Review for The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)
By Jennifer A. Nielsen
Published by Scholastic
Personal Copy
342 pages 

"In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together."-Goodreads

The False Prince is a book worth buying. It grabs you and pulls you in between the pages until the story turns into a real thing. Then, it leaves you wanting more - more I tell you!

Where to begin. How about with a high contender for the best-male-lead-character-ever? Sage is his name. (On a side note, how rockin' is that name? I adore it! Spoiler- highlight to read: Imagine how distraught I was to find out he will be no longer "Sage". I almost cried - Jaron just doesn't do it for me.) *Sighs wistfully* Sage, Sage, Sage. He is everything that makes a near perfect male voice for this type of story. He's witty, smug, has a quick-tongue, is steps ahead of everyone else, quick on his feet, knows how to look out for himself, can take pain and yet, is a very sweet boy. In his own right. His voice and attitude makes The False Prince so enjoyable. The dialogue and witty banter, his quick and smart comebacks are sure to have you grinning. The way he is able to predict things and take charge is very admirable. We soon uncover some vulnerability in him but he still manages to keep that swagger. Sage is someone who will have you wrapped around his finger but that's ok, he just has a way of doing that.

I should mention the other characters. I really liked their development because I did get to know them well. It irked me -in a good way- that I thought I would have someone figured out and then it turns out I'm wrong. Conner is a very complex character, as well as Tobias and Roden. I loved Imogen's story too -she's a servant girl that Sage befriends.

The plot and pace was amazing too. This is an example of a book that has been laid out before hand. The author made it so that she dropped hints throughout the book in order to build up to a dramatic conclusion. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle that simply snapped into place. I loved how all the details matched together. Although I did predict somewhat was was going to happen, the finer details were a mystery to me - and a delight to read about! The False Prince is a smooth book, the events lead into each other and are connected well. The only thing that bothered me was at two points in the book: the POV changed to third person. I do understand why but it was a bit disorienting. Anyways, the writing was clear and easy to picture - hopefully we will get to see some more world building though in the the next book!

I'd highly recommend this book to adventure, fantasy, historical-ish, edge of your seat lovers who like good political intrigue. Although the idea isn't the most original it is extremely well done! Definitely one of my favourites of the year!

Excerpt

Conner walked back to me. "A thief and a liar, eh? Can you manage a sword?"

"Sure, if my opponent doesn't have one."

He grinned. "Do you farm?"

"No." I took that as an insult.

"Hunt?"

"No."

"Can you read?"

I stared up at him through the parts of my hair. "What are you wanting me for, Conner?"

"You'll address me as Sir or Master Conner."

"What are you wanting me for, Sir Master Conner?"

"That's a conversation for another time."

Book Trailer: spoiler free - its safe to watch :) 

       

Review for Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Deadly Cool
By Gemma Halliday
Published by HarperTeen
Personal Copy
303 pages    

"Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim."-Goodreads

Deadly Cool is a quick, fun, and mysterious read that boasts a very eye catching - beautiful!- cover. You'll devour it in one sitting and then want more!

Sometimes, I kick myself for not making half stars - otherwise I would have given Deadly Cool a 4.5 rating. Why not five? The only thing that I felt was missing was character building. We don't get to know too much on her BFF Sam (who I loved) and some other characters. BUT with that being said, I didn't realize all this until... well... I was done. Completely done. Even when I realized this, I couldn't help but think: this is one good book. Seriously, lack of character development aside - it totally rocks.

Hartley (how cool is that name?) is the narrator throughout the whole book and this was very enjoyable. She has such a witty, quirky, and sarcastic attitude that it was a blast reading through her POV. The way she responded to events, how she thought, and how she conversed with her friends/foes was a realistic teenage reaction. Hartley is very clever and resourceful. The way she plunges head first into things, set the stage for some hilarious outcomes. Her friends and families, they seemed a bit exaggerated but really? I loved it!  I know I said they didn't have *too* much development but they still had their unique personalities. Sam and Chase were beyond perfect for side characters.

