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Friday, May 24, 2013

The Rules for Disappearing Blog Tour: Review & Favorite Quote

12:00 AM | Posted by Ashley G. |

I am so happy to be a part of this amazing blog tour for The Rules for Disappearing! Special thanks to Shane from Itching for Books, Disney Hyperion and Ashley Elston for allowing me to participate!

Title: The Rules for Disappearing

Author: Ashley Elston

Pages: 320

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Format: E-ARC

Rating: 4 Cows

Goodreads Description:

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING was this close to get 5 cows! I realize you can’t actually see how close my fingers are but rest assured they are dangerously close. Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I didn’t really know what to expect with THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING. Okay, that’s not exactly true, I was totally picturing something along the lines of that Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movie, Our Lips are Sealed, where they are put into the witness protection program. (Yes, I was a HUGE Mary Kate and Ashley fan and am still upset they both left acting.) However, as much as I loved Mary Kate and Ashley, I think THE RULES OF DISAPPEARING was better. THE RULES OF DISAPPEARING is a much more serious take on the witness protection program. It deals with a lot of issues that you probably wouldn’t even think of unless you had to experience it.

Being in the witness protection program sounds sort of like this great adventure, doesn’t it? You get a fresh start, with new people, a new school. You get to be anyone you want. Sounds like a dream come true. Only, it isn’t. Imagine doing it over and over again and again. Just ask Meg, or Madeline, or Olivia, or Isabelle, It. Gets. Old.

The characters in THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING were all great. I loved Meg and of course Ethan. Meg was so determined and headstrong I couldn’t help but love her. Ethan was definitely swoonworthy. He’s cute and actually treats Meg well. Plus, he’s way more understanding and patient than I could ever be.

I liked that it was more of a mystery novel. It was fun trying to solve the mystery along with Meg. Elston does a great job of giving you the right amount of clues. It wasn’t too mysterious but it also wasn’t too predictable.

THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING is an excellent debut and I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. I was so excited when I heard there would be another book! I can’t wait to see how things develop for Meg and Ethan!

FAVORITE QUOTE: "To say it was a bad day would be like saying the Titantic had a little accident." - The Rules of Disappearing by Ashley Elston

Buy The Rules for Disappearing:

The Book Depository | Amazon | BN

About the Author:

Ashley Elston lives is North Louisiana with her husband, three sons and two cats. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full time. Ashley is also a licensed Landscape Horticulturist and helps her husband run a commercial lawn and landscaping business. They also custom harvest pecans and have cows. Yes, cows.

ashleyelston.com | twitter.com/ashley_elston

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Labels:4 cows,blog tour,giveaway,Review,The Rules of Disappearing | 2 comments

Thursday, May 23, 2013

That Awkward Thursday (10) DID WE READ THE SAME BOOK??

12:17 AM | Posted by Ashley G. |

That Awkward Thursday is a feature hosted by Wholly Books where it's not only okay but encouraged to share your awkward moments!

That awkward moment you hate a book everyone else loves...

Okay, so hate may be a little too strong. How about we go for geniunely dislike? The truth is I hate very few books. Most books I don't like are ones that simply don't evoke any emotions out of me at all. However, there have been several that I have geniunely disliked.

And as if disliking something that someone put a ton of effort in isn't awkward enough, what about when everyone else is raving about a book and all you want to do is rant about it. One word, AWKWARD!

Seriously, sometimes I question whether we actually read the same book. I mean the very thing I loathe about a book is the thing someone else adores. An example could be something like this...

Me: I hate the characters! They were dull and found nothing interesting about them.

Someone else: I loved the characters! They were so full of life!

Me: The plot was so slow. I saw every plot twist coming from a mile away. The book was predictable and boring.

Someone else: This book was action packed! There was never a dull moment. More than once the author took me by complete surprise.

Now, for a personal example. The closest I have ever really come to hating a book was probably Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan. You can read my review here.

I couldn't stand the MC, Mel and thought the book as a whole was boring. I read reviews on Goodreads that said they loved Mel and thought she was funny. I thought she was rude. I thought the plot was completely boring. Others, thought it was interesting and different.

HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

Well the truth is everything in life is up to interpretation, therefore, every person will interpret a book differently. I've heard a million different authors say a million times that you can't write a book everyone will love and that is the absolute truth. We all have different tastes and personalities and that is what makes life so interesting! If we were all the same, things would be so boring!

Has this ever happened to you? Let me know in the comments or create your own post and leave a link below! I'll be sure to check out your post!

Labels:That Awkward Thursday | 5 comments

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Review: Golden

7:30 AM | Posted by Ashley G. |

Title: Golden

Author: Jessi Kirby

Pages: 288

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4 cows

Goodreads Description:

Love, tragedy, and mystery converge in this compelling novel from “an author to watch” (Booklist).

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianne’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

I went into reading this book only after reading the synopsis, which is something I never do. I usually always look at reviews but I didn't care this time I just wanted to immediately start it. I mean come on, three friends go on a road trip to discover the truth about an infamous town accident, in which the "golden couple" vanished. Sounds pretty interesting, right? I don't know what it is about road trip stories but I tend to love them so, that was enough for me.

