Title: A Kiss In Time
Author: Alex Flinn
Published: 16th June 2010
Summary:
Talia fell under a spell…
Jack broke the
curse.
I was told to beware the
accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . .
I was looking for a little adventure the day I
ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick
asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
I awakened in the same place but in another
time—to a stranger’s soft kiss.
I couldn’t help kissing her. Sometimes you just
have to kiss someone. I didn’t know this would happen.
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the
king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run
away with this commoner!
Now I’m
stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good
news: My parents will freak!
Think you have dating issues? Try
locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a
kiss transcend all—even time? [GoodReads]
My Thoughts:
This is my second book that I have now picked up by Alex Flinn, I first read Beastly, and, truthfully, I do prefer A Kiss In Time much much more.
Jack is...a jerk before Talia comes along. He uses Talia and doesn't respect her when they first meet. I loved the development of Jack throughout the book when he eventually does listen to what Talia says. The book is narrated by two characters, Jack and Talia, and it is interesting to read the different narration mainly because of the century difference that separates them.
The ending was different and fit well with the direction of the book and I think this is another great interpretation of a fairytale with a modern twist.
Recommend or Not? Yes, I would recommend. A modern romantic fariytale that everyone should read.
Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Published: 29th October 2009
Summary:
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life. [GoodReads]
My Thoughts:
My expectations for this book was lowered when I read some more recent reviews saying that this book didn't live up to the standards that people had hoped. Maybe my expectations were too low but, yes, I fully understand on how it doesn't reach up as high as I'd hoped for.
The connection between Nora and Patch is electrical. You sense the draw between them, yet there is discomfort in what lurks in Patchs' history. I felt that the build up was great in this book, the build up to the reveal, however once we got up to the big reveal I felt like it was a bit like: "is that it?" Don't get me wrong, it was big news, but not as big as I was expecting.
There are quite a few twists that boggle your mind ever so slightly which kept this book firmly in my grip. I found this an easy and quick read. It's also a nice change to have a book about angels instead of vampires and werewolves which has been the main focus for a while in many books.
Recommend or Not? Yeah, even with the negatives I think this book is worth a read.
Title: Laguna Cove
Author: Alyson Noel
Published: 26th April 2011
Summary:
The new girl always makes waves.
Welcome to Laguna Beach, California, where the beach is hot, the teens are beautiful, and there's always time for surfing.
Anne's new life in Laguna Beach feels more like a death sentence than a vacation. The local high school is the exact opposite of her former Connecticut prep school, and the social scene is all about hanging at the beach and surfing. But when Anne finally makes friends at one of her dad's show-biz parties, she decides to give California a chance. There's wild child Lola; laid back, free-spirited Jade; and beautiful, competitive Ellie. And of course, Chris, the gorgeous guy who teaches Anne how to surf. Anne becomes fast friends with Jade and Lola, but no matter how hard she tries, Ellie won't give her a chance And the closer Anne grows to Chris, and the better she gets at surfing, the more Ellie seems to hate her. But now that Anne has worked so hard to find her place, she's not about to budge—especially since she plans to enter the annual surf competition, where she'll really give Ellie a run for her money.
With the signature humor and spot-on insight into teenage life that her readers have come to love, Alyson Noël makes waves with LAGUNA COVE. [GoodReads]
My Thoughts:
I bought Forever Summer which this book, Laguna Cover, and Cruel Summer were included in it. There have been many negative reviews due to the ending of this book however once finishing it I didn't think it was as bad as I thought it would of been.
Anne is the new girl in town. She is continuously worrying about fitting in with everyone at school but she soon finds out there is nothing to worry about. Anne, I found, was a strong and confident character. She wasn't afraid to take risks that may end up leaving her in humiliation. I felt that many of the other characters lacked depth and when I first began reading this book I was immediately surprised by the different side-stories that were included in this book. This book seemed rushed with open gaps. Jake, who was written as a minority character, I felt, should of been included much more because I felt that he was an interesting character who just wasn't been looked into.
To conclude, the ending of the book was...open ended. It is for the readers interpretation is one was you could put it. Yes, it did leave many lingering questions however I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would. Yes, there are some that I wish were answered however I did like the open ended-ness and I thought that it worked well for this book.
However, I don't really think it's much of a romance book, I felt it was more about friendship. A new place, new friends and a new life.
Recommend or Not? It's not a book that I would recommend as much as others. But yes, I would recommend it, however I will warn you that the ending of the book leaves many unanswered questions.
Title: Cruel Summer (Forever Summer)
Author: Alyson Noel
Published: 26th April 2011
Summary:
Having recently discarded her dorky image—and the best friend that went with it—Colby Cavendish is looking forward to a long hot season of parties, beach BBQ's, and hopefully, more hook-ups with Levi Bonham, the hottest guy in school. But her world comes crashing down when her parents send her away to spend the summer in Greece with her "crazy" aunt Tally. Stranded on a boring island with no malls, no cell phone reception, and an aunt who talks to her plants, Colby finds herself worrying that her new friends have forgotten all about her. But when she meets Yannis, a cute Greek local, everything changes. She experiences something deeper and more intense than a summer fling, and it forces her to see herself, and the life she left behind, in a whole new way...
One summer changes everything in this poignant young adult novel about best friends, popularity, and an unforgettable summer romance.
My Thoughts:
This story is written in a very different way compared to the other books I've read. It is told through a series of emails and blog posts. Colby is not really a character that I could relate to and she was a very annoying character. She was stubborn and constantly holds a grudge. This is shown through her blog in which she calls "Cruel Summer." It took me a while to get through this book and I don't think I'll pick this book up again to re-read.
On top of her complaining about her horrible summer in Greece, which if she just loose a little and just realized that she was in GREECE she could of enjoyed it from the start, her parents are going through a break up that she is constantly checking back on via email. She tries to control so much and doesn't understand anything that her parents are going through but still constantly butts in
Recommend or Not? No, not really. I really didn't like the narration of Colby and how she saw everything. "Cruel Summer" could of been "An Awesome Summer" if she lightened up a little. It's a shame.
Title: The Death Cure
Author: James Dashner
Published: 5th April 2012
Summary:
Thomas knows that Wicked can’t be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they’ve collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It’s up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test. What Wicked doesn’t know is that something’s happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can’t believe a word of what Wicked says. The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Will anyone survive the Death Cure? [GoodReads]
My Thoughts:
Ok, being plainly honest that this book was a complete let down. I loved the first book to pieces, it blew my mind. The second book, it was meh. But this book...not exactly how I imagined the books to end.
As I read through this book I was constantly annoyed. It was mainly the trusting issues and the whole idea of "everything is ok" that annoyed me because nothing was alright and Thomas new it. The book seemed rushed and the ending was more like, "here's an ending that will be alright and satisfy the readers", which isn't right. The ending is a little abrupt and is one that will make you ask "is that it?" at the end of it.
Title: A Kiss In Time
