You Know What You Have To Do.

You Know What You Have To Do

Bonnie Shimko.

Publisher:Amazon, Children's Publishing.
Publication Date:March 26,2013.
Genre:YA Contemporary|Thriller.
Format|Pages: ARC E Book | 240.
Source:Publisher,through Netgalley.
Challenge:SARC|Contemporary.

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~ARC Ecopy provided by Publisher, in exhcange of review~

You Know What You Have To Do , didn’t capture my attention like I thought it would. When I saw the cover and read the summary, I had a feeling that it was going be a dark novel and the type of book that I was going to love. However it wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. I enjoyed most of the book but I didn’t think that it was great. There was some aspects of the books that I enjoyed and was wondering what would happen next. There were other parts of book that made me wonder what Maggie was thinking. In general, it was a readable book and one that is worth giving a chance to.

GOODREADS SUMMARY

This quirky, appealing YA novel turns formulaic teen fiction on its head as funny, feisty fifteen year-old Mary-Magdalene Feigenbaum (otherwise known as Maggie) suddenly faces more than the usual typical YA concerns: a voice in her head that is telling her to kill people. Not just anyone—each time the target is someone who has done something terrible to a person Maggie cares for.

 

You know what you have to do, the voice commands. Maggie struggles to resist, but the voice is relentless. With rising suspense, this story of psychological horror introduces a narrator whose own unique voice and irreverent humor are unforgettable—an unlikely hero fighting a desperate battle against incomprehensible evil.

Honestly, cover was the first that captured my attention. I believe that the cover for the book, would capture anyone’s attention, especially if they are into mystery, thriller or horror. The photograph on the cover of the book looks like the mix of three. The cover went pretty well with the summary and the actual plot of the novel. The girl of the cover looks so mysterious but at the same time, angry and dangerous. If looks could kill, hers would kill from first look. I could tell right away, by looking at picture that she was up to something, she looked like she was about to kill someone. When I first saw the cover, I did wonder what was happening, about to happen. Once I read the book, I could imagine what was going through her mind. I could see why she looked like she was about to kill somebody.


The book was bit slow for me, at least in beginning, it was bit hard to get into it. There didn’t seem to be much going on, and it was bit hard to keep on reading. But once it did pick up, once the actual started happening, I found myself getting into the book. I wanted to see what would happen next with Maggie, despite me being against her killings, I always wondered who her next victim would be. I was curious if anybody would figure out what she was doing. Once Lester figured out what she was up, I was sure she would kill him. Either that or that Lester would tell someone or even contact the police. I think that the reason that he didn’t was because he was afraid of her, afraid that she would end up killing him. At same time, I couldn’t believe that he actually let her get away with murders. What kind of person does that? That didn’t seem too realistic to me.


Maggie kind of annoyed me, at least part of the book. It seemed like she was constantly complaining, especially about her mother. It seemed like she was in between about the voices that were in her head, telling her to kill people. Part of her would listen to voice but another part of her, was trying to fight it, like when it told her to kill the baby and Lester. It didn’t seem like killings affected too, though she didn’t admit, I believe that she got joy of killing. I was hoping that she would get caught. That’s why the book was bit unrealistic to me, due to fact that she got away with murder and I have feeling that she was going keep on killing. I believe that she should at least gotten in some sort of trouble, or that Lester should at least called the police.

  Book did keep my attention and made me curious what was going to happen with her next. At same time, it took me bit to read because there parts of book that I found myself not getting into. In general, it’s an easy, enjoyable read.

The Summer Prince.

The Summer Prince.

Alaya Dawn Johnson.

Publisher:Arthur A. Levine.
Publication Date:March 1,2012.
Genre: YA Dystopian| Romance.
Format:ARC Ebook| 304.
Source:Publisher, through Netgalley.
Challenge:SARC.

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~ARC E Copy was provided by publisher, in exchange of review ~

The Summer Prince wasn’t a book that I was expecting. I didn’t actually get into the book, way that I thought I would after reading summary. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the story, I did. It just took me a bit to get observed with the story. I got mixed feelings about the story. I loved half of book but there were parts that I couldn’t seem to get into. It took me few chapters to actually get into the book. Once the book picked up though, I found myself being able to connect with characters bit more. Though book wasn’t as good like I thought it would be, I still enjoyed reading it. It had an unique storyline.

