Review of: The Elite(The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass

The Elite(The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 323 pgs
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Released: April 23rd, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia
My Rating: 5 stars
Read: from  April 25 to May 02, 2013
Source: Amazon
Synopsis: 

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller, The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

(from Goodreads)

The Elite is the 2nd out of three books in Kiera Cass's trilogy, The Selection, of which I am wholeheartedly OBSESSED with! I had high expectations for this book because of The Selection, and let me tell you, I wasn't the slightest disappointed!

Since this is the 2nd book in the series and the competition between girls is narrowing down, it was definitely faster paced than with the first. I loved that, I kept right up with it as I finished it in a mere few days. I couldn't get enough of it. I was turning pages left and right.

One thing that made this book so exciting was the amount of action! The attacks on the castle became more frequent and had higher stakes, so naturally my heart was beating out of my chest. I also adored the development of Maxon and America's relationship. Though Maxon has other girls as well at the castle, it wasn't hard for me to see how much he truly cares for America and all that she stands for! I will support them till the end. (TEAM MAXON ALL THE WAY). 

I won't say it, but something happens to a pivotal character in the story that truly ripped my heart out! I was so shocked when I read the words along the lines of "She is being caned" I love this particular character so much and almost cried when this happened. Props to Kiera for making me so emotional!

As you already know, I like Maxon over Aspen. I believe that Aspen had his chance with America in the beginning, and since that didn't work out, it's Maxon's turn now! I know that America loves them both blah blah, blah, but STILL. I like Maxon better plain and simple. I just wish Maxon would man up and America would quit being so indecisive over the two of them! Ugh just pick one!(Preferably Maxon please and thank you (: )

Yes, yes yes yes yes I totally absolutely recommend this book to everyone and anyone out there because I love this series just as much as the next person and I want you to share these feelings as well with me! But please read The Selection first because reading them out of order would kinda ruin it!

♦Haley♦

Showcase Sunday, #3: The Anne Eliot Edition!

Showcase Sunday is a wonderful meme hosted by the lovely Vicki @ Books, Biscuits and Tea. If you would like to join, please click HERE.

So, last weekend or so, I received a ginormous package full of goodies from one of my best-author friends, Anne Eliot, author of Unmaking Hunter Kennedy and Almost. Over the past couple months, we have become really close after I reviewed Unmaking Hunter Kennedy. Click the name to see the review,if you wish(: She was so generous and kind enough to send me her two books, a coffee mug, and plenty of other book-related swag + Rio 2016 Olympics swag! 

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~Unmaking Hunter Kennedy~

Paperback

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy was the first book I have read and reviewed of Anne Eliot's. I was super excited when she asked me, and I was not disappointed! So happy to have this baby with me now(:

~Almost~

Getting Almost in the mail was suprising. I mean, I knew I was getting it, but it was sort of a freebie when Anne offered it! I'm super stoked to read this book, it sounds so interesting! Plus, both of these books are heavy, which is a good thing! I really like it that way(:

This was such a cool post card! As to her writing, these are ancient sand dunes turned on their side. This is all in her backyard in Colorado! Neat!

This is too cute! I mean, it sums up my life in one sentence. This may end up as my bumper sticker one day, you never know! ;)

Agh! A coffee mug! YAY! :D Even though I don't drink coffee, I can use this for lots of drinks! Plus, this is the first of it's kind, so it's awesome-er(is that even a word? lol)

I know this is hard to see, but it says Rio 2016. And some stuff on the front I don't understand, but anywhoo, this is cooool! I mean, who else has Olympics just released swag besides me and Anne?? It's pretty spanking awesome.

So that was a long a drawn out Showcase Sunday! But, I really wanted to get it out there for all you guys, and wanted to appreciate Anne for all she sent me! Thanks bunches Anne! Yes, I know this is a day late.. yada yada.. I'm busy, people! Haha just kidding(: What did you get for your Showcase Sunday? Feel free to elaborate in the comments.

♦Haley♦

Mini Reviews: The Selection and Glimmerglass

Hi guys(: I hope you all had a wonderful week, and are having a great weekend! Today, I will be doing 2 mini reviews, because I have come to the conclusion that I simply have no time to write out 2 full ones. My schedule is so hectic right now, but at least I still have time to blog! Now, let's begin(:


1. The Selection(The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 327 pgs
Publisher: HarperTeen
Released: April 24th, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Read: January 1st-5th
Source: Barnes&Noble

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

(from Goodreads)

The Selection was a perfect read for me. I had heard so much press about it, so I was really excited when I got my hands on it. I think the part I liked the most about it was that America was such a fighter. She was very out of the ordinary, and stood out from the rest of the Selected. The pacing was nicely put, and I didn't feel like a snail or an Olympic runner at any point. Maxon, oh Maxon. He is probably the first fiction boy I have swooned after, instead of lusting after, lol. He was so gentlemanly to America, and he truly seemed like he one day could run their country. Aspen was okay for me. I liked him a lot in the beginning, but after something happened, I kinda hated him and forgot about him until he came back into the story. The love triangle was pretty nice, unlike the forced ones you see authors make. I can't wait to read The Elite!

I thought America was very feminist for herself, fellow Selected and to her maids. She stood up for them all no matter how many chips were down. Therefore, I am marking The Selection as my first Feminist Read for my 2013 Feminist Reads Challenge.

1.The Selection(The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass 5/5 stars.
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2. Glimmerglass(Glimmerglass, #1) by Jenna Black

Page Count(Paperback Edition): 294 pgs
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Released: May 25th, 2010
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
My Rating: 3/5 stars
Read: January 6th-12th
Source: Library

Synopsis:

It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp...

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides shes had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl, she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with...until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again.

For a good part of this book, I was confused as to what Avalon really was, and who the Council was for that matter. I also had a hard time connecting with Dana and her life. She seemed to over-react a lot, and kept trusting people who hurt her time and time again. Dana was entertaining though, so I stuck around to see what came next. As far as the plot goes, it was interesting enough to want me to stick around as well. As it progressed, I slowly grew more and more attached to the story. I definitely want to read the next book soon, but I'm not totally sold to the story yet. I may take a couple of months and then read it, who knows? (:

♦Haley♦

Review of: Surrender(Possession, #2) by Elana Johnson

Surrender(Possession, #2) by Elana Johnson

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 480 pgs.
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Released: June 5, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
My Rating: 5 stars
Read: from December 26th-31st, 2012
Source: Books-A-Million

Synopsis:

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque....

(from Goodreads)

I knew I would enjoy Surrender, but I didn't know how much I would fall in love with it. This heart pounding, action-packed sequel to Possession simply blew me away, easily becoming my favorite book of 2012.

From the start, Surrender turned into an un-put-down-able book. There was no moment in my mind where I said " Oh, I'll just stop here for today". No. I was constantly on the edge of me seat going round and round in circles in my head, trying to figure out what the heck what was going on at that point, but that was a good thing! Just as soon as I sorta half figured out what happened and kinda digested it, another surprise took me, and I delved on in between the story's folds. I still can't believe all of what happened!

I was super duper happy with the characters. I am obsessed with Raine and Gunner officially. They match so well,and truly could own their world one day. Their relationship was slow and steady, in contrast to insta-love. Raine had always noticed and watched (not creepy at all haha) Gunn, but never really felt their connection until they spent time together ♥.

