A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Published: June 05, 2012

Publisher: Poppy

Synopsis: Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorcé dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancée and her kids. The fiancée's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

****

Kody Keplinger did it again! She wrote another amazing contemporary that I enjoyed, and I believe everyone is going to enjoy. A Midsummer’s Nightmare is the second best book I’ve read from Kody, my favorite being The Duff. This book came very close to being a favorite, but not quiet. Whitley is an outsider. She drinking a lot, parties a lot, and hooks up with guys just for only that night. She’s an interesting yet challenging character I’ve ever read. Things get worse when she learned that her father is getting married, and they won’t be spending their summer alone, just the two of them.  I felt for Whitley. She’s a gentle, nice person on the inside, but living with her angry mother and not getting to see her father regularly have left her to become the person she is. I wanted her to be happy. And there is Nate. He’s the guy she slept with at Graduation night, and her soon-to-be step-brother. Er. Yeah! I really liked him though. Sometimes he can be a jerk, but I liked him. Bailey, Whitley’s soon-to-be step sister, and Harrison (you might know him from The Duff) made this book even more entertaining. I loved Bailey’s flighty and always happy attitude, and Harrison’s fashion advice and sense of humor. I also liked that we get to see Wesley and Bianca in this book, which was a plus. The person I didn’t like in this book is Whitley’s father. He’s selfish, mean, and heartless guy. He’s ridiculous, I didn’t like him whatsoever. Overall, I truly enjoyed A Midsummer’s Nightmare. I have no doubt that everyone is going to love it as well. I highly recommend you check this book out right away, if not you’ll be missing an amazing book from an amazing author.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Recommend it)

April Wrap-Up and May TBR

Hey everyone!

Its the end of the month, and this is when I talk about the books I've read in April. However, in the month of April, I didn't read any book. Its been a crazy month and I wasn't motivated to read at all. So, this post is manly about the books I am planning to read in the month of May. School is almost over and I am planning on making up for not reading in April during May (after finals).

I'm going to move the two books I was planning to read in April to my May TBR. I'm planning to read alot more than two books, but I don't know what I want to read, so I'm just going to pick whatever I feel like reading.

Books I would like to read in May:

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks (currently-reading)

Confess by Colleen Hoover

That is it for me. If you guys have done your wrap-up and TBR for April and May, please leave the link down below and I'll definitely check it out.

Happy Reading!

Tempest by Julie Cross

Tempest by Julie Cross
Published: January 17th 2012 
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

Synopsis: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. 

****

This novel has a very cool plot. I’ve heard about time travelers but I’ve never read books about them. For my first time traveler’s book, I’d say this one was a great pick. I knew—even before reading the first page--that I was going to like this book, and I liked it. Very much. 

Jackson is a time traveler, and at first, he didn’t take it seriously. It was because he only can time travel for hours or two days … and only for fun. That’s until Jackson and Holly were attacked by two guys, and when Holly got shot that he went back two years back when he panicked. Now he doesn’t know how to go back to 2009 and save holly because she was still alive when he jumped. What was he supposed to do other than settle in 2007, but still trying to find away to go forward to save Holly. 

I liked both Jackson and Holly; they were likeable. Their relationship is cute and sweet. Throughout the book, we can see Jackson feelings develop, which was great. I didn’t love the romance in this book because it was lacking the romantic tension that I love and was expecting. Holly and Jackson have a relationship in 2009, but I really liked reading about Jackson trying to get to Holly and win her. I really liked the romance but didn’t love it. I have hope that the second book might offer what this book is missing.

And finally, for our sake, we get to read a book told from a guy’s point of view. That’s the first thing I loved about this book. We don’t see a lot of books told from guy’s point of view, and I found it very refreshing. 

Overall, it’s kind of slow at some points of book but I didn’t mind it, since it picked up quickly. I really enjoyed this book. Tempest is more than time traveling. It’s about family, love, and losing someone you love/care about. I’m really impressed with Julie Cross writing style and the way she captured Jackson’s voice. I really liked Cross’s sense of humor; it kept me entertained, I was chuckling while reading this book. The ending is so sad; it almost made me cry. I need book two right now. 

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it)

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
Published: December 27th 2011 
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Synopsis: 
Kiss
What Leah did—only she really shouldn’t have—one hot night at a country club party.

Crush
What Leah has—only she really shouldn’t have—on the guy with the green eyes, the guy who is not her perfect boyfriend, the guy who does not fit in her picture-perfect life, the guy her sisters will only mock and her mother will never approve of. Not in a million years.

Collide
What happens when everything you always thought you wanted—having cool friends, being class valedictorian and homecoming queen—runs smack into everything it turns out you really do want.

Kiss. Crush. Collide.
For Leah and Porter, summer is only the beginning. 

****

I did not care for this book. When I first heard about Kiss Crush Collide and how the synopsis put it as a book for those who are a fan of John Green, Simon Elkeles and Sarah Dessen, I thought, “fantastic.” I love both Simon Elkele’s and Sarah Dessen’s books. Even though I’ve never read John Greens books, I’ve heard amazing things about him and I love his YouTube videos. So who wouldn’t be sold to a book of awesome collective authors in one book, Right? Well, I was sold. Big time.

