Review: Remembrance by Michelle Madow

Remembrance

by Michelle Madow

July 27, 2011

Ecopy of book sent by the author for review

"New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy."

Review

Lizzie has got everything going for her.  She’s a straight-A student with a long-standing relationship with her boyfriend, Jeremy, and a best friend since kindergarten, Chelsea.  But her seemingly stable world is rocked with the arrival of a new student, Drew.

The first instance their eyes met, she had a feeling of deja-vu.  And she can’t shake the strong attraction she feels for him every time is near him.  It could be just a crush, right?  But when it seems that Drew feels the same, and coincidences just happens so often, Lizzie gets the feeling that Drew might know something that she just can’t remember yet.

Debut author, Michelle Madow, was inspired to write this story from Taylor Swift’s music video of Love Story.  In her own tale of reincarnations and second chance on love, Michelle Madow tells the story of Drew and Lizzie, who both need to find out if their love is worth the second shot, or just accept that their love is just destined to fall. 

I had fun reading the story, each chapter has intrigued me to read further, and find out the backstory of Lizzie and Drew.  And with the conflicts surrounding them, how can they be given a second chance or would they even want it?

A good read love story that will pinch your heart and reminds you that you make your own love story. 

#rereading Crescendo: There's Something About Vee

Haha!  I love Vee.  She's one incredible best friend with a knack for troublesome boyfriends.

Just 4 Days until Silence and my date with Patch!!!

And if you haven't heard the latest yet....

Review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellbound (Spellbound #1)

by Cara Lynn Shultz

June 28, 2011:  HarlequinTeen

eARC via NetGalley

"What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else."

Review

It took me a while to start reading this book but it was worth the wait!  Spellbound proved to be a pageturner for me.  I just had to hurdle the first two chapters the most and get a grip of Emma’s personality, and settle into the story. 

What I found interesting with this story is the mystery.  What’s with Emma and Brendan?  The dreams warning her to stay away from Brendan are puzzling her but she cannot deny her attraction to him.  When flickering lights turn to seemingly menacing visions, glad she has a witchy classmate to the rescue.

Along the way, we uncovered the secret to Emma and Brendan’s story, as well as some other things.  It’s really nice and tragic actually.  But these two eventually will not go down without a fight.  But when things are destined to be tragic, could they fight fate and live?
Emma’s character is smart and strong.  I think at first she is embarrassed by the facts in her past, but most likely just sad about how things were for her.  But she strives to move on and stand up for herself for the sake of those who are still there for her. 

Brendan at first could be seen as a snobby rich kid with everything going on for him – good looks, money, and talent.  But he was first introduced in the book as the guy who might have all these but chooses his crowd.  I find him loveable actually.  He becomes protective of Emma and is thoughtful.  Though you may need to forgive him of his stubbornness and jerk at some point. 

A really good book to read for those who are fond of stories of soulmates, teenage romance sprinkled with magic.  Looking forward to how the second book would turn out since there are a lot of potentials laid out here, and what conflicts, new or old, will be introduced.

Another quote for Crescendo! Rules? What rules?

That's our bad boy angel, Patch.  ;-)

#rereading Crescendo!  5 Days before Silence!

Waiting on Wednesday: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Silence (Hush, Hush #3)

by Becca Fitzpatrick

October 4, 2011:  Simon and Schuster

"The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever."




_______________________________________
6 Days before my date with Patch.  *wink* And now I leave you with another quote whilst we wait for Silence.. 

NOTE: The Silence Blog Tour kicks off today starting with Fallen Archangel's Official Blog, Coldwater High eZine.   

 Go check out a few words from Becca, the blog and tour dates, and what you can win in the end of the tour!  Just less than a week before the release of Crescendo! *excited*

Book Trailer Teaser of Clockwork Prince

The first teaser trailer for Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare.  Trailer is done by the fab, Vania of VLC Productions.

From Cassie:

The full trailer will be released closer to the release date of the book and will have a very special someone doing the voiceover narration. For now Vania’s lovely visuals reveal exactly who is in the DSBS scene as it’s come to be known — if you don’t want to know, don’t watch!

_________________________

The much anticipated DSBS.  And wow, there will be a masquerade ball! *excited*  There are a lot to look forward to in this book, and this teaser trailer serves an invitation to both B. Lightwood's Ball and of course, the release of the second book.  Fellow Shadowhunters and Downworlders can all feel the excitement creeping up!

Tuesday Trailer: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl and Po

by Lauren Oliver and Kai Acedera (Illustrator)

October 4, 2011:  HarperCollins

"Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.
That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.
Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places."

Wow.  That's a beautiful trailer that somehow gives us a glimpse of the illustrations in the book.   Featuring its own original music, A Train with Wings, that captivates the watchers and readers for the book.  It's both haunting and moving at the same time.  I'm excited to get my hands on a copy of Liesl and Po.  Especially since it was written by Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall and Delirium.  Speaking of glimpse...you can look at the preview of Liesl and Po, courtesy of HarperCollins Canada.  Just go here to browse inside the book. 

