Scavenger Hunt

Thank you Paperback Darling for this fun scavenger hunt. Things got a bit tricky towards the end. 

Find an author’s name or title with the letter Z in it.

I love Zane. One of my favorites that she wrote was Addicted and Nervous. 

Find something on your bookshelf that is not a book

Here is a globe I salvaged from my dads old book shelf, along with quite a few of my books. 

Find the oldest book on your shelf

I had no idea which book was the oldest so I picked one I knew my mother read a long time ago, and it looked very old. I've never actually read it. 

Find a book with a girl on the cover

Oh this was too easy. Had to give Aria some love, one of my Favorite Heroines!

Find a book that has an animal in it
So excited to put this Hippogriff in my post. 

Find a book with a male protagonist
I didn't want to use Harry Potter twice, and really struggled! Had to borrow one from my husband. He loved this book. 

Find a book with only words on it
Very Different books, both will bring you to tears. 

Find a book with gold lettering
I loved this book. June Iparis, another amazing heroine. 

Find a book written by someone with a common name like Smith
Here we have a summery Jennifer E. Smith book. 

Find a book that has a close up of something on it
I loved Beautiful Disaster. Is this close enough? 

Find a hardcover book without a jacket
Horde, by Ann Aguirre, my favorite Zombie book. 

Find a non-YA book
This memoir by Esmeralda Santiaga tells me I can love more than fiction. 

Find a book with illustrations in it

There were a ton of illustrations throughout Everything, Everything. 

Find a book with stars on it

Another from my husbands shelf. He is obsessed with space. 

Find a teal/turquoise colored book

I actually never finished this book. I'll have to take a second look at it. I hope that counts as teal. 

Find a classic

I believe Invisible Man is a classic. 

I was unable to find these below. :( A reason to go buy new books. Yay! 

Find a book that takes place in the earliest time period

Find a book with a key on it

May Wrap Up

Top Ten Tuesday: 

Book Wishlist

What I'd Like To See More

Mothers Edition

Poems

Before I Fall

Learning To Love Me

Book Review

Reached

Crossed 

Matched

Finale

Silence

Crescendo

The Edge Of Never

Ten Tiny Breaths

Reached (Mini Review)

                                  

From Goodreads: After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

---

Warning, This Review Contains Spoilers

Reached was a good book. It was interesting, and just a well written as Matched and Crossed.

This book didn't make me want to yell, or cry or laugh. It was a little more mellow, and laid back. It made me want to kick back and enjoy the beauty in her words.

"Climbing Into the dark for you

will you wait in stars for me"

I loved it from the beginning, the love between those two.

I loved this story for all the small things that added up to unforgettable.

A part earlier in the story, Indie kissed Ky. Later Ky admitted to kissing Indie back. I loved this complicated friendship and that it wasn't the main focus of the story.

The slow build up of Xander finally being able to admit Cassia wasn't going to chose him, and him finding Lei. I was so happy on the part where Indie, (I really thought they would be together) came to get Xander. She tried to get him on the plane by saying Cassia is here, and he still wouldn't leave. He cared about helping people. He cared about helping Lei.

The Rising was no better! They actually infected all the citizens with a deadly Plague. I understand it succeeded in over throwing the Officials. But it almost killed most of the people in the Society.

I enjoyed this book. I would read it again.

Crossed (Mini Review)

From Goodreads: The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

---

               

Spoiler Alert Ahead

               I loved this just as much as Matched. I love the story of a good journey. And a healthy amount of secrets to discover. Cassia, very smoothly in my opinion, sneaks into an abandoned farmland where the Enemy rains bullets down daily, to find Ky. Indie, a beautiful girl with an ulterior motive, follows her. This book has included Ky's point of view. Ky has escaped to get a message back to Cassia. I'm just sure they are never going to find each other like this. But the unfortunate death of Ky's friend has slowed them down enough for Cassia to catch up. Ky's story is an intriguing one. His lifelong love of Cassia.

                  I was awed when it was revealed that Ky was the one to put his on face on the micro card. He just wanted a chance, for Cassia to see him again. When he finally tells her, he doesn't want to go to the Rising, he's sure he lost her. As a supporter of Cassia and Team Ky, I didn't like Indie. Lying. Holding onto the Micro-card. stealing the mini port. Claiming love for Xander even though she'd never actually met him. Wanting Ky to abandon Cassia and run off to find the Rising with her.

                 And Ky was right. They had no proof of what the Rising was and what their plan was.

Ally Condie is an amazing writer. This book reads like Poetry. It flows like water. Its so pretty. In a world where they value words. It means something trust another person with their story.

Matched (Mini Review)

From Goodreads: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

---

It was beautiful. I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed my last few books but I loved this one. Cassia and Ky (names I love) live in a dystopian world that believes in ultimate control. Cassia and Xander have been best friends their whole lives but are surprised when they are Matched because apparently being Matched with someone from your neighborhood is very rare. So the next day she is looking at her info card and a picture of Ky flashes after Xander.

What I love about Ky! He's quiet, smart, sweet, and a Rebel. For me, that is an award winning combination. She didn't chose the common and popular choice, Xander, who is charismatic, funny, attractive, and competitive.

Cassia didn't harp on how sexy anyone was. The story was well written, clear and concise. She wasn't irrational and overly emotional.

A rebellion is underway.

Learning to Love Me

I can see her so clearly  

Her reflection staring back at me 

All of her pieces placed perfectly 

If only I could bring her to be 

Unafraid and unapologetically  

She makes it look so easy  

As smooth as a cool breeze 

Smiling so freely 

Embracing her abilities 

I’m fighting a ghost I cannot see 

Fighting the inner me 

When every hour feels like an eternity 

And the only peace I find is in my sleep 

My dreams hugging me close while I weep 

I awake to find myself still feeling guilty 

My thoughts are filthy  

Finale (Mini Review)

From Goodreads: Will love conquer all? Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.

---

**Spoiler Alert*

The problem with a series or sequels is at bare minimum it must live up to the previous books. Ideally each new book would be better than the last. It is almost impossible to judge each book individually. As a reader I have built expectations. And when they aren't met I am disappointed. Which sounds like me not enjoying it, when in reality, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I was going to.

That is how I felt about Finale.

The book keeps hinting at an epic war. But for the majority of the book nothing war-like happens.

Nora stress about the war day and night, but continues school, fake dates Dante, secretly dates Patch, plans a Halloween Party with Marcie, goes to the club with Vee, still finds time to be jealous of Dabria.

Even when she finally agreed that the Nephilim should fight for their freedom from the Fallen Angels, she never met her army. Made any defensive or offensive moves.

And WHY did Scott have to die. I loved the build up of his character. That he turned out to be one of her most loyal friends. His dying did not help her take down Dante in the end at all. She should have been smart enough to try her mind tricks way earlier in the fight. Why wasn't Patch practicing that with her.

I didn't even care when Patch's feather was burned and he was sent to Hell. I was too sure he was coming back.

It wasn't a bad book, it was good. I just expected more.

Silence

From Goodreads: Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

---

It pains me to sit here and write this review right now!!!

WHY???

!!Because it means I am not finishing this book!!

Goddammit! That was the best book ever!!!

My favorite in the series so far.

A fair amount of excitement without overkill.

I loved the memory loss. It just fit into the story so perfect.

And we finally learn Patch's real name :  Jev. (nice)

(I always wondered how old he was???)

I missed Vee now that she wasn't in the book as much.

My favorite aspect of this book was the undeniable love Nora had for Jev. She didn't know who he was, but she knew she had to find out and she that she loved him very much.

I loved this story of the Fallen Angels and the Nephilim. Hell and Heaven. This world that sucked Nora in so deep she can't escape it. Now and unavoidable war is under way.

Top Ten Tuesday: Mothers Edition

This meme is hosted by Broke and Bookish

On Sunday we celebrated Mothers Day so naturally it's the topic for this week's TTT. There are a number of different ways to approach this topic. I decided to take it a personal route. I lost my mother at 16 and she really was a great mother. So I pulled 10 books from my shelf with characters that lost their mothers.

Harry Potter grew up his whole life without either of his parents. 

The mothers death in this book takes everyone off guard, rocking their whole universe. I love how present she feels even after she's gone. 

June's parents died, fueling her to become strong and resilient to eventually solve their deaths. 

Lara Jean's mom passed when she was pretty young, but you never stop missing your mother. Even if you didn't know her well or remember her. 

Owen is trying to find his place in the world without his mother. He always thought they'd be a trio in their comfortable house, but after she passes, Owen and his father go on a journey to find themselves and a new start. 

Oh Ella's mom gave her so many problems when she was alive. And with her death brought so much guilt and grief for Ella. She has a lot of pain to process and learn to live with. 

It's been a while since I've read this book, but she was such a motherless child. The ghost of a mother, needing her guidance and love and stumbling along the way without it. 

Jonah is a pure sweetheart, trying to hold his family together after the death of his father. You just want to love this boy! 

I LOVED Winter! Just one of my favorite characters, she lost both her parents tragically. After the cruelty of the Queen, she knew it was wrong within her heart. And let all the pain just make her more understanding and loving. 

Crescendo (Mini Review)

      Crescendo

From Goodreads: Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever (if that's possible) and what's worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude, Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her li

ngering feelings that he is hiding something.

If that weren't enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

---

This Review Contains Spoilers

This book was equally as wonderful as Hush, Hush.

Rixon being the guilty party through me for a loop.

I must admit, I did not enjoy a whole book leading up the same grand scheme of an angel sacrificing Nora  so they could be human.

I did enjoy having to think back to all of the lies Rixon told and compare them to Nora's own doing. I highly underestimated his intelligence.

It sucked for Patch to erase Vee's memory. She already didn't trust Patch, now he's given her more ammunition. Somewhere along the way Vee grew on me. Her loyalty to Nora is award winning. But if she bad talks Patch one more time, I'm going to bitch slap her!

I found Scott entertaining but totally useless addition. He's all sweet but he seems to get Nora in a lot of trouble. And was unreliable. (they went out like 2 or 3 times and she had to find her own way home)

I am definitely reading the rest of this series.