Make-Up Reviews! :$

"I put my pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. It's the way I take them OFF that makes me better than you." -Jessica park, First Comes Love

So I've been out of it for a while; we were out of power, then the internet wasn't working and just a whole bunch of other stuff that kept me from logging on. (and a sidenote: I'll be out again, seeing as how I'm going to Europe in a couple of days, and it's kinda hard to log in when you have no connection)

But when I'm not logged on, I'm reading, so I have different reviews to make up for the time I wasn't here. 

I read Starcrossed and Dreamless by Josephine Angelini, Illusions and Destined by Aprilynne Pike, Easy by Tammara Webber, First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky, and Thomas & January by Amelie Fisher. 

Starcrossed & Dreamless

This was an interesting take on the Greek Gods. In Starcrossed, we meet Helen who lives a perfectly normal, secluded life with her dad (she knows absolutely nothing about her mother). That is, until the mysterious Delos family comes to town. 
The entire bunch is as good-looking as... well, Greek gods. But that doesn't stop Helen from hating their guts for no particular reason except that they're from a different House. 
Once they get over the whole murderous rage thing, Lucas (one of the Delos boys) and Helen are extremely attracted to each other, but like in any YA book, and any Greek story, the hero and heroine can't be together. But as the tension builds, it gets harder to resist. 
I'm not entirely sure about the plot because I don't understand if it's trying to recreate the Iliad (due to all the allusions they make to it and the repeat of the characters), but it also went off on this entirely different thing & the whole issue with the Houses was pretty confusing. The Lucas-Helen problem was also pretty frustrating, since they kept making these decisions but couldn't stick to 'em.
The way the story developed was interesting though, and the plot twists kept surprising me, especially at the end! *** 3 stars :) 
Favorite Quote: 
“She decided that if Lucas was gay then she was going to have to get a sex change operation. He would be so worth it.” 
― Josephine Angelini, Starcrossed

*spoilers ahead! do not read if you haven't read Starcrossed*

Dreamless picks up where Starcrossed left off: badly for Lucas & Helen since they can't be together due to the fact that they're "cousins" & Greek tragedies are known for the chaos that comes from incestuous relationships. But, fear not! there's a new guy in the picture. Put your hands together for... Orion! (Whom I really like by the way. Is it bad that I'm rooting for the other guy?)

Orion helps Helen in the Underworld and he's a friend to her when she can't be with Lucas. There's also a new bad guy! duhn duhn DUHN! 

The plot grabbed me more than Starcrossed and the characters have improved; Helen is considerably more bad ass, Lucas is more sensitive-mysterious, Claire was more prominent, supportive & funnier, and Matt was awesome in the first book and he was awesome now too. 

Also, if Helen doesn't want Orion, can I keep him? 

The action in this book was much more dramatic, and that ending will have me reading the third book. **** 4 stars! <3

Favorite Quote: 

“Helen decided that the saying about "time healing all wounds" was a bunch of bull and probably only worked for people with very poor memories. The time she's spent apart from Lucas hadn't healed anything. The distance only made her miss him more.”
― Josephine Angelini, Dreamless

Illusions & Destined 

Illusions is the third book in the Wings series by Aprilynne Pike. The entire concept is super interesting. I wasn't too fond of the love triangle 'cause David seemed more like a friend, not a boyfriend. I'm team Tam all the way. But the flower people (in the literal sense) are totally captivating! I didn't like Spells too much, I don't know exactly why, but it bored me & I had given up on the series 'till I stumbled on Destined in goodreads & it got me curious. yay! for curiosity! who says it killed the cat? It got me back on this series!

I expected the ending for both Illusions and Destined, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the plot as it unfolded. 

