Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

 

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary by Goodreads:   Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

First of all, the cover. What first grabbed my attention was the red dress, indicating the time frame the story takes place, but the crossbow made me want to snatch it up and read it immediately. It seems I am reading more and more historical fiction/fantasy books, such as this one. The idea of reading some historical facts, but also getting the fantasy boost brings in the "not reality" feeling I love.

Isme's character suffers much in her young life. Abuse by her father, selling her off to a nasty old man at the age of 14, she is saved by a priest who takes her to a convent. There she is taught the ways of an assassin, serving her God, St. Mortain, the God of death. Isme has so many bad feelings toward men, that learning these skills is a pleasure for her. When she is sent out on her last mission before she takes her vows to the Convent, she learns what love really feels like. She grows so much, watching and learning how real families interact, how men can be more than just brutal.

Isme has to make some difficult decisions, including defying her convent or taking out those who she is commanded to kill. Knowing who to trust becomes harder and harder the longer she is at Court. She find new plots and schemes, betrayal and treason at every corner. She also finds love after hating men most of her life.

Obviously, this is a dark plot, considering the whole assassin thing, but with action and romance. I would consider this a mature Young Adult book because of the violence and adult situations.

Book Trailer




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Lisa Mangum

Lisa Mangum, author of The Hourglass Door trilogy, is one of my favorite authors.  Her new book, After Hello, will be out in September 2012!  This book is on the top of my "To Read" list.

Here is an interview with Lisa Mangum... Sounds sooo great!

Review: Soulbound by Heather Brewer

 Soulbound by Heather Brewer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary on Goodreads:  Tril is a world where Barrons and Healers are Bound to each other: Barrons fight and Healers cure their Barrons' wounds in the ongoing war with the evil Graplar King. Seventeen-year-old Kaya was born a Healer, but she wants to fight. In Tril, and at Shadow Academy, where she is sent to learn to heal, it is against Protocol for Healers to fight. So Kaya must learn in secret. Enter two young men: One charming, rule-following Barron who becomes Bound to Kaya and whose life she must protect at all costs. And one with a mysterious past who seems bent on making Kaya's life as difficult as possible. Kaya asks both to train her, but only one will, and the consequences will change their lives forever.

This book was KICK-BUTT! It had me at the Cover and never let me down after that. I am a sucker for a book with lots of action, romance and a few hot guys!

My only problem with it was that it wasn't long enough! I felt it was a little lacking with details of Trayton (awesome name b.t.w.)and Kaya's more intimate moments. I didn't feel like they had bonded like the story indicated. So now I really don't know if I am on Traytons team or not. He sounds gorgeous, strong, protective, and a great guy, but not sure I am feeling the love.

The book didn't lack action. I felt like I was right in the middle of the fighting, wanting to grab my own Katara and join the battle. Graplers, nasty human-hunting creaters, gave me the willies.

Loved the story!!! As far as the writing goes, I felt I needed a few more details of her world... i.e. Her appearance, modern technology? (one place indicated no running faucet, and later had electricity) I know they seem just little minute things, but I am a stickler for details. I like to have a complete visual to my world when I am diving into a new book.

Even thought I thought the writing could have been a little more, I gave it 5 stars anyway because the story-line was so awesome! It was a clean book, but used fake words that sounded similar to bad language. Because of that I would suggest it be a book intended for mid-teens on up.



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Cool Cover Reveal!!

Sha-Bang! What a beautiful cover to the 3rd book of the Infernal Devices!  

This is one of the books I have been awaiting and this gorgeous cover only adds to my ever growing anxiety!   I can't wait to see how it will end and how this series will link into the next series (The Mortal Instruments). 

Cassandra Clare, YOU ROCK!

The long awaited trailer release!

At long last, the full trailer release of Breaking Dawn Part 2!




I didn't think I wanted to see the last movie because I didn't care so much for the last part of the book.  Now I can see that I can't possibly resist it!  Four years after I first heard of Twilight, read the books (3 times.... er.. maybe more!) I think I will be a sucker and go to the premiere of the Last and FINAL movie.

Anyone else tired of vampires now?  

If this hadn't been dragged out for four freaking years  I would be a lot more excited about this last movie.  Of course, I didn't really enjoy Breaking Dawn as much as the others.  As many times as I read the first 3 books, I only finished BD once.  After the wedding and the honeymoon, I was pretty freaked out about the rest of the book.  I felt like it was a totally different story, the characters seemed too different.  It just didn't flow.  Hopefully the movie will save it for me in the end. 

Let me know what your thoughts are.... Breaking Dawn: Awesome?  or  Not Awesome?

REVIEW: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publish Date: November 13, 2012

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

First of all, look at that COVER! I would love to have that in my room, hanging next to my bed if I were a teen! Gorgeous, and after having read it, makes it even more attractive.

I just finished this book, and had to write about it immediately! I was drawn back to the glory days of High School and our school trips. The little cliques, the obnoxious boy or 2, and the chaperones who look like they are going to have a heart-attack! Such wonderful memories!

The characters, Julia and Jason, were so well defined and fit with their age group. One so carefree, living on the edge, getting in trouble, but still able to connect with someone. One having to be the grown up, rule-follower, serious, and trying to figure out what love is.

Reading about London, just added to the fun and excitement and the perfect place for love to bloom. The setting was wonderful, with so much detail given to the surroundings, history, and places that meant something to both characters. The romance was wonderful and very different.

Once I started reading this, I didn't put it down. It was an easy read, but very enjoyable and fun. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 16.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the opportunity to review this book!

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Temptation Review

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book Release date:  June 19, 2012

Your heart misleads you.  That's what my friends and family say.  But I love Noah. And he loves me.  We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms. It should be  ROSE & NOAH forever, easy. But it won't be. Because he's Amish. And I'm not.

How could I pass up a book on forbidden love? Probably because I have experienced something similar to it not only once, but twice. Not with an Amish boy of course, but with other situations. One turned out heartbreaking and the other... well, I am married to him now.

The Amish have peeked my interest because where I grew up, there were many Mennonite colonies nearby and would see them in town often. I know they aren't the same, but have similar beliefs.

Then, I began reading and couldn't put it down. The characters were very well written, where your heart jumps out and wants to cheer for them. Reading both POV drew me in more. Growing up with a Strong religious background, I understood Noah's POV, but wanted him to experience Rose's joy of life and carefree ways.

I am craving the next book already! My stomach was full of butterflies for Rose when the book ended, which left me wanting more and more!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarlequinTeen for this opportunity to review a great story!

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Slide by Jill Hathaway

Slide by Jill Hathaway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 REVIEW:  Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

I won an ARC of this book and finally had a chance to read it. It was a quick read, but full of intensity.

I was quickly pulled into the story, and was stuck there. I had a hard time putting it down. I am a huge fan of anything that has to do with dreams and/or minds, it fascinates me, so this was right up my alley. I usually don't like murder mysteries, but since it included the "mind/dream" situation, I loved it.

The way Hathaway pulled so many characters into the running as the killer, had me guessing all the way through. Even though I thought I figured it out, the culprit still surprised me. She did a great job with bringing out the secondary characters adding more suspicion and doubt to the one who I thought was guilty.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 16. There were some sexual situations, and some bad language, but overall a great book.

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