GOODREADS SUMMARY

  A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

 

The lush city of Palmares Três shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

 

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Três will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

  Cover is absolutely stunning. How can you not pick up the book when you look at the cover? Honestly that was one of the first things that captured my attention about the novel was the cover. Way that the girl’s arms which I am guessing is June on the cover, glowing. When I first saw it, it made me curious what it was, what it could possibly mean. Summary is another thing that is attention grabbing, I had always been into fairytale sort of stories, and when I read the summary, I was sure that I was going to enjoy this book. The summary, the cover and the title were all of the things that had captured my attention. It made me curious and something that got me to pick up the book, check it out.


Storyline was unique. I had read quite few books about princes, princess but none of them were unlike The Summer Prince,. I was curious why it was titled The Summer Prince when I first picked up the book, I wondered if there was a meaning behind the title. Once I read the book, I could see why it was titled that, though in the book he had became the summer king. I thought what was being doing to king at end of term, the sacrifice, was bit cruel. While book progressed, I was hoping that either Gil or June find a way to save Enki, since I grew to like him. For a while, I was sure that June would find a way, no matter what it took. I was rooting for her to find a way, to save him.


 Enki & Gil : I liked Gil from start, his sense of humor and his friendship with June. Even when he found out about her and Enki, or when she ran away, he didn’t hold it against her, he understood. That’s a true friendship right there, he stood by her side, no matter what happens. Even if he loved Enki, probably as much like June loved Enki. Gil, reminds me of some of my best friends, his loyalty to June. Now Enki, I wasn’t sure how to feel about him at first, he was bit of complicated characters. At times it seemed like Enki didn’t know what he wanted or who he wanted. He mentioned that he loved Gil, yet he told June that he loved her too. It made me confused, made me wonder who he truly loved or if he honestly loved them both. I do know that both June and Gil loved him and it was sad when he did die at end. But there of them had the strangest relationship. I still don’t get how Gil wasn’t angry with June about her Enki when he was first to get with him.


For first 100 pages or so, it was bit hard for me get into the book, or really understand what was going on. It was between interesting and slow. Otherwise, it was pretty interesting, unique storyline. It was unlike any other books that I read this year so far.

Return To Me.

Return To Me.

Justina Chen.

Publisher:Little Brown Books.
Publication Date:January 15,2013.
Genre:YA Contemporary|Fantasy.
Format|Pages:Hardcover|352.
Source:Library|Goodreads.
Challenge:SARC| YA Contemporary.

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Return To Me was a second book that I read by Justina Chen , though it wasn’t as good, like North Of Beautiful was, it was a book that I didn’t want to put down. Even if it started a little slow, but that didn’t last long because it picked up fast. It wasn’t long when I was observed in the story, with the characters, wanting to see what happens with them next. Return To Me is filled with adventure, discovery, and quite bit romance. A book worth checking out.

GOODREADS SUMMARY

 

Nothing is going as planned for Rebecca Muir. She's weeks away from starting college--at a school chosen specifically to put a few thousand miles of freedom between Reb and her parents. But her dad's last-minute job opportunity has her entire family moving all those miles with her! And then there's the matter of her unexpected, amazing boyfriend, Jackson, who is staying behind on the exact opposite coast.

 

And if that isn't enough to deal with, mere days after moving cross-country, Reb's dad drops shocking, life-changing news. With her mother and brother overwhelmed and confused, Reb is left alone to pick up the pieces of her former life. But how can she do that when everything can change in an instant? How can she trust her "perfect" boyfriend when her own dad let her down? Reb started the year knowing exactly what her future would hold, but now that her world has turned upside down, will she discover what she really wants?

 

Justina Chen, the acclaimed author of North of Beautiful, has created a moving and powerful novel about the struggles that arise from betrayal, the uncertainty of life after high school, and the joy that ultimately comes from discovering what's truly in your heart.

  What I love about Justine’s novel, fact that all of them are realistic, you can see it actually happening in real life. It feels like I’m living the story with the character. That was how I felt when I was reading about Rebecca, about all the struggles that she faced within the book. Those feelings got me to connect with character. Justina brought the book to life, and it made me imagine that I was actually there, in Rebecca’s shoes. It was one of most realistic books that I have read this year. The descriptions, the emotions and struggles that Rebecca went through, can happen anywhere in real life. The situation in the book is what makes it so easy to get observed in the story, because you want to know what happens with the characters next, how it will all come to end.


