Tidal by Amanda Hocking BOOK REIVEW!!!

                                                         

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Title: Tidal

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin New York


The first chapter starts with Gemma being on a date with a new guy. His name is Kirby and though he is a nice guy Gemma doesn't feel close to him like she did with Alex. She picked him out for that reason because if she doesn't feel drawn to him sexually then she doesn't have to worry about losing control to the bird side of her curse. To bad Kirby isn't as withdrawn with the relationship as Gemma.

Penn, Lexi,and Thea are trying to make the most of the small town of Capri Penn has her eye on Daniel and agrees to hang around the town for Gemma at least for a little while until she finds a replacement. During this time Penn turns her attention mostly to Daniel who is immune to Penn's song. Since there has only ever been one other man who was immune to Penn's song Penn wants to find out if there is any relation between Daniel and the only guy Penn has ever loved.

Harper is worried, it is getting closer to the start of her first year of college and that means Harper will have to leave behind her father, Gemma, and her boy friend Daniel. Though college is only an hour away there will be no way that Harper can prevent Gemma from getting into danger. Harper has to break the curse that is on Gemma or she will never be able to have a normal life.
Gemma and Harper with the help of Harper's friend Marcy learn from an eccentric book store owner that for any curse there must be a paper or scroll with details about the curse. If you can destroy the scroll you can destroy the curse. There is only one thing though, the destruction of the scroll could mean the death of Penn, Lexi, and Thea. Even though Gemma and Harper don't mind Thea her death is a risk that they are willing to make. Now the search is on to find the scroll before Penn knows they are even looking for it.

Daniel is doing great he has a home now on his own island and an awesome girl friend (Harper).
Life is good for Daniel...that is if you look past the fact that Penn is stalking him now. No matter where he goes Penn is either there or shows up just to flirt with him. Even though he hates Penn he must stay on her good side or it cold mean the death of Gemma. That simple tolerance seems to work for a short time until Penn starts to want more. Penn strikes a deal with Daniel, sleep with her once or she will kill Harper and Gemma. One night with Penn will mean protection for the ones he loves. Daniel knows it would break Harper's heart but it has become necessary in order to keep her and her sister alive.

Alex has changed, he has become a walking shell of a person and he doesn't know why. He knows he used to care for Gemma but now he can't even stand the sound of her name. Why can't he remember their break up? Alex becomes plagued by thoughts of Gemma and he doesn't know why. Why does he feel this way? Why can't he remember? Those are the questions that constantly play in Alex's mind as he slowly starts to slip into madness.

Rating:

Thoughts: I love how Amanda Hocking picks the story right up from the last book. I also love where the story is going and am so far happy with the series!



Quotes:  "There's so much magic in the world, so much more than I'd ever believed there could be.
                 We've only just seen the tip of it."
                "Life would be so much simpler if it worked out like a cartoon."

Ender's Game MOVIE REVIEW!!! WARNING!!!! spoiler alert!

Ok I was really excited to see this and now I wish I wouldn't have...

 I figured that they would have to cut some things out for the movie but I wasn't aware of the fact that they would fuck the whole thing up. They cut so much out of the movie that if you hadn't read the book you probably wouldn't have known what the hell was going on. These are some of the problems I had with the movie...

1. They characters were hard to like because there wasn't really any emotion and the acting was sort of monotone.

2. Valentine was only seen a couple of times in the movie and she never stayed longer than 5 minutes and Peter was only seen once for a short time. The whole Newsnet drama that Peter and Valentine were a part of in the book that played a major part in the story was cut out of the movie completely.

3. You didn't really get to see the mental abuse that was put on the children of the battle school and you barely saw any of the stress that was put on them as well. Also the corruption in the battle school with the battle room games that were being rigged was cut out of the movie as well.

4. Ender's isolation was only shown a couple of times when in the book he was isolated for most of the story.

5. The mind game which played a HUGE part in the book was only seen twice in the movie and once again it was only for a short period of time and it wasn't really explained so if you didn't read the book you wouldn't know that things were appearing because he was thinking them.

6. Important people that were met in battle school where all swapped around and one of the platoons was cut completely out. Also the movie put Bean in the same launch group as Ender when in the book he didn't show up until later. Rat platoon was cut completely and because Dink who was in Rat is an important part of the story and couldn't be cut they placed him in Salamander.

7. In the book Ender gets in many fights and as a result Stilson (the bully from school) and Bonzo (bully from battle school) end up dieing. Granted you did get to see Ender beat them up but the fact that he actually killed them was cut from the movie. 

