Review: Firstlife

Title:  Firstlife
Series:  Everlife #1
Author:  Gena Showalter 
Genre:  Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Publication Date:  February 23, 2016
Source:  An ARC of this book given to me in exchange for an honest review by the publisher via Netgalley.  Thank you!

ONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.
Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision… 

Find Firstlife online

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This is a book that I was so, so excited for!  The premise sounded so awesome and I loved the idea of the second life.  However, actually diving into this book was a bit of a disappointment.  While the premise was still really interesting, the execution and characters brought the book down for me.  I couldn't get passed the love triangle, Ten's indecision, and the choppy writing style.

Ten couldn't make a decision to save her life...literally.  She was so incredibly indecisive and it drove me crazy the whole time.  And because she was suffering from special snowflake syndrome and in high demand in both realms she had to decide between, this indecision was even more prominent.  I understand it's such a big decision but she's had eighteen years to think about and weigh her options.  Why, after all that time, did she not have even the slightest idea of what she wanted to do?  Even under horrendous circumstances like torture, she stayed very stubbornly undecided.  Which, okay, in a way can be admirable.  Like, she's sticking to her guns no matter what, but I was honestly just super annoyed.

To add on to Ten's already decisively indecisive nature, there was a weird maybe kinda sorta love triangle thrown in.  Of course, the two boys were from the two realms she was meant to choose between - one being the bad boy, the other Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes.  And, to makes things even harder, they both were gorgeous and had different foreign accents.  But it was still a weird dynamic because one was kinda more brotherly than the other but it still felt love triangley?  I don't know, it was just uncomfortable and made me cringe sometimes.  While one of the guys was obviously more who Ten was leaning toward, it still felt a lot like a triangle.  I also really hated how both guys kept randomly disappearing and reappearing. 

The writing style also made this a bit harder to read.  It was very choppy and there were sections of email or messages of some sort between different characters that were incredibly confusing and hard to keep track of.  Ten used very short and choppy sentences that sometimes made it harder to follow and understand what was happening.  Also, some of the fight scenes described just seemed so unlikely or unrealistic.  Like, I get that this is a fiction novel and everything but there has to be some sort of reality to it and certain fight scenes were from completely unbelievable.  

My final problem with this book was the lack of explanation.  We never got a why or how to a lot of the information and happenings.  Why were the two realms at ward?  Why did Ten find it impossible to make a decision?  How do the powers that the people in the realms have work?  Like, I needed more structure and rules within the world.  I had no idea how the whole thing worked. 

Either way, this book was a disappointment.  I was really excited for the premise but the problems I ran into overshadowed that excitement, unfortunately.  I feel like had I been a bit younger, I'd have enjoyed this a lot more.  As it was, I just couldn't get over the lack of explanation, indecision, and the love triangle.  

Two Teapots 

Review: Six of Crows

Title:  Six of Crows 
Series:  Six of Crows #1
Author:  Leigh Bardugo (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult 
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date:  September 29, 2015
Source:  Bought

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Find Six of Crows online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | The Book Depository

Me, while reading this book.

Holy cow, guys.  I'm so, so impressed right now.  This book has completely blown me away.  I was tentative to buy it at first because I never actually finished the Grisha trilogy, also written by this author (though I wanted to...other books just always got in the way).  I'll be honest, at first my main motivation for getting this was the fact that the page edges were colored black.  That was just too cool to pass up.  But I've quickly realized this book is so much more than a lovely aesthetic.  I'm dubbing this my favorite book of 2015, which is huge because I've read some awesome books this year.

The writing in this book was gorgeous.  Seriously, some of the most beautiful and well-written lines I have ever read.  I was transported into the moment with the characters, the descriptions were that good.  And they weren't overwhelming!  There was a perfect balance between dialogue, action, and description.  In other books, I often find myself skimming through long paragraphs of description but I didn't have that problem at all with this one.  Everything is just so quotable, too.  I want to go around throwing random passages at people just so they can see how magnificent it is.

  

 As far as the plot is concerned, it was also great.  The pacing was so wonderful and I loved that it was told from the point of view of all the different characters (even though I'm not normally a fan of that style).  But, by far my favorite thing about this novel was the characters, especially Kaz.  Now, don't get me wrong, I loved all these characters.  Each of them were well-rounded and sported unique and three dimensional personalities and back stories but there was something about Kaz that completely drew me in.  I have a thing for troubled, morally loose and rather villainous characters and Kaz fit that so well.  He was amazing and I loved every bit of him.  I adored his hard facade and his ruthless dealing and how he was always one step ahead of everyone.  He was smart and strong and his wit was awesome.  And he wasn't perfect.  I loved that his backstory was so messy and mixed up and really affected how he acted, even know.  I also liked that he wasn't perfectly healthy, seeing as he had a bad leg and limped.  It gave what would be a nearly indestructible character a form of weakness, though Kaz never let it hinder him.  

Okay, I need to stop myself there or I'm just going to keep gushing about Kaz and never stop *deep breath*

Six of Crows is an amazing book with an all-star cast and a plot that will keep you on your toes.  The writing style is beautiful and fits the tone of the novel perfectly.  I honestly can't give this book any high praise.  It's my favorite of 2015 and I absolutely need the second one now.  Until then, I'll have to tide myself over by finishing up the Grisha trilogy.

“A liar, a thief, and utterly without conscience. But he'll keep to any deal you strike with him.” 

Five Teapots

Review: The Witch Hunter

Title:  The Witch Hunter
Series:  The Witch Hunter #1
Author:  Virginia Boecker (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult 
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  June 2nd, 2015
Source:  Gifted

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.
Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.
Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.
Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.
But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.
Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.

Find The Witch Hunter online

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I'm honestly not sure how exactly I feel about this book.  While I did enjoy some parts of it, other parts had me struggling to even keep my eyes on the page.  I simply couldn't keep my mind focused on it, especially in the middle.  Everything seemed to drag for way too long and I had to actually convince myself to continue reading it and not pick up a different book.  But that's not to say there wasn't some parts that I liked a lot.  The end was super interesting and kept my attention and some of the characters kept me invested throughout.

The biggest thing that bothered me while reading was just how some things didn't make sense at all.  For example, all of Nicholas's followers kept accusing Elizabeth of being a spy and having like, infiltrated them and that made no sense to me.  They are literally the ones that kidnaped her and brought her to their camp.  How could she be a spy infiltrating them when she was brought there?!?!  That logic bothered me so badly.  Every time it was brought up in the story, I had to keep myself from drop kicking the book.  Another thing that really got to me in this is that I totally thought the author was building up one character to be the love interest and then suddenly some random new person was there and became the love interest.  It threw me off when I was reading and made it harder to connect with and like this new love interest guy.  I had already begun to ship Elizabeth with the first guy. 

The characters were all pretty good.  It took me a while to warm up to Elizabeth but that was mostly because I had trouble sympathizing with what she was doing.  Once she sort of opened her eyes to a different way of thinking and acting, I began to like her much more.  The other characters were okay.  They were interesting enough to keep me invested in what they were doing but they seemed one dimensional.  Like, they all were very "straight and narrow", I guess.  Some of my all time favorite characters are ones that aren't always good.  I like seeing them test their morality and through those experiences, I get closer to them and that never really happened with the main characters in this book.  Though there was a side character, Schuyler, that dabbled a bit in this sort of development.  I wish we had been able to see more of him throughout this book.  

I don't know if I'll be picking up the next book in this series.  The Witch Hunter had some good aspects but it also dragged on at times and none of the main characters truly won me over.  It did have a nice fantasy aspect and I was taken by the history of the witches.  I just wish it would have been a bit more engaging. 

“I'm quiet for a moment, enchanted by the idea of something stealing over you, settling into you, and telling you, with absolute certainty, who you are and what you're meant to do.” 

Three Teapots

Character Interview: Flightless Bird

Today I have the honor of hosting the absolutely fabulous Livy Eckels!  Livy is the main character in Paulina Ulrich's novel, Flightless Bird, the first in a new YA Paranormal Romance series!  

