Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

The Gathering Storm (Katerina #1)
by Robin Bridges

Published January 10th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publication Date: Jan 10th, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Format: Hardcover, 368 pages 

Series: yes

Source: My own copy

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My Review

Let me start this review by stating that I fail to understand why so many people gave The Gathering Storm such low ratings. I really was able to simply lose myself in this book. I read it in one day, secretly turning pages during college classes and everything. Russia has always been very interesting to me, and this was the first book with a Russian main character I've seen. I liked that the author gave a brief explanation about Russian names and prefixes before the beginning of the book.

It was nice knowing more about the historical setting, about the situation of Russian in the 1880's, especially concerning the women's views and their expected roles. I love to see women trying to be more than what they're expected to be. :)

Katerina, our MC, was a very strong character. She managed to stand her ground and follow her dreams and express her opinions even when most people (her mother included) were trying to crush them, to change her, to fit her into the pretty little mold all the other silly little girls were expected to be molded into. She wanted to be a doctor, one of the very first female doctors, one of the very first females to go to college! And, boy, was I impressed with her courage! 

But now that I've stopped to think about it, I suppose most probably didn't enjoy the story as much because of the fantastical flavor of it. Kat is a necromancer. The main love interest is part-faerie. The villains are witches. There are zombies roaming around. Those things didn't bother me at all. As a matter of fact, they fit very well into the story. However, I can see how some of these characteristics could bother some readers.

The Russian society cracked me up some times. It looked like almost everybody was either a prince/princess or a duchess/duke. Or, at least, somehow related to one of those. There was an overload of 'Your Highnessess' and 'Your Majesties' and the alike. That struck me as particularly funny at certain moments, especially during battles in which people were fighting for their lives, trying not to get blood on their pretty frocks while still managing to NOT drop the royal treatment. LOL. 

Or, I suppose, most didn't like the fact that romance was not the main focus for the plot. There were romantic tidbits, but there was SO much more going on that those were delegated to a second plane. But, come on, it was a slow-developing romance (they were mad at each other/did not trust each other for the greater part of the book) and forbidden, on top of that! (a mere duchess who could care less about marriage and wants nothing more than becoming a doctor and a PRINCE who wanted to kill her and now wants to give her the world?).

Also, there were some things that managed to creep me out, like those weirdoes/mean witches and their rituals... that was fun. ;P

I cannot wait to read the next stallment. I'm sure it'll be great. *-* And there'll be more romance, too, I'm certain.

My Thoughts on: Origin by Jessica Khoury

Origin
by Jessica Khoury

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.

__________________________

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Publication Date: Sep 4th 2012 by  2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Format: ebook, 368 pages 

Series: no

Source: My Kindle

If you're looking for an actual review, let me tell you right away: this is not it. This is more like... my impressions on the book, what kept pestering me after I was finished with it. And this is it:

First of all, I'm from Brazil and I really don't think FUNAI (National Indian Foundation (Brazil)) would agree with Americans installing labs in the middle of the Amazon and sacrificing the indians in a search for immortality. But then again, maybe it's just me. And that IS how Fiction usually goes, right?

Apart from that, have you guys SEEN Brazilian indians??? Let me tell you something, from what I gather, USA's Native Americans have such beautiful faces, with strong jaws and well-built bodies. They have long, wonderful black hair and are just, well, so much hotter than Brazilian indians. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know. What I DO know is that OUR indians are butt-ugly. There, I've said it. I'm Brazilian and I should know. Of course, maybe there are exceptions... none that I've seen, but let's not generalize. Thing is, most of them look like these...

I get it that Eio is supposed to be a half-breed and super hot because of it, but that was kinda hard to swallow. (and since we're on the subject, those half-breeds don't usually come out looking much better, but I suppose there is such a thing as Genetic miracles). Anyway, I tried to picture him looking like something closer to this:

(see some more hot models here)

Oh, and for someone who was supposed to be SO much more intelligent than ordinary humans, Pia sure was stupid. 

There were MANY characters in this book, and I thought it'd be hard to keep up with all of them, but, surprisingly, it wasn't so. I love it that I was wrong. There were some very complex people there!

