Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

Everything Leads to You
By Nina LaCour
Pub Date: May 15th, 2014
Source: Publisher

A love letter to the craft and romance of film and fate in front of—and behind—the camera from the award-winning author of Hold Still.

A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world.

Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.

I really enjoyed this book. This was my first book by Nina LaCour and I loved her style and the tone overall. The only problem I had was I felt like it was just a touch slow in the middle, but it picked up and I really enjoyed it!

I loved the plot surrounding film-making and of course the mystery they encountered. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book, especially the mysterious Ava. These characters were flawed, yet seemed so real to me and I love reading about characters like that.

I appreciated that the main character was open about her sexual orientation and instead of this being a coming out story, Nina LaCour just made it a part of who Emi was. I've read stories where the secondary characters were gay, but not the main character so this was a first for me. I loved that our main character wasn't struggling with how she felt, but accepted it. I'll admit I was frustrated with Emi in the beginning because of her poor relationship choices (just learn how to walk away girl! she doesn't love you!) but I grew to love her.

Honestly, while reading this book, it almost felt like I was becoming friends with Ava, Charlotte, Emi, and Jamal. You see them for who they are, their flaws included, but despite it all you grow to love them all the same. I finished this book feeling happy and it gave me closure (which we all know I love.)

I like that this book encourages you to not wait, but to act. You never know how much time you'll have.

In the Afterlight COVER REVEAL!

 

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

Series: The Darkest Minds #3 |  Expected Publication Date: October 28th, 2014

Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers--someone so dangerous that Ruby alone has any power over him.

The other books (and ebook) in the trilogy:

    

What do you guys think of the new cover?!

The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer

The Secret Hum of a Daisy
by Tracy Holczer
Pub Date: May 1st, 2014
Source: Publisher

Twelve-year-old Grace and her mother have always been their own family, traveling from place to place like gypsies. But Grace wants to finally have a home all their own. Just when she thinks she's found it her mother says it's time to move again. Grace summons the courage to tell her mother how she really feels and will always regret that her last words to her were angry ones.

After her mother's sudden death, Grace is forced to live with a grandmother she's never met. She can't imagine her mother would want her to stay with this stranger.

Then Grace finds clues in a mysterious treasure hunt, just like the ones her mother used to send her on. Maybe it is her mother, showing her the way to her true home.

Lyrical, poignant and fresh, The Secret Hum of a Daisy is a beautifully told middle grade tale with a great deal of heart. - Goodreads

This book was so endearing. This is labeled as a middle grade novel probably because the main character is twelve, but she definitely didn't act that young. I couldn't imagine being only twelve and being an orphan (since her dad died before she was born.) Then, she was ripped from her current home and into the home of a grandma that she had never met. This was the same grandma that had forced her own mother out of the door when she was seventeen and pregnant. I'm sure I would have reacted very similarly to twelve year old Grace.

I really enjoyed the parts that involved Beauty and Daisy, and Joe and Max. I also really liked learning more about Grace's grandma and I loved seeing Grace's opinion of her change. This book was full of very interesting characters.

 I really enjoyed reading about Grace and her love of writing and art. I felt myself reaching out to her and hoping that she would find the home she deserved. I found the writing beautiful and this book definitely brought a few tears to my eyes. I really enjoyed the ending and felt a lot of closure (which I always love.)

I definitely recommend this touching book!

Top Ten Friendships in Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish Blog

      

Top Ten Friendships in Books

 I had a lot of fun deciding my favorites! Usually I have a hard time making these lists, but not today! Books with amazing friendships are my favorite to read!

 

1. The Harry Potter Series- Harry, Hermione, and Ron 

 “There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.”

“We'll be there, Harry," said Ron
"What?"
"At your Aunt and Uncle's house," said Ron, "And then we'll go with you wherever you're going."
"No-" said Harry quickly; he hadn't counted on this, he had meant them to understand that he was undertaking the most dangerous journey alone.
"You said it once before," said Hermione quickly, "that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we? We're with you whatever happens.” 

 

 

 2. The Lord of the Rings - Frodo and Sam

 “I made a promise, Mr. Frodo. A promise. Don’t you leave him, Samwise Gamgee. And I don’t mean to. I don’t mean to.” - Sam

"Come, Mr. Frodo!' he cried. 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" -Sam

“I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.”

