tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-481635639924523662024-03-14T02:32:19.889-07:00The Bookish BelleBookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-34299445238163910012012-03-13T20:54:00.000-07:002012-03-13T20:54:47.488-07:00Hallowed - Cynthia Hand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6UJmRTo7psB98woClGvXRgv3hnv4B4g2ZBJOtL4NwZ_A74FyYd9vgN6GCD3uv7jI06nTWTpLpVRWevpbE6UX9Kka9ubZgvmYQ39PtMisbAzqmcPZAGoaEBV7YHZG6aGkJsrEfw6jxmE/s1600/hallowed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6UJmRTo7psB98woClGvXRgv3hnv4B4g2ZBJOtL4NwZ_A74FyYd9vgN6GCD3uv7jI06nTWTpLpVRWevpbE6UX9Kka9ubZgvmYQ39PtMisbAzqmcPZAGoaEBV7YHZG6aGkJsrEfw6jxmE/s400/hallowed.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Torn between her love for boyfriend Tucker and her complicated feelings about the role she seems destined to play, sixteen-year-old part-angel Clara races to decipher a new vision that could signify the end for someone close to her.</blockquote><br />
Thrilled to have finally gotten my hands on this book!<br />
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From the moment I delved into Unearthly, I fell in love with Cynthia Hand and her writing skills. She has a wonderful way of taking you in her mind and not letting go until the final moment. I finished reading Hallowed and was completely spent. <br />
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What I love most about this novel was all of the characters have layers, even the so called 'bad guys'. There was so much depth to them that I had a hard time disliking any of them. I did however find some points of Clara to be annoying, especially the scenes with Christian but nothing bothersome. I still really enjoyed this read and can't wait for the next book to be released (in 2013! *sniff*)Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-28081175078885635742012-03-13T20:52:00.000-07:002012-03-13T20:52:40.317-07:00Two Truths & a Lie - Sara Shepard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/files/2012/02/lying-game-sara-shepard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/files/2012/02/lying-game-sara-shepard.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;">(summary omitted to avoid spoilers)</div></blockquote>I was really excited for this one to come out and I wasn't disappointed!<br />
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The suspense and drama was just as good and it constantly left me wondering who it was down to the last second. There were some parts that I felt like Emma was a sell out but for the most part I liked the novel. The writing was very typical for Sara, I couldn't put the book down even on the slower parts!<br />
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Super excited for the next one!Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-64619125970239158672012-03-13T20:49:00.000-07:002012-03-13T20:49:07.662-07:00Prized - Caragh M O'Brien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACLxSGgA24214RaG8xFXBH0S7D4mF12Iwl-5wBe3XtZ1aoGy7wYCMrIebJ7ws8AvV0N-goMf5xJWpRgDt2W3NGc408v1JqUPkTo9BEnJSLEkkTC39N5iwzdStR7cO9JR4VRGLsn6odQ/s1600/prized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACLxSGgA24214RaG8xFXBH0S7D4mF12Iwl-5wBe3XtZ1aoGy7wYCMrIebJ7ws8AvV0N-goMf5xJWpRgDt2W3NGc408v1JqUPkTo9BEnJSLEkkTC39N5iwzdStR7cO9JR4VRGLsn6odQ/s400/prized.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"> (summary omitted to save spoiling someone!) </div></blockquote><br />
I didn't think this book would be as good as the first but I was very happily and pleasantly surprised! I think it totally held its own in the series and I would even dare say I liked it more than the first! The characters were believably vulnerable but were showcased in their strengths, and as always the writing was beautiful. <br />
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I loved Gaia as a character and also the love interests were finally believable! I love a slow build-up for them and it broke my heard and made me smile all at the same time. Will and Leon were great male characters and the build was agonizing.<br />
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There were so many controversial topics and action that I couldn't stop reading!Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-56124018433837357732012-02-25T21:18:00.000-08:002012-02-25T21:18:42.289-08:00In My Mailbox! (February 25 2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiexBuRryJlcJA11IqHbzrt7rWOlEhXv9Hal82k9sRer_JMC67arLOYGfvTig0jQtNLPWE5hyphenhyphen5xv_goSSEdu7HMXiz0o4yiEB-bbLGqyAnJ64MCkmZF9nnj46X2whSPyDTTj_QFvbk5A/s1600/aboringday-cute-doe-deere-girly-letters-mail-Favim.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiexBuRryJlcJA11IqHbzrt7rWOlEhXv9Hal82k9sRer_JMC67arLOYGfvTig0jQtNLPWE5hyphenhyphen5xv_goSSEdu7HMXiz0o4yiEB-bbLGqyAnJ64MCkmZF9nnj46X2whSPyDTTj_QFvbk5A/s1600/aboringday-cute-doe-deere-girly-letters-mail-Favim.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Weekly meme created by <a href="http://thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is it that time of the week already? Well hooray! :) I didn't want to get a ton of books since I have so many to read as it is, but I did have a couple of holds to pick up and got two things from Half Price Books. Pretty good haul this time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/racinghearts/Photos/random/Picture9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/racinghearts/Photos/random/Picture9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">DreamGirls DVD</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9266794-two-truths-and-a-lie" target="_blank">Two Truths & a Lie</a> - Sara Shepard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/830881.Kathleen_Please_Come_Home" target="_blank">Kathleen, Please Come Home</a> - Scott O'Dell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11563110-hallowed" target="_blank">Hallowed</a> - Cynthia Hand (eee!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9838800-shelter" target="_blank">Shelter</a> - Harlan Coben</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7558747-revolution" target="_blank">Revolution</a> - Jennifer Donnelly*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">** Read this one already and LOVED it. Found it at Half Price books for only 3 dollars. Score! =D </div>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-1590293240776422632012-02-18T23:15:00.000-08:002012-02-18T23:15:43.789-08:00In My Mailbox! (February 19 2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiexBuRryJlcJA11IqHbzrt7rWOlEhXv9Hal82k9sRer_JMC67arLOYGfvTig0jQtNLPWE5hyphenhyphen5xv_goSSEdu7HMXiz0o4yiEB-bbLGqyAnJ64MCkmZF9nnj46X2whSPyDTTj_QFvbk5A/s1600/aboringday-cute-doe-deere-girly-letters-mail-Favim.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiexBuRryJlcJA11IqHbzrt7rWOlEhXv9Hal82k9sRer_JMC67arLOYGfvTig0jQtNLPWE5hyphenhyphen5xv_goSSEdu7HMXiz0o4yiEB-bbLGqyAnJ64MCkmZF9nnj46X2whSPyDTTj_QFvbk5A/s1600/aboringday-cute-doe-deere-girly-letters-mail-Favim.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Weekly meme created by <a href="http://thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello my dear Bookies! I hope your week has been wonderful. I wish this Texas weather could make up its mind though! Here are the books I got this week from the good ole library. Enjoy! =D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/racinghearts/Photos/random/Img_1563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/racinghearts/Photos/random/Img_1563.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(links to GoodReads)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9378297-anna-dressed-in-blood" target="_blank">Anna Dressed in Blood</a> - Kendare Blake</div><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars" target="_blank">Fault in Our Stars, The</a> - John Green<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609552-the-clearing" target="_blank">Clearing, The</a> - Heather Davis<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7929452-teenage-waistland" target="_blank">Teenage Waistland</a> - Lynn Biederman & Lisa Pazer<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025007-jessica-rules-the-dark-side" target="_blank">Jessica Rules the Dark Side</a> - Beth Fantaskey<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9462812-die-for-me" target="_blank">Die for Me</a> - Amy Plum<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Video for those interested! =D</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yXMK77_o9Cc" width="560"></iframe>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-23512805124499646872012-02-16T21:15:00.000-08:002012-02-16T21:15:23.310-08:00The Fault in Our Stars - John Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Book%20covers/faul%20in%20our%20stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Book%20covers/faul%20in%20our%20stars.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
Oh. My. God.<br />
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Do you know how when you open a book and you read the first page and you KNOW you're about to embark on something BIG? That is exactly what this book was like times a bazillion.<br />
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John Green is a complete genius and I would give my left kidney (oh hell, and my right) to have a tenth of his talent. It was simply dripping with emotion and love and tears and amazing that it completely overwhelmed me. I read this book a couple of days ago and it took me this long to write up the review because I want to give it justice. <br />
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The characters were desperately real to me that I could feel them breathing. I cried when Hazel cried, I hurt when she did, when she didn't want to get out of bed, neither did I. She is such a gorgeously written character and her strength was felt through and through. Augustus...there are no words. He is stunning and heartbreaking and the true definition of a man. <br />
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Now that I am crying all over again, I urge you to PLEASE read this book. It is everything. You will never need to read another book again after you read this one. What is life and death? What is the most important thing to us? Is it really over when we die? This book will change your life and make you think about things in a completely wonderful and frightening way. I am SO jealous of those who have not read it - you are in for such a treat and I cannot wait for you to open this wonderful, wonderful gift John has given you!<br />
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***** (and then some)Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-11075512618904900492012-02-13T20:41:00.000-08:002012-02-13T20:42:23.144-08:00Shine by Lauren Myracle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.laurenmyracle.com/img/site_specific/uploads/crop_ShineCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.laurenmyracle.com/img/site_specific/uploads/crop_ShineCover.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">When her best friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover the culprits in her small North Carolina town.</blockquote><br />