Now, I realize that this is a murder mystery. Somehow, the author was able to make this a light read. The mystery behind it all had me flipping pages as fast as I could. The fact that I wasn't able to predict "who-done-it", gave the author brownie points. I love not being able to figure out the murderer/mystery before the MC! Maybe, I'm just not very attentive but nevertheless, they author pulled the wool over my eyes. The writing was smooth, very easy to follow and imagine in your head. The pacing was great and as I said before, Hartley's voice was what made this book.

Could this really happen in real life? No. Would a sixteen year old be able to do this? Probably not. Should you read this? Yes. I'd highly recommend this to mystery fans who like it on the lighter side, with a side dish of laughter and a dash of romance! I really enjoyed it and will be adding Social Suicide to my buying list!

 

Excerpt:

I was so engrossed in reading his binder of personal musngs that I almost didn't hear the sound outside the window.

Almost.

"Caw! Caw!"

I froze. No. Tell me Sam didn't just...

"Caw!"

 ***

Just below, on the outside of the gate, stood Sam, jumping up and down flapping her arms.

"Caw!"

I opened the window.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

"Making a bird call to get your attention."

"That is the wost bird sound ever. 'Caw?' What bird actually says that?"

She shook her head, flapping even more violently. "He's here!" she said.

Review for What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

What a Boy Wants
By Nyrae Dawn
Published by CreateSpace
Bought Kindle Edition
142 pages

"Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it."- Goodreads

What A Boy Wants was what one girl wanted - that girl being me. I needed a good romantic, yet hilarious, read. This book is sure to make you smile (if not laugh out loud) and say "awww". Sebastian Hawkins will capture your heart.

Sebastian, aka "Bastian", knows a thing or two about hooking up. He has loads of experience and has seen it first hand with his mother's relationships. Yet, he knows nothing about love - nothing! It was hilarious watching him fall in love, he totally was at a loss of what was happening to him. He was losing his "groove". When it dawns on him that he is in love, I really liked how he handled that knowledge. Bastian, under all his bravo, is a character to love. As his mother and Aspen would say, "he has a big heart". He's always worried about his mom getting hurt or his friends getting hurt. He's always there to protect them. All four of them - Bastian, Jaden, Aspen, and Pris - are a tight knit group of friends. As Bastian says, "they got each others back". It was nice to see this in a book and I enjoyed reading about every one's unique personalities. But the best part? Bastian's voice. No not his physical voice, but the narrative voice. Thank the writer heavens - this is *exactly* how a male mind would think (well at least half of the teenage male population). What he said, how he reacted, what he thought etc. just screamed: "Teenage boy! Teenage boy!" I adored this aspect of What A Boy Wants.


The idea itself, is fantastic. A hook-up doctor? To get some extra cash? Brilliant! This is a fairly quick read and through it all there is something that just keeps you reading. Whether it be Bastian's love life or his lack of love life, the ball just rolls on through. There are plenty of laughs, yet this book does have some substance. Especially regarding love. If I had only one problem with this book it was the editing, although it wasn't terrible, there were a few spots that needed attention (no biggie at all but just thought I'd mention it).

I'd recommend this to those who are into romantic, hilarious, good natured books that might be slightly predictable - but come on, who doesn't like those? I thoroughly enjoyed What A Boy Wants and will definitely be reading What A Boy Needs through Jaden's POV!

Excerpt:

My hands stung as I slid down the tree. The second Jaden and I hit the ground, I saw her front door jerk open. Daddy was pissed and he had a bat! We ran. Unfortunately, Jaden's car was in the opposite direction. My chest hurt but I pushed forward, Jaden right beside me. Daddy was on our tail, swinging his bat and cursing.

"Pris!" I told him. She lived in this neighborhood.

***

As we hit the next street over, I saw them. Pris and Apsen stood in Pris's driveway. They were looking at something in the truck of Aspen's car.

***

I had no choice but to dive in the trunk. Jaden was right behind me.

"Where'd you go you little punks?" He was still after us. Aspen must have put two and two together quickly and slammed the trunk. She was always smart.