The romance was very... tepid. Almost non-existent. However, that wasn't the purpose of the book, and I didn't really miss it much. I like a little romance in books as much as the next girl, but in this one, it didn't make much of a difference. I also liked learning the names of some Amazon fruits even I had never heard of before. LOL

The book was interesting, nonetheless. And the writing was quite captivating. A page-turner, in fact, when I ignored all the things that bothered me first. Oh, and I seriously LOVED the man-eating ants. Just... perfection! XD

Give Origin a try and let me know what you think.

Mini-Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss
by Stephanie Perkins

Published December 2nd 2010 by Dutton

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Publication Date: Dec 2nd, 2012

Publisher: Dutton

Format: e-book, 372 pages 

Series: no

Source: My Kindle

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My Review

I started this book a couple of weeks ago. It didn't instantly grab my attention, so I put it aside and read a handful of other books until I finally came back to it.

For the first 1/3 of this book I honestly had trouble figuring out what people saw in it. Really. So much fuss for this? >.> Until I realized that I had fallen for Etienne without even noticing.

Yup. I read this one right after finishing Twenties Girl, which means I still had some feelings remaining in my heart due to the PMS and all that (LOL), so I sort of cried while reading this one, too. Embarrassing enough, I even felt my heart tightening when Anna and Etienne kept hurting each other.... very emo, believe me, I am aware. Damn you, hormones!

But I digress. Oh, Paris. Your magic got to me. Suddenly I could relate to Anna (and started to crave a trip to those lovely tourist attractions) and wanted Etienne for myself.

This one was a lovely, light read that, at the same time, managed to approach some very serious issues, such as divorces, controlling and unloving parents, the tale of first love, the difficulty in ending a relationship because it's 'safe', how to forgive your friends and accept your flaws/admit your mistakes, and, of course, trying to find your place in the world. See, I told you my PMS made me sentimental. It apparently also makes me philosophical. But don't get used it to it.

Anna and the French kiss was an adorable read, and now I have to go and look for 'Lola and the Boy Next Door'. I hear it's just as cute. :P

P.S: Totally out of topic here, but don't you LOVE Perkins' blue highlights in this picture??? *-* I so wish I could pull it off.

Review: Eve (Eve #1) by Anna Carey

Eve (Eve #1)
by Anna Carey

Published December 1st 2011 by HarperCollins

Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

After a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a terrifying place.

Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a bright future in The New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose--and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. But when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Publication Date: December 1st 2011

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: paperback, 318 pages 

Series: yes

Source: my own copy

________________________________

When I first started reading Eve, I had no idea what it was about. I had just reached over to my pile of unread books and it was sitting there, so I grabbed it.

It's not 'Oh, my, this is fantastic, everybody should read this before they die, here's a copy', but it is a good, intense read. A little silly and slow at times, sure, (I mean, this IS YA), but the whole post-apocalyptical situation is so terrifying and aggravating, Eve's world so indignant, and the action scenes so... 'heart-racing', that it becomes well balanced. :)

I'm strange about the books I keep and the ones I trade, but this one... well, this one I'll keep. It's not a 5 stars book on the whole, mind you, but for a few excellent scenes... it gets very close to it. I get the feeling Anna Carey could do so much better, but that maybe she held back sometimes because she wanted it to become a YA book... her violent scenes are so... no-nonsense and clear and disgustingly real, they're blood-curdling in their simplicity. I think she would make an AMAZING Adult writer. Really. Here's hoping, right?

That scene with the pregnant students tied down... yeesh. >.< *shudders* It still resurfaces in my mind randomly. And I've read it over a month ago. O.o I can also still recall the almost-rape scene... the yellowish color of the evil man's teeth... how sweet the the orphan boys were. You see? It's about the little things, the very well-written few parts that suck you in! But there can't be that many of those, because it's supposed to be for young audiences... and, really, JUST 318 pages? I though this kind of books normally could go up to 368 pages, or am I wrong? I am aware this is a series, however, I feel the story could have been slightly improved in those 50 more possible pages... 

The romance was cute and light, not insta-love, which is a certain plus... friendship was also nicely dealt with in Eve, and so was jealousy and betrayal. I can't wait to read Once and Rise. I am really looking forward to learning more about this weird, evil King that forces young girls to study for years straight only to tie them down and get them pregnant until they die of exhaustion and/or childbirth. I mean, seriously? How freaking mean and black-hearted can you possibly be? If you only want them as 'sows' for reproduction, why make them study so hard and hope for the future so bad? Like that'll make better babies! ... Or maybe he does it so they'll have something to occupy their brilliant minds with while they're tied down and knocked-up for the twentieth time, so they won't break so quickly? I don't know.... >.> Like I said, Carey is the boss here. ;P

Have you read Eve? What did you enjoy the most about it? If you haven't read it, do you feel like reading it?

