The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski - ARC Review

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski Series: The Winner's Curse Trilogy #1 Published by: Farrar Straus Giroux on March 3, 2014 Pages: 355 Format: ARC Genre: Fantasy Source: Gifted Rating: 5/5 Buy the Book    or     Add it to Goodreads!
FROM GOODREADS: Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.
As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin's eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him- with unexpected consequences. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.
MY THOUGHTS:
Guyssssss. The Winner's Curse. Let's see if I can sum up my feelings for this book...
ASDFJKL;
Nope. Couldn't do it. Not even a sentence. Just a garbled mess of random letters. Why? Because this book is just...perfection. I was lucky enough to meet Nancy from Tales of a Ravenous Reader at the beginning of my blogging career, and being the AMAZING friend that she is, she surprised me with my very own ARC of The Winner's Curse back in January. I dropped everything and screamed at the top of my lungs when I found this book in my package. Everyone had been showing off their beautiful ARCs of The Winner's Curse, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't incredibly jealous of each and every one of them at the time. I immediately sat down, and started reading, and could not force myself to stop. 
Seriously. Kestrel is my home girl. I would honestly rank her badassery up there with Katniss, and that's some serious praise, because Katniss is my female soulmate, to be honest. And then there is the super swoony Arin filled with so many secrets that I have no idea how he was able to keep mum on all of them. Talk about pressure much? Star crossed love is the best love in the world, and when it's forbidden? EVEN. BETTER. Let me just go fan myself for a moment.
Okay, I think I'm good for now. Anyways, the world the Rutkoski built is phenomenal. I seriously felt like I was right by Kestrel's side as she walked through the sprawling market and battled her frenemies. Rutkoski can not only world build like a genius, she also knows how to throw in plenty of plot twists. WHAT IS WITH THAT ENDING, MARIE?! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT AFTER THAT?
As you can see, my feelings at the moment are pretty clear- even after over a month since I read it has passed. While ya'll are all pining for Tuesday to read the first installment of The Winner's Curse. I would actually give my left hand for them to actually be releasing the second installment instead, because phew! What a cliffhanger! But a brilliant one, I'll give you that. I never in a million years saw that coming. Kudos to you, Rutkoski. You wow'd me on every single level of available wow-ness, and earned yourself a spot on the very coveted list of auto-buy authors of Becca's. That's right, ladies and gents. This book is a MUST READ. If you buy any book this year, make sure it's The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. You'll thank me. ;) Overall, The Winner's Curse is simply fabulous, and definitely a book I will be picking up to reread, which is something I never do. Five GIANT hearts to The Winner's Curse!

Was this review helpful? Have you read The Winner's Curse? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for visiting Pivot Book Reviews! Don't forget to check out the popular Cover Puppies posts, where I recreate my favorite book covers with my dogs! 

Cover Puppies (8) - The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Cover Puppies is a weekly post here on Pivot Book Reviews, where I combine my extreme love for my doggies and YA books, and recreate my favorite book covers!

This week, I am featuring...

(Gentry!)

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski!!

FROM GOODREADS: 

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin's eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him- with unexpected consequences. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Pre-order The Winner's Curse!

(Available on March 4th, 2012)

 

I also planned on featuring a something new on Cover Puppies this week, where I would re-enact a scene from the book. However, things didn't go quite as planned this week, mostly due to not being able to find certain props in my mess of a house. HOPEFULLY (finger's crossed) I will have something a little better next week for you guys!! So stay tuned, and without further rambling, here is a picture of Gentry posing as Kestrel with her sheets of music! 

Also if you like cover recreations, Kristen from My Friends Are Fiction also redid the cover of The Winner's Curse last week, but with....wait for it....LEGOS!! Seriously, her and her husband's Lego Cover Art is the bomb (dot COM)!!! Go check it out guys! 

I was lucky enough to be gifted an ARC of this at the first of them year, and ERMAGOD! You HAVE to read this book! It's definitely going on my Top 2014 reads list!! So stop back by tomorrow to see my review of The Winner's Curse, and don't forget to enter my giveaways (links are in the sidebar to your right!) 

Did you like this feature?

Have a cover you are dying for me to recreate?

Let me know in the comments! I heart comment love!

