Review: Panic

Panic by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting premise and while many think it is unbelievable, they must not be around a lot of teenagers because they are dumb and engage in risky behavior for much less than this book proposes. Also, the setting of the town and the idea of escape and that these teens will do anything to escape is a very strong compelling force. What I disliked most about this book was Heather's best friend, I've forgotten her name, but she was a spoiled, whiny, manipulative bitch. God, she was getting hurt or complaining all the time. It kept my interest and although some of the storylines and conflicts were predictable and incongruent at times, I did like the story. The other thing that I didn't like was the ending, all wrapped up in a little bow. I don't know what the reason is to do that is; I want a satisfying ending, but it was sudden and too much. There was unresolved conflict that just went away, and everything was fine. I really liked Bishop's character the best.

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Review: The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents

The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents by Ronald Kessler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting stories and information. Reading for research purposes and it is helpful.

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Review: Shatter Me

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Her writing is like poetry! And it is beautiful and vast. I forget in YA that the characters are only 17 or so and the speech patterns and communication style is so different from what I prefer that I at first felt like the dialog was stiff and unnatural, but after reflection I realize it is true to the age group. I loved this book and I devoured it in a day and continued with the series. Beautiful cover and beautiful prose. I am not going to lie and say that there aren't plenty of "I'm dead and no one else knows it but me" because male characters touched her, kissed her or spoke to her in a beautiful manner, but it doesn't matter, it was still good.

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Review: Shatter Me Series

I was caught by the beautiful designs on the book, which is not uncommon. I am definitely a judger of books by their cover. So I had this book on my list of to-read for quite a while and since I am taking a break from the enormous Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series and wanted a quick good read, I finally started Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and I was not disappointed.

For the last couple of months, besides re-reading some old favorite books and the Outlander series I have been unimpressed with the string of books I had been reading. Until Shatter Me.

I continue to be astounded with Mafi's ability to come up with so many metaphors.  It makes me feel like my writing is unimaginative, but I know it is a completely different genre. This is YA and mine is contemporary romance.

Only in YA you can get away from spending a whole chapter making out (kissing and groping) and the readers love it (including me).  I suggest you go out and read the whole 5 book series, like I did (maybe not in the span of 4 days, but that's what I like to do).

One of my favorite lines:  “I'm oxygen and he's dying to breathe.” 
― Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

This ranks as one of my favorite YA dystopian series along with Divergent and The Selection.

And the covers are magnificient!

Goodreads - Shatter Me Series

Review: Ignite Me

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Soo soo soo good and I love the time she spent on the characters getting to know each other and building trust. I was completely Team Warner almost from the first book because I have a writer's sixth sense about the character that will win the love triangle plus I love Warner's complex character. The only thing I would have really loved was one or two more chapters or an Epilogue. Otherwise, it was great and I can't wait to re-read it again!

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Review: Unravel Me

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked this book and it was such a great 2nd book, it pulled me in even more to her story. Now I will admit Juliette is whiny and the dialog is so irritating at times but really it is true to the age of the characters as I have a 17-year-old myself and the communication skills of this age is astoundingly poor. But the writing is not, she continues to write Juliette's voice like poetry. The additional characters were good and the similarities to the X-men was welcome because I really like Superhero films. There is an amazing chapter towards the end that give a glimpse into the relationship that I am rooting for. I recommend the whole series and the two novellas that accompany it. Very good story.

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Review: A Breath of Snow and Ashes

A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So much happened and was resolved

It was a long long book , but full of so much adventure and trying up of storylines from earlier books.

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