Author: Anna (Page 40 of 48)

BOOK REVIEW – Reclaiming the Sand (Reclaiming the Sand #1) by A. Meredith Walters

March 14, 2015 / Anna

Reclaiming the Sand (Reclaiming the Sand #1)
by A. Meredith Walters
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Bully and victim.
Tormenter and tormented.
Villain and hero.

Ellie McCallum was a bully. No connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.

Particularly Freaky Flynn.

Flynn Hendrick lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.

But then Flynn and Ellie grew up.

And moved on.

Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.

▒ Buddy Read with my favorite Indy girl Chelsea ▒

I love reviewing books, I really do. Yet sometimes I come across a book which I don’t want to review at all. That can be because I’m too overwhelmed or pissed, annoyed or confused or underwhelmed. Why am I feeling it here? After having struggled to put my finger on what bothered me, I’ve come to the conclusion that my main problem with this book is the fact that although I did feel all these contradictory emotions through my read, I end feeling hollow in the end.

As you can guess, I don’t like this sensation at all.

#PlotLacking aka I’m not impressed that much

The story was going nowhere. I’m sorry but it’s true. That’s my truth, anyway. Of course we can argue that it’s a journey to forgiveness and acceptance – of course. Yet while the first half did a very good job at setting the scene and introducing these mostly awful characters, the second part lost me at some point. Perhaps I missed something, but in my opinion the story started to drag without real aim, except for waiting for the big revelation that we just KNEW would shatter everything. Don’t get me wrong, I was expecting the angst, I really was, but while I thought I was okay with it I realized pretty fast that it was the kind of angst I can’t stand : the “I-know-what-will-happen-and-I’m-dreading-it” kind of angst. I can’t help but loathe it, because in my opinion that’s the easiest kind of angst. The easiest way to make readers feel and to ensure the success of the book. Sorry but I’m not buying it, I’m just annoyed.

#IWantYouToRotInHell aka Why, hello, awful characters!

Now, I don’t think I’m picky with characters and I know that I have in me to love evil characters. Hell, I adored Jorg from The Broken Empire and he’s such a sick devil. So, nah, I wasn’t particularly worried before starting it. But damn, I didn’t expect to meet such DUMB SICK BASTARDS. I’ll keep it short because I’m feeling judgmental toward them but COME. ON. There’s only so many craps I can take, and when the characters make you feel the urge to SKIM whole parts of the book (I resisted), that’s problematic, right?

► Dania : You evil irresponsible BITCH. I can overtake a lot of things, but not only this girl is mean, manipulative, but she fucking continues to drink and take drug while she’s PREGNANT and that made me rage. Fucking RAGE because she’s so STUPID and SELFISH.

► Stu & Shane : What a bunch of selfish sick and disgusting bastards. I don’t even want to talk about them.

► Ellie : What can I say about our main character? Did I hate her? Oh yes I did. Yet I tried to understand her, I really tried, and I can’t deny that she managed to move me several times – But damn, it seemed that each time I was starting to warm a little to her she HAD to do something stupid or mean or selfish – not to mention the flashbacks that destroyed any pretention to like her I could have. Seeing her sick behavior through Flynn’s eyes made me often want to slap her and call her on a shit because what a COWARD. Seriously. Oh, excuse me, am I supposed to feel sorry for her? The truth is, I could have. Really. Because she was put into a considerable amount of shit in her life, I must admit. But despite her evolution, despite the cute moments, despite all that can be seen as beautiful in their story, in the end, I’m leaving her with a bitter aftertaste.

✘ I’m not sure what the story is supposed to teach us. That love overtakes everything? I hate this message. No, I don’t think serial-killers and dictators deserve to be loved, I’m mean like that. Therefore even though Ellie is far from being a serial-killer, I JUST CAN’T ROOT FOR HER AND FLYNN. I fucking can’t and I’m not sorry for it, because her bunch of friends and her aren’t anything but cowards, assholes, and BULLIES.

▨ Why would you want to read it? Well, for Flynn of course.

► Flynn : Meet this adorable, kind and smart man, whose utter and complete love for Ellie makes him forgive her for EVERYTHING and makes me want to shake him. To be frank, what bothered me the most is the fact that I can’t understand WHY Flynn wants to be Ellie’s friend in the first place, let alone LOVES her. Don’t get me wrong, I adored him (how couldn’t I?) yet a little part of me stays mad because HE DESERVES BETTER ← See? That was me being a judgmental bitch. And I’m not even sorry for that.