Thanks for visiting Pivot Book Reviews, and be sure to follow so you get the newest Cover Puppies posts the second I hit publish!!!

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine, where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating!!
This week I'm waiting on:

Deliverance by CJ Redwine Releases on: August 26th, 2014  Add it to Goodreads!
FROM GOODREADS: Everything hangs in the balance, and nothing is certain: Rachel has been kidnapped by enemy forces and is being taken to Rowansmark while Logan, imprisoned and awaiting trial, is unable to leave Lankenshire. Separated from each other and their Baalboden comrades, each must find a way to achieve what they desperately want: to rid their world once and for all of the Commander and the tech that controls the deadly Cursed One.
Fighting through her pain and embracing the warrior she's become, Rachel will do whatever it takes to escape her enemies' clutches and join Logan in his fight. But when she learns a secret that changes everything, she realizes that escaping Ian and his tracker friends is no longer an option if she wants to save the people she loves. Instead, she'll have to destroy Rowansmark from the inside out- if she can survive the journey through the Wasteland.
Logan need allies if she wants to thwart Rowansmark's power grab and rescue Rachel. But securing allies will mean betraying his beliefs and enlisting the help of the man he hates more than anyone: Commander Jason Chase. Driven by his fierce love for Rachel and his determination to make their world safe, Logan may be just the weapon the city-states need to defeat the Cursed One.
But as Rowansmark bears down and uneasy alliances are tested, will Rachel and Logan's love for each other be enough to surmount the unbelievable odds against them?
Why I'm waiting:
Because as everyone already knows I'm a Cover Lover.... THAT COVER!!! It's my favorite out of all three books for sure! And I'm extremely excited that they didn't change the covers so all of mine will match! Weeeeee. But also, because I need more Quinn. CJ said he's available for me to cuddle with anytime I want, and I need more Quinn cuddles. ;)

What do you think of my choice? What's your choice for this week's WoW?
Let me know in the comments, and leave me a link to your WoW post, so I can leave some comment love on yours!!!
Also, if you followed me, I would love you forever and ever! LET ME LOVE YOU! *cough* Sorry if that was creepy, but I need MORE book loving friends!! You can never have to many! That's what I always say (or type, in this case!!) :D
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Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood - Review

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1 Published by: Putnam Juvenile/Feb 2012 Pages: 330 Format: Paperback Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Source: Purchased Rating: 3/5 Buy the Book    or     Add it to Goodreads!
FROM GOODREADS: Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship- or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood- not even from each other.
MY THOUGHTS:
Honestly, it took me awhile to get into Born Wicked. I'm not really sure what it was that was blocking me being able to get completely sucked into this world. Maybe I just couldn't connect with Cate at the very beginning. The story just seemed really dry. Maura completely drove me bonkers. She was just annoying, and a typical fifteen year old. Tess was just adorable though. I stuck through the story, and things really started picking up about half way through.
I got attached to Cate and Finn's blossoming relationship very quickly. For some reason, just the thought of being stuck in the closet of an old bookstore with a nerdy but cute bookseller just gets my heart beating a little faster. A big change from the typical bad boy love interest's I'm used to seeing in YA books these days. 
This book is really hard to talk about, because it was just a meh book for me until about the last hundred or so pages. Stuff really starts going crazy, I needed to know what was happening as fast as possible! BUT THAT ENDING!!! ERMAGAWD, JESSICA SPOTSWOOD!! YOU ARE KILLING ME WITH THAT CLIFFHANGER!! GRRRRRRRRRR! I will be picking up Star Cursed in the future for sure, because I need to know what the heck is happening! And I need more Finn too!! Overall, I liked Born Wicked for the most part, but I didn't start really enjoying it until the last 1/3 of the book so for that reason, I give it three hearts!

Was this review helpful? Have you read Defiance or Deception? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for visiting Pivot Book Reviews! Don't forget to check out the popular Cover Puppies posts, where I recreate my favorite book covers with my dogs!

Bookish Banter #5

Welcome, welcome to the fourth edition of Bookish Banter! This is a weekly blog post where I talk about bookish topics with Elizabeth of Redhead Reader and Ellen of Pottermorebooks!

This weeks discussion is...

