Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of  my followers who celebrate Christmas!



Here's a llama in a Santa hat just because I like llamas.


Guess who's passing tonight?!


Lol I don't really believe in Santa but you know Christmas spirit. ;)





You know Hermoine I think you might be right!




Love them boys!

Merry Christmas! Hope to post more reviews during the break!

Be Still My Vampire Heart by Kerrelyn Sparks

Be Still My Vampire Heart by Kerrelyn Sparks

Third in the Love at Stake series

5 stars

Angus MacKay is a Scottish vampire for almost a thousand years. He runs MaKay Security and Investigation in hopes of saving humans and vampires alike. When out patrolling the park he finds Emma Wallace. Emma works for the CIA’s Stake-Out team and she’s intent on getting revenge on vampires after what they did to her family. As Angus falls for Emma and Emma starts feel the same way, she wonders if she’ll be able to overcome her hate and want for revenge. Compared to this previous book in this series Vamps and the City this book is pure gold. Vamps and the City was a disappointment, but Be Still My Vampire Heart doesn’t disappoint and just shows that there was a slight bump in the road. I don’t know what it is but I’ve come across many series with terrible second books which make me weary about going into the next book. I’m glad I read this series out of order though, but I still compare the books to how the series goes even if I read this book after nine books in the series came out. Oops! I was behind!


I always seem to read the books in adult series out of order. At least before I joined Goodreads.


The main female character is Emma. I loved Emma in all of the books I read her in before except the first and second because she was so cold-hearted, but I still had a soft spot for her even then. Emma is probably one of my favorite heroines in the series. I think she’s perfect for Angus and she’s just kick-ass. I love how she changes throughout the course of the book and she’s just so strong. She’s easy to admire and I just can’t find fault in her. I will admit she got somewhat frustrating towards the end with the whole situation, but it worked out and I quickly forgot about it.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 9.5

The main male character is Angus. Angus is totally kickass. I always pictured him to be a grandfather looking type kind of guy when I first read about him in The Vampire and the Virgin because well it just seemed easier to do since he was Robby’s grandfather, but I stopped doing that once I read the other books. Thank god I did! How awkward would that have been?

I think I’ll pass.  
 

How about him instead? I love Angus he’s not my favorite of the Scotts, but he’s definitely one of my favorite of the Vamps and males overall.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 9.5

The Villain- I actually liked the villains in this one. There was a lot of build up in the story and action towards the end. The villains in this one were a lot better than in the previous two.


Villain Scale: 7

I love all the characters in the Love At Stake series. I love seeing Roman and Shanna and Darcy and Austin again, but to be honest I don’t really care about Darcy and Austin. I love Ian, Robby, Howard, Vanda, Phil, and I loved meeting Phineas for the first time. Phineas was the life of the party even when he was scared for his life.

Character Scale: 10

I love the Love at Stake series and this is probably one of the “better” books, but it’s not my favorite. I loved reading about Angus and Emma’s story and I’m sure I’ll go back again one day and revisit them. Sparks didn’t fail me with this and she’s one of my favorite writers because of the comedy and fun fluffiness in her books.


Cover Thoughts: I like the cover, but I don’t picture Emma to look like that. In fact I don’t think the lady does Emma justice at all. I do like the effect the cover gives off. It does have a slightly darker tone in the content than other two books and I think the cover hinted to that.

Love Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas

Love Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas

4.5 stars

Lucinda Caldwell never meant to fall into a freezing cold ice lake and find herself drowning. It was just supposed to be a shortcut home to surprise her father after visiting family. When she thinks she’s about to die she’s rescued by a handsome Southerner named Heath Rayne. Heath is completely different from the cold New England men she’s grown up around and he intrigues her. She knows she needs to stay away especially since she has a great fiancé. But Heath could be the end of her reputation and her engagement. Heath is a man of many secrets and Lucy wants to break through them. This isn’t my favorite Kleypas novel; it’s probably my least favorite by her. It’s not a bad novel at all and definitely recommend it, but it’s not my favorite. I feel as though the post-Civil War era isn’t my thing. I’m more of a Regency kind of girl. Still Heath is incredibly charming and this book made me kind of wish to experience what it was like living back then.