8. There was little light shown on the fact that Ender struggled with himself inside over the fact that he was to violent and it was only ever mentioned one time during the movie. The fact that he had nightmares about the buggers was also cut from the movie.

9. During battle school Ender becomes so good at the battle game that holds his own training sessions in which other kids in the school were welcome to join and in the book you were able to witness their developing of skill in the game. That was cut from the movie in fact you didn't really get to see just how crafty Ender was in battle strategy.

10. After the final battle Ender falls into a deep sleep under the stress of killing the buggers and hundreds of soldiers and in the time that he is asleep war breaks out on Earth to the point that Ender will not be allowed to ever return. That was cut from the movie and so was the fact that Ender becomes governor of his own colony and Valentine come from Earth to join him in governing that was all cut from the movie.

11. In the book there was a complete lack of protection for the students at the battle school and it was mostly just Ender who was a victim because of this. That leads to the court martial of Colonial Graff because of the death of Bonzo which you never saw because it was cut from the movie.

12. There was no sense of time in the movie. The jumbled up scenes made it seem as though everything happened all within a month when it fact it was years. You really got to see that during the lake scene when Ender goes on strike at the battle school and is sent to a home next to the lake to rest. In the movie it seemed like Ender was there for just a day when it fact it was like 3 months before he went back to space for the final battle.

13. In the book a few years after the final battle Ender writes a book called Speaker Of The Dead  that was never shown or mentioned in the movie.


RATING:

Thoughts: Everything aside the movie was visually appealing and there were SOME good moments in the movie (Bean being a smartass). Also I do love some of the actors that were used in the movie BUT unless you have never read the book I would say save your money and wait until it comes out on DVD.

What Do You Want To Do Before You Die by The Buried Life BOOK REVIEW!

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Title: What Do You Want To Do Before You Die

Author: Jonnie Penn, Duncan Penn, Dave Lingwood, and Ben Nemtin

Publisher: Artisan



This book is based off the MTV show The Buried Life...
Four college students from Canada wanted to accomplish all the things on their bucket list which has 100 things the four guys wished to do before they died. They created a company called The Buried Life which was named after a poem written in 1852 by Matthew Arnold which is also called The Buried Life. The first thing that came from this was a documentary titled The Buried Life: What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? The documentary follows the four guys as they travel across North America to accomplish everything on their bucket list. The documentary did so well that the four were contacted by MTV and were asked if they would like to create a show which would allow people to follow them throughout their journey. They said yes of course and the pilot episode aired on January 18,2010 and was well received by the viewers. Even though the show did well on October 25,2011 they boys pulled the plug on the show.

This is their first book and consists of quotes,letters that contain life changing moments in people's lives ,and post cards from viewers that chose to share one thing they wished to do before they died.
Below are some of my favorite post cards along with my favorite quote from the book and the list that started it all.

Rating:

Thoughts: I loved this book so much and I also loved the show. Because this is a coffee table type book it is a very quick read and worth every minute of your time. There are things in this book that will make you smile,laugh,and maybe even share a tear or two but one thing stands out more than the others and that is the fact that after reading this you will have a new look on life.

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking BOOK REVIEW!

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Title: Lullaby

 Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin New York


Gemma is gone, leaving Harper at home trying to pick up the pieces that were left behind. There father is totally heart broken and is beginning to stumble through his days in a haze as to why? Why would Gemma just leave when everything was going so well for her? It's just not like her to up and leave without saying goodbye, something bad must have happened to make her do something like that.
Alex (Gemma's boyfriend) is doing everything he can to find Gemma. After the battle (in Wake by Amanda Hocking) Alex was left unconscious so he wasn't able to see Gemma off. Alex doesn't know what happened, but Harper (Gemma's sister) does.
Gemma never wanted to leave her home, but she was left without a choice. Gemma was told to leave or risk watching everyone she loves die by the hand of Penn. That night constantly plays out in Gemma's mind like a recording. What could she have done? Gemma doesn't know enough about Penn, Thea, and Lexi to fight them let alone kill them. She had to leave and now just making it through the night is a struggle with the watersong getting stronger each day sleep is nonexistent. Gemma knows that a swim in the ocean would make her feel so much better but she just can't see herself enjoying the curse that has caused everyone so much pain.
The three sisters go about their lives like nothing has happened. Gemma eventually becomes close to Thea and they begin to talk often. Thea assures Gemma that it does get easier and the victims can be chosen. Thea doesn't like having to feed on humans either but when you have to to live then you aren't left with much of a choice. Thea confides in Gemma and says that she likes to feed on the guilty rather than the innocent. Even if the human hurts others Gemma just doesn't feel like it's her place to play God with the lives of others guilty or not. Gemma not allowing herself to feed is taking a tole on her body and she is slowly losing control of herself, eventually she will have to feed.
Daniel can't believe what he witnessed the night of the battle, was it a Demon or an animal? It looked like an animal but it sounded like Penn. He didn't know what to do but he knew at the time that he had to protect Harper, he still has to protect Harper but now all he can do i keep his eyes open. Daniel begins to seek out Harper in the hopes of making her smile eve though with her sister gone times are hard. No matter how hard Harper tries she is falling for Daniel and he is falling for her. Then Daniel had to hunch that he should pick up a paper, while looking through it he finds some clues. While putting the pieces together he finally realizes that he knows where Gemma has been hiding...


