REVIEW: Forever Mine (Moreno Brothers #1) by Elizabeth Reyes

Name: Forever Mine (Moreno Brothers #1)

Author: Elizabeth Reyes

Publisher: Self

Release Date: 6th September 2010

Pages: 335

Source: Bought

Rating: 3 stars

Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.
Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.
With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home?

[summary taken from Goodreads]

First of all: Eeeeeeeee!!!!!!! I finished reading my first book on my new Kindle!

Beverley's Review

I wasn't expecting a lot from Forever Mine.  It was free on Amazon and seemed like a nice read so I bought it mainly so I could try out my new Kindle.  I didn't even think I would finish it but guess what?  I finished it in two days, which is pretty good for me.

I haven't read a lot of books which primarily focus on romance so this was a little different for me.  What I didn't really love about this was the insta-love.  Come on, you set eyes on the girl then immediately know you want her?  I would have enjoyed a build-up instead of a sudden spark I wasn't sure I was convinced with.

I really liked most of the characters.  Sarah was a bit of a weak protagonist: the problem could have been resolved much quicker and easier if it weren't for her running away from everything.  However, I had a soft spot for Angel.  He's protective and a little too intense but you can see he has good intentions at heart.  I enjoyed their relationship as it progressed but there was still a sceptical part of me which questioned if Angel was actually in love with her.  It was all, 'Sarah is so different' but Reyes never showed me how or why Angel thought she was so special.  Did he just want to get in her pants?

The secondary characters added some fun to the story.  Alex, Angel's brother, was such an outrageous flirt that I found myself giggling at his words.  Romero and Eric were awesome too with their playful banter and drunken antics!

A lot of the book was pretty mediocre.  The writing wasn't anything spectacular.  It was quite simple and not very descriptive.  I spotted quite a few grammatical errors too which irked me a little but it wasn't too major and didn't affect my enjoyment of the book too much.  Despite the flaws, I was compelled to read on and keep turning the pages so it was quite addictive!

Overall, Forever Mine was a nice, light read.  It is perfect for when you're in a reading slump and you need something less serious and heavy to enjoy.

3 teacups for Forever Mine

Waiting on Wednesday #9

Waiting on Wednesday is a fabulous meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  It's a wonderful chance to share the books we're eagerly anticipating and to find out what our fellow bloggers are looking forward to reading!

Jen's eagerly anticipating...

16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell.
And then it comes true.
Now the Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

GUYS THIS SOUNDS FANTABULOUS. I love boarding school-type reads, and the paranormal aspect just reminds me of Hex Hall! AND AND, there's that murder mystery feel.. doesn't sound so freaking good! Let's not forget about that cover, too.. so gorgeous. I actually first heard about this one when I was checking out Shane's upcoming blog tours at Itching For Books! Grrr, I have to wait until March 2013..

Bev's eagerly anticipating...

What if you could dream your way into a different life? What if you could choose to live that life forever?

Sloane and Maggie have never met. Sloane is a straight-A student with a big and loving family. Maggie lives a glamorously independent life as an up-and-coming actress in New York. The two girls couldn't be more different--except for one thing. They share a secret that they can't tell a soul. At night, they dream that they're each other.

The deeper they're pulled into the promise of their own lives, the more their worlds begin to blur dangerously together. Before long, Sloane and Maggie can no longer tell which life is real and which is just a dream. They realize that eventually they will have to choose one life to wake up to, or risk spiraling into insanity. But that means giving up one world, one love, and one self, forever.

This book sounds super-duperly thrilling, I love anything that deals with dreams!  And just look at that cover - it's so beautiful and I love how half of the word is blurry which represents the dream world Sloane and Maggie live in when they sleep! So eager to get my hands on this one.  It's out this month so I don't have to wait too long.  Hopefully it will release in the UK so I can get a copy then!

What are you waiting on today?

Happy reading,

Bev and Jen x

Alfie the Sniffer Pup (October '12 Edition)

Alfie the Sniffer Pup is a monthly feature here on A Reading Daydreamer where I spotlight exciting upcoming releases and book-ish news which my pup, Alfie has kindly 'sniffed' out for me!

Okay, time is seriously flying by far too quickly! I didn't even realise October was coming up! Anyway, October looks set to be another month filled to the brim with awesome releases so I won't wait any further to show you what Alfie has sniffed out! [all covers link to their Goodreads page]

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
Breathe by Sarah Crossan
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Dark Star by Bethany Frenette
Gravity by Melissa West
Beta by Rachel Cohn
Blind Spot by Laura Ellen
The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Velveteen by Daniel Marks
Hollow by Richard Denney
The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Wow.  And these are only just a few of what is to be released.  I adore the covers of The Lost Prince and Crewel.  I'm excited to read Breathe and Eve & Adam even though they've both had mixed reviews - I'll just have to judge for myself.  Dark Star, Gravity and The Shadow Society all sounds really kick-ass so I'll be checking them out too.

