Movie: A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits 2016

Main Characters:

Sofia Carson as Tessa/Bella

Thomas Law as Reed West

Jennifer Tilly as Divine

Amy Louise Wilson as Athena

Jazzara Jaslyn as Olympia
Nicola Fortuin as Georgie

In a Cinderella musical competition, Tessa is forced to accompany her evil stepmother Divine and stepsisters Athena and Olympian to become their personal assistant. As much as Tessa hates it, she can't do anything but follow their orders. While at the competition, Tessa finds herself wanting to take part in the musical and realizes she has what it takes to be the next Cinderella. With the help of her new friend (and fairygod mother) Georgie, she reluctantly agrees to disguise herself so she can audition. The problem is, she gets the part and now she has to play Cinderella and become Bella (her disguise name) while trying to avoid getting caught by Divine and her crazy daughters. In addition, she starts to like Reed West, the one playing Prince in the musical. Tessa and Reed unexpectedly became close when Reed asked Tessa's help on fixing the motorbike needed for the musical since Tessa is a mechanic like her father. As they spend more time together, fixing the motorbike, Tessa struggles to play her role as Tessa and Bella at the same time. Soon it's time for the actual musical but Tessa's evil step-sisters learn her secret and they're determined to ruin her.

A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits is the fourth installment in the A Cinderella Story series. The first one, A Cinderella Story is actually my favorite of all but I always love a Cinderella story! I love Sam and Austin but the other characters from the series are also wonderful.

Sam and Austin from A Cinderella Story 2003

 Joey and Mary from Another Cinderella Story 2008

 Luke and Katie from A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song 2011

 And now we have Tessa and Reed from A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits 2016.

I'm hoping for more Cinderella movies because I don't think I'll ever get tired watching one! :)

Book: I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1) by Barry Lyga

★★★★/★★★★★

"Sons aren't their fathers. Not the good, not the bad. Sons get second chances. You don't have to be what your dad is."

I always enjoy thriller and this one I enjoyed so much. I loved it! Jasper "Jazz" Dent is not your typical boy next door and believe me when I say that you wouldn't want him to be the boy next door. Well, he's not a killer, his father is, but that's the point. Just because his father is a killer, everybody thinks he is, too.

What drew me in (aside from reading a good review from a friend's blog) was Jazz's situation, being the son of a serial killer. Of course, it was given that everyone else would think "he's like his father" but he wanted to prove them all wrong. He wanted everyone to see that he can be different, that he can be good even though his father was evil. But growing up with a father like Billy Dent, the world's worst serial killer, Jazz has seen and heard and learned everything a serial killer can do. Billy has taught him things a normal kid mustn't learn. And now that his Dear Old Dad was locked up and a new serial killer was in town, Jazz told himself that he would catch this killer using what his Dear Old Dad has taught him. Because Jazz believed that he wasn't the monster his father think he was. Or what he thought he was.

"He made me what I am," Jazz said. "Bad and good alike. You can't deny that, Con."

"And my parents made me what I am. So what? We get stuff from our parents, but we also get stuff from the world around us. From the people around us. And at the end of the day, we're us."

It broke my heart whenever Jazz thought that he was like his father. That he can kill everyone and that it would be okay. That he can manipulate people and he can easily kill them.  He could, but everytime he stopped himself because there was still a part of him that didn't want to be like his father. His father might have nurtured him to be a killer but a part of him still fought to be otherwise. And that's what made me love him even more. Because he chose to fight despite everything his father has taught him.

"People matter. People are real."

Another thing I love about this book was reading how the mind of a serial killer works. I actually learned a thing or two (and I'm not sure if it was a good or bad thing). The details of the murders were also disturbing and it kinda scared me thinking that there were people who could actually think of doing those things. But nonetheless, I loved the book! 

The plot, the characters and everything else was written perfectly. I can't think of a way it could have been better!

Book: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

 ★★★★★/★★★★★

“It’s amazing how much one person can change the world, even if they don’t know they’re doing it.”

Flat out five for this wonderful book.

