"Revelations" by Melissa De La Cruz

Two Stars

Things have changed within the Coven. Lawrence Van Alen has taken over as leader, Mimi Force is a full member, and the Warden’s are keeping secrets.

Things have also changed in Schuyler Van Alen’s personal life as well. She is forced to live in the Force townhome with her secret crush, Jack, and her nemesis, Mimi. She has a new ally in Bliss, an old friend has returned, Dylan, and just might be losing her oldest friend and Conduit, Oliver, after forever altering their relationship by making him her human familiar.

When as ancient place of power is endangered, threatening the release of an ancient evil, everyone will reveal who they really are and people’s true allegiances will be shown.

Is it bad when I finish a book and can’t really remember what happened? Yes. Yes, it is.

This is the third book in the Blue Bloods series and I think the story would have been more powerful if these first three books had been condensed into one slightly longer book, instead of three individual ones.

There are three more books but I’m not sure if I can take any more of the plot going basically nowhere until the last few pages. Even then it only takes a few steps forward.

I have also decided that I like Mimi a whole lot more than Schuyler, who acts like a selfish spoiled brat. Mimi is also selfish and spoiled, but at least she’s open about it and doesn’t run around pretending to be the morally superior while betraying anyone who actually did care about her.

I guess I’m supposed to buy into this whole forbidden love story with Schuyler and Jack but I don’t like it. Schuyler is being a total be-autch to Oliver, whom she forever binds to herself knowing that he already loves her, even though she knows she doesn’t feel that way. And Jack is in love with Schuyler’s mother! It’s weird. They can just run off and deserve each other. I think Mimi can do better.

This series is going on the “Ehh, maybe later shelf.” I have no real desire to see what happens, except maybe to Mimi, who is kind of awesome. It’s not a horrible series, it’s just that I don’t like the main character and it moves too slow for me. So maybe I’ll pick it back up once I get through all of the other books currently sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read.

That reminds me, I need to renew most of those before I start getting some late fees!

And the winner is ...

KIM!

Sorry for the late announcement. Busy, busy weekend.

But congratulations Kim! See, it pays to get your friends to enter. :)

And thanks to everyone else for entering and reading, and keep checking in for more fun stuff!

Give Away!!!

I love books (obviously). I especially love owning books. Maybe one day I will post a picture of my overflowing bookshelves, but I'd have to clean them up first so don't hold your breath.

I want to share the happiness my messy bookshelves bring to me with all of you so I'm giving away another SIGNED book, which are the best kind.

I attended a signing by Leif Enger and managed to snag an extra signed copy of "So Young, Brave, and Handsome", which I am giving to one of you!

Leif, Me, and my friend Carla

The only reason I'm giving this book away is because Leif 'signed' my copy on my Kindle. How, you may ask? No, no Sharpies were involved. I had him type a note on the title page and took a picture to verify.

'Signing' my Kindle

He thought it was pretty funny and now when you open his book on my Kindle you see a note that says:

"my first kindle signing ... the new world has arrived! Leif Enger"

That's right, his FIRST Kindle signing. I'm sure I am permanently in his memory now. :)

If you would like to be entered to win, sign up to follow my blog and leave me a little note in the comments. If you already follow me, then just go ahead leave a note. I would love to hear what all of you are currently reading, if you need a little inspiration in your note. And again, you will get an extra entry for everyone that you get to sign up to follow me, just have them mention you in their post.

That's it. You have until midnight on Thursday, Aug. 11, and winners will be announced on Friday, Aug. 12. Sorry it's not a full week, but I have a family reunion this weekend so I'll be gone to that.

Thanks for stopping by and Good Luck!

"So Brave, Young, and Handsome" by Leif Enger

Four Stars

This is not the story of Monte Becket.

Monte Becket is still riding high on the success of his debut and best-selling novel, Martin Bligh. It is the story of a young cowboy and his adventures in the Wild West. Problem is, Monte is a postal worker in the Midwest and has never had a proper adventure in his life. He is now in the middle of writing his seventh novel, unfortunately numbers two through six were never finished. He has run out of ideas and is beginning to worry that he will never finish a book again.

But this is not the story of Monte Becket.

This is when Glendon Hale enters his life. Glendon is a mysterious elderly man who lives alone upriver, building boats. Monte and Glendon form an odd friendship that leads to an invitation for Monte to join Glendon on a cross-country adventure to right past wrongs and make amends for things in his past.

As they travel, Monte becomes an observer and semi-willing participant in a story of lost loves, robbery, bandits, pursuing lawmen, fruit trees, and a lone elephant wandering the plains of Oklahoma. As they travel Monte learns that the lines between good and bad, right and wrong aren’t always as clear as one would think, and that men often walk both sides of the line no matter which side they claim to belong to.

I liked this book, it was very ‘real’. As I said, this isn’t Monte’s story really, it’s Glendon’s. And Monte is just observing the second half of a story that he doesn’t really know the beginning of. Monte pieces the entire story and its characters together along the way, learning more about human character and ultimately himself.

No one has super powers or anything beyond ordinary human abilities, although one character believes that he does, and everyone acts and reacts just as any person would to their circumstances. The story is about ‘real’ people and moves along at an according pace. Sometimes things get a little exciting and speed up, other times it’s just a long drive in the car. It sets a nice pace early on and keeps you reading.

This is one of those books that I liked as I read, but I like it even more after finishing and thinking back on it. It truly is a great American Novel and an enjoyable read.