In My Mailbox (18)

Hosted by Kristi @ TheStory Siren

Hello guys! Welcome to IMM no.18
Here is what I got:

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards 

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay 
(From Random Buzzers) 

Divergent by Veronica Roth
A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

And that's all. 

And guys, what did you get?

Review: Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt

Title: Revealing Eden

Author: Victoria Foyt

Series: Save the Pearls #1

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Adventure, Romance

Publisher:

         Sand Dollar Press Inc

Release Date: 

         October 6^th 2011

Format:

         Hardcover, 307 pages

Source: Publisher

When I started reading this book, I couldn’t stop making comparisons with other dystopian books in which we find an apocalyptic or a post-apocalyptic world in which the main characters feel oppressed in some way. After reading so many books like The Hunger Games, Matched, Delirium and so on, this book had a very difficult task. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it.

Ok, first, let me tell you that this book doesn’t have anything special that you can’t find in the other books I previously mentioned. It’s a typical YA book, with a lot of action, some mystery, a main character that sometimes you want to punch in the face and yell, and of course, you find a lot of romance. The story is good and entertaining, but not the best.

It’s a good book if you’re not waiting for something breathtaking or incredible. The story has some plot holes, some of them very noticeable, so if you are very demanding or like stories very well done, this might be not your book.

I like it. It’s not my favorite, but it’s easy to read, and it’s a good book to read on a Sunday afternoon. This is the first book in the series, but I’m no planning to continue reading this story.

Happy Reading!

Victoria Foyt: Born and raised in Coral Gables, Florida, Victoria attended the University of Miami, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish and German. She currently resides in Santa Monica, California. She loves reading--at least two or three books a month--movies, tennis, swimming, hiking, and lots of dark chocolate. Visit her Website.

Review: Dark Eyes by William Richter

Title: Dark Eyes

Author: William Richtner

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: 
    March 15th 2012

Source: Librarything

Format: ARC.

The first thing I need to say about Dark Eyes is that it isn't a normal YA book, or the type of books we are used to read in the YA section. There are no vampires or any type of mythical creature, and there isn't the typical teenager romance story either. This book is completely different and much more complicated than you can ever think.

The story is about a girl, Wally, who was born in Russia, adopted and brought to america when she was a kid. She doesn't remember anything about her past life, but of course, those memories aren't going to be lost forever. She has run away from home, she is living on the streets with some friends, and suddenly her life becomes something more complicated when she finds something about her mother, her father and her real self. Now, her life won't be the same.

Even though this book caught my attention from the very first moment I read the synopsis, I couldn't enjoy it at all. The writing style was perfect and it was easy to read, and sometimes I thought I was reading a script of an action movie. It was very detailed and very well done, but I was missing something. Maybe the characters were too plain. Maybe I didn't like Wally at all. She was a tough girl, or perhaps that is what the author wanted  to show us, but I didn't see her like that. She was only a rebellious girl, a runaway. I think I would have liked her more if she didn't have a home and she needed to live in the streets and not for the lame excuse that she preferred a life on the streets than in a nice place with a family. I didn't get that and I couldn't understand her character for that simple reason. 

Another thing that I didn't like about this book is that even with all that mystery and suspense, the book is quite simple, predictable and sometimes there were too many coincidences. All the information was there, always, the only thing Wally needed to do was appear in the right moment to be able to collect it. Too easy, for me. And that made me think that the story was a little bit plain and poorly elaborated. 

I'm giving this book three stars. I liked it, it was a good read if you don't have anything to do, or anything more to read. I'm sure a lot of readers will agree with me, but others will think that this book is the best book that they have ever read. There's no accounting for taste. 

In My Mailbox (17)

Hosted by Kristi @ TheStory Siren

Hello guys! Welcome to IMM no.17 after a long break of five months…  : S

Here is what I got:

Save the Pearls Part One Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt

The Playdate by Louise Millar  (Thanks to Atria Books!)

Changeling by Phillipa Gregory 

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges (From Random Buzzers)

Torn and Ascend by Amanda Hocking

And that's all. 

And guys, what did you get?

I'm back

Hello guys, I’m back!

Right now I’m sure most of you are asking, “Who the hell are you?” or “Why I am following you?” Yeah, I know, it has been a long time since the last update on my blog and I feel awful. I’ve been really busy, you know, school and that stuff, but do you know? It’s summer… and that means no school… for now…

So I’m back. I was missing my blog and my reviews… and of course, all of you guys… and there are a few books I need to review, that I promised I would review, and it’s time to do it. Don’t you think?

So, I’m coming back with a new look... Not me! The blog! 

I really like the new look of the blog, I spent a  few days looking and trying different things... and well, this is how it ended... tell me what you think... : )

 I have a new rating system… well, it’s very similar, it’s just a little bit fancier than the old one… 

I really like it

Old

New

Well, at a closer look, yeah, it's very different... and I think it looks better.  If you want to see the entire new rating system, click here! 

So, guys, I'm really happy to be back.... and see ya around. 

Review: The Anti-Social Network by Sadie Hayes

Title: The Anti-Social Network

Author: Sadie Hayes

Series: The Start-up #2

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

Publisher: Blacklit Fiction

Release Date: October 22, 2011

Source: Publisher

Format: Ebook

Set against the fast-paced, winner-take-all world of Silicon Valley, where today’s software geek is tomorrow’s billionaire, The Start-Up chronicles the meteoric rise of Adam and Amelia Dory, a talented brother and sister team. With only each other to rely on, the naïve eighteen-year-olds must make their way through a treacherous world of money, power, and envy.

