Reading Right Now! (#50)

 What I'm Reading Right Now! is... Same ol' same ol'. Not much excitement because I'm reading exactly the same books I was reading last week.

Title: Nowhere But Here

Author: Katie McGarry

About 42% finished.

I have made absolutely no progress in this book. In general, I suck at reading two books at a time, which could be why I haven't gotten any farther in this. I'm also not loving this like I loved the first Katie McGarry book I read. The main character Emily hasn't been my favorite, and it's been a little difficult to understand her mindset. If I don't finish this before it's due back to the library, I'll just check it out again. No big deal.

Title: Maplecroft

Author: Cherie Priest

Got a little farther in this one, I'd say probably about 30%. I'm on page 150ish

I've been concentrating on reading this one more than Nowhere But Here. I'm enjoying this. It's definitely a slow moving read. I am sometimes a little iffy when it comes to books that want to play around with history. So, the facts about Lizzie Borden and how she is portrayed in this book, I'm taking as worth a grain of salt. But it's getting kind of mysterious and creepy. All this build up to whatever the monster is.

I did finish something this week though, and that was...

Title: The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy (The Steampunk Chronciles #2.5? maybe)

Author: Kady Cross

Yes it's just a novella, but I still read something. Love this series and really enjoyed this novella. It was about my favorite criminal, Jack Dandy.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Review: The Isis Collar (Blood Singer #4) by Cat Adams

Title: The Isis Collar (Blood Singer #4)

**side note: didn't know this was part of a series when I read it, so I read it out of order**

Author: Cat Adams

Published by: Tom Doherty Associates LLC. / A Tor book

Released: 2012

Summary: When Celia Graves gets a call from a clairvoyant about a bomb in a school, she races there only to be caught up in the magical blast. At first, everyone seems to be unhurt, but as time goes on, the hospitals start to fill with teachers and students suffering from a rare and deadly disease.

Celia develops a strange, throbbing bruise on her leg along with severe headaches. Celia, with the help of her friends and associates, must find the maker of this bomb and stop them before they can strike again. The fate of the world rests in the hands of a half-vampire/half-siren Celia and her gang of magical misfits.

My Thoughts: A magical urban fantasy romp. Highly enjoyable and very entertaining. This is the 4th book in the Blood Singer series, and I really wish I had read the first 3 before I started this one. It is totally my own fault, but I really wish I had been caught up in the story just so I knew who was who.

The plot of this story reminded me a lot of a book I had read earlier in the month which was Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry. Just an odd sort of coincidence there. Obviously, these were two very different books, with one full of magic and the other full of Special Ops teams, but the two villains had a very similar sort of diabolical scheme. Another thing these two had in common was the tantalizing lure of zombies in the synopsis and then the stories ended up not being about a zombie apocalypse situation at all. Zombies were a weapon instead of a main part of the story, but enough about that.

I really enjoyed this book. It had tons of action and was just no stress, fun reading. Don't be a book idiot like me, and make sure to start this series from the very beginning so you don't miss any of the fun stuff. If you like urban fantasy, then go check this series out.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5

A Very Enjoyable Read.

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Disappointing Eye Candy (books that looked beautiful but were awful)

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is our Top 5 Disappointing Eye Candy or books that you picked up because they looked beautiful, but they turned out to be awful. I won't lie, I've got a couple. They always say, don't judge a book by its cover. Sometimes I am shallow and get tricked by a beautiful cover.

  

  

 

Well, I picked a lot more than 5, but in my defense, I don't think all of them were awful. I'll start with the honorable or dishonorable mentions first.

***Splintered by A.G. Howard This wasn't awful, it was just disappointing. It cannot be argued that that cover is pretty though. I enjoyed the first half of this book way more than the second half. It all went to crap when Alyssa got to Wonderland and met that awful moth hybrid Morpheus. I did not like him. I also didn't enjoy this challenge the author had to make Wonderland as weird as she possibly could. It was just too weird for me. Because I love to torture myself and maybe suffer from an odd mental compulsion, I will read the rest of the books in the series just so I can know how everything turns out. The whole series really has beautiful covers though.

***Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano This could be argued as not really having that pretty of a cover because it's really just part of a face and words, but the cover of this book did help draw me in. My main problem with this one was the main character. Really didn't like her. She reminded me of one of those kids/adults that just think they are smarter and above everyone else. I thought she made stupid decisions, the biggest being not telling the cops everything she knew. I think if she had just been honest, gotten the cops involved from the very start, put all her cards on the table; the killer would have been caught a lot sooner and less people would have ended up dead. So yeah, for being such a smarty-pants, in the end Nearly was just an idiot.

***Nil by Lynne Matson This book disappointed me because I thought I was going to get something different from it. The synopsis reminded me so much of Lost. Teenagers taken to a mysterious island where they are given a year to escape or die. This island with so many secrets, and ability to be an awesome read. My big disappointment came from learning this was really just teenage drama, love island. Everyone was beautiful. It was love at first sight. They couldn't contain themselves for declaring their love for one another even though they had just met. And I learned nothing of why the island was the way it was. What the whole point of the island was. Just sickening mush. And yes, I'll probably torture myself and read the rest of the books so I can see what happens in the end.

