Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Released:  December 2nd 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Page Amount: 372, US Hardcover Edition
Source: Library

"Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?"
-Information from Goodreads.com


My Thoughts:
 First off I want to say, I was a bit nervous reading Anna and the French Kiss. Because books that get high praise tends to be the one I just couldn't get into or didn't like at all. But there is something magical about Anna and the French Kiss. Maybe its the way Stephanie did a wonderful job of creating this world. Or maybe it was Anna, her friends and St. Clair. Oh St. Clair. I have found my new fictional boyfriend!!

if you haven't picked up this book, then you really need to. Like now!!

5/5 stars, Happy Reading, Ashley

Shades Of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades Of Earth by Beth Revis
Released: January 15th 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Series: Across the Universe, Book Three
Page Amount: 369, US Hardcover Edition
Source: Library

*Warning the following synopsis and review may contain spoilers if you haven't read Across The Universe and A Million Suns. Please do not keep reading. You have been warned*

"Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME."
-Information Goodreads.com 

My Thoughts:
I am very sad to see this series come to an end. But it has been an awesome ride into space and onto Centauri- Earth with Amy and Elder. I've enjoyed sharing all their highs and lows together. Learning what the faced to get to the new planet, all the many challenges along the way. Losing people that mattered to them. All and all I'm so glad to have read this series. If you haven't read you really need to.

Beth thank you so much for creating this amazing world. And for giving us this amazing spacey world!!

5/5 stars, Happy Reading, Ashley

Library Haul (2)

Library Haul, the first one for 2013!!!!!  I don't know about any of you, but I love going to the library. Its free, and you can get as many books as you want!!!

Here is what I got at the library.....

Shades Of Earth by Beth Revis
I'm really sad to see this series come to an end. But I am looking forward to reading it!! Its first up on the list!!

Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Heard nothing but amazing things from everyone about this. I am still a bit unsure of about. But I'm willing to give it a go!

Belles by Jen Calonita
This will be a re-read for me. Because I saw a blog post about the sequel Winter White. And for the live of me  I couldn't remember what happened in Belles. I do have a review posted on here.
Review Link

Winter White: A Belles Novel by Jen Calonita
This is the sequel to Belles. I really enjoyed Belles the first time I read it. I cannot wait to dive into this one!! The cover is amazing!!

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Not sure what this is about. But I'm excited to read it. Looks like its fantasy!!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I have heard how heart breaking amazing this book is. I'm looking forward to having my heart broken.














If you have read any of these please feel free to leave your thoughts, no spoilers though. I will be posting reviews for them.
Happy Reading, Ashley

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Released: September 14th 2010
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Page Amount: 352, Kindle Edition
Source: Own, Kindle

" When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven." 
- From Goodreads.com

My Thoughts:
I have always been a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. So I am so shocked I haven't picked up Safe Haven until now.  Nicholas Sparks never fails to deliver for me. Safe Haven is no exception. This is a heart breaking story of a woman that manages to escape her abusive husband. Living in a small town she begins to fall for a man, Alex, who owns a little grocery store. He lost his wife a few years back. Not only does Katie (Erin), get closer to him but his two children Josh and Kristen.

You can't help but feel her pain and hope she gets a happy ending she deserves.

All and all I really loved it!! 5/5 stars, Happy Reading, Ashley

Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Released: November 27th 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Series: Covenant, Book Three Point Five
Page Amount: 75, ebook edition
Source: Own, Kindle

*Warning the following synopsis and review my contain spoilers if you haven't read; Daimon, Half-Blood, Pure and Deity. Please do not contain reading. You have been warned*

"Aiden's novella

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex.
Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for.
Even if it means making war against the gods."
-Information from Goodreads.com


My Thoughts:
This is following the events of Deity. Told from Aiden's point of view. Aiden is forced to keep close taps on Alex after she is awakened. He never leaves her side, even though he knows she not the same Alex she was. But when there is a chance to get Alex to come back and fight Seth. Against everything Aiden knows Alex would hate, he gives her something.

Although I hated Aiden for doing this, I hate Seth more at this point. Hopefully Alex will come back and kick some butt!!

Cannot wait for Apollyon!!

5/5 stars, Happy Reading, Ashley

Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Released: October 31st 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Series: Covenant, Book Three
Page Amount: 330, US Paperback Edition
Source: Own, Kindle

*Warning the following synopsis and review my contain spoilers if you haven't read Half-Blood and Pure. Do not contain reading. You have been warned*

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "


Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate..."
 -From Goodreads.com

My Thoughts:
I loved this. This series just gets better and better with each installment. This was even better than Half-Blood and Pure. One fast paced ride!!

And Alex finally gets Aiden!! 5/5 stars!!

Happy Reading, Ashley

Sanctum by Sarah Fine

Sanctum by Sarah Fine
Released: October 16th 2012 (first released October 1st 20120
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Series:Guards Of The Shadowlands, Book One
Page Amount: 450 Kindle Edition
Source: Kindle Library Loaner


" “My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.”

A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate."
- From Goodreads.com 

My Thoughts:
Sanctum takes you on a hellish roller coaster of emotions from the start. Lela who has grown up in the foster care system, believed no one would love or want touch, until she is taken to a place you go if you commit suicide meets the dangerous yet kind Malachi. She is proven wrong. I love every moment in this world Sarah created. I look forward to the sequel, see where Lela and Malachi end up next.

5/5 stars, happy reading, Ashley

January Wrap Up 2013

January wasn't a good reading month for me. About the middle of the month, I had a tragic experience happen. A car accident happened on my road, my family and I tried to help but the injured person died. So I couldn't shake the event out of my mind.

I did get to read 3 books. I really loved them all.

1. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I had heard amazing things about this book and series. Generally books everyone is loving tends to be the ones I end up not liking. But Jennifer's writing is amazing this world inside Half-Blood is amazing. Alex is a kick ass character!!












2. Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This is the sequel to Half-Blood, I will only say I loved it as much as Half-Blood even better!!













3. Sanctum by Sarah Fine

I borrowed this while I had the free prime membership. I wasn't sure about it. But I am glad to have read it. Its dark, a bit creepy and just awesome. I know I don't have a review posted but I will.














This is all for January, hoping to read more in February. Please let me know what you read in January, what your thoughts were on them. And let me know if you read any of these books above or if you plan to.
Happy Reading,

Ashley!!