Lull

Just noticed that it's been a month since the last time that I published a book review. It's not that I haven't read anything between now and then. But I don't think it's been that Great!

I'm of the belief that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it anything at all. 

I don't mean anything bad by that. I just mean that what I have been reading hasn't wow'd me. Or amazed me. It's been enough to keep me busy and my reading addiction appeased. 

I just went through my reading queue in my Kindle and I see that I have read quite a few. I might write a review for one or two of those reads. One of them is Nine Minutes. I won't get so into it right now, but I just want to scream at Beth Flynn for what she did to me with that book. 

Ohhh.. I have also been reading the Rose Gardner Series by Denise Grover Swank. They are pretty funny. I got hooked with the first book since it was free. I'm just kind of hesitant to continue with the 4th book because of what happened in the last one I read. 

But before I get into those reviews, I might start reading Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee. And let's not forget that I have The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare sitting at home. I also have Dreams of God's and Monsters by Laini Taylor, which I just can't finish. Not because it's bad, but because I don't want to say good bye to Karou and Akiva. 

Anyways. Hopefully I can find the time and energy to finish reading and to write an actual review for those books.  

Storm Siren

I was definitely sucked into this Fantasy YA book from the very beginning. And even after I finished it, I couldn't stop thinking about it or the characters. I went to bed mad and sad, and I woke up thinking "nope, I couldn't have read what I just did". But, I did. 

I think that's the beauty in loosing yourself in a book. When it sticks to you no matter what. It's the fact that you can't stop thinking about it or what happened. 

I have to say that this is the first time that I've read any of her work. I was impressed with her writing style. She did a great job in creating this magical world where I could loose myself. 

I loved her characters. 

Nym was definitely a winner in my book. She's an Elemental, and she truly believes that she is cursed. She's also a slave who has been sold and bought fifteen times. She's also pretty smart and witty. She has sass and attitude. Her downfall is that she doesn't know how to control her powers, so she basically ends up killing anyone that's around her when she's pissed or looses control. 

Eogan. The mysterious and beautiful trainer. The only one who has been able to calm Nym when she is having one of her "tantrums". I loved his personality. The fact that he cared for her. We learn a lot about him in this book. 

There was definitely an attraction between Eogan and Nym that I absolutely craved. It's the reason why I couldn't put my book down. I kept hoping and wishing that I would get "just one more kissing scene" or "just the right physical contact" between those two. They were good for each other. 

The accompanying characters are great as well. Colin is awesome with his abilities. His twin sister Breck is interesting in her own way. 

I hated Adora with a livid passion. I detested her. With her odd and peculiar outfits and her threats. She drove me nuts. 

Eogan's secrets killed me. Destroyed me. I couldn't believe it. And that ending. I kept thinking after I finished reading the last words, "How could she do this to me?" "How am I going to recover from this?" "How can I move on knowing what I know?"

Yes. I was devastated. I still am. I can't wait for the second book to know what happens next. I don't know if I will be able to read it though. I'm hoping for some kind of miracle. Which lets not kid ourselves, this is a Fantasy book. Anything can happen!!!

Will I read this again? Maybe!
Will I be purchasing the Hard book? Absolutely!!! I need to add this to my collection!!!

I am definitely glad that I decided to read this and give the author an opportunity. 

Locke

I KNEW from the very first moment that I came across Locke's' character in Axel that he was something else. Something different. 

"I'm looking right at you motherfucker. It shouldn't take a big leap of 'clue the fuck in' for you to realize I'm looking right at your dumb fucking ass" he snarls at me with such ferocity that I'm momentarily rendered speechless."

And I was rendered speechless. Here was this big beautiful man with black eyes. One who kept to himself and looked out for his family and loved ones. He was in so much pain. But what was worse is that we didn't know why.

We do get to experience the intense friction between Locke and Emmy through out the other books. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the others, I kept rushing through them hoping and praying that I would get my temporary short fix of Locke. 

My heart broke when Coop was killed and Emmy suffered because he literally gave his life for her. But it shattered when she ran away and Locke couldn't do anything to help her.. Like I mentioned before, I've kept reading because I wanted/needed to know where their story was going. So needless to say that I preordered this book. Started reading it the minute that I had the opportunity to do so. 

Oh my goodness! There are no words to describe what I felt while I read this. I know that I always say this. But seriously. This was freaking awesome. 

"I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away..."

We finally get to learn about Emmy's past. And what a fucked up past it is. She had it bad. From a sick and twisted father and mother to a bastard ruthless abuser. What's worse is that her parents let it happen because of their lifestyle. Until her savior shows up.  

"I'm seconds from passing out when I feel his body disappearing. I sit up, struggling to let the air in, and meet the crystal-blue eyes of my savior. 'You okay?' He asks. I nod mutely. A million questions rush through my head, but not a single word escapes before he nods and slams his fist into Shawn's face. I want to weep when I watch him crumple to the floor, passed out cold. 'I'm Zeke, but my friends call me Coop."

