Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is:

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend As Good Beach Reads

1. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen- Sarah is the go-to author for all things summer. She has cute romances, relatable characters, and of course this book takes place at the beach!

2. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols- I actually read this book when I was on vacation at the beach. It has a steamy romance with a man in uniform!

3. The Au Pairs series by Melissa de la Cruz- This entire series is incredible for summer. Its about three girls, hired on by a rich family in the Hamptons as Au Pairs. Its hilarious with some incredible romance and fun moments.

4. He's So Not Worth It by Kiernan Scott- This is the second book in the series, but takes place during the summer at the beach.

5. Beach Blondes by Katherine Applegate- Another summer book about girls on vacation together in Florida. What kind of trouble could they get in to together?

6. Island Girls by Rachel Hawthorne- Another book about best friends spending the summer together at a vacation house. Why can't my summers be like that?

7. Bad Girls by Alex McAulay- A book about girls sent to a reform camp in the tropics. It's actually a more serious read, but still perfect for a hot day.

8. Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen- Of course Sarah made it up here twice! Another book set in the summer about a self-conscious girl finding herself and love at the beach.

9. Amplified by Tara Kelly- A girl just out of high school leaves home and auditions for a band as lead guitarist. The hilarity and awesomeness of this book cannot be explained!

10. Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern- Two best friends road trip across country to save their other friend after she faked her own kidnapping. The one-liners in this book are gut-busting. And of course there is some sweet romance too.

*Ok, so there was an older book I was trying to remember that I wanted to put on this list but can't think of its title. It was about two ex-friends, one girl is extremely popular and the other is an athlete, who go on spring break together last minute to Florida. They end up staying in the athlete's grandmother's condo and both fall in love with the same guy. There is a sequel to this book about going to Paris. Anyone ever read them?

Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton

Title: Emma Hearts LA
Author: Keris Stainton
Published: June 7, 2012 by Orchard
Rating:

Emma's not sure that LA's for her, but when she accompanies her sister Jane to an audition, a chance meeting with a teen TV star starts to change her new sunshine lifestyle for the better... But what about Oscar, so far her only friend in LA, who's turning out NOT to be the idiot she thought he was?

Soon Emma begins to find herself torn between two boys and reconsidering her entire future.

Maybe LA's not that bad after all.

A Copy of this Book was Provided by the Publisher for Review

My Review:


The premise for Emma Hearts LA is exactly what it sounds like- a cute fast read. There isn't much dimension to the story, some might label it fluff, but Emma Hearts LA although underdeveloped, is a sweet story. Emma has recently moved to the LA area with her mother and sister following her parent's divorce. Luckily her neighbor, Oscar, is an old childhood friend, who is there to make the transition easier for Emma. Oscar is your typical boy next door, slightly awkward but the unknowingly charming good guy. However, when accompanying her younger sister on a Hollywood audition, Emma meets teen star Alex, and LA has just become a whole lot more interesting.

The best way to really describe this book is cute. Its an innocent storyline, geared more for a younger audience, as there is more 'butterflies in your stomach' romance as opposed to 'hot sexual tension'. The characters are young and their relationships are purely innocent. Even TV star Alex, who is described as being gorgeous, is too nice and polite!

Although lacking in chemistry, the characters were fun to read. Emma is your typical YA protagonist stuck in an unfortunate love triangle with two amazing guys. Everyone in this book just read a little too sweet or too good that it made it a little boring. I wanted some tension or drama, but there really wasn't much that made this book stand out. There were some 'awe-worthy' moments, such as an awkward first kiss and serenading scene, but it didn't make up for the majority of this book being forgettable.

I would recommend borrowing this book if you're going to give it a shot and would definitely pass it along to a younger (possibly middle grade) reader.

Follow Friday

It's Friday and time for another Feature and Follow Friday post! This meme is hosted by the lovely ladies of Parajunkee and Alison Can read and features a new blog each week along with a book related question. This week's question is:

You are a matchmaker- your goal, hook up two characters from two of your favorite books. Who would it be? How do you think it would go?

This is a hard question this week because most of my favorite books have such incredible romances already that I couldn't see the characters with anyone else! Although I do think that Rose from Vampire Academy and Jace from The Mortal Instruments series would make a really interesting couple. Rose isn't the type of character that needs saving and Jace is so suave that they'd make quite a combo. They both are so confident and cocky that their relationship would be hilariously entertaining. That and the fact that they are both so kickass! Could you imagine the kind of villain butt they'd kick?!

