nightlyreading

Hey All! Nightlyreading is posting my review of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour on her blog today. Stop by and pay her a visit!

Crossed by Ally Condie

Goodreads Summary

The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

I just finished reading book #11 in this series Last Breath which is the latest release (I only included the image of #12, Black Dawn so that there wouldn't be a big blank space in the picture above! But I look forward to reading that one when it comes out)

I started this series based on the recommendation of a friend. I do love a good vampire story but I didn't have the highest of hopes. After reading the first book I thought that the story seemed interesting enough to continue the series, but I didn't know how far in I would follow. Well, I obviously have stuck with it all this far and am eager to read any more releases to come in this series! I heard that the author has signed on to write up to book 15 which would give us three more books than the ones pictured above.

What I love about this series, are the great characters on both the human and vampire side of things. I love the residents of the Glass House, and I really love Myrnin. I love the humor in the books and the moments where I am laughing. All of these books are fast, easy reads and I know the level at which I will be entertained every time I've decided that it was time to read the next Morganville Vampire book.

Last Breath was not a disappointment in any of what i have come to expect. I liked that this book took a few twists and turns in a direction from where the books usually go. There was a few different narratives used in the story, and tragedy hits even closer to home than in past books... and as per usual, this one ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, but not in a painful way. So I am grateful for that!

I could totally see this as a television series, and I would watch every episode!

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads Summary:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. 

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. 

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.


My Review:
I am a big fan of Maggie Stiefvater's "The Wolves of Mercy Falls" Series. I also really liked this book. But I would recommend that one not read this book in comparison to the other. Rather than reading this book as a Maggie Stiefvater fan, I would say to read this book as a fan of horse racing stories? Think Seabiscuit or The Black Stallion. This story does have a mythological twist to it, but it is not an overly present part of the story. This book takes place in our world, rather than a mythological one. The setting is an Island named Thisby which is off of of Ireland I am guessing, since the capaill uisce (water horse) is an Irish myth. This is the only place in the world where the deadly water horses come to shore each Fall. They are fierce creatures that can easily kill man and human alike. But at times are lured and captured by Humans to be raced every November at the Scorpio Races.


The story is a little slow to begin, I wasn't sure how much I liked it for a while as I was reading it. As I got further in and by the end I decided that I liked it a lot. The story is really good, I was probably just expecting something different when I had started reading the book, based on what I had previously read from the author. This story has a feel which is to me, much more classic than contemporary.


This story is told in alternating points of view. Puck (Kate) Connolly and Sean Kendrick who are both participants in the race. Puck is a first time racer, and the first female to ever enter into the races. Sean is a four time champion of the races. In the story the two characters come to know and help each other both before and after the outcome of the winner. Because the races are on true monsters which are very unpredictable, I had no idea how this story would end and who might win the races. I was happy with the way things turned out. 

I heard that this story is going to be made into a movie. I can see that it would be a good movie. There are some good characters and I can see how a movie like this would appeal to a large audience of all ages. 

Ashbury/Brookfield Books by Jaclyn Moriarty

 

Book 1: Feeling Sorry for Celia

Book 2: The Year of Secret Assignments (Published in Australia as Finding Cassie Crazy)

Book 3: The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie (Published in Australia as Becoming Bindy Mackenzie)

Book 4: The Ghosts of Ashbury High (Published in Australia as Dreaming of Amelia)

(The author is Australian and that is why her books are first published there. I don't know why the names were changed for the Americans?)

I just finished reading The Year of Secret Assignments in this series and I just want to take a moment to express how much I love this series... I really love these books!

Actually I haven't read book 3 yet (I know once I read it then there are no more to look forward to, so I'm saving that one for later, so I have something to really look forward to. I don't know how long I'll hold out!)

I didn't read them in the right order, but that's ok because they are companion books rather than a chronological series. All of them take place at Ashbury High (a private high school) or Brookfield High (the closest public high school) Many of the characters are the same throughout the 4 books but book tells the story of someone different.

These stories are all told through letters, emails, meeting notes, bulletins, and other written correspondence. I love how they are different from your average novel in that way.

These stories are HILARIOUS! but always have a serious issue that is addressed and resolved in one way or another. The humor in these stories is perfect. I find myself holding in my laughter when I am reading in public, but sometimes I just can't help it... and my laughter escapes. When I am reading in the privacy of my own home I don't hold back and there are a lot of laughs.

I wish my life were as fun and funny as these books. I wish there were a never ending supply of books in this series for me to enjoy forever. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads Summary:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. 


My Review:
I <3 this book! I really loved Anna and the French Kiss and was hoping that I would feel the same way about Stephanie Perkins' second book. This definitely lived up to my hopes and dreams. This book makes me smile. If you've read and loved Anna and the French Kiss you'll know what I mean. If you haven't read it. Go read it!!


Lola is quite the unique character. She lives in San Francisco and is raised by her two gay dads. Her birth mother (the sometimes drug addicted, sometimes homeless sister of one of her dads) is not a welcome visitor in her life. Lola is happy and fun and quirky and she dresses every day in a different costume. I don't want to go too much into the story of the book but just with keeping those facts in mind you can see how this is a unique girl. I really liked the characters -- even the less than perfect ones. I was excited to see ANNA and ETIENNE ST CLAIR make their appearances in the story as well. I just think the love story is so cute and fun to follow.  I can't wait to see what happens in the next book (Isla and the Happily Ever After) and I really hope that we will get to see a bit of Lola and Cricket and what is to come for them in the future.

Silence (Hush, Hush Book 3) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Here is the summary copied from goodreads.com:
The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.


My Review:
I have really enjoyed this series so far, I think I like each book more and more. So I was surprised and a little excited when I found out that this is not the last book of the series (as I had thought) but that there is still another one to follow. I look forward to that one, as this one ends with a lot of questions about what will happen next.


This story starts out with Nora being held prisoner, and while she is later released (thanks to Patch) her memory has been erased. She can not remember the last 5 months, and therefore, has forgotten her entire relationship with Patch. I was having a hard time remembering the details of the first two books, since it had been so long since I'd read them. But since Nora didn't remember any of those details either I didn't feel too behind. As Nora relearned her past, it helped me to remember too, so thanks for that review Becca Fitzpatrick.


This book brings the conflict between Archangels, Fallen Angels, Nephilim, and some Humans all together! Nora and Patch each have their own causes to support but above all, they support each other first. The love story part in this book is cute and sweet. It's hard to believe that as much as Patch (or Jev, as we might call him in this book) loves Nora, this all started out with him wanting to kill her... seriously... but oh well now it's a nice love story. (Between an immortal, therefore old fallen angel and a 16, or now 17 year old girl. I will only be creeped out by that for a little bit longer) Patch really comes through for Nora in this book, he sacrifices a lot for her, and goes through a lot of pain to benefit her.


I really do like this series and I think that Silence might be the best one so far. I am rooting for Nora and Patch and hope that in the end, there can be some kind of peaceful happy resolution for all human to angel, and anywhere in between.