Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Published: April 2012

Publisher: Walker Children's

Pages: 354

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.
 
When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

Review:


Every now and again I remind myself that the world does not revolve around the supernatural and dive into some contemporary fiction.  Here was another title that I snagged from NetGalley.  By the time I started reading it, I had honestly forgotten the summary.  Unfortunately, there was none on my e-reader so I just started reading.  Breaking Beautiful had me hooked right away.  Watching Allie go through the painful struggle of re-discovering herself and the person she has let herself become really touched me.  If you have ever had a friend or even suspect a friend is going through an abusive relationship, you need to have them read this book.  I watched as layers of Allie's seemingly perfect world were stripped away until she had the truth.  Jennifer's novel tugged at my heartstrings and never let go.  I wanted to reach out for the girl who had forgotten all of the bad things in her life.  


It's a reminder of how love can blind you to what is really there.  Is it love or is it control?  This would be the perfect ISU title for a teen who needs to be reminded that sometimes, you need to open your eyes to what is in front of you.....well done Ms. Shaw Wolf.  

Waiting on Wednesday - June 6th

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine,  that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

I'm totally pumped about The Golden Lily coming out next week.  For Darkness Shows the Stars looks like an interesting title.  It's a bit like Persuasion...in the future.  What are you waiting for?

In Case You Missed It - The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Published: May 2002

Publisher: Touchstone

Pages: 661

Summary:  Goodreads

Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.

A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.

Ok history lovers, this one is for you.  The quinessential tale of Henry VIII 2nd wife, Anne Boleyn, written with a deft, hand.   Such a captivating, engrossing tale, that you won't even notice it's over 600 pages long.

Ms Gregory has a history degree and a PhD in Eighteenth Century Literature, so she knows her stuff.  She writes in a way that makes the reader fall into the story and feel as if they are a part of history.  Anne was still basically a teenager when she arrived at court and she was completely manipulated by her family, but she had a strong will and that character trait shows clearly in the story.  It's also a wonderful love story and with the main protagonist being so young, that helps make this title a perfect crossover novel for those teens who enjoy historical novels and are ready to branch out.  Try it, I'm sure you'll love it, and when you do, there's a second volume 'The Boleyn Inheritance', to keep you going.  Highly recommended.

And for those of you who recognise the title, it was the basis for the movie The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson.  The book is better than the movie, just in case you're wondering.

In My Mailbox - June 4th

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week.  Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

OK, OK  I confess...I've been trying to catch up on my current TBR pile but I did download a sneak peek of Insurgent...so technically I guess I don't have the full version...YET!!  What's in your mailbox?

Endure by Carrie Jones

Published: May 8th, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 262

e-copy: Courtesy of publisher and Netgalley

Summary: Goodreads

It’s all-out war (and no-holds-barred romance) in the climactic conclusion to Carrie Jones’s bestselling series.


Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .


Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.


Carrie Jones' Need series has been a lot of fun, with twists and turns galore and lots of action going on.  The last book in the series is Endure and it too had twists and turns galore, and lots of action and things came together very nicely.  Unfortunately, for me it never got any better than 'very nicely'.  Somehow the finale fell a little flat and  turned into one of those I liked it but .... series for me.

How to pin it down?  It's really difficult.  I loved the characters for the most part, although I got a wee bit fed up with Nick at one point - too much 'woe is me' I think.   I'm not very keen on wallowing in self pity when the world needs saving.  I know he died in the last book, but he was rescued and has a second chance at life and perhaps he should have been a little more grateful?  Something happens to Zara in this one - which I don't want to elaborate on 'cos it would be a major spoiler - but  it all seemed a little convenient.  More like - we need some more drama, what can we have happen?   There are some great minor characters, who play their roles very well, but ....

There is something that I realise is quite irrational on my part, but bugged me tremendously, and that is the ease with which half a dozen (or thereabouts) teenagers were able to hop on a plane to Iceland.  I realise this is fiction and I should be able to get past that, but sorry, at least one of them wouldn't have had a passport!  Am I just being nitpicky? Probably. 

