Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

 

 I'm not in the mood for an in depth review right now. I'm so devastated. My heart is crushed to its core. A beautiful story and a lovely ending but I can't seem to accept the bittersweet truth of it all.

 Because I was shocked... utterly shocked! The twist is an uber blow, I swear I didn't see it coming.

 So allow me to show you how I felt.. I was like this... 

 

And this.

  

Then this...

   

I'm glad Brandon and Harper have their happy ending... But is it so wrong to wish one for Chase?

 I'm sorry but all I have right now is the sheer disappointment for the story. It has great potential, only if it was told in a different way. And I'm tired of hearing people say that "It's the reality of life, somehow we have to deal with it." Grrrrrr! I want to tell them can't you see how it made me feel? Now would you say that to yourself if you are in Harper's place? That's why I think the plot is unforgivable. If you want to torture yourself, go read it. But if you want to save yourself from the all the trouble, I'd support you all the way. I don't want to give away the story but I just want to make you guys think first before reading this. It will be tough if you go in blind. 

If you don't want to read the BIG spoiler you can stop here..

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If you're reading this I want to tell you in advance that the love interest, the gorgeous, hot, sweet, loving Chase was killed! I'm sorry but I'm just frigging mad I even bothered reading this. It would've been better if the author didn't make the readers love Chase, if she wrote it in such a way that you would hate him. But it wasn't that way! She made Chase's character seem lovable and not to mention there was too much effort in his character development. So I thought he was the one! And just when you start loving and swooning over him, something happens, then BAM! Everything goes down the drain. Your hopes, dreams, expectation comes tumbling down. It was an absurd effort to stir the reader's emotion but all it does was make you miserable. 

 I was so happy about how their love story turns out. I was like "Wow! They're getting married soon and they're going to have a baby! So excited!" But then 50% through the book, he died in a freaking ACCIDENT! God. His death wasn't even given enough justice! One minute they were having an emotional fight, then he died the next page! To tell the truth I was asking myself, "Is this real?!" Because killing the love interest is unbelievable! Preposterous! Yup Brandon is still there but how about the guy who blew me away the first time I read about him??! How can the characters, especially Harper, move on that fast?! How can she be with Brandon as if nothing happened?! 

 Again, I apologize for the major ranting or shall I say outburst. I just need to vent this. 

 I heard the author will write the story in Chase's POV.. Well...

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 There's no way I'm going to break my heart again. I don't want to torture myself any further than I already have. 

“That first night, I did realize I would never meet another girl like you. But you deserve someone who has waited for you as long as you have waited for them. And no matter how much I wish I could be that guy, I can't Harper."-Chase 

 .. Ugh...I miss him... I think I need a support group for this book. I'm extremely pissed. 

 My Rating: 2 of 5 stars.. (>, >)

Love Story by Erich Segal

"Love means not ever having to say you're sorry."

These are such beautiful words that bawled my eyes out, tore my heart apart but made it whole again. Indeed, it is true that a story's brevity is not an issue to be considered when it comes to moving the readers. I say this because despite the way this novel is told and narrated, it is emotional and has a great message to tell everyone.

The love story between Jenny and Oliver is told in such a way that surprises me. The events in their life are told in a fast-paced manner but it never left me short-changed, it was complete and satisfying. Most tragic endings are devastating, but this one is different. It made me appreciate love, family, and so much more. If you're looking for a read you can easily finish in one sitting. Try this, like me you might be awed at how beautiful this will turn out. 

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars!

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

This is probably one of the most convoluted, twisted, passionate and craziest love affair I've read in my entire life. I'm fascinated reading about love triangles, but this one sure made me experience the roller coaster of emotions I rarely felt in romance novels. I felt giddiness, happiness, sorrow, regret, guilt, disgust, anger, and an unbearable ache for the characters.

The plot:

Kiera has the perfect boyfriend. Denny is handsome, intelligent, hardworking, sweet, and loves her with all his heart. So when Denny is offered a job opportunity in Seattle, she didn't hesitate to move in with him. Who wouldn't?... But the complication of all complications came because of Kellan Kyle, Denny's long time friend and their new roommate. One look at him would make you think perfection, absurdly gorgeous face, perfectly toned muscle, and a voice to die for. He's in a band and fans literally screamed at the top of their lungs and drooled by the mere sight of him. Having the best boyfriend she could possibly ask for, would it be possible for Kiera to be immune of Kellan's charms?

Well, she isn't! She gets herself involved in a threesome. I admit I hated her for the most part of the book. I want so bad to make her see reason, to make up her mind, to stop breaking the hearts of two incredible guys. I understand her inner turmoil, why she can't break up with Denny despite the fact that she clearly loves Kellan. But I'm just so mad at her for taking that long to figure everything out.

I felt sorriest for Denny. He's just too good to have a cheating girlfriend. I felt guilty while reading even though I was not the one hurting him. After knowing the truth between Kiera and Kellan, I somehow understood his violent reaction more than Kiera's unfairness and indecisiveness. I understood how betrayed he must've felt. He trusted her, gave her the pedestal that he never imagined she'd one day lose her love for him. It aches to see him endure the pain and forgive after everything else.