#BigMissOnMe aka Maybe this book isn’t for me

Finally, I can look at all the aspects of the problem, if I’m being frank, here’s what I think : if I was giving the choice to read it knowing how I would feel in the end, I wouldn’t read it.

▨ As for the ending?

Totally anticlimactic.

Therefore I can’t decently give it a positive rating, even if I can’t deny that it was well-written. This being said, I can understand why people loved it, their reviews point really well why this book is beautiful – but all this touching beauty was completely lost on me and I can’t base my rating on what I am SUPPOSED to feel. Because even if there were some parts where I felt overwhelmed, most of the time it was just the opposite : underwhelming and disappointing.

✘Conclusion? This book wasn’t for me. Let me just forget it now.

BOOK REVIEW – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

March 13, 2015 / Anna

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

۰•● One sudden disappearance.

۰•● Two train journeys a day while Rachel seeks happiness out of her life. Morning, evening, morning, evening. All these fucking useless days. I suffered for her, because she’s so lonely and hopeless – yet her story could appear to be banal. Alcoholic, divorced, ashamed. So much shame on her shoulders, so much shame but not the force to change, not the force to fight. Because why fighting? Why fighting when we’ve nothing to gain? Why? I couldn’t help but ache for her, in a way that I’m not accustomed to feel. Who could we call, who, to help her?

Are there people out there who are able to help someone without wanting a paycheck in exchange? A money paycheck, a virtuous paycheck, a reconnaissance paycheck, a foil to make you look good paycheck? All different but all the same old shit.

“I have never understood how people can blithely disregard the damage they do by following their hearts. Who was it said that following your heart is a good thing? It is pure egotism, a selfishness to conquer all.”

۰•● Three unreliable narrators who make us wandering blind throughout the whole story. The creepy factor is always here between the lines, while we start getting hints of truth, the tension slowly growing until we can’t help but suspect each and every one of the characters we meet. Okay, maybe not the police officer though. Or yeah? I don’t know anymore, and trust me, you won’t either. Despite the fact that I guessed a great part of the end toward the 70% mark, the story never became boring – that’s quite the opposite, actually.

“They’re a match, they’re a set. They’re happy, I can tell. They’re what I used to be, They’re Tom and me, five years ago. They’re what I lost, they’re everything I want to be.”

۰•● Three women whose lives are shattering.

۰•● Four men’s smiles I didn’t trust at all.

۰•● Five reasons to read it.
① To savor this compelling writing, which makes this book literally unputdownable.
② To travel through this fast-paced and haunting story.
③ To meet these fleshed-out, multi-layered characters.
④ To start an excruciating journey into the worst side of human lives – or is it the most banal, in fact? The truth we’re hiding in the light of the day? This despair we don’t want to aknowledge?
⑤ You just want to know what happens, don’t you?

۰•● Six feelings I endured. Angst. Despair. Anger. Heartbreak. Shame. Fascination.

“The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots to grow around concrete ; you mould yourself through the gaps.”

۰•● Seven for a secret never be told.●•۰

۰•● A million quotes. I had to choose, though.

BOOK REVIEW – The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

March 11, 2015 / Anna

The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Ever since the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher’s son, sophomore Hallelujah Calhoun has been silent. When the rumors swirled around school, she was silent. When her parents grounded her, she was silent. When her friends abandoned her … silent.

Now, six months later, on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains, Hallie still can’t find a voice to answer the taunting. Shame and embarrassment haunt her, while Luke keeps coming up with new ways to humiliate her. Not even meeting Rachel, an outgoing newcomer who isn’t aware of her past, can pull Hallie out of her shell. Being on the defensive for so long has left her raw, and she doesn’t know who to trust.

On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie’s former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to band together.

With past betrayals and harrowing obstacles in their way, Hallie fears they’ll never reach safety. Could speaking up about the night that changed everything close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she traveled too far to come back

“She feels hope well up. She isn’t sure what to do with it. Hope is scary. Expecting the worst is easier.”

▩ Open the book. Hooked. Mad. Hooked. Uncomfortable. Hooked. Worried. Hooked. Scared. Hooked. Overwhelmed. Hooked. Annoyed. Yeah, but hooked.

▩ Close the book. I feel like I’ve been brainwashed and that I just reached the end of the spell.

Warning : My review has high potential to drive you nuts, because I seem to be completely unable to make an opinion about this book. I literally spammed my adorable and patient friend Chelsea (again, sorry thanks) with my contradictory feelings.

