Magnolia

Book Review

Title: Magnolia

Author: Kristi Cook

Date Published: August 5, 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Page Count: 336

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy Me: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Meet The Author: Kristi Cook

Synopsis:

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They're only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can't stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn't exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

My Thoughts: 

I LOVED this book! It was the light, fluffy read I needed to get me out of my reading slump.

Jemma and Ryder have known each other since they were born and their family the Cafferty’s and Marsden’s have known each other since the civil war and have been dying to unite both families by marriage, and now that Jemma and Ryder have been born they finally can. There is just one problem Jemma and Ryder hate each other and have no intention of making their family's dreams come true. Until a violent storm hits Magnolia Branch and they're forced to spend a whole week together and their true feelings for each other begin to surface. 

This book reminded me of Romeo and Juliet but turned upside down. I loved how the love story wasn't insta love that Jemma and Ryder had known each other their whole lives, but they just didn't know how they felt about each other. I loved the Mississippi setting and that they lived in old plantation homes it just made the read so much better; the southern feel to it. Also Jemma was kind of bad azz I liked how she was captain of the cheerleaders, but she also had the best shot in Mississippi.

If you're in the mood for a light contemporary with a summery feel to it, look no further this book is perfect, or if you're in a reading slump this book will definitely get you out of it. A plus Ryder is so HOT and I need more of him in my life. I read this book in one sitting, that’s how good it is. If you haven't picked it up you definitely should.

-SandraTheBookWorm

These Broken Stars (Starbound #1)

Book Review

Title: These Broken Stars (Starbound #1)

Author: Amie Kaufman - Meagan Spooner

Date Published: December 10, 2013.

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Page Count: 374

Rating:★★★★

Buy Me:Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Meet the Authors: Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner

Synopsis:

Luxury spaceliner Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive -- alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help. Everything changes when they uncover the truth. 

My Thoughts:

This is my first Sci-fi, survival book and I LOVED IT!! Let me start of by saying how amazingly written the crash of the Icarus was. I felt like I was one of the passengers and I was going down with it. The crash of the Icarus did remind me a lot of the Titanic movie, but that is where the similarities end. This story is so unique.

In this book we follow Mrs. Lilac Laroux the daughter of the richest man on the universe and Tarver a soldier turned into a war hero, while they try to survive in an abandoned planet; where they wait for rescue that with each passing day seems less likely to be coming.

I immediately fell in love with Tarver and Lilac; the growth these two characters went through in the book was extraordinary. Especially by Lilac she was a very strong character and she showed that she was more than just a rich girl in high heels.  The reason I gave these book four stars and not five was that some of the things that happened in this world left me scratching my head and some of my questions were left unanswered. If you're into survival books, sci-fi, even paranormal yes, this book had some paranormal aspects you should definitely pick this book up.

I'm so excited to continue with this series; I do believe they are companion novels, so you don't have to read this one to read the second one, but you should definitely read it. Lilac and Tarver's story deserves to be read! 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Waiting On Wednesday #18

Love Fortunes and Other Disasters

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at BreakingtheSpine in which we spotlight a new release we can't wait to get our hands on.


Title: Love Fortunes and Other Disasters

Author: Kimberly Karalius

Expected Release Date: May 12, 2015

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Goodreads Link: Love Fortunes and Other Disasters

Preorder Links: Amazon,  B&N, 





Synopsis:

In the tradition of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, one girl chooses to change her fortune and her fate by falling in love.

Love is real in the town of Grimbaud, and Fallon Dupree has dreamed of attending high school there for years. After all, generations of Duprees have successfully followed the (100% accurate!) love fortunes from Zita’s famous Love Charms Shop to happily marry their high school sweethearts. It’s a tradition. So she is both stunned and devastated when her fortune states that she will NEVER find love.

Fortunately, Fallon isn’t the only student with a terrible love fortune, and a rebellion is brewing. Fallon is determined to take control of her own fate—even if it means working with a notorious heartbreaker like Sebastian.

Will Fallon and Sebastian be able to overthrow Zita’s tyranny and fall in love?


Why I need it in my Collection:

This book sounds like a light, fun read also they had me at In tradition of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic. I love Practical Magic and would love to see what similarities this book has to that one. I'm really in the mood for more fluffy reads and this sounds just perfect and unique a plus the cover is just beautiful. What book are you excited for? Let me know on the comments below-- I would love to hear from you.

