Book Review 

Evermore by Alyson Noel

 

When reading a novel or watching a TV show or even movie you have to like one of the characters. Someone has to have some kind of redeeming qualities. This book didn't have any. I had to force myself to finish this novel, and continuing on to the rest of the series, yeah right like that was going to happen. The novel doesn't even have a good plot. Ever Bloom a popular cheerleader, goes on a drive with her family and their car crashes into a tree. Her parents and younger sister didn't survive but somehow when Ever survived she was given psychic powers, like clairvoyance and aura reading. Like that's not fair fetched or anything. Now an orphan Ever goes to live with her aunt Sabine a wealthy lawyer that movies Ever to California in a home with a gorgeous beach view and is rarely ever home. Also her sister Riley hasn't yet passed over to the other side, so occasionally Ever has conversations with her dead little sister. So Ever meets Damen in English class where she finds she cannot read his aura (she thinks he's dead). In reality Damen is an immortal with the ability to cross over into the plane where souls reside before being judged. And then some where in the mix Damen's wife Audrina shows up and surprisingly drama breaks out because she's mad Dame is in love with someone else. In the end Ever kills her and "the power of love" saves the day.

In my opinion this book is full of flat not relatable characters and the relationships are shallow and unrealistic. Plus the mythology is full of holes and the story moves pretty slowly and it's rather boring. But while I was reading other reviews on Goodreads someone came up with the Evermore drinking game and I believe that might actually make this book better. So I have to share it with all of you! Want to enjoy Evermore here's your best chance. 


The Evermore drinking game: 
The rules: when you read any of the following instances, take a swig. And go!

- Whenever you roll your eyes, take a swig

- Whenever you feel like taking a hammer to Evermore, take a swig (and maybe that hammer)

Easy so far? Don’t worry – you won’t be saying that after long.

- Whenever Ever (heh) is a complete and total idiot, take a swig (yikes)

- Whenever someone uses a positive adjective when describing Damen, take a swig (preferably sexy, gorgeous, hot, smoking, or even combustible)

- Whenever someone says “omigod”, take a swig (omigod you’re in trouble!)

- Whenever Ever presses her lips, take a swig (good luck with that one, my friend)

- Whenever another talent Damen has is revealed, take a swig (but Damen will probably swig better than you)

- Whenever you find out something before Ever does, take a swig

- Whenever Ever throws herself a pity party, take a swig (ya know, her family used to like parties...)

- Whenever Ever dreams of Damen, take a swig

- Whenever Damen and Ever declare their undying love for each other, take a swig

- Whenever Riley is annoying, take a swig

- Whenever you feel the urge to run out the nearest window because you’re reading Evermore, take a swig

- When (or if) you finish Evermore, take a swig, because you, my friend, conquered this monstrosity

Okay I might have been a little harsh but I really hated this book. 

A.B.

Attention All GLEEeks!!

Glee's Final Bow

Tomorrow's episode will be the last Glee episode 2014 will see, which means gleeks have an 8 month wait for the final season "Glee Say's Goodbye". Though the final season order currently calls for 22 episodes the number will most likely drop. Kevin Reilly the boss over at Fox says "The order is currently for 22, but we're actually going to sit down with Ryan [Murphy] and really talk about how we're going to end it and figure that out. We're going to sit down and talk about exactly the best way to end the show." I personally think after this horrid 5th season a final 6th season is lucky for them and I'm hoping they finish it off right. I want all the characters stories to end the right way. And maybe in the next 5 years we'll be honored with a Glee The Movie. Who knows!

What I do know is how bad the 5th season has bed. I've composed a list of the top 5 reasons season 5 was a major let down. 

1. No more Finn.
It was a hard lose for all Glee fans when we heard the news about Cory Monteith last summer and it has definitely shown on the show. Let's face it The Quarterback episode has us all in tears. It's impossible to replace him in the show or in our lives but his presence has impacted the show and it's hard to enjoy the after mass.

2. The old Rachel's reappearance.
I understand they couldn't just throw Rachel into a new romance that wouldn't be fair to the memory of Finn but seriously why fake us out with the one episode flirtation with Sam. Rachel had made such great strides getting a makeover, finding success at Nyada, playing her dream role of Fanny on Broadway, breaking up with Finn for lying to her, and making peace with Santana. And then the old Rachel came back. If Rachel falls she will have no one to blame but herself. I'm mad she's moving backward into her old ways where she creates drama and is selfish. It's like moving in a circle it's annoying. 

