I Am Carina And I Speak For The Books!

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaways.Well what to say. I found it to be cliche, predictable and a tad ridiculous. Specially some of the twists. Nash is not actually dead? Marissa turns into a good person in the end?Blah.Olivia and Cash, and everyone else in this story really, they act like a bunch of whinny teenagers. They fight about stupid shit and resolve it with a "but I love you, so it's all for a good cause." or with a "scorching hot look that tells me he wants inside me. Now." I'm sorry but this was a miss for me. Not to the point where I hated the story, but it could have been so much better.I'm not sure if I'll bother with book 3 cause it sounds like another completely cliche topic.2 starsCarina Says BlahCarina Says Nothing New Here

It's sooooooo weird that about a week ago, I read a book with a theme somewhat similar to this one.I wonder if this one's better.......

2.5 to 3 stars in some parts.Review in the next couple days...

That blurb really grabbed me and the fact that it says this is a STANDALONE... well I'm very anxious for this to come out.

Have you seen all the low ratings and bad reviews this book had gotten? Yup, there are a lot. And since this book wasn't a recommendation, I did my homework and read most of them before deciding to pick this one up. I was still intrigued by the idea of this story, so I decided to give it a try.Truthfully? I agree with those reviews I read. Mostly.It is true that this book gives you the "Oh come on, that would never truly happen in a million years!" feel. And you must know that even in Contemporary Fiction, we like to get that realism feeling from the books we read.Another bad strike, was the MC's internal monologue. She was so annoying! I wanted to slap her so many times, I lost count!If she was feeling THAT traumatized and scared, she should have gone to see a shrink or the cops.Otherwise, stop pointing the finger at EVERY MAN that approaches you or even glances at you from a mile away!There where other things wrong with the book. The way things turned out at the last part of the book(and I don't mean the very end/epilogue, cause I actually liked that, for some reason), wasn't how I envisioned it working out. It seemed like Gules should have known better.I know it sounds like I should be giving this book a 1 star rating from what I've been mentioning...........BUT!!!And there you have it ladies and gentleman. The BUT.The dialogue between Gules and her attempted rapist, or peter as she also calls him, was amusing and interesting.It was entertaining. It made me want to see where the story was going and how this whole mess was going to turn out. I found it....sweet(??) to see Gules and "Peter" getting to know each other while Gules still had no idea who this guy was. This guy who had originally tried to rape her!! But "Peter" cared for her. He was just a really messed up and insecure guy, who had made a HUGE mistake, had taken advise from some dumb ass people, and had the biggest feelings of regret that made him feel even more unworthy now. Am I making excuses for him? No, what he did was still wrong. But this whole mess entertained me, what can I say!So I wouldn't say this book was great or good. But I guess I wouldn't say it was bad either. Had some stuff ben cut and polished, I might have been writing a 4 star review.So I liked and didn't like this one, but because I'm so selfish, I'm gonna hope that some of my friends read this, because I want to see their take on it. I'm already in the process of convincing my sister to read it! Muahahaha!Happy Readings!2.5 starsCarina Says OKCarina Liked and Didn't LikeCarina Says It's Complicated...

Putting this one down to come back to later.With all the shit going on in my life right now, I'm not even enjoying reading this book anymore. Which is total bull, I should be jumping from joy. So I'll come back later.Right now I just need some fluff, or stupid simple story.Thanks a lot life... fuck you too!

3.5 to 4 starsHere's the thing:If you're looking for a new concept, fresh idea, original paranormal being, etc, you're not going to find it here.What you WILL find here, is an excellent execution on a familiar theme.The story, the plot and the characters, oh specially the characters! The characters are...RICH. And I don't mean loaded with money. I mean they are well rounded, nicely written, smart, witty, intelligent, etc.And not just the main characters either. The side characters complete the story and kick it up a notch in the Awesomeness Radar.Although it's not all good.There was a scene that, although much better executed here, had me thinking this might have been fan-fiction at some point. Another scene towards the very end really pissed me off because it was so totally and completely vague! I don't what happened and what didn't happen. I was also expecting a more Mystery theme in the book, but there's not really. I kept reading way too much in to things that don't need that much attention, and as thus, should not have been such a focal point in the story. It confused me, the reader.Anyways, the good still out weighted the bad by a lot. And I am happy to say, I already have it planned out to read book 2 with a friend soon. So yay for that.Happy Readings!! 3.5 to 4 starsCarina ApprovedCarina EnjoyedCarina LikedCarina Recommends