Now for my true Top 5 Disappointing Eye Candy books:

5. The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury My main problem with this cover and really synopsis was that it was a lie. I was drawn into this book, thinking I was getting a Shatter Me like story, and then I figured out how badly I was lied to. The main character in this book just sits and mopes in her room all the time and makes such bad decisions. I was just disappointed in this one. I wanted epicness and got more dullness. I am interested to read the next book in the series because I think it will be about different people and hopefully have a more interesting storyline.

4. Undertow by Michael Buckley This one had a really really cool cover, but the overall story was just too weird for me and I didn't buy it. I hated the love story because I didn't believe it. The fish people were too weird and alien for me to even try to connect with them. I also really didn't like how the author threw in his political views with certain characters and scenarios. I'm reading this for a good story, not because I want to know Michael Buckley's views on real life political candidates. Again, because I want to make myself suffer, I'll probably one day read the other books in this series.

3. Rook by Sharon Cameron That cover is pretty, too bad it contained a book that was too long and mega boring. The world was weird. Didn't understand it. It's supposed to be a book set in the future, but where the inhabitants have given up technology and live in a world that is like the time period of the French Revolution. What's the point of that? This book was just sooooo dull though. I felt like it would never end.

2. The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze This one has a really interesting, colorful, pretty cover, but this one really was kind of awful. It tried to fit in every dystopian/post-apocalyptic trope it could and it ended up just being really bad. I didn't understand why the main character did some of the things she does. I mean, she walks into the camp of the people who just tried to kill her with no real plan. Every cute woodland animal you meet in this book dies, plus beloved pets. And the twists and turns weren't really surprising. This might be a series that I never finish because I don't think the publisher even wanted to finish it. The second book is currently only available as an ebook, and I'm more of a physical copy type of girl. I can honestly say that this one wasn't very good.

1. Reawakened by Colleen Houck I think I have the most intense feelings about this one still. I was drawn to this book because of its beautiful cover. I mean, it's beautiful! But man did I hate this book. I wanted to push the main character off a cliff as soon as I met her. She's a privileged, rude, self-important snob and I don't like her. I didn't like how she kept trying to push herself on the main guy when he really wasn't interested in her. I also didn't like how our main guy pretty much attached himself like a parasite to Lily. She thought she went on this journey with him because she was special, it was really only because she was the first human he saw and he needed her life force to live. That doesn't mean that he liked her, he was using her, and she was too much of an annoying idiot to realize it. Maybe I'll read the sequel. I bet the cover will be just as pretty. I mean, I guess I want to know what happens next, but I know I'm probably going to hate it too. Leaving things unfinished just bothers me more than my actual hatred for the book I guess.

So that's my Top 5 Disappointing Eye Candy (books that looked beautiful but were awful). Are any of my picks on your list too? Do you disagree with any of the books I picked? Let me know because everyone has different opinions. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday, there's a new topic to consider and answer. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers here!

What Did I Think Of: The 100: Season 3, Episode 1 (SPOILERS!)

So how about this for a Tuesday. One of my favorite shows finally came back on the air January 21, 2016. The 100 is back for its third season. The wait has been excruciating. So I ran to my TV Thursday night and watched the episode. I decided to share what I thought about it. This isn't going to be a review, but rather a fan's reaction to a favorite show. All thoughts and opinions are going to be my own. I'm not going to go into detail or depth, or sugarcoat my true feelings because it's unpopular opinion to some. If you don't like what I have to say, then that's your problem. So mean, I know. But with all the ship wars going on within The 100 community, it's dangerous out there. I'm not apologizing for what I think, want, or feel. My ability to ramble on astounds even me. Anyway....

THE 100 IS BACK!!!

There was a lot crammed into this first episode. After all the expectation and waiting for it to come back, I felt like I maybe overhyped myself. It was a good episode, but it was a much calmer feel than the craziness that went down in Season 2. 

There were a lot of separate kind of story-lines in the Season 3, Episode 1. First we've got Jaha and Murphy. At the end of Season 2, Jaha has made his way to a mysterious mansion and met with a mysterious AI. Her name is ALI and it's pretty clear that she had something to do with the end of the world. Murphy found himself a bunker full of crackers and booze, but then finds out its former owner created ALI, blamed himself (and her) for the apocalypse, and shot himself.

So Season 3 opens and Jaha is still crazy. Murphy meanwhile gets sealed in the bunker for 86 days and pretty much comes close to losing his mind. On day 86 the bunker unseals itself thanks to lovely Jaha and ALI's command. Murphy knows he has to get out of there.

I'm really loving Murphy. In the first Season, I did not like him, but he's really grown on me since. He's not a good guy, but maybe redeemable. I think I want him away from Jaha, cause Jaha is just off his rocker. I have no idea what this City of Light stuff is, but it sure doesn't look like an actual place where people can be happy and safe. 

Then we get to the Ark. They've called their camp/city/whatever it is Arkadia. I like it, catchy. So 3 months have gone by since Mount Weather and Clarke leaving. It looks like the adults have completely taken over, which is slightly depressing. Bellamy has kind of been regulated to a regiment commander with Monty, Jasper, Miller, Raven, and the other kids from Season 2. I was very happy to see all of their faces.

