Book Review: Time Between Us

Time Between Us (Time Between Us #1)
Tamara Ireland Stone
Published October 9th 2012 by Hyperion
Source - Library

Goodreads Synopsis:
Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction


Review:

Where do I start? This was the only (and I mean the ONLY) time traveling book that didn't leave me utterly confused by the end. There were questions, but those should be answered in the sequel.

Anna lives in Illinois, in 1995. Bennett lives in San Francisco in 2012. Bennett has a time traveling knack. Which means that he has the ability to travel back to 1995, and he ends up meeting Anna.

Anna is such an amazing main character, she was mature and relatable. She is also a good friend (for the most part) to her best friend Em. I could talk all day about everything that I loved about Anna. Starting with the name. Tamara shows that you don't need some completely unrealistic name to have a wonderful character. (Also Anna and Bennett sound really good together).
Bennett is one of those guys in books where you get the feeling that you would love to have one of your own. Gentleman like, protective, loving, and so many more characteristics.

As I said above, the time travelling element was not at all confusing. Most time travelling books that you read have a time stamp at the beginning of each chapter because the author usually doesn't describe what time you are in well enough. I didn't find myself needing a time stamp at all during this entire book.
Three words that I would use to describe this would be:
Mesmerizing, enchanting, and absolutely wonderful. (I know, that's four but you get my point).

I had heard from a few people how great this one was, and it is. Definitely recommend this even if you are like me and not into the time travelling genre. Lovely romance, beautiful character, mesmerizing plot. Every element that gives a good story. I will definitely be reading the sequel, and anything else that Tamara writes.
4.5/5

Stacking the Shelves (14) + Weekly Summary

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

 

Here are the books I bought/received this week.

 

 

 

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) - Morgan Rhodes

 

Borrowed:

Across A Star Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows The Stars #2) - Diana Peterfreund

 

Library:

Dash & Lily's Book Of Dares - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta

 

Won:

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin - Liesl Shurtliff

 

Weekly Summary:

Book Review - Between The Lines

Monday YA Author Interview With Marie Landry

Super Six Sunday (3) Super 6 Books I’m Thankful I Took A Chance On

 

 

Book Review: The Beautiful and the Cursed

The Beautiful and the Cursed

Page Morgan
Published May 14th 2013 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Library 

Synopsis via Goodreads:
After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

And Grayson has gone missing.

No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

 

Review:

So this was interesting, very interesting. I am a huge fan of historical fiction but this one really didn't grasp me as historical fiction. I felt as if it was just a regular paranormal story set in an 1800's landscape.

There are quite a few switching points of views, I didn't particularly like the way the author did it, with not clearly stating which point of view you are entering. And because it was switching with more than two people it wasn't clear which point of view you were in.

The characters of Ingrid and Gabby were interesting, but I never really connected with them as much as I would have liked. Because of all the switching of views, each characters "take" on the story is different but that also leaves you with not really getting to know one or two characters.
The sisters different romances were nice, but not anything special. I didn't like any of the guys.

This book did have quite a bit of violence in it, and mentions mutilated young girls. Definitely not meant for a young audience. I would say fourteen and up, or even fifteen.

The gargoyle part of the story was both unique and interesting, but the different creatures that frequented the story reminded me a little to much like The Mortal Instruments which I was not a huge fan about.
I am not a fan of demons/paranormal in the first place, and although the author did give a very interesting take on it, I can't say that this is making my favorite list.
I know I have been pretty negative for most of this review, but I can say that the story is very unique with the gargoyle element, and for paranormal fans I would recommend this.
I will be picking up the sequel just to see where the author takes the story next. 3/5

Waiting on Wednesday (11) What I Thought Was True

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

What I Thought Was True
Huntley Fitzpatrick
Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by Dial Books for Young Readers


 

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti




I am not a big fan of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, or Deb Caletti. But I did love My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Can't wait for this one!
Please link me your Waiting On Wednesdays below in the comments! I would love to visit.

Book Review: Between the Lines

Between the Lines
Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Published June 26th 2012 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARCycling.

Delilah, a loner hates school as much as she loves books— one book in particular. In fact if anyone knew how many times she has read and reread the sweet little fairy tale she found in the library, especially her cooler than cool classmates, she’d be sent to social Siberia forever.To Delilah, though, this fairy tale is more than just words on the page. Sure, there’s a handsome (well, okay, incredibly handsome) prince, and a castle, and an evil villain, but it feels as if there’s something deeper going on. And one day, Delilah finds out there is. Turns out, this Prince Charming is not just a one-dimensional character in a book. He’s real, and a certain fifteen-year-old loner has caught his eye. But they’re from two different worlds, and how can it ever possibly work?