This suspenseful and exciting episode is the second installment in an ongoing serial story. 

Episode 2: The Anti-Social Network

The Dory twins grew up with nothing. Now on the verge of having everything, their fledgling company—built on Amelia’s intellect and Adam’s ambition—threatens to be torn apart by new, powerful enemies and old, malicious ones.

The Anti-Social Network is the second book of the The Start-up series by Sadie Hayes, and like its predecessor, it's full of drama, romance, mystery and a lot of technology. 

The book starts almost in the same place where the first book ended, maybe some months later, and I must say that you won't put it down until you finish it... because it's awesome.

As expected many of the questions that the author left unanswered in the first book, are clarified. Who are the mysterious people who are threatening the twins? What they want? What is the connection between them and brothers Dory? What is the true story of Adam and Amelia? What will happen to them? Will they succeed?  Also, you must add new mysteries and problems. New romances, deceptions and lies. Nobody said it would be easy. Amelia and Adam will need to fight with anyone who wants to stand in their way, and do whatever is necessary to continue together….  And as always, the book ends with a breath taking ending. Ahhh!

Sadie Hayes has achieved with this story something I hadn't seen in any YA book so far. All the topics, like technology, the start-up company, everything is very well explained and realistic, and for a moment you're able to think you're part of it, that you belong to that world, that you live in Silicon Valley. Also the topics are different. No dystopian, no in one thousands years in the future. Why not now? Why not with the things we know? That is what makes this story so special and unique. 

The characters are awesome. They are not plain characters like in other books, that they seem to be there just because the author needs some people to talk about. These characters are credible, with problems and with fears. They are different… they have different stories and backgrounds and they make mistakes like any human being. 

So, what can I say? This book, like I said before, is amazing, and I'm sure lovers of technology will adore it. So if you haven't read it, what are you waiting for?

I really liked it!

Sadie Hayes holds several degrees from Stanford University. She has spent years working in the tech industry, both as an entrepreneur and as an investor. The Start-up is her first book. If you work in Silicon Valley, you might not know Sadie Hayes. But she knows you. 

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In My mailbox (16)

Hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

It has been a while since the last In My Mailbox... And I have received a lot of books. I won some of them, I bought a few, and of course, I received some for reviews. 

Here is what I got:

Printed Books:

For Review:

Switched by Amanda Hocking (Review Here)

Dark Eyes by William Richter

(Librarything Early Reviewers Program)

From Random Buzzers:

Unleashed (ARC) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou

(Visit Random Buzzers. You're going to love it!)

Won:

The Death Cure by James Dashner

(Thank you Hannah)

Bought:

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

ebooks:

For review:

Top of the Class by Kelly Green 

(Thank you Kelly!)

Review here

  

Bought:

(for only $0.99)

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) 

by Sarah Mlynowski

(for only $0.00)

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Saving Katya by Sandra Edwards

Blood Will Tell by Samantha Young

Marked by Kim Richardson

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Crossroads by Mary Ting

Indigo Blues by Danielle Joseph

Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

And that's all....

As you can see, I got hundreds of books this time, and some of them with incredible and unrealistic prices!

What did you get?

Review: Top of the Class by Kelly Green

Title: Top of the Class

Author: Kelly Green

Series: Borrowing Abby Grace #3

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

Publisher: Blacklit Fiction

Release Date: December 20, 2011

Source: Author

Format: Ebook

Smart and sassy Abby Grace is a seventeen-year-old with a talent for getting out of trouble. Sent to repair the lives and loves of teenagers on the edge of disaster, Abby is the perfect girl for the job. She has everything going for her… except one thing: a body. 

This fast-paced and exciting episode is the third installment in an ongoing mystery series with a supernatural twist.

WARNING - Some spoilers from episodes 1-2-3

Have I said that I'm in love with this series? If I haven't, I'm saying it right now! I love this series! In the first episode Kelly Green brought us a story with really lovely characters, a different story… a fresh story about a girl that doesn't know anything about her life, she doesn't remember anything, and she is in the body of someone else…

The second episode continues with the same style. Abby in the body of another girl, where she needs to resolve something. And maybe if you haven't read the books yet, you're thinking that the story is kind of repetitive… and I'm telling you… No, it's not. It's awesome. In every book Abby not only needs to help those people and discover the mystery around them, but she also needs to discover her life, who is she? Who is her mother, her dad? What is her story?

The last episode was literally heartbreaking at the end. I wanted to read more, to know a little bit more about Abby's life, but time was over, and she needed to move forward. Top of the Class starts with a big change and a big challenge for Abby, and I must say that the cover is very revealing! Ha! Abby is now a boy and the needs to behave like one… and you need to add a big mystery that needs to be resolved before time is over, or Abby will be stuck forever in the body of a boy that is going to jail. 

Like the first two books, there is a lot of suspense, and nothing is what it seems. Secrets and lots of secrets and Abby is running against time. Will she make it? Again, I think I said it before, I really like her character, she is so smart, so intelligent… but at the same time, sweet… strong… And Will, even though he just appears at the beginning and at the ending of the book, I really like his character, and I would love to know a little bit more about him.

Top of the class is the third episode of this series, and it's as amazing as the first two books. Now I can't wait to read the next one! 

If you haven't read those books yet, I highly recommend you to do it. They are short books with a lot of mystery, secrets, fun, high schools… and romance? Maybe? Who knows?

Loved it!

Kelly Green: Writer. Reader. I also enjoy jumping in piles of leaves. I am launching a new eBook series called Borrowing Abby Grace, a super-fun supernatural Nancy Drew. 

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