Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Early Movie Review: Now You See Me

Title: Now You See Me
Director: Louis Letterrier
Producer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bobby Cohen
Written by: Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: May 31, 2013
For more information about the movie visit the official site here
My Thoughts:

     My first thoughts about Now You See Me were:  What?  How?  Where the heck did that come from?  Oh, ok, I did not see that coming.  After the end of Now You See Me, I was left reeling from it, and feeling like the movie was one giant illusion meant to trick the audience into believing they’re seeing something they’re not—well, at the very least, that’s how I felt.  It really made me think about the plot as it progressed as new details emerged.  Now You See Me is the kind of movie I’d eventually buy when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray, just to see if there were any small details I missed the first time I’d seen it.

      The plot follows “The Four Horsemen,” a team of talented illusionist, who go up against an elite team of FBI agents, in a series of thrilling heists.  Jack Wilder, Henley Reeves, Merritt McKinney, and J. Daniel Atlas start off as separate performers, unable to work with one another.  Through a course of mysterious events, the four end up working as a team.  The Horsemen were really the world’s greatest illusionist in this movie, as time after time, they always managed to stay one step ahead of the agents who were closing in on them. 

     Now You See Me was truly different from the other movies coming out this year.  I mean, come on.  How many times are you going to get a movie about illusionist pulling off heists?  I was so sure it was someone else, but it wasn’t.  I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot, but the secrets, oh the secrets will leave you questioning what you saw throughout the movie.  The greatest trick of Now You See Me was the movie itself, and the hidden details within it.  The only issue I really had with the movie was that there was some inappropriate suggestive content at seemingly random parts of the movie, and instances of crude humor that could have just been left out.  Otherwise, it was a pretty good movie.


 
Thank you to Summit Entertainment for the advanced screening tickets!  Another thank you to Z90.3 for the awesome Now You See Me hat!

 

Check out the trailer below:


Saturday, May 25, 2013

Review: Double Vision by F. T. Bradley


Double Vision
Title: Double Vision
(Click on the title link for synopsis)
Author:  F.T. Bradley
Publisher/Publication Date: 
HarperCollins Children's, October 16, 2012
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library,
Hardback
Double Vision, Double agent, Double Fun and Excitement! That explains the debut novel Double Vision by F. T. Bradley in a nutshell. The cover appeared exciting enough and the synopsis drew me in, but I approached this book with reservations since I was unfamiliar with Bradley’s work.  Now, I suggest removing the caution tape and approaching the book full speed ahead. You will not be disappointed because this middle-grade spy novel provides non-stop action and adventure.

Lincoln (Linc) Baker is a mischievous twelve-year-old prone to causing trouble, and one wrong decision lands him and his family in a world of trouble.  With a lawsuit pending against his family, and not enough funds to cover it, Linc decides to take up an offer from a shadowy government agency called Pandora. F.T. Bradley did a phenomenal job on Double Vision as she transformed a mischievous kid who used the context of the world for knowledge into a not so skilled but effective spy.  Linc’s mission was to find the “evil Mona Lisa.”  It leads Linc on a whirlwind adventure in Paris, full of action, humor, cool gadgets, spies, betrayals, and a plot that had me guessing till the end.  Along the way Linc made a few interesting friends such as a cab driver with crazy driving skills that had me nervous for Linc, and then a girl from a bakery, a strong female character, who has mad-skills with a stick.  What’s not to like about that?
I would definitely recommend Double Vision by F.T. Bradley.  Ok, ok, ok, let’s just say that it was the perfect spy themed novel that needs to be adapted into a movie!  End of discussion.                                    – Review  written by Andrea M.  & Breana M.


 Browse Inside


 
Watch as F. T. Bradley Discusses Double Vision

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cover Reveal: Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1) by Jus Accardo

     As always, thanks to Entangled Publishing for letting us do yet another cover reveal for them!  I have to say, the cover is unique, and I like the pop of colors in the background.  So without further ado, scroll down to see the cover of Darker Days by Jus Accardo. I hope you enjoy the cover and excerpt!
 