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What a beautiful novel!<br />
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I was not expecting something to like so much from Lauren Myracle. I only knew her from her Internet series and honestly didn't expect this from her! The writing was incredible and the voice of Cat was so real to me that I could even hear her Southern twang in her voice. The crime against Patrick made my stomach turn and it felt so real that it was happening to one of my friends.<br />
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This story was about so much more than just the hate crime. It was about drugs and the effect it has on people and their relationships. I know firsthand what it does to people's lives and it made the book all the more important to me. It really proved that the smaller the town, the bigger the problems. I really recommend this book and it totally made me cry!<br />
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*****Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-49402701946992630712012-02-11T00:51:00.000-08:002012-02-11T00:51:33.943-08:00The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk5srQ2Az5YVo8gg-2aZ7eyNztkkHQBUrF76-xgx1heZBwGjK5jMui5k46ZpzsKTMXiOsSXMXwPWhp_RZv7jrcQSCfIJ__YULqd-XBu6xm79A_Wn8PjMoC-hcAc5mcGFpfg5uGV5iXA/s1600/TheIronKnightfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk5srQ2Az5YVo8gg-2aZ7eyNztkkHQBUrF76-xgx1heZBwGjK5jMui5k46ZpzsKTMXiOsSXMXwPWhp_RZv7jrcQSCfIJ__YULqd-XBu6xm79A_Wn8PjMoC-hcAc5mcGFpfg5uGV5iXA/s400/TheIronKnightfinal.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Faery prince Ash--the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court--finally gets to tell his story: how he escaped the Winter Court with his life intact and the promise he made to the Iron Queen.</blockquote><br />
I finished this one a day or two ago and I've been sitting on it, trying to decide how I feel about it. The beginning lagged a bit for me, then it really picked up until about the last 100 or so pages. Three letters I can use to sum those pages up? W.T.F?! I felt like I had invested so much time into the characters and I felt the meetings were SO rushed and underwhelming. It was like "Oh, you're here! Let's forget about everything and hug! The end."<br />
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As I said, the writing in the middle was amazing and kept me wanting more but I felt very unsatisfied with the ending and that made the rating go so low. I wanted to know more about their meeting and have a little more emotion from Ash and Meghan in both the dream sequence and real life. The humor between Puck, Grimalkin and The Wolf is what kept me reading, as their wit and sarcasm made the book for me.<br />
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Even with that, I still felt very empty and impartial to the book and that saddens me!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">***</span>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-7057340783380695232012-02-04T21:23:00.000-08:002012-02-04T21:23:21.138-08:00In My Mailbox! (February 4, 2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiexBuRryJlcJA11IqHbzrt7rWOlEhXv9Hal82k9sRer_JMC67arLOYGfvTig0jQtNLPWE5hyphenhyphen5xv_goSSEdu7HMXiz0o4yiEB-bbLGqyAnJ64MCkmZF9nnj46X2whSPyDTTj_QFvbk5A/s1600/aboringday-cute-doe-deere-girly-letters-mail-Favim.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiexBuRryJlcJA11IqHbzrt7rWOlEhXv9Hal82k9sRer_JMC67arLOYGfvTig0jQtNLPWE5hyphenhyphen5xv_goSSEdu7HMXiz0o4yiEB-bbLGqyAnJ64MCkmZF9nnj46X2whSPyDTTj_QFvbk5A/s1600/aboringday-cute-doe-deere-girly-letters-mail-Favim.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">IMM is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" target="_blank">The Story Siren</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't get too many books this week, namely because I got my molars taken out and didn't feel like reading much! I'm planning on making a trek to the library tomorrow so maybe I'll have to edit this post later! =P Enjoy! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/racinghearts/Photos/random/Img_1345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/racinghearts/Photos/random/Img_1345.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Links go to GoodReads!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12152785-pretty-little-secrets" target="_blank">Pretty Little Secrets</a> - Sara Shepard</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9659607-the-iron-knight" target="_blank">Iron Knight, The</a> - Julie Kagawa (eee!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">What did you get this week? Happy reading! =)</div>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-619971451523406672012-02-04T21:04:00.000-08:002012-02-04T21:04:57.055-08:00Sweetly by Jackson Pearce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wereadtoknow.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/sweetly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://wereadtoknow.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/sweetly.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">When the owner of a candy shop molds magical treats that instill confidence, bravery, and passion, eighteen-year-old Gretchen's haunted childhood memories of her twin sister's abduction by a witch-like monster begin to fade until girls start vanishing at the annual chocolate festival. </blockquote>Can I mention (again) how much I love Jackson Pearce? I knew I'd enjoy this book and when I started reading it I became hooked! It started off right away into the mystery of Gretchen, Ansel, and their sister and doesn't stop until the last page. <br />
