[Everything But The Truth by Mandy Hubbard]

"Everything But the Truth"
Author: Mandy Hubbard
Series: If Only #6
Pages: 288
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Date Published: November 17th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury US Childrens
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

If Only . . . she wasn't pretending to be someone else! The If Only romance line continues in this fun rags-to-riches romance.

Holly Mathews' mom is the new manager of a ritzy retirement home, and they just moved in. But having super-rich retirees as her only neighbors isn't a total bust, because the gorgeous, notorious Malik Buchannan is the grandson of a resident. Just one problem: when they meet, Malik assumes Holly is there to visit her own rich relative. She doesn't correct him, and it probably doesn't matter, because their flirtation could never turn into more than a superficial fling . . . right? But the longer she lives in his privileged world, the deeper Holly falls for Malik, and the harder it is to tell the truth . . . because coming clean might mean losing him.

For anyone who has dreamed of their own Cinderella story, this romance shows that when it comes to true love, the best person to be is yourself!

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Everything But The Truth,

So, I have a whole lot of truth for you. (See what I did there?) I have to admit that I'm not your biggest fan. Though I will say that I thought Malik was an interesting character, nothing else really did it for me. I wish I could say I had different feelings, but I don't. I do on the other hand think that there will be a large group of teens that have a different opinion on things, so that's good. 

-The White Unicorn

So guys, this book didn't do it for me. The pacing was weird, the main character seemed like she was 15 instead of 18, and there was just way too much silly drama for me. That being said, I think this book will have it's audience, that audience just isn't a girl in her late twenties. 

Let's start with the good. I actually really liked the romantic lead. Malik was a character I could actually get behind. I think he could have been developed a bit more, but I dug what Hubbard let us see of him. I also liked a lot of the secondary characters in this book. In all truth, I liked Holly's BFF more than I liked her. Her story was more interesting. That's all I'm saying. Also, I liked that the setting was in a retirement home. It made for lots of laughs.

But then we have Holly herself and the mess that was her storyline. I'm not going to say that I didn't enjoy it at all. It had it's really cute moments, but our leading lady's storyline was really cheesy. To the point of eye rolling. I think if Holly would have been younger, I could have bought the lengths and the lies that she went to to keep her guy, but Holly is supposed to be a graduated eighteen year old, and I couldn't buy it. She acted like she was fifteen, and had no idea how to handle things. She's actually in her dorm room in the last chapter, and it was almost laughable. This girl had no life skills, which made this book unbelievable for me. 

So if you're looking for a corny, cute, mindless read that will make you laugh on occasion, this is the book for you. But if it doesn't sound like something you'd like, I'm sure there's someone younger around who will dig it. 

Rating:

  2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something didn't work for me!  

[Review: A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas]

"A Court of Thorns and Roses"
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Pages: 416
Genre: YA, Fairytale Retellings, Fantasy
Date Published: May 5th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To A Court Of Thorns And Roses,

Two words = Mind Blown. You are an amazing novel. You have all the ships, because there are characters in you that I want to support in the shipping department, and there are characters that I just want to ship myself. You seem like Beauty and the Beast retelling, and even though that is what you are, you are so much more than that. I have so much love for you that I want everyone to read you. Everyone. Let's start a petition on your behalf, okay? On top of that you were so good that you gave me stroke, no seriously, I went to the hospital and everything...

-The White Unicorn

Everyone knows that I have nothing but good things to say about anything that Maas has ever written. The way she tells a tale is something that only she can do. Her writing is so vivid that you get pulled into the worlds she creates. She also has this ability to tell a story that we've heard a thousand times before, but make it feel like it's the first time. Like she concocted it, because she layers so much of herself into the pages. This book is so beautiful and haunting. 

Maas has mashed Beauty and the Beast together with fairy stories, and it works so well. ACOTAR takes its cue from the original tale more than the Disney version, so if you're expecting that version of the tale, stop it, now. The original tale lends itself to this story so much better. On top of that we get all these elements that Maas created, that takes something familiar, and makes it feel delightfully new. 

