It is not the critic who counts.....

Girl in the Arena

By Lise Haines

 

I downloaded this book because it reminded me of my favorite Teddy Roosevelt quote. The first time I picked up this book I read a chapter and left it for a long while. Then I picked it up again. I'm kind of happy I did.



Looks like a basic dysopian novel from the cover (Great cover and if you haven't figured it out by now I DO judge books by their covers). Several pop culture references arise so, in actually, it's set in an modern time alternate reality.



Lyn lives in a culture obsessed with Gladiators. As a daughter of seven Glads, she has had her fair share of run ins with the culture. (I realize now you're going "Seven dads?" Let me clarify: 1 biological father and 6 step fathers) Lyn has had the privilege of being taught by most of her fathers, before they all died in the arena, how to fight but Lyn is a pacifist-kind of. Because of her mom's status as a "Glad wife," Lyn has also had to live her life according to the bylaws put forth by the Gladiator Sports Association. It's because of these by laws that she finds herself forced to marry Uber, the glad that killed Tommy, her seventh father. In order to save her  "banished glad wife" of a mom and her prophetic little brother, it would be easy just to marry Uber but as a daughter of seven glads, she does not take the easy way out.

Although Uber is a professional killer, you can't help but feel for the guy behind the dust and sweat and blood (see what I did there?). Maybe in a different time, under a different situation this would have worked.  That, among other events, really pulls at your heart strings.

This book was better than I expected but I still feel more could have been done with the story line. Lyn, her brother, Thad and her seventh father Tommy were really the only developed characters in the book (and Tommy was dead for most of it). In addition, I wish the setting was more developed. I know it's not a dystopian but I still would have liked some explanation of what brought the world to idolize a death sport.

All in all, I'll recommend it. It's a good read. Although I don't know if I'd classify it as a YA novel. The way Lynn grows, takes care of her brother and realizes she may like the 'enemy' all comes together to make a good read.

*Note: While I love the cover, it's inaccurate according to the story. Lyn actually enters the arena with a shaved head and a 'T' stitched into the back of her skull. THAT would have made a bad ass cover

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Teddy Roosevelt

”Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind. "

Insurgent (Divergent #2)


Now I usually don't review series or trilogies because there is always that danger of me spoiling the previous book for my reader. However, I *heart* this series and because classes don't start for another two weeks I have ample time to review whatever I choose. So, BEWARE OF SPOILERS.

Insurgent picked up right where Divergent left off. (So really no need to reread, just skim).

In Insurgent we find out that there's more than just Tris and Four who are  Divergent (able to fit into more than one fraction) and we also learn that in every fraction people you thought you could trust, people thought to be "good" suddenly may not have the best intentions. In a world where  everyone is suppose to be but into a little "box" there sure is alot of that gray fuzzy area. You can see it in the Dauntless fraction. In the first book you think these guys are bad ass and heroes. Then they spilt (into traitors and non-traitors, which by the end of the book leave you going 'Who's who?'). The split irked me to no end. I wanted Dauntless to be strong and heroic and kick ass but turns out even they are slave to their human instinct to survive. In fact, all the fractions are. Which is why everything is now shot to hell.

 Now this isn't really a question of which side is right and which side is wrong but more of 'which side has all the information.' Roth really knows how to pace this trilogy, dropping little bits here and there to tell you there's more to this story. EVERY character is intricate and complex; bringing something to the story. Tris constantly changes her mind and the battle within herself shows she's truly Divergent. You  can actually see what part of her is taking over in the moment. Who she trusts end up affecting the actions she takes. Which may not be the smartest (especially if she doesn't have all the information) By the end of the book (JAW dropping cliffhanger here. My blood pressure does not thank you, Roth), it's very clear to see that series was meticulously mapped out from the beginning.


* Let me just point out that I did NOT read this book for the romance. Sure it's a slight added perk but there's so much more to this story.

Abbi Glines

I  have read every single one of Abbi Glines' books and why I never thought of doing a review is beyond me.

The Vincent Boys

Remember your best friend growing up? The one that that saw your bruises or stood by you when you made a fool of your self. Well Ashton has two of those-the Vincent Boys (should NOT be  SOLD separately). Theu're opposite cousins who make Ashton act in opposite ways. When good boy Sawyer decides to go on a camping trip leaving his girlfriend Ashton (and her God loving parents) behind. No biggie. Ashton will be with  Beau, and they all grew up together so why would Sawyer worry? I'll tell you why because Beau is a bad boy with a pick up truck (I find that incredibly appealing). So Ashton gets to finally see what the being with the other Vincent boy is like. Her head may be determined to walk the straight and narrow with Sawyer, but when Beau shows up and tries to end her good girl ways, she can't just follow her head anymore.

