Reviewing: Introductions (The Academy, Book #1)

Introductions (The Academy,Book #1)

By: C.L. Stone

What It's About!

With an agoraphobic mother and a barely-there father, Sang abhors the isolation keeping her in the shadows. The only thing Sang craves is a fresh start and to be accepted as ordinary by her peers, because for her being different meant being cast out alone.

When her family moves to a new school district, Sang infiltrates a group of boys nearly perfect in every way. Grateful for an influence outside of her parents’ negativity, she quickly bonds with the boys, hoping to blend in and learn from them what it means to have a natural relationship with friends.

Only the boys have secrets of their own and they’ll do anything to keep her safe from the knowledge of the mysterious Academy that they've sworn allegiance to. Bit by bit, Sang discovers that her friends are far from the normalcy she expected. Will her loyalty change when she's forced to remain in the dark, or will she accept that she's traded one house of secrets for another?

Meet Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke and North in a story about differences and loyalty, truth and mystery, friendships and heart-throbbing intimacy.

The Academy, ever vigilant.

What I Thought!

This book was referred to me by a friend. We have similar taste in books. I had a really hard time rating this. I went back and forth over and over whether it should be a three or four. I had to go with three because there were just too many issues....although it's very addicting. I'm sure I'll read every book in the series just to find out what happens. If I don't I'll probably go crazy from not knowing. 

I definitely could relate to Sang in the beginning. I was rather awkward, in my opinion, as a teenager. I still to this day am completely oblivious to flirting. I stopped relating when all of the sudden she had these gorgeous,talented, all different walks of guys with these skills fawning all over her. I'm not exaggerating either. There were like 9 of them! They were overly protective. One actually washed and styled her hair after meeting her. They even bought her a cell phone to keep in contact so her crazy family wouldn't find out. (That's a whole other can of worms.) It's like where were all those hot caring too good to be true guys when I was an awkward new girl in high school with controlling parents? Where was my pink cell phone? lol 

Alright there is some serious child abuse going on in her household. It confused me that all of the guys were very protective right from the start with Sang over the tiniest things like tripping or falling, but when they hear her mother made her chug lemon juice and vinegar, as a punishment for a male caller, they allow her to go home and don't report anything? Unbelievable. 

Okay now onto the guys. At first my initial observation was a cult....apparently that's not it. There's a leader. They know where everyone is at all times. Apparently there is some training. As we know they are sent from the Academy to attend a rather dangerous and low funded public school to try to set an example. I wondering if they're FBI? Or undercover cops? I've even thought they were werewolves in some pack, but maybe I've been reading too much paranormal books lately. 

So at the end of the book I didn't really get any answers that I wanted. I guess that is what keeps readers hooked. Now I have to know what the academy is and who Sang chooses out of the many eligible bachelors that are obsessed with her. My emotions reading this were so confusing, because I was so annoyed with the too good to be true things that happened, but at the same time addicted to the story. Let's hope I'll get more answers with the next book, because I know I'm going to break down and buy them all. 

Reviewing: Nocturnal (book)

Nocturnal

By: Chelsea M. Cameron

What It's About!

Seventeen-year-old Ava-Claire Sullivan's mother is dying. Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that her greatest solace comes from someone who's already dead.

Peter Hart saves her one night in a graveyard from an attacker just as strange as he is, and now Ava can't stop thinking about him. She wants to see him again – even after he warns her he's dangerous, and she begins to realize what he is. Her best friends don't know anything about death, but Peter does, intimately. He's waiting for her the next night she comes to the cemetery, and the next...

But their growing bond comes up against a promise Peter made a long time ago, a promise that could destroy them both. Now Ava has to decide just what she's willing to give up to hold onto the one thing that could last forever.

My Thoughts!

Just thinking about writing the review for this book had me hesitant on what to say without being one of those confusing people who can't make up their mind/opinion. A positive take from it:

I liked the flow of the book. It kept my interest. It wasn't boring and it was easy to stay focused. I'm not close-minded in reading a different book from the author in the future to give another chance. This affected my rating from being a two to a three. 

Now saying that, let's dive into the rest of the book. At first I got the Vampire Diary vibe. I was wrong, which I'm thankful for. I don't want to read something that has already been done. This book was major-idly dark though. The focus wasn't on Ava's forbidden romance with Peter. It was about her going through the grieving process of losing her mother in a battle of cancer. She struggled balancing her personal life and making her parents happy during her mother's final time. You see a mother try to prepare her daughter for the times she won't be there to help her. How to hem her pants. How to make the family banana bread recipe. How to french braid her hair. That's deep stuff. Ava isn't really in denial as she understands that her mother is on limited time, but she isn't really emotionally prepared for it to happen. Who is? No forced family trips or baking is going to fill that piece of her that she will lose when she is gone. That was difficult to read. 