I'm not 100% sure I'll be starting this tonight, but I'm gonna try. =)

Is there anything left to say about this series/books that hasn't been said before?Ok, how about:~If you haven't read these already, what are you waiting for??~There are heaps of sarcasm and humor on all books.~Most body parts and material possessions get named!~The sexual tension(and release) is off the charts!~The mysteries, plot, climax, discoveries, characters, etc. They're all so much more polished than in previous books. I've loved all books in this series, but this book is by far the best.~Charley Davidson is awesome!~So.Much.Reyes.Farrow.In.This.Book.~The ending. THE ENDING!!!! I was planning on writing a much more detailed review for this book, but it would be cruel to spoil all the juicy goodness, to deprive everyone from experiencing all the awesomeness on their own.As you all know by now, I am a huge fan of this series. I absolutely adore it! So yes, I go into a little bit of fangirling mode when I read and talk about them. But I promise you, it's with good reason. So like I said, if you still haven't given them a try, do!Happy Readings!Carina ApprovedCarina LovesCarina Says Must ReadCarina Says Awesomeness ********Before Read********Guess what my lovely sister, Mirna, got me for my Birthday????Clue:It's purple with pink. It's 339 pages. It's hardcover. I'm reading it right now. Aaaaaand it's signed by the author......Be jealous, biatches!!!!!

I love the fact that book 5 was just released, but we already have a title for book 6 =)

4.5...I don't know WHO I'm trying to fool, cause I'm sure I'll raise that rating when I come back to post my review, lol!

Don't ask me why or how I ended up reading this one. It just sort of happened.I was actually surprised to be interested and intrigued when I read the first 2 chapters, and then it stayed ok and later on when the paranormal side it was just ok too. But nothing that wow-ed me.Happy readings!2.5 to 3 starsCarina Says Ok

"He was smiling again, He had, I decided, a cocky-bastard smile."How do you know a book was good? You liked it, you were entertained.How do you know a book was very good? You couldn't put it down, you looked forward to reading when you did, and it stayed in your mind.How do you know a book was awesome? It gave you butterflies, kept you hooked and made you lose sleep over it.How do you know a book was the-shit-out-of-this-world-crazy-good? (slowly) When said book, makes you dizzy with happiness, gives you a beautiful, realistic story, lyrical writing and quotes that fill your reading device unlike any other book before, it manages to fill you with joy, raise you up to the clouds....and then drops you like a mother fucking flightless bird. It rips your heart out, leaves the wound open and keeps poking at it, just incase it was healing. Rubs the happiness you once had, in your face and then taunts you with it. It teases you with hope, and just when you thought it FINALLY decided to release you from the pain, it opens up the unhealed wound and makes a hole in your soul, so that it slowly, painfully, leaks out. Leaving you with a screaming pain that cover your entire chest. You can't eat, you can't breath, all you can do is read. Read on and hope, yes still hope, that things get better. And when they do, you don't believe it. It must be another trick! And yet relief comes. The pain of the past doesn't matter as much as you thought. The anger seems much smaller and the book, the god damned book, becomes a gem amongst a beach of sand.You still love this book that made you so angry and put you through hell. THAT, is how you know it was that fucking good.Ten goddamned seconds. The difference between the real stuff and the crap.Never before, have I encountered a character as perfect and flawed at the same time as Paul Hudson. Some one that seems so full of bull shit and yet is the most honest person there.He loves what he loves and he is not willing to compromise for it. He thought he could, but he can't.He is so passionate about his music, his beliefs and about Eliza. Above all, about Eliza. And he has the most lyrical, amazing quotes I have ever encountered in a book. EVER.Eliza is even more flawed than Paul, because you see, the road to hell is filled with good intentions. And Eliza found out the hard way.She tried to do the right thing, but she couldn't have been more wrong. She made me hate her, despise her, with a passion that I had not felt in the longest time, maybe ever before, towards a character. And yet, I understand she was trying to do the right thing. And if Paul can forgive her, I guess I can too.Believe me, I could probably spent the next couple hours quoting so much of this book, because I highlighted PAGES of it. But it would be unfair to those who have not yet read this gem. And if you haven't, what are you waiting for?It took me 2 years to cave in and read this, and I regret every day I let pass. It was a beautiful, magnificent read when it was good. And it was a horrible, painful one when it got bad. But I wouldn't have loved it as much, if it had been any other way.If for nothing else, read this because you have to meet the awesomeness that is Paul-goddamned-Hudson.Happy readings!4 to 4.5 starsCarina ApprovedCarina LovedCarina RecommendsCarina EndorsedCarina says MUST READ

