Top Ten Tuesday: Books About Friendship

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This weeks topic is "Books I almost put down but didn't."

• Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - I'm not even going to lie about my brief moment of shallowness when I read about Etienne being shorter than Anna but I told myself to shush it and keep reading and I loved him!
• Hopeless by Colleen Hoover - I actually put this one to the side several times before I finally read it all the way through. I have no idea why it was such a struggle in the beginning because wow, it was not what I was expecting.
• Frenched by Melanie Harlow - This one simply started of slow for me. It turned out to be a nice easy read.
• The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken - This is another one I simply put to the side or stalled in favor of other books but it was an interesting one!
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - kept stalling. Then I was properly introduced to the Darkling, heh.
• This Girl by Colleen Hoover - I wasn't fond of this series being three books, because so much drama and heartache but I don't like leaving a series unfinished. It turned out to be a good read!

I found six for this weeks! I didn't have sufficient time today like I usually do to do something creative to get to the full ten so I found these for my list pretty quickly. I ended up enjoying every one of these so I have to say I'm glad I didn't put them down or quit them! Mostly at the time of reading each of them the first time, I wasn't in the mood for the kind of story they were so I switched to reading something else. No regrets!

What are some of the books you ended up not putting down? Are you glad you didn't?

Book Skimming

So lets say you find a book to read. Interesting summary, it looks like it has potential. Nice cover too, nothing that turns you away if cover design is something important to you when it comes to choosing reads. You start the book and so far, no complaints!

So far, the characters seem ok, you start to like them more as you read. The plot isn't bad at all either, though maybe you're not sure yet because all hasn't been revealed or you're waiting to see how things go down at the climax to judge. But you get to the climax and then bam, things go down the drain. Plot events aren't going the way you think they should in the book and it's frustrating you so much you want to throw the book but you also don't want to flounce because you must. See. The end. 

The end is what could change your feelings or make them build but ultimately the conflict has changed the game up. However, you're getting impatient and the plot has gotten you so worked up and you want it to end so you do the unthinkable: you skim. You try to catch the dialogue as quick as possible, you find yourself skipping or glancing at the thoughts in between, and your eyes are moving across the page fast enough that some words may blur. You just find yourself working hard to get to the finish line that ultimately the full reading experience has changed.

Does this sound familiar? I have to say, sometimes it can be me. Sometimes books throw me into such an unpleasant loop that my impatience wins and I do a lot of skimming. I try to keep myself from taking a peek at the end, though I have done that before as well *hides*. And, maybe it's silly, but I feel a little ashamed. Because when skimming you miss the little stuff, and they might be as important to the story as the overall picture. Like, I'm breaking some rule in the world of reading or something! But sometimes books can just make you go a little crazy, I suppose. And sometimes when this happens, it leaves me disatisfied with the book so I'm usually give it a rating of about 3 or lower. It takes a lot for me to quit in the middle of a book, so maybe this is a topic that goes along with going the DNF route that many have discussed before.

So, it begs the question: do you skim? For similar reasons or completely different ones? Let me know your thoughts!

Enter the world of Erilea: Review of Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: August 7th 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 404 pages

Summary: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

I started Throne of Glass excited about what this story would bring because, once again, I'd seen a lot of positive things being said by other people, bloggers included. I definitely get excited when I see a big amount of people loving the same book! I also like the fantasy genre, though it's a genre I don't read heavily because I can be a bit picky. However this series did not disappoint! It was like a mixture of game thrones and a bit like some fantasy novels I've read by Tamora Pierce. It also took me a bit longer to read because I made the mistake of starting right before finals week. It seriously took all my willpower to study and write papers instead of reading this book.

Throne of Glass gives us Celaena, a trained assassin at 18 years old, forced to slave away in a place called Endovier for her crimes. She gets an opportunity for freedom when Dorian asks her to be his champion in a battle of sorts for the choice of being the King's chosen assassin for 4 years and eventual freedom. Celaena was a really interesting character to read about, to be honest. She was young but she didn't had the opportunity to truly be young since the start of her training as assassin from such an early age. Yet she still managed to laugh, have sass, be confident, and have strength in her character, considering the trials she's faced in her short life.

I enjoyed the fact that she didn't fall all over Dorian Havalliard from the start, considering his good looks and the charm he exuded. However, when their relationship started progressing, it seemed so stale on her end. It was easy to see his feelings and the progression but even when she stopped hating him I just didn't feel she was on his level. Dorian was still an enjoyable character on his own. His humor lightened up many moments and his affection that built for her was sweet to witness. Especially nice to read, was his rebellion against the King in such little ways. The dynamic between her and Chaol, however, was perfect. I feel like there was more between them under the surface. The build up of their camaraderie was done so well. However there still wasn't a huge focus on romance in the series and I can't say I have an actual preference in choice for her (though I do really like Chaol). Nehemia was also spectacular. There was so much going on for her and her friendship with Celaena and I can't wait to see her continued part of the series. And it was great to see another strong female who was fighting in her own way just as Celaena did.

