Review ~ Matched by Ally Condie

TITLE: Matched

AUTHOR: Ally Condie
COPYRIGHT: 11/30/2010
PAGES: 366
TYPE: YA fantasy/romance
SERIES: Yes first in a trilogy I believe
1. Matched
2. Crossed

REASON FOR READ: I have to admit the story line and plot interested me plus the cover is to die for!

SUMMARY (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 

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This book was a pleasant surprise! I have to admit I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it as much as I did I actually found that I couldn’t put this one down which is refreshing especially from a YA perspective. Usually the heroine is just too much or too dramatic or too overdone. Cassia I have to say was a VERY nice surprise. She was not only believable but reacted in a way that I hoped she would. Man she really left an impression on me. Also this world that Condie has created isn’t so hard to believe. I could actually see us getting to this point and wonder to myself if I was in this place at this time would I fight against a system I wasn’t sure I could win or would I be like the rest of society and assume it is for our benefit? I have to say even though this is a YA book it does make you think and think I did. I can’t wait until Crossed comes out I have to know how Condie plans to end this because I am on pins and needles. And very glad I decided to read Match so close to Crossed coming out. This is a great book that I think everyone should give a try. There are deeper issues then if a teenage girl picks her best friend and who society thinks is a good match in every way for her or if she picks the boy who teaches her how to be free to feel? MAN I do love me a good triangle that gets resolved in the first book LOL

Challenges: Out do Yourself

Re-read Review ~ Storm Front by Jim Butcher

TITLE: Storm Front
AUTHOR: Jim Butcher
COPYRIGHT: 4/1/2000
TYPE: urban fantasy
PAGES: 322
SERIES:  Uh YES
1. Storm Front
2. Fool Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
13. Ghost Story

REASON FOR READING: Uh duh I got Ghost Story and its been too long so I decided to re-read to refresh my memories LOL

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

Harry Dresden--Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things--and most of them don't play too well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a--well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

First and foremost this book reminded me of how much I love thee Harry Dresden, and Bob, and Murph and well hell the whole gang! This book introduces us to Harry and how he is the only wizard openly practicing in Chicago. It helps to set the stage and introduce us to Harry’s world. Crap it even reminded me that Murph and Harry didn’t always have an unshakeable trust and friendship that in the beginning it was actually hit or miss.

This book also introduces us to the dark side of magic and what can happen if magic is used in the wrong ways. I have to say it was a great first book and really gives you a good feel for Harry and why he has made it to 13 books AMAZING and now it has inspired a re-read of the whole series so I’m off to check out Fool Moon because I do not own this one or that one LOL but pretty much all the others.  

Oh side note for the Dresden books: ALWAYS remember people you never know when they are going to pop back in later and be important as I have discovered over the years LOL



Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
Re-Read Challenge

Review ~ A Secret Rage by Charlanie Harris

TITLE: A Secret Rage
AUTHOR: Charlanie Harris
COPYRIGHT: 08/07/2007
PAGES: 224
TYPE: contemporary/ myster/thriller
SERIES:  no

REASON FOR READING: I had it in the TBR pile and thought of how much I love this author and gave it a shot.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
Former New York City model Nickie Callahan is looking forward to the easy life when she moves to the sleepy college town of Knolls, Tennessee. But the women of Knolls are not safe. And as Nickie gets swept up in a string of brutally violent crimes, she must take matters of justice into her own hands.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

I am still torn on this review. It is a tough subject to write about and had I actually read in between the lines and knew this was about a RAPE I wouldn’t have read it. The book in general is good I just sometimes don’t think authors can handle the rape thing very well. I did like that after she was raped it was hard not to panic when the thought of being with someone else. But she did manage to get over it fast when it came time to have sex with the hero. IF you ignore this aspect the book was over all pretty good. Not a favorite of mine the book was violent the women of Knolls are being raped and by whom. Two of the survivors get together to solve the case and well there you go. They do solve it but it has a twist I guess. Anyway a very hard book to read and even harder to review due to the sensitive nature of the topic.



Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
TBR pile Challenge

Review ~ Insight by Jamie Magee

TITLE: Insight
AUTHOR: Jamie Magee
COPYRIGHT: 7/10/2010

PAGES: 314
TYPE: fantasy
SERIES:  yes book 1

Insight
Embody

REASON FOR READ:
Accidently read book 1 first and couldn’t make heads or tails of it so decided to move on to the first one LOL

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

Before that fateful summer night, Willow had balanced the insight of emotion, and the vivid images. That night, the figure in her nightmare marked her wrist with a star, giving her father no choice but to tell Willow a family secret that would abruptly change life, as she knew it, forever. Before Willow had time to absorb the shock of her father's secret, her soul mate that had shared every stunning dream with her, found her, and darkness captured her closest friends. In order to save them, she must weave through broken myths and the undeniable power of the Zodiac. In the end, Willow discovers that at the moment of our birth we are all given a divine gift

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

Okay memo from me read this book first then move on to the second otherwise you are lost and you will miss out on a fantastic series. The world building is wonderful; the characters had room to grow. There were parts I found a little tiring like we are so powerful and what not over and over and well honestly it was refreshing to find out that they weren’t all big and powerful LOL.

The whole soul mate thing was handled in such a way that I actually appreciated it. I liked how the heroine and hero were unable to protect everyone they loved it is refreshing that they had to experience real pain and loss and yet were able to maintain their individuality through it and still have me sympathizing with them. I liked how Willow was introduced to her new world and the anger she felt towards her family was real and understandable not an overreaction from a teenager that doesn’t know how to deal. Again if I had to pick one negative thing about this book it would be the whole we are powerful and all power and everyone is in total AWE of us and our powers LOL then the whole thing at the end with the little sister was a little off for me but helps with the next book.

 

 Challenges:

Out do Yourself
E-book challenge