 
 
What? You thought it was going to be that easy? Keep scrolling!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Don't worry, you're getting warmer, because you're almost there... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The cover 
 
Title: Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1)
Author: Jus Accardo
Publisher/Expected Publication Date:  Entangled Teen, August 2013
 
Synopsis

     Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

     When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

     Seven deadly ones, in fact.

     They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...
     There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything. 


Excerpt

     “So not your biggest fan at the moment,” I said, closing the office door behind me. The runofffrom my jeans had soaked my sneakers pretty good. With each step, I gave a slight squishing noise accompanied by an annoying squeak against the old tile floor.

      From across the room, Mom stared. “What happened to you?”

      “It attacked me.” Tossing my bag on the couch, I sank into her chair and made sure to grind my butt into the cushion. Got it nice and wet. I was all about sharing the love—and right now, the love was soggy.

     She laughed, waving a folder in my direction. “Surely you’re overreacting. It was one little zombie. They don’t attack people.”

     “I’m serious, Ma. It tried to drown me. And the client assaulted me with ugly footwear. As far as punishments go, I’d say we’re probably square. I’ve learned my lesson.”

     “You’re serious?” Amused expression now replaced by concern, she crossed the room and leaned over her desk to get a better look at me.

      “As a coronary.” Once I was sure the chair had sponged up all it could, I stood and huffed past her. Pulling at my favorite T-shirt—the word Fate inside a blood red heart, is a four letter word on the back—I said, “Child welfare would not be happy to hear you tried to feed your only child to a walking corpse…”

     “But why would it attack? Did you provoke it?” Folding her arms, she frowned. “Insult it, perhaps?”

      I winked at her. “Provoke it? Sure. I went and wiggled my ass in front of it yelling lunch just to see what’d happen.” I’d called it Stinky, but that didn’t count as an insult. Something couldn’t be considered an insult if it was true, right?

     Right eyebrow twitching, she fought against a smile. “But you’re okay, right? No bites, broken bones, head injuries, possessions…?”

     I smiled and did a little twirl. “All in one piece and still me.”

     Mom had a checklist she went through at the end of each job. I was known for taking almost as much damage as I inflicted.

     “Oh, and you’re probably going to get a call from the client. I sorta smashed her fence in the process.”

      Mom groaned. “I told you to be more careful.”

     “It’s not like I tried to break anything.”

     “Something tells me you didn’t try hard enough not to break anything, either.”

     “In my defense, it wasn’t a simple trap and slap…”

     “We can’t afford this.” She reached down and pulled a white envelope out from under a stack of papers. “This is the bill for that Mercedes you smashed.”

     “Oh! So not my fault. How was I supposed to know that Spring Heel was gonna land on the car? If it makes you feel any better, I think he was aiming for my head…”

     “If you keep this up, we won’t even be able to afford the rent.”

     She was right, of course, and it made me feel horrible. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m a wrecking ball wrapped in blue jeans. Take my cut of this job and put it toward the repairs. Keep my paycheck for the next month, too.” A good start, but it didn’t feel like enough. Sure, it would cover the damages—I hoped—but I felt guilty about upsetting her. The bills that were piling up kept her awake at night. This was only going to make things worse. We got a fair amount of business, but the overhead in our line of work was sky high.

     As much as I hated the idea, I knew what would cheer her up. “I’ll even throw in pet possessions for the next month.”

 
 Find Darker Days
 
About Jus AccAardo
 
 
JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

 
Find Jus Accardo



Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Cover Reveal & Excerpt: The Rising King by Shea Berkley

    First off, thank you to Entangled for letting us reveal the cover of The Rising King by Shea Berkly!  There's also an excerpt, so make sure you go through the entire post.  So you know the drill, scroll down for the cover!



 
 

 
Synopsis

     The summer before Dylan Kennedy’s senior year in high school is turning out to be anything but boring. Ridiculously hot girlfriend? Check. Killing evil Dark Souls who suddenly have aspirations of taking over the magical realm of Teag because its protective spell is gone? Check.

     Not even Teag’s King, Dylan’s father, Baun, can stop them. People are dying, and a dark magic that his girlfriend, Kera, received from Baun is growing stronger. Dylan wants to believe Kera is suppressing the darkness that’s in her, but every day he sees that control slip just a little more.

