Book Review- Need by Carrie Jones

Book description:

Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

My thoughts:

About a week or two ago I read Need by Carrie Jones. I’m not a big fairy book fan but I decided I wanted to read this book anyway. Even after I have been thinking about this book over the past couple weeks, I still have ambivalent feelings towards it.

To start with, the story line was just okay. She’s the typical new girl at the high school who receives the attention from all the hot guys in the school. But this pisses off the leader of the popular girls; she is now hated becasue Miss Queen Bee had her eye on the hot guy. And obvious there is something different about Lucas (one of said hot guys) because he runs really fast and randomly appears at the most opportune moments.

Zara’s personality was a little dry. Maybe it was because she believed she couldn’t “feel anything” after her stepfather’s death. She didn’t seem interesting to me. What happened to her friends back home? Did she just decide to stop talking to them because her mom shipped her off to live with her grandma? She couldn’t have possible not have had any friends.
At least I was somewhat surprised when Ian and Meghan turned out to be pixies and her grandma turned out to be a were tiger. I also didn’t expect Zara’s biological father to be the king of the pixies. That was a little bit interesting because I would not have thought it would be possible to be half pixie.

I liked all the phobias that she repeated to herself in the hopes that it would make her feel better. It also allowed me to learn a few, as well. I also really liked the tie in of the gold dust with the book cover. The title is also great because it’s pretty much the premise of the book. While I was thinking about how I would review this book, I also thought about other paranormal fantasy books I have read that have werewolves. It seems throughout the books, werewolves are usually always portrayed as the protector of humankind from the pixies, fairies or vampires. I thought it was interesting that it’s never the other way around; that humankind never needs protecting from the werewolves.

If you are reading this, then you might have noticed the change in the name of this blog. As I was laying in bed last night, trying to fall asleep, I was playing the song “I Will Possess Your Heart” by Death Cab For Cutie. "I Will Possess Your Heart" appears on Death Cab's most recent album Narrow Stairs. Here is the first verse:

“How I wish you could see the potential,
The potential for you me
It’s like a book elegantly bound
But in a language you can’t read just yet.”

I thought it would make a great name for my blog because I’m always admiring how beautiful most of the book covers are. So now, this blog will be known as Elegantly Bound Books. Let me know if you like it or even if you don't!

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

"Waiting on" wednesday is a weekly edition hosted @ Breaking the Spine. It's a chance to spread the word about books that we are eagerly waiting to be released. This week I chose to spotlight The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.







Title: The Body Finder

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 366


Release Date: 16 March 2010

Description provided by Goodreads:

"A serial killer on the loose. A girl with a morbid ability. And the boy who would never let anything happen to her.

Violet Ambrose can find the dead. Or at least, those who have been murdered. She can sense the echoes they leave behind... and the imprints they leave on their killers. As if that weren't enough to deal with during junior year, she also has a sudden, inexplicable, and consuming crush on her best friend since childhood, Jay Heaton.

Now a serial killer has begun terrorizing Violet's small town... and she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him."

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Review- Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

From the back of the book:

Schuler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.

Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan’s most exclusive social circle. Its members are the powerful, the wealthy, and- as Schuyler soon discovers-the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they’ve been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?

My thoughts:

I loved, loved, loved this book. Not only are the characters amazing but the portrayal of vampires is like nothing I’ve ever read before. The storyline is deeply rooted in the mystery intrigue that is European and Colonial American history. Even though my BA in History is concentrated in European studies, I took a colonial America class in grad school and we spent a lot of time on the lost colony of Roanoke. It’s a real place, a real event, and a true mystery of American history. Melissa de la Cruz portrayed the lost colony of Roanoke as a settlement of vampires who were escaping persecution in Europe. It’s genius!! Not only do you have these characters who are suddenly remembering themselves as if they had live many centuries in the past but there is also the modern, chic setting of New York City. And of course there’s a huge surprise that made me a little sad but opened the door for so much to happen in the future. This book is not predictable at all and I love every page of it.

I give this book an A+

A Sobfest of Books

Today I would like to take the time to remember the top 5 books that made me cry. Books that leave us in tears are usually the ones that stick in our memories. When we become so attached to a book and it's characters, their passions, love or loss can move our emotions and cause us to feel as if the characters have somehwo become apart of ourselves. So, without future ado, I'd like to share the 5 books that made me cry the most (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS).

#5- A Farewell to Arms by Earnet Hemmingway

This was the first book that made me cry. I had to read it in high school for one of my english classes. It wasn't so much that I liked the book and the characters, but the ending was just so sad. I often found that I was lost in all the details and I currently forget the bulk of the story. What I mostly remember is that the main character is in a war, fall in love with a nurse (whom he knew before he went to war), got her pregnant and plans on marrying her and starting a family when he gets out of the military. But she goes into distress, gives birth to a stillborn baby and she bleeds to death. He then leaves the hospital, walks out into the pouring rain and it just ends. What kind of ending is that!!

