City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
# of Pages: 485 (Paperback)
Rating: 4.5 stars

Goodreads Summary
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My Thoughts:
I was apprehensive about reading City of Bones because of all the mixed reviews. But, I decided to give it a try not expecting that I would be hooked only after reading a few pages. The world that Clare has created is reminiscent of that of Harry Potter's with its magical intrigue and mystique as well as the many mythical creatures.

Clary thinks she is a normal fifteen-year-old until she meets Jace and is drawn into the Shadow World. She begins to unearth the truth of her identity and finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with her best friend Simon and the swoonworthy Jace.

City of Bones was funny and full of action. And the ending was soo unexpected. I am angry with myself for not reading this sooner. But now that I have, I am very eager to read the rest of the series.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Book: Prodigy (Legend #2)

Author: Marie Lu

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Goodreads Summary

The Elector Primo of the Republic has died, with his son assuming power over what’s left of the USA’s West Coast as it teeters on full-blown chaos. June and Day join up with Patriot rebels so they can rescue Day’s brother and head east for the Colonies. In order to help, though, the rebels want June and Day to kill the new Elector, who may pose an even greater threat than his father.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Goodie Bag Saturday #2

Goodie Bag Saturday is hosted by Books of Love.

The goal is to share the books that you got for the week.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Pretty Little Secrets by Sara Shepard

What books did you get this week?

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Book: Storm (Elementals #1)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
# of Pages: 353 (Paperback)
Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads Summary
Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .
                                                                                                                         My Thoughts:
This story is told from both Becca's and Chris's POVs. I loved getting to know Chris and his brothers each of whom can control one of the four elements. Their brotherly banter is amusing, and it is hard not to like all four of them.

I was impressed with Becca. I did not expect her to be such a strong character. She stands up for herself and does not obsess over Chris and Hunter. Yes, there is a love triangle, and I had a really hard time choosing a side.

As for Hunter, he is a very interesting character with his rock bracelets and German shepherd, Casper. I think one of the sequels is going to be told from his POV, so I'm looking forward to that.

I loved this book! With surprising twists and fantastic characters this is a definite must read.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Book: Spark (Elementals #2)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Release Date: August 28

Goodreads Summary

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

I loved the first book in the series, and I can't wait for this one! So, what are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Ruthless by Sara Shepard

Book: Ruthless (Pretty Little Liars #10)
Author: Sara Shepard
# of Pages: 341 (Hardcover)
Challenge: 2012 TBR Challenge
Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads Summary

For years scandal has rocked Rosewood, Pennsylvania--and high school seniors Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer have always been at the center of the drama. They've lost friends, been targeted by a ruthless stalker named A, and narrowly escaped death. And it's not over yet.

Aria's love life is on the fritz. Emily's exploring her wild side. Hanna's kissing the enemy. And someone from Spencer's past--someone she never thought she'd see again--is back to haunt her.
                                                                                                                                                               But none of that compares to what happened last spring break. It's their darkest secret yet and guess who found out? Now A is determined to make them pay for their crime, and the only thing scarier than A is the fear that maybe, just maybe, they deserve what's coming to them.
                                                                                                                           My Thoughts:
I kept pushing this back on my TBR list, but I finally read it.

Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily have a huge secret that, if revealed, could ruin them all. We do get to see a little bit of what happened the previous summer for two of the girls. Ezra does come back, and the ending is a semi-cliffhanger.

I love this series. The mystery and suspense are endless. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. And I'm dying to know who A is.

Does anyone watch the PLL TV series? Is it anything like the books?

Insurgent by Verionica Roth

Book: Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Author: Veronica Roth
# of Pages: 525 (Hardcover)
Rating: 3.5-4 stars

Goodreads Summary
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

My Thoughts:
Insurgent picks up where Divergent ended. We get to see what life is like for the Amity, Candor, and even the factionless.

The thing that I disliked the most about this book was Tris. In Divergent, she was so strong and brave and smart. But in Insurgent, some of her actions/decisions were just so careless.

I was very excited for this book. I wanted to love it as much as I loved Divergent., but it just fell short of my expectations.

Goodie Bag Saturday #1

Goodie Bag Saturday is hosted by Books of Love.

The goal is to share the books that you got for the week.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Paper Towns by John Green

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

11th Hour by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

For my Nook

Fall From Grace by Charles Benoit

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

What books did you get this week?

Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

Book: Being Friends with Boys
Author: Terra Elan McVoy
# of Pages: 226 (ebook)
Challenge: 2012 Ebook Challenge
Rating: 2.5 stars

Goodreads Summary
Charlotte and Oliver have been friends forever. She knows that he, Abe, and Trip consider her to be one of the guys, and she likes it that way. She likes being the friend who keeps them all together. Likes offering a girl's perspective on their love lives. Likes being the behind-the-scenes wordsmith who writes all the lyrics for the boys' band. Char has a house full of stepsisters and a past full of backstabbing (female) ex-best friends, so for her, being friends with boys is refreshingly drama-free...until it isn't any more.

When a new boy enters the scene and makes Char feel like, well, a total girl...and two of her other friends have a falling out that may or may not be related to one of them deciding he possibly wants to be more than friends with Char...being friends with all these boys suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.

My Thoughts: 
Charlotte writes lyrics for her friend Oliver's band. They have supposedly been friends for a while, but it really did not feel that way. I thought Oliver was a jerk.

I did like Charlotte's relationship with her stepsisters. I also liked Benji. He reminded me a lot of Thomas from Saving Francesca. But I did not like Charlotte. She lets people take advantage of her, and she leads on one of her guy friends.

I thought there were too many characters to keep track of. And, the reasoning for the falling out of the two friends was not fully explained.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Book: Stealing Parker

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: October 1

Goodreads Summary

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Companion to CATCHING JORDAN.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Book: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)
Author: Robin LaFevers
# of Pages: 549 (Hardcover)
Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads Summary
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Thoughts: Ismae is the daughter of Death. She is sent to a convent where she learns the different arts of killing. A French spy is rumored to be in Brittany, and Ismae is assigned to seek him out. However, she does not expect to fall in love in the process.

This book was amazingly written. I really liked Ismae and Duval, and the mystery. I do wish we could have gotten to know more about Sister Serafina. It did drag a little, but overall this was a great read.

Book Haul #2

BOOK HAUL

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Eve of Destruction (Dark Eden #2) by Patrick Carman

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kay Myers

For my Nook

Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

What books did you get this week?

May Reads

Books I'm hoping to read this month include:

Finish Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Plague by Michael Grant
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Ruthless by Sara Shepard
Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

Top Ten Books I'd Like to See Made Into Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

2. Legend by Marie Lu

3. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

4. Gone by Michael Grant

5. The Body FInder by Kimberly Derting

6. Ashfall by Mike Mullin

7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green