STARCROSSED

Before I begin my review, I want to let you guys know that I am in my first term of community college. High school doesn't seem to have prepared me well enough since I am only taking one writing class and I already feel overwhelmed with homework. My biggest complaint so far though is the COST of textbooks! It is scary I say. Anyway, please bear with me even though my reviews might get more sporadic than they already are. Thank you in advance and have an awesome, book-tastic day fellow readers!

Author: Josephine Angelini

Summary: (goodreads) How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Review: Well...I loved it. I read it in one day, because it really was that interesting and captivating and all those other lovely words we use to describe wonderful stories.

The characters were fairly mature and I really liked them except for there were times when I felt that the connection between them was faltering.

The beginning of the book was probably my favorite part because the images were extremely vivid. Helen's desperation at waking from her nightmares was real. And her interaction with Lucas during this time frame was really emotionally charged with anger, hate and dis-control at the forefront. This outbursts of energy were well balanced with serene descriptions of the setting. Then the setting seemed to change into a more sinister atmosphere as secrets and conflicts were uncovered

Overall, the mythological aspects of this book were what drew me in. Learning things I didn't know about was great because everything was weaved into the actual story. The ending did leave me wanting to read the next installment so beware that you will be sucked it too this story.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

The Amaranth Enchantment

Author: Julie Berry

Summary: (goodreads) When Lucinda Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just maybe—capture the heart of a prince.

Review: Julie Berry's writing is great. I absolutely loved this story. It is a little difficult to pin-point what exactly makes this story special and unique and unforgettable for me. Maybe it was the cast of characters that did me in? A prince. Do I really need to go on? :) Maybe because there was some sort of modern paranormal activity added to the traditional fairy tale formula? Or maybe The Amaranth Enchantment just had a nice, snarky main character. Or maybe all of the above.

But really, where else are you going to find a fairy tale, sci-fi, magic story, except for in The Amaranth Enchantment. I'm usually pretty good about figuring out how a book is going to end so the twists and cool weirdness of this book gave me a surprise. I loved it. A must read for any fairy tale lover.

The setting is old, but then new. The writing is seamless in weaving in the unbelievable facts in with what we come to expect. And the prince....he is just so princely. I would have liked to get to know him a little more, but towards the end he becomes my ultimate favorite character. And what can I say about Peter? He was a very interesting person.

It was a really great read and I enjoyed how it kind of smudged the lines between science and magic elements while keeping the pieces that make a fairytale a fairytale.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

*Blogger seems to have not saved the latter half of my review, so sorry if it isn't as well put together as it ought to be for a five star review :( And I was soooo proud of this review too!

Contest Craze Mini Challenge: Scariest Word

Hello! It is that time of year again. Contest Craze is being held at PrincessBookie's, but today's mini challenge is being hosted by Benji at The Non Reluctant Reader.

Rules (stuff in quotes was taken from Benji's original post):

"

• Grab a book you're currently reading (and ho
  pefully loving)
• Go to the 13th Chapter (if the book doesn't have 13 chapters, go to the closest to it)
• Scan the chapter for the scariest word
• Using Google/Yahoo images randomly pick on picture that comes up when you search the word
• Write a blog post that has the book's cover, title, your word and your image
• Link below

My contest craze will start today (the 20th of September) and runs to the 2nd of October"

So here is my submission:

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

My Word: Assassinate

My Image:

~Woohoo!!~ If you guys participate, then you are entering a contest for a $10 gift card to the book depository, so make sure to visit Benji's site =) This was really funny lol. Cartoons rock my socks!

Random Acts of Kindness: September

The RAK is a monthly feature dedicated to spreading the love of books throughout our blogging community. Who came up with this brilliant idea? Isalys and Vanessa from TheBookSoulmates so check out the link in order to sign up!

Click here for this month's RAK post.

Waaaaaay behind on this post. Yes I am a horrible person, but I am trying to redeem myself here :) So I did receive a RAk for the month of July I believe. I was on vacation so things are a little blurry from then.

What did I get?

Runaway by Meg Cabot

A HUGE thanks to Wall-to-Wall Books! I devoured it and loved it and will be posting a review soon. None of you know just how happy I was to get this one.

Hope you guys participate as well! Have a greeeaaat day!

Contest Alert: Ladybird, Ladybird giveaway extended

Hey guys! Got an e-mail this morning that the Crimson Oak Publishing giveaway for five $50 American Express Giftcards has been extend until Friday September 23rd at 11:59 PM Pacific time.

Here are the details from the previous post I wrote

"Where: Hello! This giveaway is being held by Crimson Oak Publishing in celebration of the e-book and hardcover release of Ladybird, Ladybird by Abra Ebner. Enter HERE:http://www.ladybirdbook.com/giveaways-signup.php

Summary: (goodreads) Samantha was born on a full moon to a mother already dead. Revived by doctors and given to her unloving father, Samantha was raised a cursed child, her only friend the ghost of her mother who speaks to her through keys. From the inside out, Sam burned with life, a fire so vivid it kept her peers at a distance, all except one. Leith, a quiet farmboy with a broken heart and demons of his own, enjoys the seclusion his classmates grant him, but the seclusion is all too familiar to Sam.

When their worlds collide... fires burn

Book Trailer: (One of the few trailers I really like!)

Hope you check out the contest and thanks for your participation! Good luck!"

"Waiting on" Wednesday 18

WoW is brought to you by Jill over at BreakingTheSpine. This week is going to be more of a heads up on what is coming out soon than a book I haven't read and am awaiting its release.

Title: Ruling Passion (Drake Chronicles #1-3)

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Release Day: September 27th 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Summary: You will love it. (goodreads)

MEET the Drakes:

A darkly romantic, irresistibly alluring family of royal vampire blood

READ Alyxandra Harvey's Ruling Passion: a haunting, humorous saga, now gathered into one juicy volume!

"A refreshing take of the familiar teenage vampire drama . . . Harvey builds an engaging world of vampire cultures balanced wit a smart mix of darknewss and humor."-Publishers Weekly

A fabulous and fast-paced read! The action is superb . . . this is the perfect escape read." -Romantic Times

My Thoughts: I loved the Drake Chronicles! And this book contains all three of the other stories in a bind-up and it will be priced at $9.99. I'm really diggin' that pretty cover. To get you amped for its release, here are some links to excerpts of each of the three books here-in contained.

Hearts At Stake (1): http://issuu.com/bloomsbury/docs/heartsatstake/1

Blood Feud (2): http://issuu.com/bloomsbury/docs/bloodfeud

Out For Blood (3): http://issuu.com/bloomsbury/docs/outforblood/1

So whatcha waitin' for today? =D

The End of the World Club: The Jaguar Stone

Authors: J&P Voelkel

Summary:(goodreads) With the end of the Mayan calendar fast approaching, fourteen-year-old Max Murphy and his new friend Lola, the modern Maya girl who saved his life in the perilous jungle, are racing against time to outwit the twelve Lords of Death. Following the trail of the conquistadors, their quest takes them back to the wild heart of Spain - a forgotten land steeped in legend, superstition and ever more bizarre tourist festivals. With a pack of hellhounds on their heels and the cape-twirling Count Antonio de Landa in hot pursuit, the teens must face madness and betrayal, bluff and double-bluff, to uncover the terrible secrets of the long-lost Yellow Jaguar. But no matter where they run, all roads lead to Xibalba. There, in the cold and watery Maya underworld, we finally discover why only Max Murphy can save the world from the villainous Lords of Death.

Review: Right off the bat, I would like to mention the one thing that sticks with me for this book and also the one before it. It is kind of a historical sort of book or pretty close to the facts of Mayan culture, but it doesn't feel like it at all. The way the writing is done weaves in the information in a manner that it isn't obvious fact dumping and becomes a natural part of the story. I've learned so much not just about the Mayan culture, but also some traditions of Spain since this book is set in that country, but without the pain of reading through a history textbook or travel guide.

This is a middle grade read, so the characters are pretty immature. And Max is really immature mostly because he is male. It is to be expected. Just when I thought he was getting serious and growing some...he goes on to do something selfish and stupid. Why don't I ever learn? No, but really, he is slowly but surely getting better and despite his never-ending list of faults, Max is still pretty comical character. The things he gets himself into...

This book is Adventure so there isn't any slow parts really. But it is better enjoyed reading it quickly because of the fact that so much stuff is going on. It can get fairly confusing with the varied cast of characters and several quests at a time to complete. There are pictures every now and then scattered throughout the book to give the reader an idea of what this or that should look like as described. And a couple of those pictures are horrifying.

Overall, if you like Adventure, Mayan Culture, the end of the world talks, quirky although scary bad guys, and are a younger reader, then there is a high likelihood of you liking this series. :)

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Blog Tour: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC copy of After Obsession and for putting together another awesome blog tour!

Title: After Obsession

Authors: Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

Release Day: September 13th

Book Trailer:

Summary: (goodreads) Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have

been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Review: Spooky. Cool-cat characters. Whirlwind. Those words do a pretty good job of portraying the book from where I'm standing. Although short, (the ARC had 307 pages...well I guess it wasn't that short, but it felt like 100!) it was a tense action-packed story weaved together with a careful romance to create an exciting paranormal read.

