Posts Categorized: Review

Saturday, October 06, 2012

Review: Winter White by Jen Calonita

Posted by 13 Comments

Winter White
Jen Calonita
Series: Belles, #2
Publication date:  October 9th 2012
by Poppy

 

Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They’ve put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press, and while it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other. 

But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever-now, if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove and it’s seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect… and secret initiations to complete? As if sophomore year wasn’t hard enough! It’s time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off.

*A copy was provided by Hachette Book Group Canada for review purposes*
This review contains no spoilers of either Belles or Winter White

Mira and Izzy are back to their fabulous glory in Winter White. After Belles ended with some life changing revelations, we get the aftermath of these secrets brought to light, and how the girls are dealing with it all. Belles was a really fun novel; a chick lit with fantastic personalities, drama-filled shorelines, and a little romance to give it its final touch. In Winter White, we get reacquainted with the same old energetic characters; there may be a little less drama, but there are tons of ridiculous antics and interesting romantic developments to keep you highly entertained.

The characters are by far the greatest aspect of this series. We have two different perspectives from two very different, very charismatic girls. Mira, now ex-miss-popular, is trying to deal with suddenly finding herself friendliest after being on top of the ladder. I enjoyed how much she has grown from the previous novel and again throughout this one. Her character has changed from a selfish queen bee to someone who is surprisingly well rounded and caring. Then we have Isabelle who is still adjusting to a sudden life of riches, not to mention the bomb that she was thrown at the end of the last book. Izzy remains my favourite of the two, mostly because I can relate to her more. Her determined, take charge attitude is very attractive for a main character. It’s incredibly easy to like her. Then we have the family and friends who really bring out the colors in this sequel – as in Belles.

The plot this time is a little tamer. We don’t have big, life changing situations like Belles, but what we get is a whole lot of fun. The cotillion is under way, and Izzy — to her dismay — gives in to her aunt’s pleas to attend. This was before she knew what the preparation entails: The initiation consists of dares that the girls have to do that become quite amusing, and very satisfying when we see the prissy characters get the worst of it. In addition to these charming antics, we get some fun facts that I actually found pretty interesting — having lived the simple small town life without much experience with “proper” dining. What? Who needs 5 forks? I promise, eating desert with a big fork is just as easy as with a small fork. Try it! It actually makes eating humongous cakes slices easier! >.< This glamorous lifestyle is endlessly fascinating to me, however, which is what a big part of my enjoyment of this novel and its predecessor centers around: we get all the jazz and sass of a privileged teenage life.

Romance is, again, not a very big factor in this book. But, we do get a few romantic developments that made me endlessly curious to see how it would all turn out. It’s realistic teenage romances with insecurities and misgivings. As in Belles, I was not disappointed by the lack in this area — it never felt like the book was missing an elements whatsoever, the little we do get simply adds charm to the already lively book.

You’re missing out on an extremely fun, refreshing chick lit series if you haven’t sinked your teeth into Belles yet, and if you have, you can be sure to get another great taste of the life of the rich and famous in Winter White: it has all the gossip and drama you could want!

4 Hot Espressos
The Belles Series:

Eve and Adam Review, Interview & Giveaway

Posted by on 10/04/2012 • 36 Comments

Today, as part of the Eve and Adam blog tour, I have the hilarious Michael and Katherine over for a fantastic interview that I promise will amuse you! There’s also a giveaway for you, and my review! Have a look:

Eve and AdamMichael Grant & Katherine ApplegatePublication date: October 2nd 2012by Feiwel & Friends

 

Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing…

Review: Toxic by Jus Accardo

Posted by on 10/03/2012 • 16 Comments

ToxicJus AccardoSeries: Denazen, #2Publication date: October 16th 2012by Entangled Teen

 

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez’s problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen…

Review: Lindsey Lost by Suzanne Phillips

Posted by on 10/02/2012 • 14 Comments

Lindsey LostSuzanne PhillipsPublication date: September 18th 2012by Viking Juvenile

 

The Bourne Identity meets I Am the Cheese in this taut thriller

Even though Micah’s a star pitcher, his older sister Lindsey is the real deal–a runner so good, she has a shot at the Olympics. The two of them urge each other on, and are each other’s best support. Then the unthinkable happens: Lindsey is murdered, and Micah may have been the last person to see her. But he can’t remember what happened, no matter what their parents tell him, no matter what the police say. Did he witness his sister’s murder–or commit it? Can he recall the truth before his life is sentenced to end, too?

*A copy was provided by Penguin Canada for review purposes*

The…

Review: Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz & Ron Bass

Review: Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz & Ron Bass

Posted by on 09/29/2012 • 29 Comments

Ok ok.. I think I loved it. But I’m not sure. This was just very …. You know the movie Inception? Yeah, kinda like that. I’m so lost, yet I love it… I think.

For one thing, Lucid is a book that makes you think. You have to piece every single moment together to begin to understand what just happened. And this is what you will see yourself doing after you turn the last page. Then you will want to immediately read it again in a new light, so you can grasp the puzzling nature of the plot.

I’m not sure how many of you watched Momento!? But that movie, you’re watching it with no idea what the frick is going on. You end it with no better idea of…

Review: The Suburban Strange

Posted by on 09/28/2012 • 28 Comments

The Suburban StrangeNathan Kotecki Publication date: October 2nd 2012by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

 

Shy Celia Balaustine is new to Suburban High, but a mysterious group of sophomores called the Rosary has befriended her. Friends aside, Celia soon discovers something is not quite right at Suburban. Girls at the school begin having near-fatal accidents on the eve of their sixteenth birthdays. Who is causing the accidents, and why? As Celia’s own birthday approaches, she is inexorably drawn into an underground conflict between good and evil—the Kind and the Unkind—that bubbles beneath Suburban High.

*A copy was provided by Thomas Allen & Son for review purposes*

Mysterious accidents the day before girls turn 16, a peculiar group of socialites, a unique paranormal aspect – The Suburban Strange was very promising. It started…

Stealing Parker Tour Stop: Review & Giveaway

Posted by on 09/27/2012 • 29 Comments

Stealing ParkerMiranda KenneallyPublication date: October 1st 2012by Sourcebooks Fire

 

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan’s Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won’t turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys–a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far…especially when he starts flirting back.

*A copy was provided by Miranda Kenneally for review purposes*

Catching Jordan was one of my favourite books of last year, so when I heard of another novel by Miranda I had really high hopes…

Alice in Zombieland Tour Stop

Posted by on 09/25/2012 • 122 Comments

 Xpresso Reads à la zombie today! YEAH!! I’m stoked to have Gena over for the Alice in Zombieland tour. She gives us tips on how to survive the zombocalypse, and you can win your very own copy of this pretty! First, let’s have a look at my review!

Alice in ZombielandGena ShowalterPublication date: September 25th 2012by Harlequin Teen

 

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was…