      Baun sends Dylan to find a powerful magic that stop the Dark Souls, a magic so strong that Baun hid it so no one else could use it. When Dylan doesn’t expect to find along with it, are consequences that could end the lives of those closest to him.
 

And now for the except:

     I ease my hand into Kera’s and lace our fingers together, bringing her deep violet eyes onto me. They sweep over my face, and the edges of her full lips curve upward as if she’s fighting a smile. She sets aside the book and leans close bringing the scent of summer with her. “You scared me to death.”

    I love it when she worries about me. When it comes to my life, someone caring enough to worry is sort of a new thing. “You do that all the time to me.” I tug her hand and bring her closer so I can snag a quick kiss.

     Kera pushes away, but I don’t let go. The look she throws me is serious. “I’m not kidding, Dylan. You have to be more wary, especially when it comes to creatures like the millispits.”

     “I didn’t die.” It’s a reminder that’s kind of obvious.

     “Because I saved you.”

     “What’s that make? Two for me and one for you?”

     She leans back, testing the limits of our reach. “Are you keeping score?”

     “No…” I hate getting caught like that, and slowly pull her back toward me, “…it just sounds like I am, but I’m not.”

     I pull her right off her chair and onto the bed and on top of me. I bury my face in her hair and breathe deeply. No one smells as good as Kera. “Was anyone else hurt?” I ask even as I place little kisses along her jaw.

     She stretches her neck back for me. “Leo received a splinter.”

     “Ummm,” I say, enjoying the feel of her skin against my lips. “Will he live?”

     “To see Lucinda hover over him after we got back, you would not think so. She very clearly said we were not allowed to take him anywhere without her.”

     I twist and flip her onto her back until I’m hovering over her. As seriously as I can, I say, “Lucinda’s crazy. You know that, right?”

      “I am aware of a few odd peculiarities that make up her personality.” She brushes my hair back and twirls a piece over my ear. “With that said, she does seem to honestly care for Leo.”

      “Like an owner does a pet. But for how long?” I ask, more to myself than to her.

      “As long as it pleases her to do so, I imagine.”

      I’m not in the mood to dwell on Lucinda and what her agenda might be. All I want is to hold Kera. I nibble just below her ear and she giggles. I love the sound of her laughter. I stop and place my forehead to hers. “And how long will you care for me?”

      “My heart would be crushed if I were to never see you again. I would die a thousand deaths every day.”

      Are those actual tears in her eyes? “My heart is crushed every time I see you and I can’t kiss you.” I’ve never said a sappier statement, or a truer one.

      She places a sweet kiss on my lips. “That rarely happens.”

      I kiss her back, and say against her lips, “Because you crave my kisses.”

      She laughs and pushes free. Rolling to her feet, she says with a smile, “Because I like to kiss.”

     “Me,” I say, popping up on my elbows. “You like to kiss me.”

     Her smile widens.

      I snatch her hand. She’s adopted wearing a wide, tight leather bracelet on her right wrist. It’s etched and embossed with a swirling pattern that is so Kera, I can’t remember when she didn’t wear it. We do a quick, playful game of tug of war before I yank her back. “Tell me you love me.”

     She winds her arms around my neck and smothers my face with tiny kisses. “I love you madly.”

 
Find Shea Berkley
 
The Marked Son (Keepers of Life #1) 

Goodreads Amazon Barnes and Noble The Book Depository
The Fallen Prince (Keepers of Life #2) 

Goodreads Amazon Barnes and Noble The Book Depository
 

Early Movie Review: Fast and Furious 6

0

Title: Fast and Furious 6
Director: Justin Lin
Producer: Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Clayton Townsend
Written by: Chris Morgan
Release Date: May 24, 2013
For more information about the movie, visit the official site here.
My Thoughts:
 
    Wow, oh holy action-packed, tank stealing, crap!  Fast and the Furious fans rejoice!  We’ve got another fast-paced installment into the series.  Out of all of the movies in the Fast and the Furious series I have to admit that I liked this one the most.  It had me gasping in shock the entire time, as secrets were uncovered, lies were undone, and the truth finally came to light.  The characters were as awesome as always, and I felt like the plot was more apparent than in the other films.  I was not disappointed by the way it turned out.  If you think that’s all, then you’ve got another thing coming.  Fast and Furious 6 was as funny as it was action-packed, with hilarious moments sneaking up out of nowhere.  In fact, Fast and Furious 6 is one movie that I’d like to go see again. 

