things to Brittany to prove his love but that simple word didn't escape his mouth. Not even in his thoughts. Call me old fashioned but I expect when two people love each other to express it verbally with those simple words. But I did get to feel how much Alex loved her. He wouldn't have gotten into much trouble for her, would he?
What did you think about the book?


Frosy 


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Love Is Hell >> Book Review

Love Is Hell by various authors

(5 short stories)

paperback pages: 263

My Overall Rating 3 stars

Sure, love is hell.

But it's totally worth it.

In these supernatural stories by five of today's hottest writers-Melissa Marr (WICKED LOVELY), Scott Westerfeld (SPECIALS), Justine Larbalestier (MAGIC FOR MADNESS), Gabrielle Zevin (ELSEWHERE), and Laurie Faria Stolarz (BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES)- love may be twisted and turned around, but it's more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all.

From two students who let the power of attraction guide them to break the hard-and-fast rules of their world to the girl who falls hard for a good looking ghost with a score to settle, the clever, quirky characters in this exciting collection will break your hear, then leave you believing in love more than ever.

My Review

This is a book containing five short stories, called Love is Hell. 

As you can imagine there are five love stories which didn't have a good ending and had paranormal elements in it. 
I will begin by reviewing each one of them. 

SLEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT, by Laurie Faria Stolarz
My Rating 5 stars 
It is a story about a girl seeing ghosts and particularly one handsome boy who died in the house she is living in now. As you can imagine they get to know each other and fall in love. But sooner or later she has to let him go..... 
This is my favourite of all five stories and I think it has potential to be a really good novel. I hope the writer will turn this into a novel. 

STUPID PERFECT WORLD, by Scott Westerfeld
My Rating 3 stars
This story is being placed in the future, where we have teleporting and other technological achievements. It is a sci-fi story where two teenagers fall in love during a class project. They put themselves into our position (how we live today) to see how it was, because in their time everything is taken care by technology; even feelings I might add. During that journey they came across with things that they only new in theory. 
It was a nice story, interesting but to me it felt like a stranger; maybe, because I haven’t read any sci-fi fiction before. But I would gladly read this one if it was a novel. 

THINNER THAN WATER, by Justine Larbalestier
My Rating 2 stars
This story is held in a small village where everything runs like in the old days. No electricity no school for girls after 15, they have to marry. This girl though doesn’t want this life. She wants to go to the city to become a doctor. The day she decides to run away a boy comes and asks her to marry her and convinces her to stay, for a while before they both go to the city. Her parents don’t like him; they think that he is not even a human..... She doesn’t believe them and of course she is happy with him until...... 
I have mix feelings for this one. I like the paranormal stuff but didn’t like the setting. 
I don’t think that I would read this story if it was a novel... 


FAN FICTIONS, by Gabrielle Zevin
My Rating 3 stars
Ok this is not a fan fiction story. That was my first thought when I saw the title. I can’t really say much because I will spoil it, actually I won’t say anything just that it was a girl that read a lot. She was always at the library and was invisible to everyone, until she met him...... Saying even the slightest will ruin it for you but I must say I didn’t expect the ending.
It was a nice story, I think I would read it if it was a novel... 

LOVE STRUCK, by Melissa Marr
My Rating 5 stars
This is also my favourite of the five stories. It is about a girl that gets captured by a selchie. The selchie has no other choice but to follow her. They both are captured into this love-magic and she wants to end it. She starts having feelings for him but she constantly reminds herself that all this is a result of the selchie magic. So she found a way to end it. But now she feels sad...... 
I loved this one; I would defiantly read this if it was a novel. 

Now don’t expect to get attached to any of the character or to get to know them in dept. There are short stories......
Frosy 




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and Amazon | Book Depository (Format Paperback)
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City of Ashes >> Book Review

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments, Book 2

paperback pages: 453

My Rating 4 stars

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? 

Clary would love to spend more time with her bets friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go-especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil-and also her father. 

