Since my WoW yesterday was Insuregent by Veronica Roth, the 2nd book in the Divergent series I wanted to share the Divergent book trailer with you today. That way if you haven’t read Divergent you can get excited and go read it!
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Waiting On Wednesday: Insurgent by Veronica Roth
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly post, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine , where we spotlight a book we are anxiously waiting to be published.
Insurgent
by Veronica Roth
Series- Divergent #2
Published by Harper Collins Children’s Books
Released on May 1, 2012
One choice can transform you–or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves–and herself–while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable–and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
“New York Times” bestselling author Veronica Roth’s much-anticipated second book of the dystopian “Divergent” series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.
Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable–and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
“New York Times” bestselling author Veronica Roth’s much-anticipated second book of the dystopian “Divergent” series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.
Not a long wait!! Have you read Divergent? Here’s my review. It was so exciting and awesome! I can’t wait to read Insurgent and get back into the world of Tris and Four.
What books are you “Waiting On” today?
Book Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: June 2011
Pages: 404
Series: Hereafter #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It
Author: Tara Hudson
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: June 2011
Pages: 404
Series: Hereafter #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It
Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she’s dead. With no recollection of her past life–or her actual death–she’s trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but “will” him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, “Hereafter” is a sensation you won’t want to miss.
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she’s dead. With no recollection of her past life–or her actual death–she’s trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but “will” him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, “Hereafter” is a sensation you won’t want to miss.
My Thoughts:
The main character in this book is Amelia, and she’s dead. So if you don’t want to read a story with a ghost protagonist then this book isn’t for you. On the other hand, I don’t really consider this a “ghost story.” Amelia is not spooky or scary. She’s a girl trying to figure out what happened to her. I read this like fiction, just like I would a story with wizards, vampires, or talking animals.
I was enthrolled with the story line at the very beginning; it’s so unique. The writing is beautiful. Amelia is 18 “living” near an Oklahoma river she drowned in and has been in a mental haze since her death. Then one day she helps rescue a boy named Joshua from drowning in the same river. Her life gains some meaning. Joshua can see and touch Amelia. The love story is so great. Joshua is so charming and sweet. He could have run away screaming that he saw a ghost, but instead he builds a beautifully unique friendship.
The bad guy in the book is so intriguing, but he is also extremely creepy and scary. There aren’t a lot of other side characters since no one else can see, hear, or touch Amelia. The focus of the book is the romance. There was some profanity in this book, see my content ratings for details.
I really enjoyed Hereafter. I’m looking forward to the release of book two in the series! Arise is expected to be released on June 5th, 2012.
Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild/moderate ( kissing, in bedroom alone talking on bed then lay together while boy slept )
Language: moderate ( d***-6, God-20, Jesus-1, h***-5, a**-3 )
Violence: mild ( fight scenes )
Other: an instance of teen drinking 
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction
River of Time Teams!
Have you read The River of Time series by Lisa Bergren? If you haven’t, you need to! It’s my very favorite.
View on GoodReads
Lisa posted the Team pictures on her blog.
Which Team are you? Team Marcello, Team Lord Greco, or Team Luca?
Marcello is the knight in shining armor. Always ready to defend his love and country. Honorable and Kind.
This quote, “Saints in heaven, I believe I’m in love,” is my favorite line in the entire series of books. He says this after the girl shoots some bad guys with her amazing archery skills. Hilarious. Luca is the comic relief in the first few books, but we see his more serious side in the lastest book, Bourne. He is an amazing fighter, always ready for action, and a fiercely loyal friend.
I joined Team Lord Greco in book three, Torrent. He is a mystery. The poor guy has some rough times, and it breaks my heart. He can be kind and loyal but also proud. He’s the bad boy of the group I guess.
Who’s your pick?
In My Mailbox (12)
In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, is a weekly post where bloggers list the books they recently acquired. The books can be from anywhere: publishers, authors, won in a giveaway, bought, borrowed from the library. This is not to brag but to showcase books that we might not review for awhile.
Click the book’s title to view on GoodReads.
For Review:
Thank you HarperTeen for my review copy!
ARC of Endlessly by Kiersten White
My review will be up closer to the release date, July 24, 2012.
eBooks For Review:
Thank you Opal from Astraea Press and Jenifer Rubloff for my review copies!
Legend of the Oceina Dragon by J.F. Jenkins
Vala: Agendas by J.F. Jenkins
Battlefield by J.F. Jenkins
The School With Chocolate Air by Jenifer Rubloff
What books did you find this week?
Book Trailer: The Selection by Kiera Cass
I am so excited to read The Selection by Kiera Cass! It’s release date is April 24th. Coming up really soon! Here’s the official book trailer by HarperTeen on You Tube. I am such a sucker for princess stories. Are you? Have a great weekend!
Flashback Friday: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Happy Friday! Flashback Friday is where I review a book I loved but haven’t read in awhile.
Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: January 2005
Pages: 498
Series: Twilight #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: January 2005
Pages: 498
Series: Twilight #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It
Bella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.
Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.
Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.
My Thoughts:
Have you heard about a little book called Twilight? Well, it’s a wonderful love story. I remember reading it for the first time and falling in love with the romance and excitement. It was the first book I had ever read with vampires, and I’ve actually only read maybe one with main character vampires since. Good vampires?! Who’d ever heard of such a thing?