     The old Crew from the previous movies—Dominic Toretto, Brian O’Conner, Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, Han Seoul-Oh, and Gisele Yashar—are back at it again.  Having seemingly moved on with their lives, and given up their old lifestyles for a quieter existence, I was looking forward to seeing what jumpstarted the conflict.  After being contacted by a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent, they once again lapse back into their old ways.    This time, the task presented from the beginning of the movie, is one that hits-home pretty hard.  Letty Ortiz, a former member of their Crew, who was thought to be dead, is seemingly working with the antagonists of the film. 

     When I first saw the trailer, I was like how the heck is she still alive?  Let me tell you, the truth behind the whole thing will leave you breathless.  Tough decisions were made, as the Crew goes up against one of their toughest adversaries ever.  Owen Shaw was just nuts, the guy was too smart for his own good, but it made seeing the movie all that much better.  As always there were the cars—although I miss the Nissan Skyline—the street races, the cool stunts, and the heartfelt mission at the core of the movie.  I really felt like Fast and Furious 6 bridged the gap between the other movies in the series, as well as answering many questions that I had after then end of Tokyo Drift.  It shouldn’t be hard to guess that I cannot wait till number 7 comes out.  Although, I don’t recommend sitting in the nose-bleed section of the movie theater.  You need a higher-up seat to fully enjoy the movie.

"I second this review!"—Andrea M.



Thank you to Universal Pictures for the Advanced Screening Passes!

Check out the trailer for Fast and Furious 6 below:



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Early Movie Review: Epic

Title: Epic
Director: Chris Wedge
Producer: Lori Forte, Jerry Davis
Writers: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember
Release Date: May 24, 2013
For more information about the movie, visit the official site here.
My Thoughts:

     Epic was a cute, family friendly movie, with a few good points to it. Going into it, I knew that it wasn’t really my kind of movie, but I do have to admit that I liked it better than I thought I would. Epic, to be honest was more of a middle-grade level movie, with hints of action, and a dash of romance. Although the pacing was a little slow, and I found myself wishing that some of the void had been filled with something else besides talking. As for the plot itself, it was interesting enough. Epic presented the idea of there being a world alongside ours, hidden in plain sight, but so tiny that it wasn’t very noticeable, as well as the prospect of this world moving faster than ours. Basically, this other world was one that protected the forest from destruction. While not the most original scenario ever, there was the twist with the Leafmen, who are the warriors who fight to protect the forest. It was more of a movie about the balance between good and evil, as one side strives to destroy the other and seize complete control. The fights were interesting enough, but I would have liked a little more background information. The characters were ok, especially Mary Katherine, or as she likes to be called, M.K.. She is a teenage struggling to live with her father after the untimely death of her mother. It leads to her being swept up amidst the struggle between good and evil. Professor Bomba, M.K.’s father, was silly at best, but I liked how much he grew during the movie. There were a few light and humorous moments thrown into the mix, and the ending was satisfying enough. If you're looking for a lighthearted, animated film, then Epic would be the movie for you.




I was invited as a guest to an Advanced Screening of Epic.

Check out the trailer below:



Monday, May 20, 2013

Review: Star Trek Into Darkness Directed by J.J. Abrams




Title:  Star Trek Into Darkness
Director:  J.J. Abrams
Written by: Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, and Damon Lindelof
Based on Star Trek created by Gene Rodenberry
Rated PG-13
Release Date:  May 17, 2013
For More Information visit the Official Site

I received advance screening tickets for Star Trek Into Darkness from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Thank You. Let me start by saying that I’m not attempting to summarize the movie, because there would be simply too many spoilers. These are merely my thoughts about Star Trek Into Darkness directed by JJ Abrams.