Review:

This one was definitely interesting. Delilah is a fifteen year old high school student who has exactly one friend, and is completely obsessed with a book. The book happens to be an illustrated fairy tale which was written by a once famous mystery writer, but most of this mystery writers fans haven't even ever heard of this book. One day, Delilah finds this fairy tale in her school library, and instantly loves it.
Delilah is pretty much portrayed as the school "loser" after managing to break the head cheerleaders leg, (uh oh) no one talks to her. Until another "loser" moves to town.
Oliver is the prince in the book, who is of course charming, handsome, a gentleman, and everything that you could find in a good Disney movie. (Prince Charming maybe?)
The story line is told in alternating points of view. I have read really good alternating points of view books, and I have read really bad alternating points of view books. This one would fall right in the middle whenever I was reading Oliver's point of view I felt as if I was in a Disney movie, and whenever I was reading Delilah's point of view I felt as if I was back in a young adult novel. And although I think that this was part of the  point of the story, it just didn't feel right. After all, if I just edited out Delilah's part I could go give this book to a young kid, and if I edited out Oliver's part, it would go to being a teenagers book again.
Delilah is not really a "loser" a word I would use to describe her is clumsy. And her fascination with this fairy tale books is either adorable or disturbing. I am leaning toward adorable, but it could very easily be described as the other.
Oliver is not really a boy in our terms, he is so much stuck in this book (literally) that you fail to really fall in love with him.
I thought that the idea behind this book was really great and creative, but not really a young adult book. But then the author went and threw in stuff that did belong in a young adult book. So although this story line could be a kids book, I would not suggest it to children.
Altogether, I really wish that they would re-write this book and turn it into a children's book. The ending confused me, and I wasn't really into the characters. This still receives a three star rating from me, just because the idea was brilliant.

Monday YA Author Interview With Marie Landry

Where are you from?
I’m from a small-ish city in Ontario, Canada.

When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing stories since I first learned to write. The stories were in me and I felt like I needed to put them on paper and share them with people. From a very young age, I knew this was what I wanted to do professionally.

What books have influenced your life most?
The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling and Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. Besides being fantastically written, they just have such great messages about friendship, love, family, and doing good things in the world. 

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Probably Nora Roberts. I’ve always said I wanted to be her when I grow up. She writes such great romance, and her books always have a lot of heart, and, again, great messages about family and love and friendship. 

What book are you reading now?

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith - I’m obsessed with contemporary YA and this book is so cute.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

There are a few 2013 debut authors who really stand out to me - Jessica Sankiewicz (who also happens to be one of my best friends), Teri Brown, Jessica Verdi, Leila Howland, Lauren Graham, and Page Morgan. I think they’re all authors to watch, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with in the future.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

My favourite ‘adult’ author is Nora Roberts. As I mentioned before, I love that her books have a lot of heart. They’re usually centred on family and friends, and they all have a fantastic romance. They’re well written, the dialogue is always snappy, and the protagonist almost always has a fascinating occupation, which I love because it means I get to learn something new. I have several favourite authors who write young adult books - Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins are the first two that come to mind. There’s just something special about their books - great writing paired with memorable situations and characters that stay with you.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

A lot of the subject matter - Charlotte losing her mother and dealing with the aftermath - was hard to write because it was so emotional. I lost my dad when I was little, so I know the pain of losing a parent, plus I had just lost my Grama, who was one of my best friends, a year before writing Waiting for the Storm, so that pain was really fresh. It was difficult, but it was also cathartic.  

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)

Yes. I’ve always loved to read and my parents were always buying me books to feed my addiction.

What character in your books do you relate to most?

Probably Charlotte from Waiting for the Storm. She’s a bit uncertain and insecure, and I can relate to that. She wants what’s best for her family and she puts them first, and that’s something else we have in common - my family is everything to me.

Ok now some fun questions:


What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?

I don’t watch sports, but I love to swim and play basketball when I get the opportunity. 

Favorite Movie?
I have so many I could spend all day listing them! The first one that pops into my head is Runaway Bride. I never get enough of that movie.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate

Puppy's or Kittens?
Puppies


Beach or Mountains?
Mountains 

If you could be a color, what color would you be?

Purple or blue


Favorite Dessert?
Ice cream 

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?

Anna from Anna and the French Kiss - I’d love to go to Paris and fall in love with a boy like Etienne St. Clair! ;-)

 

Waiting For The Storm

Marie Landry

 

 

 

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte O’Dell knows this summer is going to suck. Her mother just died, her sister hates her, and her dad has completely checked out. Fulfilling her mother’s final wish, the family heads to Angel Island for the summer to stay in a beach house her mother once loved.

After a year of being shut away taking care of her mother, Charlotte is numb and practically afraid of her own shadow; she hopes going to the island will give her the time and space she needs to begin healing, and an opportunity to bring her family back together. When she meets her mysterious neighbor, Ezra, it doesn’t take long for Charlotte to confess the issues she’s developed. Ezra begins giving Charlotte assignments to get over her fears, and although she accepts his tasks, all she really wants is to be with him. When she’s with Ezra, she’s able to forget the hollow ache in her heart and the fact that her family is falling apart. But Ezra has secrets…

Can Charlotte pull what’s left of her family together, mend her broken heart, and allow herself to fall for Ezra? Or is it all just a storm waiting to happen?

Super Six Sunday (3)

Super Six Sunday is an original bookish meme hosted at Bewitched Bookworms and inspired by “Top Ten Tuesday” from The Broke and The Bookish . You can see the weekly schedule of themes here.

Super 6 Books I’m Thankful I Took A Chance On

All of these surprised me, and most of them are now on my

"favorite books, would definitely re-read" list.

 

The very first review I posted  on this blog

was of Cinder. It is not very good, but if you are interested.....

My Review of Cinder

My Review of Aberrant

 

Please link me your Super Six Sunday (or another post) in the comments I would love to visit!