The Wrong Side of Right is the story of Kate Quinn being the illegitimate daughter of Senator Mark Cooper, a Republican who is running for US presidency. A year earlier, Kate lost her mom and she never got to tell Kate about her father. So now that Mark Cooper unexpectedly shows up at her Uncle Barry's house, claiming she's his daughter, Kate decided she wants to know Mark Cooper, her father. And whether it's only a political ploy or not the reason why they ask Kate to join the campaign, it doesn't matter because all Kate wants is to get to know the father she always wanted to know. 

The story continues as Kate finally meets Mark's family, his wife Meg and the twins, Gracie and Gabe. At first Kate doesn't know how to feel or act around them but as time goes by, she realizes that they are good people. That if she gives it time, she can be a part of their family, too. She also meets her father's campaign staffs and next thing she knows, she's already Kate Cooper, It Girl of politics, smiling and waving to the cameras.

I really loved the book because it felt real and the story is timely. It was engrossing and I enjoyed it so much. The characters annoyed me sometimes but I think it's what made me love them even more because it just proved that they were normal people who can be annoying sometimes. I love that Kate was supportive, tolerant and understanding and though her father can be a jerk sometimes, she still stayed and gave him time. I love that Mark Cooper can be a good politician but can't be the father Kate needed because it only showed that he can make bad actions/decisions too. Meg was also my favorite. At first I thought she was going to be the typical wicked stepmother in every story but I was wrong because she actually cared for Kate. She was compassionate and supportive and while Mark gave little time or more likely, ignored Kate, she tried her best to make Kate feel like she was family because she was. Gracie and Gabe were also lovely. Their growing relationship with Kate warmed my heart. And then there was Andy Lawrence. I liked that he was funny and straightforward and stubborn and persistent. 

While I loved most parts of the book, there were also parts when I felt frustrated and angry. Mostly when Mark ignored Kate and made her feel like she wasn't there. I know it was because he was busy and everything but with everything that Kate has done to support him in his campaign, the least he could do was talk to her. Because that was all she wanted; to know and to talk to her father. To feel like Mark wanted her to be with him. But no, after dragging Kate into that crazy world of political campaign, after forcing her to do everything his campaign staff told her to do, after making her understand his life and after endangering the lives of the family of Kate's bestfriend, all Mark could do was to be a stubborn politician who can't be a father to his teenage daughter. It was heartbreaking for Kate but at least it taught Mark a lesson or two.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Family drama plus politics plus forbidden love (sorry I'm a sucker for love stories. hehe) equals a good read. 

And...

I would be lying if I tell you that I haven't imagined myself being a daughter of a senator or a president. I have and Kate Quinn was exactly what I've imagined myself would be except for the part of being an illegitimate daughter. A smart-strong-willed-sometimes-stupid-sometimes-lonely teenager who just wanted to be accepted and make a difference. I've imagined my family to be wonderful, supportive and though it was a tough life, we would be happy. And of course, there would also be some other politician's son who I can relate with and knew how hard it was to be a part of a political family. Like Andy. 

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! :)

Movie: Mockingjay Part 2

★★★★/★★★★★  

Characters:

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark

Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne

Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair

Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy

Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin

Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow

Director: Francis Lawrence

I haven’t read The Hunger Games series so I was okay on watching the movies. My sister loved the series so much and she said I should read it but since I’ve watched all the movies already, I think I’ll pass on it.

And though I haven’t read the series, I loved the movies! Especially Catching Fire! The last installment, The Hunger Games: Mocking Part 2 was released last year and it surely became a box-office since everyone loved Katniss Everdeen.

Mockingjay Part 2 picks up as Katniss brings together an army and marches towards the Capitol to bring down President Snow. As the war continues, she tries to do what’s right, to save even those who side with the Capitol and to protect those who are dear to her, even Peeta who now hates and wants to kill her after getting tortured at the Capitol.

 The movie was really thrilling and I loved the characters. I liked that Katniss is brave and determined and she would do anything to save others just as long as she can. And I think that’s one thing only a good-hearted person can do. I also loved Finnick and it broke my heart when he died! Why did he have to die? WHY? He was my favorite since Catching Fire and seeing him die was hard. *sob* Poor Annie. I’ve also grown to love Boggs and Prim and they had to die, too. Anyway, what’s important is these people were a part of the revolution that helped in liberating Panem in the hands of Snow.