Jackson: Loved him from the start. He’s kind of guy that every girl wants in a boyfriend, he’s type of guy I would love to meet. Despite what Reb did, how she pushed him away, he was always there and he didn’t push her or give up. That’s what I loved about him. I knew right from start that he loved her; sometimes I had feeling that he loved Reb more than she loved him. I don’t think that no guy would put up with what he put up with, unless they were in love. I wanted to talk some sense into Reb when she broke up with Jackson, but at same time I could see why she did it, especially after everything that happened with her father. All through the book, I was rooting for them to get back together, it seemed that Jackson was one person who made her happy.


I wasn’t sure how to feel about Reb’s father at first. Part of me hated him, for what he did to family, especially to his wife, way he was the reason that his family was struggling. Another part of me, was bit glad because he left, that actually seemed to bring Reb and her mother closer together. I saw way their relationship changed through the book, turning from almost non existing to closure. I was glad that they connected again, because she needed someone. I saw how someone’s action can bring family closer together. Not only did it bring mother and daughter together, it also brought their absent grandmother back, bringing entire family close together. It made me smile, how they all came together and were there for each other, through this difficult time.


Return To Me was an inspirational book, a type of novel that should be read by everyone. It’s a one book that you won’t be able to forget.

Winter White, Belles, #2.

Winter White.

Belles,#2.

Jen Calonita.

Publisher:Poppy.
Publication Date:October 9,2012.
Genre: Souhern Contemporary| Drama|Suspense.
Format|Pages:Hardcover|384.
Source:Library|Goodreads.

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I didn’t think it was possible for me to love the series more. I was wrong, Winter White, was an amazing book, and once I finishing I was eager for next book to come out. Belles is already one of my favorite series, it was unlike any other series I read this past year. Even if Winter White didn’t have nearly that much drama that first book had, it keeps you engaged. I found it nearly impossible to put down, I didn’t want to put it down, I felt connected with characters and needed to know what happens next. I’m eager for The Grass Is Always Greener, to see what adventures, drama, Izzy, Mira will come across.

GOODREADS SUMMARY

 

Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story, and while Izzie and Mira have each put on a happy public face, someone is leaking their true feelings to the press. It seems as if the world is watching their every move, but at least the girls have each other.

 

 

With cotillion season right around the corner, however, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever--now if only she had an escort... Izzy, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove, which seems ever more impossible with EC mean girls, young and old, trying to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect... and secret initiations to complete? It's time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off.

Title is amazing and totally goes with plot. Winter White, how can you not like a title like that? How can it not catch your attention? Even if I didn’t read the first book, the title would catch my attention. It fits the time period, southern period. The girl that’s on cover is another thing that captures your attention, but then how can they not? The girl looks stunning and it’s much easier for me, to imagine each of the characters. By looking at cover, I can imagine the characters, mostly the sisters. Since I could picture, I could connect with the sisters bit more.


Kellen & Brayden : I was glad that there was bit more romance, for both of the girls in Winter White. Ever since I read Belles, I was curious what’s going happen, to both Izzie and Mira, in romance department. I found myself more curious what’s going to happen with Brayden and Izzie now, if they were going become real couple, how everyone would respond to it. I was frustrated with Brayden for half of the book, way that he couldn’t seem to stand for himself, for izzie, when it came to his family. Fact that there was some things he wasn’t honest to her about, about dinner with Savannah’s parents and how he was escorting her at cotillion as well. How did he expect for his relationship with her to work, when he wasn’t being honest with her? I was as frustrated as Izzy with her and I couldn’t blame her for wanting to give up. Yet, at same time I was hoping that two of them would be able work out, despite way Brayden acted, I know that he really cared for her. When he escorted her at cotillion, it made me smile. Now that they worked things out, I am eager to find out what happens with them next. Kellen, he was hard to figure out at times, and at first I wasn’t even sure if he liked her, because she kept dropping hints but yet her was doing nothing. I didn’t know if he didn’t see them, get them or if he just wasn’t interested. But once he kissed her, I smiled, knowing that he liked her. Despite her blaming him for selling her painting, he still stood by her side. I was glad that Mira was able find someone, who would accept her for who she was, not judge.


Despite there being not that much drama in this book, like in last book. It still had quite bit of suspense within the book, mostly surrounding the campaign of Mira and Izzy’s father. As book progressed, I did find myself wondering how all those articles appeared about his family, and how they were appearing instantly. It’s like someone was watching them closely, spying on them. I was already suspecting that someone in the family was the traitor. Of course the least expected person ended up traitor, I would never suspected her, because she seemed so nice but guess that was her plan all along. That’s another thing I love about this book, the least expected twists come in this series, the ones that you don’t see it coming. Especially the end, now that was unexpected. It makes me wish that it was April so I can find out what happens next. It’s one of things that keeps you on reading, the twists, the suspense.