But at the same time, I kind of feel bad for everybody. First Raven, she is awesome. She's having to deal with being disabled and it's just so sad to see her struggle. She's the type of person who's independent and doesn't want help from anyone. Also, she's apparently not in a relationship with Wick anymore, which makes me sad. I heard rumors that something went on with the actor that played Wick and he was let go from the show. I really liked Wick and Raven together. Her being alone and hurting just makes me sad.

The bromance between Jasper and Monty is also off. Jasper is in deep grief over the events at the Mountain and Maya. He's taken to drinking and doesn't seem to care whether he lives or dies. Monty feels guilt over his actions at the Mountain and it doesn't help that Jasper's constantly throwing it in his face. I want them to be best buddies again. They all did have a nice, fun scene in the tricked out vehicle though. 

And then Bellamy, the one I look forward to seeing most. Seeing him at the end of Season 2, watching Clarke walk away, so many emotions. I am a Bellarke shipper. I think their chemistry is so apparent and I want one day for them to happen. So I was kind of thrown off by Bellamy's new girlfriend. I just thought it was a strange move for the show to take. First, his new girlfriend is completely new. I've never seen her on the show before. It would be easier to accept a new girlfriend for Bellamy if I could have seen how the relationship started and grew. I also just don't really feel the love between the two of them. Sure, I could be in Bellarke denial, but I will eagerly be awaiting this new relationships demise. I also think this new relationship is weird because none of the other characters have moved on and gotten new significant others. I just don't buy the new girlfriend. It just seems like a way to rub it in my face that Bellarke is not going to happen in this season. 

And lastly we've got Clarke living in the jungle like a female Tarzan. She's legend now for what she did to the Mountain Men and there is a bounty on her head. The Grounders believe she has power, and if they capture and kill her, they will inherit that power.

So if we're gonna talk about Clarke, her sexy scene has to be mentioned. I wasn't a fan. It just seemed like too much of an attempt to cater to a certain audience. I'm not on team Clexa or Nilarke (whatever they attempt to call that one). I know it's the PC thing to do now. Every show has to have a bisexual/gay/lesbian character. I'm over it. Disagree with me if you wish.

So those are my rambling thoughts on The 100 Season 3, Episode 1. I'm going to try to do one of these for every episode. These are just my thoughts and opinions, so if you disagree with them, okay. I'm excited to see the next episode. I'm hopeful that things will really pick up. I'm highly anticipating the reunion between Bellamy and Clarke, even though I'll probably get nothing. So yes, Season 3 I'm ready to be immersed.

Episode Grade: B

Not the exhilarating, intense season opener I was hoping for.

Review: Chew Volume 2: International Flavor by John Layman and Rob Guillory

Title: Chew Volume 2: International Flavor

Author: John Layman and Rob Guillory

Published by: Image Comics, Inc.

Released: 2010

Summary: Tony Chu is baaaack! Since his boss hates him, Tony has been getting the worst jobs. While investigating a bank robbery, Tony comes across a plant that tastes just like chicken. Tony decides to do some off hours work and travels to the tropical island where this chicken plant grows. With his partner John to distract the boss, Tony uncovers some serious chicken business and encounters more secrets along the way.

My Thoughts: Loved this!! This comic series is so much fun. Tony and John still remind me of Miles and Sawyer from Lost, which I also love. I love imagining Miles and Sawyer doing weird detective work and still being partners.

I'm still loving the artwork in this series. I really like how it has a cartoon feel and all the little extra tidbits thrown in on posters and signs in the background.

I love the humor in this series. I was pretty much laughing from page one. Even though it deals with a gross subject matter, I just love the humor incorporated. It's zany and fun.

I also really liked how in this volume, the story flowed and made sense. Instead of a bunch of separate episodes, we got a continuous story.

This review has pretty much been a gush fest, but this series so far has just been a lot of fun for me to read. I definitely recommend it and I'm excited to pick up the next volume for myself.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 5/5

Zany fun!

Reading Right Now! (#49)

This week's Reading Right Now! is a two-fer. One is the same book I was reading last week and I added a new one into the mix.

 

Title: Nowhere But Here (Nowhere But Here #1)

Author: Kaie McGarry

I'm about 41% through this one.

and

Title: Maplecroft (Maplecroft #1)

Author: Cherie Priest

I'm only on page 30 on this, but I'm interested so far.

I'm still in a bit of a weird reading mood, which would explain why I'm not very far in either book. I've been having mixed feelings about Nowhere But Here so far. Emily has been a bit of an annoyance. It's getting a little better though. I haven't wanted to throw her off a cliff for the last couple pages. I ended up having to return the physical book back to the library, but I rechecked it out on the overdrive/ebook app. Maybe that will make for quicker reading. I loved the first Katie McGarry book I read (Pushing the Limits I think), but Nowhere But Here might just turn out to be a three star read for me.

Then, I just started Maplecroft by Cherie Priest and I'm interested so far. I'm only about 30 pages in, so who knows what will happen. This one is a reimagining of the life and crime of (allegedly) Lizzie Borden. You might know her from this disturbing tune: Lizzie Borden took an axe/Gave her mother 40 wacks/And when she saw what she had done/Gave her father 41. Creepy.

