Friday, March 28, 2014

All of Jude's Dreams are Coming True, What will Happen to Lucy's?


Crush by Nicole Williams
Will Jude and Lucy get their happily ever after?  Gosh I sure hope so, because who wants to read a romance novel that doesn’t have a happy ending?  Actually I’m super pumped about how this book ended.  I could not stop smiling during the Epilogue and even the last chapter.  I cried like a baby when Lucy was filling out her paperwork at the doctor’s office and it asked questions that Lucy didn’t know the answer to.  When Jude walked in and said, “Am I too late?”  Be still my heart!!!  I was an emotional wreck!

This book along with Clash (#2) sent me on a roller coaster of emotions.  I was super pissed at Anton for how he behaved and the stupid comments he would make to Lucy to undermine her relationship with Jude.  I would have so kicked him in the balls a long time ago.  I was so happy at the end I had tears in my eyes.  I went along for the ride right along with Lucy.
So, I loved this book and this series.  I loved Jude and hated that he was so far away during this book.  Jude and Lucy had a long distance relationship their entire relationship.  I am actually really into the whole female being the main point of view character, but I would love to read Jude’s point of view.  Lucy was so indecisive throughout the entire series, that I wonder how hurt Jude was that she couldn’t figure out if they were supposed to be together.  Jude was the all-american bad boy who grew up into a man of unquestionable character, oh and he’s a professional football player, what’s to decide?  Lucy, you are an idiot for not marrying him up as soon as he asked.  Lucy was an idiot most of the series and I literally wanted to punch her in the face most of the time.    

I never understood the titles of the books.  I always look for some deep meaning, but I never found it, so maybe it’s something very obvious that I’m missing, but I literally have no idea why the books are called Crash, Clash and Crush.  If anyone has any insight, I would greatly appreciate it!  I would highly recommend this series to all readers over the age of 18, because let’s be honest, New Adult genre is just not for kids.  Sorry y’all!
Keep Reading my Friends!

Day or Anden? What's June to do? Maybe she'll just settle for saving the Rebulic one observation at a time!


Prodigy by Marie Lu (Legend #2)
I’m sitting here in the exact same position for a least 10 minutes dwelling on what I just read, I know that if I don’t write my blog immediately after reading this book, I won’t remember where it ended and Champion started, because I’m going to start it as soon as I have my first rough draft typed up for this blog, believe me, it is that good.

The reason I’m sitting here is because I’m at a total and utter loss at what June should do.  There are so many questions and when the point of view character doesn’t know what to do, then myself as the reader is just as lost as she is.  Can you believe that last chapter?  (trying to talk without spoilers, may be confusing for anyone who hasn’t yet read the book?) Can you believe Day’s news?  Then June’s last chapter?  Talk about rip my heart out!  I’m not looking forward to the next book while waiting in anticipation (again it won’t be a long since I’m just waiting to finish typing this up).
So Prodigy has some great scenes in it.  I loved that we got to know Anden, the Primo Elector, a little better, which makes June’s life choices harder for me to get behind because I really do believe that Anden is a good guy.  I think Day is right that June and Anden make more sense, they come from the same world, but there is something so wonderful about Day and his loving attitude and his giving spirit and his bravery.  I just can’t pick between the two.  Could June and Day be happy without each other?  Probably, they haven’t known each other long, but they have this sort of epic love story going on that it’s hard not to route for them to make it. 

I loved the action in this book, the jet ride was intense, the whole assassination plan and how exciting it was for Day and June to communicate and know what the other was thinking without really knowing what’s going on.  I loved getting a peek at the Colonies and how life works on the other side and for both Day to realize that the grass isn’t always greener. 
I can’t wait to keep reading.  I hope you pick up this series soon, it is well worth it.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Wicked, Nasty, Baby Doll, and Harmful. Just a few to get you Started.


Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
I am unsure what to say about Sharp Objects.  First of all, it was disturbing.  I feel like I am a disturbed person if I say I loved it.  But, it was well written.  Flynn does an excellent job of describing the characters and slowly letting you into their circle.  Chapter by chapter we learned more about our main character and her struggles.  We find out more about her home life and how she grew up while she is reporting murders of 2 young girls from her home town.  While dealing with her crap, she’s trying to write the next great story, when she obviously isn’t very good at her job.  The more the audience finds out about her character and the more we find out about her home town and her family, the more we don’t like them.  Any of them. 

Flynn paints a beautiful picture of a messed up character, how messed up?  Well the name of the book should have been a spoiler, but I guess I’m just not that smart. 
So, the bottom line is, was it a good book?  Absolutely.  Would I recommend it?  Yes.  Is it freaking depressing and highly disturbing?  Undoubtedly. 

Keep reading my friends.

Twins? Nope, Triplets.


Shadows (Obsidian #0.5) by Jennifer Armentrout
Dawson, not particularly my taste, I like Daemon because he’s bad boy and cocky and arrogant and sarcastic.  Dawson is the sweet brother, always smiling and making jokes. 

I was glad that I read this story to have a better understanding of where Dawson and Beth were coming from.  I loved their first kiss.  We heard a little about it from Daemon’s perspective in one of the Obsidian books, but to actually be there in the room.  How crazy would that be to be kissing your boyfriend, and boom, you find out he’s an alien. 
I enjoyed that the book was from Dawson’s point of view.  He was a great character to read from and I can’t wait to read the last book of the series to see what happens between Beth and Dawson.  After the crazy ending in Origin’s I have no idea where the last book is going to go.  I know that Hunter and Dawson and some of these secondary characters are going to be big and I am highly anticipating what will happen to all of these characters that I have fallen in love with.

Keep reading (Even if it’s a Novella!) my Friends!

I have NO idea why this book is called Crash... Anyone?


Crash by Nicole Williams
Lucy doesn’t know that her day at the beach would change her life forever.  With a dog from the animal shelter and her flirting with the hot guy playing football, she has no idea what’s coming. 

Crash was a great book.  I loved the characters.  At first I did not like Lucy, but ended up feeling a little more attached to her by the end.  I think the reason I had to warm up to her is that when the author wanted the audience to know something about Lucy she just told us in her inner monologue instead of making it part of a conversation or in action.  In my opinion there were some missed creative outlets on how we could have gotten to know Lucy a little better, made bigger surprises and not changed the story, plot or outline of the book. 
I loved Jude Ryder.  He was the quintessential bad boy and he fell hard for Lucy.  At first we don’t know why he fell so hard and so fast, but it is revealed a little later (I won’t spoil it because it’s a great part of the story).  I also liked that he stood up for her and defended her and that he had such a reputation that everyone listens to him and does what he says.  I did not love his beanie, but I was glad that we got see what the deal is with that.  I had a greater appreciation for the beanie after this book was over.

I don’t know why, but it felt like the dancing idea was an afterthought.  It felt a little forced like Lucy had to have something that she was passionate about, but Williams didn’t know what.  I could (and I probably am) way off base.  It wasn’t a distraction, but a thought. 
I enjoyed Lucy and Ryder together.  Of course all good love triangles have to have a miscommunication of epic proportions and Crash didn’t disappoint.  Lucy misunderstood a situation and broke the only good thing going for her (ok, so she has dance going for her, but let’s be honest, Jude is the reason we read this book).  I was surprised how quickly she switched gears from Jude to Diamond.  If you are that enthralled with a boy then I think you are going to wait more than one day.  That’s just me though. 

There was a surprise at the end that I didn’t see coming, I also loved the last chapter, it was excellent.  I knew what was coming, but I got excited about it anyway.  I hope my blog didn’t chase you off from reading Crash or it’s following books, great book, just a weak blog about a good book!  Keep Reading my Friends!

Dystopian Thriller? Sign me up!

