Dare to Dream by Carys Jones

Dare to DreamAuthor: Carys Jones
Publisher: REUTS Publications
Publication Date: 14th Frebruary 2015
Source: ebook (provided by the author)
Rate:





Summary:
“The world was going to end. Of that, Maggie Trafford was certain.”
Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths.
It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling.
No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.
Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.
( via Goodreads )

Review:
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Maggie Trafford is a very unusual girl, in the middle of her familys poverty and bad behaviour she succeeds academicly, being a model student in her school and a balanced human being.
But this alll ends when she starts getting awful nightmares of the armageddon and her behaviour changes, since no one believes that the world is going to end!
The book is divided in two parts and I have to admit that I enjoyed both of them, even if I think that there are some things that probably needed more work.
The first part is very slow paced and the second part happens so quickly that you never see it coming!
I would like to have seen some more characther development mainly in Maggies friends and father, the story has so much potential that simply wasn't explored and worked with.
The characthers were a little unbalanced since the only really interesting characther was Maggie and I think that if the other characthers were more developed they would be way more appealing and it would give a completely different "taste" to this story!
Overall this is a very fine book if you're into sci-f or simply adventurous books, this book didn't let me down and I enjoyed reading it! I had never read something like it before and I really like this concept of "world destruction".
I really hope that there's a second book since I really want to know how this adventure ends!
If you're into thrilling adventures and survival tales mixed with some deeper emotional challenges you should read this book!

Book Addict Nightmares

Hi guys! Over the last few days I've been sick and because of that I'm not really able to read and that is making me crazy!
This morning while I was waiting in the E.R. I had this really fun idea of making a list with some of the most awful book addict nightmares, in my opinion! I hope you enjoy it!

1. Not being able to read!

It doesn't matter if it is because you're sick or don't have enough time on your hands, not being able to read kills me! I need it to relax and I'm kind addicted to it so...

2. When you're favourite character dies...

I think we all can relate to the pain of characther deaths! I still can't get over the Clockwork Princess (by Cassandra Clare) epilogue, I just can't!

3. When you don't have money to buy new books...

Being addicted to books isn't an easy task and it also ain't cheap... That feeling when you like a book and really want to read it but then you check your wallet and you don't have enough money to buy it...

4. When the book has an unexpected ending...

It hurts but we still love it... sometimes I think I have a really big problem...

5. When a book takes all your free time away...

Book I declare all my love and allegiance to you. Until you're finished I shall not go out, watch series, eat or drink, you're my life from now on...

6. When someone says they don't read...

"WTF" mode on! Book lovers unite! One day we will show them the true power of reading!

7. When you cry in public because of a book...

Houston I think we have a problem! Send the SWAT teams! Emergency mode on!

8. When the feels hit you...
No description needed.


So this is the end! There might be a second part  someday!
I hoped you liked it! Have a nice day!

Perfect Harmony by Shaloa Robinson


harmonyAuthor: Shaloa Robinson
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 1 May 2015
Source: ebook (provided by the author)
Rate:





Summary:
Harmony is a 17 year old girl with a great family and pretty good friends. When her father moves away for work, her mother is left trying to handle her 4 children and younger brother who comes to live with them. Harmony’s best friend Violet is experiencing some trouble with her mother as well, who is uncharacteristically negligent. Violet decides to take of advantage and allows herself to date popular Gary. With a new boyfriend Violet doesn’t have as much time for Harmony. Harmony sees this as an opportunity to approach her own crush Julian. Along the way she forges an unlikely friendship with playboy Troy who keeps her secret.
(provided by the author)

Review:
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
This book was an easy read, very fluent and with some plot twists that keep you focused and the characthers are well done and have a certain depht.
The story itself is interesting  and really portraits some aspects of a teenagers life, like having to take care of your friends and family, while taking care of yourself and other things like that.
You can see how the relationships between Harmony and Troy and Harmony and Julian develop as Harmony herself also does.
It's a very educating heart-touching story and every teenager and parent should read it, since I think it could help both to see from other point of view.
I think this book only has two major mistakes:
1- It has so many grammatical mistakes that even I, a non-native speaker with only the foreign language level of english from public education, could pick up on them!
2- The end was so abrupt that I thought that the epub had been damaged and had to check out wath was happening.
If you like contemporary reads you'll appreciate this story. 

