April RAK wrap up

This was an awesome month for RAK!!  I send out 3 books this month.

Marked and Betrayed went to RJ Does Books

Spell Bound went to Bookaholics Anonmous.

I received:

The Scorpio Races from RJ Does Books

Bloodlines from Keri

The Nanny Diaries from Lois@Quill & Ink

The Secrets of Tudor Court from Beth@Living A Goddess Life

Thank you so much everyone!  I'm definitely doing RAK for May, as my Bday is May 5th!

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Tuesday is put on by Broke and Bookish.  This feature was created because she loves making lists!

Today's Top Ten is Books I Want Made Into Movies!  Here we go!

10.  Graceling by Kristin Cashore

9.  Something Blue by Emily Giffin

8.  Divergent by Veronica Roth

7. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare--this is already being made into a movie!  Yay!

6.  The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

5.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer

4.  Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

3.  Partials by Dan Wells

2.  The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

1.  The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

What books would you like made into movies?

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Synopsis: Bethany Church is and angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay.  Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong.  But even Xavier's love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can't keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in hell.  There, the demon Jake Thorne bargains for Beth's release back to Earth.  But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

My 2 cents:  Oh my.  This book was as different from the first book, Halo, as you could get!  The only thing that was really the same was Bethany.  Somehow throughout her ordeal, she never loses faith and still manages to seem so innocent.

Jake has returned and is even bigger and badder than before.  After Bethany ends up in Hell with him, she figures out a way to "Project" herself to her loved ones.  They can't see her or hear her, but she gets to see them and know what's happening on Earth while she's in Hell.  The idea of projection is pretty cool.  But I was like, "yeah, right."  It just didn't seem all the realistic.  Maybe it would have been more so if it didn't happen on her first day in Hell.  If she'd had to actually earn it a little harder...maybe I could have believed it.  It almost seemed like a method for the author to keep Xavier, Gabriel, and Ivy in the story, since the story is told in first person from Bethany.

Other than that, the story was as good as Halo.  This book was as dark and twisted as Halo was sunny and light (through the first 2/3 of it, anyways!)  The ending was totally believable to me, and I feel the author did a great job staying true to the characters.  I can't wait to read Heaven!  4 stars on this one

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Synopsis:  Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen. 

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

My 2 cents:  First of all to clear up some confusion, the book I read above was that cover and that title.  I guess the publisher changed it recently to a new cover with a new title called "Forsaken."  They are one and the same book, in case you wanted to find the book to read in the future.  There are 2 more sequels to the series out, too. And I happen to like the first cover and title better.  Oh, well!

Back to the review!    This book is in a class all its own.  You know how you read some books, and you are able to compare it to another book that is very similar.  Then there are those few rare gems that are really unique, and all their own.  The Demon Trapper's Daughter was one of these gems!

The story itself was really different.  First of all, Riley is a kick-butt, take no prisoners kind of girl, who is trying to prove herself in her dad's world.  The relationship between father and daughter so complex and interesting.  There was definite love there, but also mutual respect and understanding.  

Then there is Paul Blackthorne's apprentice, Beck.  He's just like Riley in so many ways, but the 2 can't stand each other!  A lot of the time it was like watching a brother and sister bicker.  Since Beck is so close to Paul, and thinks of him like the father he never had, its not a far leap I guess!  

Then the book turns into funny and sarcastic to tragedy and horror pretty quick.  Riley has to suddenly deal with a lot, and the one who ends up having her back is Beck.  Another apprentice, Simon, who is much nicer than Beck, plays the love interest in the story.  Although it becomes pretty clear that Beck may have some buried feelings as well.

In the middle of all this drama is world of evil and demons that are waiting to unleash Hell on the city of Atlanta.  This book was an awesome read, and a real page-turner!  5 stars

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Synopsis:  Three angels--Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human--are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness.  They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.
Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them.  Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.
The angels' mision is urgent, and dark forces are threatening.  Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

My 2 cents:  I was so excited to finally read this series!  Its been collecting dust on my shelves for a long time!  I haven't read many angels series, but I really loved this book!

First off, I love how the author was able to paint a picture and to make us really believe in angels.  And how innocent Bethany truly was.  Parts of the book were just hilarious, as she had no teenage experience whatsoever, and did not understand half of what was going on around her!  Luckily, Xavier has a kind, good heart, and doesn't take advantage of that! Loved that about him.  I also loved how their relationship worked.  They were definitely head-over-heels for each other, but it was a lot more emotional than physical.  In so many YA novels, the physical part of the relationship really seems to dominate.  Which I suppose is very realistic, with raging hormones; but if was nice to have a break from some of that!

Things really get good in the story once Jake Thorne enters the picture.  He obviously has a thing for Bethany.  Luckily, the author did not fall into a love triangle trap.  But it almost happens anyways, basically because Bethany is so naive.  I don't want to give away any spoilers, but we go from a happy, teenage love story to a suspenseful adventure pretty quick!

Overall, a great YA novel, and can't wait to read Hades, the sequel!  4 stars

In My Mailbox #7

In My Mailbox is put on by The Story Siren.  We highlight books we have received this week, whether store-bought, checked out from the library, received from review, or book you may have won!  This week's haul is pretty good!

Book I bought:

Book I won!  Thank you, Book Journey!

Also received some RAK!  Thank you, Lois@Quill & Ink, and Beth@ Living A Goddess Life!

What did you get in your mailbox?

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Synopsis:  For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day.  And in the aftermath, she discovered nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.
Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking realization: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months.  With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My 2 cents:  I just love this series by Cynthia Hand!  Hallowed is a great sequel to Unearthly.  If you loved Unearthly, you will love this book!

Clara starts out sure that she made the right choice in the fire that day.  Although she soon starts having visions again.  In her vision, she is in a park of some kind with stone steps.  Jeffrey comes up to her in suit and tie and says, "Let's just get this over with."  Then Christian shows up and takes her hand.  Clara has no idea what it means at first; she is very confused on how good she feels in the vision when Christian holds her hand.  Yup, you guessed it folks--we are getting a love triangle here!

I did like the way the author handled this love triangle, though.  She really captures how unsure and confused Clara is feeling in all of this.  She loves Tucker, there's no question of that.  But he doesn't really belong in her world, and can't understand most of what Clara's dealing with in this story.  Christian, however, can.  I was totally team Tucker before this book.  By the end, I was leaning more toward Christian!

Wendy isn't a very big part in this story.  This story has a lot more to do with the angels, and their secret society.  There's a lot more Angela, Jeffrey, and Christian in this book.  I did miss Wendy a lot.  That is probably my only complaint.  The story itself was perfect--well paced, great character development, and a suspenseful ending.  5 stars on this one!