STACKING THE SHELVES (20)

Hi there! Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

List of Books: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
                       Alienated by Melissa Landers
                       Twice Tempted by Jeannine Frost

List of e-books: Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine

So happy that NetGalley offered BKoB as a "Read Now" book, and I'm excited about the other three reads--though, I think I know The Fault In Our Stars is going to shatter me.

Hope you got some great books this week!

Ninja Girl

THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith

As I'm writing this review, Crazy, Stupid, Love. is playing in the background.  It is now officially V-Day.  Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are doing that amazing "It's like you're Photoshopped" scene.  And I'm feeling the love you guys, so here's a book sure to bring the swoon :-).

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith is a sweet, romantic contemporary YA, featuring a hook I just fell in love with.

From the jacket summary: Graham Larkin and Ellie O'Neill meet--albeit virtually--when Graham accidentally sends Ellie an e-mail about his pet pig, Wilbur.  The two seventeen-year-olds strike up an e-mail relationship, even though they don't even know each other's first name.

Sigh…Smith had me at hello lol.  That bit about the pet pig made me smile.  Usually, I stay away from books where e-mails are involved.  Don't know why.  To me, online communication always seems so impersonal.  I'm a big Jane Austen fan, so I'm also a big fan of the handwritten letter.  I like books I can hold (though ebooks are growing on me).  Anyway, the point is I kind of doubted this relationship.

But I was wrong--and so, SO happy about it!

Ellie and Graham's e-mails were absolutely my favorite part of the book.  They were used in such an amazing way.  Through their exchanges, they get to know each other--and we get to know them.  Beyond the surface details (names, hair color, eye color etc.), they discover each other, what really makes the other tick.

I thought this sent a beautiful message.

Truth: While writing, I have a hard time physically describing my characters, figuring out what they look like.  But I know who they are.  I know what they like best, what makes them cry, their sense of humor, who they'll fall in love with and why.  In my head, I guess those are what make up the character, not their looks.

So I loved how Ellie and Graham's relationship started.  I also really liked the fact that this errant e-mail could begin such a sweet romance.  Great way to integrate today's technology, and like I said, Smith brought the swoon.

I am now a believer in the power of e-mail LOL.

Graham was a true romantic, a 17-year-old movie star who falls for a girl he's never met.  I liked him immediately.  Ellie was an endearing character.  I loved how she was just "normal," as much as any of us are normal.  She was a well-rounded character with likes and dislikes, dreams and fears.  Both of them were good people you just wanted to see get together.

And Smith makes that happen in this beautiful, sweet way <3.  Would've liked a more concrete ending, but no other complaints.  I'm seriously not all that big into Valentine's. But I think the world could use a little more happy.  A perfect read for Valentine's Day!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

TUNE IN TUESDAY: LOVE EDITION

Hi there! Tune in Tuesday is a GReads meme currently hosted over at Kate's Tales of Books and Bands.  This week it's the Love Song Edition, so I'm bringing the swoon <3.  Hope you enjoy!

1. Love Lost by The Temper Trap

2. Sea of Love by Cat Power

3. Stubborn Love by The Lumineers

Happy Tuesday, everyone,

Ninja Girl

FOLLOW FRIDAY

Hi everyone!  Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, two awesome ladies with crazy good blogs. Feature for this week is Tale of Two Doxies.

Q: If you could read a book for the "first time" again, which book would it be?  Why?

I wish I could read SO MANY books again for the first time.  But if I had to choose one, it would be:

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.  I'd love to relive the roller coaster of emotions, meeting Eleanor for the first time, meeting Park. *sigh*  THIS book, this book is feeling.  It is emotion.  It's first love at its finest, and I'm so happy it exists :-D.

Hope you have a great weekend,

Ninja Girl

LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger

I really enjoyed this book--more than I thought I would :).

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger is a book about windtalkers (aka sylphs), who actually speak the language of the four winds: North, South, East and West.  It's also the story of a boy named Vane Weston--who doesn't know he's not human--and the girl of his dreams--who is actually Audra, his guardian tasked to keep him safe and to unlock his memories.

Great concept, and the way the story is written really makes you feel close to the characters while still maintaining the plot.

That is what I think this YA has over other books.  We get to see into both Vane and Audra's thoughts thanks to a really fantastic dual POV.  This is not one of those books where you'll confuse who is speaking.  Vane and Audra were both well-rounded, unique characters, and each had a distinct voice.  Loved that!

Also, the plot itself is revealed in an interesting way.

As Audra trains Vane to use the languages of the wind, we see the development of their relationship.  I think the setting was SO important here.  Instead of placing us in Audra's world where there's chaos and Stormers and a government ruled by sylphs who want to destroy the humans, we stay right in Vane's backyard.

It's almost like Audra and Vane are secluded from the rest of the world--which is where the romance comes in <3.  These two characters were so into each other it wasn't even funny.  Vane, who's been dreaming about Audra, can't believe it.  Now, she's real and right there and close enough to touch.  And Audra, who's supposed to be strictly hands off, can't help but want him just as much as he wants her.

Intense, believable, and utterly swoonworthy romance.

And then, of course, we get the reasons they can't be together: 1) If Vane kisses Audra, it will create a bond between them.  2) In Audra's world, the Westons are actually royalty, and there's no way she'd be a suitable match for Vane.  3) In that same world, Vane has already been promised to another girl.  I loved all of the obstacles in their way.

I especially loved how Vane didn't give a crap about any of that :).  Audra was the girl he wanted, and no one (not even Audra) could convince him otherwise.  He even had a sense of humor.  Vane was my favorite.  Period.

This book had so much going for it.  I loved Vane's foster parents, who were present and concerned and communicated with Vane.  His foster mom, in particular, was one of my very most favorite characters.  The writing was fast-paced and snappy.  The story covered all its bases, NO plot holes, always a reason/explanation for everything.  The romance was a big YES!

At the end, I couldn't wait for book 2.  I'd recommend to anyone who likes YA with interesting characters, cool powers, forbidden romance and dual POV.  Definitely a good read!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

STACKING THE SHELVES (19)

Hi there! Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

List of Books:  Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
                       Never Have I Ever by Katie Heaney
                       Once Burned by Jeanine Frost
                       Stray by Rachel Vincent
                       This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
                       How to Run with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

 List of e-books: License to Date by Susan Hatler
                          Find Her, Keep Her by Z.L. Arkadie

Both of the e-books I got for free (YAY!!) on Amazon.  Find Her, Keep Her was just too good of a title to pass up, and when I'm around free books...it's on like Donkey Kong lol :).  There are several new-to-me authors in this batch.  As of today, I've read/devoured Stray (awesome) and This Is What Happy Looks Like (SO sweet).  I'm now over 100 pages into Once Burned, and I'm enjoying it a lot.  All in all, this haul has produced some very good reads!

Did you get in any great books this week?  I hope so :).

Ninja Girl