As for Kellan, I have to say that he's one of the few reasons why I managed to get through the nerve-wracking story. Besides being effortlessly the hottie drop dead gorgeous, he could be sweet, and funny. He's so great I always find myself wanting to rip him off the pages and make him real. He's a Casanova, rooting from is unpleasant childhood- devoid of love from his parents. But he changed a lot when he met Kiera. Behind the cool and easy facade, is a man capable of loving. I sympathized with him because he cannot have the only girl he ever truly loved. Every tear he shed is heart breaking I wanted to ease the pain.

There were so many scenes that I think is not really intended for readers my age. So many times I wanted to crawl inside the book and tell the characters what to do because they can't seem to make rational decisions. But just WOW! I didn't mind and kept my eyes glued to their story. This is not flawless, nor an amazing read. I weighed the pros and cons so I know this book is worth it! I loved their romance, and I’m wanting more of it!  I’m so glad there’s a sequel. And I can’t wait to know what happens to Kiera and Kellan!


My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

After reading this book. . . . . 

 My heart is torn, trying to put them back together but it can't be whole again.. not until Will is happy, not until Tessa is freed from the crucial decision she has to make in the end....

I never thought Cassandra Clare is capable of doing something so emotional in a Shadowhunting world. 

Clockwork prince is the second book to the Infernal Devices trilogy I came to love. If you liked the first one, there'll be no frustration in the second book. There are enough surprises, revelations, and betrayals. The ever beautiful Victorian London is perfectly described, and the story brilliantly paced and told. I found their conversation quite wonderful it was like going back in time but still enjoying the company of some interesting people from the past.

You'll see the depths of Will's mysterious personality. Why he has to be so despicable and why he has to push Tessa away. I sincerely felt bad for him. And just thinking of how everything turned out makes me so disappointed. If only he had known it earlier, things would have turned out different for him, for his family, and for Tessa. But it's too late now.

But not Jem, he's one lucky shadowhunter I wanted to make him feel how his parabatai's feeling. I'm not exactly mad at him. I just realized, after reading this, how badly I wanted Tessa and Will to be together. I can't blame Jem either because he's too good, dying and I like his character. Wow, that makes it even more confusing!  

So I'm just hoping against all hope that Tessa makes the right decision in the end. I'm feeling that it'll still be Will though their future together seems dark. Can't bloody wait for the last installment! 

Dear book 3,

PLEASE make it better! 

My Rating:  5 of 5 stars! 

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Oftentimes, I purposely avoid reading novels that do not conform to what I've always believed in. Otherwise, it would mean plunging into murky waters, and reading as a cynical critic would have. 

It is not your average love story. Rarely do I encounter novels that boldly ventures in this issue. But "Forbidden" not only managed to do that but also moved me in ways I never imagined.

 A negligent and alcoholic mother, a father who left them out of the blue, a family on the brink of falling apart. They say the ones who are affected the most in a dysfunctional family are the children. Maya and Lochan are no different. They are siblings and have been each other's strength for years. Struggling to survive, to raise their younger brothers and sister despite the circumstances failing them. And they love each other...

Incest is a very sensitive issue. I've never read anything about this before. So knowing what goes into their minds is new as well. It was tragic. They were both prison of their own society. They know it's not the right thing. They know it's immoral, illegal, unethical, and impossible. But how could you blame them? Strangely, it was a eye-opening read.

I was reluctant to read this at first. I'm a firm believer of what I know is right. But reading this, I found myself sympathizing for them and wishing things turned out differently. There were so many scenes that are revolting. I cringed. Yes. You'd want to stop them. But in the end, there is pity and remorse. This book reminds us that no matter how much you love each other, no matter how hard you fight for it, if it's against the law, it's impossible. Harsh reality of a story like this.

It's a book that's impossible to finish without having tears in your eyes. This is beautiful as it is heartbreaking. You may have seen love in it's myriad forms. But this one is definitely unique..



I give this 4/5 stars! 

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

A lot of reviewers preferred this more than the first book, If I Stay, so now I know why.


 It may be because it gives justice to the love story everyone's been waiting for. But no matter how i look at it i still think that the first book is way better. Where she went is told from the point of view of Adam after Mia's miraculous recovery from her coma. So i know girls would like to know what goes inside the mind of the oh-so-cool-emo-rockstar Adam Wilde. 


As expected, Gayle Forman's writing didn't fail to capture the hearts of the readers. We witness how Adam reaches the peak of his career and at the same time how his interest in it plummets down. It is heartbreaking to see Adam wallow in misery of letting Mia go when they took their separate ways, as if she is all he's ever wanted in his life. However, the story lost its spark after this. Gone were the scenes that almost made me cry and made me rethink my life. Replaced by the scenes of how a rockstar led a crappy life and my hatred for the girl who left him out of the blue. So what happened? It's probably because the story focuses more on  the love between Mia and Adam. I mean there's not much to write about because her family is already gone. I'm not against their love, actually, I was kind of glued to them, my heart flutters with Mia while reading if I Stay. But what i didn't like is how the story unfolds, there's not much conflict. You'll sympathize with Adam but that's just it. They were both just reluctant to admit that they love each other no matter what the circumstances are. 


Well, I must say the sequel is good in its own way and didn't disappoint me because I didn't expect it to have a part 2. After Mia squeezed Adam's hand, I just assumed that they'd live happily ever after. So I didn't expect anything. But hey, a closure to their love story is better than an open ending.