Book Talk: Shutter by Laurie Faria Stolarz

AUTHOR: Laurie Faria Stolarz

PUBLISHED: October 18th 2016  
PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion

PAGES: 337

SERIES/STAND ALONE:Standalone

SOURCE: Book Box
CHALLENGES: None

OUTLINE:

Sixteen-year-old Day Connor views life through the lens of her camera, where perspective is everything. But photographs never tell the whole story. After Day crosses paths with Julian, the world she observes and the truths she believes—neatly captured in black and white—begin to blur.

Julian does not look like a murderer, but his story is full of holes, and his alibis don’t quite add up, either. This time, Day is determined to see the entire picture…whatever it reveals.

Did he kill his parents? Or didn’t he?

While Julian remains on the run, Day digs deeper into his case. But the more facts she uncovers, the longer her list of questions becomes. It’s also getting harder to deny the chemistry she feels with Julian.

Is it real? Or is she being manipulated?

Day is close to finding the crack in the case that will prove Julian’s innocence. She just needs time to focus before the shutter snaps shut. 

My thoughts in bullets

• I love the photography aspect in it
• I love that both parents are present not together, but present in the child's life.
• I love the thriller/mystery since we barely see it in YA
• Day wants to see the good in every one
• The ending didn't give me my fulfillment I was looking for

Journey through Goodreads

Status

April 17, 2019 – Finished Reading April 16, 2019 –  page 300    89.02% April 13, 2019 –  page 70    20.77% "So far I'm interested." April 13, 2019 – Started Reading November 27, 2017 – Shelved as: books-i-own-not-read March 7, 2016 – Shelved as: wishlist March 7, 2016 – Shelved as: ya March 7, 2016 – Shelved as: waiting-on-wed-pick March 7, 2016 – Shelved as: to-read March 7, 2016 – Shelved

Book Talk: Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West

AUTHOR: Kasie West

PUBLISHED: February 5th 2019
PUBLISHER:  HarperTeen

PAGES: 384

SERIES/STAND ALONE: Standalone

SOURCE: won and arc

CHALLENGES: None

OUTLINE:

Lacey Barnes has dreamt of being in a movie for as long as she can remember. However, while her dream did include working alongside the hottest actor in Hollywood, it didn’t involve having to finish up her senior year of high school at the same time she was getting her big break. Although that is nothing compared to Donavan, the straight-laced student her father hires to tutor her, who is a full-on nightmare.

As Lacey struggles to juggle her burgeoning career, some on-set sabotage, and an off-screen romance with the unlikeliest of leading men, she quickly learns that sometimes the best stories happen when you go off script.

Video

I adored this book. The only reason it was 4 stars and not 5 is because I was all ready for a big reveal on who was sabotaging the set, and it didn't happen. I know this is mainly contemporary so I set myself up. Loved Donovan Lacey has all of her family. Mom/Dad/ Siblings Loved the movie aspect (parts were scenes from the movie) No love triangle with main characters

March 13, 2019 – Finished Reading March 8, 2019 – page 100  26.04% March 7, 2019 – page 50  13.02% "So far it's good, and we even see some characters from her other book." March 7, 2019 – Started Reading February 22, 2019 – Shelved as: arcs February 22, 2019 – Shelved as: books-i-own-not-read December 7, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read (Hardcover Edition) December 7, 2018 – Shelved (Hardcover Edition) April 30, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read April 30, 2018 – Shelved

Bookish Challenge: LIL Bookish June: Fave read of 2016

I'll admit when it comes to twitter and instagram I'm not the best at keeping up with them. It sometimes sucks because it feels like that is where everything is happening, and I am just out of the loop. So for the month of June I decided I'm going to try and do LIL Bookish June for Instagram, but also here on my site.

If you want to follow along with me on Instagram my IG name is bookaholicsanonymous 

DAY 26 of Lil Bookish June

Todays challenge fave book of 2016 so far.

Video Review: Titans

Book Review: Charmed by Michelle Krys

AUTHOR: Michelle Krys
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

SERIES/STANDALONE: Series
PAGES: 368

SOURCE: Edelweiss

Outline:

Indie has spent the last few weeks frantically searching for Paige. She's tried every spell imaginable, but witchcraft has gotten her nowhere, and she's going crazy with guilt. Despite what her warlock boyfriend, Bishop, tells her, Indie knows it's her fault her best friend was kidnapped by the Priory. And with the Priory destroyed, finding Paige feels more hopeless than ever-especially when Indie discovers that Paige isn't even on Earth. She's trapped in Los Demonios, an alternate dimension of Los Angeles filled with evil paranormals. No one who has gone there has ever come out.