This is going to be me when I buy the book!

-SandraTheBookWorm

Eleanor and Park

Book Review

Title: Eleanor and Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Date Published: February 26, 2013

Page Count: 328

Rating:★★★★.5

Buy Me:B&N Collectors Edition, Amazon, Book Depository

Meet The Author: Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis:

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

My Thoughts:

This book guys, oh my God this book! Why did it take me so long to get my hands on it; I loved every single second of this book. I related so much with Eleanor it was insane and Park oh Park I fell in love with his as soon as he fell in love with Eleanor; he was the sweetest. I think one reason I loved this book so much was because I connected so much with Eleanor in being bullied. When I was in high school I used to get bullied a lot because of my appearance and this book hit right at home.

 

 

We meet Eleanor when she is getting on the bus for her first day of school. That’s where she sees Park for the first time, at first glance Park doesn’t think much of Eleanor in fact he thinks she’s weird; as time goes on  Eleanor and Park get closer to the point where park feels that he can’t leave without her. While trying to deal with bullying and her crazy stepdad Eleanor finds a safe haven in Park.

I loved how Eleanor found someone that she could be herself with while also feeling safe and I loved how Park was so protective of her. I also loved the old school relationship no cell phones actually interacting and going out, writing letters and giving your significant other mixed tapes. As much as I loved this book I only had one problem. How could Rowell end it that way! I want to know what is going to happen between Eleanor and Park, it’s killing me to know that this is a standalone and I will never know what's going to happen between these two characters I grew to love. 



 

Reading this book was so emotional for me especially towards the end I was balling took me a while to gain my composure. If you haven't picked this book up I truly recommend it. Rainbow Rowell has slowly made her way into my heart and has become one of my favorite authors.

 

 



-SandraTheBookWorm 



  

Liebster Award!!!

This morning Rhian from  UponaNovel was kind enough to nominate me for the Liebster Award. I am so thankful that she took the time to look at my blog and like it enough to nominate it. Thank you so much Rhian! It means a lot to me.

This award is in place so bloggers big and small can interact with one another and promote friendships through the similar hobby of blogging. There are few steps to this award which I will go through as I complete each section. First though, I must state the rules. 

Rules 

* Link back to the person that nominated you for this award.

* Give 11 random facts about yourself.

*Answer 11 questions from your nominator.

* Nominate 11 bloggers.

* Come up with 11 questions for your nominees and inform them that you have nominated them.

Okay! So here are the 11 random facts about myself.

1. I'm 24 years old.

2. I'm a stay at home mom my son is 2 yrs old.

3. .Even though I'm 24 I enjoy YA more than Adult novels.

4. I would like to travel to Paris, NY, Spain and many other places.

5. I'm a huge Disney nerd.

6.  I live in Texas! No, we don't all wear cowboy boots and ride horses to work.

7. I'm super claustrophobic. 

8. I'm not very good with grammar. 

9.  I just read Harry Potter in January.

10. Twilight was the series that started my book obsession.

11.  I didn't cry while reading The Fault In Our Stars, but I was a wreck when I watched the movie.

Some Questions Rhian wants me to answer.

1. What is your all time favorite book?

I would have to say Twilight since it what began my love for reading.

2. Who is your favorite author?

Rainbow Rowell

3. Pristine or damaged book?

Pristine.

4. Is cracking the spine of a book acceptable in your eyes?

No, you crack my books spine I crack your arm lol.

5. Favorite snack to eat when your reading?

I don't eat while I'm reading.

6. What is your most favorite genre and your most hated genre?

I love Fantasy! I don't think I hate any genre.

7. Favorite weather for reading?

I love to read during rainy days. 

8. Do you like complete silence when reading or do you like some music or the television on etc?

 I usually have my TV on while I read, but I'm pretty good at tuning it out.

9. Favorite book to movie adaptation?

This is a though question. I would have to say the Twilight series I own all of them. 

10. E-books or physical copies?

Physical copies, I hardly own any E-books.

11. Why did you start your blog?

I love to read and sharing my thoughts with fellow book lovers. Also I don't have many friends that like to read and this is a amazing way to meet people with common interest.