First of all, This book was awfully hard to rate. Because while I can’t deny I was hooked from page one and completely drowned into the story, I have issues I just can’t overtake. More that I think about it, more I’m pissed, that’s why I’m writing this review today, otherwise my rating may get lower and lower and lower…

░ Part one : Survival – Theirs, and mine ░

What’s the hardest? To survive days without food nor clothes or to survive bullying, lies, and loneliness? We’re there with them, seeking out what to eat, what to drink, where to sleep, where to go.

In the mountain, everything is different, nothing makes sense anymore and everything is more important. Talking, not talking. Standing for ourselves, waiting. Trusting, leaving. Forgiving?

Hope. Despair. Crazy. Terror. Chills. Positively FURIOUS. At some point, I wanted to slap and hurt someone, for real.

░ Part two : The characters – Their force, and their failures ░

▦ Jonah – So believable and real. So flawed. Bitter. Heart-warming at some point? Yeah, I guess. Now – can I forgive him his prior behavior? The shame is, I don’t think so. I know, I know, Hallie and him will reach an understanding and yeah, I can understand it to some extend but there’s this sentence. This FUCKING sentence. You know what? I’m mad because I can’t quote it without spoiling the whole mystery to you, so I won’t.

Except into these wonderful spoiler tags. I know I’m tempting you, but resist guys, because THIS IS A MAJOR SPOILER. You’ve been warned.

View Spoiler »

Well, in a nutshell, let’s say that I don’t buy the reasons he brings to explain his complete lack of support for his FRIEND during SIX MONTHS, while she was BULLIED. So, yeah, unfortunately he is believable. Yeah, his flaws make him interesting. But damn, how in the world I’m supposed to root for him? How in the world I’m supposed to accept it? I must admit that he’s sometimes cute, but he also is a fucking hypocrite.

▦ Hallie – I wanted to shake her, to comfort her, to understand her, to support her. Yet she wasn’t relatable to me, because I had a hard time accepting that she didn’t defend herself, and well, I’m going to talk about the God thing after so I won’t start here otherwise I’m afraid I’ll never stop.

▦ Rachel is awesome, understanding, funny and open-minded. Really, I have nothing to reproach her. The relationship which is gradually growing between them is really genuine and enjoyable to follow.

░ Part three : The message? ░

Oh my goodness can we stop talking about God. That’s understanding because they belong to a church youth group so yeah, I can’t really whine about it but damn, that was difficult for me. Actually I just reread the blurb and wanted to slap myself. But what can I say? I was spoiled by blurbs so many times that now I only skim them more often than not. Damn me. I didn’t get the church youth thing. Trust me, I don’t want to be offensive, but the fact is, I really struggle to connect with characters who talk about God all the time. That’s all.

Now, I can’t stop thinking about it and wondering what message this book is supposed to carry : they were talking about god way too often and sorry, but they drove me fucking nuts. This was just too much for me.

Is being lost in the woods a part of God’s plan? Oh, COME ON.

Don’t forget that Hallie was bullied because of something Luke, the perfect little Christian, told everyone. And of course, OF COURSE, everybody believed him, including her parents, because the guy is considered that reliable, mainly because he’s the preacher’s son.

What a fucking and maddening bullshit.

… by the cynical ME. If you have a problem with that, well, sorry but not sorry. I do think that people are often hypocrite when it comes to the difference between what they preach and how they act. If every single person who is religious was utterly good and understanding, well, the world would be different RIGHT?

So, for me, what’s the main message? The main message is that church stuff can be a complete hypocrisy.

The only thing I can say is that the ending didn’t fully satisfy me – I needed more closure, to be frank. Anyway, in the end, this experience changed Hallie’s personality and believings, making her stronger. That’s something I was glad to see.

░ Here’s where I am. On the fence. ░

On the one hand we have a really compelling survival story which was unputdownable, but in the other, I can’t bring myself to accept the male lead’s behavior and I was strongly annoyed by the constant references to religion. Perhaps I’m overthinking it. Perhaps I’m not being fair. Oh, well. This review is only my opinion after all.

BOOK REVIEW – Dragonfly Creek (Firefly Hollow #3) by T.L Haddix

March 8, 2015 / Anna

Dragonfly Creek (Firefly Hollow #3)
by T.L. Haddix
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks

Synopsis:
When Ben Campbell returns home to Hazard, Kentucky after a five-year absence, the last person he's expecting to run into is the girl who broke his heart - the girl who left town and married someone else. He's done his best to move on, but he knows he's only been going through the motions of living. Determined to exorcise Ainsley’s ghost, he approaches the young widow with an offer for a steamy liaison to do just that.