As I fought to catch my breath, Jaden's sweaty back against mine, I cursed. The girls were never going to let us live this down.

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking the Shelves is a meme created/hosted by the lovely Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews! (All credit goes to her for this meme.) If you want to participate click on the link! The more the merrier! It's a chance to showcase titles that arrived in the mail or for review... any book goodies over the past week (or weeks for me)!

Received From Author:

The Fairytale Keeper by Andrea Cefalo

So, the wonderful Andrea Cefalo sent me a copy of her book The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen for review. Thank you so much!!! I'm so excited to start reading it! It will be released on June 1, 2012 :)

Won:

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

Struck (Struck #1) by Jennifer Bosworth

Yes, I won a pre-order package style deal and these two lovelies came in the mail :) I'm still waiting for one more out of the ones I won. Thanks to Claire @ Claire Reads!!

Bought:

 The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Deadly Cool (Deadly Cool #1) by Gemma Halliday

I'm so thankful to The Book Depository for having that 10% discount going... I was able to convince my parents into buying a couple books (why yes, there was begging involved). AHHHH! I cannot wait to read these two, I've been drooling over them forever!

Basically, this week rocked. I'm still expecting a couple books to arrive in the mail. Anyways, enough about what I got............

Now I want to know what YOU got!! So leave LINKS to YOUR posts :)

Thanks for reading and stay lovely!

Review for Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)
By Robin LaFevers
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Won from Giselle (thanks!)
549 pages

"Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?" - Goodreads

Grave Mercy will have you begging for more and will linger in your thoughts for days - at least it did for me. It has made it to one of my favourite reads of the year. With rich history, a heroine to root for, and a unique plot, Grave Mercy leaves readers enthralled.

Ismae, you know the girl with the crossbow, is strong willed, stubborn, and determined. A total kick-butt, power-to-women type. She's went through some terrible things and her past is what fueled her in her new place in life - an assassin. Lets just linger on this topic here. An assassin. Trained in poisons, weapons, and deadly tactics. Now add another word. Nuns. Oh yeah. Yet, Ismae, who has a deadly gift, knows many poisons and ways to kill a man with bare hands is a total flop in 'womanly skills'. I loved that she isn't made out as this perfect heroine. No. She has imperfections, she makes mistakes, and -gasp- is sometimes embarrassed! Totally relatible material. It was awesome reading her story! Now don't go thinking just because she is an *assassin* that she has no heart. As much as she would like to deny it, Ismae does. That's what creates conflict. It was nice to see that she did have a conscious and it was especially amazing to see her viewpoint transform by the end of the book.

Set as a backdrop, we have the historical value of the politics of Brittany. The plot is based on real events, Anne was real and Brittany did go through tough times fighting for independence from France. I appreciated the authenticity of the topic. This book is crafted in a way that as the reader we peel back layer by layer of deceit and truth. I adore a good high court scene - with plots, blackmails, and intrigues. It felt like nothing was missing and the ball just kept on rolling at a steady pace. Personally, the politics did not bog down the book for me, I found I could easily follow on everything. Which is a lot coming from a girl who hates politics. It helped to have an index, stating all the characters and their position, plus a map!

The romance part. Yesss. Just YES. This is what I love. It didn't take up the main focus of the book yet it was there enough that I was satisfied. And ah! Slow burn romance - love that is built on... get this, a trusting relationship. At the beginning, Ismae and Duval despise each other because of the situation their put in. Yet, as time goes on the have to learn to trust each other because ultimately they have the same goal. This trust builds and builds until both realize, wow, their in love. Going from their banter to mutual respect to trust and then to maybe something more, was squeal worthy. Duval is so classy, smart, brave, and is a total 14th century man!

I'd highly recommend this to those who love historical romances (sa-woon), political intrigue and so much more! Grave Mercy is definitely worth the time to read!