Disney Princess Book Tag




Hi guys! Today I'm doing a tag called "The Disney Princess Book Tag"! This tag was created by a fellow blogger called Shouda on the Of Stacks and Cups blog (click the blog name to see the original tag).
Thank you Shouda for tagging me! I will follow what she wrote and I hope I can do this thing right!

My Disney Princess Facts:
1. My favourite Disney Princess is Pocahontas because she's an independent strong woman! 
2. I now almost all the Disney Princesses songs by heart and some in English, Portuguese, Spanish and French... I know I have a problem, a very serious one!
3. Besides Pocahontas I really like Belle, I think the reason is a bit obvious, and Esmeralda, from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, some people think she's not a princess but you don't need a crown to be a princess!

Let's get started! I hope I'm able to do this right!

1. Snow White - Name your favorite classic 

So I think this might seem a little cliche but my favourite classic novel is Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen!
This book is so well written and has so many awesome details that take you on a trip to a diferent world that you might never had known! 

2. Cinderella - Name a book that kept you reading well past your bedtime


So I have an addiction for Greek Mithology and I mixed that with a Meg Cabot book and I think you know what the outcome was... I stayed up all night reading this book just because it is completely astonishing!
Abandon is a series of books that talk about the myth of Persephone but in real life in our times! I can't even describe how breathtaking this book is!

3. Aurora - Name your favorite classic romance


And now comes the cliche of all cliches: my favourite classic romance is Romeo and Juliet  by William Shakespeare.
I know this is not technically a romance but it is a play about serious romantic stuff and I have it in book form so it counts!
This story is surreal and I think everyone has something to learn from it!

4. Ariel - Name a book that's about making sacrifices and fighting for your dreams


For this one I chose Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout since the main characther, Alex, sacrifices everything to follow her dreams and to be able to love who she wants in an opressive society!
It's an example of persistence, perseverance and faith!

5. Belle - Name a book with a smart and independent female character


Ok, for this one I'm agreeing with Soudha because Anabelle Chase it's the smartest and most independent young woman in all the books that I've ever read!
She set and example for how every main female characther must be in order to show the world how women can be independent and strong!

6. Jasmine - Name a book with a character who challenged the social conventions of his or her world

This might not be an obvious choice but I chose Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. This book is all about challenging the law and fight for what's right!



7. Pocahontas - Name a book whose ending was a roller-coaster of emotions


And again we agree! Clockwork Princess, by Cassandra Clare is a hell of a roller-coaster of emotions! I cried trough the whole book and because of that I had to read it in my room when there wans't anybody home.... the feels... oh the feels...

8. Mulan - Name a book with a kick-ass female character

This book has to be Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas! Celaena Sardothien is a hell of an assassin but at the same time she's a girly girl! Don't beat me up for this but that Dorian... OMG...the feels are coming back...


9. Tiana - Name a book featuring a hardworking, self-made character
In my opinion Hannah from Philippa Gregorys book The Queen's Fool fits just right for this spot! She's hardworking and independent, taking care not only of herself but of others as well!


10. Rapunzel - Name a book that features an artist
This has to be City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare! Ok, I know miss Clarissa Fray, a.k.a. Clary, appears in all of The Mortal Instruments Series but I really like this one!
Clary is a natural artist, she sees the world in a different, sometimes odd, way!



11. Merida - Name a book that features a mother-daughter relationship
Love, Rosie  by Cecelia Ahern is a awesome example of a mother-daughter relationship! Rosie learns how to be a mother and the rest I can not tell you, since it would spoil the work of art....




