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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publishing company. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, broken dreams and people, love where there doesn’t appear to be any hope)
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: LONNIE:
I came to Tennessee to help a friend.
And now, I’m stuck.
By the Southern charm,
By the sweet tea and
By a tall, red-headed "Strawberry Shortcake."
And when my world crumbles apart,
Wynn is there to help me pick up the pieces.
To show me the way.
WYNN:
My life was a huge disappointment.
My marriage,
My job,
Everything slipped away.
Coming home seemed like the final failure.
But then I meet him,
Lonnie Brennan, the sexy bass player,
Who adds laughter to my life.
And now, I realize that I can
Change my tune,
Sing a new song.
Review: This is out of my typical genre, but I absolutely fell in love with the cuteness of this book! I loved every moment of this story. I feel that the writing was superb and the story was cute and binge worthy. The book read like a romance movie. The book didn’t shy away or cheat the reader from the more difficult moments either and the story and plot were expertly written. I feel like the characters were also very well developed as well and realistic. I feel like I cheated because I’ve not read the other books, but I’m definitely going to start now!
The only issues I had was that it almost felt like in the beginning that it would be cheesy and the story would be one that was already told, but it wasn’t at all.
Verdict: A romance book for the ages.
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, broken dreams and people, love where there doesn’t appear to be any hope)
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: LONNIE:
I came to Tennessee to help a friend.
And now, I’m stuck.
By the Southern charm,
By the sweet tea and
By a tall, red-headed "Strawberry Shortcake."
And when my world crumbles apart,
Wynn is there to help me pick up the pieces.
To show me the way.
WYNN:
My life was a huge disappointment.
My marriage,
My job,
Everything slipped away.
Coming home seemed like the final failure.
But then I meet him,
Lonnie Brennan, the sexy bass player,
Who adds laughter to my life.
And now, I realize that I can
Change my tune,
Sing a new song.
Review: This is out of my typical genre, but I absolutely fell in love with the cuteness of this book! I loved every moment of this story. I feel that the writing was superb and the story was cute and binge worthy. The book read like a romance movie. The book didn’t shy away or cheat the reader from the more difficult moments either and the story and plot were expertly written. I feel like the characters were also very well developed as well and realistic. I feel like I cheated because I’ve not read the other books, but I’m definitely going to start now!
The only issues I had was that it almost felt like in the beginning that it would be cheesy and the story would be one that was already told, but it wasn’t at all.
Verdict: A romance book for the ages.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own. Yay me!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 20, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, poisoning, animal zombie, animal attacks, hatred for your sisters, back stabbing bitches)
Pages: 398
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
Review: After hearing my friend rave about this book I finally decided to read it… well I agreed for her to vote for this book for my Friends Pick My TBR challenge. And I actually enjoyed it immensely. It was action packed and intense. The plot was intriguing and the characters were so well developed. I’m really wanting to read book 2 now!
The only issues I had with this book is that the pacing was so so slow and the book was almost over by the time we got to the main event of the book. However, since it was the first book in a series I can forgive the book for the slowness. Hopefully the other books in this series are faster!
Verdict: A slow start, but an amazing I-want-more ending!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 20, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, poisoning, animal zombie, animal attacks, hatred for your sisters, back stabbing bitches)
Pages: 398
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
Review: After hearing my friend rave about this book I finally decided to read it… well I agreed for her to vote for this book for my Friends Pick My TBR challenge. And I actually enjoyed it immensely. It was action packed and intense. The plot was intriguing and the characters were so well developed. I’m really wanting to read book 2 now!
The only issues I had with this book is that the pacing was so so slow and the book was almost over by the time we got to the main event of the book. However, since it was the first book in a series I can forgive the book for the slowness. Hopefully the other books in this series are faster!
Verdict: A slow start, but an amazing I-want-more ending!
Disclaimer: I bought this on my own. Yay me!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, death, choices, fluffy cute moments, the need to slap everyone in this book)
Pages: 323
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The time has come for one winner to be crowned.
When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.
Review: So I will say that this book is an amazing conclusion to this series (well, the original trilogy). It ended well and the actions didn’t feel forced or weird. The characters continued to have development and the plot was just as juicy as the rest of the series. I felt satisfied by the ending.
However, I do have some complaints about the book. We see America as some badass in the rest of the books but when the heat was turned up her sassy badass nature was gone. The backstory of this universe lacked in this world and in the end we’re left with more questions about the Southern Rebels than were answered in the book. I also have an issue with what I saw when I read this book about the Southern Rebels. The book revolves around a future America and the prince lives in what’s referred as “Angeles” which I infer to be about Los Angeles aka California. America’s family lives in the Carolinas (North and South Carolina). So… does this mean that the Southern Rebels are supposed to represent people from Mexico/Guatemala/Nicaragua/Costa Rice/Panama (aka the southern parts of North America)? If so, does this represent some racial bias issues within the book, as the fear about the Southern Rebels in this book is that they’re invading the country and it’s said they’re committing all of these awful crimes? I don’t know for sure, I’m just pointing out things in my read through that I had questions about. If you have more information on this let me know!
Verdict: A good book but questionable items.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, death, choices, fluffy cute moments, the need to slap everyone in this book)
Pages: 323
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The time has come for one winner to be crowned.
When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.
Review: So I will say that this book is an amazing conclusion to this series (well, the original trilogy). It ended well and the actions didn’t feel forced or weird. The characters continued to have development and the plot was just as juicy as the rest of the series. I felt satisfied by the ending.
However, I do have some complaints about the book. We see America as some badass in the rest of the books but when the heat was turned up her sassy badass nature was gone. The backstory of this universe lacked in this world and in the end we’re left with more questions about the Southern Rebels than were answered in the book. I also have an issue with what I saw when I read this book about the Southern Rebels. The book revolves around a future America and the prince lives in what’s referred as “Angeles” which I infer to be about Los Angeles aka California. America’s family lives in the Carolinas (North and South Carolina). So… does this mean that the Southern Rebels are supposed to represent people from Mexico/Guatemala/Nicaragua/Costa Rice/Panama (aka the southern parts of North America)? If so, does this represent some racial bias issues within the book, as the fear about the Southern Rebels in this book is that they’re invading the country and it’s said they’re committing all of these awful crimes? I don’t know for sure, I’m just pointing out things in my read through that I had questions about. If you have more information on this let me know!
Verdict: A good book but questionable items.
Disclaimer: None, I bought this book on my own.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (creepy moments, death, demons, murder, possession)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A girl with a secret talent must save her village from the encroaching darkness in this haunting and deeply satisfying tale.
Alys was seven when the soul eaters came to her village.
These soul eaters, twin sisters who were abandoned by their father and slowly morphed into something not quite human, devour human souls. Alys, and all the other children, were spared—and they were sent to live in a neighboring village. There the devout people created a strict world where good and evil are as fundamental as the nursery rhymes children sing. Fear of the soul eaters—and of the Beast they believe guides them—rule village life. But the Beast is not what they think it is. And neither is Alys.
Inside, Alys feels connected to the soul eaters, and maybe even to the Beast itself. As she grows from a child to a teenager, she longs for the freedom of the forest. And she has a gift she can tell no one, for fear they will call her a witch. When disaster strikes, Alys finds herself on a journey to heal herself and her world. A journey that will take her through the darkest parts of the forest, where danger threatens her from the outside—and from within her own heart and soul.
Review: This book is really interesting. It’s told in a creepy way without being overly cheesy, the book continues the creepy vibe throughout the book. The plot is intriguing and the writing flows really well. The book is also very well paced and I didn’t feel there was any lag at any point in the book.
However, I was confused by the ending and I was left with a sense of lose at the end. I also feel that some of the characters weren’t as well developed as others. Some of them were repeating characters in the narrative but they were hardly developed.
Verdict: A creepy story perfect for Halloween.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (creepy moments, death, demons, murder, possession)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A girl with a secret talent must save her village from the encroaching darkness in this haunting and deeply satisfying tale.
Alys was seven when the soul eaters came to her village.
These soul eaters, twin sisters who were abandoned by their father and slowly morphed into something not quite human, devour human souls. Alys, and all the other children, were spared—and they were sent to live in a neighboring village. There the devout people created a strict world where good and evil are as fundamental as the nursery rhymes children sing. Fear of the soul eaters—and of the Beast they believe guides them—rule village life. But the Beast is not what they think it is. And neither is Alys.