Lizzie Borden was a real lady and her father and stepmother really were chopped to death by an axe or more accurately a hatchet. Lizzie Borden was arrested for the crime, tried, and acquitted. She lived the rest of her life in the same town and was widely believed to be guilty of the murders. Personally, she does seem highly suspicious. She did burn a dress that she claimed was "stained" from housework a couple days after the murder. Anyway, this book takes Lizzie Borden and puts her in a more sympathetic light. What if she wasn't a monster, but instead a monster killer? What if instead of murdering her parents, she instead murdered foul, monstrous creatures who had taken possession of her parents bodies. I'm interested to see where this goes. It should be fun. I'm also kind of curious to read other stuff by Cherie Priest. I've already had my eye on the Boneshaker series.

So that's it for what I'm Reading Right Now! Tell me what you're reading in the comments below.

Review: Leviathan (Leviathon Trilogy, Book 1) by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Leviathan (Leviathan Trilogy: Book 1)

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Published by: SIMON PULSE

Released: 2009

Summary: A book full of adventure, an alternate past, and steampunk galore! Prince Alek has just learned his parents have been killed, and in the middle of the night must go on the run. Inside a Stormwalker, Alek and a few trusted men are traveling the wilderness to keep Alek safe and away from the war that is brewing and destined to break.

Deryn has wanted to be an air pilot all her life. Girls are not allowed to join the King's airforce, so Deryn becomes Dylan. Dylan becomes a junior soldier on the great Leviathan, half airship-half whale. Deryn/Dylan hopes that nobody finds out her secret.

Set in 1914, at the start of WWI, Leviathan offers a fascinating alternate history filled with scientifically mutated beasts and humongous war machines. Imagination required.

My Thoughts: A wonderfully thrilling adventure full of massive robots, mutated beasts, and two kids trying to survive in a world about to be turned around by World War One. If you like steampunk, adventure, and a touch of history, Leviathan is the perfect book for you.

I really enjoyed this story. The alternate history and steampunk aspects were really enjoyable. Alek and Deryn were also really fun characters, watching them come and work together was really enjoyable. I also had no problem picturing Deryn as a boy on the Leviathan, although I did have trouble picturing her as a girl with a crush on a boy. A weird predicament to be sure, but Deryn played the boy so well, that in my head she was a boy. I'm really interested to see where Deryn and Alek's story goes.

I also really enjoyed the world building. Scott Westerfeld's imagination knows no bounds. I myself would personally be a machinist instead of a Darwinist just because the creation of those mutant animals just seems like trying to play God. They are taking creatures and manipulating them in order to better serve humans. To me, these new animals seem like unnatural abominations. I would just feel bad about doing this to animals. But creating and building a machine just doesn't feel as bad or dirty. Just my humble opinion. Scott Westerfeld's world is still super cool though.

I also love the illustrations by Keith Thompson. They just jumped off the page and really added to the overall story. I've come to really love pictures and illustrations in books.

Leviathan is a fantastic book set in an interesting world, with two characters that I root for. I'm very excited to continue on with this series, and for those who haven't yet read Leviathan, stop what you're doing and read it right now! You won't be disappointed.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.5/5

Just look at those beasties!!

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Buzz Words

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is our Top 5 Favorite Buzz Words that when I see them, make it a guaranteed buy. This is going to be an interesting topic because everybody's buzz words are going to be different. Words that stick out to me might not stick out to other people. Words that interest me could cause others to turn away. So just interesting to see what words call out to people. Here are my Top 5 Buzz Words!

5. Pirates

Yo ho,Yo ho a pirates life for me!! Ever since watching Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, I've been very interested in them. So interested in fact, that I did my senior project on it. Didn't get the highest grade on my senior project, but I had so much fun researching famous pirates, discovering fun pirate tidbits, and learning about some famous women pirates. So I will now bore you with some of the pirate facts I learned.

 Blackbeard, one of the most fearsome and well-known pirates, was definitely a really scary dude. He would stick lighted tapers in his huge, black beard and pretty much resembled the devil. His real name was Edward Teach or Edward Thatch. He met his end off the coast of North Carolina and his head was taken as proof. They've actually pulled up pieces of his ship, The Queen Anne's Revenge off the ocean bottom not that long ago.

One of my favorite random tidbits is all about Pirate Flags. Each Pirate had their own distinctive flag that would alert the unfortunate ships they came into contact with. They usually had bones, knives, skulls that warned of death to those unlucky enough to come into contact with them. The most well known pirate flag comes from a pirate that you probably haven't heard that much about.

This is the flag of Calico Jack Rackham. He's famous for this flag and being the Captain of the ship where the two famous women pirates, Mary Read and Anne Bonny served. He ended up being hanged for the crimes of piracy.

My third random fact made me feel like such a smarty pants when I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. There's a scene where the big pirate captains are gathered together, I think to bring down Calypso. Anyway, there's a female, Chinese pirate captain there, and I recognized who she was supposed to be. Her name was Madame Cheng or Ching. She was a pirate in China who took over after her husband died. She became so powerful, with a huge fleet of ships, that the Chinese government was unable to bring her down by force. They made a deal with her in which she still had money and power. She was one of a handful of pirates who was able to live to a ripe old age.

Okay, I won't tell you any more random facts. It's obvious that I find pirates really fascinating. If I hear mention of pirates in the description of a book, I'm automatically interested. Now, not every pirate book tickles my fancy, but it definitely gets me to do a second look at a book.