The movie ended with  Katniss and Peeta back in District 12 with their two children. And well, it was happy ending.

Based on a novel by Suzzane Collins
Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
PubDate: April 24, 2010
Page count: 392

Book: The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

★★★/★★★★★

While it was gripping and intriguing, The Girl On The Train was complex and somehow depressing. I liked that it kept me on edge at first but at some point I just felt frustrated with everything that was happening.

I haven't read a lot of thrillers and as I've mentioned before, I prefer watching than reading them. But since there's been a fuss going around about this book, I gave it a go. 

The book is centered on the narration of three women; Rachel, Megan and Anna, their lives got intertwined when a murder occurred and Rachel just happened to decide she had to get herself involved because she thought she knew and saw something she wasn't quite sure about that might help the police solve the mystery around it.

Rachel is the girl on the train who likes to watch people especially Jess and Jason, the ideal couple she wishes she and her ex-husband could be. When the train stops at the same red signal everyday, she would just look outside the train window and she would see them, two happy couple having coffee on their terrace. She has this image of Jess and Jason inside her head, a perfect couple who love each other very much. Until one day when her train stops at the red signal and she sees Jess on their terrace with another man.

Megan is Jess. She's the woman Rachel sees on her terrace with her husband, Scott (Jason). She and Scott are not really the perfect couple Rachel thinks they are but they're not unhappy either. They are just normal couple who fight until it gets too much. Megan also has a dark past which she hasn't talked about with Scott.

Anna is Rachel's ex husband's new wife. She hates Rachel for bugging them and she hates that they live in the house her husband (Tom) used to live in with Rachel. 

 What I liked most about this book was the thrill of guessing who did it. While Rachel gave me blurry details from her blurry memories, I worked my mind and tried to weave everything she'd given me so far. And when I was almost sure of who my bet was, something else would happen that would completely point to another suspect. It was kinda infuriating but it was what kept me reading until the end.

As for the characters, honestly, I didn't like any of them and Rachel frustrated me so much. I knew she just wanted to help but the lying and drinking and the regrets, everything just made things more complicated. And while she wanted to make things right, her actions and decisions failed to support her. 

Overall, it was a good thriller with twisted plots and depressing characters. It was interesting enough to get my attention but I'm afraid I didn't like the ending. Argh. I love a good omg-I-didn't-see-that-coming feeling when reading the ending of a book but this one failed to give me that feeling. But still, it was engrossing and I think I would've given it a 4-star if only Rachel's character became less annoying and frustrating.

“I have lost control over everything, even the places in my head.”

Book: The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5) by Rick Riordan

★★★★/★★★★★

I finally finished reading the series and I know I should be happy but I'm not. Because it means no more adventure for Percy Jackson and his friends. How sad is that? But snyway, I was looking forward on how this series will end and somehow I believe that Percy's adventures didn't really end there. Of course, he and Annabeth will always have adventures of their own.

So the last book picks up when Percy and Charlie Beckendorf have to blow up Princess Andromeda where Kronos/Luke and his army of monsters are. It's a sad scene since Charlie sacrifices himself just so he can blow up the ship which they know could delay Kronos' plan. Percy then comes back to Camp Half-Blood to deliver the bad news after a little visit to his father's palace underwater. There, Poseidon is having his own battle with the Titan Lord Oceanus. Percy wants to stay and fight with him but Poseidon insists that his place is not under water but above, with his friends and everyone else. At the camp, everyone mourns the death of Charlie. Everyone lost a friend but Silena Beauregard takes it the hardest because Charlie was her boyfriend. Also this time, Chiron and Annabeth finally reveal to Percy what the Great Prophecy is. Confused and emotionally distraught about everything that just happened, Percy takes a walk, accidentally meeting Nico di Angelo. Here, Nico assures him that Charlie doesn't blame him for his death. Charlie sacrificed himself so that he can save the camp and everyone believes that he died a hero. Aside from reassuring Percy that Charlie doesn't blame him for his death, Nico also came to ask if Percy is ready to find out what his ultimate plan is for defeating Kronos. Percy agrees to come and next thing he knew, they are standing outside May Castellan's house. 

