Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth—that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real (Summary taken from goodreads).

So, I’ve come to realize that many of the books I find nowadays come from browsing Barnes and Noble, stumbling upon them at the library, and surprisingly blogging! A lot of books that I read are because I find them on other blogs, which if you ask me, is pretty awesome and helpful. Anyway, there is a point I’m trying to make through this rambling. Mad Love just so happened to be one of those books. I was browsing through some of the blogs I follow and I saw a few reviews for it. After reading them, I thought the concept was pretty cool and went to the library and borrowed it.

            At first, I was disappointed with the book and wanted to put it down, but I’m extremely glad I didn’t because it ended up being a great read! The beginning was bit slow. It took the first hundred pages or so to pick up (or at least, in my opinion, it did anyway), but once it did, I practically devoured it. It was a refreshing, new love story.

            I thought Alice was a wonderful character who was easy to relate to. She was wicked funny too. I loved the fact that she cared so much about her mother and was willing to help her out, even if it meant writing a romance novel, something she had never thought of doing in a million years. Even the two guys fighting over Alice grabbed my attention and dragged me in. There’s Tony, the new boy, who Alice is totally head over heels for. He’s sweet and it’s obvious that he cares about her. Then, there’s Errol, who claims to be the one and only Cupid. His character surprised me. Everyone pictures Cupid as a curly-haired baby in a diaper that shots people and makes them fall in love. Errol is nothing like that. He’s pale white and wears dark clothing, such as a hoodie that hides his face. It was definitely an interesting perspective on such a well known figure.

            As for the plot, in my opinion, it took a while to pick up. I had thought about putting this book down multiple times, but I stuck with it. And I am so glad that I did. It had such an amazing story! At first, it was a bit of a drag to read about Alice and her mother, but then Errol comes in and things start to pick up. I’m not going to lie. He was kind of creepy at first, insisting that she must write his story, but after a while I began to enjoy his presence. The writing only added to the story, perfectly targeting its intended teen audience.

             Mad Love is a cute read that I would definitely recommend. Not only does it have some romance, but it puts a new spin on a classic story from Greek mythology. If you read Mad Love and enjoyed it, be sure to check out Saving Juliet. It’s just as good. So, if you’ve read it or not, let me know what you think :)

In My Mailbox #4

In My Mail Box is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren that displays what books other readers got in their mailboxes this week. I think this is probably my biggest week yet. I really have to cool it with the library, but I'm always there! Plus, I've been reading a lot more lately, so it's actually been evening out. I just have to get caught up on my reviews. Anyway, this is what I got this week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the library:

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Bought:

A Royal Match by Tyne O'Connell

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky by Chris Greenhalgh

Harry Potter à l’école des sociers by J.K. Rowling

So, as you can see, it's pretty much my biggest week yet. Next week will probably be pretty small because I need to read through all of these first! Anyway, I'm very excited with what I got because a lot of these I've been dying to read for a while. So, let's see. I've tried to read The Luxe before, but everytime I tried, I couldn't get into it, so I'm going to try again. I've been dying to read The Bell Jar for a long time, but it's suppose to be pretty dark. I FINALLY gave in and got Across the Universe. I have not seen one negative review and though I'm not really into Sci-Fi, I have to see what all the hype is about. I want to read Something Borrowed before I see the movie and besides it sounds really cute :) My friend suggested Song of the Sparrow and Confessions of a Shopaholic and since I trust her suggestions, I got the books. I already read Pretty Little Liars, but I own every book in the series, except the first one, so I decided to complete my collection. Plus, I haven't read it in a while. Oh, and I ordered Harry Potter in French off Amazon, because while I don't speak fluent French, I know enough that I can probably get by and I figured that this book would only help me improve. Anyway, that's what In My Mailbox this week! Kind of crazy, huh? :)

So, what's in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I am waiting on:

Crossed by Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: November 1, 2011

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. (Summary from goodreads)

Now, I know I didn't really love Matched, but I'm hoping that the story will really pick up in Crossed. This book couldn't come out sooner!

So, what are you waiting on?

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget. (Summary taken from goodreads)

           Okay, so I volunteer at the library and one wonderful advantage of volunteering is that I often get the chance to order new books. The best part? Once these books come in, I get to check them out first. It’s pretty much a win-win situation. Anyway, I was browsing the catalog when I came across this book. I thought the cover was interesting and the story as well. I hadn’t really known too much about what it was about at the time, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered it. Well, finally it came in for me and one morning I decided, well, might as well read it. What I didn’t expect was how absolutely disturbing and almost traumatizing it would be.

