Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Covers

One of the blogs that I follow had a fun meme today that really caught my attention.  It's called Top Ten Tuesday and each week we list a new book-related top ten list.  This week's list is Top Ten Favorite Book Covers (of books that you've read).

Okay, so we all know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I totally do.  I mean, I LOVE a gorgeous (or just really striking) book cover and the cover illustration is often what grabs my attention enough to pick up a book and read about it.  So, here are my 10 favorites (from looking at my Read list on Goodreads).  If you click on the cover, you will be brought to the book's page on Goodreads.

                    

Review: Tracers by Jerome Gilden

Title: Tracers

Author: Jerome Gilden

Publisher:  Independent

Release Date: March 31, 2012
Pages: 164, eBook
Goodreads Rating: 4.57 stars
My Rating: 1/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: WARNING: Don’t buy this book if you like sticking with mainstream reading material!

“Imagine being a 19 year old adolescent, who is searching for his parents who seem never to have existed, according to local police, state police, FBI, private investigators." How would that make you feel and what would you do to survive?

Let Jerome Gilden introduce you to Jerry Daniels (19 years old), who used to think he was a normal high school guy and knows he is not crazy, despite other people around him think he is a nut-job who created a set of imaginary parents.

"Yesterday, I graduated from high school; at least I think it was yesterday. I've been losing track of time lately. To tell you the truth, and I swear this is the truth, as crazy as it sounds ... yesterday I went to the future and returned, and I'm really scared by what I've learned."

"I'm no normal teen. I'm the last of the Royalty among a secret race of super-powered humans who are fighting among themselves. War is inevitable. It will affect everyone, even people who don't know there is a war going on ... it will affect you!

"People either want to use me or kill me. For now I'm a Tracer, a guardian of time. My enemies know who I am and where to find me. 'The Dead' are coming, 'la morte', or Morters as they call themselves. They are former Tracers who sacrificed their immortality and the last of their humanity to gain inexplicable powers. They have chosen death as their destiny. They plan to take everything with them."

"Tomorrow ... 'The Dead' and I meet. Tomorrow ... the winner of this war may be decided by what we do, what I do, in our first encounter.

Tomorrow... I will be tested. Tomorrow... I fight for our existence ... and yours."

MY TAKE

Okay, I really struggled with whether or not I should even post a review about this book or not.  After all, it's a little, independently published book that most people probably haven't even heard of and, to be frank, I just didn't like it.  But, then I decided that I would have appreciated reading an honest review of the book somewhere so that I wouldn't have bothered with it.  Plus, I had pointed the book out on my FB page when it was free on Amazon because the blurb intrigued me and I thought it would be worth trying out.  I kind of felt like I should let people know what I thought of it since I had mentioned it on FB.  So, here goes...

This book had an intriguing idea behind it and it's obvious that the author put a decent amount of thought into creating the Tracers' mythology. Unfortunately, the writing itself turned out to be extremely amateurish and I just couldn't get past that. The book felt stilted and forced and the author often phrased things in awkward ways.  The whole book felt rushed and the romance elements were extremely cliche.  There was almost NO actual chemistry between the characters, so I didn't care what happened with them.    I got the feeling that the author had read a book on the correct elements to put into a fantasy/adventure novel, but he just didn't know how to turn it into a compelling story.  Several times, I considered just giving up on the book completely (and I probably would have it had been longer), but I HATE to give up on a book - I almost never do - so I thought I would read to the end and find out if the story improved. Unfortunately, it just didn't get much better.

I hate to give any book one star (and especially to discourage a new author), but in this case, I couldn't bring myself to give it any more. 1/5 Stars.

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 480, Hardcover
Goodreads Rating: 4.15 stars
My Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

MY TAKE

I absolutely LOVED The 5th Wave!!  Honestly, this is the best book that I've read in quite awhile.  The book kept you guessing (there was a major twist in the middle of the book that caught me completely by surprise) and was full of action, intrigue and self-sacrifice.  I didn't want to put this book down!

The story revolves around Cassie, who feels like she may be the lone human survivor in a world that has been taken over by aliens (kind of along the lines of The Host where the aliens take over the humans' bodies.  Because of this, she has forced herself to live in solitude, not trusting anyone, never knowing if the person she might run into is human or not.  Still, she has hope.  Her little brother, Sammy, was "rescued" and taken away to an army base nearby and Cassie promised him that she would come to him.  It's a promise she can't break.  When she meets Evan, she finds herself finally trusting someone and she hopes that with his help she will be able to get to her brother.

I loved Cassie - I thought that she was real and funny in a wry sort of way even when the situation was desperate.  She brought us a unique teenage perspective - sarcastic but scared, vulnerable and yet strong, hopeful at times and despondent at others.  She was likable and smart.  I also appreciated the other characters - especially Zombie, who finds himself at the army base along with Cassie's brother Sammy.  The book is told from Cassie's perspective about half the time and Zombie's perspective almost half the time with two sections thrown in telling the story from another character's perspective - this bothers me in some books (switching perspectives to characters for just one section of a book), but it seemed to work in this book and I could see why Yancey did it.  