Top of the suspense, I felt like I also learned some things. Like Cotillion, I have heard of it before but never knew what it was before. I was fascinated reading about, especially with all the test everyone went through( Even if I am sure that doesn’t happen in real life). I was sure that Izzy would drop out within minutes but was glad that she stayed. I could see that Izzy and Mira’s relationship progressed within this book, they seemed to have more of a bond in this book. I’m eager to find out what adventure waits for them two next.


If you love suspense, drama, romance, be sure to pick this series up today. You’ll find yourself wondering what adventure awaits them next. One of the best series .

The Notebook.

The Notebook.

Nicholas Sparks.

Publisher:Grand Central Publishing.
Publication Date:October 1,1996.
Genre: Contemporary Romance.
Format|Pages:Paperback|214.
Source:Owned|Goodreads.

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The Notebook was the second book I read by Nicholas Sparks, when I was 16 years old. It helped me through a tough time. It helped me escape. Though I prefer the movie bit more, I loved the book, I loved the fact that it was different, it felt like I was reading completely different story. The story felt inspirational to me. It felt real. If you are into romance, I would highly recommend The Notebook, you find yourself not wanting to put it down, till the end.

GOODREADS SUMMARY

 

A man with a faded, well-worn notebook open in his lap. A woman experiencing a morning ritual she doesn't understand. Until he begins to read to her. The Notebook is an achingly tender story about the enduring power of love, a story of miracles that will stay with you forever.

 

 

Set amid the austere beauty of coastal North Carolina in 1946, The Notebook begins with the story of Noah Calhoun, a rural Southerner returned home from World War II. Noah, thirty-one, is restoring a plantation home to its former glory, and he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met fourteen years earlier, a girl he loved like no other. Unable to find her, yet unwilling to forget the summer they spent together, Noah is content to live with only memories. . . until she unexpectedly returns to his town to see him once again.

 

Allie Nelson, twenty-nine, is now engaged to another man, but realizes that the original passion she felt for Noah has not dimmed with the passage of time. Still, the obstacles that once ended their previous relationship remain, and the gulf between their worlds is too vast to ignore. With her impending marriage only weeks away, Allie is forced to confront her hopes and dreams for the future, a future that only she can shape.

 

Like a puzzle within a puzzle, the story of Noah and Allie is just beginning. As it unfolds, their tale miraculously becomes something different, with much higher stakes. The result is a deeply moving portrait of love itself, the tender moments, and fundamental changes that affect us all.

I read The Notebook multiple times since first time I picked it up, when I was sixteen. Every single time, I find myself getting into the story, unable to put it down even if I know what’s going to happen. How can anyone not love such romantic story? The Notebook wasn’t what I was expecting, since I saw the movie before reading the book. It took me by surprise, but in a good way. Though I do wish there were more scenes between them, when they just met, like there was in a movie. Despite that, I enjoyed the book, I couldn’t stop reading it. It’s one of the romantic stories that you can’t help but love. It’s unlike any other romance books out there; Nicholas Sparks has an unique writing style, one that everyone will fall in love with.


The descriptions and emotions were amazing. Usually books with lots of descriptions tend to get bit boring for me; this wasn’t case for this book. Actually it fit the book pretty well, it made the book look more realistic. The descriptions of what was going on got me easier to imagine of what was going on and be able to connect with both characters: Allie and Noah. I enjoyed reading from both Allie and Noah’s point of view, to get to know each of the characters. Both of their emotions were displayed perfectly, even if I didn’t know how they were feeling, I could imagine how they were feeling because of way their emotions were described.


Noah & Allie: How can you not root for them? For their relationship? That what I was doing all through the book, despite Allie being engaged. Even if I am against cheating, Allie and Noah belonged together. I could tell that they still love each other. Even if Allie tried to deny her feelings at first, I knew that there were still there; just by the way two of them looked at one another. It made me sad when Allie got sick and forgot Noah. But I thought it was sweet how Noah read to her every day, from the notebook, of their relationship. It made me happy when she did remember him. What Noah and Allie had, that was true love is. It actually reminded me a lot of my grandparents, that’s the kind of love two of them had before my grandfather passed away. Every single time, it reminds me of them.

This book was inspirational to me. It made me smile, it made me sad, frustrated but I loved every moment of it. I know it’s a book I am going love, no matter how many times I read it. Nicholas Sparks is an author I will always love. His books touch me, and I am looking forward to his new book in September.