Wicked Games

Title: Wicked Games

Author: Jessica Clare

Pages: 231

Publication Date: March 4, 2011

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Synopsis: Abby Lewis never pictured herself on the survival game show, Endurance Island. She’s just not the ‘survival’ type. But when her boss offers her a spot on the show and the opportunity of a lifetime, she packs her bags and heads to the tropics to be a contestant. Once in the game, though, it’s clear that Abby’s in over her head.

No one’s more competitive than sexy, delicious – and arrogant – Dean Woodall. Sure, he’s clever, strong, good at challenges, and has a body that makes her mouth water. He also hates Abby just as much as she hates him. That’s fine with her; she’ll just ignore the jerk.

But the rules of Endurance Island are working against them. Abby and Dean are teamed up – alone – on the beach. It’s either work together, or go home. Stuck with no one’s company but their own, they learn they might just make a good team after all.

And Abby learns that with just a little bit of kindling, the flames of hate can quickly turn to flames of passion…

This book features enemies, lovers, enemies who become lovers, and lots and lots of tropical heat…

Review: It is official, I am hooked on New Adult. This has never happened before. I have never even wanted to pick up a new adult novel before and now I can’t put them down. They are fast paced and quick, I can usually read them in an afternoon.

Anyway, I read Wicked Games on the way a bus to a basketball game, and though it kept me entertained and occupied for the long ride, I didn’t think it had the same depth as the other new adult books I have read. The main characters did not seem to be completely real. I don’t really know how to explain it. I just felt like they were kind of flat.

The plot however was good. It was a lot like the show Survivor. Contestants are sent out to an island to brave the elements and then voted off. The whole competition was pretty cool and I enjoyed reading about it.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read, but it definitely wasn’t the best I have ever read.

Broken

Title: Broken

Author: Lauren Layne

Pages: 252

Publication Date: September 2, 2014

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Synopsis: Lauren Layne’s New Adult novel tells the story of a girl with secrets, a guy with scars, and a love that could save them both… or destroy them.

When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been. But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn’t the grateful elderly man she’s expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden touch might be her undoing.

Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll do anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul doesn’t count on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.

Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?

Review: Okay, I will admit this was my first New Adult book and I was definitely surprised, no not because of the mature content, but because of the story. I was totally expecting the book to be totally sappy and gooey, don’t get me wrong but there was plenty of sappiness, but there was also a good story development behind it.

I liked the characters, yes, at some points I wanted to yell at both of them and at other points they did things most people would probably never do, but anyway they were enjoyable to read about and pretty realistic. Olivia was kick butt and didn’t put up with any of Paul’s BS. And Paul was super interesting once the brooding stopped. He went through some pretty horrific stuff as a marine in Afghanistan. Olivia and Paul definitely balanced each other out.

Overall, Broken was definitely what I was looking for on a snowy afternoon.

A Walk to Remember

Author: A Walk to Remember

Pages: 240

Rating; **** (4 stars)

Synopsis: Every April, when the wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he’d fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town’s Baptist minister.

A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have dreamed of it.

Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon Carter’s life would never be the same. Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road to manhood…

Review: A Walk to Remember is a beautiful novel, the story is heartbreaking, but hopeful. Before reading this book I had seen the movie numerous times and really enjoyed it, I just never was in the mood to pick up the book even though 99% of the time the book is better than the movie, but all of a sudden February comes along and I am in the mood for a romantic novel and the first thing I think to pick up is a Nicholas Sparks novel. I was not disappointed. The love story of Landon and Jamie is devastatingly beautiful. I enjoyed reading it and it kept me hooked for an entire afternoon. I loved the message of hope and love. I definitely intend to read more of Nicholas Sparks’ works.

This One Summer

Author: Mariko Tamaki

Illustrator: Jillian Mariko

Pages: 320

Publication Date May 6, 2014

Synopsis: Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It’s their getaway, their refuge. Rosie’s friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose’s mom and dad won’t stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It’s a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it’s a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Review: This was a cute graphic novel. I wish I had read it during the summer because it is about two girls on summer vacation, but I still enjoyed it. There wasn’t much of a plot to the story but what was there was entertaining. I could definitely relate to the two characters. I don’t really have to much to say about this graphic novel; I enjoyed reading it but it wasn’t fantastic.

 

 

Anya’s Ghost

Author: Vera Brosgol

Pages: 221

Publication Date: June 7, 2011

Synopsis: Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend wasn’t one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend– even a dead one– is just what she needs.

But Anya’s new B.F.F. isn’t kidding about the “forever” part…

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Review: As Halloween approaches, I have been wanting to read creepier books, but I don’t do well with scary stories. I get scared very easily. Anya’s Ghost was a great pick for me. It had the right amount of creepy without being terrifying.

The story was very cute. I could totally relate to Anya and what she goes through at school. She was not perfect and I did not like what she did some times, but she was a likable character. Emily was also a very interesting character, it was cool to learn about how she became a ghost.

The illustrations  and the black and purple color scheme in this graphic novel were perfect.