A heart-wrenching sacrifice was used in an attack against the Federation. The catastrophic event was arranged by none other than Harrison AKA Kahn. There was corruption within the organization. Consequently, the USS Enterprise was tasked with stopping Khan and averting a full-fledged war.
My first thoughts were that the cast of characters presented didn’t measure up to the original cast that I grew to love. Yeah, the same characters were there but something was just different. It was a modern day twist to a classic movie, which is sure to demand the attention of a new generation of movie goers/Trekkie fans. The action at the beginning of the movie was attention grabbing as Spock's life was in jeopardy and Captain James Kirk makes a rash decision regarding whether he should adhere to protocol or take actions based on the needs/safety of just one man. I just couldn’t picture anyone but the original actor, Leonard Nemoy, playing Spock. Then it happened--the plot started rolling, Spock was in danger, the USS Enterprise was revealed to the indigenous people,  corruption was among them, friendships were strengthened, and Kirk begins to adapt to his role as Captain. That’s when I realized that the movie had the perfect ingredients for success. Chris Pine (Captain Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) were exceptional in their roles. Bones and Scotty added a nice touch of humor to the plot. And I must say that Dr. Leonard McCoy AKA “Bones” was my absolute favorite character, because he was the crews dedicated doctor that would go to the extreme to complete a crew member’s examination.
Overall, Star Trek was more than the story of the USS Enterprise’s mission to protect the Federation and search for new civilizations. It portrays the crew as they learn to work together under the command of Captain Kirk. The growth of the crew was evident, as we are provided with details pertaining to their strengths and weaknesses. We learn why Spock appears to be emotionless and witness Captain Kirk’s development into a true leader.  In short, albeit, the modern day Star Trek had a different feel than the original version, it’s a new era for Star Trek fans, and it’s a movie that’s sure to be loved for generations to come.


 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Review: Torn by Erica O'Rourke

Torn (Torn Trilogy, #1)Title: Torn (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/ Format: Won, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington, June 28, 2011




My Thoughts:

    I have to admit that I’ve put off reading Torn for a long time, but recently I moved it up on my list of things to read.  Although short, Torn presented me with a mystery that sucked me in—it had me wanting to know more about the characters.  O’Rourke did a fantastic job on the plot.

    From the first pages, the mystery became apparent with the murder of Mo’s best friend, an attack that almost left her dead as well.  It was heartbreaking seeing her struggle to regain her life, only to have it derailed again.  At some points I just felt so bad for her, not only was she still dealing with her friend’s death, she also learned some facts about herself and her family.  Then there was Luc.  From the beginning his motives were unclear to me, and I was left with a lot of questions.  Verity seemed like a good friend, but you can never tell things just from the exterior, after all, she did have her own set of secrets.

    With Torn, you never knew who was who until it was finally revealed.  The way it was written I honestly thought things were going to be predictable, but I was wrong about that.  There were some things I had an issue with, like the ages of both love interests, which kind of bugged me throughout the book, but the plot and writing style is what kept it going for me.  The ending left a lot of things open and I do want to see where the sequel takes things. I'm giving this book a 3.5.
 

  

Friday, May 10, 2013

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)Title:The Immortal Rules (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Borrowed from library, Hardcover
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin Teen, April 24, 2012




My Thoughts:

     Ok, first off: Dystopian + Vampires= how can you go wrong with that?  Well, so many ways, but that’s not what happened here.  Wow, I have to say that I loved The Immortal Rules, and honestly it’s one of the better dystopian books I’ve read this year.  Kagawa has done it again.  She’s crafted another fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat, full of action novel with an extraordinarily twisted plot and finely honed characters.  Needless to say, I will be moving The Eternity Cure up on my list of things to read.

     The Immortal Rules follows Allison (Allie) Sekemoto, an unregistered, who is just trying to survive in a cruel world dominated by vampires.  She lives in a place called the Fringe with other unregistered's.  Soon, trouble plagues Allie, and she ends up making a decision that changes the course of her life.  As a vampire, she struggles with controlling herself, while clinging to the shreds of her old life.  She has Kanin, the vampire that turned her, to help her, but even then, nothing was stable, and soon she’s forced to leave the city she’s known since birth. I loved seeing Allie develop as a character, as she fit into her new role, as well as trying to do the right thing despite her new nature.

     As I said before, the plot had me on the edge-of-my-seat wondering what happened next.  There were some really intense fighting scenes that had me wondering if Allison was going to pull through.  From the way The Immortal Rules ended, I honestly have no clue what’s going to happen in The Eternity Cure, but I can’t wait to find out.   


