Review: The Prince (A Selection Novella)

Title: The Prince (A Selection Novella)
Author: Kiera Cass
Released: March 5th, 2013

Summary:  Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection . . .

Before Aspen broke America's heart . . .

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life. . . .

Don't miss this thrilling 64-page original novella set in the world of the New York Times bestselling novel The Selection. Also features a teaser to The Elite, Kiera Cass's hotly anticipated sequel to The Selection.

My Review:

I was excited to find out about this Novella told from Prince Maxon's point of view. It made me get even more excited for The Elite.

What I loved: I loved that Maxon had a chance to share his side of the story. I enjoyed the insight into his thoughts and feelings as the process of The Selection began. This short story gives Prince Maxon even more appeal because readers can see him as a complete character, not someone else's perception of him.

What left me wanting more: Not much, really. I wish the story had actually been a little longer and we got to hear more from Maxon's point of view.

Final Verdict: Fans of The Selection will enjoy this. If you haven't read The Selection yet, pick it up and get The Prince as well!

4 out of 5 stars

Review: Things I Can't Forget

Things I Can't Forget
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Released: March 1, 2013

Summary:  Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.
Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt… with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

My Review:

I have loved all of Miranda Kenneally's books and Things I Can't Forget may have just topped the list as my favorite.

What I loved: I loved this book more and more after I finished it and had time to think and digest everything. At times, Kate was a difficult character to like. She is not very accepting or understanding of other people's decisions and beliefs and she makes her thoughts and opinions known. Despite that, I found Kate to be real, flawed, and fascinating. Her struggles with her faith are honest and I think many people will be able to appreciate and understand that.

I also love the fact that Kenneally isn't afraid to write about a difficult and controversial topic and make both sides have a voice. That can't be easy to do and she was able to convey real feelings and emotions on every side.

Things I Can't Forget had a great cast of characters and I loved the friendship between Parker and Kate. Their two stories wound effortlessly together and Parker's voice was important for Kate to have nearby.

Final Verdict: Kenneally's books are great contemporary reads. Things I Can't Forget definitely packs the most emotional punch to it. If you are a fan of her other books, don't hesitate to pick this one up.

5/5 Stars

Review: The Archived

Title: The Archived

Author: Victoria Schwab
Released: January 22, 2013

Summary: Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hardwon redemption.

My Review: Victoria Schwab captivated me with her beautiful writing in The Near Witch, so I was more than excited to read her latest, The Archived.

What I loved: Everything! The story was unique and so were each of the characters. The world of The Archived jumped off the page and had enough creepy to keep me on the edge of my seat and enough of Wesley to keep me hooked. This book has so many intricate details to it but I never felt overwhelmed, everything just fit.

The Archived is sure to intrigue and captivate many readers. I am generally not a fan of ghost stories but I was totally sold on this one. There is so much more to be told in this story, I'm sure, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

5 out 5 stars HANDS DOWN!

Review: Stealing Parker

Stealing Parker
by Miranda Kenneally
Release: October 1, 2012

Summary: Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She's on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she's made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother's scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three. Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

My Review:

What I loved: Miranda Kenneally has a way with words that ultimately suck you into the story. I picked up Stealing Parker and read the entire book in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. The relationships that Parker has seem real, regardless if you agree with them or not. Parker has flaws, doubts, and insecurities and all of those make her a well-rounded character. I didn't always agree with the choices she made but I appreciated her self-reflection and ultimately the end result.

I also enjoyed how this book went right along with Catching Jordan. I liked that the characters were interwoven as it gave some familiarity to the story.

Overall, another hit for Miranda Kenneally. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Books I Wouldn't Have Picked for Myself

In a previous post, I told you all that because of the book club I am in, I am reading books that I wouldn't have normally picked or been drawn to.  It's out of my comfort zone and it's a good experience.  Thanks to my new book friends, here are a couple of books that I have read that I would have missed out on otherwise.

I give One True Thing 3 solid stars.  This book made me cry and deal with a topic that I don't normally care to read about...cancer.  Books on this topic generally make me uncomfortable and I struggle with my own emotions and feelings as I read.  I thought Anna Quindlen did a great job of making the reader have an emotional connection to the characters and the overall story.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.  This book was released in 2008 and I would not have ever read it had it not been picked for our book club.  I loved how the story weaved through several generations.  I also loved how the majority of it took place in England.  This book was a little longer than many of the books I have recently read and it took a little bit for me to really get into the story but once  I did, I was hooked.  I think I will definitely visit more of Morton's books.

Review: Just One Day

Just One Day had three of my favorite story lines, travel, friendship, and love. I loved so much about this book and it is one that I will be sure to recommend over and over.

First of all, I wasn't expecting the depth that this plot would have. This is not a book that you can just put down and walk away from. This is a story that will stay with you. Allyson is an amazing character. I think readers will be pulling for her the entire time because after her amazing day in Paris, that just cannot be it for her and Willem's story. 

Read the rest of my review over at YABC.

Back to Blogging

So it has been a while since I have posted anything other than some book reviews I had scheduled.  You could say that the last 5 months of 2012 were nothing short of stressful.  I did a lot of crying, soul-searching, and hiding.  I'm pleased to say that I kicked 2012 in the rear and am raring to go into 2013.  I'm excited about a big change that is on the way.  Nothing I can really share yet, but it's something that I know will be a great thing for me and my family.

I'm excited that I am finally part of a book club that actually meets to talk about books.  I LOVE my online community of book friends but there is something special about sitting down with people and talking about books over a cup of tea.  I also love being a part of this group because it is getting me to read books that I would not have otherwise picked up.  We've already read and discussed our first book, Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden.  I loved it and will definitely be reading more of her books.  Her writing is beautiful.  Our book for next month is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  I just picked it up today and I am really excited to start reading it.

I've also been reading a lot of Royal Biographies.  I'm really digging those.  My husband says that I was born in the wrong country...I should be British.  I just received the Official Biography of the Queen Mother in the mail and it is a whopping 943 pages, so I'm sure I'll be reading that for quite a while.

So my goal is to break out of my comfort zone and get more involved in the blogging community.  Please feel free to comment and/or  follow so I can get to know more of you as well.

Happy 2013 friends, it has hard to believe we are almost at the end of January!