Title:  Flightless Bird 

Series:  Flightless Bird #1 

Author:  Paulina Ulrich (Website | Twitter)

Age Group:  Young Adult

Publisher:  Createspace

Publication Date:  June 24, 2015

The summer of her seventeenth birthday Livy Eckels was faced with something she wasn't ready for. In the the midst of a crumbling family, devastated, she grabs her bicycle and heads out of town to escape the heavy atmosphere at home. Livy unexpectedly crashes into the lives of two mysterious people living on the outskirts of town. As she prepares to start her final exhaustive year of high school, she already has enough on her plate. Then with the entrance of Gregory Mason, her life becomes even more complicated. Tall, handsome, and ever so annoying, Livy can't stand being around him until she finds herself being pulled closer and closer to things she cannot explain. She was determined to understand why Gregory Mason was so interested in her until she discovered something that may put her curiosity to an end. Before she knows what is happening Livy becomes entangled in the mystifying plots of a secret society, a vengeful ex lover, and a situation she never expected to find herself in: falling in love with a boy whose secret she should have never known.

Find Flightless Bird online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads 

So, without further ado, I'm happy to welcome Livy to Wonderland's Reader!

Hi Livy! Thanks for stopping by today. Can’t wait to read Flightless Bird. 

I heard through the grapevine about you and Gregory—is it true?

Um…which part are you asking about? Because I certainly don’t know about any secrets. *winks* Let’s just say Gregory and I have had some interesting adventures together.

You can’t swim but you’re not afraid of water. How does that work?

I’m learning to swim! Slowly. I wish my parents had put me in lessons. Water has always fascinated me with its beauty. Waterfalls are all over the Pacific Northwest (where I’m from), so hopefully one day I can dive right in for a swim! Instead of sinking to the bottom.

Gregory has quite the selection of books. What are your favorite reads?

As cliché as it sounds, I really adore his sister’s worn out copy of Pride and Prejudice. I’ll read almost anything though. My best friend Gracie reads a lot of young adult so I’ve caught on too and really enjoy reading the latest dystopian or romance.

Any fun facts about yourself? 

I play the piano. I’m no Beethoven but I enjoy playing a good composition here or there.  I’m also a read-a-holic. Hmm…my favorite snack would have to be green apples. Good thing Washington is known for their apples!

Get to know more about Livy by picking up your own copy of Flightless Bird on June 24th!

About the Author

I am the author of the Flightless Bird series, the Fighting Fate series and many more stories to come. I was raised to big dream or don’t dream at all and my highly active imagination has been the cause behind many of my stories. With my insanely fluffy cat and a glass of iced tea nearby, you can find me writing and when I’m not, I’m out buying way too many cute shoes.
 

Find Paulina online!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Instagram 

Make sure to stop by again next week for some more fun with Flightless Bird!  

Review: Red Queen

Title:  Red Queen
Series:  Red Queen #1
Author:  Victoria Aveyard (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Orion
Publication Date:  February 10, 2015
Source:  Bought

This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.
The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.
That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.
Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.
But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart . . .

Find Red Queen online

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This is one of those books that we've all been hearing about for months, reading all the early reviews about how amazing it is, and making grabby hands at it because holy cow, I need this now.  With all of that happening, when I finally got my hands on this, I was a little nervous that it had become over-hyped.  When I finished the book, I was happy to realize that I actually did like it quite a lot.  There was a lot of aspects that had me happy dancing as I read.  However, there were also some things that I didn't really like.  That's not to say that, overall, I didn't really enjoy this book because I totally did.

Let's get the not so fun aspects out of the way.  Some of the things I didn't like so much was the fact that there was like, a love rectangle?  Diamond?  I don't even know.  What I do know what that freaking every male character in this book that was around her age liked Mare.  I'm not a huge fan of love triangles in general and I like this even less.  I felt like there were only really two love interests that really needed to play a role in this and even that was stretching it a bit.  It led to some unnecessary teen angst and drama.  It was well done for what it was, especially with the twist toward the end, but still, not my cup of tea.