Inside, Alys feels connected to the soul eaters, and maybe even to the Beast itself. As she grows from a child to a teenager, she longs for the freedom of the forest. And she has a gift she can tell no one, for fear they will call her a witch. When disaster strikes, Alys finds herself on a journey to heal herself and her world. A journey that will take her through the darkest parts of the forest, where danger threatens her from the outside—and from within her own heart and soul.
Review: This book is really interesting. It’s told in a creepy way without being overly cheesy, the book continues the creepy vibe throughout the book. The plot is intriguing and the writing flows really well. The book is also very well paced and I didn’t feel there was any lag at any point in the book.
However, I was confused by the ending and I was left with a sense of lose at the end. I also feel that some of the characters weren’t as well developed as others. Some of them were repeating characters in the narrative but they were hardly developed.
Verdict: A creepy story perfect for Halloween.
Disclaimer: None, I bought this on my own.
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (TW for attempted rape and lewd behavior) (violence, death, heart attacks)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 342
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.
But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.
Review: So I went into this hearing my friends tell me how horrible of a book it was. And for the most part I loved it. I felt very connected with Eadlyn. I have a personality like hers (I’m less spoiled however) and I don’t like not being in control and I don’t like letting people in. I really felt for her more than I did America and I would say I prefer these books to America’s. I also felt the story continued perfectly and the voice changed perfectly. The writing was still on point and the story was just as intriguing.
The only issues I had with the book were that I felt it was a bit rushed. I think it could have been slowed down a bit and it would have been perfect. I also feel that there were a lot more trigger warnings in this book and there was some questionable homophobic remarks that made me question this book.
Verdict: The new queen reigns!
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (TW for attempted rape and lewd behavior) (violence, death, heart attacks)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 342
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.
But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.
Review: So I went into this hearing my friends tell me how horrible of a book it was. And for the most part I loved it. I felt very connected with Eadlyn. I have a personality like hers (I’m less spoiled however) and I don’t like not being in control and I don’t like letting people in. I really felt for her more than I did America and I would say I prefer these books to America’s. I also felt the story continued perfectly and the voice changed perfectly. The writing was still on point and the story was just as intriguing.
The only issues I had with the book were that I felt it was a bit rushed. I think it could have been slowed down a bit and it would have been perfect. I also feel that there were a lot more trigger warnings in this book and there was some questionable homophobic remarks that made me question this book.
Verdict: The new queen reigns!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (mental illness is discussed in this book so go into it with an open mind)
I received a free copy of this book from the author herself! Thank you so much! All opinions are my own.
The summer before senior year, Lilah Monroe’s parents take a nine-day trip, leaving her as the guardian of her bipolar cousin, Cece. When Cece’s parents died tragically five years ago, she and her brother moved in with Lilah. Her brother soon went missing and was presumed dead.
Lilah and Cece couldn’t be more different. They used to be best friends, but high school has changed them both. Lilah likes order, schedules, and a tidy room. She has plans for her future and won’t let anything derail it, not even Cece whose life is constantly on the edge of chaos. Cece is messy, erratic and sensitive. She also has a reason to believe that her brother is still alive. Despite Lilah’s reservations, Cece tracks down an old friend who believes her theories. Ezra happens to have gotten really handsome since Lilah last saw him. Too bad they never really got along when they were kids.
Knowing the odds are stacked against them, Lilah breaks all of her parent’s rules for order and reason and joins forces with Cece and Ezra to set out on the road in an old RV in hopes of finding her dead cousin. Lilah and Ezra have a love connection amid the chaos, and when they discover what really happened to Thomas, it’s a truth no one saw coming. One that just might get them killed. - Amazon.com
I believe this is the first book I've ever read from the perspecitve of someone with bi-polar disorder and I absolutely loved it! I thought that while the while people with bi-polar disorder are often looked down upon and seen in a terrifying light (because of old myths) this book did an amazing job of seeming authentic in the way it protrays Cece. Although, I'm not someone who suffers from bi-polar disorder so if you are please tell me your reaction to this character if you've read this book! Aside from my gushing I think that the characters in this book are extremely well developed and the plot and pacing was very well done. The writing also flowed very well and it was a very easy read.