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The writing was awesome as usual, her style is very easy and before you know it you've read fifty pages! The characters were vulnerable yet independent, and there was something very whimsical about the town and the novel overall.<br />
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Gretchen and Samuel's relationship was good, though I feel like the interaction could've used some work. I wanted to know more about them. I'm hoping there will be a sequel to this one! I can't WAIT for Fathomless which is a retelling of The Little Mermaid! Yes please!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-17650765388110208672012-02-01T19:42:00.000-08:002012-02-01T19:42:59.961-08:00Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://caralynnshultz.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/spellbound-cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://caralynnshultz.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/spellbound-cover1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">When prep school newcomer Emma Conner meets the rich, charming Brendan Salinger, she is instantly attracted to him, but strange visions of her past lives begin warning her to stay away or face a cursed prophecy that she will die. </blockquote><br />
I've been super excited to read this one and when I began to read it, I was into it. After about one hundred pages I started to lose interest and then I just wanted to stop. I have to admiit that I sort of glazed over the pages and spoiled myself on GR.<br />
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Emma was too much a martyr in this book and I didn't find her inspiring or influential. She got herself in messes that were way over her head and wanted other people (Brendan) to get her out of it. She lived in NYC with an aunt that spoiled the crud out of her. Brendan was okay; didn't love him but didn't hate him either. Anthony - total douche. The end. Kristin, the same rich bitch you get in all novels. <br />
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I thought the plot was okay but the ending was too cliche for me and the ending too clean. I wish they had gone through something more than what they did - just to have a little more action. Maybe the second will be better but unfortunately I won't be holding my breath!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">**</span>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-61898241554342827912012-01-27T08:07:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:07:35.499-08:00Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor*Forgive me if this review is everywhere. I got my molars out yesterday and am hopped up on pain medication =P*<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51H3cCkRUJL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51H3cCkRUJL.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Seventeen-year-old Karou, a lovely, enigmatic art student in a Prague boarding school, carries a sketchbook of hideous, frightening monsters--the chimaerae who form the only family she has ever known.</blockquote><br />
I knew I was going to enjoy this book because it was getting so much hype. I don't think anyone was wrong! I loved Karou as a character, she is very curious and inquisitive as well as tremendously talented! I loved hearing her voice and found her very relate able.The side characters for me were anything but sides. They made the story for me. The idea that the devil's daughter fell for an angel is ingenious. I also really enjoyed the back and forth POV between Akiva and Karou.<br />
<br />
The writing was wonderful, though I did find some parts a little slow. I'm looking forward to the next book though! I'm sure it's going to be great, as the ending to this one was explosive.Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-88151707711053615872012-01-19T21:51:00.000-08:002012-01-19T21:52:23.150-08:00BTT (Skipping)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://btt2.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/btt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://btt2.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/btt2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://btt2.wordpress.com/">BTT</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><blockquote>I <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/jan/05/skipping-parts-of-books-robert-mccrum">saw this article</a> the other day that asked, “Are you ashamed of skipping parts of books?” Which, naturally, made me want to ask all of YOU.<br />
Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?</blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>I don't feel bad about skipping at all. Sometimes I feel as though skipping saved me from disliking a really good book. For the most part, there has to be some lulls in a novel, and sadly most aren't full of action the whole way through. Just because I do skip some parts of a book doesn't mean I won't enjoy it less, I'm still scoping it out and finding out if it's something I want to continue reading. =)Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-9874457557709090952012-01-19T20:57:00.000-08:002012-01-19T20:57:13.712-08:00Ruthless by Sara Shepard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/5/9780062081865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/5/9780062081865.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
