It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

Today is my blogversary!  Hard to believe it's been 2 years since I started this.  I want to thank all my followers for sticking with me the past 2 years.

Read Last Week: 

•  Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
• Embrace the Night by Karen Chance
• Settling by Shelley Workinger 

Currently Reading:

• The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

Up This Week:

• Between by Jessica Warman
• Ordinary Beauty by Laura Weiss
• Legacy by Cayla Kluver

In My Mailbox!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!  I also want to mention that all my cover pictures link to Goodreads!

Purchased: 

• Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
• The Winter Sea by Susan Kearsley
• The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick 
• Betrayal by Mayandree Michel

Review: Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shift

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready

Series: 2nd in Shade series

Pages: 367

Published: Available now from Simon Pulse

ISBN: 9781416994084

Source: Simon and Schuster Galley Grab

Description: Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to. Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift. As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

I Give This ...

 

I was eager to read this book after finally reading Shade.  This did not disappoint me at all.  It's an excellent 2nd book in the series (something I don't get to say very often).

I was not surprised by the events that happen immediately after Logan reappears in Aura's life.  As much as she would like to be fully over Logan, his death, and the events afterwards, she isn't.  But, I was happy to see her realize that a life with Logan as a ghost really isn't a life.  It's more like a constant reminder of what should have been.  I can't imagine how hard it would be to get over someone who gone but not really gone.  At the same time I really admired her for her determination to do all she could to help Logan fully move on.  I think it was a way to help herself move forward and to maybe get a better grasp of what really happened with the Shift.  I think she was also really wanting to help Shades/ghosts get the proper treatment they deserved from those who can't see them.

I was a little surprised at both Logan and Zachary's actions for part of this book.  Logan seems to be stuck in the way he was when he died, almost like he's never gone to be capable of learning from his mistakes.  Sometimes, he entirely too selfish.  He says the he came back for Aura, but I think that's connected to his own reasoning.  I also felt that Zachary was a little hard on Aura.  I know he's been patient with her and letting her move on at her own pace.  I expected more from him though.  I also thought he was a typical a**hole during the whole prom scene and the weeks afterwards.  I did forgive him a little when he divulged his own reasoning for not wanting to compete with Logan.  And he completely redeemed himself in the end.  

I enjoyed the chain of events outside of the relationship drama.  I liked learning about the personal connections and events that happened that winter solstice so long ago.  I feel like things are finally coming to light even if they don't make complete sense at this point.  I'm curious as to how it all plays out in the end.  Way to long to wait for the final book in this series!

*There was one little tidbit with dates that really bugged me.  I'm sure no one else noticed and wondering if it was fixed in the final copy.  I only noticed because my daughter was born on the winter solstice.  The dates don't work for Aura to be conceived on the spring solstice and born prematurely on the winter solstice. 

 

Reivew: Filter (The Von Strassenberg Saga, #1) by Gwenn Wright

Title: Filter

Author: Gwenn Wright

Series: 1st in Von Stranssenberg Saga

Pages: 392

Published: Available now CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781461053002

Source: Author sent for honest review

Description: In this darkly romantic family saga, Rocky Evans searches for a way out of her stepfather's self-inflicted poverty. Just weeks before graduation, with a plan to go anywhere the alcoholic slug of a man wouldn't find her, a car pulls up alongside her on the dark streets of Nashville. The young attorney in his flashy car speaks cryptically of the family she never realized she might have. In a fast paced, heart wrenching first installment of The von Strassenberg Saga, Rocky Evans begins on her journey to unearth the roots of her family tree. What she will learn is there is a reason some roots are best left deeply buried.

I Give This ...

This book is way more than the description even hints at.  A storyline depicting two very different and yet the same teenager and living in two different centuries.  While, I had an idea how they were connected, how the story played out was a pleasant surprise.  

Our present day heroine is Rocky Evans.  Her mother died during childbirth living her with the only man she knows as a father, even if he's the furthest thing from it.  When a young lawyer finds her on the streets of Nashville claiming she's the girl they've been looking for, it's just enough to make the decision to leave.  While waiting for the results of the DNA test, she gets a taste of the life that just might be hers.  And if along the way, she learns a little bit about the love she's never really had, well what's the harm in that.

Our other point of view is Katherine.  She lives in the late 1700's in St. Louis.  Her family is wealthy, which of course means she lives a life of privilege.  She's also considered weak and generally unhealthy, so she spends a lot of time in bed reading.  She longs to have the life she reads in her books.  When she meets Viktor, she finds a kindred spirit, although she finds him infuriating at first.  

The story changes view points with each chapter, but it does so flawlessly.  Rocky's story hints at a darker side but it's Katherine's story that truly takes over as the highlight of this book.  I wasn't expecting it to be so dark and haunting.   There are so many things going on inside of Viktor's home, that its worth discovering for yourself.

