Fairest of Them All Blog Tour

The Fairest of Them All

Author: Carolyn Turgeon
Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: Touchstone
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: book tour
Format: Print
Pages: 288
Order here: B&N or Amazon






As I've said before in other reviews, I absolutely LOVE books based on fairytales@ I grew up on The LIttle Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty! (BTW, Auror is my favorite princess, with Cinderella and Rapunzel close behind!) So when I read this synopsis I knew I had to read this book.

This was an awesome twist of Rapunzel and Snow White!  And, weird as it sounds, it totally makes sense. I understand why she went "evil", if that's what you want to call her. I feel for her. As the story went on, it just kept getting worse for her.  It was horrible. And I can't stand Prince Josef.

There really wasn't a set protagonist or antagonist through this. Everyone was kinda their own antagonists. There were so many twists in this book I had some trouble keeping up at points, but the twists made it awesome! Especially the ending!! Oh, what an ending!

My opinion:  READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it!



Let's Make a Movie!

Rapunzel - Brittany Snow

I think she is absolutely beautiful and could totally pull of the role of Rapunzel. She is very lady like and she already has the blonde hair!


Madame Mathena Gothel - Melina Kanakaredos

I think she is gorgeous! She's the right age, and she is exactly what I was picturing when reading about Mathena! I think she is perfect!


Prince Josef - Ian Somerhalder

Sigh. If this man showed up on my door step out of the blue I'd have trouble not letting him climb up my hair too. Ian is perfect for the prince! He has those chiseled facial features, he's hott, and he already plays an arrogant sometimes asshole on Vampire Diaries! And, those eyes! Plus, who doesn't want to see that naked!


Snow White (Age 7) - Mackenzie Foy

As soon as I saw this girl, I knew she was my 7 year old Snow White. She's so pretty and she did an awesome job in Breaking Dawn as Renesmee. She, to me, is the perfect Snow White.


Snow White (Age 15) - Miranda Cosgrove

Gorgeous and young, Miranda Cosgrove is perfect as we see Snow White age 8 years in the novel. I think she is a perfect match for an older Mackenzie Foy and her features are perfect to play the cream skinned, 15 year old Snow White.


Gilles - Liam Hemsworth

......okay now that I've stopped drooling I can continue. Just. Look at him. He's perfect. He's the perfect Gilles. He's incredibly gorgeous and I think he would play an incredible falconer. Just see him in Hunger Games and you'll know I'm right :)

The Selection

The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection, 1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: B&N Nook
Format: e-book
Pages: 220
Order here: B&N or Amazon

Alright, I feel like I need to start out this review by stating that I am aware of the controversy surrounding this book and its author. I had previously added this book to my to-read list before even hearing about the mess. I am reviewing the book not the author because I believe every book deserves a chance even if there's an author controversy. That being said, my review:

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. Seriously. I could not put it down. That said, there were a few things that caused me to bump it down a star. The issues would be world creation and character, with that big bad love triangle thrown in. Dammit.

Let us start with the names. Alright I understand this is supposed to be in the future (though I really have no idea when....) but seriously with the names! Kota, Margareta, Tenile, Madge, Shalom, Sosie, Emmica, Tiny, Markson & Bariel are just some of the names that made me go "WTF". Please have normal named characters. Makes it easier to follow really. I mean there were some normal names in the book: Samantha, Brenna, Amy, Zoe, Marlee, hell even the maids had normal names!

Then we come to the main characters. First me have Aspen. Seriously? We couldn't go with Alex or even Ashton? No? Okay. Next we move on to Prince Maxon. I'm not even sure where these names were pulled from. So I took the courtesy of renaming them. From here forward, they will be named Alex and Max. I don't like that America's last name is Singer. It's just too damn obvious. But I like the story behind the name America, because she was a fighter, so I could look past that one.

Next was the world building. The settings were not described particularly well. I had a hard time trying to imagine places. I'm picturing America's home town like the street market from Aladdin but then she talks about having a tree house. I'm not even sure where the castle is supposed to be, unless I just missed that. Is it in D.C.?? Very confusing. The history lesson the girls received helped explain the dystopian feel, but the country names? Bellingham, Swendway, and Honduragua were three that I just could not believe. Use non made-up countries and at lease some we've heard of please and thank you!

Lastly. Damn. Love. Triangle. I hate them. I really do. That's why I love Dessen's books so much. With that said, I hope Alex (Aspen for those of you not following alon) falls in a well or something. I'm beyond Team Maxy Boy. Alex is an ass. "She tripped and I helped her up!" Yeah. Right.

I am fully looking forward to reading the next book, and I know the third is already slated to come out next year! I'm also excited to read the novella. I could see that this isn't a book for everyone, but don't be completely put off by the other reviews. If you don't want to give up money, get it from your local library!

Also, this quote made me melt:

"It's just...with what you said earlier, and then seeking me out yesterday...just the way you acted...I though maybe your feelings had changed. And I like you, I though you could tell." He turned to face me. "And...Oh, was it terrible? you don't look happy at all"
I tried to wipe whatever expression I had off my face. Maxon looked mortified.
"I'm so sorry. I've never kissed anyone before. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just...I'm sorry America."

Freaking. Adorable.

Every Day

 Every Day

 

Author: David Levithan
Series: Stand-Alone
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Library
Format: e-book
Pages: 220
Order here: B&N or Amazon





This was such a cool concept. Seriously. The concept was amazing. This "A" person thing being switches bodies. Everyday he she it ends in a new body. Ever morning it wakes up as someone new. There are so many places you could go with this. There really is. But, unfortunately, this was kind of a let down on the author's part. It felt like this wasn't explored as much as it could have been for sure.

There's a reason you should wait a few days before reviewing a book. You really need to take time to process things. When I first finished reading this I was at 5 stars! I loved it I really did, and don't get me wrong, I still really like it, but as of writing this review I'm more at a 3 now.

I started thinking about the questions I still had regarding this book and realized there were just too many left unanswered. For instance, what the hell is A??? Why does it only visit someone once? Why does it only inhabit people the same "age" as it? Does it even really have an age? Is it really 16? Is it an alien? Is it the devil?! There were just too many questions. I had more questions when I finished reading the book than when I started! There's just too much left to deal with!

As far as the romance of the story goes, you have your classic teenage insta-love. "A" inhabits the body of a pretty girl's boyfriend who is a classic asshole, and "A" thinks that she deserves better and that "A" can be that person and after taking her to the beach for like, 4 hours "A" is madly in love with her and no one else should have her. At least Riahnnon (BTW what the hell kind of name is that?) was a little weirded out by it at first, but like, a week later she's laying naked with "A" in some stranger's body in a cabin in the woods where no one will find them....uh...DANGER ALERT?! So, this...being i think I went with....comes up to you in all these different bodies and you think this is okay? No. Not okay.

As I said, so many places this could have went and I really feel that it just fell short. It was a good read though and I would love a sequel to clear up some of the questions left to be answered!

Armchair BEA Introduction!

So I have to say I have never even heard of this until a fellow blogger I follow posted their intro! Apparently it's not too late so I'm gonna join in!

This is my introduction :)

Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Well I'm Kaytee, I'm a 20 year old college student studying business and accounting while working full time as a secretary at my family's construction business. (I have my own office! It's awesome!!) I started blogging a long time ago, back in like Sophomore year of high school, but back then I was only blogging about Twilight because that's what I was obsessed with back then (plus I was still on Xanga!) I started blogging on Dedicated Readers Only about 3 or 4 years ago. I started on Xanga before moving to blogger! My first post on blogger was on January 13, 2010 when I reviewed Owen Meany and Pride and Prejudice which I was reading for high school! I actually got into blogging thanks to my best friend in high school who had started up a book blog. I thought, Hey! I love books too! Why didn't I ever think of this? I can talk about books all I want and no one will tell me to shut up! And that's how Dedicated Readers Only came to be!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?

Well I'm currently reading Miss Pergerine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I'm only on page 1 so I can't comment on this one yet. I did just finish Every Day by David Levithan which was pretty good.  I got hooked on The Walking Dead as well, which are incredible! Requiem by Lauren Oliver and With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent finished up 2 of my all-time favorite series so that was upsetting but happy at the same time!

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

This is way too hard of a question! There are way too many I would love to do this with. I would have to say one of my choices, which may seem strange, but totally true, is Charlie Swan for Twilight. *GASP* "She chose a character from one of the most loved but mostly hated book series of this generation?!?!" Yes, yes I did. Charlie is one of my favorite characters from books I've read. He's funny, sweet, a protective father, cool with his daughter being a vampire, and he is a cop. With lots of guns. I think dinner with him would be amazing!

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

This doesn't even need thought. There are a few choices but my number one choice would be the NeverNever from Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey book series. By far at the top of my list for favorite book series. I would love most to explore the land of the Iron Fey, mostly because Meghan is a good ruler unlike the others and probably wouldn't kill me for coming to her land. Plus I just want to meet all the incredible creatures that Kagawa created!

Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

My ability to have more time to read and blog! I've had to take a lot of time off in the past year due to health, work, school and other things out of my control. I have not read nearly as much as I used to and it upsets me! I use to read before bed, in class, in the car, sitting on the couch while watching TV but not really paying attention to it, etc! I would love to get back into blogging more and build up more followers and a better connection in the book blogging community and be able to have a connection with more authors! I also want to find time to work on my own book!

Divergent

    Divergent

 

Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Library
Format: Paperback
Pages: 487
Order here: B&N or Amazon









Holy...Crap....That...was...




All rolled into one.

So I started this book on a Tuesday. In between work and other stuff I had only reached about page 80 by Thursday. So I decided to sit down and actually read Thursday night. So, starting at 8PM I read. I stopped when I finished the rest of the book at 12:30AM. This book was AMAZING! I could not get enough of everything this book had to offer. I loved learning about the factions, trying to figure out what the heck was really going on, cheering on love connections, crying, laughing, rejoicing. Seriously, I loved every second of this book.

As far as characters go, I love Beatrice "Tris". I love her strength and her overall selflessness. Choosing what she did was terribly difficult and it took a lot of courage, which I admire. I didn't find her whiny at all, like a lot of female characters in YA books these days, which was refreshing. Heads up authors, not all teenage girls are whiny, love obsessed pansies. We can be strong, thank you very much. We don't need a guy to make up happy.

But in this care, I wouldn't pass up "Four" aka Tobias (seriously who the hell saw that coming? not me!) I want him. For serious. He is incredible. And, really, how blind is Tris? She realized Al liked her but not Four? Come on it was SO obvious! Anyway, he is all man with that sensitive side! So perfect!!

I didn't get really attached to Tris' friends. I was said when Al died, but not enough to cry about it, not like I have for other characters. But I still found them endearing. I was more upset when Tris' parents died.

Though, I have to say, everything Al purposely lost a fight, all I could think of was:


And every time Tris was oblivious to Four's flirtaciousness (yes I just made up a word deal with it):


How can you be so blind? He was basically shouting at you:


Though, when I found out who Four was...well..
.


That pretty much sums it up...

In conclusion!
READ. THIS. BOOK.

Especially if you want to be all: