Quick: Read or Don't #3

Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting 

389 pages ~ Published on April 16th 2013 by HarperCollins
Goodreads | Amazon
The "bad guy" story wasn't really that exciting this time, and I found myself skipping the chapters from his p.o.v. (or at least skimming them).
I liked some of the new ideas that were introduced, but most of the stuff that happened seemed like they were only happening so that there was a sort of ending to everything, and not because they made sense; it seemed kind of forced.
Jay was still great and lovely and deserves a star, though I think the book was more about the love between him and Violet than her power and what the series is usually about. 

Conclusion: Not as great as the past three, but still good.

Just One Year by Gayle Forman 

336 pages ~ Published on October 10th 2013 by Dutton's Children

Goodreads | Amazon
I really enjoyed reading from for what it was, but unfortunately I expected a sequel to Just One Day and was then disappointed when I got a companion novel from Willem's point of view, instead of a "what happened next" story. It was really cool to see what Willem had been up to, though, and I can definitely recommend reading it, after Just One Day, as long as you keep in mind that it is not a sequel. 

Conclusion: Nice read, but expected something different.

Taken by Erin Bowman
360 pages ~ Published on April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen
Goodreads | Amazon

I read about 103 pages, and decided that I just didn't really enjoy it. The plot was super interesting, unique even, the characters were fun, but I felt like it took a veeeery long time for any thing to happen. And I will admit that I gave up to early, I probably would have ended up loving it, had I read just a few more chapters, but I had just kind of pushed myself through the first 100, and so I stopped. 

Maybe one day, I'll come back to it. 

D.N.F.

Other books read/reviewed in January:
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
371 pages, December 31st 2013, Balzer & Bray

Goodreads' synopsis: "Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love."

Quick: Read or Don't #2

Radiant by Cynthia Hand 
94 pages ~ Published on December 4th 2012 by HaperTeen
Book's Goodreads ~ Author's website
I miss Tucker ):
Also I don't like Angela as a protagonist. The book is told from Clara and Angela's POV. There was alot of Angel in this. The love story between Phen and Angela includes some information about Angels. I just really didn't like Angela in this one. I never loved her character, but this novella made me dislike her even more.
I wanted to give this 3 stars, because of Angela and the lack of Clara, but I just love Cynthia Hand too much, and how she created these books, and I can see through fingers with the fact that I don't like one of her characters.

Conclusion = Read if you like the series.

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Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry
67 pages ~ Published on April 1st 2013 by Harlequin TEEN
Book's Goodreads ~ Author's website
I think that Katie McGarry is definitely a great writer. At least when she writes about love. I really enjoyed this quick read and found that even though I'm comfortable with how it ended and how much I got from it, it could just as well be a full novel instead of just a novella.
I really loved Lincoln and Lila, even though I barely remember who Lila was from Pushing the Limits. We see a whole different side of her in this one. 

Conclusion = Quick and fun read. Recommended.

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Die For Her by Amy Plum  
60 pages ~ Published on April 2nd 2013 by HaperTeen
Book's Goodreads ~ Author's website
I never really cared much for Jules and therefore didn't expect to like this book, as Jules is the narrator. My expectations were right. The book is the first and second book in the trilogy told from Jules point of view, the first fifteen chapters are from the first book and the rest four are from the second. Which means two 300 pages books shorted down to 60 pages ...
The entire time reading this I felt like Amy Plum was just rushing through it all. I honestly can't see the purpose of this novella. Also I never understood the deal with Jules liking Kate, because to me it seemed like it was something Amy Plum created so that there would be some kind of love triangle, but it wasn't announced to the readers until the third book (at least I didn't see it), and then she needed to prove that he had loved her for a long time, and did that by writing this novella. 
No plot at all. The only thing we heard about was how devastated Jules was that he couldn't be with Kate, which wasn't believable. 
I loved "Die For Me", I liked Until You Die and from there on it just got more and more disappointing.

Conclusion = Read it if you like Jules or just want to read Die For Me from a different POV.

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The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Title: The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend
Author: Kody Keplinger
280 pages, September 7th 2010, Poppy

Goodreads' synopsis: "Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone."

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

>> MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM UNDER THE NEVER SKY <<

Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
341 pages, January 8th 2013, HarperCollins

Goodreads' synopsis: "Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? "

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

>> MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM THE BODY FINDER 1 & 2 <<

Title: The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3)
Author: Kimberly Derting
358 pages, April 17th 2012, HarperCollins

Goodreads' synopsis: "Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice.
When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye..."

Ebook Deals

I prefer reading books rather than ebooks, but every month Amazon has a new monthly deal: $3.99 or less, and sometimes the books are really great too. This month two of my favorite books are part of this deal, and if you haven't already read them you should get them now that they are on sale. 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand