November Wrap Up

So I read two of the books I planned to read this month! Then I read two others that weren't on my list.  I also completed my goal to read 50 books this year this month! So yay! Anyways here are the books I read this November:

1. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

What I rated it: 4/5

 -A great read. I really enjoyed it. 

My Review

2. The Death Cure by James Dashner

What I rated it: 2/5

-My least favorite of the series. I felt like I got no conrete answers and most of the characters got on my nerves.

3. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

What I rated it: 3/5

-A interesting memoir to read. Mainly due to seeing how she grew up and how her parents acted.

4. The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

What I rated this: 3/5

- A enjoyable man character, and romance.( an no insta love!!)

My Review

What did you guys read this month?!?!

Waiting on Wednesday #4

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

The End Games by T. Michael Martin

Goodreads Synopsis:

t happened on Halloween.

The world ended.

And a dangerous Game brought it back to life.

Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.

In the rural mountains of West Virginia, armed with only their rifle and their love for each other, the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of “Bellows”—creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But The Game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors—survivors who don’t play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

T. Michael Martin’s debut novel is a transcendent thriller filled with electrifying action, searing emotional insight, and unexpected romance.

This definitely sounds great.Plus another great cover!

Book Review: The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

 The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Publisher: Candlewick Press
 Publication Date: September 6, 2009
 Pages: 223
Source: I purchased this on my Kobo.

Review:

Set in Victorian England The Agency tells us the story of Mary Quinn. Mary Quinn was orphaned as a young child and as a resort has to turn to thieving.  Mary gets caught thieving and is sentenced to death.  Fortunately before that can occur Mary is taken by the women who run Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. When she turns 17 she learns that the school is actually a cover for an all-women’s spy agency, and she learns that she will be given her first assignment!

I liked the character of Mary quite a bit. She could keep care of herself and did not allow others to walk all over her. She also acknowledges when she has done wrong and made a mistake.  The only problem I had was I do not believe in the times this book was set in Mary would have been able to all she did in The Agency.  James the other main character in The Agency was also an enjoyable character. I liked his and Mary’s relationship and how it developed very slowly. At first James is very frustrated by Mary but learns to care for her. They had some great banter and knew how to push each other’s buttons.

The Agency was a little predictable at times. I knew pretty early on who was responsible and how the mystery would fit together.  I also knew how many of the characters relationship where going to develop and what would happen to them. This caused me to take off a star. I know it would have been more enjoyable had I not been able to guess what was going to occur in these situations. 

If you want a quick read , that might be predictable The Agency would be a read to check out.

What I rate this : 3/5 stars. 

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Goodreads Synopsis:

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

 OH MY GOSH GUYS! This one sounds so amazing. The cover is super creepy and I think works well with the synopsis. I really want to know what "them" are!!

What are you waiting for?! 

Mini Book Review :If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I have been so busy with school I have not been able to write any reviews or read very much.(Well other books then the ones I have to use to write my research paper on.) So I decided to post a mini review of a book that I read last year!  I  really want to re-read If I Stay so if I do I will be writing a longer review.

I definitely liked this book! I usually tend to enjoy dystopian/paranormal/fantasy books, but If I Stay was so good that I went on to my good reads and added a ton of more contemporary books to read!

I liked all the characters in this book. They all seemed so real, like the could be your friend or neighbour. My favorites were Adam, Mia, and Gramps. I really felt for Mia in the book and kept thinking what if this was my family? I am close to my family so I honestly don't know what I would do in Mia's situation to stay or go.

But I am happy with the choice she made! I have to read what happens next. I am going to the bookstore on Friday when I get payed to pick up Where she Went!!( I have read it since this review. I enjoyed it but I liked If I Stay better.)

If you haven't read this definitely pick this up!

I rate it: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you got that week! Here is what I bought these past two weeks!!

-Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier [Goodreads]
This was only 5.99$ so I couldn't say no!
-Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson [Goodreads]
I have read so many good reviews!! Looks amazing.
-Enclave by Ann Aguirre [Goodreads]

I wanted to buy even more because I had a coupon but I needed to spend 50$ but I just couldn't.
What did you guys get this week?!

"Waiting On" Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

Taken by Erin Bowman

To be published : April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen

Synopsis from Goodreads:

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

I love the cover for this and it seems like it will be full of action!
What are you waiting for?

Book Review: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: September 5, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: I purchased this myself at my local Indigo.

Review:

 Shut Out tells the story of Lissa. Lissa is a highschool student and works her local library. Lissa is sick and tired of her school’s rivalry between the soccer team and the football team. The reason for this? Well mainly she feels her boyfriend Randy is paying less attention to her when the rivalry is taking place. She also does not agree with the rivalry because some members of the team have gotten hurt due to the fact that the rivalry has gotten more intense and the pranks the players have been playing have gotten more serious.  Lissa decides the best way to solve this is to, with the help of the other girlfriends of the team members, to go on a sex strike! 