Mini-Review/Recommendation: The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver (The Giver Quartet #1)
by Lois Lowry

Published January 24th 2006 by Ember (first published 1993)

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

_____________________________________

Genre: Classics, Dystopia

Publication Date: January 24th, 2006

Publisher: Ember

Format: Paperback, 179 pages 

Series: Technically yes, but can be read as a stand-alone

Source: My own copy

My Review:

As most of you know, I have contracted the Dystopian fever last year, and, as of yet, it still remains uncured. So when I heard so many good things about this 'new classic', I thought, 'why not?'. I was a bit apprehensive to choose a 'classic', because they always sound like very boring difficult readings, but not this one. Not at ALL. Well, this IS a children's book... but the issues dealt within are very adult. That's for sure.

The Giver is a short, sweet, creepy and enticing book. There are no more than 179 pages, but the story is so well-written, the characters are so well developed, and the plot is so easy to get lost into, that you can barely believe that so much has fit into such a small number of pages! And, of course, it leaves you wanting more. Much more. I loved it, but I would have been even more content if the book was just a tad bit longer, showing what happened to the village and what really came to happen at the end. I don't like 'open endings' like this one had, but I hear the other books will explain a couple of things, so I'll just have to look for them. :)

So, the big deal here was: I have read a LOT of dystopians, and I have always thought of how creative they were... well, as it turns out, (in my opinion, at least), most of them must have been somehow inspired by Lois Lowry's world, because the similarities with some titles are uncanny. I won't list them here, because, really, who am I to accuse others? What I mean to say is: once you've read this one... you'll know what I mean.

Early Review: Undead by Kirsty McKay

Undead (Undead #1)
by Kirsty McKay

Expected publication: September 1st 2012 by Scholastic Inc.

Out of sight, out of their minds: It's a school-trip splatter fest and completely not cool when the other kids in her class go all braindead on new girl Bobby.

The day of the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty.

Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. Start to stress. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back.

But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late.

Combining the chill of THE SHINING, the thrill ride of SPEED, the humor of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and the angst of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Kirsty McKay's UNDEAD is a bloody mad mash-up, a school-trip splatter-fest, a funny, gory, frighteningly good debut!

Genre: Young Adult, Zombies

Publication Date: September 1st 2012

Publisher: Scholastic

Format: eARC, 272 pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley

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My Review

First line: I would rather die than face them all again.

Last line: "We need to get off this bus - now!"

Favorite quote: "Zombie parkour. Don't think that's been done before. Better film this, Alice, it could go viral."

Bobby is on the School Trip from Hell. She was born in the UK, but thanks to her mother's job they had to move to the US. Now, she's back the UK again. On a skiing trip to Scotland before the start of the new school year. The thing is, everyone is making fun of her 'hybrid' accent. She, herself, needs to police her lingo, always trying to sound as properly british as possible. She's also avoiding every single one of her new school mates, because they are all so annoying to new kids, especially ex-american ones, and he really just wants to kick those losers' butts. I mean, their bums. 

That's why she was the only inside the bus when everyone got off to venture the snow storm and eat something at the café by the road. Well, her, the driver and Rob Smitty, rebel without a pause. And hottie. Their teacher forbade him from leaving the bus after he got caught bying booze and cigs with a fake ID. So they were the only ones who didn't get to taste the nice free samples of Carrot Juice, being given away by a man in a carrot costume. And so they didn't see what happened to those who did, inside the café. Until a bloody hand hit one of the bus' windows and the driver went outside to check it out... and the proverbial sh*t started to hit the fan.

Now it's Bobby, the 'freak hybrid', Smitty, the smartass bad boy, Alice, the annoying b*tch--I mean, popular brainless girl and Pete, the cowardly, brainy weirdo. It's just them. Against a whole lot of Zs.

As they try to stay alive and survive constant zombie attacks (and quite a few dangerous humans, too), they also need to learn to deal with each other while trying to find shelter and a way to contact someone. But things aren't really looking good... and little do they know, they just might get worse. And personal.