Legend by Marie Lu


A dystopian novel set in future Los Angeles, we meet June Iparis, a Prodigy in her world.  The Republic sets Trials for every ten year old to take, June is the only known person to make a perfect score sending her to college and graduating at 15 to join the Republic in the highest military ranking in the war against the Colonies.  She always marveled at the legend that is Day, a street criminal that the Republic has not been able to capture after 5 years of his antics.  After a heartbreaking plot twist, June is after Day, in what ends up being a fast paced, thrilling story of death, survival, and love. 
This dual point of view book kept my attention and was a quick read.  I enjoyed both Day and June’s character and I thought Lu did a great job of flashing back and giving the reader lots of details on the past in both of the character’s lives. I also love that the character’s scripts were different, June being in black and Day’s in brown, it’s just an artistic way of showing the difference in the voices. 

So, Day is worthy of a Man Crush Monday.  Lu doesn’t give us a ton of physical attributes so we are able to fill in the picture with our own thoughts and tastes which I love.  We know he has long white blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and  everyone calls him beautiful, we know that he has a little Asian heritage, but little else to go on.  Of course this is not what makes him crush worthy, it’s his beautiful soul.  He is so transparent for a criminal on the run.  We know that his first and only thoughts are for his family and Tess, his runaway adopted sister.  He saves June from the skiz fight that is pretty much his undoing, because as smart as June is, we know that she was no closer to finding him as she was the first day she was on the street.  He keeps his secrets for not only his safety, but for those that he cares about and his sole goal for this book is to find the cure for the plague that has come to his house in the poor Lake sector of Los Angeles.  So, we have this 15 year old bad boy criminal who has been on the streets since his trials and yet he isn’t jaded or changed in a bad way from his experiences.  Then we have the Republics sweetheart, well educated, rich, and ambitious and ready to take Day on face to face.  I’m excited to see where this story goes and what we’ll see happening throughout the lives of June and Day in the next two books.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Monday, March 10, 2014

Jude is worthy of a MCM!


Clash by Nicole Williams

What emotions should a reader expect to experience while reading a good book?  Well it depends on what type of book it is, but for a good young adult/new adult book, I expect to laugh, maybe not out loud, but a small chuckle when a character says or does something in character that is funny, or you think “Oh, that Jude, he’s always finding himself in trouble.”
I also expect to be upset at one point.  One of the characters is going to do something that is upsetting, like find them in a hard to explain situation, for Jude that seems to always include another girl.  And the characters usually need a good sit down conversation where both parties are open and honest and trust what the other person is saying.  This does not always happen and that is usually where I get upset.  I’m thinking, please just sit down and explain yourself a little more openly and this mess wouldn’t be happening.  With Clash, I was upset with Lucy because she just kept getting in the way of the best relationship in her life.  I was upset.

I don’t always expect to cry, but if a book brings tears, it goes way up on the list of books that I enjoy.  I think when characters are so ingrained in you that you cry over the situation that is not really happening, but you feel it so deep within yourself to shed tears, that equals a good book to me.  I cried in Clash.  While Williams was explaining the looks on Jude’s face and the emotion that Lucy could see or hear in his voice.  I felt it.  I wanted to slap Lucy and hug Jude pretty much this whole book. 
I immediately started reading Clash after I finished Crash.  Both books were fast paced and easy to read.  I enjoy the characters and even the secondary characters like India (Lucy’s roommate) and Tony (the receiver that plays football with Jude).  I love the intimate moments between Jude and Lucy where we get to see their conversations and struggles within their relationship.  I also love that Lucy’s family is coming around.  It sounds like her dad is getting better and her mom is less “Ice Queen-ish” than in Crash.

Even though dancing is a huge aspect in Lucy’s life, I feel like we know more about Jude’s football than Lucy’s dancing.  She talks about it and says she went and practiced, but I just wonder if there should be more about what it means to Lucy, I just feel like it’s an afterthought and I felt like that in Crash as well.  My best friend was a dancer and everything about her screamed dance from the way she carried herself to how she walked, to how she talked about dance, every example from life could be brought back to dance.  All that to say, I think I figured out what I was missing in between Crash and Clash with the dancing theme feeling lost.  I wonder if we heard a chapter from Jude’s perspective if we would see more of who Lucy is as a dancer since Lucy obviously wouldn’t tell us how she walks, etc.
So, I liked it.  I can’t wait to jump right into Crush and see how this whirlwind ends up.  I’ll keep you posted!

Keep Reading my Friends!