A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks

4 Stars


In 1958 Landon Carter is a shallow but well-meaning teenager who spends most of his time hanging out with his friends and trying hard to ignore the impending responsibilities of adulthood. Then Landon gets roped into acting the lead in the Christmas play opposite the most renowned goody two-shoes in town: Jamie Sullivan. Against his best intentions and the taunts of his buddies, Landon finds himself falling for Jamie and learning some central lessons in life.






An oldie but a goodie! I have seen the movie years ago but always wondered how the book differed. I was surprised! There were many things that they had changed for the movie. But honestly, I loved the book more!! 
It feels weird to write a review about a story that is already so well known, but I will anyway. 
Landon Carter enjoyed dating and hanging out with friends and poking fun at Jamie Sullivan, the ministers daughter. Jamie Sullivan was always polite and carried a bible with her everywhere she went. 
Landon Carter decided to join the drama club looking for a "free hour". Instead Jamie Sullivan convinced him to take the lead role. Which led into him having to spend more time with her. After different events he ends learning to like her, and eventually falling in love with her. You find out a big secret towards the end and that's where you need to bring out your tissues. 
This love story is a great classic. It'll have you laughing, smiling, and crying. 
I am so glad I decided to read the book even though I've already seen the movie. I would've missed out on a great story!! 

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

5 Stars


Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Sydney has to pose as Jill's sister while they are in hiding at a school along with Eddie and Adrian(supposed brothers and Angeline(supposed cousin). Of course Sydney is known as the authoritative family member. In this book you will also see a lot of Dimitri from Vampire Academy, also Sonya. 
During the book there are many relationship problems. While Jill is dating Micah, a human from school, Eddie is secretly in love with her. At the same time Angeline is very interested in Eddie. 
Sydney finally gets a boyfriend(very unexpected), Brayden, who is as smart as she is. Being with him was comfortable considering they could talk about many things and the other will know exactly what they're saying. At the same time she spends a lot of time with Adrian. During the entire book you can start seeing Adrian falling for Sydney. But of course Sydney doesn't even notice until he finally tells her at the end. Which I thought was a great ending. Does Sydney love him back? Read the book and find out! 


While all the love triangles are going on they have a bigger problem. The human Vampire Hunters are real! You'd be surprised to find out who's a part of the group too! The hunters believe Sonya is still Strigoi and is using magic to make her seem normal and they end up kidnapping her so they can kill her. Sydney does the unthinkable to find Sonya!


This book was great! I am so ready to read the 3rd book, which doesn't come out until 2013. Richelle Mead is very good at her work! 

Rapture by Lauren Kate

5 Stars

The sky is dark with wings. . . .
Like sand through an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the angels fell to earth.
Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again. Yet together they face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed.
And suddenly Luce knows what must happen. For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now is the only one that truly matters. In the fight for Luce, who will win?
The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

Rapture is the 4th book of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. I have to admit I wasn't super in love with Fallen but each book got better and better. I have to say that I am very happy with the way Lauren Kate wrapped up the series. 
It seemed every chapter had new answers to questions I've had since the first book. Which was good! The book made me cry different times, especially since some wonderful characters were killed off. 
In this book Lucinda and Daniel must find the location of the original Fall and stop Lucifer. In order to find the spot of the Fall they must find 3 different objects that will give them the map. During this time Lucinda starts to remember lots of events from her and Daniel's past together, except how they originally met. Which will be revealed at the end of course, I huge twist in the story!!
A bitter sweet ending, definitely!!
In all this book had me on the edge of my seat and turning pages fast! I was very happy with the conclusion to this series. I absolutely love Lauren Kate's way of writing.
This series may be a re-read for me in the future!

Existence by Abbi Glines

4 Stars

What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.
Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.
Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.
Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.
He is Death and he's about to break all the rules.

Existence was an interesting story. You start with Pagan, a teenager who could always see wandering souls that never spoke to her until one finally speaks-Dank. Who you later find out isn't exactly a wandering soul, but is Death himself. Dank was supposed to come and take Pagan's soul instead he falls in love with her and saves her.  Which is breaking the rules and he must pay. Meanwhile she also starts dating Leif. (What are up with the odd names?) You get some insight of Leif at the beginning when you find out he was adopted, but after they start dating you don't get much more information. His character starts to get boring, all he does is become lovey and mushy. 


Pagan finds out later that she must sacrifice herself so Dank won't spend the rest of eternity damned in Hell. At the end it seems everything is perfect until the last page. Of course a new problem pops up and it ends. Hence the sequel. 


In all I found myself liking this book. It was a page turner for sure. I have to give it only 4 stars though due to the familiarity of it. It has reminded me a lot of a few other books I have recently read. I would really have loved there to be a different twist.