The only issues I had with this book is that the last few chapters had my anxiety on high (not necessarily a bad thing!) and the book has multiple perspectives (also not a bad thing but it can be for others).
Verdict: Other than those tiny tibits I thought this book was beautiful from beginning to end and I can't wait for this book to come out! It would be a perfect gift for those who are fans of Sarah Dessen or anyone wanting a cute little read.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (mental illness is discussed in this book so go into it with an open mind)
I received a free copy of this book from the author herself! Thank you so much! All opinions are my own.
The summer before senior year, Lilah Monroe’s parents take a nine-day trip, leaving her as the guardian of her bipolar cousin, Cece. When Cece’s parents died tragically five years ago, she and her brother moved in with Lilah. Her brother soon went missing and was presumed dead.
Lilah and Cece couldn’t be more different. They used to be best friends, but high school has changed them both. Lilah likes order, schedules, and a tidy room. She has plans for her future and won’t let anything derail it, not even Cece whose life is constantly on the edge of chaos. Cece is messy, erratic and sensitive. She also has a reason to believe that her brother is still alive. Despite Lilah’s reservations, Cece tracks down an old friend who believes her theories. Ezra happens to have gotten really handsome since Lilah last saw him. Too bad they never really got along when they were kids.
Knowing the odds are stacked against them, Lilah breaks all of her parent’s rules for order and reason and joins forces with Cece and Ezra to set out on the road in an old RV in hopes of finding her dead cousin. Lilah and Ezra have a love connection amid the chaos, and when they discover what really happened to Thomas, it’s a truth no one saw coming. One that just might get them killed. - Amazon.com
I believe this is the first book I've ever read from the perspecitve of someone with bi-polar disorder and I absolutely loved it! I thought that while the while people with bi-polar disorder are often looked down upon and seen in a terrifying light (because of old myths) this book did an amazing job of seeming authentic in the way it protrays Cece. Although, I'm not someone who suffers from bi-polar disorder so if you are please tell me your reaction to this character if you've read this book! Aside from my gushing I think that the characters in this book are extremely well developed and the plot and pacing was very well done. The writing also flowed very well and it was a very easy read.
The only issues I had with this book is that the last few chapters had my anxiety on high (not necessarily a bad thing!) and the book has multiple perspectives (also not a bad thing but it can be for others).
Verdict: Other than those tiny tibits I thought this book was beautiful from beginning to end and I can't wait for this book to come out! It would be a perfect gift for those who are fans of Sarah Dessen or anyone wanting a cute little read.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own. Yay me! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (violence, scary bits, questioning on if you’re truly good or evil)
Publisher: HaperCollins
Pages: 488
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.
This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.
But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?
The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.
Review: This book was amazing for the most part. I love the plot of this book. I felt that it was really unique and interesting throughout. I felt that the characters were very vivid and descriptive. The settings were detailed and I loved all the little things that the book included from other fairy tales. And I feel like this will be an interesting series.
The only downsides were that the book was incredibly slow and I feel that the book could have ended sooner. I definitely think it suffers from over-explanation of details and that the author really droned on and one about things that didn’t have any bearing on the overall plot. I also felt that this book could have been cut in half and it would have been better.
Verdict: Overall, excellent start to a series and I’m excited for the next one.
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (violence, scary bits, questioning on if you’re truly good or evil)
Publisher: HaperCollins
Pages: 488
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.
This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.
But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?
The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.
Review: This book was amazing for the most part. I love the plot of this book. I felt that it was really unique and interesting throughout. I felt that the characters were very vivid and descriptive. The settings were detailed and I loved all the little things that the book included from other fairy tales. And I feel like this will be an interesting series.
The only downsides were that the book was incredibly slow and I feel that the book could have ended sooner. I definitely think it suffers from over-explanation of details and that the author really droned on and one about things that didn’t have any bearing on the overall plot. I also felt that this book could have been cut in half and it would have been better.
Verdict: Overall, excellent start to a series and I’m excited for the next one.
Disclaimer: A friend bought this book for me. Thanks Gillian! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (riots, revolution, and romance)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 278
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.
Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.
Review: Oh my highness! I loved this book and I thought this was the excellent ending of this series! I really liked how developed Eadlyn became throughout the book and the book flowed just as well as the other books in the series did. I loved the romance and I loved how even though Eadlyn was different from her mother and her father, that she was still just as lovable as they are.
However, I do feel that the book was a bit rushed. I think this book could have easily expanded into a third book by either adding in more stuff in this book or by doing something completely new. I also want another book because I’m not ready for this series to be over lol. I’d love to see more of the other characters too, as I think they weren’t as well detailed in these books as they were in the original trilogy.
Verdict: A solid ending.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (riots, revolution, and romance)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 278
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.
Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.
Review: Oh my highness! I loved this book and I thought this was the excellent ending of this series! I really liked how developed Eadlyn became throughout the book and the book flowed just as well as the other books in the series did. I loved the romance and I loved how even though Eadlyn was different from her mother and her father, that she was still just as lovable as they are.
However, I do feel that the book was a bit rushed. I think this book could have easily expanded into a third book by either adding in more stuff in this book or by doing something completely new. I also want another book because I’m not ready for this series to be over lol. I’d love to see more of the other characters too, as I think they weren’t as well detailed in these books as they were in the original trilogy.
Verdict: A solid ending.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: November 20, 2017
Genre: Memoir
Recommended Age: 15+ (being sued, finding your song, singing your heart out)
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Pages: 188
Amazon Link
Synopsis: You're a 15-year-old schoolgirl who has big dreams of becoming a pop star, and then one day you get your lucky break. Polydor records sends you to Copenhagen to make pop music - to make you a recording artist. You get back home and your future is looking brighter than ever - until the High Court writ hits the door mat - you've fallen out with your management and they have decided to sue. No, this isn't a dream, this is now Vicky Nolan's reality and fast becoming a nightmare, and all while still at school at the sweet age of sixteen.
Read about the trial, the family, Hollywood, London town, the glamour, the dog (eh?) and most importantly, the music. Curiouser and curiouser?
We always talk about 'making it' and fulfilling your dreams. The question is, what if you don't? What happens next? Ultimately, this book speaks about life and family; its hopes and disappointments, its ups and downs. Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress is in some way a story that speaks to us all, because in the end, the best stories are always true.
"I'm living my life as consequence of yesterday.
And all of my choices compliment my life today.
There may have been times I could have gone and lost my way,
I could have, I would have, I should have, I don't care - I'm here now."
See the stories and hear the music
@YouTube 'Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress'
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I loved the unique storytelling and writing style of the book. I loved how open and honest the book was and when one pairs this book with the YouTube songs then you quickly fall in love with this book. I feel like it’s a very insightful and honest telling of how things can and most times do go in the industry. The book is also a testament to the age old saying to never get up.
However, I think while this book definitely has reread ability, the writing style is very confusing up front. It definitely takes getting used to in figuring out where all the threads are going, but it’s worth it.
Verdict: A scrapbook I can get behind!
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: November 20, 2017
Genre: Memoir
Recommended Age: 15+ (being sued, finding your song, singing your heart out)
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Pages: 188
Amazon Link
Synopsis: You're a 15-year-old schoolgirl who has big dreams of becoming a pop star, and then one day you get your lucky break. Polydor records sends you to Copenhagen to make pop music - to make you a recording artist. You get back home and your future is looking brighter than ever - until the High Court writ hits the door mat - you've fallen out with your management and they have decided to sue. No, this isn't a dream, this is now Vicky Nolan's reality and fast becoming a nightmare, and all while still at school at the sweet age of sixteen.
Read about the trial, the family, Hollywood, London town, the glamour, the dog (eh?) and most importantly, the music. Curiouser and curiouser?
We always talk about 'making it' and fulfilling your dreams. The question is, what if you don't? What happens next? Ultimately, this book speaks about life and family; its hopes and disappointments, its ups and downs. Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress is in some way a story that speaks to us all, because in the end, the best stories are always true.
"I'm living my life as consequence of yesterday.
And all of my choices compliment my life today.
There may have been times I could have gone and lost my way,
I could have, I would have, I should have, I don't care - I'm here now."
See the stories and hear the music
@YouTube 'Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress'
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I loved the unique storytelling and writing style of the book. I loved how open and honest the book was and when one pairs this book with the YouTube songs then you quickly fall in love with this book. I feel like it’s a very insightful and honest telling of how things can and most times do go in the industry. The book is also a testament to the age old saying to never get up.