I didn't understand her relationship with Peter. He along with his brother have hurt her on numerous occasions and she kept going back for more. It doesn't set a good example for a heroine in a book in my opinion. I don't think she was strong as a character. She came across desperate, meek, and needy. Also Peter barely spoke to her. I could understand the pull if the author gave him some sort of personality. Had them actually get to know each other or fall in love in description. That wasn't there. I was actually rooting for her friend James. We got to know him more than the love interest!

Okay the whole angel vampire thing was just too much. Pick one or the other. By gosh if he's going to be a vampire with wings give the boy some fangs. I'm open to a lot of paranormal in books, but that was just over the top. 

Her friend Texas or Tex. (cringe) She was very spoiled, controlling, and annoying. Blowing up her phone calling and messaging when she doesn't get right back to her. There is a fine line between being a good friend and being a psychopath. No wonder the first guy she slept with ran for the hills. She finds out her best friend is with a vampire and asks if he has a brother. Then persists to bring up that she wants to meet him every chance she gets. 

So this book had a lot of problems to me personally. You may like it. People have different tastes. It just wasn't for me. I'll never read it again, but like I said it did keep my attention and for that I am willing to read something else by the author.

Reviewing: Stolen Kiss From A Prince (book)

Stolen Kiss From A Prince

By: Teresa Carpenter

What It's About!

When royal duty calls
Charged with the care of the newly orphaned heir to the Kardana throne, nanny Katrina Vicente finds herself faced with an even more formidable task working alongside the boy's uncle, the devastatingly handsome Prince Julian, the prince regent.Desperate to keep the secrets of her past under lock and key, getting involved with a prince is the last thing Katrina needs, particularly with the world watching. But it's hard to ignore their instant chemistry;especially after one stolen kiss! Could her royal assignment be about to transform into the most magical of fairy tales?

My Thoughts!

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

This book was blah to me. I couldn't attach to the characters or story. It honestly bored me. There were no memorable quotes that really spoke to me. The whole connection between the characters was off. I just didn't believe it. I didn't believe in their love. To me it's very important to root for the couple and I just didn't. She had a stick up her butt throughout the book and he was flippant with his feelings and actions. I had no back story to really get to know them. The author to me spent most of the focus of the book on the tragedy and less on the actual live characters. This book just wasn't for me. I finished it in a day, but I didn't enjoy it. I had to push myself to finish it. I love books that bring me joy and make me feel alive. This book just didn't do it for me. There are great books out there I just have to dig through the dull ones to find them. 

Reviewing: Infinity Unleashed (book)

Infinity Unleashed

By: Sedona Veneza

What It's About!

*New Adult Paranormal Romance*

A new adult story of Betrayal. Sex. Addiction. Love. And Power...

Mason's diabolical plan had actually worked. 

In a matter of minutes he had kidnapped me, stripping me of everything...money, family, and freedom. It was humbling, depressing, and damn infuriating but I refuse to go down without a fight. I refuse to be defeated. 

Boulder will find me. I didn't know how, but I felt it deep in my soul. 

Boulder...the one man that made my body quake with just one look. It was madness. There was so much I didn't know about him. For that matter, there was so much that he didn't know about me…like the evil darkness lurking inside me, waiting to be unleashed. 

Could he accept me without judging? 

That's where most men failed. Accepting the real me. But after years of hardening my heart, and sealing it behind a steel cage, I was ready to give myself to him freely. Knowing, that he planned to take everything I offered with both hands, until all I thought of...and wanted...was him…

*** This is a new adult paranormal novel and contains sexual content and graphic language. It is not intended for young adult readers. 

My Thoughts!

I don't like giving negative reviews on books. I hate it..but honestly giving this book two stars was generous. Let's dive into it,shall we? I'm for different. I'm for sci-fi/paranormal,romance..etc. When it comes to reading I'm pretty open. Surprise me. Make me stay up all night just to finish. Give me quotes that speak directly to my heart. It took me way too long to finish this book. A good book..I read in one day. 
I understand that this is book 2 in the series and most of the time to really grasp the story and attach to characters you are suggested to start on book 1, but sometimes we jump in mid series and eventually catch on to what's happening. There was none of that for me. I stayed confused the entire book. There was way too many things going on to keep up in my opinion. Infinity herself couldn't even stay focused. She flip flopped with her emotions constantly. When reading other reviews I saw 4 and 5 star ratings! I was wondering if we all read the same book? This was like a fan-fiction gone bad. I'm not a prude by any means, but the cursing was like a teenager trying to sound grownup. Just because you use bad language doesn't make readers take you seriously and find you intelligent. Some obviously loved the book, but I won't waste any more time on the series than I did forcing myself to finish this book. It simply was not for me and I wouldn't refer it to anyone. 