After their visit at May Castellan's house, Nico and Percy meet Hestia, goddess of Hearth, who then helps them get to Sally's house so Percy could get permission from her mother. Apparently, Percy needs his mom's permission if he wants to bathe in the River Styx and take on the curse of Achilles. They figured it's the only way how Kronos can live inside Luke's body, Luke bathed in River Styx. Nico thinks that if Percy bathe in the river too, he'll be invulnerable and only then they stand a chance in defeating Kronos. Down in the underworld, Percy is surprised to learn that Nico has betrayed him by giving him to Hades. But Nico means no harm, he  just wants Hades to tell him about his mother, Maria di Angelo. Here, Nico learns that Zeus had killed his mother. Hades then orders his minions to confine Percy but later on Nico helps him escapes. After escaping from the underworld, Percy calls Annabeth and it's when the real battle begins.  

Percy meets Annabeth, Chiron and the other campers at the Empire State Building, where on top is Olympus. They want the gods to help them defend Olympus but the gods are too busy fighting Phyton. Percy and Annabeth think Phyton is just a distraction but the gods think that Phyton is their biggest problem. And so Kronos and his army of monsters start the attack at Olympus, putting every mortal to sleep with the spell of Morpheus, the god of dream, who was also the one who put Grover to sleep for two months. But thanks to his empathy link with Percy, Percy was able to wake him from his deep slumber.

Without the gods, Percy and the others must save Olympus. And so Percy takes the lead, giving orders and trying to hold back Kronos' army. Each cabin is given a position to hold and defend. But even with the help of Thalia and Artemis' hunters, satyrs and nymps, and Chiron's centaur cousins, Olympian army struggles to hold back the Titan army. They have a number of casualties and even Annabeth is injured. 

In the midst of the battle, Percy tries to call for reinforcements, Clarisse, Nico and his father. Clarisse, as stubborn as strong she is, decided not to help with the battle because of some personal feud with the Apollo kids. But in the end she doesn't have a choice but to join when Silena pretends to be her and leads her cabin to the fight where she is killed by a drakon. Now, enraged on what happened to Silena, Clarisse defeats the drakon and takes on the Titan army with anger and hate. It helps for while but the Titan army keeps on coming. 

On the last stand at Mount Olympus, Nico with his father, Hades, and an army of dead finally arrive. The gods also defeated Thypon with the help of Poseidon who abandoned his underwater palace in order to help his siblings. Kronos gets distracted by seeing what happened to Typhon and it weakens him, giving Percy the chance to attack. But Kronos goes for Annabeth and for a moment he is Luke again. Luke tells her something and Annabeth seems to get it. It's something about Annabeth's dagger and at first Percy wants to drive it through Luke himself but Luke tells him that only he can do it. And so Percy fulfills the prophecy when he gives Annabeth's knife to Luke and he injures himself on his mortal point. 

After the battle, the gods reward the brave heroes and they decided to give Percy Jackson a wish. They suggested immortality but of course, Percy has reasons why he doesn't want to be immortal. And so he wishes for the gods to swear on the River Styx that they will claim all demigods by the time they turn thirteen; have cabins and thrones built for all the minor gods; and reevaluate the punishment of innocent Titans and their former allies, such as Calypso and some of the minor gods who turned (a personal wish). Percy also relieves Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades of their oath to not have demigod children, as it never worked in the first place. 

And then Rachel Elizabeth Dare becomes the new Oracle. Percy is against it at first because of what happened to May Castellan but Rachel believes that this is her destiny. She is meant to be the new Oracle. And of course, Percy and Annabeth's happy ending. They're really an odd pair but I love them both!