SPOILERS! Do you read them or avoid them? Has anyone ever ruined a book for you?

MY ANSWER: 
Oh geez. 
This is a sore topic for me at the moment.
Spoilers are the devil. THE DEVIL, I TELL YOU!! 
I try to avoid them like the Bubonic Plague. Or I try to, at least. But it doesn't always work out for me. Which leads me to my SPOILER HORROR STORY! 
The Walking Dead. Oh gosh. I am a die hard fan of TWD. Like seriously. I am obsessed with it. I specifically avoided reading the comics, because I don't want it to spoil any part of the show for me, even if they do vary quite a bit. But at the beginning of Season Four, I found an article on Yahoo about it, and decided to read it. Usually they post a spoiler warning. I mean, they do the majority of the time..
BUT THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T.
AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT A CHARACTER THAT'S GOING TO DIE THIS SEASON. AND IT IS ONE OF MY FAVES AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET AND TRYING TO KEEP THIS SECRET SO I DON'T SPOIL IT FOR ANYONE ELSE IS KILLING ME. I CAN'T TAKE IT. ANYONE WHO POSTS SPOILERS WITHOUT POSTING A WARNING IS A TOTAL DOUCHE CANOE, AND I HATE THEM. 
*Phew* I told you this was a sore subject for me right now. LOL.
What about you? How do you feel about Spoilers? Read em or Avoid em? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to check out my giveaways that end on March 1st! (Links in the right sidebar!) 

Stay updated on everything on Pivot Book Reviews and the ever popular Cover Puppies posts by following me! Don't be afraid to connect with me! I love talking about books with other book lovers! 

Life Of A Blogger - Perks of being an Introvert

Life of a Blogger is a fun weekly feature hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat, where bloggers post about a certain topic each week so our followers can get to know us better! This is my first Life of a Blogger post, and I'm super excited to share more about my life with you guys! 
This week's topic:
INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT?
Instead of explaining why I'm totes an introvert, I'm going to post a few perks of being an introvert!
1. Your neighbors never have to call the cops on you for parties, because you are always inside reading. You can never read too loud. Book Party over here. WOOT WOOT. Book Party over there. 
2. Your boyfriend never has to wonder what you're doing on a Friday night, because you never left the house.
3. You don't have to worry about what you're going to wear tomorrow, because let's face it, you aren't changing out of your pajamas.
4. Your books are never ever neglected.
5. You don't have plans with your friends this weekend? Psh, I do. With ma bookz. 
6. You don't have to have awkward small talk with new people you meet, because you never leave the house to actually meet people.
7. Your mailman may think you are a total shut in, and he's right. But who is the person out delivering mail in the snow, hail, sleet, and rain? YUP. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
8. No worries here over whether or not you will catch the zombie virus, because you would actually have to interact with someone to catch it. 
9. You can eat all the noms in the world, and not worry whether the person next to you is judging you by how much you actually stuff in your mouth.
10. Worried about those pics from your crazy drunken night on the town last night? NBD. Because you're idea of a crazy drunken night is just you passed out from drinking too many wine coolers with your nose in a book. 
Okay, I'll admit I had way too much with this Perks list. I hope you enjoyed my sarcastic introvert perk list of things that may or may not be true for me, and when I say that, I totes mean they are!

Stacking the Shelves #8

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where bloggers share their weekly book hauls! This is my eighth time participating, and I absolutely love showcasing what I received over the week, and seeing what goodies everyone else got, as well!!!
Bought:

Let me just say, that I was doing SO GOOD this week at not buying books. Like with my own money, I mean. But, but, but then my father decides to drop this little gem of information on me a few days ago. There is apparently a super HUGE library book sale in OKC every year, and it just so happens to be this weekend. On the scale of epic book sales, this sale was the type people camp out for like it's black friday and bring wagons/rolling trash cans to. Yes, ROLLING TRASH CANS. Hmm. That sounds like something Becca should go to for sure, right? It totes sounds like a fab idea to load my wagon up in the car and see if I really need it or not, RIGHT? Yeah, no. Because you know what happens? The above picture happens. However, the first stack is my mom's, but altogether we spent just under $40 bucks. Pretty sweet deal. Now, I just have to convince myself that going back on Sunday is a very bad idea for my wallet. We will see how well that goes over! HA! 

