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Book Review, waterfall

Waterfall: Read-A-Thon book #1

Kathryn Cooper

Ok so I’ve finished my first book of the read-a-thon hosted by Katie’s Book Blog. Maybe I can read 1 book a day and reach my goal of 3 books read this weekend.

Title: Waterfall
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David C. Cook
Release Date: February 2011
Pages: 352
Series: River of Time
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!


From Goodreads.com:
In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds… until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

My Thoughts:
Oh wow I’m in love with this book! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. Waterfall has everything I could hope for in a book. A beautiful (and clean!) romance back in the 1300s! Where the main man is chivalrous and honorable. The pretty dresses and castles are great too.


Gabriella and her sister Lia happen to find a portal in time that takes them from present day to the 14th century. Gabi crawls from the cave to shocked looks from knights in battle staring at her wearing skinny jeans, a cami, and small cardigan. Definitely scandalously dressed! This book made me laugh out loud. I loved how Gabi’s thoughts sounded like a regular teenager amidst her speaking in the old fashioned way.

This is definitely not just a love story. It has many tense moments and great battles. With the battles happening there is some violence and killing going on. I love a great action book with romance on the side. Perfect!!

Favorite Line:
“I wasn’t one of those pretty criers, the type that gets a little pink in the cheeks, and their eyes all wide and bright. No, I got the swelling, bloodshot eyes, the dripping nose that made me a candidate for the Nyquil commercial. That was me. Puurty.“

Happy Reading!

Uncategorized

Labor Day Weekend Read-a-thon!

Kathryn Cooper

Katie’s Book Blog is hosting a Labor Day Weekend Read-a-thon! I’m just supposed to set a goal to read more books than I normally would over a weekend. If I’m really into a book (especially a series) I can read 2 books over a 3 day weekend. So to push myself, I’d like to read 3 or 4 this weekend. With 3 young children to take care of (and my garage to tackle!) we’ll see how it goes.

If while I’m reading I feel any of these books are not ‘clean’ enough to post on my blog I’ll stop reading it and move on to the next on my list.

These are the books I got from the library to choose from for the weekend:

Waterfallby Lisa T. Bergren
Luckyby Rachel Vail
Brilliantby Rachel Vail
Gorgeousby Rachel Vail
The Maze Runnerby James Dashner
The Iron Kingby Julie Kagawa
Shiverby Maggie Stiefvater

I will definitely not finish all of these over the weekend, but I hope to finish a few. I started Waterfall yesterday afternoon. So far it is great! I’m loving it! Look for the review of these books soon.

Happy Read-a-Thon!

Flashback Friday, just ella

Flashback Friday: Just Ella

Kathryn Cooper

Flashback Friday will be a weekly post where I review a book I haven’t read recently. I mostly try to review books right after I’ve read them, but since I didn’t start this blog until April 2011 I have lots of previously read books I’d love to share with you.

Title: Just Ella
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Release Date: September 1999
Pages: 192
Series: none
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!

From Goodreads.com:

It’s a familiar story: In spite of the obstacles put in her way by her wicked stepmother, Ella goes to the ball, sweeps Prince Charming off his feet, and is chosen to be his bride. Now she’s comfortably ensconced in the palace, awaiting marriage to the man of her dreams. It’s happily ever after time, right?
Wrong! Life for Ella has become an endless round of lessons and restrictions; even worse, Prince Charming turns out to be more like Prince Boring. Why can’t she talk with him the way she can with Jed, her earnest young tutor?
Slowly, Ella comes to realize she doesn’t want the life she fought so hard to win. But breaking her engagement proves more difficult — and dangerous — than escaping her stepmother’s tyranny.
My Thoughts:
This story is a twist on the ‘happily ever after’ of the Cinderella story. It tells what happens after Cinderella is chosen by Prince Charming to be his bride. Ella finds out the Prince isn’t so charming after all. He just wants a beautiful wife with no brains or opinion. It definitely made me question the Disney movie version. You just can’t find your true love after a few dances people!
I just love books with royalty and all that goes along with it. Very entertaining. Ella has to learn all the royal customs that she often finds ridiculous. She starts to doubt if the prince is even worth it. Then there’s her wonderful new friend (and tutor) Jed whose handsome and easy to talk to.
This is a favorite book of mine that I have read more than once. I recommend it to those of you wanting a funny, romantic, exciting book.
Favorite Line:
“‘Why do you put up with this?’ I asked. ‘Doesn’t she make you want to scream?’
Every single one of them gazed at me blankly.
‘Don’t you ever want to do something- something real? Don’t you ever get sick of being ladies-in-waiting? Have any of you ever wondered what you’re waiting for?'”
Happy Reading!
Book Review, entwined

Book Review: Entwined

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Entwined
Author: Heather Dixon
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: March 2011
Pages: 472
Series: none

From Goodreads.com:
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it’s taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. 
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. 
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

My Thoughts:
A wonderfully clean read. Maybe it was just really nice and refreshing to read after reading 2 zombie books.

