Sunday, April 27, 2014

Reviewing: Push (book)

Push
By: Claire Wallis

What It's About!

I feel like I am wrapped in a cyclone. Everything is whirling around me, drawing the air out of my lungs and filling me with the best kind of turmoil. Every time his tongue slides against mine, a prickle in my gut tells me how right we are together. How much I need David. How much I need us.

I hope the cyclone never stops.

Emma Searfoss has spent a lifetime trying to escape her abusive stepfather. It's why she moved far away from home. It's why she's kept no ties with her remaining family. And it's why she's got a major rage problem. When her neighbor shows up to fix the kitchen in her new apartment, his enigmatic charm calms the fire in her. David is cool and collected, and he makes Emma feel safe for the first time ever. But David has his own chilling past—his six previous girlfriends have all disappeared without a trace. Emma'swalking a dangerous line, but David's pull is intoxicating. And impossible to resist…



My Thoughts!

I received this book through Net Galley in turn for an honest review. 

So many mixed feelings about this read. It was crazy. She was crazy. He was crazy. Their upbringings were crazy. Their relationship was anything but healthy. They both had anger issues. David was controlling and secretive. Emma had this twisted need for companionship and protection. They completely rushed into a toxic relationship, that somehow balanced them both out. It's like when you watch a movie that shows you the ending at the beginning. You know what's going to happen and it's going to be horrible and anything but happy. Yet you still watch. You still root for the couple and all their insane baggage. You hope the whole way through that somehow through all the mess, they will work it out. This book gave me feelings of watching a horror movie with my hands over my face, but watching through my fingers. Reading this book, I didn't want to like it. I thought I had my mind made up when Emma took it upon herself to barge in to thank David by seducing him in front of his friends uninvited. Then somehow I got hooked and was unable to put this book down. It ended with To be continued...I've got to read the next book. This is a true example of a good guilty read. Everything about it is so messed up,but you can't help to have more. 

Friday, April 25, 2014

Reviewing: Thief (book)

Thief
By: C.L. Stone

What It's About!

Kayli Winchester is a dirt-poor girl living out of a hotel, forced to be the parent for a drunken father and teenage brother who she’s desperate to keep in school. The only way she scrapes by is to utilize her one skill: pickpocketing. But even though she’s a thief she has a moral code: no kids or old ladies, only targets who can defend themselves. Not that they see her coming…

Thinking she’s been working under the radar, Kayli has no idea The Academy has been watching and taking notice. Now a team that needs her skill has offered her a way out of her predicament and it’s her last chance: work with them, or face jail time. Kayli resists at first, but slowly the boys reveal they can be trusted. With Marc, the straight man, Raven, the bad-boy Russian, Corey and Brandon the twins as different as night and day, and Axel their stoic leader, there’s a lot Kayli can learn from these Academy guys about living on the edge of the law. If only she can stay on the good side instead of the bad.

Especially when the job they offer her is more than any of them bargained for. After it’s done, the hunters have become the hunted and their target is now after Kayli. The Academy boys do their best to keep her hidden, but a thief like Kayli will never sit still for long.

Meet an all-new Academy team in Thief, the beginning of the Scarab Beetle series.

Warning: This is a new adult series. Readers of the other Academy series may need some caution as this series will contain mature sexual and violent situations and themes.


My Thoughts!

I received this book through Net Galley in turn for an honest review.

This is the second book I've read by C.L. Stone. I have so many mixed feelings about the books I've read, including this one, but I really enjoy the way the author writes. I stay interested. Like, The Academy, this book had a ton of hot, ready to please, seemingly perfect guys. Although that is far from the norm, I've learned to just except her dreamlike book world and roll with it. I mean if I'm going to escape into a book world...why not go where there are tons of different variety of stunning hunks?

I like that the character, Kayli, was strong in the sense that she would do anything to protect her brother and get by. I found her mighty irritating that she bounced around from guy to guy. Sure I get that she may be attracted to more than one of them, but to have that deep connection to more than one...pick one. Stick with it. I noticed that C.L. Stone had the main character of The Academy hop around with her love life as well. Not really into that. 


I also was slightly disappointed in the guy's abilities. If they're going to be these super b.a. spy/academy/body guard warriors, you should probably let them figure out some things on their own? Every mystery solved they seemed to stumble upon. They basically got caught or hurt more than once in the book. 

Anyway I like the author's captivating voice and I'm not turned off to read some more of her stuff. Again I just hope she isn't always indecisive with her heroine's love interests in future reads. 

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Reviewing: The Maze Runner (book)

The Maze Runner
By: James Dashner


What It's About!

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human." 

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.




My Thoughts!

This book was chosen as this month's read for April in a book club I participate in. Going into the book I was looking forward to a dystopian adventure similar to Hunger Games or Divergent. What I got was some never ending 90's computer game read. Although this book kept me interested as far as staying focused reading...it drove me crazy. 

It was extremely dry with way too much suspense. I stayed aggravated for 300+ pages due to lack of information. 

The maze had zero mystery to me. 

The whole,"STOP ASKING QUESTIONS." was infuriating. In Thomas' position who wouldn't ask questions? Seriously?! 

I couldn't take the horrible made-up slang. "shuck-face" "klunk" Every time I would read "shank" my mind would read skank and I would immediately drift to the movie Mean Girls. "Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen! It's not going to happen!" 

So this book was not for me. Some may outweigh the bad and be hooked enough to read the next book just to see what happens, but I am not that invested. I personally won't dedicate anymore time. Nor would I refer it to anyone in the future. 

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Reviewing: Marked By Hades

Marked By Hades
By: Reese Monroe

What It's About!

One choice away from eternity…

For 911 years, Gatekeeper companion Justin Bradford has denied the possibility of being mated to only one woman. He enjoys them all too much to settle down. So when he feels his mate’s Ahavah mark surface, his first instinct is to ignore it. But when he sees the leather-clad beauty in need of his help that’s easier said than done…

Yvonne wakes up naked on a cold park bench in a small town with no memory of who—or what—she is. All she knows is the gentle man who woke her was turned to dust when she touched him. And now the strange mark that appeared on her shoulder throbs in the presence of the raven-haired man now offering to help her…

As Justin and Yvonne navigate the mystery of her past, their bond grows, but the secrets they discover and the sacrifices that must be made could be enough to rip them apart for eternity.


My Thoughts!

I received this book on Net Galley in turn for an honest review. 

I'm so happy to be done with this book. I just couldn't get into it. I did finish it because of my rule of completing a book once a start no matter how boring or terrible it is. I normally finish a good read in one day. This seemed to take me forever. I understand it is a sequel, but it still didn't have my sole attention. I wasn't rooting for the couple. I didn't believe in their story. Maybe the demon the thing and splicing was just too much for me? I don't know it just wasn't for me. Which is weird because I'm all about the paranormal and different. I didn't find any memorable quotes that spoke to my heart and that's important to me. Especially when giving a rating. This is just my opinion. Maybe others will like it. 

For more of my reviews...please check out my blog. I'm always looking for book lover friends with the similar taste. 
thelatenightlamp.blogspot.com