Characters are also a strong point, on top of the story. Feyre is an extremely strong lead. She's prickly to say the least. She's had to become a warrior to feed her family. She's had to become something different from her sisters, who still wish they were rich. She's a realist, and she knows she can take care of herself. Some people might complain that she does too much for love, but I think that she's always had a bit of hero complex, so why would that change. To me she's a very consistent character, and a total badass.

Tamlin is a beast like we haven't seen before. He's slightly sweeter than we've seen previously, but it means that he balances out Feyre well. I quite like them together. Plus, I enjoyed seeing the liberties that Maas took with their relationship.

Not to mention Lucien and Rhysand! I have to admit that even though I loved Tamlin for Feyre, I liked both of these secondary gents a bit more. They are a little more feisty and a little more twisted, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I'm so glad that this novel isn't a stand alone and that I will be able to dive back into this wonderful world . Since the whole story of Beauty and the Beast has played out in the completion of this book, it'll be fun to see where Maas takes it in later books. 

Everyone, read this!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hand on this NOW!  

[Blog Tour: Not In The Script by Amy Finnegan, Review + Amy's Top 10 TV Couples + Giveaway]

"Not in the Script"
Author: Amy Finnegan
Series: If Only...#3
Pages: 392
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Date Published: October 7th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens 
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review

Buy It Here:

...Amazon...B&N...The Book Depository...

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Summary:

The best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her relationships.

Jake Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative modeling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind. Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants: close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor . . . if she would just give him a chance.

When Jake takes Emma behind the scenes of his real life, she begins to see how genuine he is, but on-set relationships always end badly. Don’t they? Toss in Hollywood’s most notorious heartthrob and a resident diva who may or may not be as evil as she seems, and the production of Coyote Hills heats up in unexpected—and romantic—ways.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Not In The Script,

Hey there book. You were a breath of fresh air on lots of fronts for me and you can count me as one of your fans. I liked how you humanized celebrities. So many books focus on the glamor and excitement of fame, and while you dabbled in that, at your heart you showed us what it's really like to be in the public eye, while still being hilarious. I like hilarious and I like real and you are both of those things, so, like I said before, I'm a fan.

-The White Unicorn

I'll just come right out and say it, I'm a big fan of Finnegan's debut. As we all know, I'm very picky with my YA Contemporary Romance novels, but this happens to be one of my favorite romances of the year. Not in the Script is everything a book like it should be. It's sweet, it's snarky and it's got issues that you can see coming from miles away. It's good mindless fun, but Finnegan also manages to do something that a lot of books that deal with fame and TV miss out on. She humanizes the business in a way that I think is very important. It gives the novel an extra edge that takes all the typical romance tropes and makes it mean a little something more than usual.

I love books that follow things that I know about and even though I can't say that I know about how a TV show is put together, I can tell you that I know a thing or two about acting and the way that the people you act with become a kind of family. A messy, messed up family, but a family none the less. Finnegan gets this and ends up throwing a group of people together that don't seem like they'd be friends in real life, but over the course of the book, things change. She really understood this and I could feel the sincerity in the characters interactions, no matter what they were. I guess you could say that's why I liked the book as a whole: it's sincere.

Emma and Jake are adorable together and I loved watching their relationship develop in such a stress inducing setting. All the lies from the media and the lies from the cast members and everything sometimes felt like they were a bit much, but it didn't affect my enjoyment level. It's interesting to see what Emma ends up doing for everyone around her. Good things happen wherever she goes, but it was also awesome to see her start to figure out that she needed to worry about herself as well and make her own life as good as the ones the people around her were living.

Over all I adored all the characters. Brett was a tool bag, but he was tool bag that was likable. Maybe not someone you should trust, maybe not someone you should make your best friend, but he was likable. Kimmi was the diva, but yet she still had her good points. Jake is extremely layered and has so many things going for him. I even liked the parental characters and I loved that Finnegan decided to make them such a big part of the story. I'm always a fan of books that don't forget that someone had to give birth to the characters inside of them.

All in all Not in the Script is the perfect rom/com and I highly suggest it to anyone who wants a romance that they can cheer for!

Rating:

    4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

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Amy's Top Ten TV Couples!