What do you do with a drunken pirate? What do you do with a drunken pirate? What do you do with a drunken pirate? Throw him in the brig. (A fun pirate song!!) 

4. Time Travel

Time Travel will get me 90% of the time. I'm only not interested if they end up going back to a time that I don't care about. There's just something cool about Time Travel. The culture shock, the cool historical aspects, it's just a lot of fun. Time Travel is a definite buzz word.

3. Paranormal

I'm also a sucker for Paranormal anything. Magic, werewolves, vampires, shape shifters just makes a story so much more fun for me. I love urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and of course the hundreds of YA books with something that makes them so much more fun than a boring contemporary. If I read Paranormal in a synopsis, I'm in.

2. Zombies

This one should surprise no one that knows me or has followed my blog/youtube/instagram/twitter for awhile. My love for the TV show The Walking Dead really kickstarted my foray into all things zombie. I just love the world that is presented in zombie books. Everything is going to crap and it's really about the human drive to survive. It's not so much about the shambling dead in the streets, but the human story that gets me. Zombie is definitely a buzz word that grabs me and doesn't let me go until the book is in my hand.

1. Post-Apocalyptic

This one kind of goes with my Zombie buzz word because it's usually set in a Post-Apocalyptic world. I was tempted to combine this with Dystopia, but decided against it because those are really two separate things. I love the feel I get from Post-Apocalyptic books. That feeling of humans surviving in a world that's been decimated by something. I think they are a lot of fun. Put Post-Apocalyptic elements in a synopsis and I'm game to read it.

So those are my Top 5 Buzz Words. What words when you see them in the synopsis, make you want to buy a book right then and there? Let me know if we have any of the same Buzz Words. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday is a new, fun topic to consider and adds a little something different to your blogs or booktubes. One can only do so many tags, wrap-ups, reviews and hauls. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers here!

Review: Reborn (Altered #3) by Jennifer Rush

Title: Reborn (Altered #3)

Author: Jennifer Rush

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Released: 2015

Summary: The flashback comes swift and intense. A girl with dark brown hair, big green eyes, and bleeding from gunshot and knife wounds. Who is this girl? Did he kill her? Nick is haunted by these questions. This idea that he could be just as mean as his father. Nick knows he has to find her. See if she's still alive and what her connection is to Nick. It's a mission Nick has to undertake on his own, so he leaves Anna, Sam, and Cas behind and heads to Trademarr, Illinois. Nick, the man of mystery, will finally reveal what makes him tick.

My Thoughts: First and foremost, I love this series! They are action packed thrill rides that have just been a lot of fun to read. There are three novels and three novellas. I've only read the three physical books, so my opinion is going to be based on that. I was excited and sad picking up this book. Excited because I love this series and this whole book is told from Nicks POV, the sexy man of mystery. Sad because this is supposed to be the last book in the series and I don't want it to end. Overall, I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite of the series.
I did enjoy getting a story from Nick's viewpoint. Throughout the whole series, he has been the hot, moody, sometimes surly, bad boy. He's been one of my favorites, so it was nice to see what makes him tick.

I liked getting to know Elizabeth too, our main female protagonist in this story. Her story was interesting.

Now, this book did feel slower than the rest. I remember the first two being action-packed and fun. This story took awhile for the action to kick into gear.

I also wasn't the biggest fan of Nick separating from the group. I like their little family unit. I like Nick's relationship with Anna, and in this one with him separated, I kind of missed out on that.

Near the end was where the action and secrets reveal happened and I like that. I like how Anna is as much a part of the fighting force as the boys are.

Now this as a series ender, that's what disappointed me the most. The end just came super quick after all the build up. And there were still so many loose ends. I don't want loose ends at the end of a series. There was also the question, for me, as to what the group was going to do next. They had been moving from town to town, always on the lookout for The Branch. Now are they going to be able to settle down somewhere, be happy, and try to live a semi-normal life? I'm not sure.

So yeah, I love love love this series. It's so much fun and action packed. It's also a series I think is underhyped, it deserves way more love and buzz than it's gotten. As an ending book, Reborn was just alright. In ways it left me wanting, and in the grand scheme of the plot, I don't feel like anything was really concluded. Now that does make me curious about the novellas. Will they add more, conclude things, give stories and happy endings for Trev and Cas? I wish the novellas would be released in printed format. I'm just not a fan of e-books, something I can never physically own and turn the pages with my hand. I guess if I want the full story, I might just have to go out and buy them, but it is disappointing that I can't get them as a physical copy or through my library system. I love the series, but just wish that I could have got a true, satisfying ending, or that there were going to be more books.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Love the series, but underwhelmed by the final installment.

Reading Right Now! (#48)

This weeks Reading Right Now! is...

Title: Nowhere But Here

Author: Katie McGarry

I'm only about on page 70 of this nearly 500 page book

I've been in a little bit of a reading slump for this past week, so I really didn't get much read in my current Reading Right Now! book. I've just been getting distracted by things like Netflix and Youtube and my book has been pushed to the side a little.

