The Taking by Kimberly Derting

The Taking by Kimberly Derting 

Publisher: Harper Teen      

Publication date: April 29th 2014
My rating: 3.5 stars

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 
When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 
Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. 
Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

After a softball match Kyra starts fighting with her father and sees a strange light. She wakes up behind a dumpster with no recollection of how she ended up there. When she goes home she finds her mother has a new husband and a son while her father's become a conspiracy theory pro who's living in a trailer. Her boyfriend has moved on and is dating her best friend and the only person she can rely on is her ex boyfriend's little brother, Tyler who's now older than her. You see, Kyra's been gone for 5 years. 

I'm really conflicted about this book. On one hand I did like the first half of the book which focuses on Kyra and Tyler. Tyler was so cute, sweet and thoughtful. I was gushing whenever he was around. If there's a reason someone should read this book, it would be Tyler. He's had a crush on Kyra since he was a little kid but she didn't notice him because she was dating his brother. Kyra was nice enough even though nothing stood out about her character. She's one of those forgettable main characters. 

Like I mentioned this before. The first part of the book was all about Kyra and Tyler while the second half focused on solving the mystery or should I say running around without knowing what they're going to do next. I wish the characters wanted to ind out what happened before, in the first half of the book. This way the book was split in half, like The Taking was actually two different versions of the same book.  As if the author wanted to focus more on the romance but then, halfway, she changed her mind. Sadly, I didn't find the science fiction part as compelling as the romance. One last thing, romance in the second part of the book was too cheesy. It was one of those 'oh, how I love you. I would gladly give up my life for you' type of romances.  I hope the author fixes this in the sequel because I plan to read the whole trilogy.

Top Ten Tuesday #29

This weeks Top 10's super fun! I really had hard time picking out just 10 covers because they have gotten really pretty over the last couple of years. 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea- One of the main reasons I decided to buy this book was the cover. The dangerous cliff, the gothic font and the couple on the top just screamed buy me! buy me! 

A World Without Princes- I still haven't bought this book but I'm planing on doing it after I read the first one. I've heard there are pretty illustrations inside as well.

Seraphina- This cover has such an impressive line art. Wow! 

Every Day- I like the vision behind this cover-male and female bodies falling. And I love the break on the left side. I don't think I've ever seen something like that on a book cover before. 

Blue Lily, Lily Blue- Honestly, I could've put The Dream Thieves cover instead of this book because I love that one as well. Maggie has the best luck with her cover designs. All of them are great. 

Heir of Fire- I love the pose Celaena struck, her bow and for the first time I prefer the US cover over the UK one, mainly because of the background. I think it works better with the colors of the robe, hair and face. 

Fangirl- Rainbow Rowell. Another author with wonderful cover. I like this cover a lot because it appeals to my inner fangirl and makes me proud to be one. I just wish there were illustration inside as well because I wanted to see those two guys kissing. haha 

Kinslayer- Slayage! Badassery! I'm going to be completely honest. I bought Stormdancer and Kinslayer because of the covers. I still haven't read the books. They've been sitting on my shelf begging to be picked up. 

Plus One- Whoever designed with cover is a genius. I've actually read this book was back, before it even had the cover and once it was revealed I said to myself they did it because it matches the story really well. Boy living during the day and the girl during night time. His pink, fluffy clouds with her dark stars! Oh! Just perfect! And the gradient title is lovely as well. 

Unravel Me- At first I was mad about the cover change because I bought the original hardcover with the girl in a dress. I knew my books wouldn't match and I was so pissed! I didn't like it at all. But I did even eventually fell in love with it. 

Love, In English by Karina Halle

Love, In English
Author: Karina Halle
File Type: e-book
Release Date: April 20th,2014
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

synopsis:He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter. I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.
Or so she thinks.



I had once liked a dude who already had a girlfriend. It wasn't a very nice experience. 
I have loved married men too. Sorry Jennifer, Ben is fabulous. 

I've heard so much about Karina Halle and her magnficient books. 
Her books have been known for their intensity. Intensity in the plot. Intensity in the romance. Intensity in the climax. INTENSITY. And you know what? I love intensity.
This book covers concepts of adultery and infidelity and after reading the synopsis I wasn't too sure if I should be starting my Karina-Halle-Book-Journey with this one. When it comes to concepts like the ones mentioned here, lots of things could go wrong. And maybe they did. Maybe things did go wrong. but you know what? I kind of ignored it. 

Vera and Mateo's story is a passionate one albeit a tad risque.
There were times when I started questioning my principles and my character. Here was a twenty-three year old girl attracted to a thirty-eight year old married man with a five year old daughter, who by the way, not only feels the same way about the girl but also breaks the cardinal rule of 'not getting involved with someone other than his wife'. I know how this sounds. Even my roommate was looking at me weird when I was trying to explain to her why I liked the book as much as I did. It was very uncomfortable. For her. Considering it was four in the morning and I was swimming in an olympic-sized pool of catharsis and babbling about how much this book surprised me. 

Not only was this book surprising but I also relished the fact that it felt new to me. How many times have I read about a protagonist who's been cheated upon by her boyfriend or girlfriend? A lot of times. 
And now.
How many times have I read about a protagonist who's the one who actually cheats or rather, is involved in the act of adultery? Not many. 

I know I know. It's wroooong. 
But damn you,Karina! It felt so right.
I was so wrapped up in Vera's and Mateo's story and their passion that I forgot about my own moral police and just let it be. I liked how the story played out and I loved the pace of the book. The rhythm of the book came and went back like waves on the beach and it was so engrossing! Once I started, I knew that I had to finish the damn book. 

After that last page, I actually gave myself some time to ponder over what I had just read and as always, I asked myself the one question which helps me get through my muddled thoughts:

Was I satisfied?

It's safe to say that I was satisfied in each and every way. 

I don't know if you'd read this book. You'd probably not like it or maybe, you may just do. For whatever its worth, if there is one thing that this book and the author deserve, it is that standing ovation for the smoothness and that absolutely genius way of handling concepts like such. Maybe things don't work like that in the world, but for now, I'm happy to be living in this dream state of bliss and maybe if you gave it a try, you might too.

Second Chance by Katie Kacvinsky

Second Chance by Katie Kacvinsky 

Publisher: Create Space      

Publication date: October 31st 2014
My rating: 5 stars

Can two drastically different, imperfect people be perfect for each other?
It’s been four months since Gray and Dylan have seen each other. Dylan’s been traveling in Europe, while Gray has college, baseball, and a life rooted in one place. Gray’s determined to forget Dylan, the girl he fell in love with in First Comes Love. Besides, how do you make a relationship work with an independent loner?
Just when he decides he’s over her, Dylan makes an unexpected entrance back into his life, hoping their steamy romance can start right where it left off. Gray realizes you can tell your mind to do one thing, but you can’t always convince your heart to follow. Dylan realizes she finally has to make a choice between freedom and her relationship with Gray.
Hilarious, intense, inspiring, and emotional, Second Chance shows that love is a journey, and there are never clear road signs or maps to guide you along. You can only navigate with your heart.

It's been over a year since I last read First Comes Love. It left a lasting impression on me.  I wasn't expecting much. Just another contemporary story I'll forget soon enough. Boy I was wrong. It was a breath of fresh air among other new adult novels with insufferable characters and stupid, pointless drama. Don't you want to read a real story for a change? Why bring up obnoxious players with six packs and insecure, beautiful virgins in the picture? Read something genuine instead! 

Katie Kacvinsky knows how write characters. They're real. They make us feel things. They are us. As far as I'm concerned, she can do no wrong. I really have nothing remotely negative to say about Second Chance which sucks for me because I love to complain about all sort of things. Everything was perfect! 

Gray's back in college, playing baseball which Dylan's backpacking through Europe. They haven't seen each other in four months. Then Dylan comes back into Gray's life. He did try to stay away from her claiming he wants to be friends with her. Since that didn't work out well, they slowly start dating again. They are perfect for each other but that doesn't mean everything works out perfectly. Dylan's trying to change herself completely so she could stay with Gray. She stopped wearing baggy jeans, found a job, started dressing like a girl and so on. I knew what was going to happen next. Gray saw Dylan lost the spark and he sets her free. I really have no idea how's Katie going to work everything out in the end. Both of these characters have different goals in life-Gray wants to have a steady future while Dylan feels at home while she's roaming the world. I still want them to be together because I love both characters so much. 

Another home run for Katie Kacvinsky. No pun intended. I can't wait to see how this all plays out. I'd love if everyone ended up reading these incredible books but I'm a realist and I know no one's going to read it if I start nagging so I'm just going to stop. Don't read it! Miss out Gray and Dylan! Go ahead! I dare you!