Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #86 and W.W.W. Wednesday #76



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



Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood, #1)
Fire and Blood by Victoria Scott 

February 25th 2014

  

        
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?





W...W...W.. Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.... I wold love to hear What you are currently reading, what did you just finish and what are you reading next...



What Are Currently Reading: 

These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1)Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)Projection


What Did You Recently Finish Reading?


Lovely, Dark and DeepThe Pledge (The Pledge, #1)Dualed (Dualed, #1)

What Do You Think You Will Read Next? 

Wolfsbane (Nightshade, #2)Bloodrose (Nightshade, #3)Snakeroot (Nightshade Legacy, #1)


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Review: Lovely Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara



Lovely, Dark and Deep
Title: Lovely Dark and Deep 
Author: Amy McNamara
Publisher:  Simon and Schuster 
Publishing Date: October 6th 2012
Pages: 342
Genre:  New Adult Realistic Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Source: HArdcover

  






A resonant debut novel about retreating from the world after losing everything—and the connections that force you to rejoin it.

Since the night of the crash, Wren Wells has been running away. Though she lived through the accident that killed her boyfriend Patrick, the girl she used to be didn’t survive. Instead of heading off to college as planned, Wren retreats to her father’s studio in the far-north woods of Maine. Somewhere she can be alone.

Then she meets Cal Owen. Dealing with his own troubles, Cal’s hiding out too. When the chemistry between them threatens to pull Wren from her hard-won isolation, Wren has to choose: risk opening her broken heart to the world again, or join the ghosts who haunt her.





Another book that has been on my TBR list for a very long time and forgotten about. I can't believe it took me so long to get to this wonderful book. The title says it all. The story is dark, deep, and lovely. Heartbreaking and filled with hope. An endearing read from start to finish. Loved it. 



Wren has recently moved in with her father to get away from a terrible even from her past, a memory, a tragedy she can't get over. She has fallen into a bit of depression and has lost all hope of ever finding her way again. Then she meets Cal. A boy just a bit older than herself.  How they meet, he runs into her with his car while she is riding her bike. Cal knows a bit about tragedy and loss of hope. Now that their lives have collided, they find its one another they need the most to find hope again. 




What a heart wrenching tear jerking read. I laughed, I cried, I lived. It was a well written story about loss, love, and hope. The author made it exceptionally easy to fall into Wren's world. The darkness of her thoughts, the hopeless feelings, and the broken pieces of her heart. She lived in a very gloomy world and I really didn't know if she would make it through. 

Wren was a very difficult character to like but an she was easy to relate too. Her life, her feelings, her thoughts, they were real. She was flawed the way someone her age with her past would be. I found it hard to always like her because she was a very realistic character. Seeing  her life from the outside of course I wanted to slap to her and tell her there are plenty of people out there that still loved her and wanted her to a part of their world not on the outside looking in. I could understand her but I could also see hope when she couldn't so yes it was hard to like her at times but it was very easy to feel for her. I wanted to love her, hug her, tell her its OK. Very well developed character. 

I absolutely adored Cal, and yes I wanted to slap him at times too. Since the story is told from Wren's point of view, I wasn't in Cal's mind but I am sure he had his moments of a pity party for one. But truth be told he had a very good outlook on life most of the time. It was hard for him, but he found a way. I think Wren helped a bunch in this area but he did give it all he had most of the time. He was loving, sweet, and sometimes plain out dumb. Very adorable and likable.

The story was filled with tragedy,loss, healing, love, hope, and real life. I think it had to be on my must read list for realistic fictions. After a very emotional read, I felt good at the end. It wasn't all put together with a bow in the end but it was a good ending. It was a very well paced and written story that will turn your heart inside out and back again. 




A very entertaining and tearful read. 







Teaser Tuesday #84 and Top Ten Tuesday #74

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Bloggers choose two
sentences out of our current read to peak others' curiosity.


These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1)Teaser: 

I let my gaze slide away from hers, and I hear her breath catch as she stiffens. I can imagine her face closing over, but I can't let myself look at her. 

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

  
  
        


It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.





Top Ten is an original feature/weekly meme created here at
The Broke and the Bookish that features a great bookish top ten every week.



Top Ten Things I am Thankful For (in the book world)


1.  The world I live in because there is no stipulations, bans, or restrictions to what can be written. 
2. The authors that write the stories I love, the stories I have yet to love, and even the stories I wish I had loved. My world is better off because of their stories. 
3. Everyone else involved in the process of the story being written to the story being read. 
4. Librarians and libraries because they make it so much easier to read more and more books. 
5. Bloggers who lead me to more books, talk with me about books, and just make it possible to live in a book involved world. 
6. Followers because I love my voice to heard and the only way I know how to is on my blog. 
7. My family who provides me with books and gives me time to read my books. 
8. My fellow reader friends and my non reading friends. They put up with me and if they don't share my passion for books, well at least they try to pretend. 
9. Places that provide authors a chance to publish Their books without going through big time publishers. 
10. My Kindle because well I can store many many more books. 