THE BOTTOM LINE

The 5th Wave  is a thrilling book that I didn't want to put down.  I think it will appeal to many different people, YA and adult alike (I even got my husband listening to it on Audiobook!).  Highly recommended! 5/5 Stars.

More New Books on My TBR List!

Yep, my To-Read list just keeps growing and growing.  I have found so many awesome new books on other blogs - I think I'll have to start reading 24/7 so that I don't miss out on any!

Here are some of my recently added books that I'm most looking forward to (click on the images to see them on GoodReads) -

                

I know there are a few books here that are out of my typical genre, but sometimes it's fun to read something different.  I was ready to dismiss Girls Love Travis Walker based on the cover and title, but then I read the review on Total Book Geek and I was hooked.  Likewise with The Sea of Tranquility - I've seen it reviewed on several blogs and I decided to give it a try.  Anna and The French Kiss definitely isn't a book I would have added to my TBR list on my own, but SO many people recommended it on yesterday's Feature & Follow that I decided there must be something to it.  Definitely worth checking it out!

So, anything new on your TBR list that you are especially looking forward to?

Feature & Follow - Summer Reads

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! This is a blog hop that allows bloggers to gain new followers and find some awesome new blogs to follow themselves!

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host has a blog that they feature each week!

So, if you're a blogger, come join in on the fun!

Here's today's question -

Q:  School is out!  What's your favorite summer reading book?

A: I don't have specific books that I like to read in the summer, but there are some books coming out this summer that I'm looking forward to.  Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead, Branded by Abi Ketner, and Insomnia by J.R. Johansson, to name a few.

Feel free to follow me via GFC, but I'd love it if you could also follow me via BlogLovin', RSS or even FB (or any combination thereof)!  Links are all to the right.

Kindle Fire Giveaway!

 

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER SPONSORED GIVEAWAY!

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

  Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

  Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
2. Feed Your Reader
3. Girls with Books
4. Just Bookin' Around
5. The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
6. Books, Beauty and Bodacious Deals
7. Author Emma Michaels
8. Page Flipperz YA
9. Lori's Reading Corner
10. Oh, Chrys!
11. Author Josh Baker
12. Author Roxanne Crouse
13. Eve's Fan Garden
14. Author Elizabeth Isaacs
15. Chapter Break
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17. Molly & Mel's Obsessions Book Blog
18. Author Jennifer Laurens
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22. Author Lena Sledge
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24. Leisure Reads
25. Libby's Library
26. A Bookish Escape
27. Ramblings of a Diva Book Nerd
28. Suspense Author Kim Cresswell
29. Suzy Turner, YA Author
30. Books Unhinged by StacyHgg
31. Author Lori Verni-Fogarsi
32. Fae Books
33. Word to Dreams
34. Kid Lit Frenzy
35. Author Tressa Messenger
36. Auggie Talk
37. Phantasmic Reads
38. Kerry Taylor
39. Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
40. Marissa's Space

  Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 5/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Title: Masque of the Red Death 

Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher:  Greeenwillow Books

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 319, Hardcover
Goodreads Rating: 3.79 stars
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club--in the depths of her own despair--Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for--no matter what it costs her.

MY TAKE

This book was my May Random Read.  Random.org chose this book for me from my TBR list on Goodreads.

I was honestly disappointed with this book.  I haven't read much steampunk, so maybe that was part of my issue.  I just didn't get the whole corset, streaked hair and gaudy make-up thing and why anyone thought that was attractive.  But, my biggest problem with the book had nothing to do with the steampunk elements, it was simply that I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters.  Araby is detached - she drowns out the world using drugs, but even when she's not high, she only seems to feel in short bursts.  I get that this is a character choice, but Araby's detachment made it impossible for me to feel anything either.  I just didn't care about her or her love interests - especially Elliott, who just came off as an insane jerk.  But a detached insane jerk.  I guess I was supposed to like Elliott in the end, and he did rise very slightly in my estimation, but not enough to make me care.   I cared more about Will, but still not enough to really make reading the book enjoyable.  Araby came off as selfish and annoying, so I don't know why these guys are all in love with her anyway.  I just couldn't care about these people!!

Then there were some little things that just bugged me - like WHY can't people share masques?  Araby says you can't, but I can't for the life of me figure out how a masque would sense the difference between people and what would happen if you tried - it's just never explained.  It's just a convenient way to make it so that Araby can't give one of her many masques to Henry (Will's adoptive younger brother).  And how exactly is the plague spread?  It seems like the author doesn't know and it changes throughout the book.  There are lots of little things like this that just bugged me.

The end of the book picked up and caught my interest more, but by then I was just trying to finish it, so it seemed like too little too late.  I think that the writing was good and that it was an intriguing idea, but this book just wasn't for me.  2.5/5 stars.