I don't hink I can review them separately, so I'll just say that everything I loved about Wings came back three-fold. The characters' chemistry, the drama, action, the cleverly placed remark that makes me giggle like a two-year-old. & that ending!! the letter really gave me closure but (spoiler! skip this part if you don't like 'em) I'd love an epilogue for Tam & Laurel! (hint, hint, ;) Ms. Pike) 

**** 4 stars for Illusions

***** 5 stars for Destined 

Favorite Quotes: 

“He'd been back for about two weeks, and everything in Laurel's life had been thrown into Chaos. Sexy, sexy chaos.”
― Aprilynne Pike, Illusions

“I think I could have won state today. Apparently, you put a troll on my heels and I turn into a superstar.”
― Aprilynne Pike, Destined

Easy

Easy by Tammara Webber was easy to choose... Incredibly easy. (For those of you who read it, you'll see what I did there) 

but, WOW!! Emm... I don't know how to review this book; it was a gratifying read to say the least. Nice to read something that's not just fluff. This book dealt with a variety of real-life issues. From the more common and less threatening ones like stupid boys & broken hearts to serious and dangerous ones like rape, murder, and a person's future.

I loved Lucas and Erin. Erin's back bone got Jacqueline through a lot and Lucas' support was great. I also admire Jacqueline for not giving up.

The writing style was great and the characters were unique and refreshing. I'm going to cut my review short because I feel like I'll just get repetitive about the things I loved... which is the entire book. :-) 

4.5 stars *****

Favorite Quote:

 “You're full of contradictions, Ms. Wallace." 

I looked up at him and arched a brow. "I'm a girl. That's part of the job description, Mr. Maxfield.” 
― Tammara Webber, Easy

First Comes Love

APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! A STANDING OVATION PLEASE!

This book is going down in my all-time favorites! I'll be re-reading this over and over and over again. Where to start? The characters of course! I love how Dylan was so eccentric and her point of view on life was different, but it makes you think. And Gray. Poor Gray. No wonder he was like that. He needed someone like Dylan to bring him back to life & boy did she! 

I love the way the story progressed; you could see each one opening up to other and their little adventures made me jealous. I'm even inspired to take a page from Dylan's book & be a bit more spontaneous. 

Teh same way Dylan brought Gray to life, Gray centered Dylan. He gave her a home and I loved that. This was such a great read, I don't even know how to describe it properly. all i kow is great is not strong enough. 

***** 5 SHOOTING FLAMING STARS!!! 

Favorite Quote: 

"Take life seriously. That you have to do. Don't take yourself seriously, that's the key. Let it all go. Don't care for a second what people think of you. In fact, go out of your way to keep them guessing." 

-Katie Kacvinsky, First Comes Love

Lions, tigers, and Vincent Brothers, Oh My!

The Vincent Brothers by Abbi Glines

wow. I needed a while after reading the book, in order to process everything. Because wow. Just wow. 
Normally, when I read a story I like the leading female to have a lot of spark & fire in her. & at first, I didn't think Lana had that, but boy was I wrong. 
The Vincent Brothers is the sequel to The Vincent Boys & in it, we see things from Sawyer's point of view, and how he's doing after everything that happened with Beau & Ashton (if you haven't read Vincent Boys, go do it. Right now. then, read this one.) Anyways, here's the official description (from Goodreads) : 
He may have given her up without a fight, but Sawyer Vincent is far from over losing the girl he’s loved all of his life. Instead of giving up his best friend and the girl he thought he’d spend forever with, he gave Ashton and his brother Beau his blessing. However, adjusting to seeing Ashton wrapped up in Beau’s arms isn’t easy. Complicating everything even more, Ashton’s cousin Lana is in town for the summer. Sweet, kind, soft-spoken Lana, who gets under his skin. Just being near her makes him forget all about Ashton and his broken heart. Lana is everything he wanted Ashton to be except she isn’t Ashton. She lacks the backbone to stand up for herself and confidence that Ashton wears like a crown.

Lana McDaniel has lived her life in her cousin's shadow. While Lana struggled with her grades no matter how hard she tried, her mother praised Ashton's intelligence. She hadn’t been blessed with Ashton’s blond hair and flawless skin, but that didn't keep her mother from lamenting her naturally red hair and freckles. But none of that would have mattered if Ashton hadn’t always had Sawyer Vincent wrapped around her finger -- the only boy Lana wanted. Once Ashton let Sawyer go, Lana had been so sure that he’d move on. Determined to make Sawyer finally see her, she'd talked her mother into letting her spend the summer with Ashton. But Sawyer is still in love with Ashton, and Lana isn’t going to be anyone's rebound girl. No matter how yummy Sawyer Vincent’s kisses taste.


