Review: Haven

Haven by Kristi Cook

( Amazon , Goodreads)

Book Rating: 2/5 Stars

Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011)

One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

 INTRO & SETTING: This book really disappointed me.  It had a lot of potential it didn't live up to.. The setting was a positive, though, because Winterhaven school is definitely a fascinating place, but it seems a little unrealistic. A high school with a movie theater, two cafes, and an on-sight chapel? A college, sure. But High School? Uh-Uh.

 CHARACTERS: Again, disappointment. Violet really intruiged me, part of the reason I picked up this book is so I could see what she would do with her gift, precognition, but that fell totally flat. After she met Aidan, Violet and anything about her were second- hand. Aidan is supposed to be captivating, but I found him depressing and moody, and not attractive-moody. And it's obvious what he is after a few chapters, so that leaves you exhasperated at Violet for being so oblivious to what's right in front of her. Their romance wasn't real at all- they were in love by chapter nine. Her group of friends, other girls at Winterhaven, don't have much to them. I found them shallow and annoying, and the same goes for many of the other characters.

 PLOT: This is the most disappointing part of the book. It's way overdone. Aidan won't shut up about himself being "a monster" and all Violet ever thinks about is Aidan. And the bad guys, Julius & Co., fail. There's not a real motive, at least not a powerful one, and they're defeated easily and quickly. Other than these "bad guys", the plot centers around Violet and Aidan's little romance. 

 RANT SPACE: Honestly, this is a petty book. Violet never has to sacrifice anything except comfort, and Aidan is a sob story. I lean torwards characters that take responsiblity and try to save others and not just themselves. This whole book is about saving Aidan, and while that is a worthy cause, shouldn't there be more at stake? This isn't a book I would recommend.

Review: Need

Need by Carrie Jones

Book Rating: 4/5 Stars

Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books; Reprint edition (December 8, 2009)

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear.

 INTRO & SETTING: I really enjoyed reading this book. In fact, I got yelled at in science class because I wouldn't put it down. I loved the phobias listed as chapter titles, too. Very creative.  I like the setting, and it add a certain creepy chill to the book, although I agree with Zara: the cold is freaking awful. 

  

CHARACTERS:The characters were great, too. Zara is spunky and smart, and a really strong MC. Nick (the love interest) is smart, strong, and super sexy, with just the right amount of protectiveness. And Betty, Zara's grandma, is epic and totally kick-ass. I wish my grandma was that cool. My only problem was that Zara was often portrayed as brave, when some things she did were really just stupid. There are some other characters, but I can't really tell you about them without dishing a bunch of spoilers. 

  

PLOT: The plot was really cool. It's centered around pixies (NOT the little fluttery things) and weres of all sorts, including weretigers, werewolves, and werebears (hehe. That rhymes). But, again, I try to to keep my reviews spoiler-free, so I can't really tell you much else. It's pretty much Zara's struggle to forget her father, learn to love again, be brave, and find out what she really is. Big whirlpool of wonderful, right? (That was sarcasm, for those of you who didn't guess).

 RANT SPACE: Honestly, I don't have anything to rant about. The only thing is that it had a few dull scenes and some plot holes that weren't very major. That's about it. Overall, it was a really good book. There were no spelling errors or anything like that, which always makes me happy. So you should definitely give this book a go!

IMM (4)

In My Mailbox is hosted my Kristi over at The Story Siren.
 So this week, the book fairy blessed me with:
BOUGHT:

Angelfire by Courtney Moulton (Amazon , Goodreads)


RECIEVED:

Need by Carrie Jones (Amazon, Goodreads)
Thanks, Heather!

Daily Dose (3)

Daily Dose is hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly.
 This week I decided to do all stars, since stars are pretty and would like to live in them. 

Review: Darkness Becomes Her

 Darkness Becomes Her- Kelley Keaton

5/5 Stars

 (Amazon , Goodreads)

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011)

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

IMM (3)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kirsti over at The Story Siren.
 This weeks IMM is two weeks combined, as last Sunday my laptop was broken.
 This week & last week I got:

BOUGHT:

 Wither by Luaren DeStefano (Amazon , Goodreads)
 Haven by Kristi Cook (Amazon , Goodreads)
 Darkness Becomes Her by Kelley Keaton (Amazon , Goodreads)
 Shadow by Jenny Moss (Amazon , Goodreads)
 Incantation by Alice Hoffman (Amazon , Goodreads)

 I'm so excited to read every one of these! Hope you all got some awesomesuace stuff this week too!

Skittles and Lemonade,
       Riley:D

Because-We-Love-You Giveaway!

So! My bestest friend Brielle though up an idea for a little giveaway. Now, I love me some giveaways, and I KNOW all you people do too!

 So here's what we want to gift one lucky little person!

This awesomesuace stuff would include:

Swoon by Nina Malkin (Amazon - Goodreads)

Immortal by Gillian Shields (Amazon - Goodreads)

Signed Meant to Be by Tiffany King Trading Card

Signed Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout Bookmark

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready Card

Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready Card

 (Riley and Brielle)

                 Much love from both of us! I've made so many new friends through
                                 blogger, and love you ALLL! *big cheesy smile*


Rules:
You must follow us both. This will be checked.
Do not enter twice. It will not help you, because the second entry will be deleted.


Also:
This contest will end on April 29th at midnight!
The winner will be contacted through email. If the winner does not respond with 48 hours, another winner will be drawn. Winners will be selected through Random.org. I will include a photo of the number for verification. Thank you all!