Cover Love #25 - Out of Sight, Out of Time

Summary:

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, her memory is a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and dirt under her nails. All she wants is to go home.

But even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers as Cammie and her friends face their most difficult challenge yet. With only their training and a few clues to guide them, the girls go in search of answers on the other side of the world. But the Circle is hot on their trail and will stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

So, a couple of days ago, Ally Carter released the cover of Out of Sight, Out of Time, the fifth book of the Gallagher Girls series. I'm a huge fan of the adventures of Cammie & Co. and I'm really looking forward to this story.

I'm not sure I like the cover, I think it might be my least favorite so far, but at least it's keeping with the theme of the other covers.

What say you?

Book Blogger Hop #18

Book Blogger Hop is a lovely, weekly meme hosted by Jennifer@Crazy for Books. The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  

This is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  

This week's question:

“What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?”

I'm going to say Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins, because it's the last one of the Hex Hall Series - which I've loved - and I honestly can't wait. 

I don't think there is an ARC of it yet, though. Probably there won't be for a few months yet.

Of the ones making the rounds now, I guess Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz Logstead

What about you?

Love,

Book Review: The Circle Cast by Alex Epstein

At First Sight: Before the Morgan of legend, she was a girl named Anna. Anna who was the beloved daughter of Gorlois, a governor of Britain, and his beautiful wife Ygraine. And it was her mother's beauty that destroyed her family.

During a council, before all the chiefs of Britain marched out to face the Saxons, Anna's mother caught the eye of Uter Pendragon, and that was the beginning of the end. Taking offense of Uter's pursuit of his wife, Gorlois took them all back to their holding and shortly after lost his life at the hands of Uter.

Knowing she wouldn't be safe in Britain, Ygraine sent Anna to live with relatives in Ireland; and stayed to help protect their people once Uter showed up to claim his conquest.  Anna, wild with grief, swore to return one day and avenge her father by killing Uter.

Once in Ireland, Anna is gone, becoming Morgan and enduring a lot of things - among them the awakening of her mystical powers and slavery - until she meets Conall, the son of an Irish Chieftain, whose love might very well spoil her plans of revenge.

Second Glance: I'm a nut for all things Arthurian legend and I particularly love the side stories - sort of what happens before and in between the more well known stories, which was why I was very excited to read The Circle Cast.

And I was instantly drawn into the time and place - a mythical, medieval Britain and Ireland - and the author really does a wonderful job putting you there. I really liked the beginning of the story, how Anna's narrative feels urgent and a little grim - and I liked Anna in general. 

But I had big problem with Morgan: I didn't like her. The way she's obsessed with revenge put me off a fair bit. And what happens with Conall... well, I can't really complain about that because I totally knew what I was getting into, but it still bummed me a bit.

Bottom Line: Perhaps if I were more a fan of Historical Fiction rather than of historical romance, I would have enjoyed this book more, because that part of the story was great. Personally, I didn't love the characters, but that's entirely because of personal philosophies. Otherwise, I think it was a nice read.

1/3

This review is part of the Teen (Boo Scene) Book Blog Tour. To check out the future and past entries to the tour, please click here 

Book Review: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

At First Sight: Once, Laurel had a perfectly normal, average life in the suburbs of New York, with her parents and little brother; until one night she loses them in one swift blow.

In the days, weeks and months after the car accident that killed them all, Laurel is struggling to put the pieces of her life back together. Her grandma has moved in, she's becoming a little distant from her best friend and everyone else is just giving her a free pass.

Though her grandma insists she talks to a grief councilor, Laurel finds herself unable to do so.  And oddly enough is only able to talk with David, the son of the man who killed her family.

David isn't dealing well with what happened, his mother died in the same accident as Laurel's parents and his father is in a deep coma. And, as he doesn't get along with his own grandparents, David keeps coming in and out of Laurel's life, particularly after Laurel decides to take care of his dog when David is away.

And in the long months that follow, Laurel and David find themselves attracted to each other, even though it's weird and she isn't sure he has forgiven his father. But, most of all, they struggle to find a new normal where they are not defined by the incredible loss and grief they share.

Second Glance: The Beginning of After the chronicle of how Laurel gets back on her feet after loosing her parents and little brother and how difficult it is to keep going after something so big and so bad has happened.

Over all, I thought it was a good story, and I liked Laurel over all. But I kind of thought the book was a bit repetitive and at times I felt like I read and read and read and I advanced very little. I really liked the parts when David was around because he seemed to be a catalyst for Laurel, but otherwise I felt kind of like I was going in circles.

Still, it was nicely written and the characters were likable

Bottom Line:Though it's not my favorite, The Beginning of After was a nice read, even if the pace was slower than I would like.

1/2

Tune in Tuesdays #1

 This meme is hosted by Ginger at GReads & showcases music. Each week you can post an old or new song so that it gains more interest! So head on over and link up.

For my first week I'm choosing an oldie, Numb by Linkin Park, since I kind of loved it when I was younger and I love it still.

Ps - A shout out to Two Readers Reviews because I first saw this feature in their lovely, lovely blog.