Review: Mind Games

Title Mind Games (Mind Games 1)
By Kiersten White
Genre YA supernatural/paranormal
Pages 237
Recommended by Susan 

First sentence
My dress is black and itchy and I hate it.



Synopsis
Some woman are born with mind powers. In the school there's Readers, Feelers and Seers. Anna is a Seer and her sister Fia...she's unique. The school was meant to help people but it's become a prison. Both sisters are trapped,being used, but things are about to change.



What is has going for it
What a ride! I have to say, this one surprised me. I ended up loving it! I'm a sucker for Femme Fatale stories. There's just something about a girl who kicks ass and who's unique that gets me. I'm also a sucker for plot driven books and this one has an interesting plot. It jumps back and forth from the past to the present so you can see how everything in the now came to be. This one also also has great characters. I actually liked Fia's inner turmoil and thoughts. I felt for her. I liked her. I can't wait to see her kick more ass! Anna wasn't quite as interesting to me but by the end I appreciated her.  I'm dying to get to know Adam better. I think Eden might have a bigger role in the next books and it worries me. James...Oh, James. I can't decide what to think of you. I feel for you but I just think two damaged people cannot make a whole. Sigh! The relationship between Fia and Anna makes this book. They're each others greatest strength and each others greatest weakness. It makes for a heart wrenching dynamic. With twists and turns and jaw dropping shocks this one had it all. I can't wait for the next one!

What's lacking
It was slightly confusing for a bit but it all came together. I know that most people complained about the jumping around and Fia's crazy thoughts but I didn't find it overly confusing. I've also heard people say it sort of feels like it's missing some story. I liked that it jumped right in and leaves you wanting more. It is pretty violent too, that doesn't bother me but it might bug others.

Favorite moment
Honestly the moment where Fia...um, you know does the bad thing involving Clarice. Sorry, but it shocked me so much and then I cheered.

Yea or Nay?
I'd say yes but I know this kind isn't for everyone.

Review: Into You

Title Into You
By Riley J. Ford
Genre YA mystery supernatural/paranormal
Pages 253
Recommended by Amazon Daily Kindle Deal

First sentence It happens in the movie theater when I finally kiss Ethan Cooper.

Synopsis
Imagine you can read people's minds. Imagine you have to kiss them to read their minds. Imagine it's ruining your life. Winter Reynolds Is dealing with this and more. The new girl in school with a troubled past ends up murdered and suddenly Winter has to use her power to solve the murder. Things are about to get crazy!


What it has going for it
Well, it had an interesting premise. I like the idea of mind reading. Who wouldn't want to know what others were thinking....as long as you could turn it off. I liked that there was the twist of the kissing too. The book kept me reading wanting to know who the murderer was...and, yeah, that's about it.

What's lacking?
Sadly this one made me roll my eyes more than once. It had way too many unbelievable aspects. I don't mean the mind reading either. It was convenient and trite and tried to be funny but was not and maybe shouldn't have even tried. I don't want to be too spoilery so if you're really wanting to read this one skip the next bit. ***What the hell was with the pregnancy thing? First of all Miranda acted like it was no big deal that she was pregnant and her whole life was about to change. There was no focus on the emotional drama that would cause. Then when she tells her parents...What the hell?! No parent would act that calmly! And the whole climatic ending at the dance. It was horrible. It was all over the place. I was livid that after Winter is attacked that she so quickly brushed it off and forgave Jason. If I went through what she did and knew the man I "loved" had just walked away??? No freaking way!*** Anywho, the book was a huge ridiculous disappointment.

Favorite moment
I'm not sure there was one.

Yea or Nay?
No, just no.

Hunky Valentines!

So this Tuesday The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday post was all about Swoony Books. I didn't write a post of my own but I found it highly amusing that most people started out talking about swoony books but mostly talked about swoony male lead characters. Aw well, I guess us girls just can't help having book crushes. So in honor of Valentines Day I give you my list of the top ten hunky book characters to swoon over.

                                                      
                                                     1 Odd Thomas
I highly doubt anyone is surprised to see Odd on my list. Odd it the biggest sweetheart with...well...a heart of gold. I haven't seen the movie yet but I have to say I wasn't at all happy with the casting for Odd. What do you guys think?

2 Matthew Swift
Once again I doubt you're surprised but I can't help it! Matthew is so...I can't even begin to describe him. He's funny, sarcastic and seriously bad ass! Yes please!

3 Cassel (Curse Workers series)  
He's tortured yet mischievous and smart as hell. Plus he's just real and flawed and sigh worthy!

 4 Captain Wentworth (Persuasion)
He's just so stoic. You know, the strong silent type. And that letter he writes Ann...Oh my gosh! Swoon!

5 Cameron Wolfe 
OK, this isn't a picture of Cameron but Markus, his creator, is hot so let's just drool at him shall we? All I can say about Cameron is I love his soul!

6 Ben (Mercy Thompson series)
OK, someone else out there thought this handsome actor would fit Ben and I couldn't agree more. He's one of those characters you love so much you can't figure out why the hell the MC chooses some other dumb guy. **cough cough** Adam **cough cough**

7 Stronghand (Crown of Stars series) 
There are no words. Stronghand is just so dang awesome. Why? Because he's the first of his kind to start reasoning and thinking and actually feeling! I adore him.

8 Astley (Need series)
A man who doesn't try to control the girl? A man who supports and trusts and fights right along side the girl? Yes please! And Alex just seems to fit Astley in my mind.

9 Cricket 
I immediately liked Cricket just from the cover of this book but from his first scene in the book I fell in love with him! He's just such sweetheart...Hmmm. I'm starting to think I have a thing for sweethearts with just a hint of darkness in them.