 

Clark and Lana, Smallville: I used to be so addicted to this show that I wrote two novel-length fanfiction stories about it. They were over 100,000 words each and had readers from all over the world checking in daily for new chapters . . . all rabid fans of Clark and Lana’s epic romance that, according to Superman cannon, was destined to fail. Were we all just suckers, or what? But year after year on that show, those who shipped “Clana” had high hopes for a break from tradition, even after Lois joined the show (for me, it was especially after Lois came along). Tom Welling and Kristin Kreuk had mad chemistry, though, from the innocent longing of the first few seasons, to the more grown-up episodes to come. Young Clark Kent was often more super-awkward around Lana than super-powered, and that’s why this relationship drew me in from the beginning. I still miss them together. So forget Superman cannon, Clark belongs with his first love (And if she doesn’t get him, then I do).




Chuck and Sarah, Chuck: Why do all the best shows get cancelled, huh? Four-and-a-half seasons wasn’t nearly enough (I still can’t decide if I’m ticked off that NBC only ordered thirteen episodes for the last season, or if I should be grateful that they gave us about fifty more episodes than they wanted to!). Anyway, I loved Chuck and Sarah together. He was a mere Nerd Herd techie when he was pulled into the crazy and dangerous world of international spies, and Sarah became his kick-butt handler. The evolution of their relationship was so entertaining and sincere that it was impossible not to fall in love right along with them! And the rest of the cast was just as adorable (Captain Awesome needs his own spinoff!!).






Jim and Pam, The Office: I’ve never been so thrilled to be a voyeur. Because of the mockumentary style of the production, I felt like I had a front row seat for watching two real people fall in love. Deep love. I met my own husband while working in a corporate office environment, so I totally related to the cute and almost always awkward ways in which two people can find excuses to go the desk of the other . . . and flirt (discuss business, I mean!) Like, all day long. Another cool thing about Jim and Pam is that even after they finally figured stuff out, it didn’t dampen their chemistry one bit. It just became more fun, watching them build a life together.




Rory and Logan, Gilmore Girls: In my opinion, Logan was the only love interest for either Gilmore girl who could match their wit. He could dish out the snark just as quickly as they could, and serve it with a side of swoon. Logan and Rory’s conversations were often the epitome of how to write entertaining banter between characters, and I’d frequently rewind scenes so I could hear every word all over again. My only complaint? Um . . . I’m in desperate need of a seven-years-later epilogue. The CW better get to work on that, or I’ll have to write an epilogue myself.






Buffy and Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: This is what you call a serious conflict of interest. Buffy’s job was to slay vampires, so her attraction to fanged heartthrob, Angel, was a bit of a dilemma—especially after a certain point in the series when it seemed inevitable that Buffy would literally have to stake her claim. You know that scene after Angel lost his “soul,” and Buffy had him tied up and had to make the most important decision of her life? Yeah, I cried like a blubbering baby. But the amazing thing about this show was that Buffy was such an amazing character that I really liked her with just about any love interest they paired her with. Even Spike! (Note: if you binge-watch Buffy, which you really should, resist the urge to judge the rest of the series by the first season. In the beginning, the special effects are nearly unbearable.)




Ross and Rachel, Friends: Is there a more famous couple in all of sitcom history? I think not. Their relationship was definitely epic in all of the best ways. They were star-crossed lovers for ten years, and the best thing about their storyline is that whenever they broke up, it all felt believable. And whenever they got back together, it was also believable. That’s an incredibly difficult feat to pull off in a sitcom that was, at its core, chock-full of slapstick antics. I miss this show!




Matthew and Mary, Downton Abbey: Nooooooooo!!!!!! Whyyyyyyyyyy?!?!?!?! How could you do this to me?!?!?!?!?! That’s all I’m going to say.