            Alice, who’s name actually is not Alice, was kidnapped when she was ten by a man named Ray. He wants her to be young forever, to be exactly like the way she was when he took her. So, to make sure this happens, he starves her, makes her walk with a hunch, and wear clothing that is way too small. Alice takes it without complaint, but she’s dying on the inside. All she wants to do is get out and be free.

            It’s hard to describe the characters, because of the way this book was written. Ray was a creep and the reader had to sympathize with Alice. There was no way you could not. Her situation was so heartbreaking. The plot was extremely moving. It’s a short read, one that I finished in a morning, but still amazingly powerful. When I finished this book, my stomach felt weak and I was left with such a disturbed feeling. It’s a real eye opener. Kidnapping and situations such as this occur more often than people imagine. This book definitely did a fantastic job of portraying the lifestyle.

            The writing was what made this book so terrific. The chapters were extremely short. Sometimes they were only a few pages, something they were only a few sentences. The sentences were also short and staggered. It grabs the reader’s attention and stresses the point that was being made. It also made the story a bit…ominous. Overall, the writing style was well done in this book.

            Personally, I would recommend this book, but only if you think you can handle it. It’s extremely disturbing, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. To be honest, overall, the whole concept is sickening. However, it was well written and extremely, extremely powerful. I read it a while ago and I know it’s not new, but still, if you have an afternoon and nothing to read, I would definitely recommend it!

Winter Longing by Tricia Mills

When Winter’s boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she’s robbed of the future she’d only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer’s presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can’t change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love? (Summary taken goodreads)

For some reason, I expected so much out of this book. I thought it would be a really powerful story, but it just disappointed me. To be honest, I don’t even think I really liked it at all. It was really simplistic. Basically, Winter and Spencer had been in love with each other practically for as long as they had known one another. Finally, they both admit their feelings and then days later, Spencer dies in a plane crash. Now, Winter is left grieving over the loss. Enter Jesse. The cute boy that lives next door to Winter.  He becomes Winter’s shoulder to cry on and is always there for her when she needs him. Will it be enough for her to move on?

            Okay, normally I start with how I feel about the characters, but I’m going to have to start with the plot. At first, I thought the concept was really, really good. Yet, when I read it, I ended up hating it. Yes, it’s wicked sad that he died so suddenly, but it just seemed really out of place.  Also, I understand the fact that everyone grieves in their own way, especially when you lose someone so close to you. However, it seemed as though that’s all that Winter did. Even the supposed relationship with Jesse didn’t really do much. I mean, there was some romance, but just not nearly as much as I anticipated and hoped for.

            Now, the characters. At first, I sympathized with Winter. She seemed like a genuinely nice character, but as the book went on, I started to get annoyed with her. As I mentioned before, she grieved a ton. I understand she lost someone extremely close to her and everyone deals with the death in their own way, but she started to reach the point of being obnoxious. It was like she couldn’t even function properly without him. Then there’s Jesse. I found him to be likeable, but nothing really stands out about him. It was truly sweet what he did for Winter. He was so supportive and kind. Overall, the characters were just okay.

            The writing style was easy to follow and the book was a short read. The fact that her name was Winter and she lived in Alaska seemed a bit cliché, but it wasn’t as though it would stop me from reading this book or anything. I did enjoy the setting though. Not many stories are set in Alaska, so it was quite refreshing to read something new.

            All in all, I’m not sure I’d recommend this book. It was slightly touching, but if you’re looking or expecting something deep and moving, this is definitely not it. This book just didn’t live up to my high expectations, but that doesn’t mean it won’t live up to yours. So check it out if you want and let me know what you think about it :)

In My Mailbox #3

In My Mail Box is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren that displays what books other readers got in their mailboxes this week. Woo! It's my third IMM! I have so many books that I still have to get through, and yet, I always find a way to get more! Here's what I got this week:

   

  

 

From the Library:

  Arthur Rimbaud: complete works translated by Paul Schmidt

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

From a Friend:

Arson by Estevan Vega

Found in my basement (weird, I know, but I have a ton of good books hiding down there):

The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Bought:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

So that's pretty much what I got this week. Kind of an odd mix, I know, but still I'm looking forward to diving into many of these. I love Arthur Rimbaud's poetry, plus he was young when he wrote most of it, so I admire him. My friend gave me Arson to read for her, because she wants to know if it's good. Basically, if I like it, then she'll read it. I've had Delirium for a little while, I just keep forgetting to add it in. I've been meaning to read it, but ever time I pick it up, I just keep putting it down. Ah, I'll get through it eventually :)

So, what's in your mailbox? 

One Lovely Blog Award

Thanks a ton to Maddie at Miss Stilley presents... for the One Lovely Blog Award! It's so nice of you to give it to me and I'm extremely happy to have won it! It is my first award after all :) So, once you win, your suppose to share seven things about yourself and then pass the award on to fifteen other bloggers. Here goes nothing!