Yay! Sara Shepard is back!<br />
<br />
After finishing Twisted and being very disappointed in it, I wasn't sure about where the direction the PLL series would go. I thought it should've stopped with Wanted and that would be that. I was scared of Shepard adding on more books for the TV show. After Ruthless however, I'm pleased!<br />
<br />
I felt like the author took a little detour in Twisted and she didn't know exactly where she wanted to go with the story and in Ruthless it was much more thought out and directed. The plot was purposeful and to the point, and there wasn't too much run around thrown in. The twists in the book were juicy and delightful, and A is just as conniving as ever! I'd definitely recommend this book if you're a PLL fan!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">****</span>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-79998044374329501582012-01-17T18:25:00.000-08:002012-01-17T18:25:15.412-08:00Teaser Tuesday! (1/17/12)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/tte.jpg?w=150&h=94&h=94" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://shouldbereading.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/tte.jpg?w=150&h=94&h=94" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should be Reading</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">* Grab your current read.<br />
* Let the book fall open to a random page.<br />
* Share with us 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.<br />
* <span style="color: #cc0000;">BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!</span> (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)<br />
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314802629l/10429037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314802629l/10429037.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: left;"> Karma's a bitch. Especially in Rosewood, where secrets never stay buried for long.</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Ruthless by Sara Shepard, page 2.</div></blockquote>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-14204880165584534292012-01-12T17:48:00.000-08:002012-01-12T17:48:02.541-08:00Every You, Every Me - David Levithan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320533301l/9972838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320533301l/9972838.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Evan is haunted by the loss of his best friend, but when mysterious photographs start appearing, he begins to fall apart as he starts to wonder if she has returned, seeking vengeance.</blockquote><br />
Heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful!<br />
<br />
From the first chapter I read of this book I knew I was in for a treat. David Levithan's writing is so intense and full of emotion that you can't help but to be wrapped in and feel what the other characters are feeling. The characters were stunningly written, particularly Evan and Jack. Even Ariel is written as a character even though she never spoke one word.<br />
<br />
Levithan is a wonderful author and so clever. I found the collaboration between him and Jonathon Farmer so amazing - neither of them had any idea what the other was doing until they saw the actual photograph. How in the heck did they do that?! Evan's grittiness and torgtured soul made me want to cry for him.<br />
<br />
Amazing book, a total favorite!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span>Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-75457294229467305272012-01-09T20:10:00.000-08:002012-01-09T20:10:59.991-08:00Deadly Little Voices - Laurie Faria Stolarz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304185925l/8789318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304185925l/8789318.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">High school junior Camelia's psychometric powers of touch seem to be changing when she starts to hear voices saying malicious things to her, and even focusing on her beloved pottery does not help, especially after her psychic, suicidal aunt comes to stay after being released from the hospital. </blockquote> Another great installment to the Touch series!<br />
<br />
These books are the perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday morning. They are mysterious and creepy, but don't require too much thought. The writing is great as always, there weren't too many lulls in the book, which I really appreciated. I actually liked that there wasn't that much romance as I was more more interested in the plot and Camelia's 'visions'<br />
<br />
Aunt Alexia was just gloriously creepy. I have a feeling there's more to her than meets the eye. There is one more book in the series, which is Deadly Little Lessons and I'm very intrigued to find out how this series will end.Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-84961389004467632432012-01-09T18:52:00.000-08:002012-01-09T18:53:06.772-08:00Divergent by Veronica Roth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Mry4w810L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Mry4w810L.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all. </blockquote>This book was a favorite of the year, if not of all time! There was action starting with the beginning and didn't let loose until the last page. Tris is easily one of my favorite female heroines, I loved how she was strong but still appreciated a good looking boy. :P<br />