Chuck and Blair, Gossip Girl: I’m picking these two because they provided nonstop entertainment whenever they were in scenes together. They loved hard and they hated hard, and there was never really anything in between. They belonged together more than any other couple on the show, because no one else deserved to be with either of them. If you watched Gossip Girl, you’ll know that this is a compliment to everyone else. ;)


Mary and Francis, Reign: When these two are given good scenes, they’re the hottest couple on current television. But . . . Reign happens to be on the CW, so all too often, completely stupid and unbelievable obstacles interrupt their adorable flirting. Just stop it. Let them be happy. One more thing about the show itself: As crazy as it gets sometimes, the drama is nothing compared to what the actual Mary, Queen of Scots went through. You can’t make that stuff up! But if you don’t know how her story went in real life, and you watch Reign, do not look up her history. Just watch the show unfold. It will be interesting to see how closely they follow actual events. They’re dealing with one of the most interesting royals in history, so there certainly isn’t any reason for embellishment!




Robin and Marian, The BBC’s Robin Hood: Next to Clark and Lana, these two are my next favorite TV couple! I used to sit on the edge of my seat, hoping for a scene between them. This is another series to binge-watch that I’m guessing very few of you have seen. And the last scene of this series . . . guys, I was BLOWN AWAY! It was some of the most powerful few minutes I’ve ever watched on TV. Jonas Armstrong is one of the most charming, comedic, underrated actors of our day, and he’s absolutely irresistible as Robin Hood! And his sweetheart Marian is certainly no damsel in distress. This couple’s relationship was the perfect mix of sugar and spice, and I’m betting I could get just about any romantic to watch the series after they see this fan-made (and free of any major spoilers!) video featuring Robin and Marian: Accidentally in Love. Enjoy!

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 About The Author:

 Amy Finnegan writes her own stories because she enjoys falling in love over and over again, and thinks everyone deserves a happy ending. She likes to travel the world—usually to locations where her favorite books take place—and owes her unquenchable thirst for reading to Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling. Her debut novel, NOT IN THE SCRIPT, came about after hearing several years of behind-the-scenes stories from her industry veteran brother. She’s also been lucky enough to visit dozens of film sets and sit in on major productions such as Parks and Recreation and Parenthood. You can follow Amy on Twitter: @ajfinnegan, Instagram: StrangerThanFictionWriter, Facebook: Amy Finnegan, Author. Or Visit her at AmyFinnegan.com.

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Giveaway:

 

 Win your own swag pack here!

[Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas]

"Heir of Fire"
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Pages: 565
Genre: YA, High Fantasy
Date Published: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childerns
Format Read: Physical ARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Heir Of Fire,

Book, I don't even know how to calibrate my thoughts on you. It took some getting used to you, because your format was different and you showed us a lot of different places and people, but once I got a hang of it, I couldn't put you down. You turned the characters that I've grown to love into people who I could really root for, even though I've been rooting for them from the beginning. You also threw new characters at me that I can say I love just as much as all the others! Thanks for being a book that both progressed the plot and gave us a ton of character development. It's a really special thing!

-The White Unicorn

Maas has done it again. She's taken the world that she brought us in the two other novels in her series and expanded on it! Heir of Fire is full of world building and character development that will have you cheering, squirming and possibly crying your little eyes out. It's delightful to see a series of books that progresses so aggressively as it builds. Even though this book was very different from Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, it worked. Maas had more time to let us in on her story from different fronts, while still keeping us in touch with our favorite characters and adding new ones that will make a lasting impact on the story. 

Something else I love about the way this book is written is the power that people's memories of the dead play in the story. We get to really see what happened to Celaena growing up and characters that we've lost over the course of the series come back, not in physical form, but in the form of memories and promises. It's wonderful that the fallen are not forgotten and that they surround the characters in a way that propels them to be the people that they were meant to be.

Maas split the trio of Celaena, Dorian and Choal up in the last pages of Crown of Midnight and it gives all the characters a chance to breath on their own. Because of the events in Crown of Midnight, they're all left reeling in different ways and it was a smart move on Maas' part to drag them into different story lines. Celaena grows in ways that you can't even begin to understand until you read the book. She's slowly shaping into a Queen instead of a thief and it's an interesting progression to watch. We see Dorian learning about himself and his abilities with the help of Sorsha (I pray that's a Willow reference). I was glad to see that he found someone to connect to and that she actually had a lot to do with his Kingly inklings as well. Choal is just trying to figure out who he needs to be loyal to. I found his story line to be very interesting, but I also wish he would have picked a side long before he did.

