World After

Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & The End of Days #2
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Horror, Action/Adventure
Release Date: November 21, 2013

Summary: The survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken. Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go. Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

Review: Okay, after simply reading the summary above, how could you not want to continue this amazing series?! World After is just pure awesomeness! Ee has once again proven that she is an incredibly talented author. After just finishing my second time around with Angelfall, I immediately grabbed my copy of World After and did a complete nose dive into all of it's greatness. During the first time I read this book, I was so anxious for Raffe and Penryn to meet up together again that I read up until that point extremely fast (with some skimming in there I will admit) until I got to where they were together again. If you didn't know that they do reunite, well . . . now you do . . . and it's just more incentive to read the book because come on! Who didn't want them to reunite?! Nobody. That's who.

Okay, now to the more technical side of things. So let's see, are their plot holes in this? Well, nope. None. Nadda! Usually with sequels I'll start seeing some inconsistencies in a series. Not with this one! Ee has done such excellent research about the angels and just everything! She has created and weaved a world so tightly that nothing can penetrate it. Penryn is still as kick butt and sarcastic as ever. Raffe as brooding as every. Mom . . . as creepily fantastic as ever. And Paige . . . well, we may need to put Paige down . . . she's really starting to freak me out! Back to Penryn's mom . . . I'm definitely getting more and more interested in just what in the world is going on with that woman. I mean, seriously. What the what! I need to know more details!! Everything she does leaves me with like ten different feels . . . but mainly confusion with a pinch of wariness. Basically, after reading anything involving her I'm left like:

All in all, this sequel basically rocked my world! Ee totally CRUSHED IT! Couldn't be more pleased with where she took the story and the overall progression of it.

As mentioned in my review of Angelfall, the 3rd and final installment, End of Days will debut it's beautiful self on May 12, 2015. I found the cover (thanks to Susan Ee's website) as well as an excerpt from End of Days. You can read that excerpt here.

LOOK AT IT'S BEAUTIFULNESS!!! AHH I'M DYING!!

Angelfall

Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Horror, Action/Adventure
Release Date: January 1, 2011
Summary: It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain. Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back...

Review: Angelfall starts off with a bang and never stops. From page one we are thrust into this incredibly written, post-apocalyptic world over taken by angels. I absolutely loved the whole idea and progression of this book! During that whole ‘fallen-angel’ obsession period that happened a few years back, many of the books dealt with the angels being the good guys and what not. With this one, it is the complete opposite! The angels are feared and wretched! This was such a refreshing spin!

The main character (Penryn Young) was just so completely awesome!!!! She can totally defend and care for herself! I enjoyed that she wasn't reliant on anyone (except Raffe (Rah-fie) getting her to the aerie (angel headquarters in order to save her younger, crippled sister Paige which is totally understandable). 

Speaking of Raffe. Um, can I just express how much I freaking love and whole-heartedly adore his sassiness and sarcastic-ness! He just speaks my language! And the very first words out of his mouth are just like . . . okay, he just had my heart The witty banter between him and Penryn throughout the novel was refreshing and I couldn't help but love both of them even more! But honestly, I have all of the possible feels when it comes to Raffe. 

Ee did an exceptional job of developing the plot, and giving the reader enough details so they were never confused or frustrated. She has blended the perfect amount of horror, action, and sexual tension (between Penryn and Raffe). Angelfall wasn't a very long book either! It’s only 283 pages (at least my copy is), but Ee has somehow managed to pack so much freaking awesomeness into it that a reader can be left with nothing but satisfaction, and the desperate need of the 2nd book, World After, as soon as you finish. Seriously, immediately after finishing this book I was all:

OH!! And the 3rd (and final) installment in this trilogy, End of Days, comes out on May 12, 2015. 

I hope you enjoy this fantastic novel as much as I did!

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Author: Morgan Matson
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: May 4, 2010

Summary: Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.  

Review: I figured since I had named this as one of my 'Top 5 Romances' I'd best do a full review of it. This will forever be one of my favorite books. I completely and utterly adore everything about Matson's writing. She developed the story and characters at such a great pace. I never felt unsatisfied throughout the novel. Even though this book is a romance, I really enjoyed how Matson entwined the darker and more lonely parts of Amy and Roger's lives. It really made their characters come alive. It was also great to see the two of them help each other over come those trials and fall in love during the process. I also loved that Matson had them fall in love in real time. Ugh, just so fabulous!!

Morgan also incorporates pictures of receipts, and some of Amy and Roger's pit stops along the way. It really made me feel like I was taking a road trip with them! Oh and there are a couple of Roger and Amy's playlists. How much better could it get?! I'll tell you, IT CANNOT GET ANY BETTER!

This novel had me shedding tears, laughing, and sighing because of the complete and total adorableness of it all. And that very last page had me like:

 

 

I would recommend this book to any and everyone. So . . . I guess you should probably go and pick it up. Like . . . right now seems like a good time! :)

 

 

Top 5 Romance's for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

So, since I've totally been slacking over the past week or so, and with the holiday, I decided to do a 'Top 5'. And since it's Valentine's Day, I obviously had to do my top five romances. Okay, when I say "romance" I'm not talking about the whole busty women on the cover with male models that have 12 pack abs. Since a majority of what I read is young adult material, I went with the top five books I've read that I thought had the sweetest romance's. I'll include a very brief summary and review of all of the books I chose. Hopefully you enjoy!