Ainsley Brewer Scott carries a lot of weight on her shoulders, weight that’s left deep emotional and physical scars. Her dreams of an everlasting love with Ben were dashed thoroughly, thanks to her malicious and conniving mother. Back in town to wrap up the old woman's estate, Ainsley's world is turned upside down when she sees Ben. And when he propositions her, he lights a match to her temper that flames into a burning attraction just as strong as what they shared years earlier.

When the truth behind Ainsley's leaving comes out, the long-held secrets shatter the fragile trust they’ve started to build. She and Ben have to decide to either walk away from each other for the second time or stand together and fight for their future.

This book has EVERYTHING. Thought you might want to know. That’s why I prepared a little to-do list of all the things you’re going to want to do after reading it.

✘ Break into the Campbells’s house.

♬ ♪ Hello, incredible family, can I come? Yeah, I totally mean to intrude.

I mean – first of all, Ben’s parents are Owen and Sarah from Firefly Hollow. OWEN, remember? Well, the only thing I can say is that even as a dad, the guy is pretty awesome, and I couldn’t help but swoon each time we got to see him. How can I describe the Campbells family? Well … They care about each other, so, of course, they tease each other. They are completely unable to mind their own business. Does that make them infuriating? Of course it does. But, more important, that makes them utterly likeable, real, and fun to follow.

“On a date,” Sarah answered.
Owen scowled. “It isn’t a date. It’s a get-together with some of her friends, and a couple of them happen to be boys. She’s just sixteen. It’s not a date.”
Ben looked at his mother, who nodded.
” It’s a date.(…)”

I love them. I want to move with them. I think I want to be a deer. Or a wolf. Whatever, I’ll take what I’ll get, because they aren’t only nice and supportive when one of them needs it. They’re an incredible family. Period.

✘ Steal their friends.

♬ ♪ While I’m it, I also want to meet your friends.

“He didn’t. Seriously? For old times’s sake?” Zanny pursed her lips. “He’s lucky a dunking is all you gave him.”

Be prepared for the shock of your life. Wait for it…. In this books the girls have friends, and even more – they act like nice persons when they meet another girl. Continue reading

BOOK REVIEW – Equal parts (Supernova #1) by Emma Winters

March 7, 2015 / Anna

Equal Parts (Supernova #1)
by Emma Winters
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Nobody knows happiness better than nineteen-year-old Felicity Eastwood. For years now, she’s been ‘gifted’ with the ability to collect and transfer happiness to anyone at will. Well, everyone except herself.
That is until Achilles - renowned criminal mastermind with a face painted like Death and enough charm to cause hormonal riots – crashes into Felicity’s world and makes her feel … something.

Determined not to let such a coveted superpower slip beyond his reach, Achilles kidnaps Felicity, hoping to use her ability to brave his own skeletons. Felicity is only a half-unwilling prisoner though, forgoing escape to learn more of the man behind the mask and pursue the inexplicable spark between them.

As the lines between hero and villain begin to blur, Felicity finds herself wondering if Achilles might be the key to her own happiness at long last. Is it possible to be so happy with someone so dangerous?

But Achilles isn’t the only villain in the town, and the pursuit of happiness can be a deadly hunt…

This book is bipolar. I might as well write two different reviews. Because as the first half wasn’t flawless, the second half made me rage.

✘ Rage because I was in love with the idea of this book rather than this book itself.
✘ Rage because Achilles? I’d take this crazy painted face as a hero over some tattooed douche jerk on any day.
✘ Rage because this story had so much potential I actually felt sick to see how much the NA cliché ruined it.

☠ I’m going to talk about Achilles before starting to point what I didn’t like.

“He killed Carova’s mayor, he murdered people on a daily basis, he was weirdly charismatic, and he knew everything about everyone – or so it seemed.

And now, he was standing right in front of me, clutching his shoulder with one hand and a bloodied nail-gun in the other.

“Christ, girl, you gave me a heart attack!” He jumped back at the sound of my shriek.”

Truth to be told, when my friend Harriet talked to me about him, I was super excited – a SUPER-VILLAIN ? Who paints his face as a mask of death? Who’s sarcastic? Give him to me! Like, yesterday! I read this book because of him and for this reason I don’t regret anything, despite the low rating and the rage moments I came across.

▩ What did I love so much in him?

Well, first of all, the fact that he’s a real villain. No false assassin who never kills anyone, no random bad-boy whose only crime is to be a manwhore, no. A real psychopath, for whom killing someone is a boring routine. How refreshing is this?! See? This is where the story was filled with awesome possibilities. I’m not gonna lie : who doesn’t like a villain falling in love? Okaaaay, maybe there’re some but me?! I’m such a sucker for it. The problem in NA is, usually the main problem to reform in the male-lead is the fact he’s a manwhore. Yikes. Oh, yeah, he has some family issues as well, he’s probably orphan/abused/whatever and icing on the cake, he’s tattooed. Now, I have nothing against tattoos in real life, I actually love them, but the way they’re used in NA to picture the perfect bad-boy? Sick.