Excerpt

"Except," Duval points out, "I am not known to favor mistresses. Not to mention that if I did, it would certainly not be one who was greener than a winter apple."
I set my teeth at his words. I am not that unpolished.
Reverend Mother leans back in her chair and tsks. "You exaggerate, milord. Ismae has been well trained in all things, including how to act as a man's mistress."
Clearly now it'll not be a good time to confess to playing trudant during most of Sister Beatriz's lessons.
"But more important," Duval continued,"with the way things are at court, I cannot assure her protection."
"I do not need protection," I say, offended at such a suggestion.
"No, she does not," the abbess agrees. "She merely needs an opportunity to act."

Book Trailer:

Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking the Shelves is a meme created/hosted by the lovely Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews! (All credit goes to her for this meme.)If you want to participate click on the link! The more the merrier! It's a chance to showcase titles that arrived in the mail or for review... any book goodies over the past week (or weeks for me)!

I won this pretty:

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin#1) by Robin LaFevers

I want to thank Xpresso Reads for hosting the giveaway and of course the publisher for supplying the book :) As you can tell, I am currently reading it (side note: it is totally rocking my socks off!)

Bought with handy-dandy Amazon Gift Card:

 

Bourne (River of Time #3.1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Kindle format)

What A Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn (Kindle format)

I totally forgot about the gift card I won a looonnnggg time ago so I was elated to remember it because these two books are only available in ebook format!! How lucky am I? I thank the book gods every day :)

You can expect reviews for all of them! I hope for links to YOUR post on what YOU got this week :)

Happy reading and stay lovely!!

Review for The Secret Life of Copernicus H. Stringfellow by Lorin K. Barber

The Secret Life of Copernicus H. Stringfellow
By Lorin K. Barber
Published by Sweetwater Books
Recieved ebook review copy from author (thanks!)
304 pages

"Copernicus H. Stringfellow, a.k.a. Nick, is not your run-of-the-mill genius. His mind is so powerful it can stop a speeding automobile or stem internal bleeding. As Nick goes about quietly doing good, he discovers that his powers are greatly enhanced by the nutrients present in Twinkies. Follow Nick on his amazing adventures in this humorous and exciting action-packed book for all ages." - Goodreads

The Secret Life of Copernicus H. Stringfellow is as unique as the title. The characters are unique the story is different and it is truly a book for all ages.

Copernicus H. Stringfellow, who goes by the name of Nick (thank the heavens!) is everything but what he seems. Nick's the kind of guy you wish you were neighbors with or was friends with or you know, married to. He's the sweetest, nicest, humblest, and smartest (he dominates that field) guy you'll never meet. Nick's a genius and not by the term used for Einstein or anything - its a whole different level. He can perform medical miracles with his mind and move objects around. Seems like a good guy to keep around when your in trouble. As he goes through his life he gains many friends as we see in this book. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of all the names but there were a few that stuck in my mind.

The book follows Nick on his adventures in Seattle. He's working at the hospital and buys a house that needs renovations. At work he meets another doctor, Press, who throws him for a loop. A little love interest for Mr. Stringfellow perhaps? Being honest here, I did have trouble getting through the book. It wasn't very exciting and didn't have anything to keep my attention. Since Nick is so smart, words and descriptions were used that completely flew over my head. At some points, I just didn't care too much anymore. I realize that the writing style is what makes Nick's voice unique but for an average girl like me, it makes it hard to get interested. Not to say that there isn't any interesting things that happen - there is but overall, I wasn't fully engaged.

I'd suggest this to those who like good natured books, one that -now this is a rarity- had a completely "good" guy as a hero. All his intentions are good and Nick is very well mannered. Like I said before, this is a read for all ages!

Excerpt:

"I told you to push it in after two seconds. You took 2.78," Nick said.
"Excuse me, I was distracted."
"Well, I hope you'll learn to concentrate better in the future."
"Sure, next time I'm going 300 miles per hour, I'll pay more attention."
The car slid to the left and grazed the sidewalk.
"We can't be doing a bit over 242."
"How do you know?"
"I calculated the top speed based on the fuel mixture, the gear ration, the weight of the vehicle, and the relative humidity."