The actually plot of the book was amazingly done. I like the set up and the complexity of the world Celaena lived in. The whole politics behind the King's treacherous behavior was easy to grasp, as well as the hate that builds for him and all the destroying he's done over the years. You sort of build up a hate for him along with her. The whole championship thing was frustrating and intense, especially the way the others (mostly Cain) treated her. The whole murder mystery plot with the other contestants was a bit predictable though. There was only a split second where I doubted the culprit or the story behind what was happening but it wasn't too hard guessing who. The how or why though, that was tricky indeed. And Kaltain. Lord, I felt more anger for her than the rest. The King being close behind.

Overall, Throne of Glass was the perfect fantasy read for me. The characters were enjoyable and complex and the plot didn't bore me to tears in any parts. I was able to take it slow and enjoy the ride. There was even well done humor in several parts of the book. It was also nice for the book to end without a massive cliffhanger. I will definitely be continuing this series when I can.

Waiting on Wednesday

Weekly post hosted by Breaking The Spine.

Boomerang by Noelle August
Publication Date: July 15th 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Page Count: 304 pages

Summary: Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up. Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret. Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters. What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer. As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

This book is a new one by Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger under the pseudonym Noelle August. I've read the first book in Rossi's YA series so far and enjoyed it but I was looking forward to this one before that reading it as well! What's your pick this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Covers As Pieces of Art

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by the girls over at the broke and bookish. This weeks Top Ten is "Book covers I'd frame as pieces of art."

Isla and The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Burned by Karen Marie Moning (Fever Series)
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour
Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine
Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blackman
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
Ink by Amanda Sun (Paper Gods Series)
Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder

There aren't really a lot of book covers I love so much that I'd use them as pieces of art but these are the current ones I could find that I'd be willing to do so! My absolute favorites from the top ten are Nina LaCour's new upcoming release, Museum of Intangible Things, and the UK version of Dreams of Gods. I just really like a variety of aesthetically pleasing things from minimalist/simplistic to floral and feminine.

What book covers do you love enough that you'd frame them? Or maybe even just stare at them in awe?

Review Time: Monster In His Eyes

Note: this book is categorized as erotica and may have some darker elements that aren't suitable for viewers under the age of 18.

Monster In His Eyes by J.M. Darhower
Publication Date: April 27th, 2014
Publisher: Self-published
Page count: 350 pages

Summary: Ignazio Vitale is not a good man. I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I'm thinking before I even do. It's alarming and alluring. It's dark and deadly. It's everything I've ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession. It doesn't take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it's too late. He has secrets, secrets I can't fathom, secrets that make it so I can't walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that's both terrifying and thrilling. He's a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything. I want to hate him. Sometimes, I do. But it doesn't stop me from loving him, too. (via goodreads)

J.M. Darhower is quickly becoming one of those authors that I'll read anything they write. The characters and the realistic but intriguing worlds of danger she can write have me hooked instantly (also she's a nice lady). In Monster in His Eyes, J.M. Darhower gives readers a book that has you wondering from the very beginning how things are going to go. What's being hidden? Who is Ignazio Vitale? And more importantly, why is he a monster?

Ignazio “Naz” Vitale was mesmerizing from the start. He was silent and deadly, captivating Karissa so very quickly. He captivated me quickly. On the outside he was calm and controlled but there always seemed to be something going on in his head. As if he was calculating every action he took as well as the actions of those around him. There was no doubting his danger, even if Karissa was slowly being seduced into believing there was none at all with him. This man had me on the edge of my seat until the end of the book. There was no doubting the storm going on behind his eyes, the darkness that he let out in gradual stages as he spent time with Karissa.

Karissa herself was likeable, and she was also so wrapped into the mystery and sex appeal of Naz so she's easily persuaded into a sense of safety. This, as a reader, sets you on edge even if you're being seduced almost as easily as she is. However, I was screaming in my head “Watch out!” But, when push comes to shove she does have her own spark that comes out. The tension between her and Naz was a great thing to see, especially with how the age difference plays in. It was sexy without there being overdone or full of sex. I hope that in the next book, with the big reveal being out, that we get to see more of her spark and the angry passion building between her and Naz.

Overall, this was a great read for me personally. It was dark in a way I hadn't found before (but dark in the way I can occasionally enjoy) and the mystery of Naz's secret went in a completely different direction than I was expecting to witness. I don't want to say too much about certain part's of the book considering how big everything is in regard's to the plot. Great characters, and great story; I couldn't have asked for more from Darhower's mind.