This is the story of Azalea, the oldest of 12 princesses. It was new to have the royal family be poor. They lived in the castle but had to have porridge for breakfast every morning and pass down too big of clothes/shoes to the younger sisters. I felt more sorry for the princesses when they were poor than when they were rich in other versions of this story.

My favorite sister by far is Bramble! The sisters are named in alphabetical order from Azalea to Lily so Bramble is the 2nd daughter. She is so funny! I love how she really has no filter. Whatever she’s thinking she’s going to say and do.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t the type of book where I couldn’t put it down and had to read it late into the night, but it’s a nice change to be able to put a book down when I need to do other things. I highly recommend reading it. There of course are a few romances blooming which always makes a book better for me!

Favorite Lines:
Funny Bramble sayings (there are lots more!):

“All ten of them crowded about together on the floor, hidden, pressed between the trees and the wall.
‘looks . . . comfortable,’ said Azalea.
‘It’s not so bad now that we can’t feel our legs.’ Bramble grinned, her thin lips turning up into a wry smile.”

“‘Oh . . . stuff if, Delphinium,’ said Bramble.”

Talking to her father the king-
“‘Down with tyranny!’ Bramble cried. ‘Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!‘”

Happy Reading!

Book Review, the dead-tossed waves

Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves

Kathryn Cooper

Title: The Dead-Tossed Waves
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 2010
Pages: 407
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

WARNING: NOT FOR YOUNG TEENS DUE TO VIOLENCE

My Thoughts:
OH. MY. HECK. This book is horrifying, thrilling, romantic, a major page turner. This is NOT the type of book I would normally pick up. I read the first book of the series, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, for a library book club. I had no idea what it would be about, but I was hooked once I started.

I can’t remember how the infection started (I think it’s explained in book 1), but basically if a person is infected they die and ‘return’ with no memory of who they are. All they do is exist to infect others. Entire cities died, but those that survived built walls and fences around their cities to keep the ‘mudo’ out so no one could be bitten and then turned into another mudo. It’s truly horrifying if you really picture it during the fighting and running scenes. I mostly just concentrate on the main characters surviving instead of the Mudo which are basically zombies.

I love how Gabrielle changes and grows through the story. It is wonderful to see her come to understand herself better. I love the romance. Will she choose Catcher or Elias? Which boy is better for her? These books never end how I’d like! Not enough closure mostly.

For you parents that read this blog for your kids’ book recommendations, I do not recommend this book for teens under 15.  There are dead people killing other people who then turn into a dead killing machine for crying out loud!! It’s terrifying! But for some reason I just can’t stop reading. There’s no bad language or sexual content, just kissing.

Happy Reading!

Uncategorized

Giveaway! Waterfall

Kathryn Cooper

A blog I follow called Reading Teen has ‘reading clean spotlights,’ and this one is a giveaway. CLICK HERE to check it out. The book is Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren. I haven’t read it, but I definitely will now. Look for a review coming soon.

For those of you reading this post on a reader, you’ll have to check my blog regularly to see my list of giveaways, in the right column, going on in the blogging world.

Happy Reading!

Book Review, fairy bad day

Book Review: Fairy Bad Day

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Fairy Bad Day
Author: Amanda Ashby
Publisher: Speak
Release Date: June 2011
Pages: 336
3 STARS: I Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
While most students at Burtonwood Academy get to kill demons and goblins, fifteen-year-old Emma gets to rid the world of little annoying fairies with glittery wings and a hipster fashion sense. She was destined to be a dragon slayer, but cute and charming Curtis stole her spot. Then she sees a giant killer fairy – and it’s invisible to everyone but her! If Emma has any chance of stopping this evil fairy, she’s going to need help. Unfortunately, the only person who can help is Curtis. And now, not only has he stolen her dragon-slayer spot, but maybe her heart as well! Why does she think it’s going to be a fairy bad day?

My Thoughts:
All Emma has ever wanted to be, her goal in life, is a dragon-slayer like her legendary mom. Emma is still dealing with the death of her mom from 5 years ago. She also has to try to cope with her emotions at seeing her dad remarry. Emma’s step mom is sweet and happy and very pregnant.