Quote from #rereading Crescendo (2)

#rereading Crescendo!  

One of the stuffs I love about the books:  the lines that makes you melt.

7 Days before Silence!  Just a week now, loveys. :)

Music Monday: Malibu by Hole

Malibu by Hole

Get well soon 

Please don't go any higher 

How are you so burnt when you're barely on fire? 

Cry to the angels 

I'm gonna rescue you, 

I'm gonna set you free 

This is my favorite song from Hole. It's been a while since I get to share some of my favorites. :)
Too bad the band didn't quite make it far, some of their songs show they have the potential.  But at least they have good songs to prove it!

Quote from #rereading Crescendo (1)

 

Started #rereading Crescendo!

8 Days until Silence!!

Cover Love: Darkness Becomes Her (PB)

The paperback cover for Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton was revealed at Novel Novice.  It perfectly matches the alternate cover for the second book, A Beautiful Evil:

If you haven't read the book.  It's really good!  I wrote a spoiler-free review here and just in case you want to read the synopsis.  It's a mix of thrilling mythology retelling.

Here are the two covers side-by-side so we can appreciate their gorgeousness:

And if you miss the classic/first book covers here they are as well:


Honestly, they are all beautiful...I want them all. :)

Patch's Biggest Dream: a Hush, Hush Quote

"...to kiss you."

Just one of my favorite pick-up line of Patch from Hush, Hush.  It's fitting I used this quite swoon-ful pic of Patch.  

This is my last quote/sharing for Hush, Hush.  Will move on to #rereading Crescendo!

9 Days before Silence!

Review: The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Demon's Surrender 

(The Demon's Lexicon #3)

by Sarah Rees Brennan

June 14, 2011:  Margaret K. McElderry Books

"The Goblin Market has always been the center of Sin’s world. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin’s place is in danger. Thrown out of the Market she loves, Sin is thrown together with brothers Nick and Alan—whom she’s always despised.

Alan has been marked by a magician and is being tortured so that the magicians can get to Nick. As Sin watches Alan struggle to protect the demon brother he loves, she begins to see him in a new light—but she and Mae are locked in a fierce rivalry over who will inherit the leadership of the Goblin Market, and a decisive battle with the Aventurine Circle is looming. Mae’s brother, Jamie, is holed up with the magicians, his loyalties in question. And Nick—well, who knows what a demon might do to save his brother? How far will Nick go to save Alan—and what will it cost them all?"

Review

I have said this before and I will say this again.  Everybody can have Nick.  I’m keeping Alan.

I really would love to hug Sarah and thank her for a beautiful trilogy.  It’s so wonderfully complicated and twisted that will make you ache, but she still managed to get away with it smiling and have you loving a demon (or a compulsive liar in my case).

It is not just a story of a battle between good and evil, but rather those who are the lesser evil.  And above all the stuffs about demons and the Goblin Market, is the story about family – of how two brothers fight for each other, a brother and sister who are there for each other no matter what, and someone who is willing to sacrifice everything she had just to be with her sister.   It is about love, that you are willing to hurt, lie, and betray for the sake of it.

I’m really a sucker for stories about siblings.  It was the story of the brothers, Nick and Alan, who captivated me in the first book.  There was something between them that transcend blood that defines their brotherhood.  And in this last book just proves how beautifully dark their brotherhood is that it is heartbreaking.  I cried after the reading the book.  It was not out of relief or sadness about the end of the story.  The experience of it just made a storm of emotion in me that well, cracked the dam so to speak. 

This is one book I would dance the Goblin Market for.   A feverish conclusion to a beautifully twisted trilogy.  Sarah Rees Brennan, you are my Goblin Market Queen.  (Belated Happy Birthday!)

Quote from Hush, Hush (2) + Sea Lion Books Contest

Yeah...the banter and innuendos between Nora and Patch in the first book ignites something in the readers and shows their undeniable chemistry.

10 Days until Silence!

#rereading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

For those who have missed the news of Sea Lion Books...they are having a contest and a special treat for fans of Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush:

The Iron Knight Teaser Trailer

*Squeal*  I'm so excited for the release of the book trailer for The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa!  Y'all know how much of a fangirl I am with this series.  Julie made sure I was done for Team Ash.    Now this is just a teaser.  The whole trailer will be released thru Harlequin Teen's Facebook Page on September 28. 

Excited to see the whole thing!!!  ASH!!!!

When Patch Asked the Question...

*swoon*

Aside from book cover model, Drew Doyon, I found myself a Patch in Thomas McDonell.  He can certainly have that Patchy-sort of vibe...if he wants too. :D

11 Days until Silence!
#rereading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

And if you want to visualize yourself in Patch's arms...here's an app that will make that dream come true!  

CLICK HERE!

And if you dream of putting yourself in Patch and Nora's story?  Now you can!  And not only that, you can unlock the the first excerpt from Silence as well!