<br />
Speaking of good looking boys, Four was amazing. I loved finding out the meaning of his name and his personality was just scrumptious. I loved that the relationship between them was so delicate and slow building and they didn't just leap head first into it. The writing was so intense and the action was non-stop and heartbreaking.<br />
<br />
OMG the ending? Incredible. I'm salivating for Insurgent which comes out in May!Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-73399843498094500142012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-08T00:01:29.051-08:00The Future of Us - Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61oWFoI4glL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61oWFoI4glL.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.</blockquote><br />
While I liked this book, I wasn't taken by it. I found Emma to be bossy and had crazy double standards, Josh seemed a little too much like a doormat and not a realistic teenage boy. I have to say that the writing between Asher and Mackler was very good and seamless. If I didn't know they were two people, I would've thought it was one.<br />
<br />
The ending of the novel was good in my opinion, it was open ended and I don't think it could've ended any other way without seeming too cheesy.Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-1837176375341012152012-01-07T23:24:00.000-08:002012-01-07T23:24:03.899-08:00Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51a8P0ErqJL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51a8P0ErqJL.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a class="normalBlackFont1" href="">Budding costume designer Lola lives an extraordinary life in San Francisco with her two dads and beloved dog, dating a punk rocker, but when the Bell twins return to the house next door Lola recalls both the friendship-ending fight with Calliope, a figure skater, and the childhood crush she had on Cricket.</a></blockquote><br />
If it was possible (and logical) to marry a novel, it would be this one! There were so many things I loved about this book that I smile just thinking about it. There's no doubt that Stephanie Perkins knows what she's doing as an author and as a romanticist. By the end of the book she had me in a puddle on the floor.<br />
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Everything about this book was charming. The imagery, quaint neighborhoods, and just the city in general. I've been to San Fransisco and I fell in love all over again! The characters were amazing and had the best personalities. Cricket was the best guy ever and I need one for me okay? Thank you!<br />
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It was also so great to 'hear' from Anna and Etienne again, they're relationship was adorable. I absolutely cannot wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After. I might have to slug someone for a possible ARC...Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-61900820984975449862012-01-07T23:07:00.000-08:002012-01-07T23:07:40.399-08:00Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279894512l/8109130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279894512l/8109130.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">In post-apocalyptic New Orleans, now a sanctuary for supernatural beings, a hardened teenager on the run searches for the truth about her monstrous heritage and discovers a curse that could ignite the ancient war between gods and monsters.</blockquote>I absolutely loved this novel and was so sad when it ended! I LOVED the setting the novel had, the feel was constantly creepy and eerie. It completely embodied the feel of New Orleans. The characters were well developed and very separate of each other. No one molded together which is a big factor for me.<br />
<br />
Having a paranormal experience in New Orleans myself, I fell in love with this book and felt a connection to it. I absolutely can't WAIT for the next book, A Beautiful Evil, that's coming out in February (2 days before my birthday!)!Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-36376861370854210862012-01-07T22:56:00.000-08:002012-01-07T22:56:58.493-08:00The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51k2qFJi4HL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51k2qFJi4HL.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Seventeen-year-old Mara cannot remember the accident that took the lives of three of her friends but, after moving from Rhode Island to Florida, finding love with Noah, and more deaths, she realizes uncovering something buried in her memory might save her family and her future.</blockquote><br />
The hype surrounding this book was absolutely insane, and I admit that I too was extremely pumped about this book.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed! I felt the idea of the mysterious, aloof, handsome guy who is a complete ass to you but you still find him attractive to be completely annoying. What does that teach girls? Even though this guy is a complete douche, if I remain his loyal puppy he'll grow to love me. Not cool. <br />
<br />
There were some parts of the novel that I found creepy, but overall I didn't find it to live up to the hype it received. Maybe I'm too much of a critic for creepy YA books, but it fell flat for me. The only part that really freaked me out was the scene with the VooDoo man. I have to say that was awesomely written! I hated the part about the dog, it made my stomach turn and I almost stopped reading right there. <br />