Edward was a true gentleman in a situation he didn’t ask for. It was fun to watch Bella figure out all his secrets and actually be okay with them. I loved Edward throughout the series because of the great guy he was even though I was Team Jacob by book two. 🙂
I know by book two I didn’t like Bella very much, but I can’t remember if I felt that way in Twilight. I think I still liked her in book one. Just in case you haven’t read the books I won’t spoil the read, but I’ll just say Bella bugged me in New Moon because of the way she reacted to something. I wanted to yell at her, “Move on with your life! You’re in high school! Hang out with your friends!”
The part that stands out in my memory the most is the ending scenes. I was terrified for Bella! Super scary, super exciting! It was such a great book that I really loved reading. Here’s what I wrote on my goodreads after reading it in December 2007, “I didn’t think I’d like a vampire book, but I could not put this down!”
Have you read Twilight? What did you love/ not love about it?
Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing, sexual tension )
Language: none I think
Violence: mild/moderate ( scary fighting vampires, blood, injuries )
Book Review: Enchanted Ivy
Title: Enchanted Ivy
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: October 2010
Pages: 310
Series: none
Source: library
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: October 2010
Pages: 310
Series: none
Source: library
What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!
Lily’s test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he’s her guard. That’s weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.
When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.
Lily’s test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he’s her guard. That’s weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.
When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.
My Thoughts:
I have had this book on my to-read list for awhile, and I’m glad I finally read it. Lily thought she was a normal junior in high school looking to apply to her dream university, Princeton. She visited Princeton for alumni week with her mom and Princeton alumni grandpa. When her grandpa surprised her with the Legacy Test, a way for her to get an automatic acceptance letter, Lily’s world was turned upside down.
I liked Lily. It seemed like she had a pretty normal life except for her stress associated with her mom’s problem. Rose was loosing her memories. She didn’t even remember Lily’s father anymore who died when Lily was a baby. Lily had to constantly worry about her mother’s well-being, making sure she hadn’t wondered off or colored with permanent marker on the walls. Even though Lily’s mom had “brain hiccups” the two were a fun pair. I enjoyed the scenes with the two of them joking and having fun.
The romance in the book was perfect, not too much not too little. Tye was a mystery even to the end. I loved the parallel worlds of Princeton. The magical world was full of unicorns, dryads, talking animals, elves, etc. Lilly got caught up in a war between worlds. The action was great. I did feel slightly disconnected from the characters. I wished I could completely delve into them more. I can’t pinpoint a reason, just a general feeling at times.
Enchanted Ivy was a great read that I really enjoyed. It was exciting, romantic, and magical. I don’t think there’s a sequel, but if there is I’ll definitely read it.
There is more profanity in this book than I prefer, but not so much to make me stop reading. Details in my content ratings.
Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: moderate ( God- 13, bast***- 1, s***- 3, h***- 7, d***- 4, a**- 2, God d***- 1 )
Violence: moderate ( fighting, blood, deaths )
This is book #1 for The Dusty Bookshelf Challenge 2012, hosted by Books: A True Story.
Waiting On Wednesday: Glamorous Illusions
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly post, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine , where we spotlight a book we are anxiously waiting to be published.
Glamorous Illusions
by Lisa T. Bergren
Published by David C. Cook
Released on June 1, 2012
When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.
Isn’t the cover gorgeous?! I would love to visit Paris. I’ve never even left the United States. Lisa T. Bergren writes both adult and teen books so I don’t know if this book is teen, but either way I’ll be reading it.
What books are you “Waiting On” today?
Book Review: Dangerous Favor
Title: Dangerous Favor
Author: Joyce DiPastena
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Release Date: January 2012
Pages: 367
Series: none
4 STARS: I Really Liked It
Author: Joyce DiPastena
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Release Date: January 2012
Pages: 367
Series: none
4 STARS: I Really Liked It
Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father’s innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father’s past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams.
Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri’s attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?
Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri’s attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book! There were a few slow parts for me, but I loved the characters so much that it didn’t bother me too much.
There are two main characters, Mathilde and Etienne, and the story was told from both perspectives. It was great to hear from both sides of the story. It helped me like them more. Mathilde was a little star struck with a handsome man, Lord Therri, when she first came to the tournament with her brother. She even referred to him as The Vision. Silly, silly girl. She drove me a little crazy thinking Lord Therri, aka The Vision, was the perfect man when she didn’t even know him. I liked Etienne all throughout the book. He seemed kind, loyal, and fun to be around.
I loved how the story was wrapped around the tradition of giving favors to knights. Women chose their champion knight before the tournaments and gave them something they had on them like a handkerchief or ribbon from their hair. To see all that entailed and the consequences that came was very entertaining.
This is a wonderful love story that might appeal more to older teens and adults since their ages are: Mathilde, 18, and Etienne, 24.
Content Ratings:highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild/moderate ( suggestive remarks, almost raped, dialog, kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate ( knights tournament fighting, blood, murder )
*I received a copy of this book from Walnut Springs Press. I do not get paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.*
Kathryn Cooper 