Rating:

Thoughts: I loved this book even better than the first one! I liked how the book picked right up from where the first one stopped and I also love the romance between Harper and Daniel. I also felt that you get more a feel of the other characters in this book were as the first one was mostly just Gemma and Harper. Also I like the fact that there was a bit of mythology tied with story which involved the Gods and Goddesses. Also and this is very IMPORTANT make sure to read the short story Forgotten Lyrics by Amanda Hocking because it has key points that go along with the Watersong series.

Quote:
"I never stopped believing in you when we were little, and I'll never stop fighting for you now" 

Wake by Amanda Hocking BOOK REVIEW!!!

I was given this book the St. Martin's Griffin New York for review and this is a book series I will NEVER forget.

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Title: Wake

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin New York



This is a story about Gemma and her sister Harper.
Gemma is a good swimmer,she can't really explain it but Gemma has always found being in the water relaxing and calming. On top of swim practice for her high school she also goes out late at night to swim at the Bay in the cover of darkness.
Harper has always been the most responsible of the two, even when she was younger she would always stay on top of her school work and watch her sister Gemma. Things changed for Harper after the accident which left her in the position of mother figure for Gemma while her father worked long hours on the docks.
Though this is a strange family setting things aren't so bad for Harper and Gemma but the Summer that Penn,Thea,Lexi, and Arista show up in the small town of Capri.

Penn,Thea,Lexi, and Arista followed the warm weather and the tourist to the little town of Capri. Everyone of course noticed them as soon as they showed up. All four of them are abnormally beautiful and have guys hanging on their every word and sometimes even girls. Rumors start to go around town about the girls and the rumors get worse when one of them vanishes. No one really knows much about the girls they have no clue where they came from or what they are there for and to make matters worse locals are starting to vanish without a trace.

Gemma and Harper continue on with their normal activities until the three strange girls start to show up everywhere they are. The leader of the girls Penn seems to have taken a liking to Gemma and tries several times to get Gemma to swim with them. Gemma is cautious of the girls so turns them down each time they ask. Gemma thought it was just a normal night for her late night swim in the ocean until she doesn't come home. Harper freaks out and forcing her father to go to work telling him she would find Gemma teams up with a male friend named Daniel in the hopes of finding her sister alive.
Harper and Daniel succeed in finding Gemma but she is hung over and covered in scratches and bruises with no memory of what happened to her. Little does Gemma and Harper know that life as they know it is about to change.
Gemma begins to show signs of supernatural powers. Gemma also begins to find green fish scales around the house. Memories start to surface of the night spent swimming and Gemma starts to remember being with Penn and the others. Could they have something to do with her new found powers? Things become even stranger when Penn tells Gemma that she must leave behind everything she knows including her family to join them or die...What will Gemma do? What are these new powers? Is this a blessing or a curse?

 Rating:

Thoughts: I have never read anything like this book before. I didn't really know much about it when I started to read it but by the second chapter I was hooked. I LOVED this book so much and I am very happy and willing to continue the Watersong series. There were times in the story when I would laugh out loud and the wonderful characters and the story line was Amazing! Amanda Hocking all I have to say to you girl is DAMN you can write!
My only problem with the book and this comes with a warning is the very detailed way in which the blood and gore is described. Though this book is a YA novel I would like to warn people now that if they are bothered by that sort of thing then read this book with caution!


Quote: " Come now,weary traveler, I'll lead you through the waves. worry not, poor voyager, for my voice is the way"

Lord Of Swords by Ann Lawrence BOOK REVIEW!!!

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Title: Lord of Swords

Author: Ann Lawrence

Published: Self Published


Ann Lawrence was nice enough to give me an early copy of this book for review. Ann this is for you :) I hope you like my review!