I was very frustrated through most of this book because I thought it was so obvious what was going to happen! I thought I had all the answers… turns out I was wrong. I was actually surprised with some of the ending answers. It was still an enjoyable and light read.

Emma has 2 best friends, horoscope reading Loni and betting man Tyler. Tyler always has a bet going about something happening at their ‘slayer-training’ school while Loni religiously keeps up with horoscopes. Tyler and Loni are supportive friends and uniquely entertaining.

Curtis Green comes along and gets the dragon slayer designation Emma dreamed of and just knew she would get. To say Emma is angry and disappointed would be a major understatement. Can Emma learn to embrace her designation as fairy slayer?

Favorite Line:
“‘Yes, it’s called a Y chromosome,’ Loni retorted. ‘Guys aren’t supposed to be like girls because otherwise they would take up too much room at the mall and steal our makeup…'”

Happy Reading!

Book Review, supernaturally

Book Review: Supernaturally

Kathryn Cooper
Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 2011
Pages: 336
Series: Paranormalcy #2
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts:
This was my first book to buy the Kindle Version and read it on my IPod Touch I got last week. I thought it would be weird not having a book to hold, but I actually loved it. The highlighting option is fun when keeping track of my favorite quotes (so many in this book!). I still like books to hold and easily flip through the pages, but I could definitely get used to this ebook thing. 

The 2nd installment in this Parnormalcy series (I think it’ll be a trilogy) did not disappoint. Evie is so funny. I love her flirty fun relationship with Lend. Evie got her normal life she so desperately wished for in the first book. She’s going to high school which she discovers is actually kind of boring, especially with Lend in college. I wish Lend could still be in high school still with her, but then she wouldn’t be able to discover so much about herself on her own.

Evie is the main character. She’s an almost 17 year old senior applying to colleges. She wants to go to Georgetown to be with Lend. Lend is the paranormal shape shifting hottie she met in the first book. Reth is her ex-boyfriend faerie who is a bit on the manipulative side. Is that an understatement? Arianna is her vampire roommate. She keeps things in perspective. Then there’s the new guy Jack who’s actually a human. He’s crazy, hyper, and hard to get real answers from.  Oh and Raquel, I love her multitude of sighs that Evie translates.

Favorite Line:
“I sighed, pulling out my gym clothes. What school chooses yellow and brown for their colors? Gross. Just, gross.”

And another because I could highlight lots and couldn’t choose.

“He stepped forward into the light, white eyes gleaming dully beneath his glamour and fangs bared in a pleasant smile. Yup, exactly where I needed to be. Bring it on, dead guy.”

Buy it!
Book Review, divergent

Book Review: Divergent

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: May 2011
Pages: 487
Series: Divergent #1
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!

From Goodreads.com:
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance

My Thoughts:
Wow, wow, and wow! Loved this book! This book is a great action/romance which is my very favorite. I read this on the last day of our 3 day drive home from Cali. Thank you to my wonderful husband who doesn’t mind driving 10 of the 11 hour drive. After we got home I put the kids to bed and finished this book at 1am.

I love these characters. The main character is Beatrice later called Tris. She is so brave and strong. I would have definitely wimped out during the initiation she went through. It breaks my heart when she has to decide between staying with her family or choosing a faction that she thinks will allow her more freedom. Will and Christina are fun and light-hearted. Four is an intimidating instructor, but there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye.

I do NOT recommend this book for young readers because of the violence. The action reminds me of Hunger Games (FYI- I loved Hunger Games).

Favorite Line:
“We walk together to the kitchen. On these mornings when my brother makes breakfast, and my father’s hand skims my hair as he reads the newspaper, and my mother hums as she clears the table–it is on these mornings that I feel guiltiest for wanting to leave them.”

Happy Reading!

Book Review, uncommon criminals

Book Review: Uncommon Criminals

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Uncommon Criminals
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Release Date: June 2011
Pages: 298
Series: Heist Society #2
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

My Thoughts:
I finished this book while on vacation in northern California last week. It was so nice to be out of the 100 degree Texas heat! Ok back to the book.

A fun, light read full of heists and surprises. The villain is heartless, but she is an older version of Kat if Kat doesn’t acknowledge the help of friends. Kat can either continue on alone or let go of some pride and allow her friends to share the spotlight.

Favorite Line:
“The world didn’t end when she said it. Kat had been expecting the brownstone’s walls to crumble, the old kitchen table to crack in two beneath her palms. But what followed was nothing but an eerie, empty quiet, and Kat knew the girl she’d been two hours before was dead.”

Happy Reading!