1. My all-time favorite movie is The Notebook. It makes me cry everytime I watch it. Not only do I love the story, but Ryan Gosling is pretty amazing as well :)
2. Audrey Hepburn is my idol. I love her in Breakfast at Tiffany's and I just find her to be an amazing person. She was such a classic beauty and she was funny as well. If there was anyone that I could meet, living or dead, it would be her.
3. The Beatles are my favorite band. Their songs have such a simple meaning, but they're wicked catchy and I mean, c'mon. The Beatles will never die. Also, out of the four of them, John Lennon is my favorite :)
4. I have an addiction to Harry Potter movies. Whenever the marathons are on, I almost always watch them. Then, I always want to be a wizard afterwards. It just looks so fun! Plus, the movies (and the books!) are fantastic!
5. European history fascinates me. I think it's so interesting! Especially the Renaissance, Tudor period, and the French Revolution. Those are the periods that interest me the most!
6. As if I hadn't talked about this enough already, I have an addiction to movies (almost like my addiction to books). I seriously love watching them, especially classics and old films. Such as Pyscho and Twelve Angry Men.
7. I love to write. It's something that I've been passionate about since I was a little kid. I've written numerous stories and short stories over the years and my goal is to become a published author one day.

Finally, I would like to present the award to the following blogs:
Ink'd Out
I Devour Books

Addicted 2 Novels

That's so Michelle...

Just a little something written by nobody in particular

Natalie and the Ever Growing Bookshelf

Sandra the Nook Worm

The Book Addicted Girl

Reading in the Corner

Book Haven

Je m’appelle Mikaela

Reading with the Fishes

Once Upon a Quote…

Diary of a Scatterbrain
A Journey to Style

Congratulations you guys! You definitely deserve it :)

Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Title: Dead Rules

Author: Randy Russell

Publisher: HarperTeen

Length: 384 Pages

Publication Date: June 21, 2011

Sometimes falling in love means you have to kill somebody.

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were destined to be together forever. Of that, Jana was sure.

But Jana just died—in a bowling accident. And now she’s trapped in Dead School. Jana is certain that it won’t be long before Michael kills himself in order to spend eternity with her—but the days are passing and Michael is, inexplicably, still alive. So Jana decides to take matters into her own hands. And nothing—not even Dead School bad boy Mars Dreamcote’s enticingly warm touch or the devastating secret he holds about her death—will stop her from making her dreams come true.

Romeo and Juliet meets Heathers in this hilariously macabre take on paranormal romance, packed with heart-stopping suspense and sizzling star-crossed love. (Summary taken from goodreads)

My friend received Dead Rules as an ARC and let me borrow it for review. This does not sway my opinion in any way whatsoever. However, I just want to thank Kreag for letting me borrow it and Harper Collins for sending it to him. That being said, let’s begin. Dead Rules is Randy Russell’s debut novel about a girl named Jana Webster who dies in a freak bowling accident (totally creative!) and ends up in Dead School. There, she meets all sorts of other dead teenagers. There’s only one thing missing: her beloved Michael. She has a plan though and all she needs is a little help from a few of her new Dead School friends.

            To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I thought the plot was very creative and the idea of Dead School was very unique. I don’t think that I would want to die and end up in Dead School only because it seemed really strict and some of the rules were ridiculous. Still, I’ve never read a book in which the main character died and ended up in school. Therefore, it was definitely a fresh, new perspective that I enjoyed.

            That being said, I hated most of the characters. I know that’s horrible to say, but most of them got on my nerves. Especially Jana! She complained so much about how she couldn’t live without Michael and how they were meant to be together. The girl could not function without him. She wasn’t just in love with him, she was obsessed with him and being obsessed with someone is never a good thing. Even many of her Dead School friends didn’t stand out for me. The only character who I really did like was Mars Dreamcote. First off, he has an awesome name. He also really surprised me as a character. I liked him in the beginning and ended up loving him in the end. All in all, the characters were a disappointment for me.

            However, the writing style was not. Normally, I don’t like third person books. It just makes it harder for me to connect with the character, but this one wasn’t too bad. Mr. Russell’s writing without a doubt targeted the teen audience. I especially enjoyed the fact that he added the stories of the deaths of some of the other people that Jana met at Dead School. It added a really cool perspective and I found it interesting to read about them, considering many of them died in peculiar ways.

            Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy paranormal reads. I’m new to the whole world of paranormal books, but I enjoyed this book for the most part. It was definitely refreshing because it wasn’t about vampires or fallen angels (not that those are bad, they just seem overdone nowadays). My only complaint is Jana, but if you can get past her, then you’ll really enjoy it. Let me know what you think :)