3. The Infernal Devices Trilogy - Will and Jem

“Jem knotted his fingers in the material of Will's sleeve. "You are my parabatai," he said, "You said once I could ask anything of you.” 

“Jem touched the parabatai rune on his shoulder, through the thin material of his nightshirt. "I am not alone," he said. "Wherever we are, we are as one.” 

4. Vampire Academy - Rose and Lissa

“Lissa and I had been friends ever since kindergarten, when our teacher had paired us up together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell Vasilisa Dragomir and Rosemarie Hathaway was beyond cruel, and we’d—or rather, I’d—responded appropriately. I’d chucked my book at out teacher and called her a fascist bastard. I hadn’t known what those words meant, but I’d known how to hit a moving target.
Lissa and I had been inseparable ever since.”

5. - The Lightning Thief - Percy & Annabeth

 "What if it lines up like it did in the Trojan War ... Athena versus Poseidon?" - Percy
 "I don't know. But I just know that I'll be fighting next to you." -Annabeth

 "Why?" - Percy

 "Because you're my friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions? - Annabeth

6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Sam, Charlie, and Patrick

“We didn't talk about anything heavy or light. We were just there together. And that was enough”  

“It's just hard to see a friend hurt this much. Especially when you can't do anything except 'be there.' I just want to make him stop hurting, but I can't. So I just follow him around whenever he wants to show me his world.” 

“Sam and Patrick looked at me. And I looked at them. And I think they knew. Not anything specific really. They just knew. And I think that's all you can ever ask from a friend.” 

 

7. Throne of Glass - Nehemia and Celaena

“And, for what it’s worth, I’d pick you over a thousand ordinary and extraordinary friends. I think even if we just met on the street, even if I just saw you in passing, I’d know what you are.”

Celaena cocked her head to the side. “An assassin?”

Nehemia’s dark eyes were bright as she shook her head. “The sister of my heart.”

 

 

8. The Harry Potter Series - The Marauders (James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter) 

(Well may -Peter...)

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers
Are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP"

"You should have died! Died rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you!" - Sirius Black

9. Fangirl - Cath and Regan

“I feel sorry for you, and I'm going to be your friend."
"I don't want to be your friend," Cath said as sternly as she could. "I like that we're not friends."
"Me, too. I'm sorry you ruined it by being so pathetic.”

"And you’re not my only friend."
"I know—" Reagan rolled her eyes and waved a hand in the air, "—you’ve got the whole internet"

 

 10. The Darkest Minds - Ruby, Liam, Chubs, and Zu

“I'm a monster, you know. I'm one of the dangerous ones."

"No you aren't," he promised. "You're one of us.” 

“Yes, you are,” Chubs agreed. “But you’re our idiot, so be more careful next time.”
“Cosigned,” Liam said, hooking his fingers over mine on top of the armrest. 

What are some of your favorite friendships in books? Let me know in the comments!

Recommend A Book With a Character Who Plays a Sport

Be sure to check out future prompts here as well as more info on this feature.

The prompt:

Recommend A Book With a Character Who Plays a Sport

Being Sloane Jacobs

By: Lauren Morrill
Pub Date: January 2014

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved reading about these two characters, Sloane Emily and Sloane Devon. Sloane Emily is a figure-skater, and for those of you that don't think it's a sport, think again. Sloane Devon plays hockey and I really enjoyed reading her chapters! Both sports require so much and are emotionally and physically draining. For my full review of this book, click here.

The Blood of Olympus COVER REVEAL!

What do you all think of the cover of the 5th and final installment of the Heroes of Olympus series?! Although it's not my favorite of the series, I still like it!

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the "Argo II" have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea.

Her giants have risen-all of them, and they're stronger than ever.
They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens.

She needs their blood-the blood of Olympus-in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood.
The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the "Argo II" will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless.

How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already.
And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

Bout of Books Day 2 Update!

 The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Hey guys! I thought I would update you on my SECOND day of the read-a-thon! I had some finals today, but I did manage to read a little!

I continued reading The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. I only read 11 pages today, which brings me to page 86.