I LOVED this book!!! There was never ONE boring moment! I mean it, the whole thing was, well... words fail me right now, so I'll just have to go with AWEEEEEESOME! ;P

Those zombies really went all-out! Kirsty McKay got them doing some pretty interesting stuff. Brand new, too. Same goes for the surviving group of teenage humans. Those guys actually managed to survive while NOT working as group or even really caring about each other much (it was pretty realistic, if you start thinking about it. People are selfish. Especially in difficult situations), with a small romantic exception, of course (which worked great, if you ask me!). So...

Oh, and, man!! That miraculous bus driving through a snow storm on an empty tank? WOW! And the hidden dungeon/booze/dumbwaiter inside that Scotland castle? Mah Lawd!

Hey, did I mention the cellphone actually working when they were almost -literally- fried? Yowtch.

Also, the zombies walking UNDER the iced-over loch? SU-weeeet! O.O

I laughed so hard with this book. Almost during the whole thing. It also made me slightly nauseated at times, which makes sense in a zombie book. ;P Oh, and my heart went all a-flutter during a couple of cute scenes, too, which is always a good thing. And I so, SO wanted Alice and Pete to die... but, oh, well. There's always the next book, huh? :D And let me tell you how glad that makes me! I'm dying and un-dying (no pun intended) to read what happens next! Like, I need it right now! OR I'LL GET YOUR BRAINS, Miss McKay!!

LOL.

(that's the last one, I promise)

Hey, you! Yeah, you. Go and pre-order this baby right away!! Thou shall not regret this, my friend.

* I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Early Review: White Witch by Trish Milburn

White Witch
Trish Milburn

Expected publication: March 1st 2012 by Bell Bridge Books

Witchcraft Is Her Family’s Business.No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It. “Jax” Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her—the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world. All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax’s barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she’s attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He’s a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax’s only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he’s ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her.

Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural

Publication Date: March 1st 2012

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books

Format: eARC, 188 pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley

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My Review

Sixteen-year-old Jaxina Phearson, a.k.a. Jax Taylor just wants to be a normal girl., with a normal life, normal friends and a normal school. But she is as far from normal as a person can get. She's a witch, running away and hiding from her coven. They want her to grow up to kill humans, getting revenge for all the witches that were killed by humankind in the past. But Jax doesn't want to kill anyone, she just wants to control her powers and dark impulses and live her life. The problem is, nobody leaves the coven and lives to talk about it.

So, she leaves Miami and heads over to the mountains in North Carolina (after making sure to leave fake trails to Alaska, so her family won't find her). There, she intends to start her new life. She has a trailer, a used car and was just enrolled in her new school (even if she had to use mind control on a tourist so she would pose as her mother and guardian). Everything looks peachy, until she meets a hunter. A human hunter with a bloodstone that can kill supernatural beings in his hand. She's able to hide from him, but, surprise, surprise, his name is Keller and he goes to the same school she's now going to. And he's the most attractive guy she has ever set eyes on. And he seems to think the same about her. 

Jax has trouble reigning her powers in, disturbed as they are by her very strong attraction to Keller, and even more because of all the bullying she's receiving at school, for being the (super pretty, super perfect) new girl. The darkness inside her wants to be freed, and Jax needs to control it, else she might murder her bullies. And the more she uses her powers, the bigger the trail left for her family to find her gets. Or for Keller to discover what she really is.

When I saw Sherrilyn Kenyon's praise on the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it. I mean, I'm a super fan of hers, so I should trust her judgment, right? No. Not really. I don't know what she was on when she read it, but I wish I had some, too. This book is filled with stereotypes. Completely. 

From the Mary Sue perfection of the main character (flawless long blond hair, beautiful clear blue eyes, killer body and face, everybody wants her, poor thing wishes she wasn't so pretty...blah,blah,blah), to her lovely 'weirdo' best friend/sidekick, who automaticaly isn't jealous or hates her like every other girl at school does, to the impossibly handsome 6'4" (couldn't this 16 year-old be a bit taller? >.> ) ADOLESCENT everyone wants, wanting her. Oh, and, obviously, he's her 'natural enemy', so they can't be together. Which is the same as saying they fall in love with each other from the very beginning. 