This is my second book by Katie McGarry, and I really enjoyed the first book I read by her. This one involves some strained family relationships and a motorcycle club. I've enjoyed what I've read of it so far. I get the impression that it is going to be a hot, steamy romance with danger and issues. I'm excited to get farther into this and get over whatever weird slump I'm in.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading? Let me know.

Review: Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1)

Author: Katie McGarry

Published by: Harlequin TEEN

Released: 2012

Summary: Something happened to Echo her sophomore year of high school, something bad. At the start of her senior year; Echo's arms are covered in scars, her spirit has been broken, and she can't remember what happened to cause it. When Echo is assigned to a special school therapist, she doesn't hold out for a cure. At the request of her therapist, Echo agrees to tutor the bad boy Noah Hutchins who has a reputation as a heartbreaker. When Echo meets Noah, sparks fly and she wonders if Noah can help her live again.

My Thoughts: It should be noted that I am not the biggest fan of contemporary novels. I would much rather read a dystopian, sci-fi, or even a good ol' murder mystery, then read about kids with real life issues and problems. That being said, I LOVED THIS BOOK!

 I really enjoyed Echo and Noah's story. I enjoyed learning the mystery of Echo's repressed memories and journeying with her as she fought to retrieve them. Although the ultimate truth was tragic, I really enjoyed Echo's journey to find it, and in the process, find herself. I also felt very involved in Noah's predicament. The tragedy surrounding him and his brothers was so sad and I was curious to learn what decisions he was going to make for his family. 

I also liked the love story between Echo and Noah. They were both individuals with flaws and problems, but together, they were able to rise up and become better, more whole people. Being together brought them each something they needed, that could only be found in that other person.

One small detail that I enjoyed was the relationship Echo had with her friends. She had some great friends (and a not so great one) who stuck by her in really difficult times. I appreciate seeing a friendship like that. True friends are something to be cherished forever. Great, great story. Loved it and can't wait to get my hand on and read Dare You To!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 5/5

One of my all time favorite contemporaries. Go Read Now!

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Self-Published Books

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is our Top 5 Favorite Self-Published Books. This post is going to be very disappointing, because I don't have 5 Favorite Self-Published books. I don't read that many Self-Published books, and when I do, it's because the author and their work got popular enough for a publishing house to pick them up. So, for this post I really only have one book/series that I know for sure started off as self-published. Maybe in the coming years I'll read more self-published books.

1. The First Days (As the World Dies Book 1) by Rhiannon Frater: I loved this book so much. It's zombies, I love zombie, end of the world books. This is the first book in a series, and I've read the first two books. I really need to read the third because I know I'll love it. This series might not be everyones thing, but it's what I like. It follows two women as the zombie outbreak occurs. They come together and then meet up with other survivors. If you like The Walking Dead, I think you'll like this. Now this series started off life as being self-published and got really popular, eventually getting picked up and re-released by a publishing house. It's so good.

So that's the only self-published book I could think of to put on this list. I know of other self-published books, but I couldn't put them on my favorite list because I haven't read them yet. Like one day, I'm gonna get around to reading something by Amanda Hocking. Her name is like synonymous with self-publishing success. If you know of any good self-published books, let me know. I obviously need to broaden my horizons.

So that's my Top 5 Wednesday. What are your favorite self-published masterpieces? Let me know in the comments below. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday is a new topic to consider and enjoy. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers here!

Review: Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Title: Horrorstor

Author: Grady Hendrix

Published by: Quirk Books

Released: 2014

Summary: Welcome to Orsk! The number one furniture superstore in the USA. Visit our store and experience the Orsk way of life.

Amy works at Orsk, but don't go to her if you want a happy Orsk employee story. She's just working there until she decides what she wants to do next. Weird things have been happening at her store. Every morning, employees walk in to find broken furniture, dirty furniture, and broken odds and ends. This Orsk location is losing money and the big wigs want to know why.

When Amy is approached by Deputy Manager Basil with a proposition, she's suspicious. Amy's not Basil's biggest fan. She's pretty sure Basil is just looking for a chance to fire her. Basil has been put under a lot of stress to find out what's going on at the store between closing and opening hours. Basil asks Amy to work a dusk-til-dawn shift with him and Ruth Anne to find out just what is going on at Orsk.

My Thoughts: I flew through this one so fast and had such a good time reading it. It was fun and had this weird, creepy edge to it. I wasn't expecting the brand of creepy that it introduced. I knew it was supposed to be a scary/haunted house type book, but it was more scary weird than I expected. This was a lot of fun.

One thing that I've come to expect from Quirk Books is really cool designed reads. Reading one is an experience. All the added design extras just make the books that much more fun to read.

I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of our main character Amy. She wasn't a happy person from the start and just has this way of disliking people for no real reason. She has this beef with Basil, the deputy manager, and I think she just dislikes him because he's slightly younger than her and a deputy manager. From what I saw of Basil, he seemed like a nice guy that was kind of looking out for Amy. So yeah, Amy wasn't my favorite character ever.

I also enjoyed all the little hidden extras in the story. I loved the showcasing of Orsk furniture at the start of each chapter and the subtle changes as the story goes on. I also found it funny how each item number contained a 666. Those were just fun, little extras.

I also enjoyed the scary story told in this book. It was different than what I was expecting; more disturbing, scary, and weird. I very much enjoyed it. I think the odd scariness elevated the story a little. It was just a fun weird and I enjoyed it.