Thank you to Alfie for this month's sniffing work :D

Are you excited for this month's releases? Which ones are you eagerly anticipating?

P.S. Don't forget to enter My Super Sweet Sixteenth Birthday giveaway to win an e-copy of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris and a pretty swag pack.

REVIEW: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Name: The Diviners

Author: Libba Bray

Publisher: Atom Books

Release Date: 18th September 2012

Pages: 592

Source: From publisher (for review)

Rating: 3 stars

It's 1920s New York City. It's flappers and Follies, jazz and gin. It's after the war but before the depression. And for certain group of bright young things it's the opportunity to party like never before.
For Evie O'Neill, it's escape. She's never fit in in small town Ohio and when she causes yet another scandal, she's shipped off to stay with an uncle in the big city. But far from being exile, this is exactly what she's always wanted: the chance to show how thoroughly modern and incredibly daring she can be.
But New York City isn't about just jazz babies and follies girls. It has a darker side. Young women are being murdered across the city. And these aren't crimes of passion. They're gruesome. They're planned. They bear a strange resemblance to an obscure group of tarot cards. And the New York City police can't solve them alone.
Evie wasn't just escaping the stifling life of Ohio, she was running from the knowledge of what she could do. She has a secret. A mysterious power that could help catch the killer - if he doesn't catch her first.                                        [summary taken from Goodreads] 

Beverley's Review 

Firstly, I must admit I'm not a huge fan of the supernatural genre... ghosts, spirits, the idea of things being there although you can't see them freaks me out.  So I surprised myself when I asked to review this.  However, I can tell you that delving into the 'dark' side was worth it this time.  While it wasn't perfect, the thrill and suspense gripped me and compelled me to turn the pages.

When the book landed on my doorstep, I was horrified to learn that it was about 600 pages long.  Being a slow reader, I sincerely hoped it would be interesting enough for me to get through the many, many pages without feeling utterly bored or wanting to give up on it.

Libba Bray takes no haste in immediately launching the reader into 1920s New York and she throws you into a vibrant world where underneath, an evil force is stirring.  The beginning was a little confusing for me: leaving me unsure of what to expect and I thought the first 100 pages could have been cut down.

Unfortunately, the third person narrative didn't work well for me.  I did come to appreciate each character but it lacked the depth I needed to connect with them further.  There was also too much happening for my liking.  Each chapter would switch and tell you about a different character and since it's so long, it became quite overwhelming.  I understand Libba Bray may have done this to make it more intriguing and mysterious but it just wasn't to my tastes.

However, I actually found myself really enjoying the supernatural element.  Yes, I refused to read it in darkness but I loved how it would sometimes make my heart skip a beat and my hands grip the book tightly.  The entertainment factor is similar to that of an eerie, ghost film so just don't read this before going to bed!

I cannot write this review without praising its originality.  I've never read anything like it and the way Libba Bray weaves so many different people and their stories together is truly amazing.  Her writing is so eerie and evocative it almost seems as if every page is alive, mirroring Manhattan's colour and vibrancy.  She has such a way with words, crafting the most extraordinary settings and plunging you into the 1920s.  You will have to read it for yourself to gain an appreciation of her writing and I'm glad to have been on thrown on to this 'journey.'

Overall, The Diviners is a gorgeously written book full of mystery and suspense that will leave you breathless by the last page.  Despite its flaws, it is an enjoyable book that will make you laugh and gasp and look around you warily at the same time.

3 teacups for The Diviners

*Thanks to Atom for providing me with a review copy*

REVIEW: Every Day by David Levithan

Name: Every Day

Author: David Levithan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: August 28, 2012 (US)

Pages: 336, Hardcover

Source: Online Audiobook Library

Rating: 5 Teacups

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

This book is beautiful. That's it. Every Day opened my eyes in so many ways, and it actually left me breathless in the end. Every Day is one of those books where, after you finish it,  you are left satisfied and filled with so much peace and tranquility.

Aside from the completely and utterly beautiful conclusion to the novel, let's jump back a bit. The concept itself is extremely unique and unlike any other book I have ever read, landing itself in the "Books I'll Remember For A Long Time" part of my brain. It's unforgettable, and the idea just clicked with me perfectly. The reader is able to get sucked into the story from sentence number one. Talk about a good hook!