*sighs* I apologize if I sound bitter, but I'm a bit tired of always reading the same thing. What's wrong with a bit flawed heroine? And even a bit flawed hero? Sure, this is fantasy and we don't want to read about ugly people, but how about something more believable? How about friends that take a while to really become friends with you? And a couple that doesn't turn out to be star-crossed lovers? Sure, it's much less dramatic, but every relationship has hardships, I just think that they don't have to be doomed from the very first page. O.o

What I did like (and found to be very creative), was the story of all the undocumented killings in Salem, and how the witches got so mad they turned against mankind. That was just brilliant. 

If you like your YA with witches and lots of supernatural and high school intrigue, you'll enjoy White Witch.

*I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Putting Boys on the Ledge by Stephanie Rowe

Putting Boys on the Ledge 
(A Girlfriend's Guide To Boys #1)
by Stephanie Rowe

Meet Blueberry Waller, whose name is the only interesting thing about her life. Until now.

Not only is Blue dealing with the worst name in the world, crazy parents and a clingy younger sister, she just got a part in the school play. And now she’s acting with Heath Cavendish, total crush-worthy senior. He would never give a second look to a girl like Blue. Except he has.

Her friends say Blue should play it cool, put Heath on the Ledge so she can keep the upper hand. Trouble is, she doesn’t know how to be clever around boys. Thankfully her pal Colin offers his help in teaching her how to get the guy. But he’s just being a good friend. Isn’t he?

Suddenly the wallflower is getting all the attention. But will being in the spotlight keep Blue from making the right decisions...for her?

A Girlfriend’s Guide to Boys: For these four friends, understanding the world of boys is only half the battle.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Publication Date: October 31st 2011

Publisher: TKA Distribution

Format: eARC, ? pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley

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My Review

Blueberry Waller is fourteen-years-old and has just learned from her friends about putting boys on The Ledge. The Ledge is an emotional place, it's about making boys suffer and putting girls in control. Instead of having him blowing you off and making you feel bad, you do it first. You should always keep him teetering close to The Ledge so he never treats you badly. Especially if you like him and he likes you.

But when she meets hottie senior Heath Cavindish on her first day of high school during musical tryouts, the last she wants is to put him on The Ledge. She just wants him to like her. A lot. She has a lot of internal dialogues and totally feaks out over the smallest things. But, surprisingly enough, she gets Heath's attention, and he invites her to a party. There, things start to get a bit more spicy than Blue is ready for, and when he tries to kiss her, Blue freaks out over not knowing how to kiss and walks out on him. Which, obviously, just makes him want her more.

Her friends convince her that the only way to learn how to kiss is to practice, and so they suggest she practice it with nice boy Colin Bradshaw, who is taking care of all the animals at her place while she's busy with theater. Colin seems happy enough to help... and Blue enjoys it much more than she expected... and ends up very excited to try it out with Heath, much to Colin's dismay.

But then Blue's friends start to mention a few stories about Heath's reputation, and when Blue finally sees him for who he really is... she sees Colin with another girl, and realizes maybe she's been missing what was right under her nose.

It was nice to see Blue growing up throughout the book. I also liked to see the previews of the other books in the series with Blue's friends, which were all very interesting and different for each other.

I thought this was a very cute, short book, perfect for young audiences. The story has a very strong sense of friendship and family in it, and the romance was quite innocent and lovely. It was a very light, pleasant read.

*I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

A Match Made in High School

by Kristin Walker 

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she marries her "husband": jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: February 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Format: paperback, 278 pages 

Series: no

Source: bought

______________________________

My Review

Fiona Sheehan is sure she is the unluckiest girl on Earth.

It's the first day of school and things couldn't be going worse. That is, until she gets to school and finds out that this year, in order to graduate, all seniors have to be part of a new mandatory course. Trying the Knot. This course is supposed to train the teenagers on how to act in a marriage and learn how to deal with many kinds of problems, and so, trying to aviod divorce. Names would be randomly selected, and the so-called couples would have to earn real cash in order to have a mock budget and mock possessions. Half of the total amount of real money would be divided between the couple that had the best evaluation and the other half would be donated to whatever charity the couple chose.

Fiona though it was all BS, but secretly she goped this would be her chance to get closer to her all-time crush, Gabe Webber. But, of course, she wasn't so lucky. He ended up being paired with her childhood arch enemy, Amanda Lowell. A pretty, blond, brainless cheerleader. And Fiona, the poor thing, got stuck with Amanda's "no-necked Neanderthal" of a boyfriend, Todd Harding.