So for the characters: Finally! Something I have been waiting for and didn't know I was. A super hot male lead that ADMITS HE IS SCARED OF THE MONSTER. Is it just me? Maybe? That it seems like the hot guy is always "brave" and the calm, unfazed pillar while the girl is just scared FOR him, because he is all powerful? I love Alan. He can still be hot and amazing while allowing for the fact that any human being would be scared by the demon they are fighting.

What about Aimee, do you ask? I liked her! She wasn't the strongest character out there, but she was dealing with some pretty deep stuff. You know, right? Fear of going crazy? Or already being insane? Yeah well Aimee was pretty realistic under the circumstances. The alternating points of view made it so Aimee's inner turmoil is very out in the open for the reader, but I also saw how she was viewed by others. Mostly Alan. And because it is a two-way street, both characters were fairly well developed. And that is awesome!

As for the story line, it rocked keeping me on my toes wondering what the demon was going to through their way once again and again. And it was scary at times too, because this story used the aspect that the unknown is more frightening to humans to some extent. This was simply a great read. I really liked it and definitely recommend it to fans of ghost stories, electric romances, and the paranormal in general.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Contest Alert: $50 American Express Giftcard

What: Five $50 American Express Giftcards

Where: Hello! This giveaway is being held by Crimson Oak Publishing in celebration of the e-book and hardcover release of Ladybird, Ladybird by Abra Ebner. Enter HERE: http://www.ladybirdbook.com/giveaways-signup.php And please tell them (: Isa :) from mixturesbooks.blogspot.com sent you! I might be able to win a Kindle, which I admit sounds pretty nifty :)

Ends: September 18th 11:59PST

Summary: (goodreads) Samantha was born on a full moon to a mother already dead. Revived by doctors and given to her unloving father, Samantha was raised a cursed child, her only friend the ghost of her mother who speaks to her through keys. From the inside out, Sam burned with life, a fire so vivid it kept her peers at a distance, all except one. Leith, a quiet farmboy with a broken heart and demons of his own, enjoys the seclusion his classmates grant him, but the seclusion is all too familiar to Sam.

When their worlds collide... fires burn

Book Trailer: (One of the few trailers I really like!)

Hope you check out the contest and thanks for your participation! Good luck!

Buy book:

Winner of Between by Jessica Warman!

Congrats to...

Amber!! (hurdlxxx@xxx.xxx)

I have already sent out your address to the publisher, so look out for your prize in the mail!! Thanks go to all of the other people that entered this contest as well. I will be holding another one soon-ishy if you want to watch for that. Have a great day all!

Labor Day Weekend Read-a-thon Day 3

Goodnight to all! I decided that I am done reading since it is late and I should be getting to sleep soon before my lovely parents ground me :) What did I accomplish for my first read-a-thon, do you ask? Here is the break-down:

I read two books. Not much. I know, but I kind of did forget to begin reading feverishly on Saturday, so forgive me?

Total pages: 674

Books read:

After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

The Jaguar Stone by J&P Voelkel

Eh, overall the outcome has been satisfactory and I had fun truly feeling as a part of the blogging community through the interesting blog posts and quirky twitter updates. I would like to thank Katie from Katiesbookblog for hosting this Labor Day Weekend read-a-thon and trust me when I say that I will be participating in more events like this one in the future :)

And my bed calls, so ta-ta for now!

Labor Day Weekend Read-a-thon

Hi....so....this is the first read-a-thon I have signed up for and already I have failed to be much of a participant. I kind of forgot? I've been reading anyway, so it is just the posts I have to make up. I'm consolidating the TBR post, Day #1 (yesterday) and then Day #2 (today) in this single one.

This Labor Day Weekend read-a-thon is being hosted by Katie at Katie's Book Blog. Go check out how some of the other participants are doing!

TBR List:

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

The Jaguar Stone by J&P Voelkel

The Dark Hunters Vol. 3: Story by Sherrilyn Kenyon Art by Claudia Campos (This is a graphic novel....it counts right?)

The Dark Hunters Vol. 4: Story by Sherrilyn Kenyon Art by Claudia Campos

Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Day 1: Uh yeah....not much to say for Saturday. I started After Obsession.

Day 2: Yay! I remembered that I signed up for a read-a-thon. I CAN STILL REDEEM MYSELF! So I finished After Obsession today and am halfway through The Jaguar Stone. Hopefully I finish it today because then I am not so sure I will be able to finish my list tomorrow.

Pages Read So Far: 493