With that out of the way . . . guys, read this book, please.  It is so full of awesome stuff.  The characters were some of my absolute favorites.  They all had so many layers and interesting aspect to them.  I really couldn't get enough.  The longer I read, the more I fell in love with Mare and Cal and Maven.  Their different reactions and motivations were all so interesting.  I loved that they all had their own stories to share and motivations for doing what they did.  There wasn't a ton of character development in this book but I'm hoping they all learn and grow a lot in the next one.

The plot, politics, and powers in this book were really what had me hooked throughout.  I'm a sucker for fantasy and I loved that the powers or abilities in this one were tied to the color of someone's blood.  It was super interesting!  The different houses within the kingdom and they way they all worked and interacted with each other was super believable and really cool.  I honestly just couldn't get enough information on how this world worked and what the people in it were like.

While this book was hyped quite a bit, it wasn't without reason.  Victoria Aveyard has written a book with a beautiful and terrifying world, layered characters, and an interesting and high-stakes plot.  I'm excited to see what the next book will bring us.

“You better hide that heart of yours, Lady Titanos. It won't lead you anywhere you want to go.”

Four Teapots

Review: Bad Romeo

Title:  Bad Romeo
Series:  Starcrossed #1
Author:  Leisa Rayven (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  New Adult
Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date:  December 23, 2014
Source:  Bought

When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time.
Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks.

Find Bad Romeo online

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My Review:  Oh, holy hot thespians everywhere, guys, this book killed me.  But in the best possible way.  Not like a stabby, painful kill, more like a I-just-melted-into-a-puddle kill.  If you're like me, you've heard amazing things about this book.  Well, I'm here to tell you even more amazing things!  Whoa, crazy, right?!  It was just that good.  Seriously, I want more.  I want the second book.  Quick, someone give it to me!   

I'll be honest, at first I was a little thrown off by the style in which this book was written.  It switches between two time periods - one where our main character Cassie is just getting into acting school and six years later.  I generally don't like this style when reading because it makes the story feel choppy to me but I found it done really well in this book.  The different time periods paralleled each other.  There were strings in each that wound into the other one and made them feel connected and just right together.  I saw the connections the past and the present were making and it made me appreciate the intricacy of it.

Also...the characters.  I love the characters.  Cassie and Ethan effortlessly stole pieces of my heart throughout this story.  I couldn't get enough of them.  Neither were perfect.  In fact, they were flawed a lot.  Cassie was a hard-core people pleaser and Ethan was about as cuddly as a porcupine.  However, when they came together it was magic.  Their conversations, the banter between them, and the *ahem* sexual tension was off the charts.  I ship them so hard, guys.  So.  Hard.  

But, of course, they weren't without their problems.  With so much passion between them, it was bound to blow up from time to time.  They had their fair share of fights and arguments and, let me tell you, I have never loved and been so stressed out about two characters before.  I was in a constant state of freaking out the entire time because I didn't want anything to get between them!  

The plot of this story was so cool.  I can safely say that I loved every single second of it.  It was awesome getting a taste of what it's like to go behind the scenes of a play with the actors.  Seeing them challenge themselves and struggle with their passion and fear.  Their struggles and the obstacles they had to overcome made this plot gold.  I could especially appreciate the plot because it was two separate ones woven into one with the past and present scenes.  I adored it.  I totally, completely adored it.  

I need the second book now.  Seriously, I need to know what happens next.  And I need you guys to read it, too, and bask in the gloriousness that is Bad Romeo.  I'm outrageously excited to see what's going to happen with Cassie and Ethan next.  Lisa Rayven is an author to look out for, seriously!

“So you're his new Juliet, huh? Has he ruined you yet? Run while you still can. Trust me on this. You do not want to be around when that boy self-destructs."