She raised an eyebrow. "You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?"
"You'd probably kick my butt."
"You know I'd kick your butt."
I brushed the cake off my hands. "When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable . . . Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal."
Annabeth kept her eyes on the horizon. "Yeah?"
"Then up on Olympus," I said, "when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking-"
"Oh, you so wanted to."
"Well, maybe a little. But I didn't, because I thought-I didn't want things to stay the same for eternity, because things could always get better. And I was thinking . . ." My throat felt really dry.
"Anyone in particular?" Annabeth asked, her voice soft.
I looked over and saw that she was trying not to smile.
"You're laughing at me," I complained.
"I am not!"
"You are so not making this easy."
Then she laughed for real, and she put her hands
around my neck. "I am never, ever going to make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it.”

Gosh, I really enjoyed this book with all the Greek gods and demigods and their adventures. I love Percy and Annabeth and Grover and Tyson!! Now I want to have a brother like Tyson! He's just so sweet and, yes, creepy being a cyclops, but he's still cute. I will surely miss their adventures and Percy and Annabeth's cute relationship. 

Overall, I give it 4 stars. I should've read this when I was 14 but hey, I'm only 23 and it's never too late to read anything you want. :)

Before I could lose my courage, I said, "Don't I get a kiss for luck? It's kind of a tradition, right?"
I figured she would punch me. Instead, she drew her knife and stared at the army marching toward us. "Come back alive, Seaweed brain. Then we'll see."

 Until next time, Percy Jackson. 

Book: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

★★★★/★★★★★

Yet again, Percy is looking for a new school to attend but just before it could start, he manages to blow it up into flames. It's Goode High School where Paul Blofis, his mom's new boyfriend, teaches. But honestly, it's  not his fault that monsters are following him everywhere he goes. Percy also meets Rachel Elizabeth Dare, again. They've met before at the Hoover Dam and though she's a mortal, she can see through the mist. So when Percy is attacked at the freshmen orientation of Goode High School, Rachel Elizabeth Dare sees it all.

This fourth book of Percy Jackson and the Olympians centers on Percy and his friends as they journey inside the Labyrinth which was created by Daedalus. They believe that Luke would use the Labyrinth to invade Camp Half-Blood because it has many entrances and one could lead Luke and his army of monsters directly to the heart of Camp Half-Blood. They're convinced that Luke is trying to get Adriane's string from Daedalus because it could help them navigate the Labyrinth easily. Percy must convince Daedalus, who they think lives inside the Labyrinth, not to give Luke Adriane's string and to side with them.

This time the quest is lead by Annabeth and she chooses Percy, Tyson and Grover as her companions. At first, Grover is against the idea of going to the Labyrinth because he hates underground but it's his only chance of finding Pan, the god of the wild. So eventually they all set to the Labyrinth where new adventures, dangers, meetings, and more danger await them.

The Labyrinth is an endless maze, a trap made so no one could get out of it. Percy and his friends struggle inside but with some help they are able to survive, fortunately. During their quest inside the Labyrinth, they encounter monsters and other weird gods/demigods. They find Janus, a two faced god who guards doors,  Briares, the One Hundred Hand creature,</> Kampe, a horrifying she-dragon, Geryon and his ranch with Eurytion where they also find Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, and Hephaestus, god of craftsmen, who then leads Percy and Annabeth to Mount St. Helens where Percy meets some Telekhine and learns that they are reforging Krono's scythe. Here, Percy and Annabeth had to separate and before they did, Annabeth surprised Percy with a kiss. (How long did I wait for that? Tsk. But then I had to remind myself that they were only 14!)  The meeting with the Telekhine doesn't turn so well that Percy has to summon a wave of his water power which causes a massive earthquake. Using too much power, it drains everything in Percy that when he wakes up again, he finds himself in the island of Ogygia with Calypso. Atlas is Calypso's father and for being his daughter, the gods exiled her in that island and she can never get out of it.

Percy meeting Calypso is one of my favorite parts of the book. It's just that my heart broke for Calypso because The Fates cursed her on falling in love with heroes. Once in a while they would send someone in the island who they knew would break her heart. How cruel is that? This time they send Percy because they knew that Calypso wouldn't help but fall in love with him. She helps Percy recover and her beauty awes Percy that for a moment she confuses his feelings. Then Hephaestus eventually visits Ogygia to talk to Percy about what happened after he summoned the waves. When it's time for Percy to leave, Calypso finally confesses to him what her fate is. She offers him immortality which means staying with her on the island for the rest of eternity. It's a good offer for Percy because staying in the island means no more monsters and war but he's not that kind of person. It's hard for him but he must go and help his friends. And so he refuses Calypso's offer and it's so heartbreaking.