Horrorstor was a whole lot of scary fun, I flew through it and very much enjoyed the journey. I'd definitely recommend it for a fun, Halloween read.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Welcome to Orsk, the store that will never let you leave! Mwahahahaaa

Reading Right Now! (#47)

This week's Reading Right Now! is...

Title: Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1)

Author: Kate Brian

I am on page 209 and am roughly 62% through this book

This one is very twisty, turn-y, and mysterious. I've really been enjoying it. It's about this girl named Rory Miller who is targeted and attacked by a serial killer. It's a killer who has been on the loose for years and has never been caught. Rory manages to get away and alerts the police, but of course the killer has flown the coop. Rory and her family aren't safe anymore, so the FBI puts them in witness protection. Their new cover places them on this idyllic coastal/island town. The only two ways on the island are by boat or by ferry. This island isn't exactly as it seems though. There is no internet or cell reception on the island. They've entered a dead zone, with no way to get in touch with any friends or family. And Rory has attracted the interest of the popular kids on the island for reasons unbeknownst to her. Uncovering this island's secrets is going to be Rory's next mission.

This book is soooo fun to read. It's really fast-paced and quick, and the mystery just has me guessing. There's this mysterious/eerie sort of vibe that runs through the whole book, and I'm just really enjoying it. It's the first book in a trilogy and I'm definitely going to be picking up the others ASAP, so I have them when I finish this one. At this point, I'd definitely recommend this for a read.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! Tell me what you're reading. Or if you've read this book, tell me your thoughts on it. 

Review: Patient Zero (Joe Ledger Book 1) by Jonathan Maberry

Title: Patient Zero (Joe Ledger Book 1)

Author: Jonathan Maberry

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Released: 2009

Summary: When Joe Ledger kills a terrorist, he sure doesn't expect to get attacked by that same terrorist later in the week. Joe is yanked from his life and job, and is recruited to join a special organization called DMS, whose main goal is to protect the security of America from the living, and as of now, the dead. Joe and his special team of operatives must find and neutralize a group of terrorists who plan on releasing a zombie pathogen on the American population. Patient Zero is full of action, adventure, and sends thrills and chills to readers now imagining the horrors of zombies and terrorists.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this first book in the Joe Ledger series. It was full of action and thrills as Joe and his team combat a terrifying enemy never before seen on Earth.

I feel like I misled myself on this book because I went into it expecting a full blown, zombie novel, and while it did contain some of the zombie mayhem that I love, it also contained a lot more. This novel wasn't just a zombie novel, it also contained military, terrorists, action, thrills, intense fight scenes, and secret government organizations. This is not a zombie novel, instead it is an intense thriller that shows the horrors that could ensue if terrorists ever got their hands on dangerous disease pathogens and tried to unleash them on the American populace. Terrorists using zombies as a weapon of mass destruction is terrifying.

Maberry did a great job writing an edge-of-your seat thriller, where the fate of humanity rests upon the shoulders of Joe Ledger and his elite team.

It was hard for me to connect with Joe Ledger sometimes. Throughout the majority of the novel, he was a little too macho man for me. Also, he seemed to have no problem jumping into this secret organization and leading a team, which he had never done before. I also questioned his ability to figure things out so quickly. Joe Ledger seems to be more superhuman than the mortal guy he's supposed to be. Those were my only issues with the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of it, even though military thriller books aren't my go to reads.

I really enjoyed Joe Ledger's adventures and can't wait to see how he saves the world in the next one. If you're looking for a crazy, thrill ride, Patient Zero is it!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.8/5

Terrorists + Zombies = Terrifying!

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Fandoms

Fandoms are so much fun. Knowing you love a book, tv show, video game, and knowing there are other people out there that you can gush about it with is just so satisfying. This Top 5 Wednesday is all about our Top 5 Favorite Fandoms (books, tv, movie, etc) I'm not sure I have a full five, but I've definitely got a couple to talk about!!

  

5. The Gone Series by Michael Grant: I love this series. It was so much fun to read and experience. Pure craziness in books. I also had a couple friends that I could gush about this series with. It might not be the biggest fandom I'm involved in, but maybe that's what makes it the most special. I really felt like a true fan instead of one of those people that just jumps on the bandwagon because it is popular. I also recommend this series to anyone and everyone because I want them to experience the pure awesome that it is.

4. Hart of Dixie: I love this show so much. Got sucked into it one day while scrolling through Netflix and wasn't able to escape until I watched every season on there. Then I would go on twitter and tweet while the 4th season was playing on the CW. Sadly, it got canceled, but I love it so much. My friends and family can attest to how wrapped up I got in this show. And also just Wade, so cute.

If you would like to gush over this show with me, you can watch all 4 seasons on Netflix. It's a perfect sort of romantic comedy show that's just a lot of fun. It will make you want to move down south and find your own Bluebell, Alabama.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: These movies kickstarted my obsession with pirates. This was something that I could gush over with my friends and was just so much fun to watch. I'm excited for the 5th movie coming out eventually. Hopefully it can capture the magic of the other ones and they can bring back some characters that I love. Also Jack Sparrow, Captain Jack Sparrow.