Of course, since our leads are split up Maas needed to bring new players into the game and I have to say that I'm a fan of all of them. Rowan is just what Celaena needs and I ship their really weird friendship with all of my heart. It's kind of hard for me to believe that there is nothing sexual between the two of them, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. Aedion comes alongside Choal as he tries to figure himself out and brings more Celaena history with him. And of course we've already talked about Dorian and Sorsha.

Perhaps, because of my deep love for the anti-hero, my favorite addition was Manon, a Blackbeak witch with a bad temper and decently sweet, dragon type, creator, named Abraxos. The addition of the witch clans was something that I came to love. Their so evil and yet there is something so interesting about Manon and her moral code of non-ethics. I can't wait to see what Maas does with her character as the story moves along, because I have a feeling that I'm going to come to love her even more.

This book is one heck of an adventure and I highly suggest that everyone, and I mean everyone read this series! There is something so wonderful and powerful and evil and hopeful about it. It makes you shy away, while also pulling you in. And really, what more could you want from a series?

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas]

"Crown of Midnight"
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Pages: 420
Genre: YA, High Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Date Published: August 27th, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Format Read: Purchased eBook

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Summary:

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Crown of Midnight,

Dang book, you really grabbed me by all of the heart strings. You gave me all of the feels, honestly, all of them. You left me giggling, laughing, swooning, crying, wanting to punch things, wanting to punch imaginary characters and most of all you left me reeling. You, book, did all the things that I wanted you to do, and even some that I didn't. And in the end that is why I loved you so much...

-The White Unicorn

I was utterly blown away by the world that Maas introduced me to in Throne of Glass, so you can be assured that I knew I was going to love the second installment in her series. I had no idea that she could get more creative and expressive in her story telling, but she did. Crown of Midnight took what I already loved from the first book and expanded on it. And boy oh boy did she tug on all of emotions with the words that she strung into magical sentences.

The book starts off where Throne of Glass left off, which means that there are going to be spoilers for the first book in this review. So, if you don't want those, read no further. Celaena is now the King's champion and she's already being forced to do all of his dirty work. It didn't take him that long to start using her in some dreadful ways and that's clear from the very opening pages of the book. But in the way that Maas writes, things aren't always as they seem. Celaena does what she wants, how she wants and even though people's lives might be at stake, she never crosses her moral boundaries.

Maas gives us new looks at relationships that she introduced us to in the first book, Celaena's wants and needs have changed in this book and Dorian and Choal, both benefit from that. Guys, the swoons that happen are wonderful, even if things get muddled fast. I heart Celaena and Choal forever and I fully understand why people are so into this ship. It makes all the sense in the world to me now. On the other hand I love her relationship with Dorian as well, now that they aren't sticking their tongues down each other's throats all the time.

I was so glad that we got to see more of Nehemia and Celaena's friendship as well. Maas does a great job of balancing the romance and the friendships in her series and it makes it all the more real and heartbreaking when the shit hits the fan, because she's also a bit of a master of misery. It was great to get a better read on the Princess and the way Maas uses her in the plot of this book is fantastic, if not slightly rage inducing.

We also get to see more sides to Celaena this time around. Added characters and mysteries unfold in her life and it brings her to some pretty dark and intense places. Sometimes I just really wanted to give her a hug and other times I cheered her on and backed her decisions 100%. Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you just have to chuck them as hard as you can at the people who have wronged you and Celaena proves that she's not afraid to do that, sometimes at any cost.

Maas also digs deeper into the mysteries of the castle and pulls more of her characters into the thick of things. It seems that no one is safe when she's concerned and it makes for amazing story telling and so many things that I would like to discuss with people. So, if you've read this book, hit me up, because I don't want to spoil it for the rest of you. Just know that if you pick this series up, you're in for one heck of an emotional ride! So yeah, read this book, because it's good for you!

Rating:

 5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this one NOW!

[Review: Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas]

"Throne of Glass"
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Pages: 404
Genre: YA, High Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Date Published: August 7th, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Format Read: Purchased eBook

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Summary:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Throne of Glass,

Why oh why haven't I read you before this? You are everything that I want from a fantasy novel and I can't believe that it's taken me this long to jump on the Throne of Glass bandwagon. I adored your world building and you characters and your plot line and your amazing cover. You make me want to put everything else on hold so that I can binge read all of your predecessors, that's how much I adore you!

-The White Unicorn

Throne of Glass is everything that a fantasy novel should be. Seriously, it hits every single mark. Maas has taken care with her story telling and it shows in a big way. She throws random elements at you, so that even when you think you have it all figured out, something new pops up and surprises you. The book seems simple at first, but don't be fooled, Maas is the master of layering, which is what makes reading this book such a fun experience. The way she weaves the fantastical in with the ordinary proves that she's a master story teller and it'll have you coming back for more.

Above everything else, I adore the characters that Maas has created. Their relationships and interactions are so real. It gives the book a really solid foundation to work off of and she uses that to her advantage in telling her story. I personally couldn't wish for a stronger protagonist than Celaena. She's got so much going on. She complex and snarky and a total badass. She carries around wounds and secrets, but also is so full of hope that you can't help but root for her. Sure she's an assassin, but she's also so much more than that. 

It's also wonderful that Maas takes the time to look at different types of relationships in the book. She concentrates on friendship as well as romantic feels and the balance is perfection. Though there are obvious feelings happening between Celaena and both, Dorian and Choal, I love that they all have each others backs as well. I also like how each guy actually offers something totally different to the table. I didn't feel like I was reading an obnoxious love triangle at all. And let's be honest Dorian doesn't have anything Choal in the end, even though he is definitely pretty great in his own way.

Celaena also has other allies in the castle made of glass and I enjoyed each of them and the large roles that they play in her life. Maas throws in some female friends which add to the story in so many ways. I wish I could say more, but I feel like it would be giving too much away.

In the end I can't enough about this book. If, for some odd reason, you haven't picked this one up yet, take my advice and do it! You need to experience this world and all the wonderful things it has waiting for you.

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this now!

[Review: The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt]

"The Chapel Wars"
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Date Published: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

Acclaimed author Lindsey Leavitt brings her trademark heart, humor, and romance to her hometown--Vegas
Sixteen-year-old Holly wants to remember her Grandpa forever, but she’d rather forget what he left her in his will: his wedding chapel on the Las Vegas strip. Whatever happened to gold watches, savings bonds, or some normal inheritance?

And then there's Grandpa's letter. Not only is she running the business with her recently divorced parents, but she needs to make some serious money--fast. Grandpa also insists Holly reach out to Dax, the grandson of her family's mortal enemy and owner of the cheesy chapel next door. No matter how cute Dax is, Holly needs to stay focused: on her group of guy friends, her disjointed family, work, school and... Dax. No wait, not Dax.

Holly’s chapel represents everything she’s ever loved in her past. Dax might be everything she could ever love in the future. But as for right now, there's a wedding chapel to save.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Chapel Wars,

First off, way to have a lot of depth for a book that sounded really fluffy!  I went into you thinking I'd get ridiculous weddings, forbidden love, goofy family antics and "playing with the boys".  Of course you delivered on all of that, but you also gave me a story that dealt with grief, the disassemblely of families, rocky relationships and learning how to grow up.  I liked that you were layered and not just full of the fluff.  I also enjoyed the fact that you made me laugh loads of times.  Good job book.  Good job.

-The White Unicorn

I've heard great things about Leavitt's writing so I was excited to get my hands on an ARC of this book.  It just sounded so cute and I'm always down to read a contemporary that has a unique premise.  Well, this book delivered.  Leavitt has this way of writing that makes things feel real, while she also weaves really random happenings throughout her story.  Even if you're giggling with glee, you know that she's saying so much more then meets the eye.  She's a delightful storyteller.

The base of The Chapel Wars is a love story.  Holly's grandfather dies and leaves her with his wedding chapel on the Vegas Strip, and a letter for his main enemies grandson.  Holly wasn't counting on this and she definitely wasn't ready to fall for the only boy that would be off limits for her... but... she does.  Dex and Holly have an interesting relationship that isn't full of insta-love.  In fact Dex falls much faster then Holly.  It makes things interesting.  That being said the romance is still really over the top with the whole Romeo and Juliet comparison, but I found that it really worked for the story.  I liked these two, a lot!