The main female character is Lucy. Lucy is very charming and it’s hard not to like her. Even when she does stupid things or should make me want to slap her I still liked her. I could understand why she was hurt by her best friend and happy when she made amends in her own way. I liked Lucy. She’s dashing and funny. She’s smart and intelligent. I liked how she loved to talk politics and argue with the men no matter how much they frowned upon her for it. It would get tiring having men think that women don't think and they are only there to please them. They were pretty mindset about it and couldn't be told otherwise.
 

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 9

The main male character is Heath. Heath is rather dashing himself and definitely swoon worthy. I found him annoying me with all his secrets though and I’m still mad that he didn’t really tell Lucy anything about his imprisonment during the war. Aside from that he was definitely heartbreaker material and I don’t understand why the New England women weren’t pushing each other for him, but I am from the South so maybe I just don’t get old New England traits. No matter how much I try to read them.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 9

The Villain- I guess you could so it’s the infamous Raine. Gosh I couldn’t stand her she was just so stupid and annoying. Why she even had to come into the novel is beyond me and she was a waste of space. But how dare she try to break Lucy and Heath up!


Villain Scale: 3

There were quite a few characters. There was Daniel, Lucy’s previous fiancé. Daniel was an asshat. I didn’t like him. He treated Lucy like a toddler and it annoyed me for how long it finally took her to realize that. There was Damon who was Heath’s partner for their newspaper. It was quite obvious from the beginning that he was in love with Lucy. I still can’t believe she never realized it. Maybe Kleypas will write him a spin off story and give him a happy ending.

Character Scale: 8

I love how Kleypas always has a strong cast of characters, but this book was way too long. There were a lot of unnecessary thoughts and descriptions. A whole page was dedicated to Lucy’s new designs for their Boston house. It bothered me and I found it pointless. I did still enjoy Love Come to Me, but I wish it wouldn’t have been so long or boring at times. I also wish Heath would’ve pulled his shit together. I grew tired of Lucy and Heath’s game of cat and mouse of “I was waiting for you to make the first move!” I wanted to slap both of them. Did women in the South really act like this back then like Kleypas portrayed them? I think so maybe not in Louisiana, but Georgia is believable. It’s weird how the South is so different even though we are considered an entity. Definitely recommended, but if you’ve never read Kleypas before I recommend her Hathaway series first.


Cover Thoughts: I love the newest edition cover. It’s pretty. I want that dress!

 

Vamps and the City by Kerrelyn Sparks

Vamps and the City by Kerrelyn Sparks

Second in the Love at Stake series

4 stars

OK, I'm pissed I just rewrote this really good review and then that bitch sitting in the chair popped up telling me Goodreads was over capacity and deleted it. ARGGGGH! Well here it goes. I'm still annoyed. How dare that little girl come and delete my review! Darcy Newhart used to be one of the vampire women in Roman Draganesti’s harem. Darcy thought having a vampire TV reality show where mortals compete with vampires for the title of The Sexiest Man on Earth would be a great idea. There’s a catch for the judges who were also once apart of Roman’s harem- no one knows that they have humans in the contest. There’s no way a human could win anyway. But when Darcy meets Austin she begins to wonder if it was such a good idea. Austin signs up for the show under the direction of his boss, Sean Whelan, along with a partner in hopes of taking down the vamps. This CIA Stake-Out member never expected to find that he’s falling on the show and he thinks Darcy is a human forcibly held captive by the Vamps. What’s he going to do when he finds out the truth about Darcy? Compared to How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire this book was a letdown. I was interested in reading a book through a female Vamps eyes. But not just any female Vamp, but an ex-member of Roman’s harem. This should've been amazing right? Well it wasn't. It fell flat. It was entertaining and I did enjoy reading it, but I didn't like the characters and it ruined my experience.


The main female character is Darcy. I liked Darcy well enough. Was she a great character? Not at all; compared to the previous heroine, Shanna, she fell flat. I found she wasn’t nearly as likable or well developed. She wasn’t nearly as interesting or strong of a character. I felt like she was fake and not really real.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 7.5

The main male character is Austin. I honestly don’t really like Austin all that much. He’s not a bad guy, but I personally just don’t like him. There’s just something about him that I don’t like. You know how there’s people you just don’t like and can’t explain why? Well, this is one of those moments, but he’s a character. He didn’t charm me or make my heart race. I thought he was mediocre. The thought of him is intriguing, but his character isn’t likable or interesting to me.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 7

The Villain- Honestly I was expecting there to be an interesting battle scene or standoff like in the previous book. I got zip, nada, zilch of that and I was disappointed. The ending fell flat and I was not impressed.

Villain Scale: 4

I don’t see the point in talking about the other characters in this book. This book isn’t bad it’s just not nearly as good as the previous and a letdown for me.


Character Scale: 7

Darcy and Austin’s chemistry was not believable for me. It was just so fake feeling. I didn’t like it at all. I think they aren’t right for each other and it’s just forced. I have read the sequels though and they aren’t a letdown at all. I think it’s just suffering from Second Book Syndrome. I did enjoy the story and couldn’t put it down at times, but it also fell flat in other places. I do like the reality show idea. Props for thinking up of something creative and I would definitely watch it if it was on TV. I'm sorry if I sounded somewhat cranky throughout the review, but I'm mad about having to rewrite this review and I also didn't like the characters and talking about characters I don't like aggravates me.


Cover Thoughts: I like it well enough. I’m not blown away by it, but I don’t dislike it either. I do like the bat on the window… or outside? It’s cute, but I’m not sure why it’s there since these Vamps down turn into bats.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

First in the Across the Universe trilogy

3.5 stars


To see the spoiler review, go here.

Amy is seventeen years old when she’s frozen alongside her parents in a cyro chamber to go to Centauri-Earth. She’s cargo deep in the bottom of the spaceship the Godspeed and expects to awaken three hundred years into the future. She finds herself woken up fifty years too soon and in a completely different world. Elder is in line to become the next Eldest, the leader of the Godspeed. He starts to question Eldest the more he gets to know Amy. As secrets of the Godspeed become to unravel they must find who is killing the frozen and how to stop Eldest from becoming more a dictator than he already is. I have quite a few problems with Across the Universe. When I first came across this book I thought it would be an amazing read. I bought this book, but I didn’t have as such high hopes as I used to once I bought it. This book sat on my shelf for a while. I finally decided to pick it up recently. I don’t know what made me pick up or why, but I felt compelled to read it. I have a huge problem with the characters.

The main female character is Amy. I feel detached to Amy. I can care less about her and her hobbies. She doesn’t even know her own self what she likes to do when she’s asked by the doctor on the Godspeed. Amy is just boring. Not only is she boring, but I also find her to be a complete bonehead. She’s just so boring. I did like her more towards the ending, but I’m starting to think it was only because the story was starting to become more interesting. Amy herself is like a bland sack of mashed potatoes.  
 

Just so boring.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 6.5

The main male character is Elder. Elder is just as dumb and boring as Amy. Elder doesn’t even act like a teenage boy. I know these people are completely from the ones on Earth and they also (view spoiler) but I still think he would be more teenagery. I find it very odd that when he found Amy naked all thought about was her hair. I don’t think the guys at my school are like that. If I found a hot frozen guy I definitely wouldn’t be looking at his hair. I did also like him more toward the end, but he still doesn’t really seem well human.(view spoiler)

Swoon Worthy Scale: 7

The Villain- I actually predicted the villain the minute he wasn’t introduced and then I even predicted his connection to Eldest. I may have predicted the villain, but there was a few twists that I still didn’t still see coming.


Villain Scale: 7.5

I did like Harley. He was probably one of the only characters worth anything and of course he didn’t get a happy ending. Or maybe he did. That’s the only other character I’m going to talk about. The rest aren’t bad they just aren’t worth it.