3. What about Glee club?
Since getting second at nationals the New Directions no long have a glee club. The disappointment of losing was seen after the episode where they repeated songs and everyone including Holly Holiday, April Rhodes and the alumni who returned to mourn the club. Holly and April swore to help fix the problem, but only after they finished their wine. Alcoholics. Sue tells Will there's a position at another school he can take but there's nothing else she can do. And then we hear nothing.

4. What happened to Mckinley High?
What is going on? After Holly and April swear to find a solution to the glee clubs problem, we hear nothing. What are the Mckinley kids doing? The seniors who graduated moved on, we've seen some of them. We've even seen Will and yet we have no idea what is going on with Marley, Unique, Ryder, or Jake. Why all of a sudden don't they matter? And how are they going to integrate the kids at Mckinley back in the show without it being awkward and unnatural. 

5. "Previously Unaired Christmas"
I mean, enough said. Although I did love Rachel's Santa's little helper outfit. 

A.B.

Book Review 

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

I tried to get into this novel. I tried to get caught up in the atmosphere of this Victorian horror story but I just couldn't. Not everything about this book was bad but there was a lot I didn't like, starting with long periods of slow, boring plot points. This book intrigued me, the idea of this book is really interesting but the execution left something to be desired. The book is set up well, the beginning is fantastic it's creepy and well written and it grabs the reader's attention drawing them in and then it Juliet and Montgomery get on a boat and the story takes a nose dive. 

The main focus of this book was the romance a love triangle actually, when the emphasis should have been on the gothic thriller aspect. The love interests were presented in the standard gentleman vs. wild boy.  What annoyed me the most was that the romance aspect wasn't even interesting or original. Juliet flipped back and forth between Montgomery and Edward so quickly it could give you whiplash. In this plot a focus on romance doesn't fit and that's what's truly disappointing. Although the middle moved slowly there was a powerful cliffhanger ending that gives promise the second book will be amazing. But after forcing myself to finish this book I don't intend to read the next book. 

A.B.

Book Review 

Free Falling by Kirsty Moseley 

 

Kirsty Moseley is an author I enjoy reading so naturally I was excited to read this book. I loved Always You even if there were some unrealistic plot holes. This book is also a companion novel to Always You which was unexpected and exciting but in honesty it not much is mentioned about the other novel it truly is a standalone. I read this book until the end and up until a certain point I enjoyed it, questioning the identity of the stalker and wondering what would happen next but when the plot resolved it left me pissed. 

There are book covers who lead readers to believe the novel will be one way and it turns out to be another. This book is one of those. The cover leads the reader to believe that when things start changing in Maisie's life it is caused by the arrival of mysterious new kid Zach Anderson. But the book really focused on Maisie and her boyfriend who cheats on her early in the novel. And later focuses on Maisie being stalked. One problem I had was Zach's role he either needed to be more involved as Maisie's friend, maybe savior, new romance or *SPOILER* he needed to be the stalker. The second problem is Maisie's final discussion to keep everything to herself. What a bad choice! I know she's what 18 but who doesn't tell someone anyone else about several crimes or a murder! I mean what about the people who live in her down who are worried about a killer in their town, or her family? And then she goes to college and she runs into Zach again, was that supposed to get us to believe they would end up together or allow the reader to make their own conclusion to the story, if so I choose to not think about this book after this. It was a pretty big disappointment. 

A.B.

Book Recommendation

When It Rains by Lisa De Jong

 

Happy Mother's Day too all you moms, grandmas, step-moms, mother-in-laws, foster moms and any one else! I hope you know how appreciated and loved you are! I wouldn't be the person I am today without my mom or my grandma so I love you and I thank you for everything you do for me.

This book captivated me from the very first page and I really couldn't put it down. Although it took me through an emotion and beautiful heartbreaking roller coaster ride. This book was moving, and I ugly cried big time while I read it, but it was definitely worth every tear I cried. 

Kate has been something horrible but no one knows, but she's not the same happy, outgoing girl anymore. Her longtime friends Beau comes to her the day before he leaves for college and gives Kate his heart, but she can't keep it. She's broken and she can't be fixed. But Beau had always been there for her even after she lost herself and she never realized how much she needed him until her left for school. Then one day, she meets Asher and he wants to break down every single wall Kate has put up. But it's not easy to keep him out and soon she's finding herself, finding love, and worst of all a whole lot of heartbreak.