As for what I got? Well, I just got home from said sale, and I'm completely exhausted from squatting over boxes. I can barely walk up my stairs, peeps. I extreme book shopped today, so that means I'm entirely way too lazy to list and link said books. Sorry! Oh, but if you are in the good ol' state of Oklahoma, this library sale of epic proportions is at the OK Expo Hall at the OKC Fairgrounds, and it's free (and totes worth going to, if you ask me!) 

Gifted:

Cruel Beauty  by Rosamund Hodge (From my sister and fam, who gave me bday $) 

Won:

 

No Easy Way Out by Dayna Lorentz  The Murmurings *SIGNED* by Carly Anne West (Plus an awesome swag pack from her twitter account!)

What did you get this week? Let me know in the comments!! :)
Also, don't forget to enter my two giveaways going on at the moment! Links are to your right in the sidebar! Hopefully that will make up for how HORRIBLY behind I am on comments! I'm working on catching up, I swear!
LOVE YOU ALL!! MWAH!

Cover Puppies (7) - Rainbow Rowell Double Feature!!

Cover Puppies is a weekly post here on Pivot Book Reviews, where I combine my extreme love for my doggies and YA books, and recreate my favorite book covers!

This week, I am featuring...

(Gentry)

Fangirl  by Rainbow Rowell

AND..

(Dixie)

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell!

That's right, ladies and gents! Another double feature this week!! WOOT!

 

I'm not going to post both synopsis(es?) of Fangirl and Eleanor & Park, because I'm pretty sure the majority of you have seen them around, but just in case I'm wrong (heaven forbid!), then you can click on the title of either and be directed to their goodreads pages!

**

These have to be some of my favorites. It might be hard to tell, but the reason the colors are sort of off is because I drew Cover Puppies this week, and my camera just can't seem to match the colors right! But guys, oh my gosh, they were SO MUCH FUN to make!!! I haven't drawn in like a year. I'm pretty sure it's been around a year, because the last time I drew something it was for He Who Shall Not Be Named and that was around a year ago. Anyyyywayyyssss.... I was originally going to just do Fangirl, BUT I forgot how much fun I have when I start drawing. Then, I saw how awesome Fangirl turned out and I decided I needed to do another right away! Along came Eleanor and Park! Honestly, I'm not sure which I love more! I think I'm pretty partial to Fangirl's though, because Levi.... *le sigh* But Cover Puppies was a change of pace this week, and I enjoyed every second of it! I enjoyed it so much, my drawings are going to be framed and hung on the wall in my office! I'm off to do just that!

Did you like this feature?

Which cover did you like better?

Have a cover you're dying for me to recreate?

Let me know in the comments! I heart comment love!

Also I have TWO Epic Giveaways (so epic they have to be Caps'd) going on at the moment, so be sure to check them both out before leaving! Links are to your right in the sidebar! :)

Thanks for visiting Pivot Book Reviews, and be sure to follow so you get the newest Cover Puppies posts the second I hit publish!!!

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine, where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating!!
This week I'm waiting on:

Between the Spark and the Burn(Between #2) by April Genevieve Tulcholke

Releases on: August 14th, 2014     Add it on Goodreads!
FROM GOODREADS: 
The conclusion to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, this gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier is a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures and Anna Dressed in Blood.
Freddie once told me that the Devil created all the fear in the world. But then, the Devil once told me that it's easier to forgive someone for scaring you than for making you cry.
The problem with River West Redding was that he'd done both to me.
The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry- until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, witch hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. It isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own...
"Between the Spark and the Burn is the heart-pounding conclusion to the lavishly rendered, darkly romantic, and beautifully unsettling [Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.]"-Melissa Marr

Why I'm waiting:
After agonizing over whether to buy the first book or not due to all the mixed reviews, I finally won a copy, and I am so so so happy I did. I quickly ate up all that was inside Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and that conclusion had me reeling for more!! I have so many questions that I need answered ASAP! As far as I'm concerned, August can't come soon enough. I need more River West Redding in my life, because even though he can be a little creepy, he still seems to make my knees go weak. 