"As I sailed onto the lake I realized the Fates really were cruel. They sent Calypso someone she couldn’t help but love. But it worked both ways. For the rest of my life I would always be thinking about her. She would always be my biggest what if."

After his secret visit at Ogygia, Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood only to see the other campers mourning his death. When they see him again, everyone is relieved especially Annabeth. Then Percy tells Chiron what Hephaestus had told him at Ogygia on how to find Daedalus in the Labyrinth. They need a mortal who can see through the mist and Percy just know someone who can help them. Rachel Elizabeth Dare.

They didn't have a hard time convincing Rachel Elizabeth Dare to help them and so another adventure inside the Labyrinth begins. This time Luke's minions capture them and after battling for their lives with the help of Mrs. O'Leary, a hellhound, they are able to get away. They're also able to find Daedalus who turns out to be Quintus, their new sword instructor back at Camp Half-Blood and who is also Mrs. O'Leary's master. They thought Daedalus could help them but they're too late because Luke already promised Daedalus something in exchange of Adriane's string. But it turns out that Luke doesn't really keep his promises because right then his monsters and Kelli, the empousa who attacked Percy at Goode High School, attack Daedalus. Percy and his friends barely escapes with the help of Daedalus' makeshift wings. They then head back to the camp.

On the way back to the camp, they discover Mount Othrys where they learn that Kronos has somehow possesses Luke's body. Annabeth can't still believe it but now that Kronos is alive again, they don't have time to think about how. They need to reach camp to warn others. They run until they found Grover and Tyson who went a different way to look for Pan. This time, Grover finally found Pan after a long time of searching but instead of rejoicing, it breaks his heart. Because Pan has been dead a long time ago and his memories are only living because there are still creatures of the wild who believe that he's alive. It's sad but Grover has to move on and spread the news.

When Percy and his friends finally reach the Camp, minus Rachel, it's when the battle begins. An army of monsters lead by Kampe invade the camp through the Labyrinth, injuring and killing some of the campers. But help comes like Daedalus and his hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary, Briares and Nico, who seems to trust Percy now. It's an impossible battle to win but thanks to Grover who causes Panic, the monsters retreated.

The battle is over but everyone knows that as long as the Labyrinth exists, Luke and his army will always find a way to invade the camp. So Daedalus whose life force is tied to the Labyrinth decided to destroy it. Before dying, Daedalus gives Annabeth a laptop where his ideas and works are saved. He also leaves Mrs. O'Leary to Percy.

On his fifteenth birthday, Poseidon surprises Percy with a sudden visit. It is to ask him what really happened since gods are forbidden to intervene with battles and to give him a gift, a sand dollar. Nico also shows up, telling Percy he knows a way to finally defeat Luke.

This is probably one of the longest reviews I've ever written. But I enjoyed it! And I loved this book even though it has so many monsters. :)

Book: Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

★★★★/★★★★★

"One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter." - James Earl Jones

This book gripped me so good I didn't want to stop reading. The first few chapters broke my heart because of Quinn's grief but when Colton showed up at her door, I knew it would be so much harder for her and it broke my heart all over again.

The story is about Quinn after she lost her boyfriend, Trent, in a car accident. It was so sudden she wasn't able to say goodbye and next thing she knew, she was reaching out to the people who received Trent's organs. I think it's her way of getting closure that's why it's so important to her. Others replied to her but the guy who got Trent's heart never responded. In desperation, she looked for the guy with only little hints she knew about him and finally, luckily, she found a blog that tells everything about Colton Thomas. Quinn was resolved to just see Colton, not making contact or anything, but some things just don't work the way we want them to. Next thing she knew, she's having a good time and feeling alive again in Colton's company. And it's all she needs to feel guilty over and over again.