Leave links to your Follow Friday post and I'll make sure to check them out! 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #1
Published: April 24, 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Rating:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity. 

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

My Review

The Immortal Rules reminded me so much of the movie Daybreakers. The book focuses on Allie, an unregistered human who is risking everything to stay both alive and independent of the reigning vampires. She refuses to offer up her blood to the 'monsters' and therefore lives on the fringe of civilization, desperately trying to stay alive until she is attacked by 'rabids' and forced to make the decision- die or become what she hates most. 

The grittiness of this book is what really drew me in. I loved the post-apocalyptic feel of the settings and the desperation you feel coming off each and every character trying to survive. There is always an underlying fear in every scene that the next monster is going to attack and that will constantly keep you on your toes while reading. The horrors that Kagawa has created are definitely scary, especially the rabids, and will be sure to make your heart race!

Allie as the main character was so badass. She's not afraid to say what everyone is thinking and keeps everything in such a real perspective. I loved her bluntness and hard demeanor. Kagawa does an excellent job showing Allie's progression from human to vampire and her inner turmoils of becoming the monster she hates. She didn't skimp on the story line and spent a good amount of time showing Allie's 'training' period as a new vampire. I like that she didn't just jump right into the role, but instead we got to experience the newness of the experience right along with Allie. 

Along with the always prevalent fear and desperation, there are some really sweet moments in this book. The relationship between Vampire Allie and Human Zeke was really well crafted. The complexity of their relationship, due to secrets and revelations, is portrayed immediately and it is really heart wrenching watching Allie hide her vampirism from Zeke and the rest of the group. 

Even more is the hurt you feel when Allie has to make some incredibly difficult choices for these people she unknowingly falls in love with. The characters are all perfectly written to have individual voices and personalities throughout. Kagawa excelled at juggling these secondary characters and making you remember them just as much as the primary ones. 

This story has just started what is to be an addicting and dark series, one that I am sure to stick with. I recommend this book to any who can still appreciate a good vampire story with strong romance and amazing writing.  

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is:

Top Ten Books Written in the Past 10 Years that I Hope People Are Still Reading in 30 Years

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Anything by Sarah Dessen

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #5
Published: May 8, 2012 by Margaret McElderry
Rating:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

My Review:

I couldn't even begin to imagine that this series could get better, but I am constantly impressed and entertained with where this story is heading. Clare has expertly woven a story line that magically weaves in and out of the imagination with such incredibly addicting plot lines that leaves you breathless! In City of Lost Souls the action, drama, anxiety, magic, and romance all picks up to such an extreme level that you wonder how can one book be so good?!

There were several plot lines that intermingled in this book and the reader jumps from one to another within each chapter. Although I liked giving the spotlight to the other budding relationships (Alex/Magnus, Mia/Jordan, and Isabelle/Simon) I do wish there wasn't so much hopping back and forth. It got to be a little too much at times and took away from the main couple of the story. It didn't make me like the book any less, but was just a consistent task to keep everything straight.

I did miss the normal wittiness and sarcasm from Jace in this story. Since his character was tied to Sebastian to the majority of this book Jace seemed a bit more demure and 'puppet-like'. It was definitely what Clare was aiming for, but he wasn't the boy Clary (or I) fell in love with. However, the passion and love was constantly present and leaves your heart aching for these two teens. I was surprisingly more invested in Clary for this story who has developed into a much stronger and independent heroine and finally making her own choices to save the day. 

There are just so many incredible moments in this book that create such a wonderful storyline. The darkness and betrayal lurks in every corner; passion and tension in every couple; insane fighting sequences between Sebastian and Clary; and some nail biting scenes that keep you at the edge of your seat. Clare doesn't hesitate to hold back with any part of this book and it is so apparent that this story was meant to give you chills. 

If you haven't read this series I am literally begging you to go out and read the first four books IMMEDIATELY. You will fall in love with this magical world and desperately wish you were a fierce, tattooed, seraph wielding Shadowhunter. 

Dibs on Jace.

Stacking the Shelves (3)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews. 

I only got two books over the past two weeks. I'm saving money still for BEA in two weeks so no book buying for me! And I was too lazy to make a video this week so we're left with pictures (sorry!)

Purchased:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa 

For Review

Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton