Sunday, June 30, 2013

In My Mailbox (16) & Stacking the Shelves (11)


Welcome to this week's In My Mailbox. In My Mailbox (IMM) is hosted by The Mod Podge Bookshelf. It features books I have bought or received for review.

Stacking the Shelves by Tynga`s Reviews is about adding books to my shelves I received during the past week whether it is physical or virtual.

Bought from Amazon:



Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

I love the covers of these books. One of my favourites. I read Shatter Me awhile ago and loved it, because of my blogging schedule I wasn't able to read Destroy Me or Unravel Me but hopefully I will be able to soon. My review of Shatter Me will be posted in the next week or so.


Reason to Breathe #1 by Rebecca Donovan

I have heard so many good things about this book I decided it was time for me to buy it. I am really excited to start reading it. I love the new cover of the book as well.


Leo (A Sign of Love) by Mia Sheridan

I read the book description and it sounded interesting so I decided to buy it.

I am extremely happy with my book purchases this week and eager to start them. The Midsummer's Eve giveaway is over, I will be picking a winner on Sunday or Monday. Thank you to everyone who entered! I will be participating in another giveaway which starts on Tuesday so there will be another chance to win a prize. I hope everyone has a good week!

Raquel
xoxo

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Title: With All My Soul
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: March, 26, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 377
Source: Bought ebook from Amazon.com



Synopsis:
What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has....

My Thoughts:

With All My Soul starts off 2 weeks after the events of Before I Wake; the gang is at Emma’s (body) funeral and still reeling from everything that happened. Avari lets it be known that he would do anything to get Kaylee’s soul, ANYTHING.

The world of the soul screamers series is unique and I absolutely love it. I love how there is a whole world within the normal human world portraying bean sidhes, reapers and demons. I really enjoyed the whole series. In my opinion, the story got better and better in each novel.

I have been waiting for With All My Soul for awhile to be released. I was so excited but when reading it, I found that there was something missing from this book; something that the other books had and was lacking a little. I found it to be a little irritating how Avari would always be a step ahead of Kaylee and the gang. It was like they couldn’t catch a break, not even a little one and because of that, things got progressively worse.

My favourite thing about this book was the ingenious plan Kaylee came up with to save herself, and her family and friends. I had tears in my eyes when everything came together at the end because that is how GOOD the plan was. I was happy everything worked out the way it did. This was one of the best plans and the best outcome I could have hoped for. This is what made the book great.

Another great part was when Nash finds out what his brother did for him. This was another moment where I was teary eyed, seeing the brothers get along, finally. There was no anger, no sarcasm, just brothers having a heart to heart moment. I read that part over and over again because I could not get enough. I really wanted this to happen in this book and was very happy when it did.

With All My Soul is a fast paced and enchanting read that will make you want to stay up all night reading just so you know what happens next. I am really going to miss Kaylee, Tod, Nash, Sabine and their family and friends.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Raquel
xoxo

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Review, Dream Cast and Giveaway: Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu


Shutdown (Glitch, #3)

Synopsis via Goodreads:
The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution. 

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands. 

Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults. 


The thrilling conclusion to an action-packed sci-fi trilogy.


Release Date: July 2nd 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Purchase: Amazon

About the Author
Heather Anastasiu grew up in Texas and recently moved to Minneapolis with her family. When she's not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café or daydreaming about getting a new tattoo.


SO FAR 

Glitch (Glitch, #1)  Override (Glitch, #2)

My Thoughts:

I found Shutdown to be the best in the Glitch series. It was fast paced, engaging and addictive. I couldn’t wait to finish this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen.

We start off with the Rex fighters still reeling from the major twist that happened in Override. Zoe is trying to bring down Chancellor Bright and the Link system but things are not always what they seem; I won’t say much because I don’t want to give anything away from the story. But you definitely need to read it. I loved the world Heather Anastasiu created. It is unique yet dangerous, especially if you are a glitcher or Rez fighter. I found myself completely immerged with this world as it just got better and better with each book.

I think my favourite thing is the character development between Zoe and Adrien, throughout the series but mainly in this book. Zoe changed a lot from when we first see her in Glitch. She didn’t understand emotions and everything in the outside world was new to her. In each book, she got stronger and stronger emotionally and through her Telek power.  I loved her determination, fierceness, loyalty and protectiveness in this novel. On the other hand, with Adrien, it was the opposite; he knew about all about emotions and feelings but had to learn all over again what they were after what was done to him. I really liked how Zoe never gave up on him even she may have wanted to.

Shutdown is a gripping novel, full of twists and turns.  I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Dream Cast:

While reading this series, they were certain people I kept on picturing in my head that would play Zoe, Adrien and Max. So without further ado...

Zoe
I think Lucy Hale would be a perfect Zoe. Every trait I like in Zoe I have seen it in Lucy Hale's work one time or another.

Adrien
Adrien would be played by a younger Jesse Williams. I remember reading in Glitch, Zoe describing Adrien`s skin colour as caramel with blue green eyes. I think he would be perfect as Adrien.

Max
Alexander Ludwig would play a perfect Max. This is the same actor who was Cato in The Hunger Games movie and I see a lot of similarities in these 2 characters.