Lissa was mainly a good character but I did have some annoyances with her. But those mainly had to do with her relationships with the guys in her life.  Randy was an annoying character and when he and Lissa where together I did not enjoy their relationship. A lot of the issues that Lissa and Randy have are due to Lissa being unable to open up to him. I understand why Lissa acted like this but I wish she would have opened up more… 

Which brings me to the main love interest!  Who I did like (But I have to say that I did not like him as much as I did Wesley from The Duff)! Cash is a soccer player and one of the players involved in the school rivalry. He was really sweet and I loved how he enjoyed reading! Lissa feels like she can be herself and open up to Cash and I definitely enjoyed their interactions. 

The other characters in the book consisted of the girls in on the sex strike with Lissa and her dad and brother. I didn’t have to big of an opinion of most of the girls that where in on the strike, but that’s because they did not have too big of a part in the book.  Lissa’s one main friend in Shut Out was Chole. I loved Chole she was funny and I loved that she didn’t care what other though about her. She also was the only girl who was on the strike who did not have a boyfriend. 

I enjoyed Shut Out. It was a really quick and fun read. I think that anyone who loved The Duff and enjoys cute stories will enjoy Shut Out.

What I rate this : 4/5 stars.

"Waiting On" Wednesday #1

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

There are so many awesome books coming out soon that I am waiting for. So it is kinda hard to pick just one!

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

To be published: January 15th 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Synopsis from Goodreads :

 In this this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning.

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.

Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

This one looks amazing! I cant wait to read it. 
What's your waiting on wednesday?
 

Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you got that week! Here is what I bought this week :)

 

- Soulless by by Gail Carriger [Goodreads]

- Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley [Goodreads]

- Shut Out by Kody Keplinger [Goodreads]

- The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse [Goodreads]

I just finished Shut Out and it was really good! I will have a review up for it soon. I love the covers for The Forsaken and Where Things Come Back so I knew I would want them on my shelves. Plus they sound amazing. Soulless just sounded so interesting so I knew that I would have to read it. I have read some many positive reviews so when I saw it I grabbed it!

What did you guys get this week?

November TBR Pile

  Hey everyone! I hope you are having a great weekend.  This November is going to be very busy for me school wise. I have three midterms next week, a research paper, and a group project due in a couple of weeks. So saying that I probably wont be reading to many books this month. But here are the ones I do plan on reading!( If I don't change my mind :P)

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

 I have already started this and I really like it so Far! I loved The DUFF so I was excited when this came out in paperback.

The Death Cure by James Dashner

 The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials were not my favorite reads ever but I do want to finish this series before the end of the year. I have heard more negative things about this one but I hope I enjoy it. 

White Cat by Holly Black

I have had this on my shelf for awhile and I want to see what it is all about!

 If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This book will be read only if I have time after I finish the other three. I have read this before and I loved it so I am looking forward to rereading it. (Who else is excited for Gayle's new book Just One Day?)

Let me know in the comments what books you plan to read this month! :)

Book Review: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

 Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Series: Women of the Otherworld, Book #1

Publisher: Vintage Canada
Publication Date: 2009, Original Publication: 2001
Pages: 422
Source: I purchased this myself at my local Indigo.

Review:

 
Bitten begins in Toronto where our protagonist Elena is trying to fight off her basic nature. See Elena is a werewolf and as she is now living with a man she finds it hard to find time to escape and change. Soon Elena’s problems will get even bigger when her pack master Jeremy contacts her about a situation that is taking place and requests her help to fight some mutts (werewolves not in a pack).

The main character of Bitten is Elena. She is the only female werewolf in the whole world. Overall I would say that she is a pretty likeable character. She was tough, independent, and knows how to take care of herself. She doesn’t take anything from anyone and cares about what happens to the other important people in her life. She will look out for them and put herself in harm’s way if necessary to protect them.

These people who Elena would do anything for are her pack. It consists of Jeremy, Clay, Logan, Antonio, Nick, and Peter. I enjoyed the pack dynamics. They were all very close and looked out for on another. Jeremy is the pack leader and I really enjoyed his character. He was kind and thought everything through, never making rash decisions.

Clay and Elena have had a romantic relationship in the past and he is the main love interest in this book. This is an adult book so there are some sex scenes in Bitten. I do not think there where to many and I understand why they were added. These sex scenes between Elena and Clay do help show how their relationship works and the two do have chemistry. But Sadly Clay was not my favorite. I understand the certain things that have happened in his life made him the way he was but he was very arrogant and just expected Elena to be all over him.

The plot was interesting but at times I felt it moved very slowly. I would find myself skimming some pages especially towards the end. The climax also felt very rushed and was not what I wanted out of it. The ending seems wrapped up but I do believe that there are other books in this series that contain Elena. As the ending was pretty much wrapped up I do not think you have to read the others in this series to end Elena’s journey.

If you enjoy paranormal romance I do believe that you should read this and that you would enjoy it. Just be prepared for some slow parts during the story, and a main love interest who can sometimes be pretty arrogant.

What I rate this: 3/5. I might pick up the next in the series but I am not sure yet!