While here, we get a real maniac who IS going to fall in love (that’s NA, duh) and yeah, frankly, I can’t say that I’m not adoring this shit. I loved the fact that he never feels the need to find excuses for his murderous behavior, but always takes full responsibility for it. However, there are some reactions I didn’t get, especially toward the end. Maybe that’s just me, and the fact I’ve read The Broken Empire trilogy a few weeks ago, but I struggle to understand his motivation at some point, and the evolution of his believes can appear rather out of character. Oh, and please stop smirking.

Well, now, who cares about that? He’s dangerous and sexy. Continue reading

Jen	Chelsea
Arielle	Cassie

Jen	Chelsea
Arielle	Cassie

Author: Anna (Page 40 of 48)

BOOK REVIEW – Reclaiming the Sand (Reclaiming the Sand #1) by A. Meredith Walters

Synopsis:

BOOK REVIEW – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Synopsis:

“I have never understood how people can blithely disregard the damage they do by following their hearts. Who was it said that following your heart is a good thing? It is pure egotism, a selfishness to conquer all.”

“They’re a match, they’re a set. They’re happy, I can tell. They’re what I used to be, They’re Tom and me, five years ago. They’re what I lost, they’re everything I want to be.”

“The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots to grow around concrete ; you mould yourself through the gaps.”

BOOK REVIEW – The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

Synopsis:

“She feels hope well up. She isn’t sure what to do with it. Hope is scary. Expecting the worst is easier.”

BOOK REVIEW – Dragonfly Creek (Firefly Hollow #3) by T.L Haddix

Synopsis:

“On a date,” Sarah answered.
Owen scowled. “It isn’t a date. It’s a get-together with some of her friends, and a couple of them happen to be boys. She’s just sixteen. It’s not a date.”
Ben looked at his mother, who nodded.
” It’s a date.(…)”

“He didn’t. Seriously? For old times’s sake?” Zanny pursed her lips. “He’s lucky a dunking is all you gave him.”

BOOK REVIEW – Equal parts (Supernova #1) by Emma Winters

Synopsis:

“He killed Carova’s mayor, he murdered people on a daily basis, he was weirdly charismatic, and he knew everything about everyone – or so it seemed.

And now, he was standing right in front of me, clutching his shoulder with one hand and a bloodied nail-gun in the other.

“Christ, girl, you gave me a heart attack!” He jumped back at the sound of my shriek.”

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BOOK REVIEW – Reclaiming the Sand (Reclaiming the Sand #1) by A. Meredith Walters

Synopsis:

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BOOK REVIEW – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Synopsis:

“I have never understood how people can blithely disregard the damage they do by following their hearts. Who was it said that following your heart is a good thing? It is pure egotism, a selfishness to conquer all.”

“They’re a match, they’re a set. They’re happy, I can tell. They’re what I used to be, They’re Tom and me, five years ago. They’re what I lost, they’re everything I want to be.”

“The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots to grow around concrete ; you mould yourself through the gaps.”

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BOOK REVIEW – The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

Synopsis:

“She feels hope well up. She isn’t sure what to do with it. Hope is scary. Expecting the worst is easier.”

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BOOK REVIEW – Dragonfly Creek (Firefly Hollow #3) by T.L Haddix

Synopsis:

“On a date,” Sarah answered. Owen scowled. “It isn’t a date. It’s a get-together with some of her friends, and a couple of them happen to be boys. She’s just sixteen. It’s not a date.” Ben looked at his mother, who nodded. ” It’s a date.(…)”

“He didn’t. Seriously? For old times’s sake?” Zanny pursed her lips. “He’s lucky a dunking is all you gave him.”

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BOOK REVIEW – Equal parts (Supernova #1) by Emma Winters

Synopsis:

“He killed Carova’s mayor, he murdered people on a daily basis, he was weirdly charismatic, and he knew everything about everyone – or so it seemed.

And now, he was standing right in front of me, clutching his shoulder with one hand and a bloodied nail-gun in the other.

“Christ, girl, you gave me a heart attack!” He jumped back at the sound of my shriek.”

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“On a date,” Sarah answered.
Owen scowled. “It isn’t a date. It’s a get-together with some of her friends, and a couple of them happen to be boys. She’s just sixteen. It’s not a date.”
Ben looked at his mother, who nodded.
” It’s a date.(…)”