I did enjoy the story, I think it just lacked some oomph. Perhaps if the series had just been 3 volumes? For sure, if you've read the series so far, you must finish it off, and I'd be really keen to hear what others thought of it, but sorry Endure, I just wasn't that into you.

City of Lost Souls - by Cassandra Clare

Published: May 2012

Publisher: Margaret K McElderry

Pages: 534

Copy Provided by: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Review:

Once again Cassie Clare manages to stun me with her brilliance.  It's no secret that I love this series.  Its my favourite.  Of all time.  Seriously.  Second place goes to Vampire Academy.  But Cassandra Clare really does manage to weave so many elements into her Mortal Instruments series that it is confounding.  Not only that but you see glimpses here and there of how this world crosses over into the past with her Infernal Devices series.  

It's hard to discuss the how phenomenal this title is if you don't already know the previous 4 books before this.  By now the characters are so solid in terms of their thought processes and jokes.  I hate to say it but when I see phrases from the book I think - That is SOOO Jace.  Or what a Magnus thing to say.  It's sad.  Book friends...what can you do?

Within the first 100 pages, Cassie talks about a t-shirt that Simon is wearing. It says "Clearly I have made some bad decisions". If you know what Simon is and how he has gotten himself in and out of different scenarios, then you'll understand how ridiculously funny this is. Supposedly you can buy the tee at topatoco.com but I have not been able to find it.

So instead of telling you how much you need to read this series, I'm going to leave you with my favourite quotes so you can see what you're missing. 

Here goes -

"...a pendant in the shape of an angel whose wings were clockwork cogs and gear..."

Remind you of anyone? Say Tessa from the Infernal Devices?  Nice crossover reference Ms. Clare.

Jordan and Maia convo

"Are you going to pull that straight-guy thing where you pretend that you can't tell whether other guys are attractive or not?...Well, the hairy guy had that mole, so I think Jace comes out slightly ahead.  If you like that whole chiseled, blonde, Abercrombie-and-Fitch-wishes-they-could-afford-me thing."

 Jace being Jace

"I was hoping they'd put up flyers like they do for lost cats," he said.  "Missing, one stunningly attractive teenage boy.  Answers to 'Jace', or 'Hot Stuff'"

Magnus' thoughts on Simon

"Nerd love.  It is a beautiful thing, while also being an object of mockery and hilarity for those of us who are more sophisticated."

Alec on being gay

"It's not like a stab wound you can protect me from.  It's a million little paper cuts every day."

And of course, I need to put this up once more because it's awesome.

So I know that I haven't told you much about the book but that's because it is very hard to describe when if you haven't read the rest of the series and I don't want to ruin anything.  For those of you who have read book 5, you only have another 1 1/2 YEARS to wait for City of Heavenly Fire, coming out March 2014.  Simon and Schuster, shame on you! :P  However, there are some Shadowhunter extras that you can explore in the meantime....

On another tangent, did you know that Cassie has announced that she is expanding the Shadowhunter world again and is going to start another series called The Dark Artifices?  You can read more via the link.

Another tidbit for those of you who are also crazy for Cassie is that she has announced that she will be co-writing a series with her bestie Holly Black called The Iron Trial.  It's about time ladies!  Can't wait to read it!

Follow Friday

Feature and Follow is a blog hop that was started by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we will answer! This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. This weeks question is:

Q: You are a matchmaker -- your goal, hook up two characters from two of your favorite books. Who would it be? How do you think it would go?

I'd like to hook up Nick from Carrie Jones' 'Need' series with one of the girls from Jennifer Lynn Barnes werewolf series.   I can't be any more specific than that since it's a while since I've read Trial by Fire, but in Nick's case he'd definitely be happier amongst his own kind and it might help him forget Zara.

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Don't forget to check our our Goddess Interrupted giveaway from yesterday.