Parker Frost is class valediction and always plays on the safe side. She's never broken a rule nor has she done something wild and fun, but after finding town's legend, Julianna Farnetti's journal, her life changes. Opportunities arise and she discovers that not everything is as it seems to be and that nothing golden can stay.

Parker was probably one of the few character who I related to in almost every aspect. She's being told what to do and what she's expected to achieve and become. She's struggling to find herself and get her footing in life. And I'm in a similar place so when Julianne’s journal begins:

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

it hit me. It was just what I needed to hear and it reminded me that I only have one chance and that it's too short and precious to waste. I enjoyed watching her character development and although some of her choices at the end infuriated me, but I couldn't be too upset because they were real and realistic.

Unfortunately, Parker was the only character I liked. Her best friend, Kat, was too self-centered and it seemed like her only concern was getting Parker and Trevor together. Trevor was alright but I found nothing special about him. I have to admit I didn't care too much about their romance, so I was happy that instead of it being a full-blown love story, it was mostly about acceptance and finding yourself with a dash of romance. Another thing I wasn't fond of was Julianna and her story, which Golden is centered around it. I didn't find it believable but I liked the gist of it: second chances.

Overall, Golden was a great coming-of-age story with a great message. Everything isn't golden and that's okay. Sometimes you have to stray and take risks to find what really matters. It's captivating and perfectly infused with poetry. I think anyone struggling in life would like and perhaps benefit from Golden.

Buy Golden:

The Book Depository | BN | Amazon

Labels:4 cows,Danielle,Review | 1 comments

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (29)

12:00 AM | Posted by Ashley G. |

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish!

Top Ten Covers of Books I've Read

I am a cover junkie! I love covers and do judge a book by it's cover! However, just because I love a cover doesn't mean I'll love the book! That being said here's my top ten favorite covers of books I have read!

1. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill - I love the colors and Big Ben in the background!

2. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan I love, love, love, Percy Jackson and The Son of Neptune is the first book I began feeling okay with thinking his a cutie! Also, I'm a fan of the color blue and I love water so this one really fits my personality.

3. Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston - I think this cover is both seducting and elegant all in one. Just absoultely beautiful!

4. Hereafter by Tara Hudson - This is literally one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen! I love the colors and the way the cover model's body is somewhat transparent. Unfortunately, this was not one of my favorite books! :( I hate when that happens.

5. With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent - I love the gold dress and the way it glitters.

6. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr - One word. Gorgeous! I love the vividness of the flower with the faery queen in the background.

7.Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - I love all of Cassandra Clare's book covers but I think this is my favorite! It's just stunning!

8. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - The cover guy is hot. What else can I say? ;)

9. The Selection by Kiera Cass - I love the blue dress and the mirror reflecting all the different angles.

10. The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse - This is one of the most unique covers I had seen when it came out. However, I have seen some similar since. Still, I loved the originality!

And there you have it, my top ten! What covers made your top ten??

Labels:Top Ten Tuesday | 6 comments

Monday, May 20, 2013

Audio Review: What Really Happened in Peru

8:00 AM | Posted by Ashley G. |

Title: What Really Happened in Peru

Author: Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Pages: 70

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Format: Audio

Rating: 2 Cows

Goodreads Description:

Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices know that Magnus Bane is banned from Peru—and now they can find out why. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

There are good reasons Peru is off-limits to Magnus Bane. Follow Magnus’s Peruvian escapades as he drags his fellow warlocks Ragnor Fell and Catarina Loss into trouble, learns several instruments (which he plays shockingly), dances (which he does shockingly), and disgraces his host nation by doing something unspeakable to the Nazca Lines.

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles, What Really Happened in Peru, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

I’m a big fan of The Mortal Instruments (the first three in particular) and The Infernal Devices and I’ve always been curious as to why Magnus was banned from Peru. I thought The Bane Chronicles would be interesting and would provide some insight into what happened and I would find out a little more about Magnus. Unfortunately, I was not impressed.

I found myself rather bored when I first began listening to What Really Happened in Peru. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was painting my kitchen and had nothing else to occupy my mind at the time I’m not sure I would have kept listening. After a while the story does get somewhat interesting and I did laugh a couple of times.

Still, I had one MAJOR problem with it but I’m not going to mention it until the end because it’s spoilery. (Although, I do think it’s a spoiler a reader/listener should know about because I wish I would have known before listening to it).

I listened to the audio version of What Really Happened in Peru but I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator. I actually found this surprising after I realized, it was narrated by Dr. Avery (Jesse Williams) from Grey’s Anatomy. (Obviously, I’m a huge Grey’s fan). I’m not sure what it was that turned me off. Maybe, his voice just didn’t sound the way I had Magnus’s voice pictured in my head.

Now, I am going to mention the spoiler. Please do not continue reading if you don’t want the story to be spoiled.

While the description leads you to believe that you will in fact finally get to know why it was that Magnus Bane was banned from Peru, you will not. What you will get is several stories where Magnus caused trouble in Peru but was not banned from Peru. So, I ask you, what was the point of the story? My answer is I’m not really sure. I know a lot of readers love Magnus and want to know more about his life. If you are looking for just that you will probably like the story. However, if you are genuinely interested in finding out why Magnus was banned from Peru, I recommend not wasting your time on this one.