Her new 'husband', Todd, is a real a-hole, fighting with her all the time, being downright mean and rude... but as they get used to each other, Fiona starts to enjoy their bickerings more and more. Even if he forced her to join the Cheerleading squad as one of their stupid mandatory activities for their mock marriage.

Fiona later finds out that her best (and only) friend, Marcie, was dating Gabe behind her back. She's furious and heart-broken, and ends up messing up her part in the cheering presentation and rudely turns down sweet Johnny Mercer's (Marcie's mock husband) declaration of affection.

In 'A Match Made in High-School' we watch as Fiona makes mistake after mistake, until she finally listens to her friends and see how selfish and self-centered she is. And changes for the best, finding happiness where she had never looked before.

This is a very cute, funny, quick and light story. An excellent read for younger audiences. Really, don't expect anything very deep and complex. Just quick fun.

Review: First Date by Krista McGee

First Date

by Krista McGee

The orphaned daughter of missionaries, Addy is quite content to stay in the shadows and never draw attention to herself. But when she's selected for a reality TV show to try to become the President son's prom date-a show she didn't audition for-she's suddenly in America's spotlight.

The lights, the make-up, the competitions, and the blogs discussing every move she makes all make Addy incredibly uncomfortable. But through her time at The Mansion, Addy comes to realize that first impressions aren't always right, that hiding out may not be what God had planned for her life, and that her faith should affect everything she does. It may just be that her selection wasn't random at all and that she's on this show "for such a time as this."

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My Review

Addy is very curious when she is suddenly called to the principal's office. And completely surprised when she finds out that the reason she's there is because she will be her school's representative in the new TV Show, The Book of Love, where Jonathan Jackson, the handsome son of the president will choose a girl from other 100 to take to prom.

She is not thrilled, not in the least, but everybody keeps saying that this is her chance to bring God to others, what with her parents having been missionaries and all that. But Addy just wants to stay home, with her friends and books, calm and quiet. Just hanging out... close to Spencer Adams, the half-cuban hottie, if possible. 

But she has little choice, and so she goes to the show, planning on being sent home as soon as possible, but for some reason her honesty seems to enchant Jonathan and enrage her contestans to no end. They all think she's been planning to act nonchalantly an uninterested all along... and that makes her the enemy of many. She does get to America's heart, though. After all, she looks just like the girl next door, so simple, ordinary and clumsy, different from the beauties that are competing with her.

Between the chapters we get to see the interviews from some of the most important contestants, which gives us some great insight on their reasons for being there.

I especially loved Addy's roomate and best-friend in the competition, Kara. She's loud, outspoken and not afraid to say what's on her mind. And she's especially good when dealing with bullies (I really wanted to slap a few of those girls sometimes). Jonathan is very kind and cute. Totally smoochable.

I did like the premise for the book, it was interesting to see the other side of 'reality' TV shows, the real side  of the contestants, how the shows are extremely manipulated and false. I also liked knowing more about the security proceedures involving the President and his son. It's all very complicated, poor Jon. 

What I wasn't so excited about, though I knew I should have expected, was the constant and unending mentions of God and Jesus and Christ. It is a christian book (I noticed it only after I requested it, I'm afraid), but reading the word God over 96579 times gets a little annoying. Also, it bothered me that she wanted to fix everyone all the time! Maybe people aren't completely bad, sure, and we all have our reasons to be bitter sometimes, but if people don't want to be helped, you can't force them. 

What disappointed me the most about the story was this: how Addy's lovely uncle Mike makes it very clear to her that if she likes Jonathan, she better be sure he 'shares their faith', otherwise they can never be more than friends. I don't mean to be very judgemental here, but isn't God all about Acceptance & Equality? It doesn't matter how great and sweet a young man Jon was, he would never be good enough if he's not a freaking Christian? And doesn't LOVE conquers it all? Addy kept going on about how much she loved him, but it was obvious she would give him up just as easily if he wasn't Christian. Talk about hypocrisy and half-heartedness. 

Anyway, of course he turned out to be Christian (he was almost too perfect, after all) and very enthusiastic about learning the Bible with Addy. And they lived happily ever after.

I think this book had a lot of promise, but it turned out to be a very long religious pamphlet with short stories thrown in the middle. If you do ignore the excessive Christian content, you can actually have fun with some very well-written scenes. 

If you like quick, funny, sweet, christian romantic stories, this may be your book.

*I received an eARC form Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*