Five Cards

Review: Behind the Scenes

Title:  Behind the Scenes
Series:  Daylight Falls #1
Author:  Dahlia Adler (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Spencer Hill Contemporary
Publication Date:  June 24, 2014
Source:  Bought

High school senior Ally Duncan's best friend may be the Vanessa Park - star of TV's hottest new teen drama - but Ally's not interested in following in her BFF's Hollywood footsteps. In fact, the only thing Ally’s ever really wanted is to go to Columbia and study abroad in Paris. But when her father's mounting medical bills threaten to stop her dream in its tracks, Ally nabs a position as Van's on-set assistant to get the cash she needs.
Spending the extra time with Van turns out to be fun, and getting to know her sexy co-star Liam is an added bonus. But when the actors’ publicist arranges for Van and Liam to “date” for the tabloids just after he and Ally share their first kiss, Ally will have to decide exactly what role she's capable of playing in their world of make believe. If she can't play by Hollywood's rules, she may lose her best friend, her dream future, and her first shot at love. 

Find Behind the Scenes online

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My Review:  Gah, I love this book!  It was such a fun, quick read and such a nice break from studying (which I was dealing with while reading it).  It had everything I was looking for in a book:  relatable characters, sweet romance, interesting plot, and a fun Hollywood spin on everything.  I really enjoyed seeing the Hollywood aspect of this.  It was interesting to get a glimpse at that sort of life, especially through the eyes of someone who wasn't completely submerged in the world, like our main characters.  Overall, this was just a really cute and romantic book!

Ally Duncan is up high on my list of relatable characters.  As I was reading, I connected so quickly and easily with her.  Some of her thoughts mirrored ones that I had had before and it was awesome to be able to fall so readily into her shoes.  She was a really sweet and strong character and I loved the relationship she had with her best friend, Van.  They had a pact to never to become jealous of each other and they stuck with that pact pretty well.  The only real complaint I have about Ally is how quickly she turns to alcohol when things go badly.  This really annoyed me about her.  Anytime a situation went the way she didn't want it to, she got drunk and it was just so frustrating and unproductive.  

Liam was such a sweet dude and so cute.  I just couldn't get over how amazing and wonderful he was.  There were many times throughout this book I found myself "aww"ing out loud.  He was just that swoon-worthy.  Not to mention very thoughtful.  I was so happy seeing the way he opened up to Ally and how their relationship unfolded.  It was an instantaneous thing; it moved at a slow and steady pace that just made it so perfect and cute.  

The plot was relatively fast paced which I enjoyed.  There was a lot of internal conflicts that kept it moving and kept me engaged.  I also really liked that this book wasn't only focused on the romance between Ally and Liam.  A lot of the book was centered around Ally's family dealing with her dad's cancer.  It added an extra layer to love in this story, despite how it was sad and hard to read at times.  

Overall, Behind the Scenes was a book I really enjoyed.  There were some character quirks I wasn't a fan of but for the most part, I was kept smiling throughout.  I'm so so so excited for the second book in this series, Under the Lights to release!  

"Of course you were enough, Al. You were everything." 

PS:  I am so sorry I haven't been posting as much lately.  I'm in my first year of college and it is keeping me seriously busy.  I'm hoping things start settling down soon so that I can get back into posting more regularly!  Thank you for understanding :) 

Review: The Write Stuff

Title:  The Write Stuff
Series:  None
Author:  Tiffany King (Wesbite | Twitter)
Age Group:  New Adult
Publisher:  A.T. Publishing LLC
Publication Date:  August 25, 2014
Source:  Bought

Twenty-two-year-old historical romance writer Nicole Blake, or N.S. Blake to her readers, hasn't taken an official poll, mind you, but she is convinced she may be the only romance author on the planet who is still a card-carrying member of the virgin club.Not that she hasn't tried to end her membership. Life just keeps finding pesky ways to interfere. With no prospects on the horizon, Nicole begins to feel like the closest she will ever get to experiencing a man is within her own stories.
Opportunity presents itself in the form of hot-as-sin-on-a-lollipop-stick bartender/premed student Alec Petropoulos, who agrees to be the cover model for her upcoming book. Sparks fly instantly between them, and Nicole begins to entertain the possibility that she's finally found the right guy to hand over her tattered V-card. Alec has all the makings for a perfect one-night-stand candidate except, much to Nicole's surprise, he seems to be the only man in existence not interested in bagging a virgin.
Stuck between a rock and a stubborn male, what's a virgin to do? Seduce him, of course. How hard could it be? If it works for the characters in her stories, why wouldn't it work for her? After all, what happens under the cover…stays under the cover.