She went to the stone circle to watch the druids. As she drew her horse to a halt in front of the stones she could instantly feel the energy coming from the stones. The druids usually show up on a night with a full moon such as this night. What she saw though wasn't what she was expecting.
A man was walking toward the circle, but it was clear by the way he was dressed that he was not a druid and he was alone. As he gets closer she hides in hopes that she will not be seen by this strange man.

Guy de Maci has traveled a long way in the hopes of finding some evidence of his son who has gone missing. So far with no luck at finding him Guy has followed the clues left behind to Stonewold. He know that he must look like a simple man just looking for a job in order to investigate the area including the dungeons. Guy stops at the circle to rest and hide some valuable things that might give away the fact that he is a knight. Guy is risking a lot by abandoning his duties as a knight and against the Kings rules. He never thought that Lady Joia would be watching him from the shadows.

Lady Joia is being forced to marry a man she doesn't love. Being forced to marry a cruel man just for land and protection for her father's castle and heir to the throne, her younger brother Crispin. Her father wouldn't be so worried if her older brother wasn't killed in a recent battle. The body was unrecognizable but their hearts hurt for him. To make matters even stranger Joia is falling for Crispin's new bodyguard Guy de Maci. No one in the town of Stonewold realizes that all the answers to their problems is right under their nose.

Guy is in with the King of Stonewold and has become a bodyguard for the kings youngest son Crispin. Guy loves watching Cris but he must never lose sight of the what he is there for. Find his son and leave. He has to be alive because Guy would know if he was killed....wouldn't he??? He has to be at Stonewold everything is leading to Stonewold. guy can feel himself getting closer to answers, but once he gets them will they be the answer he wants?
Guy is there for his son only! Why is it so hard for him to remember that? His motives become cloudier as he starts to fall for Lady Joia. He is so close....yet so far.


Rating:

Thoughts:  I loved this book a lot more than I thought I would. I love knights so much and this time period I just eat up! I will gladly admit that this book kept me on the edge of my seat with it's multiple plots and I completely satisfied with how it ended. I would have given it 5 stars but I figured out a key point in the plot before it was made known so I only gave it 4 stars. Ann Lawrence did a good job! I would recommend this book for anyone who likes the Medieval time period and of course sexy Knights!




QUOTES FROM THE BOOK:
" You have left me with no weapons. I surrender all to you."

" If you act against your better judgment, you may not pay for it now, but you will pay for it later."

Library Haul and Review items!

I have been super busy as of lately and I am currently reading three books at once! Scary I know and I will probably stop reading one of them and just read it another time because I have other books that need to get read and quickly. We went to the library this past week and I will go ahead and admit it right now that I have a weakness when it comes to the library I almost always come home with and armful of books or graphic novels. When we went this week it wasn't any different I ended up coming home with all but #3 of the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World graphic novels and I also got the graphic novel version of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare which I am already to the middle of. Whats funny about the Clockwork Angel graphic novel is that Magnus Bane looks so much different than the guy they got to play him in the City of Bones movie.

I love the guy they picked to play him in the movie I just feel like the one in the graphic novel version is a bit Lestat the vampire looking (just my opinion). I can't wait to finished that and do a review for it though because I am just in love with the whole Infernal Devices series.

While I was walking around running my eyes over the shelves of books I came across Lovely,Dark and Deep by Amy Mcnamara and what caught my eye was the beautiful cover art I fell in love and had to bring it home with me even though now that I think about it I might not have a chance to get to it which makes me sad. I wasn't expecting to pick up anything that was out of my mission which was Scott Pilgrim but when I also found The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien  I figured "what the hell" I will bring them both home with me and read them. The first night I was reading three at once Clockwork Angle, The Fall of Arthur, and Lord of Swords by Ann Lawrence (I got an E-copy of this book for review and so far am loving it). Everything was going well until the 2nd day when I found out that I have another book which should be coming in the mail for review (not going to disclose the title of the book until I have the review copy in my hand) and I also have the whole Watersong series which the publisher was nice enough to finish the set for me so I could review it....
SO MANY BOOKS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME!  To top it off I also won a copy of The Exptionals by Erin Cashman which I have been wanting to read so badly! Sometimes I wish I was like Number 5 from the 1986 film Short Circuit and could read a book as quickly as a person could flip through the pages as if to look for pictures, then I wouldn't be slowly disappearing behind a massive stack of novels all telling me to read them.  Reviews come fist though because the publishers or writers were nice enough to give me a copy of their book so I will always bump them up first!
So be prepared people because there is some serious reading going on and a influx in review is bound to happen!

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