 Character Scale: 7

Now time to address all of my other problems. First let’s start with these slang terms. The biggest slang term in this world is frex. It’s probably one of the dumbest slang terms I’ve come across. I think Revis is trying to make this world more believable with stupid terms and it’s just not working out. Do you remember how in Mean Girls when Gretchen Weiners started the slang term fetch and then Regina George constantly brought her down for it and then used it eventually? That isn’t going to happen. Frex is not going to become a curse word and neither is chutz. By the way, what is the exact meaning of chutz? It’s used in so many different contexts I’m not sure what it even means. Revis, you’re not going to create new slang and curse words. You’re not fetch. You might be if you had your own Regina George though.


Amy took forever to wake up. This book was almost a hundred pages of Amy sleeping and Elder’s alternating POV doing stupid stuff around the ship. It was a pointless weight. The synopsis made it sound action packed. It’s not. Even the climax isn’t all that climatic. By page 131 I wanted to DNF this book, but I didn’t because I bought this book. I’m glad I didn’t DNF it though because it did improve.
This book did have upsides. I liked when they went on their very own Mystery Inc. hunt for clues.
 


I had rolled my eyes at first but the book picked up there a little bit. I do also like the concept of the Godspeed and its world. It’s so different and off from what you would usually expect. That ending though… it was really good. Some of it I had expected, but there were a few unexpected twists that I really enjoyed. I will probably pick up the sequels because I am interested in Elder and Amy’s future.


Cover Thoughts: I don’t have the cover that’s featured on Goodreads. I have this cover.
 
The one featured on Goodreads is this one.

I like my cover a lot more than the first one.  

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

To see the spoiler review go here.

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Chrtistopher

5 stars

Stolen opens up with a sixteen-year-old girl named Gemma who just had a fight with her parents in a train station. She decides to get coffee and get away from them. While she’s getting coffee she meets Ty. She feels like she’s met him before, but can’t think of where. After talking to him, he offers to fix her coffee for her. While fixing the coffee, Ty drugs her and kidnaps her. Ty takes Gemma to the Australian outback. It becomes obvious to Gemma that getting out won’t be easy and maybe Ty isn’t a monster after all. Stolen is one of my favorite books that I’ve ever come across (speaking of which reminds me I need to modify my favorites shelf). This book is a beautiful tale of a girl that is kidnapped and her fight for survival. She writes this story in as a letter to her captor, Ty. I immediately went into this book thinking it would be similar to Living Dead Girl. I was very wrong. Living Dead Girl was a beautiful heartbreaking tale, but this book… this book… is something so much different from your average kidnapping tale.


The main female character is Gemma. I love Gemma. I wanted her to break free and then I wanted her to be with Ty. I didn’t know what I wanted. I loved how Gemma and the camel they capture is a symbol for Gemma. It made me so sad and I felt like the symbol of something so small could mean so much to this book. I still want to know what happens to Gemma after the (view spoiler) but I think what we were left with is enough. I think Gemma is very naïve. She was far too trusting of Ty when she met him. I would never let a guy fix me coffee that I just met. I probably wouldn’t even let my guy friends. Let’s be honest I wouldn’t be drinking coffee in the first place since I am a coffee hater. Gemma’s being so trusting landed her in a situation she didn’t want to be in or think she would ever be in. Gemma was very naïve even while trying to escape, but I think anyone would be in a time of panic. Gemma felt real.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 9.5

The main male character is Ty. I think I’m still suffering with a case of Stockholm syndrome. I read this book in March and I still love Ty, but hate him all the same. I’m a lot like Gemma in the situation. I don’t know whether to hate his guts always, but there are times when you see his sweet side and you want to hold him. Ty’s had it rough. Rougher than I would’ve expected and I just want to whisk him away from the terrible hate he’s faced. I felt everything Gemma felt the hate towards him, but also everything else. Ty is a character that I’m conflicted over, but I know for certain that he’s one character that I wanted to be happy. I hope Christopher had in her mind’s eye that he would one day.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 9.5

The Villain- It’s hard to describe it when you’re villain is also somewhat of a love interest. I do love that Ty never forced Gemma to do anything though. He was sweet and not as vicious as some would want him to be if they were into that kind of stuff.


Villain Scale: 8




I just like the design. It's cute.
 
Just because this made me laugh at the cuteness.
 
If you couldn't tell already I really liked the camel in this story. Here's another.
 
I'm more of a llama girl, but I really liked this camel.