Find The Write Stuff online

Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

My Review:  Reading this book made me feel like I had a backstage pass to the world of an author.  As I hope to one day publish my own novels, that made this book doubly awesome.  While, yes, this book mainly focuses on the relationship forming between Nicole and Alec, there are a lot of scenes about her writing process, the publishing process as a self published author, and the time spent promoting her books.  So, all that was really an added bonus to a fun, hilarious, and light-hearted novel!  

I saw so much of myself in Nicole.  She was much more comfortable behind her computer screen than she was out in the world face-to-face with people.  I admired her hard work and how much time and effort she put into her books.  And I also really enjoyed seeing the way she learned to interact with fans as she came in contact with them more.  She was so nervous but she loved and appreciated them enough to make an effort.

Alec won me over, too, despite his less than wonderful second impression of him.  He was a really fun and caring guy and I appreciated that he was able to push aside differences and be mature when the situation needed it.  The way he supported and cheered on Nicole was sweet and would have made my eyes turn into hearts if they could do that.

The plot was okay.  It mainly focused on Nicole and Alec going on a tour for Nicole's newest release.  Because of that, some of it was a little repetitive.  There was a lot of setting up the booth scenes and talking to fans scenes and fan gushing over how hot a shirtless Alec was.  But in between those sections, things were fast and entertaining.  It was a lot of fun watching the way Alec and Nicole interacted.  

The Write Stuff was a fun, quick read and I would definitely recommend it, especially to those interested in writing themselves.  Like I said, it focuses a lot on the romance but also on the writing process as a whole.  

"Winking to me was like liquor to an alcoholic and he was getting me drunk."

Four Cards

P.S.: Wonderland's Reader recently reached 300 followers!  To celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway in which you can win five AWESOME books!  Enter here.

   

Review: Monument 14

Title:  Monument 14
Series:  Monument 14 #1
Author:  Emmy Laybourne (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date:  June 5, 2012
Source:  Bought

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.
Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.
But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.
In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

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My Review:  While I liked the basic premise of this book, I had some major problems with other aspects.  This was definitely one of those I-want-to-throw-you-against-the-wall-but-I-need-to-know-what-happens kind of reads.  If not for how invested I was in wanting to know how everything resolved, I would have put this book down after the first 50 pages. 

One of the biggest problems I had with this book was the characters.  I didn't like a single one of them.  Wait - that's a lie.  I liked the five year old twins.  But that was it.  I hated that I couldn't like the main character but, honestly, he felt a little creepy to me, especially after something that happened in the middle of the book involving a girl.  Speaking of girls, this book was also suffering from a chronic case of insta-love.  Our main character Dean hadn't ever once even talked to the love interest, Astrid, before this book started and within the first 5 pages he called he the love of his life.  Seriously.  Astrid was yelling at Dean at one point and he was like "she was furious and she looked gorgeous".

   
Also, I had a hard time picturing the setting in the beginning of this book.  It seemed like this was taking place in present time but then Dean would say something that would make it seem like it was in the future.  Eventually (on page 45), we learn that this story is actually taking place in the year 2024.  That made it a little confusing.  

Besides those problems, I really enjoyed this book.  Just the premise and the apocalyptic feel was enough to keep me hooked.  I needed to know what was going to happen to these kids.  There was so much they didn't know about what was going on out in the world and it made everything very tense and high-stress.  There were seriously creepy moments that just sent chills down my spine and I thought it was really interesting how different each character reacted to these events.  

I don't know if I'll be continuing this series.  I'm interested enough in the outcome to want to pick up the second book but I feel like the characters are just going to wear on my patience the more I'm with them.  The second book might be one of those I'm-bored-and-there's-nothing-else-to-read reads that I pick up out of the blue.  We'll see.  

“Sometimes, when you'd least expect it, the grief would chop your legs out from under you.” 

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