Questions for my Nominees

1. Who is your book boyfriend?

2. Used or New Books?

3. Where do you like to read?

4. What is your favorite series?

5. Stand Alone or Series?

6. Do you read one book at a time or several?

7. Most hated character?

8. Least favorite book?

9. Favorite love triangle?

10. Favorite character?

11. What world of the books you have read would you like to live in?

And now my nominees are as follows...

(Names are taken from Instagram)

1. NovelsandNecklaces (http://novelsandnecklaces.blogspot.com/)

2. TheBookishCrypt (https://cassandrareadsalot.wordpress.com/)

3.Book_Believer (http://bookbeliever.blogspot.com/)

4. Bookishfanboy (http://bookishfanboy.blogspot.com/)

5. BookFlame (http://bookflame.blogspot.com/)

6. Enchantedbbya (http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.com/)

7. Thereadercomplex (https://thereadercomplex.wordpress.com/)

8. livlovesbooks (https://livlovesbooks.wordpress.com/)

9. DonnabookPassion (http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co.uk/)

10. Mafscrazybooklife (http://mafscrazybooklife.blogspot.com/)

11. A_Woundrous_bookshelf (https://awondrousbookshelf.wordpress.com/)

-SandraTheBookWorm

Red Queen

Book Review

 

 

 

 

Title: Red Queen

Author. Victoria Aveyard

Date Published: February 10, 2015

Page Count: 320

Rating:★★★.5

Buy Me: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Meet Author: Victoria Aveyard

Synopsis:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the center of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

My Thoughts:

I sadly have to say I was a little disappointed by this book. With all the hype it was getting in the book community I was expecting it to be a little better, but even though this book didn’t live up to its hype in my opinion, there was things I did enjoy about it. I liked this book I just didn’t love it; like most people did.

 

In this book we follow our main character Mare a seventeen year old girl in a world where people are divided by the color of their blood. The red blooded being the commoners and living under the rule of the silver bloods that have god like powers; everything is fine in the silver bloods world until Mare who is red blooded seems to possess the same powers they do. 

Even though Red Queen didn’t meet my expectations I must say there were some things that really intrigued me; one being the powers of the silvers I just couldn’t get enough of every new power that Aveyard introduced. Oh and the betrayal and plot twist really got me I never saw it coming and to be totally honest there were points in the book when I had no idea who I could trust. Now to the reason I gave this book a 3.5 instead of a 5 I just didn’t get attached to any of the characters I could care less if they lived or died. The book was also lacking on the world building and it had too many similarities with other books. Also the love triangle was insane in this book! Lets just say it gets a little bit annoying how many suitors our Mare has.

 

With that said I will be continuing with the series. I would love to learn more about the powers that the silvers possess and where the betrayal, plot twist are going to take the story. Have you read this book? Did you like it? Leave a comment below; I would love to hear from you.

-SandraTheBookWorm

  

Lali of the Lill

Book Review

Title: Lali of the Lill

Author: Adi Mandal

Date Published: February 14, 2015

Page Count: 152

Rating:★★★★

Buy Me: Amazon, 

Meet the Author: Adi Mandal on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Lali must face her fears and begin the journey to The Lill, a treacherous journey built around lies. In seeking for the truth about her past and future, she must leave Krei, the young man who loves her more than his life, and learn to trust Theon, a stranger who claims he is the only one who can help her. 

My Thoughts:

This book was sent to me in Eformat by the author for review, but that in no way affects my my thoughts on this book. What you read below is my honest review.

In this novel we follow our main character Lali while she’s trying to find out whom or what she is. Like she doesn't have enough to deal with she is being randomly attacked by mysterious creatures. When she finally meets Theon a boy that has been helping her survive the spontaneous attacks she has a tough decision to make does she leave with the stranger that promises her to tell her who she is and where she comes from, or stay in her current life with her mother and the young boy she has promised to marry Krei.

When I began to read this book I thought to myself this might not be the book for me the writing style felt a little rough drafty and I also felt that the beginning was a little slow, but as I continued to read the book actually picked up and I really enjoyed it. Adi Mandal has written such a unique story and the main character kicks butt she doesn't take crap from anyone.

This book is a fun, fast read that I really enjoyed! Before I forget to mention I really, really loved the mother and daughter relationship in this book. Lali wouldn't make any decision without thinking how it would affect her mother. This is something that you don't see in young adult novels often. Overall if you're looking for a fast, fun, unique read I definitely recommend this book.

-SandraTheBookWorm