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I'm really hoping now that the romance is established, the next book will be better. I thought the romance was too much of a focus and I ended the book wanting more of the plot. Disappointing, but I'm not going to lose hope just yet!Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-9203365784011465492012-01-07T22:38:00.000-08:002012-01-07T22:38:40.458-08:00In My Mailbox/Haul! (1/8/12)Wow, look at this! I'm on time! EARLY, even! Fascinating stuff. I've gotten back into reading recently so here is my latest haul. Okay maybe it's a bit obsessive borderline impossible to read all these books in about two weeks, but one - I'm always up for a challenge and two, I know my fellow bookies will understand. :D<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/377013_165289996911984_100002929541450_297432_1516187618_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/377013_165289996911984_100002929541450_297432_1516187618_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>(Links open to Goodreads pages)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11049379-entwined">Entwined - Heather Dixon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10637766-silence">Silence</a> - Becca Fitzpatrick<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8789318-deadly-little-voices">Deadly Little Voices</a> - Laurie Faria Stolarz<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6702463-sweetly">Sweetly</a> - Jackson Pearce<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9972838-every-you-every-me">Every You, Every Me</a> - David Levithan<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8928054-shine">Shine</a> - Lauren Myracle<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9917957-drink-slay-love">Drink, Slay, Love</a> - Sarah Beth Durst<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9754807-stay-with-me">Stay with Me</a> - Paul Griffin<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7656231-a-need-so-beautiful">A Need So Beautiful</a> - Suzanne Young<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6234910-the-iron-thorn">Iron Thorn, The</a> - Caitlin Kittredge<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11358736-spellbound">Spellbound</a> - Cara Lynn Shultz<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/393715.Acceleration">Acceleration</a> - Graham McNamee<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6710476-forgive-my-fins">Forgive my Fins</a> - Tera Lynn Childs<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8527908-haven">Haven</a> - Kristi Cook<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10766509-the-best-of-me">Best of Me, The</a> - Nicholas Sparks (highly doubt I'll read)Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-55972534499816573022012-01-07T20:46:00.000-08:002012-01-07T20:46:49.361-08:00Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush Hush #3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/silence.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for -- and their love -- forever. </blockquote><br />
I have to say that I'm glad I decided to go ahead and pick up this novel and give it a try!<br />
<br />
I feel like it was a good addition to the series. I was a little hesitant to read this because of the lameness that was Crescendo, but I'm happy to say that Silence picked the series back up for me. There was action from the beginning and the plot kept me guessing. There were a few things that were obvious but others that surprised me a bit.<br />
<br />
The writing was pretty good, but that usually isn't a problem for this author. With Crescendo, my main problem was it was very slow and the plot just wasn't interesting. Silence had more or what I was looking for with this series, and it seemed as though the author came back to the 'feel' of the first book. I wish there were more creepy scenarios in this one as the first but it still was a fun read!<br />
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The ending was a bit cheesy and sing-song but I suppose I have to put up with it for the others who like those sort of things. ;]Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48163563992452366.post-20366267638724495432012-01-04T20:29:00.000-08:002012-01-04T20:29:50.962-08:00Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320530843l/7558747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320530843l/7558747.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">An angry, grieving seventeen-year-old musician facing expulsion from her prestigious Brooklyn private school travels to Paris to complete a school assignment and uncovers a diary written during the French revolution by a young actress attempting to help a tortured, imprisoned little boy--Louis Charles, the lost king of France.</blockquote><br />
I absolutely loved this book!<br />
<br />
The thing that stuck out most for me about this novel is the fact that it took Donnelly 10 years to write and it is extremely seamless. I couldn't sense a transition between Andi and Alexandrine and the writing was gorgeous. This was the exact book I needed to escape, particularly the parts with Alexandrine. I'm fascinated with that era and the mystery was fabulous.<br />
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The book is large and intimidating, but it's totally worth it!Bookish Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06696811148023177876noreply@blogger.com1