I had a lot of expectation for this book that I was so disappointed when I read it. I was so confused at the beginning of this book, because Leah started talking about something and she’d rushed through the parts too quickly and start other topics. And I love dialogues in books, and this one has almost nothing. Leah wasn’t likeable or realistic character for me. I found her to be very obnoxious, spoiled and annoying. I liked Duffy, and I think I’d have liked him more if I got to see more of him in this book. We don’t really know a lot about Jon Duffy, I mean we don’t know his feeling for Leah or anything. Forbidden love is always an interesting plot for a book to me, but in this book everything was a lackluster. Speaking of forbidden love, Jon and Leah relationship? Forbidden love? Hells no, I don’t think her parents even mind or care that she dumped her rich jerk boyfriend for Duffy. 

Overall, Kiss Crush Collide was very disappointing. It just wasn’t for me I guess. This book had potential, could have been so much better and more interesting … but nada. 

Rating: 1/5 (Give it a try, but DEFINITELY borrow it!)

The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp

The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp
Published: December 8th 2011
Publisher: Sweetwater Books

Synopsis: Breaking up with someone is a major pain—-unless you can hire someone else to do it for you! And Amelia demands top dollar for her professional break-up services. Everything's business as usual until David, one of the boys she's been hired to dump, throws her for a loop. Now she must decide if David's intentions are genuine, or if there's something sinister behind his flirting.

****

It’s a really cute book. It’s a fun, easy, cute and quick read you don’t want to miss. I was in the mood for a great YA chick-lit that are easy, fun and just a book that will put a smile on my face—and The Break-Up Artist just did that. From the moment I started reading, I was sure I’d love it.

Amelia has lived most of her life as an outcast and she loved it. She doesn’t have a friend or any social life for that matter (she doesn’t even have relationship with her mother), and she was happy with it. She breaks up people for fifty dollars—I admire this girl. Fifty dollars just to break you up with your boyfriend/girlfriend? That’s business but that’s beside the point. But when she met David and he didn’t like what she does, he threatens to destroy her business. Amelia and David started with love/hate relationship but turn into only love relationship. I really enjoyed seeing Amelia reaction to her relationship with David; she was like a girl on a Christmas day, that’s how excited she was to start a relationship with him. I fell in love with both Amelia and David; they both portray a high school teen. I loved Amelia change of fashion every week/day. And David … aww! he’s so cute, nice and caring. I really liked him—I think I like him more that Amelia. He really cares about Amelia and helped her with her issues.

The Break-Up Artist comprises a lot of topic such as: first love, how your parent’s relationship might affect your understanding of relationship, and how hard it is to break up with someone without breaking their heart. I didn’t know this book would have all of those topics included, and it surprised me. I was able to see Amelia grow throughout the book. She learned about relationships and love. Shannen did an amazing job capturing most of teen’s relationship with their boyfriend/girlfriends. If you are in the mood for a sweet and cute book … this is for you. The Break-Up Artist is the perfect read for everyone. 

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it)

Follow Friday #6

The Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee's and Alison of Alison Can  Read.

Question of the week: How did you come up with your blog title and address? Does it have a special meaning for you?

Answer: My sister actually came up with my blog title. I asked her how she came up with it, she said she doesn't remember. It was along time ago (4 years). I had this blog since 2011, I deleted it in 2014 for personal reasons, and just started it back up. But the title and address is the same. 

Leave me a link of your Follow Friday, and I'll be sure to check it out! 

Happy Reading! 

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor
Published: February 1st 2012 
Publisher: Tribute Books

Synopsis: How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache. 

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

****

I didn’t know what this book was about other than it’s being an angel book. I didn’t know what to expect when I first started it. (To be honest, I’d never have picked this book if I haven’t been contacted by the publisher to do a blog tour.) I thought it would be the typical angel book. But I was wrong. This book was REALLY good. I’m happy to have read it. 

This book started out great and it kept getting better and better. The take on angels in this book is very fascinating. It’s true that I don’t read a lot of angel books and few of the angel books I read were good, but this one was different ... in a good way. 

The characters in this book are very likable, funny, and quirky. Until Next Time was written in third POV, so it was easy to see what they were thinking, and it was easy for me to relate to them. However, I had a problem with Daniel/Matt, the main character. I didn’t really like him. His attitude, clinginess and anger made feel unease. I wasn’t able to relate to him, and it was really hard for me to see what his intentions were. Emily/Elizabeth, on the other hand, is a really strong character. Even when things were hard when she is on Earth, she didn’t gave up. 

The other reason why I really enjoyed this book was Faith and Charles. They really made this book fun. Also, Jason is another side character that I liked. He’s caring, sweet, and well mannered. I really liked him. And okay, I do not like love triangles, and there is love triangle in this book…kinda. However, the love triangle in this book is great. Amy wrote it in a way that I found myself fascinated by their relationship instead of choosing sides. 

Overall, Until Next Time was a quick, easy, really fascinating read. I read it in one day. I recommend you check it out. 

Rating: 3.5/5 (Recommend it, but borrow it)