Book Review: A Corner of White

A Corner of White (The Colors of Madeleine #1) by Jaclyn Moriarty

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Published April 1st 2013 
Arthur A. Levine Books

(Goodreads synopsis) The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...

**SPOILER ALERT**

I really tried to get through this book. I got to 22% before I gave up. Every review I've seen people have been raving about it but I don't get it. People said you just have to get through the beginning that is slow and confusing but come on at 22% you should be able to gather where this is going. The character's are completely ridiculous. I am a random person, anyone who knows me knows you will catch random stuff but this is just out there.

So this book is between two worlds, England and Kingdom of Cello. The "speaker" never stays the same. Madeleine and Elliot are the main characters but other people take over randomly. Madeleine and Elliot are both fatherless. They are both in a search for their fathers but making no progress in finding them. Your never get a feel of the characters.

Bella is a complete idiot. She has her glimpses of intellect but then she ruins it with the way it comes out. Jack is just weird with his course hair and wart on his finger. Its cool that they have this different way of being home-schooled but that seemed to be the only cool thing it had going for it. I hate all this horoscopes and auras and anything in the witchcraft category so this was another turn off. It never went into detail about any of it but Belle and Jack's obsession with it was just annoying.

Elliot's friends on the other hand were really involved but and when they were Elliot goes and just kisses some girl. He has a sweet side with his family that was cute though.

I don't want to talk a whole mess of crap about this book but I really just did not like it. I really wanted to. The synopsis sounded like my type of book. Its unfortunate.

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Book Review: Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

 

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

e-arc

Published June 5th 2012 by Bluefields

(Synopsis from Goodreads) Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy's affection before. So when the hottest boy she's ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she's the center of his universe, naturally she's going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right?

The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she's convinced he's a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he's the sweetest psychopathic killer she's ever met. Not to mention he's brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?

This book was really hard for me to rate. I wish there were half stars because this book was more like a 3 1/2 then just a 3. This story was just a little over the top for my taste. It wasn't all bad, I was cracking up more often than not. I loved that each character had such a strong personality. Everyone was different but you were still drawn to them all.

Ellie is a 15 year, hockey loving tomboy. Her 3 best friends "the J's" are off at hockey camp. She now has to find something to do for the summer. Across the street moves in Seth. Seth of course is ridiculously hot and mysterious. He moves to Detroit from California. He works out every morning in his garage which provides Ellie and her sister Angela some serious entertainment. Angela is a super girly girl who is dying to change Ellie and make her into a girl. The sister are constantly at each others throats but this hottie is able to bring anyone together. Right after the sisters meet Seth a serial killer pops up on the map. He's after teenage girls with red hair and hazel eyes just like Ellie. The girls then go back and forth between deciding if Seth is good or bad. Ellie's life completely changes but her fierceness and sarcasm never change. Even when her appearance changes and she falls in love, she still is quick to throw a jab.

What I didn't like was how corny it could get. Ellie was super innocent and I liked that about her but her sister seemed to want to ruin it half the time. Seth was crazy. I get that was part of the character he was playing but come on dude you have to be out your mind to stay with someone to insane.

Everyone has a different taste so I would say you should give it a try and decide for yourself.


My rating: 3.5

Waiting on Wednesday 1

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine to show upcoming releases that we can't wait to read (aka going crazy waiting for). This weeks book from Goodreads is:

Belonging (Temptation #2) by Karen Ann Hopkins

Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Harlequin TEEN 

I left everything I knew behind.

But it was worth it. He was worth it.

No one thought an ordinary girl like me would last two minutes living with the Amish, not even me. There are a lot more rules and a lot less freedom, and I miss my family and the life I once had. Worst of all, Noah and I aren't even allowed to see each other. Not until I've proven myself.

If I can find a way to make it work, we'll be NOAH & ROSE

together forever.

But not everybody believes this is where I belong.

Teaser Tuesdays 1

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Happy Birthday Jayseeka! - from Danielson

This is a delayed post (December) but hey better late then never. 

Audiobook Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Audiobook

Published February 5th 2013 by Hachette Audio 

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

In My Mailbox 1

This is my very first IMM. I'm so excited. Over the past month I have been winning a TON of books so I figured I would share what I have received with ya'll.

Shadowhunters poster signed by Clockwork Princess audiobook narrator and Teen Wolf star, Daniel Sharman. From Simon & Schuster.

Island Eyes, Island Skies by Richard Henry Levine - won from christi the teen librarian

Lumberjack In Love by Penny Watson - won from Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead - won from The Cozy Reading Corner

 Manipulation by Jolene Perry - won from Mostly YA Book Obsessed

Spill Over by Jolene Perry - won from Mostly YA Book Obsessed

Residue by Laury Falter - won from One A Day Y.A

The Voice by Jennifer Anne Davis - won from Reading Teen

It's Not Like I Planned It This Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - bought

Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler - bought

ESV Study Bible - bought

E-books

Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan - won from The Autumn Review

Obscura Burning by Suzanne Van Rooyen - won from Reading Lark

Trust in Me by Bethany Lopez - won from The Bookish Babe

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram - won from  Good Choice Reading

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram - won from  Good Choice Reading

Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram - won from  Good Choice Reading

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram - won from  Good Choice Reading

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I have a ton more kindle books that I bought over this past month but there are way too many to keep track of. I will try in the future. Thanks for stopping by.