[Book Review] Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

So, I should start with how I came across this series. You know those ads that say “If you like this, you’ll like this also” that pop up on Facebook? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me except mine said “If you like The Vampire Diaries, you’ll like Halo by Alexandra Adornetto.” Ok, so it might not have said exactly that, but you get the picture.

This series also holds a special place in my heart. Halo was the book that got me back into reading. This is the book that got me obsessed with collecting YA book and going to book conventions. So, thank you Facebook ad. My life will never be the same.

With that said, I should get talking about the book.

Description on Goodreads:

Heaven Help Her.
Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

While I was absolutely in love with the romance of Halo, Hades was a bit of a let down in that department. Don’t get me wrong, the book was still good. Sure there was a lot of details about everything that eventually did annoy me, but the book was still good. I guess after reading Halo and then hearing that Jake was going to kidnap Beth in Hades, I was hoping for more romance between Jake and Beth.  That’s not exactly how the book went, but it was still enjoyable.

It took me a couple of weeks to get through the first 200 pages, but yesterday while travelling out of town with my family for Christmas, I took the book on the road with me.  At some point I was so into the book that I even threw a jacket over my head and read with a flashlight so that I could see in the dark. Yeah, I got kind of desperate.  Oh and don’t even get me started on that cliffhanger…Alexandra Adornetto is pure evil for leaving us off on that cliffhanger.

So to close this never ending ramble, I’m giving Hades 4 out of 5 stars.

[TV Tuesday] Shows That Ended Too Soon

Hey all! It’s TV Tuesday again! Sadly, most shows are still on break and I don’t think any of them are coming back until next year. So, no episode reviews for me this week, but… I do have another topic!

Shows that ended too soon:

1.       Roswell --- It’s been nearly 10 years since the show has been off air and people are still talking about it! I mean, who doesn’t love hot aliens with awesome abilities? Unfortunately, the show only lasted for 3 seasons while it should have lasted for at least 5. I guess we’ll never know what would have happened in that 100^th episode.

2.       Legend of the Seeker --- It hit me hard the other day while watching Richard & Kahlan fan made videos on Youtube just how much I’ve missed this show. It seriously had everything anyone would love from renaissance time era and fighting with swords to romance and forbidden love. Two seasons really isn’t enough. Luckily, we have that bunch of books by Terry Goodkind that the show is based on to keep us preoccupied.

3.       Day Break --- I originally got this for my sister as one of those last minute Christmas gifts that I was sure was going to be left unwatched. Surprisingly, the both of us ended up liking it. For those who, like us, had no idea the show was about, it’s about a man accused of murder. He must repeat the day over and over in hopes of proving his innocence.

4.       Against the Wall --- Personally I do not watch the show, but my older sister insisted I put it as one of the shows for today’s blog. The show is about a woman whose three brothers and father are all cops, but she still decides to join the internal affairs causing some drama between her family. There’s also a triangle and since the show has been cancelled we have no idea who she picked! Uh-oh!

5.       No Ordinary Family --- I have to admit; I watched the first episode live and then flaked out for the rest of the season. It wasn’t until after I heard that the show was cancelled this summer that I finally watched and realized what a mistake I made not watching it while it was still on air. Like many shows that are cancelled unexpected, NOF left off in a huge cliffhanger that will never be answered. Cue in the sad face.

6.       Heroes --- Similar to NOF, I didn’t watch Heroes until it was cancelled and put up on Netflix. Friends again and again told me how much they thought I would end up liking the show, but I never did. A part of me wishes the producers and writers had known that the show was ending. Four years is a good run, but leaving off in a cliffhanger like Heroes did, it makes me want more like say a… movie!

7.       Kyle XY --- I asked my sister what last show I should include in this list and when I mentioned Kyle XY, she literally let out a “duh.” Why? Because this show was so freaking awesome and definitely should have continued.  A mysterious guy learning about where he really came from? Oh yeah, it can only get better from there.

What are some of your favorite shows that were gone too soon?

[TV Tuesday] Surprises Vs. Spoilers

Most of my shows are on hiatus right now. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to watch some new episodes of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix (But can I call it new? – You’ll see what I mean in a second). Sadly, it turns out that most of the episodes have either been seen by my sister (my Netflix buddy) or I. Or if we happen to stumble across an episode that we haven’t seen before, we (and by “we” I mean me because I’m always to blame *sarcasm*) have read spoilers about it.