 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Review: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

The Summer I Became a Nerd
Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Leah Rae Miller
Source/Format: Publisher, ebook
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Publishing, May 7, 2013



Favorite Quote:
“Be true to yourself and others will be true to you, too” (17).
My Thoughts:
I absolutely love, love, love The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller. It’s the perfect book to start summer and for teens dealing with identity issues.  It’s a refreshing coming of age story in which Maddie, the main character, embraces her true self. The characters and plot are realistic and well-developed. First there’s Maddie, a cheerleader who wants to fit into the status quo; yet, she’s an undercover comic book lover. And the chemistry of her and her boyfriend, Eric, are questionable at best.  Then there is Logan, a nerd who has the same interests as Maddie.  But she has to keep her interests and friendship with Logan a secret to maintain her position within the in crowd. Throughout the book Maddie continued to deal with her inner conflict, even though at times she seemed to be increasingly comfortable with whom she was. Then there is Dan-the-man, Logan’s friend, he definitely needs his own story. His antics had me laughing out loud. He is so blunt and straightforward, it’s hilarious. The one theme that resonates throughout the book is that you shouldn’t try to fit into the role that everyone has created for you, you should just be yourself. I only wonder if “The Summer I Became Myself” would be a more suitable title.

I received a copy of The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you.
 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Review: Gravity by Melissa West

Gravity (The Taking, #1) Title: Gravity (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, December 18, 2012



My Thoughts:

     Gravity put an interesting twist on the dystopian genre by integrating Aliens into the mix.  I liked that it wasn’t all about some great love story, and that it had an actual storyline to it.  However, I felt that some parts lacked a little detail, but that didn’t take away from the overall greatness of the plot.  I liked the general concept of Gravity, and the ending left me wanting to know what happens next.

     Ari Alexander is supposed to be the next Commander.  She’s trained for it all her life, and her father expects her to do it.  And then Jackson Locke steps into the picture—he tests Ari’s loyalty, and makes her feel things she wasn’t trained for.  He really throws a monkey-wrench into Ari’s normal routines.  I really liked seeing them interact with each other.  I did not like how Ari’s father made almost every important decision for her like who she had to get married to.  I just felt like he wasn’t really listening to what she had to say to him.  Gravity was pretty good, and I liked the story and can’t wait to see where it goes next, but I wish that it hadn’t been so short. 
 
 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

This Is What Happy Looks LikeTitle:This Is What Happy Looks Like (Click on title for synopsis)
Source/ Formtat: borrowed from the library, Hardback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/ Publication Date: Poppy, April 2, 2013




My thoughts:

    Considering that I’ve never read anything by Jennifer E. Smith before, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book.  This Is What Happy Looks Like had all the components to it that I look for in a contemporary YA novel.  The romance was sweet, with the characters connecting on an emotional level, the plot was well thought-out, and the writing style was excellent.  To say that I liked this book would be an understatement, I absolutely loved it!  It’s one book that I’d like to add to my personal library.

     This is what Happy Looks Like is told from dual POV’s, Ellie O’Neill a normal girl trying to get her life in order, and Graham Larkin, a movie star.  I liked that prior to the start of the story, they already knew about each other.  So when they met in person for the first time, I felt like it was an important part of the story.  Ellie’s reaction to Graham was understandable, she had things to hide.  I was unsure of what she was hiding at the beginning, but then I found out what it was, and I felt so bad for her, having to live with what she knew.  Graham was also dealing with his own set of problems from his parents, to his career, and what being in the limelight was doing to him as a person.  As things unfolded, I felt like Ellie helped Graham, and in turn he helped her overcome some of her fears.  The relationship between Ellie and her mom was believable, and I understood where her mother was coming from.  She was only trying to look out for Ellie, and thought what she was doing was what was best. 

     I really liked the whole concept of this book, from the way Ellie and Graham first met, to the ending, which wrapped things up nicely.  In the end, I really enjoyed This Is What Happy Looks Like.  It was refreshing to read a contemporary novel like this one, and in a few short hours I’d read the entire thing. 
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