I'm Ready For Spring!!!

I'm ready for warmer weather. Which means laying in a hammock reading by the pond swinging life away. I'm done with having a cold and  it being cold!

Reviewing: Sophia

Sophia

By: D.B. Reynolds

What It's About!

The Pacific Northwest . . . home to lush forests and constant rain, to lumberjacks and computer geeks, especially those of the vampire kind.

Sophia, beautiful and deadly, has spent the last hundred years dancing her way through the balmy nights and hot-blooded men of South America. But when her Sire sends an urgent summons, Sophia rushes home to Vancouver only to find he has disappeared, leaving nothing behind but three dead vampires and a letter with Sophia’s name on it.

Colin Murphy, a former Navy SEAL, came to the Northwest seeking a quiet place to heal the scars earned in more than a decade at war. But when someone starts killing local vampires and torturing their mates, Colin takes on the mantle of a warrior once again as he sets out to find the killers and do whatever it takes to stop them, even if that means hunting with vampires.

Following her Sire’s trail of death to a small town in northern Washington, Sophia unexpectedly discovers the heat of a South American night in Colin’s arms. But all too soon Sophia and Colin find themselves in a race to uncover the killers before the next dead vampire is Sophia herself.

My Thoughts!

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

This book was well written and the story had a lot of things going for it, but what it lacked was keeping me interested. I don't know if it's because I started reading mid series and I just need to start from the beginning to attach myself to the characters? I just couldn't connect the way I like to. I like to be able to absorb myself so much in a book that I have trouble putting it down to participate in the real world. A good book, I finish in a day. I fight sleep just to see what happens. I like to find at least a memorable quote in books I hold near and dear to my heart. Not one was found in this read. That affects the rating. Like I mentioned before it wasn't poorly written. I personally just couldn't keep interested. 

Reviewing: Her Best Laid Plans (book)

Her Best Laid Plans

By: Eve Devon

What It's About!

(Description I found) Love is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans… 

My Description:

Amanda has decided this New Year is going to be different. She has a plan this year for her resolution and she is going to stick to it no matter what. Then her world  turns  upside  down. She goes  from being the wingman/savior to the successful, sexy, all business, non-committing, playboy, Jared King, to finding out she may harbor more than a friendship attraction. Only problem is... he is her brother's best friend. Big NO NO. Her roommate/ brother is getting married  and is looking  for her to branch out and fly on her own. So when a sudden opportunity arises to fly to London to be Jared's personal assistant and gain a very important reference of employment, she takes it. A business trip is not the only thing in store for Amanda. She's in for learning a lot about herself and what she wants in life. Plans don't always work accordingly. 

My Take!

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

I really hate giving low stars ratings out, but this book just didn't do it for me. To me, you have to believe in not just the story, but the characters love story. I didn't believe in Jared and Amanda's story. I want a book to be a page turner to where I can't sleep in excitement on what is to happen. I went on Vacation and it took me almost two weeks to get through the read. (I read a book a day usually.) It was very hard to get into as well as stay focused on. Jared was wishy-washy and arrogant. Amanda was whiny and dependent. It seemed when I finally got into the book reading the author would skip ahead or change the point of view of character. Not to mention the ending was rushed and a bit unbelievable. She forgave way too easy, and the last "plan" had me so confused I had to reread it. It's very important for me to find memorable quotes in books that speak to my heart and that wasn't found in this book. I'm a bit disappointed. This is just my opinion. 

Been On Vacation!!!

Sorry everyone! I've been neglecting my blog. I went on Vacation to New Orleans for my first Mardi Gras.  I had a blast!!! There wasn't a lot of time to read, but I did pick up some amazing art from the brilliant Clay Davis (pictured below with me). He custom made me a Jack and Sally piece with his VooDoo doll character touch. I go to New Orleans every year and love to walk the aisles of  the french market. I love the art and atmosphere there. The quarter is very much alive with a big  thanks to local artists like Clay Davis. I can't wait to go again next year and get another piece. I always say half of my heart lives in New Orleans and  one day I will live there. The people always find a reason to celebrate. There really is no other place I've felt more alive being. Anyway more reviews to come! Back to reading!