Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Released: January 5th, 2010
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Series: Hush Hush, Book 2
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Borrowed
Page Amount: 412
School Rating: C (63%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Review

Going into this book I had high expectations because I loved HUSH HUSH. I borrowed this novel from a friend, and she loved it. I can’t say I enjoyed it all that much…

I have read reviews where people have said that they found Nora very annoying in the first book… which I thought she wasn’t too bad, but here comes CRESCENDO, and whiny, annoying Nora comes to haunt us. Eh, no… just… no…

I felt as though the plot was underdone. I felt that there was so much potential for this book, but it let me down. All this book was about was Nora whining over Patch. No thank you.

I am going to keep this review short because I feel as though I have nothing else to say about this novel. I just need to move on…

Cover Comments

I think this cover is gorgeous, and it looks so beautiful beside HUSH, HUSH on my bookshelf.

Love,

Sierra

Tag... You're It!! blogger style!

I've Been Tagged in a Game of Blogger Tag!

The Rules: list ten facts about yourself, link back to your tagger, and then tag five more people!
I was tagged by Benji at The Non Reluctant Reader!

1. I am Irish, Scottish, British, and English. I have been told this is not possible, but apparently it is...
2. Most of my followers on my blog don't know this but... I have a not-so-secret obsession with baby names. Seriously. Right now my top names are Lila Rosalie and Greyson Michael.
3. I named my kindle Atticus. Pretty sweet right?
4. I want to read more classics.
5. I am currently in a reading rut.
6. I named my iPhone Violet. I love her so much.
7. I used to hate school so much... and now I don't actually mind it that much.
8. There are so many books I want to read... I'm not sure if I can get to them all in a lifetime.
9. I hate the number nine. SO MUCH. Ugh...
10. I don't think I could live without meat. Seriously, meat is so delicious. I could never go vegetarian... I wouldn't get any seafood!

That was harder than I imagined! Now, I tag...

Melina from Reading Vacation
Jessica & Stacy from Chapter Chicks
Gemma from I, You, We Heart Books
Alex from Electrifying Reviews
Kristi from The Story Siren

I hope to see many of you do this! It was so much fun! (:

Love,

Sierra

Review: Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Released: January 5th, 2010
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Chapters
Page Amount: 412
School Rating: C (63%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Restless souls and empty hearts

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

First Line

One year ago today I lost my boyfriend, Lucca.

Review

I read this book in a online book club with my online buddy, Felicia, who I have talked about in previous reviews. We decided on reading this book for the month of September. I had read I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME (which I really enjoyed) by Lisa Schroeder before I read this one, so I had high expectations going into this novel. Let’s just say this novel wasn’t as good as I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME.

I felt like Brooklyn was missing something as a character. I felt as though there was a big hole in her personality, and as a person herself. I can’t totally put my finger on what she was missing for me. I also felt as though she was constantly sad, crying, or whining about what was happening. That got annoying really fast. Nico was an awesome character, though. I really did love him. What I didn’t like about the characters was that the story only talked about Brooklyn, Nico, Lucca, and Gabe. I felt as though there were no supporting characters in this novel. Very rarely were any other characters mentioned.

I felt as though this book was too fast. The story and the problem all felt rushed, and I don’t feel as though Lisa gave the book enough time to fully develop. I think the book should have been longer, and filled with a bit more character dialogue with other characters other than Brooklyn, Nico, Lucca, and Gabe.

This book is written in verse, a writing style that I have come to conclusion to that I love. I love the poetic feel to it, especially since I suck at writing poetry.

Overall, this book was only okay. Nothing amazing, but nothing awful either.

Cover Comments

I think the cover is very beautiful. I love all the blue tones, and I think it really represents the tone of the story. I love how the hand is representing something in the story.

Love,

Sierra

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Released: December 9th, 2003
Published by: Simon & Schuster Children’s Books
Series: Gemma Doyle Trilogy, One
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Amazon
Page Amount: 403
School Rating: C+ (67%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order.

The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

First Line

"Please tell me that is not going to be a part of my birthday dinner tonight"- Gemma, pg 1

Review

I had really high expectations going into this book. I have heard amazing things about it, and not so amazing things about it. But, as per usual, I cancelled out the bad reviews and only focused on the raving ones. I wish I were one of those people who could not stop raving over this book.

I found a lot of the characters really annoying in this novel. I really liked Gemma, which the story was told in her point of view. I disliked a lot of the friends she met at Spence, such as Felicity and Ann. I found a lot of them annoying and nothing that I wanted to read about.

Overall, Libba’s writing was amazing. It really was. But… when she went into detail about things (describing what things looked like, ect.) I couldn’t get a picture in my mind. I couldn’t see what she was trying to place in my brain, most of the time.

I loved the whole idea of Spence Academy. If I could time travel back to this time and attend Spence, I probably would. I’ve always wanted to attend an academy… but unfortunately I am stuck in a public school.

Overall, I didn’t really enjoy A Great and Terrible Beauty. I guess it just wasn’t for me, but maybe you will enjoy it. I do not think I will be going on with the rest of the series.

Cover Comments

This cover is gorgeous! So Victorian looking… I love it!

Love,

Sierra

Guest Post: Benji from The Non Reluctant Reader

Hey everyone! Today I have Benji, from the awesome blog The Non Reluctant Reader, here for a guest post on e-readers verses physical books! (Note: these opinions are not my own.)

In recent times the stories are starting to transition from the paper book
to the electronic book (ebook) just like the scroll transitioned to the
paper-bound book. Some people argue that the ebook is much easier and cost
officiant. The paper book lovers argue the paper-bound books are more original
and wholesome. But you know what? I bet the old guys were arguing the same thing
about the transition from the scroll to paper-bound! Change is inevitable!
Nothing stays the same forever (well except the fact that this blog is awesome)
but I do like the paper book better, and I have the right to judge because I do
have a kindle. Here's why.

I love paper books for a lot of reasons. The main being you can show
them off to your friends because they have all the awesome cover graphics and
stuff. And when they see you reading a ARC of a book they really want to read
they run up to you and say “ I am super jealous!!!! OMG!!!” or “I call dibs on
reading it after you!” or my personal favorite, “GIVE ME THAT BOOK RIGHT THE
**** NOW AND NO ONE GETS HURT!”. While as when you're reading a kindle they have
no idea what you're reading (in less you tell them, but that's bragging, don't
want any of that now, do we?).

Another big reason I like the paper book is because they make great
weapons! Just the other day my brother was annoying me like crazy when I was
trying to read and I picked up my book (it was paperback so don't judge me too
harshly) and threw it at him! He wouldn't stop crying! But if I had of thrown my
kindle at him I would have just lost $350.00 for just one stupid act of
violence! How cruel is that? Note: No wounds to my brother were fatal.

The final reason I'm going to say why I like the paper book is that if
books go electronic we won't have book burnings! You get to light the books and
fire and watch them go up in smoke! How satisfactory is that? While as the only
aggression you can take out on a ebook is deleting it. Yup, all ya get to is
press a stupid button and watch it disappear of the screen, doesn't make you
feel very powerful, does it? Yup, burning books is a pastime for humans and it's
a tradition that should be upheld!

Now hopefully you see from my totally logical explanations why the
paper book is superior. Now go mutilate your ereader in honor of this guest
post, I'm waiting...

Thanks so much Benji for doing a guest post for me! (: Go check out his blog!

Love,

Sierra