#5

My Life With the Walter Boys 

by Ali Novak

Summary: My Life With the Walter Boys is about a girl (Jackie) who is forced to move across the country to live with her new guardians (The Walters) after the rest of her family dies in a tragic car accident. The catch? The Walter's have all boys, 12 of them in fact. 

Review: I've reviewed this book in full already here.

#4

Along for the Ride

by Sarah Dessen

Summary: Suffering from insomnia since her parents split, Auden is offered the chance to spend a carefree summer with her father and expecting step-mom in their small beach town. After only a few nights, Auden happens upon Eli, a fellow insomniac. The two then embark on life changing quests, growing closer in the process.

Review: I absolutely adore everything that Sarah Dessen rights, but this is by far one of my favorites. I loved the dynamic between Eli (such a freaking great name btw) and Auden and how they helped each other discover who they truly are, as well as fall for each other in the process. This is one that I will always come back to.

#3

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

by Morgan Matson

Summary: After the tragic and sudden death of her father, Amy's mother has decided to move them across the country, from California to Connecticut. Suffering from slight PTSD, Amy refuses to drive. Enter Roger, a long time friend of the family who also has to make an across the country trip himself. The two then embark on an unforgettable trip, filled with a variety of unexpected detours along the way.

Review: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is absolutely incredible. Matson has such a way with words. I loved the chemistry between Amy and Roger from the first moment they see each other. This book was also great because it includes old receipts, maps, and my personal fave, playlists. It really felt that I was on the road trip with them. Such a fun, adorable romance! 

#2

On the Fence

by Kasie West

Summary: Charlotte aka Charlie is a major tom boy. Having grown up with her single dad and three older brothers + one honorary brother, Braden, it's not hard to see why. So when her dad forces her to find a job to pay off another speeding ticket, Charlie is forced into the world of fashion, make-up, and everything girly. In order to cope with this new world, Charlie seeks refuge late at night by chatting through the fence with Braden. The catch? She's falling for him . . . hard.

Review: I've reviewed this book in full already here.

#1

drum roll please . . .

A Court of Thorns and Roses

by Sarah J. Maas

Summary: Beauty and the Beast with some faerie lore mixed in. After killing a wolf in the woods to feed her starving family, Feyre (Fey-ruh) is confronted by a huge beast and demanded as retribution. After being dragged into the mythical land of Prythian, she discovers that her captor, Tamlin, is one of the deadly, immortal fae her people have feared for so long. Soon, loathing turns fiery passion between the two, the only problem is the wicked shadow that now looms over Tamlin's land. It's up to Feyre to find a way to stop it, or she'll risk losing Tamlin forever.

Review: Okay, okay, so this book doesn't come out until May, but honestly I couldn't help myself. I got my hands on an ARC and to say that this book was AMAZING would definitely be the understatement of the century! I've always loved Beauty and the Beast re-tellings, and I love Sarah J. Maas. So when I found that two of my most favorite things were being combined, well how could it turn out bad? The world building was totally on point. The character development was top notch. And the romance  . . .  well, it's #1 isn't it?! So seriously, go and put this on your 'to-read' shelf immediately!!

Mr. Kiss and Tell

Author: Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Series: Veronica Mars #2
Genre: Mystery, Drama
Release Date: January 20, 2015

Summary: The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.

The case is a complicated mix of hard facts, mysterious occurrences, and uncooperative witnesses. The hotel refuses to turn over its reservation list and the victim won’t divulge who she was meeting that night. Add in the facts that the attack happened months ago, the victim’s memory is fuzzy, and there are holes in the hotel’s surveillance system, and Veronica has a convoluted mess on her hands. As she works to fill in the missing pieces, it becomes clear that someone is lying—but who? And why?

Review: I love Veronica Mars. And this novel was even better than the first, mystery wise. It was more intriguing and well put together, I thought. There was a lot more language, which I did not appreciate, but overall it didn't take too much away from the story itself.

Mr. Kiss and Tell was the perfect second installment (and hopefully not last) in this series. The gang is back together again (by gang I really just mean Mac and Wallace) and certain characters we met briefly in season two of the television series have found their way back into our lives. And Veronica finally gets her pony! :) Oh, and my favorite part, LOGAN IS BACK!!! Seriously, if you don't like Veronica and Logan, then I just don't even know what to do with you. 

This mystery was written wonderfully. I love that Rob has continued writing Veronica's story. Although the series has ended and there are no plans for another movie, you can read these books and envision the way the episodes would play out. This mystery is unique and has that classic V Mars stamp of approval on it. Enjoyed this thoroughly, but kept the rating at 4 stars because of the language (as stated above). 

The only problem with reading these books . . . it makes me want to go and re-watch the entire series . . . catch you guys later!