I think I had originlly given this one 4 stars, but to be more acurate, it was a 3.5 to me. Why rounding down? Because it felt closer to 3 than 4 stars.Now this does not mean in any way that I was disappointed or that I love this book(series) any less. On the contrary, this reread had only reinforced my love and devotion. But that doesn't mean I am blind to the faults and bad bits either.I'm just trying to be fair and truthfull to my self here :)

The good, the bad, the ugly...and the Adrian!Clarifications:I still loved the book. I still love Richelle Mead. I am still ecstatic for the next installment.The 3 starts mean the book wasn't perfect. So what. A book doesn't have to be perfect in order for me to like/love it.The GoodThe character growth, specially on Sydney, was very enjoyable. Good bye to the old shy, rule follower, shell hidden Sydney. Welcome to the new risk taker, friend defender, lies unfolder, freedom wanter, open minded Sydney. The writing is as interesting as always. Richelle Mead does an extraordinary job at creating her fantasy worlds and building up on them. From VA where we had Morroi, Dhamphir, Strigoi and Alchemist, now we have discovered the Warriors, Witches/Casters and Rebels. Not to mention a whole deeper lever to the Alchemist.The BadToo many story lines. We have Sydney trying to uncover the Alchemist's secrets, finding a bad witch, learning more magic tricks, dealing with their feelings, taking care of Jill, Eddie, Angelic. It just felt like too much.As much as I love Adrian, and I do. I love his new take on Sydney and their "relationship". How he decides to handle things and go about them was so much more mature than VA Adrian. Me like!But then we would get these moments of an over protective, alpha Adrian, and they left me sort of conflicted. It was as if a little bit of Dimitri had been injected into him, and I just don't know how I feel about that. I love Adrian for him, and I'm glad he's matured so much. But I don't want to lose his essence, his personality. That thing that makes Adrian, well Adrian!The UglyWhy have Jill, Eddie and Angelic become such a background theme? I actually REALLY enjoyed Bloodlines, where they were up and front in the story. Now we barely got glimpses of them and what's going on in their lives. I was left very unsatisfied in this front.The magic learning bored me. I know, I'm sorry! I just find my self being barely interested in this theme. I'm more of an action girl, I guess.*****Drum roll please!*****THE ADRIAN!!Even with the good and the bad changes, Adrian Ivashkov, is Adrian-freaken-Ivashkov, and he.is.the.man.Sexy, funny, tormented, friendly, concerned, lovable, and most of all, what he proved time and time again in this book, is that he is unconditional.Now enjoy:~"I'm done with the pouting," he said. "Done with being moody-well, I mean, I'm always a little moody. That's what Adrian Ivashkov's all about. But I'm done with the excessive stuff. That didn't get me anywhere with Rose. It won't get me anywhere with you.""Nothing will get will get you anywhere with me," I exclaimed. "I don't know about that." He put on a introspective look that was both unexpected and intriguing. "You're not as much of a lost cause as she was. I mean, with her, I had to overcome her deep, epic love with a Russian warlord. You and I just have to overcome hundreds of years' worth of deeply ingrained prejudice and taboo between our two races. Easy."~ "I'll just love you whether you want me to or not"~I have a hickey. I let Adrian Ivashkov give me a hickey.~"I'm not a warrior or a goddess," I managed at last.Adrian leaned closer. "As far as I'm concerned, you're both."~He was too perfect, despite being one of the most imperfect people I knew.Happy readings!!3.5 starsCarina ApprovedCarina EnjoyedCarina Recommends

***Original Read, October 16th-17th, 2010***Why am I surprised that I love this book? It kept my emotions on the edge all the time. Weather is was happyness, loneliness, excitement, alot of grief(tears kept escaping my eyes through out the whole book), love, anger, I could go on and on. This is one of those books you start reading and CAN NOT put down, I dont want to talk about the story cause I'll end up spoiling it but no doubt in my mind this series has becomes one of my all time favorites.