This book was beautifully written. The story flowed well and the characters were lovable. Even though my heart was torn from my chest, it was worth all the heartache. A book about moving forward, being strong and finding yourself again, it goes on the top of my reads list of 2014. 

A.B.

Burke is Back 

Goodbye Cristina Yang

Sadly, I haven't yet gotten a chance to watch yesterday's episode of Grey's. Because of the whole verify to watch deal, which I find really lame I just watch last week's episodes not yesterdays. And I have to say I'm happy about the turn the show is taking. I started watching Grey's in high school, way after the show started. It was on Lifetime and I watched the bomb in the body episode and loved it. I had to watch more. At the time I didn't know that it would still be going ten seasons later and I'll definitely be sad when it's over. I pray that's not for another ten seasons but who knows. 

The show has come a long way in ten seasons. A lot has changed. The hospital's name has changed three times, god knows how many of my favorite characters are gone now, Meredith isn't crazy depressed anymore and everyone seems to be with the person they should be with, for now. Cristina has always been a character I've had a love hate relationship with, I think she's great but I also think she's extremely annoying. I mean when she was dating Burke, yuck. When she saved Derek and then went crazy, seriously? Or when she and Meredith weren't talking and she started sleeping with the intern Shane, double yuck. But she also is a compelling character and the show would not be the same without her. Am I sad to see her go, I guess. Her story line has been a little boring lately anyway. 

I think it was a good idea to bring Burke back even though I hated him the whole time he was on the show. It was important for the closer of Cristina's character to come full circle. A lot of the last seven seasons she has been trying to get over the Burke's betrayal and move forward with her life. I think that's why she clung to Owen after the icicle and the shooting, she never had someone like Owen just a good guy who liked his job but that wasn't his number one priority in life. I think Burke was right, as much as Cristina didn't want to hear it or believe it for people who put their job first and strive to be the best at all cost the only person who they will be happy with is someone who will give up everything for them. At the end of this episode Burke said his wife gave up so much for him it was his turn, Christina isn't to the point where she's ready to slow down and to force that for the sake of the show would have created unrest. I can't say how yesterday's episode effects any of my thought's now and maybe after watching it next week my opinion will change but I think it was good of the writers and producers to let Cristina move on in this way. And come one I couldn't take another death.

By Cristina, you'll be missed.
A.B.

Book Recommendation 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

There's a lot to be said for Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky. The imagery throughout the book is fascinating and vivid yet simplistic enough for most audiences to grasp reasonably well. The writing was well written and understandable for all age groups. It was a good novel on goodreads I gave it four out of five stars it was an excellent read but I don't know if I'd put it under my favorites although it did a good job evoking emotions and it was inspiring. 

The first thing that caught my attention about this novel is the title, Under the Never Sky, it's compelling. It makes you want to read what it's going to be about. This book isn't strictly post-apocalyptic fiction; it doesn't exactly fit into what I would call a dystopian novel. I kind of like how Rossi never explained the Aether. You never get a clear answer as to what is it, how it came to be or how does it work. And I think that helps the creativity that this novel brings out. The Aether can be different things to different people, giving power to the reader is a really cool thing and a tricky thing to accomplish, Rossi did it just right.

So what's it all about? Aria is a Dewller, a girl who grew up in virtual realms her whole life. She lives her life through the make believe worlds she selects through her Smarteye, the eyepatch that lets her take trips into a virtual reality. Aria get's thrown out into the real world after an act of treason. There she meets Peregrine, a Savage from the outside world they call The Death shop, where reality is harsh, disease-ridden and deadly.  The two unlikely pair set out to rescue the people they care about most, and on the way they find out questions they didn't know they should be asking. 

I love that this story doesn't start off a love story. Aria spends a lot of the booking hating Perry. She thinks he's sinister and sort of disturbing. Perry, in turn, finds Aria outright disgusting in the beginning. After working together to survive and finding a common interest they start to open up to each other. The stories focus is not on the love between Aria and Perry although that is important to the solution to their problems. But throughout the novel Aria and Perry fight to stay alive while trying to fix the havoc others have created in their life. 

A.B.

Rush Too Far

Last night was a productive day for ready but not so productive in studying for finals or finishing up last week of class's homework and such. I finished both The One by Kiera Cass and Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines. Both were very enjoyable hence why I finished both in one day and didn't get any work done for school. 

Rush Too Far is Fallen Too Far from Rush's point of view. I was excited to read this book because In Blaire was oblivious to so much during Fallen Too Far, everyone tried to hide the family secret from her and she knew something was going on but couldn't figure out what was going on. Rush's point of view was cool because you already know what's going on in Blaire's head so to be able to understand how Rush feels or how the situation started is really cool. It's almost like putting the missing puzzle pieces together.