Now you know I love my bad boys but Beau was a little too country for me. But I actually want to give props to Ms. Glines for that. Bad boy Beau, preacher's daughter Ashton, and the all American hero, Sawyer, had a little edge to their stereotype. Personally, I liked two unlikely characters. There was something about Beau's mom and Ashton's cousin which made me love them for being so real and level headed. Having both Ashton's and Beau's voice thought the book was a wonderful touch.
Must read for YA romance


Breathe (Sea Breeze, #1) 

Sadie grew up being the adult in  her house. With her mom currently pregnant and refusing to work, Sadie has no choice but to  take her mother's job at a swanky mansion. This isn't just any mansion, but the mansion of yummy rock star, Jax Stone (girl scream here). Now Sadie knows EXACTLY who Jax is but drooling over him like most girls her age isn't an option.

This was a sweet Cinderella story, which every girl needs once in a while. I like that Sadie wasn't your typical princess. She had other things to be worried about. Like dealing how sucky her mom is or what's going to happen when the baby is born. Again,  I loved the secondary characters. Marcus, the college-student hottie who you couldn't help but feel bad for (don't feel too bad, he gets some love in the next bookBecause of Low). For the most part this was an all around feel good book. HOWEVER, I highly recommend the next book...

Because of Low (Sea Breeze, #2)

Now if you loved Marcus in Breathe (like ME!) you'll love him in Because of Low. Different than Breathe this was more of a realistic story. Again, girl with crappy life gets swept off her feet by a dreamy guy.
Marcus is the all American, witty, good looking, heart on his sleeve kind of guy meets Low through his roommate, Cage. Low's life is less than perfect. In and out of her sister's house and in love with her niece, Low is not the usual girl Marcus would go for but he can't help feel for this girl. Oh except that Cage has marked her as off limits because "she's the girl I'm going  to marry."

With refreshing characters, this book is a must read. I liked Breathe but Because of Low was emotional and real. I loved Low because I had a childhood friend that repeatedly say he would marry me. Marcus was amazing to take up the challenge and the book was well written with well developed characters. Can't wait for Cage's book (gotta love a man-ho)

Existence (Existence trilogy)

Who WOULDN'T fall in love with Death? It's just the right amount of creepy, dark romance I LOVE.
Pagan has seen souls her entire life. So when one begins to speak to her (Not the norm) she's freaked but he's incredibly hot for a dead guy. Dank (What a name!) will  not leave her alone and  but Pagan is fascinated by him. So much so, that the hot popular guy she's now dating, Leif, doesn't stand a chance.  But Little does she know that dead guy following her around isn't a soul and her time  in this world is up..

I love paranormal books. So when I heard Abbi Glines had one I gobbled it up. Actually the first thing I did was judge the book by it's cover, which is AMAZING! Kudos for that. I keep my interest the whole way through and wasn't exactly what I expected especially with the cliff hanger at the end (WHY wouldn't you do that to us, Abbi?) So if you liked the Abbi Glines YA you'll LOVE the start of this trilogy.

Predestined (Existence #2)

When Lief goes missing from school he doesn't exactly leave all together. He shows up in Pagan's dreams and she finds out that there may be more to their relationship than  meets the eye. Dank knows Lief is soulless but when he finds out why Leif is hanging around, he realizes Pagan's soul has bee marked. Again, Death will have to break all the rules to save her.

Wow. This did not go where I expected. If you have noticed I read a bunch of paranormal about angels and I was thinking that where this was headed. The spin it took was delightful and original. Way to go Abby for not making this just another paranormal trilogy. Oh and again, beautiful cover.

Drum Roll Please!

Presenting the brand new Moreno Brother's Covers!

Forever Mine (Book #1)

Mature YA - Aprx 87k words.
Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.

Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.

With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home?

Available now on Amazon US, UK, Germany , France B&N Nook & Smashwords

Always Been Mine (Book #2) <--------Big Red's Fave
Adult Contemporary - Aprx 98k words.