12. Anna and Elsa - Name a book that features a great relationship between siblings 

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild shows you the life of the Fossil sisters as they fight to succeed in life! The relationship between sisters is great and you can really feel how much they love each other!



Sorry for extremely long post and for my lack of posting but lately I have been drowning in school work, I'll manage....
Love you all!

Book Quote Friday

So I'm starting this thing where every Friday I post a book quote! It's a simple little post just to share some good vibes with you all!
sherlock holmes quotes, famous, best, sayings, talent
Source: tumblr

Down The Wormhole by Ana Franco

23783793Author: Ana Franco
Publisher: French Press Bookworks
Publication Date: 17 March 2015
Source: ebook (provided by the author)
Rate:




Summary:
In a city there is a tiny lane that seperates two orphanages - one for boys and one for girls. Inside live two very special groups of teenagers. These teenagers carry a secret and leave it tucked safely away in their mysterious lives.
Then one day, a girl named Kitty arrives. No last name, just Kitty.
Before Kitty has time to be astonished by the teenagers' real identitites, she is whisked into a magical realm that slowly unfolds her own. She must come to terms with her true place in the world while she can, because time is ticking and there are secrets in the wormhole.
Travel with Kitty and her new friends Down The Wormhole into a mysterious world of magic, mythology, and mayhem.
(via: Goodreads)

Review:
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
I'll start this review in an unnusual way by stating that I'm deeply impressed with this book!
Down the Wormhole is the first book in the Wormhole Stories series by Ana Franco.
This book talks about Kitty an orphan that arrives into an very unnusal orphanage, she doesn't know her full name, to herself and others she's just Kitty.
When Kitty realizes she has met several mythical creatures, like Anubis, Medusa and Amergin, all being in deep trouble.
Kitty has to help her friends and herself as she discovers her role in their story and starts to look at the world in a different way.
Being so well written and with a very interesting plot this book amazed me completely! I didn't think it was possible to mix so many kinds of mythology and actual world facts and mix them all up in a very addicting story.
As this is a short kind of book I think it was very pleasant to read and advise it to people who are in exam season and just want to take their minds of the textbooks for a little while.
You can really see how Kitty changes through the book and admire the maturity she gained by the end of the story!
If you like mythology, parallel universes and short and sweet stories you're in luck because you have the perfect opportunity to really enjoy an amazing book!






#WhoIsClary Mystery Solved

I'm very proud to announce that "Shadowhunters", future tv show based on Cassandra Clares work has found a Clary!
The actress name is Katherine McNamara and you might know her from the childrens movie "Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency", where she played Emma Marsh (one of the lead roles) or her tv appearances such as in "Glee" and in "Unforgettable".
Here's what the official account from the show had to say:


The amazing Cassandra Clare had some words to say about the casting on her tumblr page:
«Welcome Kat MacNamera of the Fosters and The Scorch Trials to the Shadowhunters TV show — she’ll be our Clary Fray! Yes, I saw her audition. Yes, I gave her a thumbs up. I hope you’ll like her too!»
Here's a photo of our new Clary Fray:
I have my hopes up, since this cast seems to be completely amazing and the author liked all of the members and approved them, they also seem to be very similar to the book desciptions!
I'll keep you posted on more developings! (I have a test tomorrow so this was just a quick post.)
Love, Ana

"The Shadowhunters" Update

Hi! So "The Shadowhunters" tv show has casted two more characthers: Simon and Isabelle!
Alberto Rosende is going to play Simon on the show, he had a small part on the Blue Bloods tv series.
Here's a what McG, the shows director had to say about him:

Emeraude Toubia is going to play Isabelle, she is known for being one of the finalist on the "Nuestra Belleza Latina" (Our Latin Beauty) show.

I think the crew is making pretty good choices and I'm very excited to see what comes out of this!
I'll update you as soon as I know more!
Love, Ana