Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

This review will have spoilers for the first two books in the series. Silence is the third book in the Hush, Hush saga about Nora and fallen angel Patch. I really like the book covers in this series.


Simon and Schuster

Crescendo has a major cliffhanger at the end and we are left wondering what has happened to Patch and Nora. Patch has promised to help Hank if he will return Nora safely. Hank partially violates the contract by returning Nora at his own  choosing and when she is returned she remembers nothing. Her memory ends at April and she is returned in September. She doesn't remember finishing her sophomore year or meeting and loving Patch. Patch attempts to stay away and when Nora does find him, he calls himself Jev to throw her off track. Nora's mother and friend Vee try to convince her that Patch was just a small fling and that she thought he was bad news. However something keeps drawing her back to Patch. Couple with not knowing Patch, Nora does not remember the nephil Scott or Hank Millar and his relation to her. When Scott begins filling in Nora about fallen angels and nephilim, Nora starts to remember everything, but will she remember soon enough. A war is brewing between nephilim and fallen angels, and Nora and those she loves will be caught in the middle. Can her love for Patch survive the ultimate test and which side should she choose?

The first two books in the series were just ok for me, but this one more than makes up for the other two. I am glad I stuck with the series, because Nora finally turns into the heroine that we see hints of in the first two books. She still moons over Patch a bunch, but their love is finally maturing. The storyline in this one was fast-paced and suspenseful and I did not see the end coming. I finished this one in less than a week, which is saying something.

Favorite Character: Nora, finally! She keeps her cool, stops letting everything revolve around Patch, and finally shows up as an equal partner to Patch. The end really shows her strength, but I don't want to give too much away about that.

Favorite Quote: "'There's only one thing I know for certain anymore.' He turned, his eyes a clear black. 'That I would do anything for you, even if it means going against my instincts or my very nature. I would lay down everything I possess, even my soul, for you. If that isn't love, it's the best I have.'" Finally someone shows his affection.

This is my favorite of the series so far and a good read. 4.5 cups of cocoa!

Spring Into Horror Read-a-Thon Starting Line/Goals

My reading list for this week will include the following books: The Art of Wishing, Silence, Towering, Life After Theft, The Calling, and Clockwork Princess. For the horror element I plan to read from The Iron Queen, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, and The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington, the last one my cousin recommended, because she loved it. I hope to finish at least three books and since I am off work this week, that should be attainable. I also would like to comment on at least 10 blog posts and find a couple of new blogs to follow.



HarperTeen

I love Towering's cover!


Monday update:
Silence- 96 pages finished and reviewed!
The Art of Wishing- 27%-39% or 38 pages

Tuesday update:
The Dead and Buried- 100 pages (read in the doctor's office, found out I have strep throat, sinus infection , and fluid on both ears aka start of a double ear infection, :( ) + 16
The Art of Wishing -39%-100%, about 195 pages -finished!

Wednesday update:
The Dead and Buried- 178 pages -finished!
Towering- 4%
Iron Queen- 30 pages

Thursday update:
Towering- 4%-20% or 61 pages

Friday update:
Towering- 20%-45% or 76 pages
Demon's Lexicon- 63 pages

Saturday update
Towering- 45%-47%
Demon's Lexicon -27 pages

Sunday update:
I have only reread parts of  the 4th Harry Potter book and mainly finished up all the chores I wanted to do while off work, but couldn't because of strep throat and a sinus infection.

Mini Read-a-thon: My Shelf Confession

In honor of their two year blogaversary, My Shelf Confessions is hosting a mini-read-a-thon. The only rules are to read! They also have some great giveaways planned for the month, with some author guest posts and publisher guest posts. To sign up, go here. I have really slacked off reading, reviewing, and posting, so I am hoping the two read-a-thons I have signed up for will help! For the mini-read-a-thon, I am going to try to read on The Art of Wishing and Rapunzel Untangled. I would like to finish those two, particularly Rapunzel, since I started it the first week in March. It is an interesting modern twist on the fairytale. I am also going to add Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick to my list too, since I am in the middle of it as well.

Day 1 update
Silence- 12pages
Rapunzel Untangled- 69%-82%

Day 2 update
Rapunzel Untangled- finished!
Silence- 20 pages
The Art of Wishing-11%-24%

Day 3 update
I have been sick all day and had a pounding headache, so no reading today. :(.

I am glad I did finally finish Rapunzel Untangled and hope to review it really soon!

 

Reading Stack #30

I did read one book of my last list, but read off list mainly. Right now I am reading Art of Wishing for my Random Read and trying to finish up Rapunzel Untangled from last month. I will also be reading the last 39 clues Cahills vs Vespers book, since I have school visits and a two day conference this week and it is a small book to pack. I may start The Calling, since I want to see what happens after the cliffhanger ending of The Gathering. I am really looking forward to my vacation in two weeks so that I can get some reading done!

Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

This review will have spoilers for the first two books in the series. This is the final book in the Full Moon series. I really thought this would be a long running series like Vampire Kisses, so I was surprised when I read this was the final one.




Having a boyfriend who is a werewolf is not easy, but having an ex who is a werewolf could be dangerous. Celeste is torn between her love for Brandon and the pity and compassion she feels for her ex-Nash. Celeste kissed Nash so he would remember being a werewolf, but remembering just seems to make Nash feel worse. Nash begs Celeste to accompany him to Dr. Meadows to get a psychic reading. Dr. Meadows says Nash can be cured, but Celeste knows there is only one bottle of cure at the moment. She makes another dire prediction for Celeste, that a werewolf wants to turn her. Should Nash take it to make sure everyone is safe or should Brandon, so that he can be normal again? Along with that decision comes another problem. A group of boys come to town and they just may be lycan themselves. One werewolf is too many, so how can Legend's Run handle a whole pack!Choices must be made and Celeste may lose her werewolf boyfriend forever.

I did not like this as much as the Vampire Kisses series, although I think this had a better ending. Celeste seemed too wishy-washy with her feelings. She loves Brandon, puts up with too much from Nash, and develops a crush on another character. While this did not seem as bad when Raven had these same problems in VK, it just did not work with Celeste's sweet and caring nature. I loved the use of the legend in this series though to explain why there were werewolves, but the cure was never really explained well.

Favorite Character: Brandon. He is loyal, caring-although almost too caring at times, and helps his grandparents. He can also communicate with animals. He never doubts his feelings for Celeste and in a way puts up with a lot from her.

Favorite Quote: "It's because he's different-the opposite of you and everything you want. The unknown, an adventure. Maybe it's about disclosing a rebellious and dangerous part of yourself that you find thrilling." This is a pretty typical definition of a crush on a bad boy.

I liked the ending and the tie in to the legend. Celeste just did not measure up to Raven. 3.5 cups of cocoa.

Mind Games by Kiersten White

I was so excited to get an e-galley from Netgalley and HarperTeen and read half of the book before it released. Then I was so busy at work that I just now finished the other half.

Annie and Fia have special abilities, which make them a desired commodity. Annie can see the future, even though she is blind and Fia has perfect instinct. Annie even saw the girls' parents death, but could not prevent the car crash. The girls are tricked into attending the Keane school, when Mr. Keane becomes aware of Annie's powers. Seers are not rare and it isn't long until the school sets their sights on Fia's rarer ability. Fia becomes their hands, killing, stealing, and learning secrets. Fia is forever damaged by being used, but she cooperates because she knows they will kill Annie if she doesn't. James, Keane's son, seems to care about Fia, but her instincts tell her he is wrong for her. James seems both his father's tool and to really hate the man. There seems to be no escape, until Fia defies orders and does not kill Adam. Annie has seen that Adam could be a threat to her and Fia, but Fia's instincts tell her to take care of Adam. Adam could be their destruction or salvation and it is up to Fia to decide.

I loved White's Paranormalcy series and was so excited to read her new book. The same sarcastic humor is here, but it is so much darker. Fia is a damaged heroine and at times ruthless and caring. Annie is both selfish and loving with her sister. The two love interests are as different as night and day, but you can't help rooting for them both. Awesome start to the series!

Favorite Character: Fia. She is both dark and light. She has a sense of humor, but is also deadly. You want her to be healed, but know that she is forever damaged.

Favorite Quote: "We understand each other. I can read the lines of his shoulders, catalog the lies of his smiles; he can touch my hands and not care." "We are a matched set of perfect liars, perfectly destroyed people, perfect for destruction."

Even though this was dark, I loved it! White has a great fast-paced writing style and she knows how to surprise! Definitely 5 cups of cocoa! This will be one of my top picks for the year.

Spring Into Horror Read-a-Thon

This is a read-a-thon hosted by Michelle @ The True Book Addict and Castle Macabre. Sign ups are here. You only have to read one scary book and it can be horror, paranormal, thriller, or mystery. You can choose to just try to get more book of your tbr list or to read more scary books. I will be making a list soon. I will probably read Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa for my "scary" book. For me that series is scary, the faeries are pretty dark and creepy.