Even though the book is a love story it also gives us a lot of other stuff.  Holly isn't your typical girly girl.  She surrounds herself with a bunch of guy friends and doesn't really understand how girls work.  She loves working and her job and high stress level situations.  She's just a really cool girl, even if her views on love are a little off kilter.  I adored the relationships that Holly had with her guy friends.  The whole thing felt really authentic and she and Sam were a great platonic guy/girl bff relationship.

Family also had a large role to play in the book.  We didn't have absent parents in this book.  Nope, mom and dad and little bro were in the middle of everything, all the time.  Leavitt really played with the whole family dynamic thing and gave us an honest, completely messed up family to read about. 

Like I said, there is a lot going on in this book.  The focus on the wedding chapel was awesome as well.  To see inside the Vegas Strip like that was glorious!  If you're looking for a fun book that also packs a great emotional punch, look no farther.  This is it.

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae]

"Wish You Were Italian"
Author: Kristin Rae
Series: If Only... #2
Pages: 323
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Date Published: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

Pippa has always wanted to go to Italy … but not by herself. And certainly not to sit in art school the entire summer learning about dead guys’ paintings. When she steps off the plane in Rome, she realizes that traveling solo gives her the freedom to do whatever she wants. So it’s arrivederci, boring art program and ciao, hot Italian guys!

Charming, daring, and romantic, Bruno is just the Italian Pippa’s looking for—except she keeps running into cute American archeology student Darren everywhere she goes. Pippa may be determined to fall in love with an Italian guy … but the electricity she feels with Darren says her heart might have other plans. Can Pippa figure out her feelings before her parents discover she left the program and—even worse—she loses her chance at love?

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Wish You Were Italian, 

Holy crudmuffens (I'm not sure if that's a real word, but who cares?) you were just about one of the cutest fluff balls of a book that I've ever read!  When I started you I had no clue that most of your pages would take place in Cinque Terre.  Oddly that's the one place that I've been to in Italy.  So I'd like to personally thank you for all the awesome flash backs and the honest distributions of what happens there and how things look!  Of course that wasn't the only awesome thing about you, you also had a delightful love story.  So thanks for all the fun.  You've done good book! 

-The White Unicorn

Wish You Were Italian was a breath of fresh, spunky, fluffy air to me.  It has all the goods for the perfect summer book.  Rebellious teens, wild adventures, moments with random strangers that you'll never forget, exotic locals and swoony kisses.  What more could you want from a summer romance?  Nothing, I'm telling you that the answer is nothing.  

I love that Rae decides to make her protagonist go off course in a foreign country.  Pippa made a crazy discussion to ditch art school in Florence and travel around Italy by herself.  Of course this causes lots of truth withholding and shenanigans, but I appreciate Rae's clear view of what it's really like to travel.  As an avid traveler myself, I loved how detailed those parts of the book were.  Plus, it made me want to go back to Cinque Terre in a hurry.

The choice to use Pippa's best friend Morgan from home was spot on.  She writes dares in a journal that she sends Pippa off with.  It adds another character into the mix and it forces Pippa to jump out of her comfort zone.  It's fun to keep up with the lists that Pippa makes along the way as well.  

Pippa was really likeable.  She's spunky and fearless (okay, maybe she's not always fearless) and she's funny.  Her willingness to jump on board with whatever happens on her journey is great.  She meets people and ends up sleeping in their house.  She's a cool kid.

Even though this is a romance.  The book manages to deal with some family dynamic issues as well as strong female friendships.  I thought that these bits added a lot of extra layers and I enjoyed them a lot.

The romance is fun even if it is pretty darn far fetched.  It starts off looking like it's going to be a love-triangle, but it's not.  Mr. Extra Italian man actually has a large role to play in how Pippa's life turns out.  Darren on the other hand is pretty darn perfect!  He's awesome and likes Pippa so much.  It's fun to watch all three of these characters find themselves in the mayhem of an Italian summer.

Over all this one is just a ton of good, clean fun!  I know I can't really complain about anything.  Plus, can you say wanderlust?!

Rating:

   4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!