Fueled by terror and loyalty, Indie is desperate to find a way into the underworld prison. She'll worry about getting out later. But facing the dark world's most dangerous witches and warlocks on her own means keeping her plan hush-hush-and forging alliances with some sketchy people, including a seriously sexy sorcerer.

Sometimes a witch must keep secrets from the people she cares about most. And sometimes she isn't the only one with secrets…

MY THOUGHTS

The stakes are definitely upped in Charmed the second book in Michelle Krys' Hexed Series.

Ever since Indie found out she was a witch, and her life went through the ringer it seems to be non-stop.  She doesn't know where her BF Paige is at, but she will STOP at nothing to find her. Even if it means going against the people who care for her (and are just trying to keep her safe.) 

Basically the story revolves around Indie trying to find Paige and when she learns that she's trapped in a witch/wizard prison she finds a way to get there, and along the way meets some helpful (and hot) guides. Not only that, but she learns truths about others and herself that could either break or make her.

Indie is definitely becoming a favorite of mine for so many reasons. I mean sure she started off kind of bratty and snobby, but she's grown so much. She's caring and loyal to a fault, determined, strong willed and like I said will stop at nothing to find her friend. :)  I enjoyed seeing her powers become something more than just flying, and what not.

Then you still have Bishop hanging around. We really didn't see a whole lot of him like I wanted. :( We did get to meet another yummy character named Cruz (see a paragraph above). 

There are definitely some unfortunate events that happened that made me wanna cry.

Book review: Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer

AUTHOR: Jennifer Archer
PUBLISHER: HarperTeens (Imprint of HarperCollins)
PAGES: 374
SOURCE: Bought
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone (I believe)

OUTLINE:
Every ghost has a story to tell.
The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.
Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.

THOUGHTS:
This was actually a first for me in YA Ghost stories to read, and I must say I was not disappointed. I love the fact that it took place in Texas. (I've lived here my whole life)  It's nice to see Texas brought to life in books, even if Cedar Canyon is a fictional town it brought the life style of Texas and small towns to the forefront. Although not all Texans are cowboys, and we don't all where cowboy hats. What a big misconception. It's ok Tansy I'll forgive you. It would be cool to have a mom as a writer. I guess it might get old after a while moving like she does, but think of all the adventures you could have and people you would get to meet.

It took the story some time to pick up because Tansy, her mom, and grandpa just get to Cedar Canyon, and have to get settled in to a house that apparently her Grandpa lived at when he was younger. Upon arriving there her grandpa becomes consumed with feelings that the reader doesn't learn about until later. I have to say this I love seeing another family member in the story. As with most YA's you don't get alot of the Protags that have that connection to their family whether it's grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins you get the picture. (Maybe, I'm just not reading those books though. Who knows.) I love that it's the grandpa too. They're usually the laid back ones (or at least mine is he just goes along with whatever my grandma or others say). Being new in town means having to learn where to fit in especially in a town where everyone grew up together. I'm talking since diapers. So it's no surprise that Tansy takes to herself  in the beginning, and gets caught up in the old notebook of poetry she finds in her basement (Some things aren't always as they seem though), and also her photography. Which leads to the world hopping. Looking through her camera and seeing things in black n white. Things that shouldn't be there. Intriguing is it not?  After a few encounters with the locals though she let's her guard down by befriending Bethyl Ann aka Stinky and after while Tate.

I think my favorite character wasn't tansy, but her crazy Shakespearean friend Bethyl Ann. Bethyl Ann is that person who doesn't care what others think of her. She marches to the set of her own drums. She's herself, unique and proud. I mean who would enjoy being called stinky? Apparently she doesn't mind she just ignores it. She embraces her nerdiness. :) For that I applaud her.


VIDEO THOUGHTS


EXTRAS:
An Author Interview I found that I enjoyed at Ya Addicts

My copy that I got signed. :)

 Some pictures from a signing back in May I went too. Enjoy!

Jennifer Archer (ThroughHerEyes) ME, Tracey Deebs (TempestRising), T.L Childs (ForgiveMyFins)

Book Review: Haven by Kristi Cook

 AUTHOR: Kristi Cook

PUBLISHER: Simon Pulse
PAGES: 416
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series
SOURCE: Bought on Amazon
CHALLENGES:  DAC
OUTLINE: A month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

THOUGHTS:

Overview:

Violet is special, and she doesn't realize how she's special or why she's drawn to her new boarding school. When she gets there she notices things are different, not quite normal. Who defines what's normal though? She learns soon after her arrival from room-mates that all the students (and teachers) have special abilities, and maybe even more.


