Teaser Tuesday (4): The Lost Prince

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa. I loved The Iron Fey series, especially as the books progressed, with The Iron Knight being my favorite. I love that there's a spin-off series bringing me back into this magnificent world that Julie created. I'm so excited to finally be reading it.

For a second, I couldn't look away. My heartbeat picked up, and my mouth was suddenly dry, watching the girl in the center of the winking cloud, smiling as the tiny lights landed in her hair or perched on her arm.

 

She was beautiful.

Goodreads Summary:

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them. 

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Book Review: Catching Jordan

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
December 1, 2011
Sourcebooks Fire
281 pages
Source: Personal Purchase

Goodreads Summary:

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Greeen moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

My Review:
 

This book has gotten a lot of positive reviews, but I must go against the flow with my review. The characters lacked something that kept me from connecting with them, and despite the potential of the storyline, it just didn't do enough for me. Here are my pros and cons of Catching Jordan. I tried not to be spoilery, but I may have a few that slipped through.

Pros:
I liked the storyline of the book, the uniqueness of Jordan's character (liked her honesty, though she lacked a bit of maturity), the football references (even though I'm not a football fan), Jordan's relationships with the guys on her team (I loved that her best friends were guys who loved her and looked out for her), her best friend Sam Henry (except for the times he was a wussy male tramp), development of friendships with girls, her supportive brother, and resolution in relationship with her dad.

Cons:
I didn't like the immaturity of Jordan's character (why does she fall apart with the look of one cute guy? is it really necessary to punch the guys so much?), obsession with casual sex (particularly the football guys and cheerleaders - way too much stereotyping), fast relationship with Ty who had a compelling story himself but she barely knew him (and gave herself up to him quickly - why? and his character, even his family, were never fully flushed out, making him lack dimention.), the love triangle seemed forced, Sam coping with his heartbreak through lots of sex (really? he had no other outlet?), and despite the sex talk the book lacked romance of any kind. 

Bottomline: I tried to like this book, but just couldn't. Maybe you'll have better luck.

2 STARS

Book Review: Naturally, Charlie

Naturally, Charlie by S.L. Scott
November 1, 2012
The Writer's Coffee Shop
249 pages
Source: borrowed from NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

Twenty-five year old Charlotte “Charlie” Barrow is caught between her old life and the one she is beginning to build when she crosses paths with a handsome stranger on the subway. Not looking for romance, she closes her heart off to the possibilities of love. With a knack for mishaps, Charlie maintains her sense of humor while befriending the kind stranger who seems to be there at all the right times.

New York freelance writer, Charlie Adams, is forging his own path beyond the expectations of the society circles of his childhood. Rejecting family money, and fast-lane friends, he is snubbed by his family as he follows his own compass to a life more extraordinary.

Through a coincidence of events, they come to rely on each other for comfort. This is the tale of two Charlies learning to trust again while fighting their fates to create their own destiny.

My Review:

I love the concept of this book, falling in love with someone with your name. Kinda cute. And this book was cute. Charlie B & Charlie A build up a genuine friendship that started from odd circumstances - a chance meeting on a subway, an encounter in a bar, and, of course, funerals. What better way to start a relationship, right? If only falling in love were that easy. Well, it could be, if it weren't for the baggage that Charlie B & Charlie A have been carrying around, letting it stiffle them.

I love the chemistry between CB & CA. Their conversations are fun and quirky and sweet. I enjoyed how they were able to draw each other out, slowly delving into each other's pasts and trying to heal each other. They fell into such a natural routine with each other, melding their lives together. But again, it's not always that simple. CA understood his feelings much much earlier than CB. I found myself frustrated with CB for the first half of the book. I mean, really, how many times does she need to say "just friends." Are people that slow in real life, lol? The second half I came to understand her hang-ups and sympathized with her more, though I still wanted to give her a nudge. CA was such a patient, great guy, and I wanted the best for him. But I also appreciated how he wanted CB to figure things out for herself.

The pacing of the book was different. It started bigger and then went slow, with the easy friendship. During this time period, I was nervous because I kept expecting a bomb to get dropped. Maybe that was the author's plan, to lure me into a trance and then throw some big issues in to mix it up. Well, it worked. The big conflict came later, just in time. I think CB & CA needed to be shook up. I liked the conflict that was posed and how they really had to face the reality of who they were, what their past meant, and what they wanted. Did they end up wanting each other and in time? You'll have to find out for yourself.

This really is a sweet story. And I loved the ending. There are a couple of "adult" situations, but really, this is a love story, not a quickie romance. If you like a good love story, you'll enjoy this one.

4 STARS

 

In My Mailbox & Stacking the Shelves (4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi of The Story Siren, where bloggers share the contents of their mailbox - books bought, borrowed, received - and get to know other blogs.

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

This was a lighter book buying/receiving week for me. But that's okay. I still have plenty of unread things on my shelf and kindle that I still need to get to. Seeds of Rebellion is now signed by the author since we attended his signing last week. I'm also looking forward to Laini Taylor's book signing this upcoming week and hopefully reading her book beforehand.

Purchased:

      

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders #2) by Brandon Mull
Forever Changed by Tiffany King (ebook)

For Review from NetGalley:

  

Naturally, Charlie by S.L. Scott -- cute book, review to come

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
May 1, 2012
Harper Teen
453 pages
Source: Borrowed from Friend

Goodreads Summary:

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My Review:

What can I say about this book? It went way beyond anything I expected. I loved it so much and can't believe I didn't read it sooner. It has an undercurrent of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, but at a more extended level, with a YA appeal, and a romantic twist. My review is trying to avoid spoilers, so it may seem like rambling. So if you understand nothing, simply know that if you haven't read Sweet Evil yet, you must!

Having been raised by an adoptive mother, Anna Whitt has been protected from her heritage for her entire life. Yet she has also been gaining special abilities that she doesn't understand and has no one to talk to about them. Enter Kaidan Rowe, whom she becomes oddly intrigued by, and discovers that they share abilites, and a similar heritage. Through Kaidan she learns the knowledge that others like her have been raised with, as well as what is expected of them. But the journey to this knowledge, and the others they meet on the way, make the experience so much more enriching.

What I love about this book is that the Neph are treated by the author with such respect and dignity despite their terrible upbringings. I felt so sad for them and desperate for them to have hope knowing their pain but understanding why they've been raised this way. The author does not hold back the horrors of sin and temptation, and their consequences. But with Anna we are left with hope that there is still free will and compassion and love. I also love the religious undercurrents placed sporatically throughout the book. I am religious, but I don't think they are too much that they would turn off someone not religious.

I love the characters. Anna is genuine, honest, and hopeful. She is a strong female character who knows who she is and knows what she wants, even though it'll be hard. Kaidan's character takes on a new level through his friendship with Anna, and the more we get to know him, the less we see what he does and the more we see who he is and wants to be. Jay is the best friend everyone should have. The other Neph bring a lot to the table as well with their varying personalities. The secondary characters have a depth that I appreciate, not just cardboard people to fill space.

I didn't know how it would end, but the ending left me craving more. I'm looking forward to Sweet Peril and want to read it the moment I can get my grubby little paws on it (expected publication date: April 30, 2013)!

5+ SHINING STARS

Cover Reveal: Destiny

Destiny (Brightest Kind of Darkness, Book 3)
By P.T. Michelle
Expected Release Date: March 31, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

When destiny is on the line, will love be enough to light the way?

In order to save Ethan, Nara gets pulled deeper into his dark world, where everything she thought she knew about Ethan and herself turns on its head.

Ethan and Nara turn up the heat with bone-melting seduction and heart-rending moments, but surprising revelations, lies, treachery, betrayal, and unimaginable evil will challenge their relationship and their future together.

As the stakes rise, encompassing more than just her relationship with Ethan, will Nara make the ultimate sacrifice?

 

 

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Other books in the Brightest Kind of Darkness Series: (titles link to Goodreads)
 

 

Brightest Kind of Darkness, Book 1 (currently FREE)
Lucid (Brightest Kind of Darkness, Book 2)

 

About the Author

 

P.T. Michelle is author of the young adult series BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS. She keeps a spiral notepad with her at all times, even on her nightstand. When P.T. isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Newsletter

 

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Want to help spread the word about DESTINY's upcoming release? Click the link below to get the countdown widget script to put on your website or on your blog's side bar. :)

http://www.widgetbox.com/i/60cdbefb-af9e-42fa-b8d8-80345e3a5519

Feature & Follow (2): Similarities

Feature & Follow Friday is hosted by both Alison Can Read & Parakunkee’s View. This is a great way to gain blog followers for book bloggers, follow other blogs, and get to know each other. Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we get to answer. You can find more info about this meme here.

Question: Do you mind books with similar ideas to other books? Similar concepts, backgrounds, retellings or pulled-to-publish fanfic?

My on-the-spot answer is, not necessarily. The reality is that there are very few, if any, original ideas out there. I actually enjoy reading an author's twist on a particular subject, myth, etc, or even their version of an old story being retold. I love that when my kids ask me about zombie or vampire stories, for example, (and they do, which is quite funny), and want to know about them, I can say it depends on who is talking about them or who wrote about them. That's the fun of writing and reading fiction. You can create what you want and make it your own. But authors should still make the attempt to be as original as they can and not rip-off someone else's creativity. As for contemporary novels, I guess the same holds true. How many different ways can someone fall in love? Mix around the characters and the settings and you've got a new story. But they are fun to read and get lost in. Now, there are many "bad boys" falling for "virgins" out there, and that story can get a bit old. But if an author can create something fresh or is just an exceptional writer and can put their own personal touch on it, I don't have a problem with a little similarity. I've not read much fan-fiction, so I don't have much of an opinion there. Just don't be a straight-up copycat or plaigarist - that's just not cool or professional.