This series was good because the secret that pulls Blaire and Rush apart isn't guessable. Even with the hints Glines gives throughout the book, you would have to be extremely intuitive to guess what was to come next. Rewriting a book from another characters point of view can end horribly, if the reader isn't getting any new information about the new character or the situation it's reading a book over again with the anticipation of reading a new book. It's a major let down. But Glines did a fantastic job with this book, while reading it the reader starts to understand how early Rush starts falling for Blaire, and how deep his feeling are for her. For me this book really completed the trilogy. Although I wouldn't mind an epilogue book, where Blaire and Rush have three kids and are living life. I wonder how their relationships with Nan, Blaire's dad, Blaire's half-brother and Rush's mom would have changed by then. I'll be waiting. 

If you have a twitter don't forget to check out @Book_Sense
  
A.B.

The One 

Book Review 

The One by Kiera Cass came out today. And yes I finished it in less than six hours but in my defense I was really excited about this particular book release. The final novel in The Selection Trilogy was excellent. This trilogy was a good combination of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games. It was riveting and yet lighthearted. 

In all three novels there was a time where I wanted to throw the book across the room. Actually there were multiple times that happened in the second and third novels. Don't worry I didn't no harm came to my books. But I was seriously frustrated with the characters! It's one of those series where your glad there's more to come but could have been ended earlier. Maybe it's just my personality to say what I feel but it was extremely annoying that America and Maxon don't communicate. The whole point of the selection is to fall in love. Well you can't truly fall in love with someone if you're not honest and you can't trust them! I was rooting for America and Maxon from the beginning. Aspen is a sweetheart and he's a great guy but America and Mazon complete each other, as cheesy as it is to say that. For me when I fall in love I want the other person to make me a better person and I want to help them be better too. I want my guy to know my strengths and weakness or my likes and dislikes and then help me just because he knows me so well. And I think Maxon and America do that for each other. Maxon calms America down, a little. And America opens Maxon's eyes to what he could never understand without her. I'm happy with how this Trilogy ended and I recommend it to you all!

Now I get to start Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines! Hope you all had a great day and a relaxing night.

A.B. 
 

Life Hacks

20 ways to make your life better!

1. If you bought new jeans and they turn your legs blue, you can wash them with a tablespoon of salt to set the dye.

2. Bad a math? Mathway.com solves all kinds of math problems with step-by-step explanations.

3. If you ever mess up a voice mail to someone, press # to erase and re-record your message.

4. Try applying your deodorant at night instead of the morning. It'll be more effective and you'll sweat less the next day.

5. Out of candles? A crayon will burn for up to 30 minutes.

6. have you ever watched a TV show and wanted something a character has worn? There's a website Wornontv.net that finds the exact clothes and lists them with where to buy them.

7. On Nickreboot.com you can continuously stream 90's cartoons for free!

8. A handicapped parking spot needs a sign to be valid. If it just has a wheelchair painted on the ground, you can legally park there.

9. Putting your phone on airplane mode will stop ads while playing games.

10. On supercook.com you just enter what ingredients you have and it tells you what meals you can make and how to make them.

11. If  you have to make a tough decision flip a coin, not to decide for you, but you'll know which one you want more. You'll either be disappointed with your answer or really excited.

12. Going to the zoo? Wear the same color as the employees, the animals will come to you instead of backing away.

13. Making cookies and don't have any eggs? Sure you could ask the neighbor but half a banana (per egg) work as a good substitute.

14. Buying something form Amazon? Buy it from smile.amazon.com part of the proceeds go to the charity of your choice.

15. Want to make healthy brownies? Replace the vegetable oil with a cup of applesauce.

16. To skip a YouTube ad, just change 'YouTube' to 'YouTubeskip' in the URL of any video.

17. If you peel a banana from the bottom, you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it.

18. If you type "do a barrel roll" into your Google search, the whole page will spin. Seriously try it!

19. Placing an envelope in the fridge for an hour will unseal it.

20. Ever hear a song on TV but you don't know what it is? whatisthatsong.net will tell you.

A.B.

Once Upon a Time

So I'm spending my Sunday catching up on the episodes of Once Upon a Time I missed, when I should really be preparing for finals next week. Oh well procrastination is the key to college life. And I have to say I love this show. I'm a huge fan of fairy tales, and Disney. So mixing them all together in an adult TV show was bound to be one of my favorite shows. 

