Review of #61 The Book of Shade by K.C. Finn

Hello guys! As I promised, a new review is here!! *Woohoo*
I am really excited to get back into the groove, starting a new semester of college, making new friends, dodging bad friends and read lots and Lots and LOts and LOTs and LOTS!

So yeah, here it is, The Book of Shade!!

Synopsis:

Lily Coltrane’s to-do list for starting university life is pretty simple:
1. Make friends
2. Meet a cute guy
3. Survive her first year in Modern History
In the little English town of Piketon this seems more than achievable, so much so that Lily even joins The Illustrious Minds Literary Society, an extra-curricular club that promises a truly unique social experience. What Lily doesn’t bank on are the Society’s monthly visits to the mysterious Theatre Imaginique at the edge of town, a dark venue that houses the most obscure cavalcade of carnival performers she has ever laid eyes on. 
Stranger still is the emergence of the theatre’s enigmatic proprietor Lemarick Novel, a stupendous showman with a frosty wit who never seems to smile, and who raises a plethora of questions in Lily’s fearful mind. How does he levitate with no sign of wires or mirrors? How do the lightning bolts that shoot from his hands look so real? And why, of all the people in the theatre, do his pale eyes keep locking on hers? 
The answers to this and more lie buried in heritage and blood. The Book of Shade is opening, and Lily Coltrane will read it, whether she wants to or not.


Yeap, I really don't like the face on the book but once you start reading, you'll understand why its there. He's quite ugly isn't it? Hehe...

My review

Reading the synopsis of the story had my heart pumping in anticipation and guess what?
It really got my heart pumping!

At first, it started out in a really nice and comfortable pace. Lily met her new roommate and seems to be fascinated with her.

However, as the story progresses, I can't help but think that The Book of Shade is almost a tinny-bit similar to The Cirque du Freak book....and I HAVE SINNED.

It was absolutely awesome.

Expect what any normal college student would do in a new semester, studying really hard, finishing assignments and then suddenly knowing that you have powers. You freak out even more when the so-called magician of Theatre Imaginique keeps staring at you in between acts and try to scare you.
He looks prematurely old but he's actually young. Well, not really.

The one thing that I love the most in this book is the attraction between Lily and Novel.
I mean, he doesn't even smile and Lily made it her mission to see him smile even if its only once.
Its not like those usual book where the girl will fall in love with the guy and vice versa.

There are no heart stuttering, breathless moments or falling in love at first side in this story.

There is only a moment of clarity of how perfect his imperfection was to her, the lengths that he'll go to protect her and then "The Kiss" happens.

This book is just awesome.

Be prepared to be surprised, have fun in figuring out the fantastic posters of Theatre Imaginique, cringe in anticipation of the suspense and fall in love with The Book of Shade.

K.C. Finn is AWESOME. Definitely on my favorite authors list.

Sincerely,
Selina.  

Review of #60 The Golden Couple (The Samantha Project #2) by Stephanie Karpinske

In this action-packed second installment of The Samantha Project series, Samantha and Erik go on a search to find a way to save themselves from the genetic time bomb ticking away in their cells. Along the way, they discover a shocking secret--one they wish they were never told! 

Although Samantha's boyfriend, Colin, is back now, her feelings for Erik are getting stronger by the minute. It isn't long before she finally learns the real reason why she can't resist Erik. But only after she's gone too far with him! So far that Colin may never forgive her. 

GlobalLife Genetics continues to pursue Samantha and they'll stop at nothing to get her. Sam still doesn't understand what GlobalLife's plan is for her but she knows it's something big. And she knows it isn't good.


My review:  =]

Hello again! I could finally post this review because the internet has been acting up lately.

First of all, Stephanie Karpinske is one my favorite authors and 'The Golden Couple' definitely blew me away!

The way she writes about the character, the flow of the story line and the chemistry between Sam + Colin and Sam + Erik and the building tension between Sam and Erik was absolutely explosive!

The second installment of The Samantha Project definitely surpasses my expectation and Stephanie Karpinske should be at the top with great authors like J.K. Rowling and Richelle Mead.

The Golden Couple actually introduced more characters into the picture as to the big players that funded The Samantha Project.

Expect awesome spy-like scenes, the jealousy and running emotions in my favorite main character, Sam, and the epic journey that Sam and friends had to go through just to stop their own ticking time bomb from shutting down their own bodies.

The Golden Couple is a thrilling ride, like a roller coaster with fantastic twist and turns that makes your stomach go, "Woohoo!".

P.S.
I know I've said this before but I'll gladly say it again. 
Stephanie...YOU'RE AWESOME!