Character Scale: 9.5

This book isn’t for everybody. Some may find that this book is too real for them in terms of Stockholm syndrome. Others might not think it’s their kind of book. I also had a friend who didn’t like it because she couldn’t understand the prose. I found the prose easy to read and beautiful but not everyone is me. Christopher is definitely an amazing writer. There’s no doubt about it. I recommend giving this book a shot especially if it doesn’t sound like your type of book at least think about it. I think it’s one of those books that are worth leaving a comfort zone for.


Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It’s simple, but beautiful. In a way feel like it fits this story Gemma and Ty’s tale. I like the butterfly it’s so simple and just perfect.   

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

First in the Under the Never Sky trilogy

4 stars

Aria has always known the safety of the Reverie. The Reverie is a safe pod that protects people from the Aether storms and keeps out the Savages. When she’s suspected of betraying the people of the Reverie on a night that was supposed to be fun she ends up finding herself in exile and her mom is still missing. As she fights for survival in the world outside the Reverie, she meets a Savage named Perry. Perry’s nephew was just taken by the people of the Reverie in a spaceship. Perry will do anything to get him back and for his brother to hate a little less. When he meets Aria, she could be the only thing to save and he is the only person able to save her. I wanted to love this book. I wasn’t sure why I wanted to love it so much. I think it was because I loved the cover, but I wasn’t a hundred percent sure it was my kind of book. I did enjoy this book though. I had a few bumps in the road (do roads even exist in this world) path, but it was a pretty good book. The first couple of chapters I struggled to grasp what was going on. My only thoughts for the longest time where along the lines of, “what the hell is happening?” I also found myself questioning why these people lived in Pods. I don’t know why they ended up in these Pods in the first place and it bothers me. I like knowing why things happen and sometimes I feel like dystopian authors hold back this information or just gradually place little tidbits of information. I feel like I don’t for a hundred percent know the history of the Reverie or why Aether storms started in the first place. There were a lot of very well written spots where I feel like she should’ve done that.


The main female is Aria. Aria was pretty annoying for the first couple chapters of her time spent in the Reverie. Actually I pretty much didn’t like her at all in her time during the Reverie. I started to like her a lot more towards the end. I really liked her, but I honestly can’t picture her being this amazing singer. I hope to see more character for her in Through the Ever Night.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8

The main male character is Perry. I really like Perry. He isn’t a bad leading male, but I don’t feel like he is a prominent one to me in YA fiction. I don’t think he’s fully had his time to shine though. There were times while they were in the jungle/ forest when they were trying to stay alive and not get eaten where it felt like Perry and Aria’s POVs clashed. Sometimes it was hard distinguished, but others I knew exactly who were who. I want more Perry!


Swoon Worthy Scale: 8.5


The Villain- Hmmmm, you know I decided I’m not going to say anything and just let you read the book and find out for yourself. Here’s a cute gif to help your sorrows.
 
How can you resist that? Please the puppy and read this book!

Villain Scale: 7.5

The supporting characters were just as prominent and key to the story as Perry and Aria. I like when an author is able to do that it makes everything much more believable. Roar and Perry’s friendship was believable and I liked watching them interact. They remind of a close set of brothers even though they aren’t brothers. Vale, Perry’s brother, made me feel sad for him, but then I couldn’t find any sympathy for him.


He was such a jerk and by the end of the book I didn’t like him at all. Talon, Perry’s nephew, is just something I want to grab in a big embrace and hug him for all that he has to go through. Cinder was an orphan Perry and Aria encounter on their journey. I personally loved Cinder and he was one of my favorites. I love his power. It’s so unique and incredibly interesting. I loved the rockiness of Perry and Cinder’s relationship. It seemed real.


Character Scale: 8.5

Aside from the slight problems I had I found it to be incredibly written and descriptive. There were a quite few slow parts, but I really enjoyed the story and the world created. Yes, there are flaws, but I still really enjoyed this. I hope that all my questions will be answered in Through the Ever Night.


Cover Thoughts: I love the cover and I think it’s just so pretty. The colors in the sky, which I’m assuming is an Aether storm, are beautiful and it fits. It’s very futuristic and I like it.