My heart ached everytime Quinn feels guilty by being with Colton. I can't blame her because to her it felt like she's betraying Trent but what can she do when Colton makes her alive again? It isn't unfair, I think, because I knew that Trent would want her to be happy again. So I really think that Quinn is just being too hard to herself by tormenting herself with Trent's memories. But I hated that she kept it secret from Colton that long even though she knew that it would eventually come crashing down to her.

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.” -Plato

I also loved the way it was written. I mean, I love words and how Kirby weaves words together makes me love it even more. So much more!

"We lie there watching the fireworks explode and fall around us, and I can feel the boom-crackle of them in my chest, and the heat of his legs tangled up with mine, and with each moment that ticks by, something else grows together. A thing I couldn't have predicted, and now something I can't control over or explain. It's a pull I don't want to fight anymore—I can't fight anymore."

Overall I loved it because it tells us that losing someone shouldn't stop us from living, from feeling alive, and it may be hard but eventually we should learn to move, to let go. It was hard for Quinn but at least she's one step closer to healing by being with Colton now.

“There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those.” —Michael Nolan”

Book: The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

★★★★/★★★★★

Percy is back with another quest, this time to save Grover and Half-Blood Hill. And though it wasn’t really his quest, well, who could be as headstrong as Percy Jackson?

Again, I loved Percy’s adventures and on this book he and his friends braved the Sea of Monsters. It was fun and I enjoyed it as much as the first book. And wasn’t Tyson the sweetest? I mean, he’s like a baby cyclops but he’s saved Percy’s life a million times! Now I’m loving this book more and more.

“Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we’re related for better or for worse…and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.”

Book: A Gallagher Wedding (Short Story) by Ally Carter

★★★★★/★★★★★

Gallagher Girls will always be my favorite. Ever!

     I saw my mother in her ivory gown, Bex and Aunt Abby carrying the train as they walked from the P&E barn toward the gardens where people waited in white folding chairs. Mr. Solomon and Townsend stood at attention at the front of the crowd. Even in July and on his wedding day, Joe looked cool, like he had planned every possible outcome for that moment, and things were going exactly according to plan.

    “The bride and groom have requested that their maid of honor and best man join the ceremony,” Liz said, holding out my high-heeled shoes. “Besides, you guys have the rings.”

   “What do you say, Gallagher Girl?” Zach offered me his arm. “Do you want to join them?”

   I turned into the light.

  “I do.

And I do, Zach. I do! :")

Book: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

★★★★★/★★★★★

“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged but it's there. Don't let them take it from you.”

First of all, I want to say that I have my new favorite series. 

Second, Laia is a strong and brave girl.

Third, Elias is a good person.
Fourth, Commandant is a wicked, heartless woman.

Lastly, I applaud Sabaa Tahir for writing this wonderful book.

An Ember in the Ashes is one heartbreaking and powerful book. It captivated me the moment I started reading it and now that I finished it, I can no longer wait for the next book!

The story is told alternately by Laia and Elias, a slave and a Mask in Blackcliff.
Laia is a strong-willed, brave girl who will do everything, even to be a slave to the heartless Commandant of Blakcliff, just so she could help break her brother, Darin, out of prison. Elias, on the other hand, is one of the best Masks at Blackcliff where power, loyalty and brutality rule everything. It's the one place he doesn't really want to be in but doesn't have a choice since he was chosen to be there. He's been inside Blackcliff almost all his life, training and planning his escape one day. These two characters will show us how to fight, to be brave, to stand for what we believe in, to fail but stand again and to never stop having hope. Because as long as there's life, there's hope.

This book made me realize how lucky I am to be living in a world like this and not inside a world like Blackcliff. Because I really don't know how I could survive like Laia or Elias or anyone in the book if I were them. But then I realized that there are actually places in this world like Blackcliff where people suffer and die on the hands of brutal and heartless people. It's sad to think that there are really people who abuse their power and enjoy the pain of others.

Heartbreaking it may be, this book is one hell of a book. I can't imagine how Sabaa Tahir managed to write a book as good as this. It's definitely a must-read!

Veturius smiles that knife's-edge smile. "Look at us," he says. "Scholar slave and Mask, each trying to persuade the other they're not evil. The Augurs do have sense of humor, don't they?"