#4- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

I remained emotionally steady through most of the Harry Potter series as it is somewhat of a quick read. But it never occured to me that Harry might die in the end. But when he made his way to the forest, ready to fight Voldermort even if it mean sacrificing himself so that others might live, I lost it. I thought, "wow, Harry thinks he might die!" But as well all know, the only part of Harry that dies is the Voldermort part and they all (well, most of them) live happily ever after!

#3- A Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

Thorughout the Gemma Doyle series, I became quite attached to the relationship between Gemma and Kartik. Their love developed through their friendship and he was always there to help her out of a jam. Then when they entered the temple and were able to walk in each other's dreams, I was so excited that they were meant for each other. Their chemistry just jumped right off the pages. So imagine my disappointment when he sacrifices himself to that very large tree and can never again leave the Realms. Although their love could never survive the scrutiny of the outside world (gypsies were looked down upon) it's just not fair. They were SOULMATES and now their love can never be. Oh how I cried.

#2- The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

One of my top 10 favorite book of all time, this book had me hooked from page 1. The two main character's (Henry and Claire) love for each other was so pure. He was the love of her life and he became the man she needed him to be. And they went through so much together. She always waited for him to come back when he was time travelling. And then he gets shot while traveling and the thing is, he gets shot by Claire's dad, back when she was 12 years old. He dies and it's so sad but she saw him a couple more times from when he time traveled to the future. Their reunions were so emotional.

#1- Tuesday's With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Now this is a very different kind of book. It's not specifically about one thing, but about all things; life. Its about a dying man who passes on his life advice to one of his former students. Its just so sad because every page is about death and dying and how to make your life better. And then of course the old man dies in the end. This book is number one on my list because I cried through every page of this book.

Well, that's my current list of books that made me cry the most but I'm sure there will be many more to come. If you're looking for a good sobfest book, I'm sure any Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Picoult book will do the trick.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

On this sunny, beautiful monday morning I have lost myself in the history and excitment that is Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods. I knew I would love this book from page 1. Although I am only half way through, the plot is already set up for the rivalry, romance and surprise that will most likely occur throughout the series. After I finish Blue Bloods tonight, I want to get a quick jump on Wicked and then later this week, hopefully, Moonlight. I've only set my goal for these three books this week because I have a couple of papers that need to be finished by sunday night (wish me luck!)

As always, the weekly edition of It's Monday! What are you reading? is brought to you by J. Kaye's Book Blog. If you are participating, be sure to head over and sign the link! Happy Monday!

SNL- Taylor Lautner

Saturday Night Live was hilarious as usual, but it was extra fun because it was hosted by Taylor Lautner (GO TEAM JACOB)! There were so many funny sketches but this on, by far, was definitely my favorite. I hope you all enjoy it too!




If you want to see more of Taylor Lautner hosting SNL, then hop on over to YouTube and you can find all his funny little skits.

In My Mailbox (5)

I usually get most of the books I read from the InterLibrary Loan system through my school but I didn't recieve any this week. I actaully haven't gotten any in a little while now. I must be on some pretty long waiting lists. Sooo, since I had a little extra money this week (even after buying christmas presents) I stocked for my upcoming christmas break. Which means I bought these books.

So, here we go:


When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think. Could those vampire legends really be true?

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

In Dark Angel, Gillian is saved from drowning by her guardian angel. Only visible to Gillian, Angel will fulfill her heart's every desire. But when Angel starts making strange and sinister requests, Gillian must question who he truly is and where he came from.

Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts, and the will to resist a vampire's mind control, Rashel struggles to avenge her mother's death in The Chosen. Then she meets Quinn, her soulmate, who is part of the world she has vowed to destroy.

Hannah receives notes warning her of incredible danger in Soulmate. But if death is her destiny, is the Lord of the Night World's love strong enough to save her?


"I Know Your Secret . . ."
Boarding school junior Stacey Brown has nightmares too real to ignore. Her nightmares come true. This time they're about Drea, her best friend who's become the target of one seriously psycho stalker. To try and protect her, Stacey's working with what she knows-candles, cards, incantations, and spells...






At the start of this breathtaking novel, Damen and Ever travel to Summerland in search of an antidote to reverse a powerful poison. But instead of the cure they seek, they find something far more sinister: the truth about their existence and the fate lying in wait of an immortal’s soul. Now, with Damen fighting to save them from the Shadowland, Ever turns to magick, hoping to break Damen’s curse. Along the way Ever encounters the mysterious Jude, finding herself drawn to him in a way that will test her love for Damen like never before . . .





St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.


I also recieved an email letting me know that I won a copy of Lauren Kate's Fallen but it hasn't come in the mail yet, but I can't wait! I'm so excited to get it!

The very popular weekly edition of In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.