Monday, November 25, 2013

Review: My Name Is Rapunzel by K.C. Hilton


My Name is Rapunzel


Title:  My Name is Rapunzel 
Author: K.C. Hilton
Publishing Date: November 13th 2013
Pages: 322
Genre:  YA Fairytale Retelling
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Audio

  



My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did. My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.





This book has been on my TBR for quite a while and I was very excited for it when I first discovered it on Goodreads. This was sometime over a year ago and as time went on I forgot about the release date. I was browsing Audible and noticed it. I grabbed it, started it, and finished it right away. Loved it. Possibly one of the best and my all time favorite retelling. The first Rapunzel retelling I read and I think any other is going to have a very difficult time measuring up to this one. It was a fantastic story, I adored Rapunzel and everyone that crossed her path, and the ending was just perfect. 





Rapunzel was cursed when she was 18 years old. The old witch wanted her hair for the anti aging ability it gave her. When Rapunzel fell in love and threatened to move away the witch cursed her. Rapunzel doesn't age and her hair can't be cut. Rapunzel tells her story from when she was cursed in the late 1700's all the way until the ending in 2013. She tells her of her family, friends, and romances. Her story is filled with joys and sadness, and everything in between. 




I loved it! I was more than satisfied and this book went way over any expectations that I had. I can't even say what was the best part of the story Everything worked so well together, the writing, the pacing, the characters, the story itself. It was all just so wonderful. 

One thing that I was surprised with was my love for Rapunzel. I love my fairytales but in everyone there are times the main character, the damsel in distress, just gets on my last nerve. I am happy to say that this Rapunzel didn't. She totally rocked. She was caring, courageous, smart, and so so sweet but also real tough. Her life was hard. She loved and lost so many times throughout her life. Destined to be alone, well except for the nasty witch that cursed her, and she still carried on. I guess she didn't have much of a choice, she was cursed with immortality, but she tried to live her life as best as she could. She found little things or memories to keep her mind off how terrible her surroundings were. She did have a few pity parties, but for the most part she just dealt. She did what she could to truly live without having attachments. Attachments meant two things, her secret being discovered and losing another loved one. She tried so hard to escape her dreadful life too. It just never worked out. There were forces at work to keep her right where she was. She didn't give up. She was determined. Then there was my favorite characteristic of Rapunzel, she was so selfless.  As much as she had gone through she would have done it all over again if it meant helping someone or saving someone. She was just wonderful. 

This book had so many wonderful characters, Rapunzel was just the center of them all. She had very loving parents. I adored her parents. They loved her with all they had. It was terrible and heartbreaking when they left her. There were many loyal friends that cared for her deeply and looked after her. I even liked the witch. She was a very well done character that I hated and I also liked. 

I have to admit I don't know the story of Rapunzel that well. Really the only parts I knew... Rapunzel had very long blonde hair, ,she lived in a tower, and a prince would come to visit and say "Rapunzel. Rapunzel. Let down your hair. So... I didn't have much to compare too. What I know about fairytales, they are supposed to be dark, scary, and the villain always plays dirty. This story was that. The story did have some of the important elements about the hair, the tower, and sort of the prince and then it had so much more. Dragons, reporters, spells, good guys, bad guys, loss, love, and great ending. 

I loved the way the story was written. It starts at the very beginning. When Rapunzel was cursed. The story is told in the fast forward of all the important times in her life to tell her story, until we get to modern day. Then there are some flashbacks and some memories scattered throughout. I enjoyed the past as much as the present in the story. Her entire life was worth the listen. A lot happens in 200 plus years that builds a character. I was completely invested in her story and from the very first sentence. It was written incredibly well and paced just perfect. The narration for the audio was also magnificent. 






This is a shelf collector for me. I will take time to revisit Rapunzel many times in the future. 















Genre Definition and Recommendation #42

Fantasy - Definition found on Wikipedia


Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary plot element, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genre of science fiction by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific themes, though there is a great deal of overlap between the two, both of which are subgenres of speculative fiction.

Mythic Fantasy  Definition found on Wikipedia   


Mythic fiction is literature that is rooted in, inspired by, or that in some way draws from the tropes, themes and symbolism of myth, folklore, and fairy tales. The term is widely credited to Charles de Lint and Terri Windling. Mythic fiction overlaps with urban fantasy and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but mythic fiction also includes contemporary works in non-urban settings. Mythic fiction refers to works of contemporary literature that often cross the divide between literary and fantasy fiction

My Recommendations: 



My Name is Rapunzel
My Name is Rapunzel by KC Hilton 

  

        
My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did.

My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.








Painted Blind
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen


 


        
Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown, where everyone—especially her dad—can see it. That becomes the least of her worries when she meets Erik, a mysterious guy who rescues her from a mob and who she’s never actually seen because he can make himself invisible.

Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Enchanted, intrigued, and not wholeheartedly believing he’s real, Psyche can’t bring herself to love him blindly. When she betrays his trust for a glimpse of his face, Psyche ends up at the mercy of Erik’s controlling mother, who demands that Psyche prove herself in order to be reunited with him. Psyche knows love is never easy, but this is ridiculous. She agrees to complete three impossible tasks to prove her devotion to Erik—or die trying. 

This modern retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche is a fantastical journey filled with laughter, danger, and the indomitable power of love.