I also picked up some comics today! (I'm counting these for the read-a-thon because I DID have to read them and last year I counted Manga so I'm counting these!)

The first one I read was The Spectacular Spider-Man Vo1. 1 The Hunger by Paul Jenkins, Humberto Ramos, Wayne Faucher which was 25 pages. 5/5 stars

Next I read X-Men First Class Vol. 1 (but on Goodreads it says Vol. 2?) by Jeff Parker (Text), Roger Cruz (Illustrator), Colleen Coover (Illustrator) which was 22 pages. 5/5 stars



Pages read today: 58

Total pages read: 285

Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't

       

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish Blog

Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't

This list is going to vary a lot today. Some of these books I almost put down because they may have started out slowly, but I am so glad that I continued because I ultimately really enjoyed them. Others, however, I should have put down, but I made myself finish (and ended up wasting my time because they weren't very good).

  

  1. Half Bad by Sally Green - [My review] This was one of those books that I had been looking forward to reading, but was let down. I ended up giving this book ultimately 3/5 stars. It was a pretty slow read for me and I thought about putting it down a few times. As I said in my review, I felt that there wasn't much character depth and there were a lot of things left unexplained. It was just an okay read in the end.

2. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - [My review] I really enjoyed this book overall! Unfortunately, the first half of the book was pretty slow and depressing at times (which is why it's on this list). However, keep reading! This book gets so, so good and the second half of the book is the best! I learned so much from this story about what it really means to be a "human" and ended up giving this book a 5/5 rating!

 

3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - [My Review] This book was one of the strangest books I've ever read and I thought about putting it down a few times. It was kind of confusing at times and I honestly wonder if the author was on drugs during some of this... I really love the movies though! (3/5 stars)

4. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare - Have you ever read a book and you became so enraged and annoyed with the main character/s that you just wanted to stop reading it? 

I'm not saying that you were going to throw the book out of your window, but you were definitely just wanting a break from it? That's how this book was for me. Luckily the next book wasn't as annoying for me. (3/5 stars)

  

5. Choker by Elizabeth Woods - [My Review] This book. It was honestly the worst book I've read in a long time, and definitely the worst of 2013. You can read my review for more information on why, but overall I just really disliked it. Every other page I thought about putting this book down, but made myself keep reading. What a mistake. This was a waste of time. (1/5 stars)

 6. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - [My Review] Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I just put this on here because the first 100 pages were so slow, that at one point I had considered putting it down and reading something else. It wasn't so bad that I thought that I never wanted to pick it up again, it was just one of those times where my TBR list was massive and overwhelming (when isn't it?) and I just thought, hey, maybe I'll put this down for a week or so. But I didn't. And I'm so happy about that decision. After the first 100 pages this book really picked up and it became this super cute romance book! I really enjoyed it! (4/5 stars)

 

7. The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks - This is the only Nicholas Sparks book that I hate. I've read almost all of them, but this book was so, so different than all of the others. The first half of this book was totally normal and then the second half just dove off a cliff. It was terrible. Just terrible. I wanted to stop at so many points, but forced myself to continue. This cute romance turned into this odd stalker- freaky thing and I hated it. Nicholas Sparks should just stick with what he's good at, writing love stories. (1/5 stars)

8. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia- [My Review] This book dragged on for me. I feel like I just forced myself to continue on with it. As I said in my review, this book could have easily been about half of the amount of pages... I have the rest of the series so I will probably just force myself to continue on..(or get rid of them). Overall I gave this book 3/5 stars.

 

9. The Elite by Kiera Cass - Similar to City of Fallen Angels, I got so tired of these charactes that I almost put this book down for a few days. The main character, America, was such a strong lead character in the first book that I admired her most of the time. In this book, however, she seemed to forget how to make decisions and got super whinny. I persevered however, and ended up rating it 4/5 stars.

10. Everlasting by Elizabeth Chandler - I really enjoyed reading books 1-3 of the Kissed by An Angel series and I thought the 4th was okay. This book however, pretty much stunk. My favorite character got possessed by some creepy demon spirit and started like tearing apart the main character, Ivy's, life. I somehow managed to finish this book, but I never continued on with the rest of the series. The author definitely should of stopped after the first three books. (3/5 stars)

Did any of you almost put down any of these books too? Let me know in the comments!