After one heartache too many, Valerie Zuniga vows to never let Alex Moreno hurt her again. A year later, she is forced to reunite with him at a party where one unexpected sizzling kiss tells her she’s far from over him. No way will she allow herself to get sucked back into that torment. She’ll resist him even if that means using the one thing that’ll stop Alex dead in his tracks: another man.

Alex is coming off one of the worst years of his life. He spent so much time wallowing in self-pity, he never realized how much he’d missed Valerie. That is, until that kiss. Now, he’s determined to get her back one way or another, and no other man will stand in his way. Especially after discovering that Valerie may be in danger, a danger he blames himself for.

Available now on Amazon US, UK, Germany, France, B&N Nook, and Smashwords

Sweet Sofie (Book #3) - I feel for Sofie. We have similar brothers.

Mature YA - Aprx 58k words.  

Her entire life, Sofia Moreno has dealt with overprotective brothers. With her three older brothers always lurking, no boy would dare reach out to her. Luckily for Sofia, the one boy she's got her heart set on has always been within reach: her brother's best friend Eric, even though his loyalty to her brothers runs deep. Sofia knows there is only so much he can do before giving in to her.

Two years older than her, Eric Diego has always known there would be hell to pay if he messed with his best friend's kid sister, Sofia. Through the years, he watches as she blooms into a beautiful young lady right before his eyes. With teenage hormones raging and Sofia more than willing, Eric agrees to the unthinkable: a forbidden secret romance. Feeling emotions and a feverish passion that's new to them both, neither is ready for how quickly their romance spins out of control.

Available on Amazon US, UK Germany , France, B&N Nook, Smashwords
Romero (Book #4)

Adult Contemporary - Aprx 89k words.
Prim and proper middle school teacher Isabel Montenegro always runs the opposite direction from men like Ramon Romero. A foul-mouthed, uneducated, loose cannon has no place in her careful plans. But instead of running away, Isabel is completely captivated. The intensity of his nature, while a bit daunting, mesmerizes her in ways she can’t begin to understand. She’s unwilling to walk away—even when her instincts are screaming at her to run.

Romero has no idea what he's getting himself into when he first kisses Isabel. Shocked at the passion she invokes in him, he believes he can keep his usual short fuse under wraps. Falling fast and hard for someone so flawlessly sweet only makes him more aware that he’s far from perfect. If she is ever witness to his biggest imperfection, he’s sure she’ll bail. But when her meddling sister does the worst thing imaginable—bring other men between him and his Izzy—that fuse is lit and all bets are off.

Available on Amazon US UK Germany, France B&N Nook, Smashwords

Making You Mine (Book #5)

Adult Contemporary ~Aprx118k words

Always in control, the meticulous and professional Salvador Moreno is thrown for a loop when the newly hired bartender Grace Zendejas suddenly invades his family’s restaurant, and infuriatingly, his every thought. For the first time in his life, Sal is fumbling. But after recovering from a few blunders he discovers his feelings for Grace run much deeper.

Things begin to heat up between him and Grace, but then the ever-perfect Sal does something even his brothers never did—screws up royally. Now he’s scrambling to cover up a mistake he knows could cost him dearly. As his relationship with Grace grows even more serious, Sal's secret is a ticking bomb, threatening to destroy the one thing he now lives and breathes for—his relationship with the love of his life—Grace.

THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!

  I am a dystopian connoisseur and I love a well-conceptualized “we drove ourselves into the ground” set up. It doesn't matter if the  author wants to make the dystopian vision the narrative centerpiece or use it as a springboard for introducing us to the story. Ever since I read Fahrenheit 451 when I was 12 years old I've been hooked ("Burn them or they'll burn you"). To me, it's STILL the best one I've ever read but I have to admit The Hunger Games is a close second. Because of all the hype, everywhere I turn is another apocalyptic novel. I can't get my hands on enough of them.

Yes, everyone is all lovey dovey over this book but the reality is, THIS BOOK IS GOOD.

Taken place in the ruins of Chicago (which for some reason to me seems redundant. I'm a NYer. Therefore all smaller cities seem apocalyptic-"What no Starbucks in walking distance? Barbarians)

society is now divided into five fractions,Abnegation – the selfless, Erudite – those in search of knowledge, Dauntless -the brave , Amity – the peaceful , and Candor – the honest. At 16 everyone has to choose their fraction. They get a little help from a simulation test but ultimately it's their decision but most people don't transfer fractions. So now your thinking that this story is about people hating other fractions and rebeling from the fractions they were born in but slowly this story becomes so much more.