I had my doubts about this show and I'll admit it took me until the show was on Netflix to watch but I eventually did and I have to say its gotten better with every episode. Not to mention the cast is fantastic! They writers did a really good job at intertwining the different stories together. I really hope Hook and Emma get together! And I love that Regina is becoming part of the family even when she's the evil queen. She's starting to work with the good guys, and become friends with Snow again. It's so creative how the writers put all relationships together it's not just that they live in the same magical world all of their lives mix together in one way or another. And not to mention I love that Gennifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas are truly in love and having a baby. 

I love love love the Wizard of Oz  I had pair of my very own ruby slippers when I was little, it's one of my favorite stories. And if you haven't seen Wicked yet it better be on your bucket list because it's amazing I mean there aren't words to express how much I love that musical. Needless to say I am super excited with the turn of events that the show has taken. I like how they explained her green skin with her envy to her sister that was unexpected and very creative. The story of Wicked makes you like the wicked witch of the west or Elphaba (Zelena in Once Upon a Time). But in this show there is no sorrow for Zelena. And let's face it Zelena should be angry at Cora not Regina, Cora was a selfish jerk who was only thinking about how she could get what she wanted. That's not Regina's fault. Cora could have kept her instead she gave her away for selfish reasons.



I haven't yet started watching Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, but we'll see if it happens. I really don't like shows that you have to watch one show to know what's going on in another. That's the reason I don't watch Ravenswood. but if it's as good as Once Upon a Time then I should probably start talking. I can't wait to find how it all turns tonight! Dorothy's making her appearance!

A.B.

Book Recommendation 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

 This book could have gone awry. Many books with the main plot being about love end up cheese and repetitive, without hitting any major important themes. This book is not like that. I love this book I think the plot is so creative and realistic and that's what makes the book so interesting and scary. For those of you who don't have a background of the plot here's a little taste,

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

This story plot is genius. If you think about it love could be considered a bad thing. It hurts when you have it and it hurts when you don't. And when you're in love there are symptoms just like another sickness, your heart beats faster, sometimes you flush, you get butterflies in your stomach, and those are just the good symptoms. What happens with a broken heart? As you read this book you can see it playing out in the future. I can see people thinking getting rid of love and matching people by other qualifications would seem like a good answer to the world's problems. In high school I believed I was in love, and when it happens you get this amazing feeling your happy all the time and you think about that person and being in a relationship all the time. It's your sole focus. I can understand how someone could consider love a bad thing. If you've ever had your heart broken you'll agree that it's horrible. I may not agree with the solution to humanities problem is getting rid of love, but I can see the point of view that these people come from.

I love this book it's interesting and thrilling with an amazing, well thought out plot. I recommend it to all!

A.B.

Revolution

So I've been obsessed with this new TV show called Revolution. The first season is on Netflix so and the second season is currently on NBC. The show is set 15 years after the start of a worldwide, permanent electrical-power blackout. In a society so reliant on technology, people were forced to adapt to to a world without electricity over the next fifteen years. Because of the collapse of government and public order, many areas are now ruled by warlords and militias. The show starts with the surviving Matheson family: Ben, Charlie and Danny, who live in a rural area near what used to be Chicago. Ben is one of 6 people who posse a USB flash drive hidden in a pendant that is the key to not only finding out what happened fifteen years ago, but also a possible way to reverse its effects. 

Sebastian Monroe, the General of the Monroe Militia and self-appointed President of the Monroe Republic tracts down Ben to retrieve the pendant so he can turn the power back on and take full control of the United States. Not finding the pendent Monroe kills Ben and Kidnaps Danny for incentive. Before Ben dies he tells Charlie to find his brother Miles in Chicago because he's the only one who can get Danny back from the Militia. Charlie along with two unlikely friends set out to find Miles so they can get her brother back. 

If you need a different reason other than a fantastic plot to give the show a shot, it also has a pretty awesome cast. Who's all in it well, 

Billy Burke  - That's right Bella Swan's Dad!

Elizabeth Mitchell - Juliet from lost!

Giancarlo Esposito - The Magic Mirror from Once Upon a Time

Stephen Collins - 7th Heaven's Eric Camden

Kim Raver - Teddy from Grey's Anatomy

Mark Pellegrino - Jacob from lost

Daniella Alonso - Everyone's favorite lesbian from One Tree Hill

Seriously, I'm hooked an you guys will be too! Check it out on Netflix

A.B.