While the concept was extraordinary, the characters weren't far behind. "A", the main protagonist in the story, is neither a girl, nor a boy. "A" simply inhabits a different body everyday, but DOES have a personality. And I loved "A"'s personality from the start. "A" has been through so much, you can't help but sympathize with "A". And of course, there is Rhiannon. Her qualities were perfect for "A"; patient, understanding, and all around enjoyable.

Lastly, the writing style played a major role in my enjoyment for this novel. I previously read one other piece of Levithan's work: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. I had found that his writing was a bit annoying and too sarcastic for my taste (that's a whole nother story!). However, in Every Day, the change in voice is SO drastic, it's fascinating. I fell in love with it instantly. In Every Day, we are able to read Levithan's more sincere and serious side of him, one that I prefer much more.

In all, Every Day is a book you won't want to miss out on: with it's awe-inspiring concept, memorable characters, and lyrical writing, Every Day is sure to make your list of favorite contemporaries.

Audiobook Review: If you're thinking about reading this book, don't. Listen to it on audio. The narrator is a clear speaker, and while her voice is scratchy and a little raspy at first, it's actually perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better narrator for Every Day. The performer is able to capture the essence of the story and it makes the story THAT much more gorgeous. The audiobook for Every Day is highly recommended!

5 teacups for Every Day!

  

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs UK Blog Tour: Interview

Today, I'm delighted to introduce Tera Lynn Childs to A Reading Daydreamer as part of the UK blog tour for the first book in her Medusa Girls trilogy, Sweet Venom!  I really enjoyed reading it and it's now available so read the following interview and get yourself a copy!

Hi Tera, welcome to A Reading Daydreamer!  Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi A Reading Daydreamer! Thanks for having me. About myself, hmmm... I'm the daughter of theatre folk. I write teen books about mythology, mermaids, and monsters. I'm semi-nomadic, but I call Las Vegas home for now. I'm addicted to TV, have a dog named Daisy, and I'm vegan.

I personally loved reading Sweet Venom and thought the premise and storyline were both really unique.  What inspired you to write it in the first place?

Thank you! The initial idea actually came from a magazine spread about snake themed accessories. I saw a whole page of serpent jewelry and snakeskin leather goods and, while I'm not a fan of snakes, I was intrigued. I pulled the pages out and started thinking. I was already writing about mythology at the time, with Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, so it was only a matter of time until Medusa sprang to mind. I love looking at things from different perspectives, which is how I came up with the idea of Medusa being a guardian instead of a monster. From there, everything kind of fell into place.

I adored the Greek mythology element, which myth is your favourite?

Orpheus and Eurydice. I'm not usually such a sucker for drama, but the story of him going into the underworld to bring back his wife and then, at the last moment, losing her because he couldn't keep from looking back to check... it's just heartbreaking. 

Which parts were the most fun to write?  Were there any particularly difficult ones too?

All of them. And all of them! Seriously, Sweet Venom was both the most fun and the hardest thing I've ever written. I loved getting to write about such different characters--Phoebe and Lily, from the Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins series, are both kind of like Grace, but it was exciting to write about a tough chick like Gretchen and a snob like Greer. But, at the same time, write three distinct first person characters was a huge challenge. Plus it was the first book in my first trilogy, so in the end it was like writing twelve books at once! 

Now that Sweet Venom is finally released over here in the UK, you have the pleasure of marvelling the different covers.  Do you prefer the UK or US cover?

Oh, that's an unfair question. I love them both. I love the mystery of the US cover and I adore the kick-butt colors and cityscape of the UK edition. But, from a purely selfish standpoint, I will say that he cover model on the UK book is exactly what I think the girls look like. She is spot on.

I think Sweet Venom has the potential to be one heck of a kick-ass movie too.  If it was turned into a movie *crosses fingers*, who could you see playing the lead roles?

For the girls, I think Hayden Panettiere has the look and talent to play all three roles. For the boys, I could see Adrian Grenier as Milo, a young Paul Walker as Nick, and Brian J. Smith as Thane. 

Out of the three sisters Gretchen, Grace and Greer, who were you most like as a teenager?

I was (and am) definitely a Grace. I like to pretend I'm a Greer sometimes and I wish I was a Gretchen, but I'm definitely the quieter girl with less confidence--although I'm much better about that now than when I was in high school.

If a sea dracaena turned up on your doorstep, how would you react and what would you do?

Slam the door and run for the kitchen. I'd either hide in the pantry or grab a big kitchen knife and a bag of salt to throw in her eyes.

I'm already desperate to read the second book, can you give us a sneak preview? 

