Thursday, May 31, 2012

Review : Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Pages: 487
Source: Own

The Story:

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—now it's getting harder. She's having nightmares of a desperate desert journey, visions of three women weeping tears of blood. And why is she possessed by the sudden, unstoppable urge to kill the handsome new boy in school, Lucas Delos?
A love written in the stars . . .
A feud started in ancient Greece . . .
A curse not even the gods can break

RatingFOUR Gold Stars!!!!

My Review: One Word: COMPELLING

Helen Hamilton is our sixteen-year-old protagonist. She is a tall, blonde, blue-eyed beauty . . . who happens to be freakishly afraid of public attention. But not only that, she has spent her entire life trying to hide from everyone -- including her single-dad, Jerry and her underestimated badass of a best friend, Claire -- how different she is. But the task becomes undoubtedly difficult when a new family moves onto the island of Nantucket that she has always called home. The wealthy, numerous and striking Delos family seem to carry their own secrets. Secrets that will alter Helen's life beyond recognition. Especially when it just so happens that the painfully shy Helen has three women, weeping tears of blood at that, urging her to submit to her uncharacteristic hatred for the devastatingly handsome Lucas Delos. A hatred that forces her to commit attempted murder against him. But what proves to be the most challenging of all is when that blinding hatred strangely transforms into ever-growing love. A love that has been cursed by the gods themselves.

What is a girl to do when she is capable of triggering history to repeat itself? Is Helen strong enough to harbor unrequited love? Will Lucas and Helen's love overcome a curse that has plagued their families for thousands of years?

Josephine Angelini has a great voice for storytelling and Starcrossed proves just that. She mapped out the plot effortlessly, makes her readers fall hard for her characters, gave us a heroine with a wonderful sense of humor and delivers a storyline filled with intense chemistry. Not to mention all the hot guys . . . with powers! What more can a girl ask for, seriously? Nonetheless, I think it is safe to say that I cannot wait to devour Dreamless, the highly anticipated sequel to Starcrossed.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Starcrossed :

Helen and Jerry: "Are you sleeping up there again?" Jerry asked when he saw Helen shutting the door to the roof and coming down the steps. "It's way too cold out, Helen."

"Do you have any idea how late it is? Go to sleep," she scolded as she hurried past him.

"I know, I'm going to bed right now . . . Hey! You go to sleep," Jerry scolded back, belatedly remembering that he was the parent. - page 197

***Check out Josephine Angelini's website for more information about her and Starcrossed: HERE

*Read my review of Dreamless & Goddess

Happy Reading!
Monday, May 14, 2012

Review : The Savage Grace by Bree Despain



*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 488

The Story:

A troubled soul

An impossible choice

A final battle

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grave Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and the greatest alpha. Sirhan, near death, a Challenging Ceremony to determine the new leader of the pack looms. Destined to be a bloddy battle, it will be Grace's final chance to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

--via The Savage Grace book-jacket
Rating: FOUR Gold Stars!!!!
My Review: One Word: GRIPPING
First, I want to say how much I enjoyed The Dark Divine trilogy. I remember when I started reading the first book, The Dark Divine, in my dorm room of Spring 2010. When I picked up the book I had no idea what Daniel's secret was. But once I was a few pages in I just couldn't put it down. So, you can imagine my dismay when I discovered half way through The Savage Grace that it was the final installment.

But, going on to my opinion of The Savage Grace as an individual book ... As my one word review says -- gripping -- I could not put this book down. Point. Blank. There is without a doubt an even balance between action, paranormal and romance. Not to mention, the alpha villain was just delicious. If you've read the previous installments of The Dark Divine trilogy and wondering "What the hell is she talking out about?" ... let's just say there is indeed a twist *hint, hint.*

It is in The Savage Grace that Grace Divine discovers her purpose ... what she truly wants out of life. Daniel finds his footing as a True Alpha ... what being a leader and being person -- not just a werewolf -- is really like. The Lost Boys finally find their home ... where they belong and the true meaning of family.

The Savage Grace is the bittersweet end of a divine journey with Grace and her werewolves. And it sent The Dark Divine trilogy in farewell on an entrancing, howling note.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from The Savage Grace:

Grace: I watched as April and Charity bounded out of the family room, leaving Baby James to suck on the edge of his blankey with blissful oblivion. At least I never had to worry about his running off with a pack of paranormal thugs. - page 297

***Check out Bree Despain's website for more information about her and The Savage Grace: HERE

Happy Reading!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012

50 Follower Giveaway

In celebration of my trip to Chicago this year, for the RT BookLovers Convention, once I've had the honor of attaining 50 followers of The Tattered Page, I will be hosting a GIVEAWAY! Being as I received some duplicate copies of books while I was at the convention, I've decided to add them to The Book Pile -- which I have dubbed the pile of books solely for the purpose of giveaways and contest, hehe.

And now, on to the part you've been waiting for . . . the PRIZE. The winner of the Chicago Love Giveaway will have their choice of one book from The Book Pile -- and possibly some swag:


The Book Pile:



*Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
*Chime by Franny Billingsley
*Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
*Enclave by Ann Aguirre
*The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
*Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
*The Fallen by Lauren Kate (signed)
*Torment by Lauren Kate (signed)
*The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
*Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
*Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
*The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
*Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

*Don't forget to spread the word!

Always,
Haysel