However, I think while this book definitely has reread ability, the writing style is very confusing up front. It definitely takes getting used to in figuring out where all the threads are going, but it’s worth it.
Verdict: A scrapbook I can get behind!
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (some language and sexual content, not graphic)
Favorite Quote: "Calling all supernatural's from the Abyssal Realm. The princess is here in Macy's. Assistance from all divisions are needed. Beware her guardian angel is here. Have a nice day!"
I received this book as a gift from the author. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Have you ever watched movies like Rosemary's Baby? Movies that explore what would happen if the antichrist was born? Have you ever watched movies about angels, like Dogma or Legion? Whether you believe in that or not, it's an interesting topic to explore to say the least. This is the topic that Waiting for the Beast explores, except the antichrist is not what the seers claim it to be. The antichrist is a bubbly 16 year old girl who loves to go to school and loves life. When her aunt mysteriously falls ill, she becomes telepathic, and begins seeing strange supernatural beings, she learns the truth about her existence and must deal with her supernatural life and her teenage life.
This is becoming a very bad trend, but I find myself not reading the back cover blurb before I read the books. I'm enjoying this bad habit I'm developing because I feel if I read the back cover blurb of this book I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. I enjoyed the twists and turns the book offered. I generally found the book to be a great and easy read. The book was also very insightful, in that the message was your birth does not define you. You can be who you want to be as long as you make the decision.
However, this book did have a lot of downfalls. The pacing was very weird throughout the book. Sometimes the book jumped months or years at a time and sometimes the book slowed down to give a day-by-day account. The plot was decent, but because of the pacing the development of the plot was a bit wonky. The book was very dialogue heavy and, because of that, some of the characters were not very developed until later in the book. I'm also not sure if it was my NOOK acting up or not (because it is 6 years old and getting replaced soon) but there was a lot of missing quotation marks at the beginning of quotes. It made the story hard to follow because I would have to stop and reread a lot of the text. Besides that error, the quality of writing was decent.
Overall, this would be an enjoyable read. It's a refreshing read in a book world full of fairytale retellings and an interesting read on angels and demons. This will be a series I will wait with baited breath to finish!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (some language and sexual content, not graphic)
Favorite Quote: "Calling all supernatural's from the Abyssal Realm. The princess is here in Macy's. Assistance from all divisions are needed. Beware her guardian angel is here. Have a nice day!"
I received this book as a gift from the author. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Have you ever watched movies like Rosemary's Baby? Movies that explore what would happen if the antichrist was born? Have you ever watched movies about angels, like Dogma or Legion? Whether you believe in that or not, it's an interesting topic to explore to say the least. This is the topic that Waiting for the Beast explores, except the antichrist is not what the seers claim it to be. The antichrist is a bubbly 16 year old girl who loves to go to school and loves life. When her aunt mysteriously falls ill, she becomes telepathic, and begins seeing strange supernatural beings, she learns the truth about her existence and must deal with her supernatural life and her teenage life.
This is becoming a very bad trend, but I find myself not reading the back cover blurb before I read the books. I'm enjoying this bad habit I'm developing because I feel if I read the back cover blurb of this book I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. I enjoyed the twists and turns the book offered. I generally found the book to be a great and easy read. The book was also very insightful, in that the message was your birth does not define you. You can be who you want to be as long as you make the decision.
However, this book did have a lot of downfalls. The pacing was very weird throughout the book. Sometimes the book jumped months or years at a time and sometimes the book slowed down to give a day-by-day account. The plot was decent, but because of the pacing the development of the plot was a bit wonky. The book was very dialogue heavy and, because of that, some of the characters were not very developed until later in the book. I'm also not sure if it was my NOOK acting up or not (because it is 6 years old and getting replaced soon) but there was a lot of missing quotation marks at the beginning of quotes. It made the story hard to follow because I would have to stop and reread a lot of the text. Besides that error, the quality of writing was decent.
Overall, this would be an enjoyable read. It's a refreshing read in a book world full of fairytale retellings and an interesting read on angels and demons. This will be a series I will wait with baited breath to finish!