I was surprised when I figured out Elana didn't continue with Vi and Jag's story from Possession. I suppose there was nothing to continue with in Vi's P.O.V in Surrender, as she was brainwashed and other stuff I shall not tell for the sake of you who have not read it yet :P. The switching of P.O.V's of Raine and Gunn was quite brilliant and never was I once confused as to who was talking. You learn what is going on with Vi and Jag through Raine and Gunn's P.O.V's. I loved that aspect of it, because Vi and Jag's part in the story was never left, but rather added to. Throughout all this, you begin to learn that the Earth as we know it now was totally destroyed from a nuclear war, which is kinda scary but eye opening as this is very possible. You also learn that their world is protected from the outside, while on the inside they live with bunches of protocols to follow and to never go beyond the wall, because you will never come back.

I loved this sequel because, for one, Elana expanded on so much that was a mystery to me in Possession, like their world, the Badlands, who was Gunn's father in Possession(I'm going blank on the name lol).
Surrender was a fantastic sequel to Possession, that I thoroughly enjoyed, and all I can say and think now is: I NEED THE NEXT BOOK PRONTO. Surrender will leave you going:

♦Haley♦

Showcase Sunday, #2: Post Holiday Edition!

Showcase Sunday is a wonderful meme hosted by the lovely Vicki @ Books, Biscuits and Tea. If you would like to join, please click HERE.

I hope you are all having a great New Year! I most certainly did, but on Tuesday I go back to school. :( I got so many books over the holiday's, I feel spoiled! Plus, I got bunches of gift cards, and have already spent about half. ^_^. So this is a mix of books I bought, got as gifts and some library books I just checked out yesterday(: Enjoy!

Checked out from library

Glimmerglass (FaerieWalker, #1) by Jenna Black

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

The Silenced by James Devita

Gifts to me

North of Beautiful by Justin Chen Headley 

Crossed(Matched, #2) by Ally Condie

Entwined by Heather Dixon

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Belle of the Brawl(Alphas, #3) by Lisi Harrison

Bought

Eve(Eve, #1) by Anna Carey

What's left of Me(The Hybrid Chronicles, #1) by Kat Zhang

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

So as you can see, I am kinda craving Dystopian books right now. I am so excited to start reading all these! What is your Showcase Sunday? Link me up!

♦Haley♦

Review of: Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot+Giveaway

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot

Page Count(eBook edition):422 pages
Publisher: Butterfly Books, LLC
Released: October 17, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Read: from October 19 to December 23, 2012
Source: Anne Eliot herself! Thank you so much! ♥

Synopsis:  

After a car accident--an event he considers a prank gone bad--pop star, Hunter Kennedy is forced to hide out with his aunt in small-town Colorado. He’s supposed to rest, heal his scars and attend high school in disguise until the press dies down. But he only wants to get back to work.

Worse, the girl who’s been assigned to make him over into a geek is a major geek herself. Vere Roth is a chattering pixie, a blushing tornado and a complete social disaster. He’s never met a girl who’s never-been-kissed, believes in romance and thinks Hunter’s a 'nice' guy.

Funny thing is...Hunter is nice around Vere because she’s his first real friend. He also can’t seem to stop sharing his secrets or keep her out of his heart. Knowing he’d never deserve a girl as sweet as Vere, he resigns himself to the friend zone, and helps his new bestie with her own makeover.

She tortures him daily for ridiculous guy advice on how to snag her life-long crush. A guy Hunter thinks is totally wrong for Vere, and sadly, one who has taken note of Vere’s transformation.

When Vere asks her best friend for some kissing advice, Hunter can’t resist...

And that’s when things get out of control...

(from Goodreads)

When I first started this book, I had no clue that I would deeply adore it. Unmaking Hunter Kennedy was a very cute, laughable love story that I'm sure you too, would fall in love with it.

Hunter Kennedy is basically this big pop star in this band called GuardeRobe. He is shipped off to Colorado to live with his Aunt Nan, and The Roth family. Hunter is this ultra hot, tall, blazing blue eyed guy,who, frankly, I fell in love with. You could think that he was this perfect pop star with no problems whatsoever  but that isn't true. He actually attempted suicide and has scars on his wrist from self harm. I was surprised that Anne added that bit, but very happy with how she handled this delicate subject.