I was excited to read this book because I love anything to do with powers/special abilities/supernatural and even the whole boarding school set up. I read somewhere where they compared it to X-men. I love the xmen movies so I was ready. I was ready to get inside the school learn what it hid, learn about the students and just all around enjoy the book. Truth be told I was sadly let down. I don't know if it was to much hype around the book, or my expectations were to high I didn't love it like I had hoped.

The first half of the book kept my attention. It was definitely how I pictured it to be. Then it took that dreaded paranormal turn where alot of paranormals tend to go. (I know that may not have sounded right, but just stay with me here.) Don't get me wrong I LOVE paranormals, but I guess I was hoping this wouldn't be that type. (whatever that may be) I can't say much without giving away the twist (at least to me it was a twist) Although it didn't turn out like I had originally thought it would it really wasn't a bad read at all, and I'm going to stick with the series because I want to see what happens with the characters. I want to see them grow.

One thing I did like is that I don't remember there being a love triangle in the book. To me this is always a plus because in so many YA's that seems to be a major point in the book. It's nice not to have to see the girl character (usually) try and juggle two potential loves, and then have to see her complain about it, be whiny and all that. Let's face it choosing one side is sometimes hard on us (okay and maybe also the character) We want them to have that happy ending, and not one where someone is going to get hurt.

All in all for a debut author it was good, and I look forward to reading more from her to see where she takes the story.

QUOTES:

I'll add some quotes once I can find my notebook that has them in it. :)

MY VIDEO REVIEW AS WELL:

Review: City of Bones

AUTHOR: Cassandra Clare
PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster
PAGES: 485
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series

OUTLINE: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....
MY THOUGHTS:
I'm not going to go into detail by typing it out, but here are a few of my points I mention in the video. :)

-Love the characters! Every one of them! I'm definitely team Jace though. :) Gotta love the bad boys!
-The whole world seems very intriguing. I wouldn't mind being a shadowhunter.
-I love when an author can put all the paranormal creatures in the book like: Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies (Fair people as they're called in this book. I'm not a fan of that.) Demons.
-Clary and Jace's comentary and sarcasm towards each other. I love when a book can make you laugh at loud.
-The diversity of the characters in the book. If you've read it you know what I mean.
-It will make a good movie I think.

-I will admit it had it's moments when it seemed like other books. (I hate saying that because I don't like comparing books but it's true in a way) It does stand out on it's own though.
 


QUOTES:
-Well there goes my plan for selling them on eBay.(Clary)
Selling them on What? (Jace)
A mythical  place of great magical powers. (Clary)
-If you were half as funny as you thought you were, my boy, you'd be twice  as funny as you are. (dorethea)

I'll add more quotes later. :)

Review: Shadow Hills

AUTHOR: Anastasia Hopcus PUBLISHER: Egmont
PAGES: 391
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series I believe

OUTLINE:
After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA — a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach — the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after — seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.

STARTED:
FINISHED:

MY THOUGHTS:

Video Review: Hate List

AUTHOR: Jennifer Brown
PUBLISHER: Little Brown and Company
PAGES: 405
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Stand alone
SOURCE: Library

OUTLINE: Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

STARTED: Feb 26, 2011
FINISHED: Mar 2,2011


MY THOUGHTS:

I did this review in Vlog format. Hope it's enjoyable.

Oops I just realized there's 4 parts to the book. When I was looking through it at my quotes.


MY QUOTES:

-People do it all the time--assume that they "know" what's going on in someone else's head. That's impossible. And to think it's possible is a mistake. A really big mistake. A life-ruining one if you're not careful.
-Because who you are is supposed to be the easiest question in the world to answer, right? Only for me it hadn't been easy for a very long time. maybe it never was. (Val)
-Being my friend would be a tough risk to take. (Val)
- A little edward Scissorhands or something, but in a cool way. (Stacey)
-Pretending my heart wasn't breaking, Pretending I wasn't angry, confused, scared. (Val)
-Life isn't fair. A fair is a place where you eat corndogs and ride the ferris Wheel. (Dr Heiler)
I hate when you say that. (Val)
-So do my kids. (Dr)
- It's the sunrise that gets people's attention. Rebirth always does. (Bea)
- Being pretty isn't everything, but sometimes being ugly. (Val)
-Now that I knew who I wasn't, I was determined to remember who I was. Who I would become. (Val)

BOOK TRAILER: I liked.

Shiver Review

AUTHOR: Maggie Stiefvater
PUBLISHER: Scholastic
PAGES: 392
STANDALONE/SERIES: Series Book1 (Linger book 2, Forever book3)

OUTLINE: the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future. (less)

STARTED: 2009
FINISHED: 2009

MY THOUGHTS


I'll be putting up a written review soon!