10 Drizzt 
What's not to love? He's unique, kicks ass and well...he runs around with a big black panther. 'Nuf said.




Honestly I could go on and and on. There are so many swoon worthy guys out there in literature. Agreed? Happy Valentines day!

Review: The Forgotten Garden

Title The Forgotten Garden
By Kate Morton
Genre Adult contemporary
Pages 552

First sentence It was dark where she was crouched but the little girl did as she'd been told. 




Synopsis
Covering three generations, a mystery of a little girl found abandoned on a ship and taken in by the dockmaster comes to light.



What it has going for it
Honestly I went into this book incredibly skeptical. I'd been warned by my book club friends, those who'd tried to read it, that it was a little slow moving and hard to get into. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it turned out to be just the kind of book I love. The quiet, intricate way the story carries along revealing little by little the mystery it holds was done very well indeed. It kept me guessing, that's for sure. I kept expecting (and dreading) some horrible secret revealing incest or rape and was quite relieved to discover it wasn't anything like that but shocking all the same. I like books that seem to be a study on human nature with characters that fall victim to their dark sides and this one was perfect in that aspect. All I can say is it wasn't in the least bit boring to me. I was pulled in from the very beginning and enjoyed it very much!

What's lacking
I can see how a book like this, once read and dissected by millions of reader, can be called trite and and unoriginal by "book snobs". I heard plenty of people call it's mystery obvious and, hey, maybe it was but I sure didn't figure it out. I was content to just let the author with her calm piece by piece writing and the beautifully flawed characters reveal the mystery to me. I will say that once the "big reveal" was revealed I wondered how believable it actually was but I can quickly shrug that away.

Favorite moment
Anything between Cassandra and Christian. I don't know why, I just liked it. Their relationship was reminiscent of Austen or something. It had a familiar sweet feeling to it. 

Yea or Nay?
Yes, I'd most definitely recommend this one.

Sunday Salon

Welcome to the new Sunday Salon. A weekly update post about my boring life. ;)

Weather Small Talk: Well, it's snowing up in the mountains but luckily it's just raining in the valley. Actually, as much as I hate snow, we really haven't got much this year and I wouldn't be heartbroken to get a little more.


Music Discoveries: I'm actually going to share the song I, despite my hot fella's resistance, call "our song".

On The Idiot Box: You guys who have followed my blog through the years and seen all those TV posts I post are going to laugh but...My hot fella really doesn't like TV so my TV watching has taken a huge hit. What's going on in Vampire Diaries? What new mess have Sam and Dean in Supernatural gotten themselves into? I have no idea! Can you believe it?! Me neither. We did watch some TV series recently, though. We watched the first two seasons of Boardwalk Empire and enjoyed it and also the first two season of American Horror Story. WEIRD!

Weekly Reads: I've been struggling through the first chapters of Into You by Riley J Ford. I'm just not enjoying it. Maybe I'll try again later and try something new??? I don't know.



Crazy Kitty: I'm sure some of you "cat lovers" may be wondering how my kitty likes my hot fella. Well, at first she was outright terrified of him but now...well, let's just say she likes him better than me now. The other morning I woke up to find her right by his head and he had his arms around her. I asked if she was bugging him and he told me she was shivering so...Ain't that cute?!!

This Week: Work has been same ol', same ol'. My hot fella is starting his own business and spent most of the week hanging door hangers door to door. Oh, this starting a business thing is stressful!!

Movie of the Week: Good grief. I don't watch many movies either. I will give a shout out for Saving Mr. Banks, though. So good!

Food Talk: Ah, so much has changed. My little healthy eating ways aren't doing so good. I'm trying, though. I really am! Sniff Sniff

Soccer Sightings: :( My work schedule stole my beloved soccer from me! I hate it! I only vaguely now what's going on with my boys. I do, however, plan on watching the World Cup this year come hell or high water!!

Plans For The Week: I'd really like to exercise more this week. Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I miss it.

Review: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)

Title Shadow Kiss (vampire academy #3)
By Richelle Mead
Genre YA Supernatural/Paranormal
Pages 443

First Sentence His fingertips slid along my back, applying hardly any pressure, yet sending shock waves over my flesh.




Synopsis
Rose is back. With things growing trickier and trickier with Dimitri and Lissa life is never dull for Rose but when she starts seeing ghosts she's about to learn what being shadow kissed really means.



What it has going for it
Oh my, things are surely getting tricky now. This one was on the longer side but I found myself, once again, totally immersed in the story. I can't really put my finger on why I like these books so much. They're not amazingly written or anything. They are, however, well thought out story lines with one big story line weaving through all the books that is carefully put together. I like that immensely. I like that the world Mead creates makes sense. There's no questions about it or things that just don't make sense. (I'm looking at you Wither) Anywho, I also just like the characters. They are each fleshed out and individual. K, I'm even starting to bore myself. I want to scream and rant about this ending of this one. The cliffhanger. The drama. The soul wrenching horror of it all but maybe, just maybe, you haven't read this series yet and I don't want to give it away. So I'm really trying to just stay neutral. Sigh!

What's lacking
I'm sadly, oh so sadly, starting to lose interest in Adrian. I liked him so much in Frost Bite but, somehow, he lost his snarkiness. I wanted more from him. He seems like a pathetic drunk in this one. Also, through no fault of the author, but instead from a ridiculously annoying coworker, the shocking ending of this one was given away before I got to it. Not that that's something "lacking" but it certainly took away from the book a little.

Favorite Moment 
I liked the ending. I liked Rose's hard decision. Watching her make it was refreshing.

Yea or Nay?
Yes. Read this series for the entertainment factor and hopefully, I haven't given away the ending like that damnable coworker.