Recommendation: Anyone who is excited for Halloween should read this graphic novel!

The Jewel

Author: Amy Ewing

Pages: 358

Synopsis: The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence… and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Review: Let me start with I did not finish this book. I was so bored. I  don’t usually not finish books but this one was brutal. I got about half way done and I realized it wasn’t worth it. It seemed like I had already read it before. It was a mixture of  The Selection, The Hunger Games, and The Winner’s Curse, some good books, and I had no intention of reading them again.

 

The Crucible

Author: Arthur Miller

Pages: 143

Synopsis: Written in 1953, The Crucible is a mirror Miller uses to reflect the anti-communist hysteria inspired by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s “witch-hunts” in the United States. Within the text itself, Miller contemplates the parallels, writing, “Political opposition… is given an inhumane overlay, which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized behavior. A political policy is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence.

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Review: I love The Crucible! The characters are phenomenal, the story is interesting, the writing and dialogue was beautiful. The Salem Witch Trials were such a weird and terrible part of American history and I really liked how The Crucible brought this time to life.  I love how Arthur Miller uses the allegory to McCarthyism to add to the hysteria of the people. I like how it compared, even, to modern society. How do we treat people who are different than what society says is acceptable? When do we take the blame for our actions instead of blaming someone else? How much does jealousy rule our lives? I was so entwined in the story, I was disappointed when it ended. It was a very abrupt ending but I think it really showed how abruptly life can end. The one thing I did not like was that Arthur Miller decided to make Abigail Williams a young woman, so she could have an affair with John Proctor. I know it was used for dramatic purposes, but I felt that it was unnecessary and kind of weird. Anyway, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone! 🙂

The Heretic Queen

Author: Michelle Moran

Pages:383

Published: September 16th, 2008

Goodreads Synopsis: In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history.

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family—all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, The Heretic Queen is a novel of passion and power, heartbreak and redemption.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Review: The Heretic Queen is the story of young Nefertari, the niece of Nefertiti, thought, at the time to be a heretic. Throughout the story we see Nefertari grow up from an awkward child to the beautiful wife of Ramesses the Great. It is a wonderful story of growing up and choosing your destiny.

I have never heard of Nefertari before reading The Heretic Queen, and picking up this book was on a total whim, but I am so glad I did. Nefertari’s story is so interesting and quite relatable. Even though most people are not the queen of Egypt, Nefertari is quite similar to many teenagers today. Throughout the book Nefertari experienced school, and first love, and learning what it is to be an individual while trying to have people like you.

The writing of Michelle Moran made me feel like instead of reading I was watching a film of Nefertari’s life. The was she described everything made the story come to life.

Overall, this book is a must read for all historical fiction fans. I loved this book and I hope everyone will give it a try.

 

Of Mice and Men

Author: John Steinbeck

Pages: 103

Publication Date: 1937

Goodreads Synopsis: The tragic story of the complex bond between two migrant laborers in Central California. They are George Milton and Lennie Small, itinerant ranch hands who dream of one day owning a small farm. George acts as a father figure to Lennie, who is a very large, simple-minded man, calming him and helping to rein in his immense physical strength.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Review: This story was beautiful and tragic. Steinbeck has a way with words that really bring the story to life. The story is short but I am sure it will stay with me forever. The characters were beautifully crafted and the relationship of Lennie and George is quite unique. Lennie is such a likable character. He is incredibly unintelligent but he is so sweet in a childlike sense; you can’t help but like him and feel really sorry for them. George is also a really interesting character. He is a bit more intelligent but he is still a dreamer and you do end up feeling sorry for him.    This book is one of my new favorite classics.

Recommendation: If you are looking for a short but an incredibly good story I wholeheartedly think you should read Of Mice and Men.

Mind MGMT

Author: Matt Kindt

Pages:200

Publication Date: April 23, 2013

Goodreads Synopsis: Reporting on a commercial flight where everyone aboard lost their memories, a young journalist stumbles onto a much bigger story, the top-secret Mind Management program. Her ensuing journey involves weaponized psychics, hypnotic advertising, talking dolphins, and seemingly immortal pursuers, as she attempts to find the flight’s missing passenger, the man who was MIND MGMT’s greatest success—and its most devastating failure. But in a world where people can rewrite reality itself, can she trust anything she sees?

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Review: I have not read many graphic novels in my life so I am not great at reading them and I had a hard time understanding what was going on at the beginning of Mind MGMT. As I figured out how to read to understand what was going on, I really enjoyed it. The story was interesting and I can’t wait to read the second volume. My favorite part of this book was the art work. Every single page was breath taking. Even looking at the cover you can tell that this book is going to have awesome pictures.

Here are a few of my favorite Pictures:

If you look closely at the picture above you can see words in the stitches.

This picture is interesting because in the man’s glasses you can see what is going on in front of him.

Recommendation: If you have read graphic novels before I highly recommend Mind MGMT. If you are looking to start reading graphic novels, I would start with a different one and work up to this one.