Oooh, teasers... In Sweet Shadows there is a lot more action, more monsters, more kissing, more kidnappings. You'll get to see the monster abyss first hand, you'll learn a lot more about Nick, and you'll learn a little bit about more about Thane. And you'll meet a whole new batch of monsters that makes Gretchen rethink everything she knows about the beastie world.

Thanks so much for being here today, Tera!

Many thanks to Templar for organising the blog tour and Tera for answering all my questions!  

Click HERE to read my review for Sweet Venom and once you've done that, don't forget to get yourself a lovely copy - it's a really fun, kick-ass read :D

Happy reading,

Beverley

Showcase Sunday #6

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

Bev's New Books:

For review:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas:  The praise for this has been so high, I can't avoid reading it.  There have been so many glowing reviews of this so I really hope it will live up to my expectations!

Blink Once by Cylin Busby:  A lovely surprise from the publisher. It sounds really interesting and mysterious and it's told from the guy's point of view - you know how I love my male POVs ;)

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan: Some of my favourite bloggers really enjoyed this and said it was unusual and different.  And I love the UK cover- the girl looks Asian and you rarely get Asian girls on covers so YAY!

The Killables by Gemma Malley:  Another surprise!  I heard about this one a while ago and was planning to borrow it from the library once I had time so I'm really glad this landed on my doorstep.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine: This book seems so beautiful and delicate as it's told from the POV of a girl with Asperger's.  I'm always intrigued to see how authors deal with matters like these.

Thanks to Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, Hodder & Stoughton and Kathryn Erskine for these lovelies.

Won:

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris:  Whoopee!  I was going to ask for this for my birthday but I was super excited when I was told I'd won a copy from a giveaway!  I'm so eager to pick this one up as it sounds like such a fun, flirty read!  If you haven't got your hands on one yet, don't forget to enter my 16th Birthday Giveaway! You can win an e-copy and a pretty swag pack.

Gifted:

A Kindle!!!!!! Yes, I asked for a Kindle!  (Thanks to those of you who encouraged me on Twitter to ask for one!)  I've always stood firm and said I wouldn't go to the 'dark' side, nothing can beat a paperback etc... but every blogger I know has one and Jen seems to adore hers so I thought, 'Why not?' And while it isn't as good as a paperback, I still love it and I've already made a few requests on Netgalley!  Thank you so much Mum and Dad, love you guys!!!!!!!!!

Bought:

 

Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes:  I wanted to try out the Kindle and this was free on Amazon so I decided to get it, plus the cover is so sweet :D And the guy is called Angel?  Something tells me he doesn't really live up to the name ;)

Jen's New Books

For Review:
Entangled by Nikki Jefford: Yay for indie authors! I've heard really great things about this one, and it looks so interesting!

Blind Spot by Laura Ellen: This synopsis intrigued me INSTANTLY. "What you can't see might be murder" is the tagline--doesn't that intrigue YOU?

Love Unscripted by Tina Reber: This one isn't YA, but it's a romance adult novel. I most likely won't be reviewing this one on the blog, but it looked interesting.

Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt: Yep. I'm still looking for that cancer book that will make me cry.

Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch: I've already heard really mixed things about this one, but I'll still give it a try. Sounds awesome!

Much thanks to Netgalley, Houghton Mifflin, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, IBPA, and S&S!



Bought:
Blood Like Poison by M. Leighton: I pretty much just bought this one because it's by M. Leighton and I've heard nothing but amazing things about her. Freebie!

Wings of Arian by Devri Walls: This one was pretty hyped up during the blog tour, and I've had my eye on it for a while. Another freebie!

Madly by M. Leighton: Another great one by Miss Leighton! Freebie as well..

Solstice by Donna Burgess: Zombie Apocalypse. Nuff said. Freebie.

Second Chance by Katie Kacvinsky: I read Awaken (a different series), but I haven't read First Comes Love yet. I will soon, now that I have this lovely! Was a freebie when I bought it!

Borrowed:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman: I read this one about 2 years ago, and I didn't like it much, at all. I'm going to try again! This one I borrowed on audio.

Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer: GUYS THIS IS THE FIRST EVER PHYSICAL ARC I'VE EVER LAID HANDS ON. My sister is part of this library book group (that I don't have time for) so she was able to snag an ARC to borrow. EEEP.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson: LOVED Amy and Roger's, so I can't freaking WAIT to read this one! Funny story: I tweeted that I was starting this one, and Ms. Matson actually tweeted back at me, when I didn't even mention her! :)

What did you guys get this week?  Link us up!

Happy reading,
Beverley and Jen x