So again, wow. Ms. Glines did not disappoint with this sequel. In the Vincent Boys, I loved Ashton & Beau, and I loved their relationship. & I sort of disliked Sawyer, for getting in the way of that, and Lana was just... there. 
But with this book, I got another glimpse at them. & it was definitely something I liked. I respected Sawyer for backing off, and letting Ashton & Beau be together, even though he obviously wasn't ok with it & I was rooting for him and Lana. Reading about how he slowly got over Ashton, and Lana became his world (& he didn't even notice) literally made me giddy inside & I could've slapped him after that little scene at the camping site. Sadly, he's not real (that breaks my heart). 
With Lana, I was really frustrated. In a good way. I was really happy that she had grown up some since I'd read about her in the Vincent Boys, but she still had a lot of growing up to do. Sawyer helped her do that. 
She'd always held a torch for Sawyer, in the same way he'd done for Ashton. In the Vincent Brothers, Lana learns more about Sawyer & falls for him even harder, and Sawyer learns what love really is when he falls for Lana. 
With books like these, Abbi Glines is quickly climbing up by Fave Authors list!
I don't really know else to review this except to say that I LOVED it. & I'll probably re-read it just to hang out with the characters some more. & let you know, that if you're reading this, you should probably also be reading the Vincent Brothers. 
I don't think I've gotten enough of them. I want MORE!!! Maybe an epilogue for Beau & Ashton (even if it's just on your blog. hint, hint, Abbi Glines) or some short stories about them. SOMETHING!!! I just can't let them go. So I think I'll leave you with that; when you read the Vincent Brothers, prepare to fall in love! 5/5 stars *****

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

wow. I didn't expect this book to be so intense. I started off my summer with it and was expecting a light, fun read.
But that's not to say that it disappointed me, on the contrary. It was AMAZING. 5/5 stars
before i begin my review, I would just like to say I don't judge anyone who's ever cheated on someone -I'm sure they've had their reasons- I just don't understand why they're always stuck between two people, why can't they just choose one.?

Like with Ashton: it was so obvious that Sawyer wasn't for her; maybe if she was just honest with him & told him she was in love with Beau ever since they were little, she could have avoided a lot of pain and humiliation.

So, the Vincent Boys is about two cousins (who we later learn something VERY interesting about, but no spoilers) who are both in love with the same girl, Ashton. Sawyer is the All-American-type: everyone loves him, he goes to Church, to the nursing home, he's the football team quarterback, etc. & he's the one who has Ashton as his girlfriend. Beau is the bad boy: always getting drunk, breaks the rules, and he's got a smile that does crazy things to a girl. He's the one who has Ashton's heart.
Sawyer:

Beau:

Except Sawyer got to Ashton first, so Ashton feels like she needs to be perfect, because Sawyer is that way (except no one's perfect, as Ashton later finds out) & because her dad is the pastor and her parents expect it.
Beau is the only one Ashton can be herself with, and when Sawyer leaves on a trip, she and Beau take advantage of their time alone.

But, the problem is Sawyer comes back a week earlier & Ashton and Beau aren't willing to give up on each other; yet Ashton DOESN'T BREAK UP WITH SAWYER! even though she KNOWS she's in love with Beau.

Then, Sawyer and the whole town find out what was going on, and Ashton has to face every one alone, because Beau has been out of town; trying to deal with some news (some VERY shocking news that you should read this book in order to find out). & Sawyer doesn't defend her at ALL -which if he was as PERFECT as they make him out to be, he would have -even after everything. So the WHOLE TOWN gets involved and Ashton has to go through some intense humiliation practically alone, because everyone is attacking her, even though no one was part of that relationship (this really bothered me about the town, why did they have to get in the middle?). When Beau gets back, he realizes what happened & sets out to fix it, albeit not in the smartest way possible, but he gets the job done... sort of. Read the book. Seriously. I'm not joking. Why are you still reading this, when you should be reading The Vincent Boys? GO!!!!