Thanks to the hundreds (no seriously maybe tens) of websites out there that cover TV spoilers, it seems like nothing is ever a huge surprise anymore. To this day my sister still likes to use me as her excuse for hating Smallville (which is my all-time favorite show). She says that I used to read all the spoilers and then blab them to her and that ruined it for her. While I’m neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her, it got me to thinking… I read a lot of spoilers!!!

Because of spoilers I read online, I knew a lot of stuff before I even watched shows.

Examples: *Spoiler Alert*

-Before I even began watched One Tree Hill this summer, I already knew that Lucas ends up with Peyton and they have a daughter together. Nathan and Haley get married and have two children together. And -Brooke ends up with a guy named Julian.

-Before I gave Chuck a second chance this summer, I knew that Chuck and Sarah ended up married and Awesome and Ellie have a baby Awesome.

-Before I started watching Bones a couple of months ago with my sister, I knew Bones got pregnant (thank you Emily Deschanel!)

While I didn’t know how those characters got there, I still knew. I found myself waiting for these milestone moments that would get them to where I knew they were headed. I found myself yelling at my TV more whenever a couple broke up (because I knew they were fools and would get back together and marry). I found myself rushing through episodes. I found myself glued to my television.

So, I ask today… How do you feel about spoilers? Do you like knowing a certain kiss is coming or do you prefer to be absolutely surprised?

[Book Review] Vanish by Sophie Jordan (re-post)

Sophie Jodan has done it again!

Vanish is one of my favorite books of the year. It has love triangles, it has action, it has friendship, it has everything imaginable.

I absolutely loved it’s prequel Firelight. A story about dragons that can manifest into human form. Well, let’s just say the idea hooked me in right away. So much that I convinced my sister and two of my friends to read it too.

Vanish does not disappoint. Sophie Jordan does a really great job of keeping her characters true to themselves, but yet allows them to grow all in the same way. Take Jacinda for example, (don’t worry no real spoilers) between the first page of Firelight and the last page of Vanish, she has A LOT of stuff happen to her. She falls in love, she learns that… (oh right so no spoilers) I guess you’re going to have to fill in the blanks for yourself! Muahahaha.

Seriously this a book no one wants to miss.

My top three reasons for recommending this book:
1) Will/Jacinda/Cassian - In Firelight, I was all Team Will. I wanted Jacinda to find her true love in Will despite how “sweet” Cassian turned out to be. However, while reading Vanish, I was still Team Will, but Cassian started winning me over. I was trying my best not to become Team Cassian, but I just couldn’t help it.
2) Jacinda & Tamra - no matter what goes on in their lives, these two twins have each other’s backs. Yes, they get in a lot of arguments. Yes, they sometimes are not the best of friends, but that’s what makes them so realistic.
3) Dragons! Dragons! And more Dragons! - Seriously, when was the last time you read a book that had dragons in it? Personally, it was my first time. I ended up loving this series so much that every time I see a dragon book, I end up buying it even if I don’t have a clue what it is about. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s a bad thing. I’ll find out in time.
4) Ok. Ok. I know I said three reasons, but this fourth one had to be included. SOPHIE JORDAN. What a sweet and kind woman. I’ve had the joy of meeting her twice and the way she approaches her fans, the way she talks about her characters. It’s easy to see that she has respect for both. So yeah, I’d pretty much read anything hers now.

Umm, yeah. I don’t know what else to say. First book review ever. I’ll get better. I promise.

Here’s a distraction from my lame conclusion (well lame review actually):
http://bit.ly/cMm8eM
And if that didn't distract you enough:
http://bit.ly/mRlc7O


Updated (as of 3/14/12):
My dream cast for Vanish

Jacinda – Molly C. Quinn

Will – Tyler Blackburn

Cassian – Brant Daugherty
Tamra - Molly C. Quinn

Jacinda’s mom – Julianne Moore
Az – AnnaSophia Robb
Severin: Dean Cain
Miriam – Emma Roberts
Corbin – Lucas Malvacini
Nidia – Halle Berry