While I did find the book engaging, it was a little slow and drawn out in places.  Rocky seems a little bit shallow for all she's gone through.  But, maybe it's just the novelty of the new life presented to her and it will were off.  There was also a lot of unanswered questions in Katherine's story.  I'm hoping they will be addressed in the next installment! 

 

Review: Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed

Author: Josephine Anglini

Series: 1st in Starcrossed

Pages: 496

Published: Available now from Harper Teen

ISBN: 9780062011992

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

  

Description:  How do you defy destiny? Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history. As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

I Give This ...

  

Wow this story was intense.  It literally makes you feel every emotion like it's dripping from the pages.  And there's a lot to feel from anger, hate, betrayal, and even love.  I wasn't expecting that from the opening pages.  

The beginning felt a little flat to me.  I couldn't get a grasp on Helen's character at first.  She seemed awkward and unsure of herself, which I couldn't figure out if it was something she felt about herself or if she was a social outcast.  I finally figured out that it was a little bit of both.  She's beautiful and doesn't know it.  Therefore there's a lot of jealousy and snubbing from others.  Which of course leaves her feeling like an outcast.  This made me like her all the more.   I LOVED that when she first sees Lucas it isn't instant connections and sparks flying.  Well maybe sparks if you consider the fact that they both have unnatural hate for each other.  I enjoyed the fact that their first few interactions were basically trying to keep themselves from killing each other.

I enjoyed the whole Delos family.  While we get the most face time with Lucas, I felt like we got to know most of the gang.  I did feel that Lucas and Helen's relationship came on a little fast.  But, it had that whole Romeo and Juliet feel to it.  And, as we learn who and what they really are, it began to make a lot of sense to me.  Especially when we learn that all demigods take the faces of those who fought in the original Trojan war.  It didn't take me long to figure out who they are suppose to represent.

I liked how the story took Greek mythology and twisted it.  It takes the idea of demigods to a whole new level.  I liked how they all have special talents.  I enjoyed the idea of how the lost city of Atlantis is woven into the story.  There's so much that Helen doesn't know about herself and the world she belongs too.  I loved learning about it all along with her.  

I ended up totally engrossed in this book and now eagerly waiting for the next one!

Waiting On Wednesday - Twisted by Gena Showalter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Twisted

Author: Gena Showalter

Release Date: August 30 

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD ADEN STONE HAS HAD A HELL OF A WEEK. HE’S BEEN: Tortured by angry witches.
Hypnotized by a vengeful faery.
Spied on by the most powerful vampire in existence. And, oh, yeah. Killed – twice.
His vampire girlfriend might have brought him back to life, but he’s never felt more out of control. There’s a darkness within him, something taking over . . . changing him. Worse, because he was meant to die, death now stalks him at every turn. Any day could be his last.  Once upon a time, the three souls trapped inside his head could have helped him. He could have protected himself. But as the darkness grows stronger, the souls grow weaker – just like his girlfriend. The more vampire Aden becomes, the more human Victoria becomes, until everything they know and love is threatened. Life couldn’t get any worse. Could it?

I really liked the first two books in this series.  After the cliffhanger in the last book, I'm anxiously awaiting this one.  I don't know if this is the last one, but I can't wait to see what happens!

Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Title: Firefly Lane

Author: Kristin Hannah

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 496

Published: Available now from St. Martins

ISBN: 9780312364083

Source: Library

Description: In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all—-beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable. From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness. Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . . For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship—-jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

I Give This ...

After reading Night Road, I immediately decided that I needed to read something else by Kristin Hannah.  This has been on my list for awhile, so I grabbed it on my next trip to the library.  While it wasn't disappointed, I didn't like it as much as I did Night Road.

I think my biggest issue was with Kate and Tully.  For the most part, I liked them.  But, there were definitely times that I wanted to smack both of them.  Some of their character traits really grated on my nerves.   I often felt like Kate didn't have a voice.  She followed along with whatever Tully wanted to do no matter what the consequences.  While she finally went her own way, I didn't feel she stood her ground to get it.  It just sort of happened that way.  I also got really tired of how jealous she could get of Tully.  

 I enjoyed Tully's character a little more.  She was vibrant and out to prove herself to the world.  All because the one person who really mattered she couldn't count on.  I felt really sorry for how many times her mother let her down.  I knew she would end up rich and famous and alone.  It was predictable from the beginning of the book.  But, I couldn't help but be proud of her ambition and loved every success she had.

At times, I felt like Tully would do anything to get the story.  She often used the excuse that she was looking out for Kate's best interest, or that she would understand.  I actually though sneaking the camera's into Kate's husband's hospital room was worse than the actual betrayal that drove them apart.   Maybe because I knew something had to give with Kate and her daughter.  Although, I do agree that Tully took it way to far and often didn't help the situation to begin with.

The last part of the book was the best part.  Although it was extremely sad, I think it brought everything together.  It proved the bridges might not always be burned.  While, it didn't move me as much as Night Road did, I'm more than willing to give Kristin Hannah another shot.