2. The 100: Love Love The 100 so much!! And this fandom is really fun to be a part of. It really just has hit it's stride. It's one of those fandoms that is passionate about the show and who they want to end up together on it. Sure there is some conflict over who should end up with who. And some fandom members can get a little mean with the fighting. But it's so fun to live tweet during the show and just react to what's happening together. Also Bellamy Blake is everything <3 <3

Season 3 premieres January 21st at 9:00 eastern. Mark it on your calendars. It's been such a long, long wait. 

1. Harry Potter: This is the first fandom that I ever became a part of and it's the fandom that I'll be a part of forever. I grew up with Harry Potter. I became friends with kids who loved Harry Potter just as much as me. We went to the book releases, saw the movies together, gave each other Potter nicknames. Harry Potter will always hold a special place in my heart and was kind of a once in a lifetime sort of thing. It was so much fun discussing our theories as the books were coming out and just talking about books. Harry Potter will always be my number one.

So that's it for my Top 5 Favorite Fandoms this Wednesday. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday there is a new topic to consider and enjoy. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers here!

Updates, Explanations, and Other Stuff

You might have noticed that my blog has been a little barren of new posts over the past couple weeks. That was because I went to visit family for Christmas and just was too lazy to schedule any posts. Yes, I am that time of person. Very very lazy. But I am back from Christmas and holiday visiting and am hoping to get back into the swing of things. Doing better with my posts and all that stuff. Being able to schedule posts is one of the best things ever. I think if that option wasn't available to me, my blog would just be so so sad.
I'm also going to try and do better with my Top 5 Wednesday posts. Sometimes I just let those posts slip right past my mind. I enjoy doing them and just need to get better about posting them.
Also, I'm up for other ideas on what you'd like to see on my blog. I have other hobbies and don't know if you'd want to see that on the blog. Tell me your suggestions.
I also thought I'd mention some of my other obsessions and stuff I'm excited for in this post. First and foremost, The 100 is coming back for Season 3 on January 21!!!! Less than 20 days until I get to watch it again. For those that don't know, I'm obsessed with this show.

Also I have a very big OTP that comes from this show. People I ship so hard that it's sad. Bellarke!!

And also just Bellamy, he's so cute and probably my favorite.

So anyway, January 21 at 9:00 pm eastern time needs to be added to your calendar. If you've never heard of The 100 before and would like to watch the show from the beginning, Seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix and they are awesome. Please consider checking the show out because I need more people to gush over it with. And join me on the Bellarke side.

Because I'm one of those people that television and Netflix just takes over their lives, I've also been super obsessed with the show Person of Interest. I've developed a little bit of a crush on John Reese. 

This show is soooo good. I'm a little scared that it might get cancelled because Season 5 is only going to have 10 episodes and premiere later on in the season. I think I heard that it might come on in the summer, but I'm not sure. It would really suck if it got cancelled just after I have become so obsessed with it. Watch this one on Netflix too. Soooo good and the first 4 seasons are on Netflix.

So that's my updates and then pretty much just my ramblings about shows I'm obsessed with and fandoms. Please join me in gushing over all my favorite things.

Review: Illusive (Illusive #1) by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Title: Illusive (Illusive #1)

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Published by: Little, Brown And Company

Released: July 2014

Summary: The MK virus was one of the deadliest to hit the globe. It killed people all around the world and spread like wildfire. A race was on to find a cure, a vaccination against this deadly disease. When Praevenir hit the market, people lined up for the vaccination. It protected against the MK virus and that was all that mattered, who cares if it hadn't gone through all the FDA tests. Then the side effects hit. Side effects that the world had never seen before. A small, small percentage of the population developed immunities such as: levitation, mind reading, illusions, and other powers. Ciere is an immune and she was blessed or cursed with the gift of illusion. Her immunity makes her a hunted target. The government wants to use her and her gift to their advantage. Ciere instead turns to a life of crime with her mentor Kit. Then the day comes when they become embroiled in something far bigger than they bargained for.

My Thoughts: This was a good time. The whole concept was really cool and fun. I love anything and everything with super powers, and super powered criminals are even better. This was a fast-paced, fun adventure and I really enjoyed reading it. In a way, this kind of felt to me like a distant relative of one of my favorite books Vicious. I felt like I was getting to experience the lives of people with special abilities that Eli hadn't managed to kill yet. Yeah, I liked this and with that ending, I definitely want the sequel soon.

One thing that did drive me crazy at first was having no idea how to pronounce the main character's name. I hate that feeling of seeing this weird name that I have no hope of pronouncing right. It bothers me. Especially when it's a name that I can't figure out on my own. Ciere was that name for me. I actually googled it to figure out how to say it, and I'm so glad that I did. For anyone else with the same hangup as me, it's supposed to be pronounced like Sierra minus the a.

I really enjoyed our band of criminals. The running, evading, and plotting. I thought the world was pretty interesting to read about.

Super powers are always a win. And I really liked the development of the characters. It was interesting to see villains morph into people I didn't hate, some I even rooted for. I am interested to hear more about Daniel in the next book. I wish I could have seen him with Kit and Ciere before he got separated, just so I could gauge what their relationship was like. They might be criminals, but they were also a family.

Really enjoyable book. Fun premise with a really addictive, page-turning quality. Yes, this was good.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Super Powered Fun!