So, we follow Hunter through his new home and The Roth family. Vere and Charlie Roth are siblings that now have to welcome Hunter into their life. But, there is a catch. They need to disguise him into this geeky persona so now one will recognize him at their high school, giving him his new name; Dustin Mchugh. I really enjoyed watching Vere and "Dustin's" relationship grow as they camouflaged him in a weekend. I experienced how Vere had to deal with Dustin's "assets", like his hair, eyes or perfect bone structure. Have I mentioned that I adore him?

At first, I was kinda ehhh about Vere, but she grew on me and I begun to relate to her in all of these situations she was put in. Like, every time Curtis, her crush, came around she blushed like crazy and her heart went wild. I was seriously imagining me in those moments! Once I realized how much we had in common, I couldn't get enough of her; she was so cute, like a teddy bear with and attitude! Also, I found myself laughing so hard at Vere's humor!

There is no doubt, a serious attraction to one another as the story progresses. I was up on my couch rooting for them the whole way. How can one not with these collection of quotes?!:

He laughed low and ran a finger along the top of her mouth. His touch sent shivers of sparkles down the back of her neck. “You have heart shaped lips in a heart shaped face. Has anyone ever told you? This one—this top lip alone—could drive a guy out of his mind?”

A strand of her golden-brown hair caught in the breeze and settled itself across her chest before it whipped up and caught against her lips. Lips that have never been kissed. Remember that, dude.

"Thought you were too chicken to try this," she added. Her voice had came out all raspy-sexy. Her eyes were heavy with sleep. A length of hair slid over her shoulder, curling around her tanned hips! Tangling into the little red bikini bows!

Ugh! That last one almost killed my poor heart!

On a more serious note, I really appreciated how Anne added that aspect of suicide into the story. While it wasn't real, it most certainly portrayed what some teens go through on a daily basis. Self harm and suicide is on the rise, which scares me a lot. If you or a loved one are self harming and/or thinking about committing suicide, please get help. You are worth so much in this world. Please look in the back of this book, as suicide hotline numbers are provided. Please, you are not alone in this battle. ♥

All in all, I really enjoyed Unmaking Hunter Kennedy and I recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary romance with lots of humor and cuteness(:

Now... GIVEAWAY time!!
Thank you, Anne Eliot, for giving me this opportunity(:

I have one copy of Unmaking Hunter Kennedy up for grabs

Rules:

• To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below
• I ask that all entrants be 13 years or older.
• This giveaway is U.S only, due to postal prices.
• When the winner is chosen, it will be announced here and the winner will be emailed by me. Please check your email, because I am only giving the winner 48 hours to respond. Another winner will be selected if this occur's.
• Please enter your email address in the form below, and not in the comments please!(:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

♦Haley♦

Showcase Sunday #1

This is my first Showcase Sunday! (: If you are interested, click here for more info(: The book I will feature is one you may have seen with yesterday's post.

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1. Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski

Page Count(e-book Edition): 36
Publisher: Harper Teen Impulse
Released: December 4th
Genre: Young Adult Novellas
Source: Amazon Kindle Store

Synopsis:

From the critically acclaimed author of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) and the Magic in Manhattan series comes a fun short story about taking the plunge on the high seas, where not everything is what it seems.

Kristin is ready to take the next step. . . . The only problem is she hasn't found the right guy to take it with her. That's why she agreed to go on the ominously named Cruise to Nowhere with her best friend, Liz. There are plenty of cute guys on the ship to choose from if only Kristin can work up the nerve—and stop worrying about the reports in the tabloids that passengers on cruises have been mysteriously disappearing and that someone suspects it has to do with . . . vampires.

(from Goodreads)

I literally got this book the day it was released, and for only a dollar! I most likely won't do a review on this just because of how short it is. Maybe a paragraph or two.. Who knows? Happy Blogging!

♦Haley♦