Sincerely,
Selina.
 

Review of #58 A Class Apart (Class Heroes #1) by Stephen Henning

A very good day (or night) to all my readers! I am so happy to present "A Class Apart" to all of you out there. I'll tell you why in a while. *wink*

First, take a look at "A Class Apart". :D

Teenage twins James and Samantha Blake are caught up in a seemingly random terrorist bombing while on a school trip. Many of their friends are killed. When the twins wake up in hospital, their lives have changed forever.

The doctors are amazed at the speed with which James and Sam recover from their injuries and, when the twins begin to exhibit extraordinary powers, it is obvious that something incredible has happened.

As James and Sam attempt to overcome their fears and embrace their new abilities, a series of murders and disappearances start plaguing the hospital. The twins aren’t the only ones with special abilities and it becomes apparent that someone is coming for them.

Will James and Sam be able to survive the nightmare into which they have been plunged? Who, or what, is behind the murders at the hospital? And was that terrorist incident quite so random after all?


Review:

The cover is absolutely stunning. I love the design of it because it has a sci-fi look to it yet the colors scream "VINTAGE" or old school blue.

At my first glance of the synopsis, I find the story to be really interesting.
It was similar to other stories yet it was really different as I started reading the book.

The introduction of the book was pretty normal, high school bullying and a really really mean girl.

I felt this was kinda cliche at first but it turns out to be a really explosive story.

As you read, you feel yourself getting pulled into the story. 

The bomb scene was pretty cool and I liked how Stephen wrote it all.

The main characters of the story (James and Sam) are these really interesting bunch of people.

I loved how their relationship as siblings made me feel, "Oh, wow. This is GOOD." in a story.

I loved the way how they function together as a family and seeing their ties getting stronger as the story progressed was really unique.

The one main thing that I really really REALLY loved about the story is THE SUSPENSE.

The utterly, exhilarating suspense of who-what-did-it kinda thing.

I was constantly wondering who the heck was the bad guy, who the heck was helping them, what was actually real and what was actually a dream.

I was CONSTANTLY STRESSED with these questions running through my head and I LOVED IT.

This was a really interactive experience and I truly enjoyed this book.

Some of you might be really surprised with the ending (which I did) but some of you may not. (I guess you're a genius then... which is good!)

Stephen Henning is definitely on my favorite authors list.

Sincerely,
Selina.





 

Review of #54 The Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow #1) by Rachel Morgan

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.

Hello again! 

The synopsis of this book absolutely grabbed my attention.

I am so glad that I read this book because its absolutely amazing!

It's a fast-paced journey all the way. Lots of suspense and amazing writing style.

I love all of the characters and it was really touching to see how the characters evolve in the story.

I've read book 2 and I gotta tell you guys, you're in for a surprise.

There's a lot of shocking scenes in this book and I absolutely love that.

You'll want more and more of Violet as you read on. It pulls you into the story in such a scale that you can't help but keep reading, re-reading and reading and reading and reading.

Simply put it, The Faerie Guardian is a book NOT TO BE MISSED. ITS AMAZINGLY AWESOME!

Sincerely,

Selina.

 

#41 Reprobate - A Katla Novel (Amsterdam Assassin Series, #1) by Martyn V.Halm

The synopsis is so eye-catching! I can't wait to read it. :D

Blessed with an almost non-existent conscience, Katla Sieltjes, expert in disguising homicide, views assassination as an intricate and rewarding occupation. Hidden behind her male alter ego Loki, Katla receives anonymous assignments, negotiates the terms with clients through electronic means, all to protect her identity. Her solitary existence satisfies her until she meets a blind musician whose failure to notice a ‘closed’ sign causes him to wander in on Katla’s crime scene. And Katla breaks one of her most important rules - never leave a living witness.

Recovering alcoholic Deborah Stern reluctantly re-enlists with the DEA as a liaison in The Hague, where her language skills are valued to counter suspected sabotage by Dutch law enforcement officials. After a U.S. Army officer dies on a German NATO base from a heroin/cocaine overdose, the trail leads to Amsterdam. The DEA and the Dutch IPOL launch a joint undercover operation, but not everyone is playing by the same rules.

Reprobate is the first novel in the Amsterdam Assassin Series. With authentic details and fast-paced action, featuring an uncompromising heroine and a supporting cast of unusual characters, Reprobate gives a rare glimpse in the local Dutch culture, information on the famous Dutch capital, the narcotics trade, computer hacking, motorcycle gangs, mehndi bridal tattoos, martial arts, and the brutal effectiveness of disciplined violence.