Gah. To know that it was Coop that saved and rescued her from that life. It finally made sense as to why it hurt her so much to loose Coop. Not that they had any kind of romantic involvement. But that he became more of a brother figure to her. 

Locke. His name alone. I waited FOREVER to know more about him. I knew that he was intimidating and scary. But he was also such a loveable man. He cared for those that were a part of their family unit. He protected them fiercely. But he wouldn't allow himself to love or feel anything especially for Emmy. 

The things that he went through. From having such a miserable young life, because of the way that his mother treated him. To being deceived by the one person that he had decided to give his heart to at such a young age. 

There was so much that he suffered through. 

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE Harper Sloan. I love what she does and what she gives us. To me, it's such a precious gift. To be able to loose myself in a book. To feel so much while I read a book. To be able to laugh while I do so is amazing. I loved meeting the other Alpha characters. But to be able to experience Locke was something else. 

Reading Funk

I am in a total reading funk right now. I've got about 20+ books sitting in my TBR pile (patiently waiting in my Kindle).
I made the mistake of reading all of Amy Harmon's books in a matter of days... I was so greedy that I couldn't get enough of her writing style. I really do believe that she's turned into one of my Author crushes, kind of like Kristen Ashley. The beauty of her books though is that they have all been clean writes. They have stayed with me. Every single one of her characters. Especially Johnny Kinross.
Anyways, I can't seem to find anything that will grab my attention... I'm searching and searching. Hopefully I'll come across something soon.

Running Barefoot

I honestly and truly believe that I have found one of the best books that I have read, and has become one of my favorites.

We start by meeting Josie Jensen at a very young age. Unfortunately for her, she finds sorrow and pain at such a young age. She basically has to grow up very fast and take care of her loved ones. But despite her troubles, she has a yearning and need for learning. She develops many talents. From understanding and mastering her need for music and playing the piano - to developing an unyielding love for reading and knowledge. 

Then we meet Samuel Yates. He is different in every aspect, so to speak. He is half white-half Navajo. He neither fits in the "white" world or in the "Navajo" world. He is judged and discriminated against where ever he goes. That is, until he meets 13 year old Josie on the back seat of a school bus. She gets picked on by an older boy, and Samuel kindly steps in. But quickly keeps to him self. 

Over time, they develop a "strange" friendship. I say "strange" because this happens while they read and analyze "Wuthering Heights" for an assignment that he has. Little by little, they become dependent on each other. 

I love how that friendship grows. It truly is beautiful in every sense. Josie teaches Samuel a lot. Most importantly how to let go of grudges and to be more than what every one else wants him to be. 

I like that she didn't take it any further with Josie being 13 and Samuel being 18. He joins the Marines right out of High School and is gone for several years. While he's gone, Josie falls in love again. Unfortunately for her, she experiences pain again. Samuel comes back after some time, and helps Josie like she did for him many years ago. 

The trials and troubles that they go through to get where they need to be amazes me. Thee were several times where I wanted to cry - some from heart ache, others from happiness. 

I love what Amy Harmon did with this. It's essentially what I look for in a book.  

Infinity + One

I do have to say that I'm in love. I'm in love with Amy Harmon. With her books. With her characters. I had completely forgotten how much I enjoyed her writing style. That is until I remembered that she wrote Making Faces, which happens to be one of my favorite books.

I was captured from the very beginning. I love how the main characters were almost like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. They went on a full adventure, without meaning to.

I love that Finn was a total math/number nerd. And Bonnie, well, she was a well know country singer. There was more that tied those two together, and it almost felt like it was their destiny. It was complete beautiful.

I couldn't get enough of them. I feel like the more you say about the story, the more you give away. And I honestly believe that this is one story that you should fully experience for your self.

A Different Blue

"Once upon a time there was a little blackbird, pushed from the nest. Unwanted. Discarded."

I think I was hooked with just reading the Prologue. I wanted - NO - needed to know what had happened to the little girl sitting in the car, while her mother was plotting who knows what.

I felt a lot of pain and sorrow through out the entire book. I'm not saying that it was a horrible book. All I'm saying is that I certainly captured my emotions.

We get to meet Blue Echohawk, a senior in high school. A possible 19 year old. She has no idea who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that James Echohawk became her world when he took her in at a young age. He taught her every thing that she knows but left her alone again at a young age.

Needless to say, Blue has suffered a lot. She also doesn't fit in. But that's because she wants it that way. That is until the new History teacher - Mr. Darcy Wilson - at only 23 years old decides that he wants to help her.

I love how he approaches the situation and how he handles it. He becomes her constant and is there to support her through her trials.

"What we believe affects our choices, our actions, and subsequently, our lives".

I love how she overcomes those trials. But I think what I truly enjoyed the most was how this story came to a full circle. That was a definite tear-jerker for me. When she finally found out the truth about her past and who she really was.

There was "some" romance in this book. But I like that it wasn't all about it completely. It was about that little Blackbird learning how to spread her wings and taking on the sky.