Wednesday, September 26, 2012

I'm still here!

Hey it's me! I'm alive! I know, it's been ridiculously long. I'm not even sure anyone noticed, because I'm kind of talking to myself I'm pretty sure. What with this being not only a neglected, but new blog. It's cool, talking to myself is nothing new to me. 

I have reasons for my absence though. So here they are:
1) Made the big move to Florida
2) Got a new job (Boo, work)
3) And most upsetting....my Kindle broke. I know, it's been hard to deal with. I'm still in the grieving process.

So, with all that happening, I haven't been able to read as much as I'd like to. However, Ms. Shelly Crane has made me re-evaluate my time management with her recent release of Revolution, the final book in her Collide series. Say WHAT?! So that'll be my next review. So be on the lookout...I say to myself.  

I'll probably tell Gus too, because I tell him everything. He's a great listener. Never interrupts. And easy on the eyes too...
He's my love.<3

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Consume

by Shelly Crane
visit her website: http://shellycrane.blogspot.com/

Eli and Clara's story continues as she tries to finish high school. Eli is as over protective as ever and Tate and his group of friends are no help. They wait for the Horde, always looking over their shoulder. But the ever annoying but strangely prophetic bird begins to become more of a chatter box and Eli learns something that could change some things. Not just for him and Clara, but Devourers everywhere.

Then an unexpectedness guest comes forcing Eli to flee with Clara, leaving her temporary family behind. She is thrown into his world of underground 'traitors' and learns much of his past. They meet many new people and creatures along the way to freedom. But when tragedy strikes the two, will Clara see the monster in Eli? Can she handle his strange world and awful past? Will one of them lose their life forever...



In Consume, we see more of how, not only Eli bringing out the best in Clara, but how she has done the same for him. Clara really comes into her own in Consume and is happy with the person she has grown into with Eli. She has found a group of true friends who have problems of their own and she is starting to feel more at home with the Pastor's family.

The Horde is after Eli and Clara just as much as last time and they must go on the run. Their journey is full of twists and turns that seem to test Eli and Clara's relationship in every way. The two find out new things about each other and learn exactly what it takes to truly trust one another.

For me, Consume was one my favorite books that Shelly has published (Yes, I've read them all). This one was quite a bit more "out there" than her other series but that's one reason I loved it! She brought the normal and paranormal worlds together perfectly and the romance was sizzly! I was planning on taking a couple days to read this one but I found myself completely sucked in and could not stop. There was never a dull moment. I was laughing one minute and biting my fingernails the next worrying over what was going to come of their current conundrum (There were a lot of them). I even remember cocking my own eyebrow at one point.

This is my favorite kind of love story, the kind that truly shows what love is all about. It didn't just focus on Eli and Clara's love though. It shows that love is something that everyone needs, whether it seems like they care about it on the outside or not.

This is the first series Shelly has finished up so I really did not know what kind of ending to expect. I was not disappointed! I enjoyed reading from Clara's point of view. She wasn't the same old damsel in distress you read about in most love stories. She's spunky, kind of a smart mouth, and doesn't let anyone order her around. She's stubborn but not obnoxious about it, which I appreciated a lot. I hate how some female characters can either be so needy that they can't even open a door for themselves or so stubborn against accepting help from the man who loves her that she just becomes a nuisance. Clara was a good, balanced damsel in distress for me. And Eli was...just lovely. *sigh* Always putting Clara above all else, possessive but never a tyrant. Again, balanced and a pleasure to read. I highly recommend the Devoured Series, as well as any other book by Shelly Crane. She has never left me disappointed.

Devour

by Shelly Crane
visit her website: http://shellycrane.blogspot.com/

Clara has it all. A wrestling star boyfriend, popular friends, all the right school activities...pretty much a perfect life...up until her parents died. Now she lives with the Pastor and his family and though they take good care of her, she feels alone. Then her boyfriend, Tate, starts to show signs of trouble when a new guy, Eli, comes to town. Clara is fascinated with him but hides it until something happens. Eli confesses to her that she gives him something he's never had before...something he needs. Everything it about to change for this normal pretty popular girl in a supernatural way.
In Devour, it doesn't seem like there can be much more that can happen that one person can deal with on her own. Clara knows she's got to change something in her own life after a terrible tragedy but can't find the courage to do what it takes to make that change, until she meets Eli. Eli knows Clara has more in her than she lets out and he does whatever he has to do to show her the courage she needs to live the life she deserves. As Clara lets her guard down with Eli, she begins to truly see that appearing perfect to the world is not all there is to life.

Along with dealing with her parents' death and the drama of high school, Eli brings Clara to a paranormal world that she never knew existed, which of course, brings on a whole new round of trouble for Eli and Clara.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Reason to Breathe


by Rebecca Donovan
Visit her website: http://rebeccadonovan.com/

I wrote the following review immediately after I read Reason to Breathe nearly a year ago:

Let me start by saying this is the first time I have EVER submitted a product review of any kind. I'm definitely not new to YA stories and I have my Kindle with me at all times. This is a big deal for me, so that should be an indication of where I'm heading with this...

I have never been on such an emotional roller coaster from a story in my life! This book was absolutely breath taking! I have been completely useless since I purchased this book last night and could only bring myself to step away from it long enough get a couple hours of sleep. I connected with the characters deeply and loved getting to know them. I will admit that I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room a few times, both from the unfairness of this poor girl's story and the fact that the other characters just DIDN'T UNDERSTAND what she was going through. My jaw got sore from clenching my teeth so hard whenever Carol stepped into the room and I had tears in my eyes when she left Emma to deal with whatever she decided to leave her with. Oh, but the happy times (there were many, this was not a downer of a story at all) had me laughing out loud!

The ending is...overwhelming...and frustrating (to say the least)! I'm having a hard time bringing myself to choose other books to read as I wait patiently (ahem...) for the sequel because I can't bring myself to step away from Emma. As tormented as I am to know what will happen next, I refuse to let go of the hope that keeps me rooting for her.

Fantastic story telling Ms. Donovan! This book moved me in a way I was not prepared for. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the sequel to Reason to Breathe.


Now, as I read the, ahem... not so patiently waited for 2nd book in the Breathing series, Barely Breathing, I can't help but wonder if poor Emma will ever catch a break. I feel so sorry for her on one hand, but on the other, I just want to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into the girl!  She's got those same, if not more, trust issues. The story has taken so many turns that I feel like I could get emotional whiplash at any moment. Just when I think nothing else could possibly go wrong for this girl, there it goes again, a twist I never saw coming. I'm not a crier, but I'll freely admit that I had tears rolling down my face at one point in this one. A full review of Barely Breathing will be coming shortly.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Beginnings!

First blog post, YAY!

I'm hoping this turns into a place full of book reviews and friends.  Don't be surprised you find just some random thoughts from me though. Random should be my middle name.

Hope I get the hang of this soon and figure everything out. If you're reading this, hi and welcome to my blog!