What do you think of my choice? What's your choice for this week's WoW?
Let me know in the comments, and leave me a link to your WoW post, so I can leave some comment love on yours!!
Be sure to enter my Birthday Giveaway, HERE!
Also, if you followed me, I would love you forever and ever! LET ME LOVE YOU!!! *cough* Sorry if that was creepy, but I need MORE book loving friends!! You can never have too many! That's what I always say (or type, in this case!!)
Thanks for visiting Pivot Book Reviews!!

I'm in a giving mood today, so I'll giveaway something if I want to!

What am I giving away you ask?

For your viewing pleasure....

That's right! A Side Effects May Vary ARC!!! EEP!

Now for the dirty little technicalities (or RULES!):

1. US ONLY! I'm sorry, but I'm broke and I can only afford shipping in the US right now! I'll have an INT giveaway soon, I promise.

2. MUST BE 18 OR OLDER TO ENTER. Or have your parents permission! :)

3. NO CHEATING!! Please no cheating guys. Cheaters never win! I WILL be checking all entries, and any entries that don't follow the directions will be disqualified! NO EXCEPTIONS! 

4. There will be ONE winner chosen randomly through the rafflecopter form below. The winner will be notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond. If there's no response within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen!! 

5. Giveaway will start 2/19 at 12 a.m.  and will end at 12 a.m. on March 2nd! 

6. Biggest rule of all? HAVE FUN!!!!! :)

May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alienated by Melissa Landers - Book Review

Alienated by Melissa Landers Series: Alienated #1 Published by: Disney Hyperion on February 4th, 2012 Pages: 352 Format: Hardcover Genre: Science Fiction Source: Purchased Rating: 3/5 Buy the Book   or    Add it to Goodreads!
FROM GOODREADS:  Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. 
Handpicked to host the first-ever L'eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she'll have inside information about the mysterious L'eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara's blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn't sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L'eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn't seem more alien. She's certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-Leihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn't just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life- not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
MY THOUGHTS:
Alienated by Melissa Landers was...an interesting book. I think that's a valid way to describe my feelings towards it. I had my ups and downs with Alienated, honestly. But don't let that write you off just yet! Alienated is told from two POVs, Cara and Aelyx. I really enjoyed Cara's snarkiness. If there is anything I love about a female protagonist more than anything, it is totes the snark shark. I don't even know what that means, but it sounded good in my head. Aelyx was kind of a dry voice at first, but I know that was mostly because his alien-ness contributes to his non-feeling so I got that. No big deal. I grew to love him throughout every chapter of his, even while he was doing some rather messed-up things to doom all of us humans. 
I really liked this book, BUT. There's always a but, right? There were a few things that just irked me about the story and the characters.
Let me warn you in advance. This next paragraph may or may not be EXTREMELY full of ranting. Once I started to rant, my finger's just wouldn't stop. There may be ***Mild Spoilers*** below so proceed with caution. 
First of all, I strongly disliked Cara's ex. OH MY GODS. I wanted to smack him across the face so hard. I have no idea what Cara ever saw in him, because he was totally a complete jack-ass. Apparently he wasn't always like that, but the fact of the matter was that he changed and she stayed with him for quite awhile after those changes AND LET HIM TREAT HER LIKE CRAP. I know a lot of females in YA books do this, but for some reason, it really just irked the crap out of me this time. Thankfully she ends it pretty quickly into the book. Now, after that, I rather enjoyed this book. If you would have asked me what I thought about this book until the last 50 pages or so, I more than likely would have told you that it was amazing and given it a 4 or 4.5 rating. The main reason(s) I'm giving it a 3 (which is still a good rating!), it would be because of how quickly Cara was to forgive Aelyx and one other character in this book. Up until the last few chapters, I was rooting for Cara. I felt that I had really connected with her, because I know what it's like to be betrayed by someone extremely close to you. And that betrayal was #1 on the Girl Code List. I just don't know how she was able to forgive that easily. I never would have been able to do that. Also with Aelyx, I felt that she forgave him too quickly as well. I mean, he did some messed up shitoki mushrooms to her and to our whole planet, ultimately doomed everything to fiery gates of hell, and all she does is cry for a few days and refuse to see him? WTH?! I understand that maybe the author was trying to convey that you should forgive people, but some things (like these) should take a little bit longer to forgive and forget about. 
END RANT. (I think)
*Ahem* Sorry, guys. I had sat on my feelings about those things a little longer than I should have. They stewed much too long, because I am seriously curling my lip with frustration while I write this. Other than those things I mentioned in my ranty rant, I really liked Alienated. It has some super steamy scenes inside the pages that had me fanning myself. Dear Lord, where can I get a L'eihr (that likes humans) for myself? If anything, those few scenes were definitely worth buying the book for, but Alienated had a lot more to offer than just those. Cara is a blogger, and interspersed throughout Alienated are little blog posts that Cara has written. I really enjoyed reading those! I wish there would have been a little more of that, though. 
I felt like Melissa Landers really captured how people would react if something like this ever did happen. People would be crazy. It was terrifying watching how people treated Cara, Aelyx, and anyone who was a L'eihr Lover in general. If you are a fan of Jennifer Armentrout's snarky writing style, I think you would enjoy Alienated. Overall, if just a few things would have been a little different, I think I would have enjoyed Alienated more, but I'm still looking forward to getting my hands on book two just to see what happens next. I'm really intrigued about Cara going to L'eihr, and look forward to seeing what she thinks of it. I give three hearts to Alienated, because while it was a pretty good read, I'm still just too irked about those things to give it anymore love than that. 
Also if you missed it and were interested, I recreated the cover of Alienated (with my dogs) for my weekly feature, Cover Puppies a few weeks ago!

Was this review helpful?

Have you read Alienated?

Let me know in the comments!

Don't forget to enter my BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!

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Love for Books Readathon!

Well, here we go guys. Never have I ever participated in a read-a-thon. 

Phew.

There. I said it.

Now that that proverbial fox is out of the box, I'm super excited to say that as of today, I will no longer be able to say that statement thanks to Jessi from Novel Heartbeat and Amanda from Confessions of a Bookie Monster, because they are hosting the amazing Love for Books Read-A-Thon! EEP!

Here's the official deets from Novel Heartbeat:

• The Love for Books Readathon  runs from Monday, February 17th at 12:01 am through Sunday, February 23rd at 11:59 pm.
• We plan to have at least one mini challenge sometime during the week for you to participate in!
• There will be a giveaway at the end of the readathon for all participants.
• Sign up at Novel Heartbeat or Confessions of a Bookie Monster. You may join whenever you like, but to be eligible for our grand prize giveaway, you must sign up by February 18th.
• To join, all you have to do is make a sign-up post and add your post URL to the linky on Novel Heartbeat or Confessions of a Bookie Monster! You can put your goals and progress (will be required for the final giveaway!) in your sign-up post, or you can make it separate. Totally up to you!
• In order to enter for the grand prize, you must have a post to keep track of your progress so we can see that you participated.
• Feel free to tweet your progress with the hashtag #LfBReadathon!

My Goals:
Hmm. This is my first readathon so I'm going to go with three books! I don't have much planned for this week (except skating, bc Oklahoma has some GORGEOUS weather right now!) But I hope that maybe I can squeeze in another book or two on top of those three!
Progress:
Here is where I will track my progress over the week!
Monday 2/17 Currently Reading: Side Effects May Vary, Sea of Monsters Pages read today: 380 Time spent reading today: 4 hours Books completed today: Side Effects May Vary
Tuesday 2/18 Currently Reading: The Sea of Monsters Pages read today: 0 Time spent reading today: 0 (YIKES!) Books completed today: 0
Wednesday 2/19 Currently Reading: The Sea of Monsters, Born Wicked Pages read today: 230 Time spent reading today: 2 hours 30 minutes Books completed today: The Sea of Monsters
Thursday 2/20 Currently Reading: Born Wicked Pages read today: 210 Time spent reading today: 3 hours Books completed today: 0
Friday 2/21 Currently Reading: Born Wicked Pages read today: 120 Time spent reading today: 1 hour 45 minutes Books completed today: Born Wicked
Saturday 2/22 Currently Reading:  Pages read today: Time spent reading today: Books completed today:
Sunday 2/23 Currently Reading: Pages read today: Time spent reading today: Books completed today:
Summary Total # pages read: Total time spent reading: Books I completed: