Book Review: Thumped

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Thumped by Megan McCafferty is the conclusion to Bumped.  This is a dystopian, young adult novel set in the year 2036 and starts right after Bumped ended.  This book is geared more towards the older teens, but as an adult I understood that context, over and undertones of this book.

Thumped the sequel to Bumped, it continues the story of separated-at-birth twins, Melody and Harmony.  These sisters are now the most popular teen girls on the planet.  To their fans, they seem to be living ideal lives.  Harmony is married to Ram (a boy from her commune) and living in Goodside, the religious community that once meant everything to her.  Melody has the genetically flawless Jondoe as her coupling partner, which means money and status, and a bright future.  But both girls are hiding secrets, and both are pining for guys they can't have.  Telling the truth could mean losing everything.

Just like the first book, I really enjoyed this book, it was a fast read, and I couldn't put it down.  The issues that were touched upon in the first book get fully explored in this one.  Both sisters are trying really hard to find their own identity but also their back bone.  When Harmony is back in the religious community, she's a prisoner and under house arrest from escaping the first time but despite their displeasure in her previous antics, they are enjoying the fame and media attention that she is bringing to their community.  Melody is also a prisoner with the expectations that has happened from her "bumping" with Jondoe that may or may not have happened.  Compared to the first book, this one had more action and romance.  I really enjoyed how the events fell into place with this series.  While some could argue that the ending was cliche and typical, I really enjoyed it.  I do have to say though, a part of me wishes that this was a trilogy instead of a duo.  Even though the major issues were resolved, I couldn't help but feel attached to the characters and I wanted to see what happens next.  Again I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this book my friends.



Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Bumped

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty, is a young adult, dystopian novel and takes place in Princeton, New Jersey in the hear 2036.  This book is the first in a duology.  While this book is geared towards the young adult audience, I feel that this is for the older young adult audience.  Megan McCafferty, is best known for her Jessica Darling series, and I found that like those books her writing was similar aiming for an older young adult audience and makes it some what enjoyable for adult readers.

Bumped starts off as a virus has swept the world, making everyone over the age of eighteen infertile.  Because of this teenagers are now the most prized members of society, and adults who wish to be parents desperately bid for "conception contracts" with the prettiest, healthiest, and smartest girls.  The teens receive things like cash, college tuition, and other favors in exchange for a baby.  At sixteen, Melody as scored a record-breaking contract with a rich couple and and she's been matched with the hottest "bumping" partner in the world, Jondoe.  Melody discovers that she has an identical twin, Harmony, whom has grown up in a strict religious community and believes that her calling is to save Melody from her sinful intentions.  While Melody is trying to come to terms what she has signed up for, Harmony has been mistaken for her and is now meeting with Jondoe.  

As I've already mentioned, due to the subject matter, I feel that this book and following book are better suited for older teens.  The book was published in 2012, so during that time, shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom were really popular.  One of the things that I loved so much about this book was how the brainwashing of these teens happened.  Instead of saying intercourse, they called it bumped.  Or instead of calling it a baby and forming an attachment they told to call it a bump or call it something like burrito.  They popularized and marketed selling teen pregnancy in order to fulfill a demographic of adults that can't have children.  I thought that Megan McCafferty writing was brilliant, and kind poked fun at the popularization of TV shoes like Teen Mom.  I also felt for both of the characters, both of the sisters, even though they weren't raised together, do feel a bond and both recognize how the other is being manipulated by their parents and society.  The one thing that I thought was very powerful was that how these two girls were willing to lose their individuality and self worth in order to belong and please others.  This book was a quick read, and I couldn't put it down.  With all of the different dystopian books and series out there, I feel that this book carved out its own little niche out where it stands apart from the rest out there.  There is humor, action, angst, romance, and a message that isn't shoved down your throat.  I truly enjoyed this book.


Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Cress

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series and it is geared towards the young adult audience.  The first two in the series are Cinder and Scarlet.  Just like the first two books in the series, Cress is a futuristic take on a classic fairy tale of Rapunzel.  

In Cress, the plot is a continuation from the first two books.  You follow the previous characters, Cinder, Captain Throne, Scarlet, Wolf, and a little bit of Prince Kai.  The four main characters, are plotting to overthrow the evil Queen Levana and her army.  They meet a girl Cress, who is a shell (which is a Lunar who can see through a Lunar person's glamour and doesn't have any of their abilities) and has been imprisoned on a satellite since she was a young girl.  She was forced to monitor and hack vital information of the people of Earth to help Levana.  The four decides to stage a daring rescue, but unfortunately it doesn't go as planned and they find themselves separated.  Cress finds herself alone Carswell Thorne, and they try to meet up with Cinder and the others.

So if you guys couldn't tell, I loved this book as much as the first two.  This book felt like there was more action and plot twists than the first two and I enjoyed every second that I read this book.  Of course, there was a bit of romance, but it didn't over power the plot and story line.  Which is something I appreciated.   You find out more about the characters involved and also there is hints of the future characters that will be major players in the final book of the series which is, Winter (Which at this moment I am patiently waiting for my book order.  I had a birthday gift card that I was waiting to use until this baby got released.)  I unfortunately find that with books that I love I have such a hard time talking about what I loved about them.  Because this series has had me hooked since I first read Cinder, I couldn't put it down.  As I said this was a refreshing change from the normal books that I normally read, and I also felt that this series stands out from the other young adult books that seem to get a lot of hype.  It has action and romance, with a fairytale and futuristic twist.  It's not quite dystopian nor is it quite science fiction.  I feel that it is in a genre on its own.

On a sad (or possibly happy) note, I've read a few articles that this series is going to be turned into a movie.  And for those of you who don't know, I have a love hate relationship with books that get turned into movies.  Especially if I really enjoyed it.  I just hope that who ever is writing the script, casting the actors and directing, gives this series the justice that it deserves.


Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is a young adult fiction novel and it is the second story in the Lunar Chronicles.  It follows the dystopian idea with a classic fairy tale twist.  Scarlet takes a bit of inspiration from the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.  The story introduces three new characters and also follows the main characters from the previous novel Cinder.  

The story starts with Cinder trying to break out of prison and ultimately has to ask the help of a fellow in mate as she is trying to break out.  The story soon introduces you to Scarlet Benoit who is searching for her missing grandmother.  When Scarlet encounters a street fighter, Wolf, who may have information on her grandmothers whereabouts she must ultimately try to trust the stranger that she is wary of.  They soon find themselves drawn to each other and as they start to unravel the mysteries, they meet Cinder and inmate, Carswell Thorne, whom is also a pilot.  Together the four will try to figure out a way to save humanity from the evil lunar queen Levana.

I have to be honest, I read this book last year, but I still remember a lot of details.  I loved this book and gave it a 5 out of 5 stars on good reads.  I loved the action, the plot twists, the bit of romance.  Yes this story has a little romance.  But I felt that the romance was appropriate and suitable for the age range the books are ultimately geared towards which I feel would be the older young adults.  I loved this book and the addition to the different characters.  I felt that the author has a clear direction in where she wants the series to go.  It's so different that a lot of the other young adult books because I feel that it has a unique take on a way of story telling and as an adult I enjoy it,  I didn't feel like the writing was dummied down in order to appeal to a younger crowd.  I honestly can't wait for the next book in the series to be released because I desperately want to know what happens to the characters that I've grown attached too.

Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a young adult, science fiction, romance book loosely based off of a the classic fairy tale, Cinderella.  This book is the first book of the Lunar Chronicles series and was published in 2012.  I read this book last year in March and I have to say, I loved it!  I'm completely hooked on this series and I'm going to state this now, I will be incredibly disappointed if they turn this into a crappy movie.  Yep I went there.

The story starts off when Cinder who is a android/human hybrid trying to offer her mechanical skills.  As a cyborg she is considered a second-class citizen and can't remember her past before her life saving operation.  In the market, someone suddenly take ill and you are introduced to the event that sets everything into motion, the plague that is ravaging the population of earth.  Just like every fairy tale there is an evil queen, Levana who is a ruthless leader to the lunar people who watch and manipulate those around them.  When Cinder's beloved stepsister becomes ill with the plague, her stepmother sells her to the Prince Kai's head doctor so that they can run tests on her.  But soon she finds that she is more important to the people of Earth and also important to Kai.

I have to say for a young adult novel, I thought it had the right amount of romance.  It was enough to make my heart happy, but not over done that I would have thought that this wouldn't be apporpriate for the age group that it was aimed at.  As someone who is in their later 20's instead of their teens I was thoroughly entertained by the book.  I felt the author did an excellent job of writing, it wasn't too mature but it also wasn't patronizing that I feel a lot of young adult books tend to be.  I immediately loved the character Cinder.  A lot of the time, I find that author's find that it is easier to make their main female characters to be weak and easily manipulated.  This is not the case with Cinder, she's confused, yes, and she also doesn't originally want the burden.  I found that all of the characters were intriguing and I couldn't put the book down.  The plot moved fast enough, but not so fast that it was hard to keep details straight.  I couldn't put this book down, and I immediately bought and read the sequel Scarlet and as soon as Cress came out I bought that as well.  And of course, I am patiently waiting for the next book to come out.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn't put it down and this has got to be one of the first young adult books that I have been able to get completely en captured by.  As an adult sometimes books that are in the young adult genre are not very well written, and it is not the case with this book.  I loved it from cover to cover.

Rating:
5 out of 5

Book Review: Run Catch Kiss

Run Catch Kiss by Amy Sohn

So I have to admit, this is my second attempt at reviewing this book, the first review ended up getting accidentally deleted.  And then I just ignored it for a couple of weeks.  So here is my second attempt.

Run Catch Kiss by Amy Sohn is a contemporary/humor novel based on the main character Ariel Steiner and her ambitions on becoming a a-list actress.  The novel was published in 2000, and I read it back in March of 2014 when I was on vacation. This was one of many book that I have bought from the book store I used to work at so this book probably sat on my shelf for at least nine years.

The story starts out with an eye catching line, "I was only twenty-two and already I was infamous..."  You follow the saucy character Ariel Steiner as she returns home after college as she dreams of becoming a top actress.  But unfortunately her freshman-fifteen pounds, a talent agents who isn't all there, kind of stands in her way.  But a lucky break comes in the form of writing a sex column in a trendy new york downtown weekly magazine (a la Sex in the City).  But unfortunately the writing and articles start to turn Ariel's life upside down, and when she finally falls in love, she has to decide, settle down, or continue to be the saucy and brazen sex kitten.

I have to admit, I LOVED this book.  I started to read this book when I was on vacation last year and I couldn't put it down.  I believe I read this in a day.  I was completely enthralled by the characters Ariel, there were times where I sympathized with her, laughed with or at her, or wanted to throttle her.  You see here at the beginning as a very shallow person who is driven, but when you see events not happen to her like they should, you feel for her defeat but also think to yourself, that's karma.  The main love interests was also interesting.  Even though he wasn't the main focal point, you understood what he was to her and they were to each other so that I really liked.

In the end I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because I couldn't put it down.  It had me laughing at some parts, and feeling sad in other and also a little angry.  This was a pleasant book to read, and I think a good vacation book.

Rating:
4 out of 5

Book Review: Magically Delicious Kisses

Warning: I read this book over a year ago, so the review might not be so detail driven.

Magically Delicious Kisses (Anthology)

Magically Delicious Kisses is an Anthology with three different authors contributing to the book.  All three stories have a theme of food and some kind of magical properties.  The book was published in 2002 and I read it in 2014.  The three authors that contributed to this book are: Jo Goodman, Hannah Howell and Linda Madl.  I believe I purchased this book when I was working at the book store ages ago, and I can quite remember why I picked it up and bought it.  Because out of all of the authors I've only heard of one, but I had never read anything by her.  In all I remember the stories being quick reads, and fun for little brain dusters.

A Basket of Magic by Jo Goodman is about a girl named Abby Winslow who makes bread that is specific for a person.  When she runs into Dylan Kincannon, she's inspired to bake him a special loaf and travels to the isolated place he calls home.  Dylan who is a Yankee, living in the south shortly after the civil war just wants to be alone, but when an avalanche strands her with him sparks fly.

I found that the story had a nice and easy flow, it was quick but had a good amount of back story with action that pulled me in.  Out of the three stories this was the only one set in America where as the other two were set in Great Britain.  You find that Dylan is suffering from what we know not today as PTSD, after serving as a doctor to Union and Confederate soldiers during the civil war.  I loved that the author wasn't afraid to put in history of the characters and found that it was important to understand them.

The Magic Garden by Hannah Howell is a story set in Scotland where Rose Keith comes from a long like of Keith women who is in charge of the family garden, that many believe hold magical properties.  The new Laird Sir Adair Dundas takes a liking to Rose and finds her quirky and interesting.

Out of the two stories, this one had the most humor, which a lot of times in a romance story is refreshing.  The idea of which craft was an interesting take, and the character Rose is being harassed by another women in the village, which during those earlier times is not something you want to be accused of.  But I do have to say the dialogue was kind of hard to read because it was written like a Scottish brogue would sound.  So I found myself slowing down and trying to follow the story when there was dialogue between the characters.

The Orange Tree by Linda Madl is set in England, where Lady Emmalyn travels to the Isle of Sully to get some of Lord Hughes rare oranges.  She believes that they are an aphrodisiac and wants them for her daughters wedding so that she doesn't suffer the same heartbreaking fate that Lady Emmalyn had when she was married.

What stood out to me the most in this story was that the lead female character wasn't a virgin maid.  In a lot of historical romance stories, the female is always a virgin.  So it was nice and refreshing to read where one wasn't.  But if I remember correctly, this story was one of the most boring.

In the end all of the stories were quick and easy reads with a few minor slow downs, like the language.  For the most part I enjoyed the book.  It was neat to that the stories all had a common theme with food and magic.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (this was the rating that I gave it on goodreads.com)

On Deck: Until I catch up on reviews I won't be posting on decks although I am constantly reading.

Book Review: The Warrior

The Warrior by Kinley MacGregor

The Warrior by Kinley MacGregor (the pen name for Sherrilyn Kenyon) is a historical romance novel set in Scotland during the Christian Crusades.  This book is part of her Brotherhood of the Sword series and also her MacAllister series.  This book follows Taming the Scotsman in this series.

The Warrior follows Laird Lochlan MacAllister and Catarina.  Lochlan embarks on a quest to find the truth about his younger brother Kierian.  There are mysteries surrounding the disappearance of this younger brother.  Catarina wants to be free but as the illegitimate daughter of the king of France she's used as a pawn to strengthen to alliances.  On his quest, Lochlan runs into Catarina and vows to help her reunite with her uncle, but he can't help be feel attracted to the free spirit.

So I have to be honest.  I read this book way back in February of 2014 and I'm now finally getting to the review.  I know I'm a slacker.  But I have to be honest.  I don't remember a lot of details about this book.  Compared to the other Kinley MacGregor books that I have read, this one didn't hold the same level of magic that I felt the other ones from this series did.  While I did enjoy the book and the relationship development between Lochlan and Catarina this book just didn't stick with me.  But this was a good book to read in between heavier content books and a great summer romance read.  The one thing that I do love about this authors writing though is that she has a great ability to draw you in and feel for the characters.  Lochlan feels a massive amount of guilt over the death of his younger brother where as Catarina has been running from her father since she was old enough to marry.  MacGregor weaves a tale that intertwines Lochlan and Catarina's story together while also adding some loose ends with the mystery or his younger brother.  As I said, while the story was enjoyable I felt that it didn't have nearly as much of a punch as some of her other stories in the MacAllistar series.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5

On Deck:

I'm not doing an on deck until I catch up reviews.

Getting back on track

Hey everybody, so I'd like to apologize for being inactive with the book reviews.  To be honest, I don't think the YouTube thing is going to work right now.  Most of it is because I'm well lazy and a procrastinator.  While adding video reviews could be fun and I still might do them or something with that channel, I've decided that stressing out over editing and all of that good stuff isn't up my alley right now. So now I'll continue with doing regular reviews on here and wait until I'm ready to add more.