Our heroine Beatrice is raised in the Abnegation faction. which right away you can tell sucks. Its nice that they bring humanity to the post apocalyptic world but those from Abnegation  can't look in a mirror, have to wear gray clothes, have never had a hamburger and have to carry food on them at all times in case the fractionless beg for some. Sounds exhausting.  So, on her choosing day, she goes to a different faction, one that involves awesome things like tattoos, piercings, zip lines, train car jumping and weapons (Totally Big Red's kinda thing.) It's in this fraction where Beatrice, now called Tris, meets Four (collective sigh--Ahh Four...).

Veronica Roth's writing is nothing less than stunning and smooth. The writing is so fast paced and action filled.Character development was strong (especially that of Four). Tris ends up being pretty kick ass which is staying something because I usually don't do the girl heroine thing. There was

good, solid prose  that creates an environment conducive to good story-telling but ALAS! the development of my favorite part fell short.This was not a believable dystopia. The details just weren't there. Still, It's a good read and I've already pre-ordered the second book. It has the promise of being a great series.

Announcement!

I am superly (not a word) over excited to ANNOUNCE:
Noah by Elizabeth Reyes is officially uploaded to Amazon and B&N! Keep checking to get the first book in Elizabeth Reyes' new series 5th Street! Read a teaser on Elizabeth's page! HERE

I can't wait to read it

And if you haven't read the The Moreno Brothers series check that out too!

The New Death and others by James Hutchings

I was taken in as soon as James Hutchings e-mailed me to review this book. Mostly because of the witty subject line that stated "44 Stories. 19 Poems. No sparkly vampires." And James stayed true his word. There is no short story or poems in this collection that could be "inspired" from the countless other urban/dark fantasy books. The stories, sometimes funny, sometimes laughably ironic, sometimes freakishly real and always entertaining ; are a grab bag of fabulous vignettes that are definitely intriguing. This was right up my dark and twisted alley. So, if you're looking for a read full of cynical and twisted tales and poem with criminal puns that will keep you laughing (and all your friends will be face palming when you repeat them) than this book is for you.

May the odds be ever in your favor...

I admit it. I'm a sap. I love every book when I finish it. (Mostly because if I don't like it, I don't read it.) Eventually after a few days the wonderlust wears off and I'm into something else. However,  an hour after reading this book, I'm so floored I don't think that will happen. I was so intrigued by the first chapter that when I wasn't reading the book I was thinking about it and if I wasn't thinking about it, I was sleeping (and even then District 12 haunted me). By the end of the book I thought what any other writer would think when the read a book that hits them: "When am I ever going to write a book like that?"

Picture a world where "The Capitol" controls everything, especially the 12 outlying districts. To prove that they are the all consuming power, one girl and one boy (ages 12-18 years old) from each district are pick to participate in "The Hunger Games," a brutal contest where violence and inhumanity are the key to being the last one left alive. Katniss is an amazingly smart heroine with just the right about of emotion in her "take nothing from no one" attitude. And the love triangle the develops? ( At a beautiful pace, mind you) Don't get me started. I'm on team "Why don't you have them both?"

Also check out the trailer for the movie coming out in March 2012. Looks as if the stayed very true to the book.

So I can keep track this year

"I am haunted by humans."

Recently I've been read some very fluffy, feel good books. This was NOT one of them. For months I ignored the wonderful reviews. After I had exhausted all other recommendations,I finally downloaded it to my kindle. I figured that, being placed in the YA genre, it would be an easy read on a topic I was interested in (By the way shouldn't be a YA book in my opinion). I was totally and utterly wrong.....and that doesn't happen often.


With striking narration and imagery, this book was so much more then a book about the holocaust or a coming of age story of a little girl in Germany during WWII. One of the things that set it apart: It's narrated by Death. Yes, that's right, Death. Although, he admits that he only wears the long black robe when it's cold out. Death actually has personality and warns you when the bad parts are coming. (How Nice). But most of all I love the idea that insinuated. You CAN rule the world with words. You can also destroy the world with words.

After finishing the book (Sadly) I mulled it over for a few days (That's right. I read NOTHING for two whole days). Then, I directly went to the library to buy the hard copy. It now rests on my book shelf next to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
("There must be something in books, things we can't imagine.." ). It just seems appropriate there.