When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Review

In the second book we find Clary and Jace struggling to accept that they brother and sister and nothing more even thought their feelings tell otherwise. If that wasn’t enough they have to go through the stares and whispers as now everyone knows that they are Valentine’s children.

I loved this book as much as the first one and maybe more. You get to know the characters better and see the powerful but strange relationship Jace and Clary have.

The drama is bigger and the pain and acceptance that Jace and Clary are siblings are enough to handle without the murders. Someone is murdering Downworlders and Simon is acting strange.  

Magnus is acting as usual but somehow has focused more on Alec. Isabelle is insane as always and Jace more brooding as it can get.

Valentine is supposed to be the villain but to me he didn’t seem like one. His actions seemed to be planted on the go and he lacked motivation. As the bad guy I thought I would see some minions working for him.... where are they when you need them? I can’t think of a villain that didn’t have or didn’t control other people for personal use. But we find out later on why is that (on the 3^rd book) so I am not going to spoil it for you. J

When the second mortal instrument is stolen though, they suspect Jace. Jace is now wondering what to do next to prove that he is innocent and for the first time we see him scared as he faces the accusations.

Overall.... I loved it! One of favourites for sure and I can’t wait for the third book. You should definitely read this one if you want a strong, suffering love story with a dark and funny adventure background.

I didn’t give it 5 stars as the previous book because I thought it needed more action scenes.

Frosy

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Evernight >> Book Review

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evernight, Book 1

paperback pages: 327

My Rating 3 stars

Bianca wants to escape.

At the eerily Evernight Academy, a Gothic boarding school, the students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either and he likes it that way.

Lucas ignores the rules and stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful-even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart... and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed. 

My Review

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story line was something I hadn’t encountered before and it was a nice change. But the thing that annoyed most was the main character and how she was presented.

Bianca is supposed to be shy, in a case where she can’t even tell her name to someone she just meets. That’s how the author describes her so that’s what I expected but I was sadly disappointed.

You are either shy or not. That’s what I said each time Bianca turned to be shy one moment and then confident the other. You can’t be shy and the second day of school you are hanging with a bunch of people discussing your life. It’s really frustrating and I think her character was poorly developed.

Lucas was a breath. He is so much different from all those other “perfect” boys out there. He is a normal guy, as normal as you can get in a paranormal romance, that is not afraid to show his flaws. He is not the strongest or beautiful or rich and I think that made me like him more because he is the type of guy you will find on your way home. He is such a realistic guy. I was so happy reading about him. Although he was too overprotective but hey he is not perfect! :)

The writing was simple and straightforward, not much to say about it. Most YA books tend to have a really simple writing but that’s what you get when you’re into YA. Of course there are exceptions and that’s when you have a party!

As far for the plot there is something that made mad almost through the book but I am not going to write about it here because I will spoil it for you so I am going to leave it for another post.

Overall I liked it, not crazy about it but there were some scenes that I really liked and that’s why I gave 3 stars. Without them it would have been 2 stars.
Frosy 




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The Summoning >> Book Review

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong 

Darkest Powers, Book 1

paperback pages: 390

My Rating 3 stars

My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again. 

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what means anymore. It all started on the day I saw my first ghost-and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. 

Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before it's skeletons come back to haunt me.

Chloe Saunders used to have a relatively normal life. But now she finds herself in the middle of some really strange situations:

-She suddenly starts seeing dead people.

-She gets locked up in a group home for instable teens.

-The group home isn’t what it seems....

My Review

This book is very interesting and spooky I would say especially if you read at night before bed as I do. I really enjoyed reading this book; I literally couldn’t put it down. Make sure you have the next book because you will be dying to find out what happens next.

Basically the first book starts with Chloe seeing ghosts and other events that happens in Lyle House but it doesn’t explain anything. So you will need the next one.

The storyline is very promising and the writing is excellent. It’s a page turner and as the characters run for their lives you will find yourselves turning the pages like crazy to see what happens to them.

The characters are enjoyable but I didn’t bond with any of them, hopefully the next book will change that.

Overall it’s a good paranormal read nothing romantic going on as I hoped to but there are two more books so cross your fingers!
Frosy 




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