The True Meaning of Christmas!

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone out there who reads this post! I hope you all have a fantastic holiday and make joyous memories with friends and family!

Christmas for most people is about Santa Claus and presents and gifts and decorating and food. Don't get me wrong, all of that really makes the celebration of Christmas even more fun and exciting! But it's come to the point where people are forgetting or ignoring why we really celebrate Christmas.

This guy is great to have around for Christmas, but he often steals the spotlight from the person who Christmas is celebrating. 

A very long time ago, around this time, God sent his only son to the world. That's Jesus. Christmas is about Jesus and his birth and how momentous it was for a savior to come for us! It was the very first Christmas!

 If Jesus hadn't been born, we'd all still be pretty blind and making sacrifices for all our sin. But he did come for us, because he loves each and every one of us very much! So much that he have his own life so that we would be free from our burdens and the bondage of sin.

Think about it for a second. God, the one and only almighty King who created the entire world, knows you, yes you, by name and he wants to have a relationship with you. He cared enough for you to sacrifice his son for you, so that you can live free! 

I'm not saying that Santa is evil and nobody should get presents on Christmas or any of that nonsense. NOT AT ALL! I encourage giving and receiving and spreading the Christmas spirit in all your different ways!

Just don't forget who Christmas is about! 

Why am I taking the time to write this when I know most of you won't read it? 

There's a story about a man. He was at the beach one day when he saw that millions of starfish had been washed up to shore. He walked over to the shore and started throwing the starfish back to sea. 

After a while, someone saw him and came to him.

"Why are you doing that? There are millions out there, it won't make a difference."

The man looks at him. "It'll make a difference to this one," he says as he tosses a starfish. "And it'll matter to this one too." He tosses another. 

I'm saying all this not because I want to recruit you into some religion. 

I just want to spread and share the love of Jesus Christ and tell those who need to know! It may not matter to you in particular, but it could matter to someone out there, and that would be worth it.

That said, I hope you all have an amazing holiday! Take a break and relax today :) 

Love y'all!

-Matt

The Fault In Our Stars Movie Poster!

We've been waiting so long for this beautiful moment! This book has been tearing at my heart ever since I read it! If I'm correct, it's been affecting all of you the same way. So let's enjoy this moment together! 

Here it is...

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WELL DONE MOVIE MAKERS!!! 

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU ALREADY!!!

THIS MADE ME CRY IT'S SO GOOD!!!

THANK YOU FOR PERFECTLY PORTRAYING JOHN GREEN'S BEAUTIFUL BROKEN CHARACTERS!!!

Seasons in the Sun by Kristen Strassel Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summer has finally arrived, along with a boy who will forever change the life of fourteen-year-old Callie. After growing up hearing stories about Tristan Trevosier and his famous family, Callie finally meets him when he spends the summer on Martha's Vineyard. Seventeen-year-old Tristan is a hurricane of destruction and rebellion, and he quickly blows a hole right into Callie's sheltered life. Callie sees a side of Tristan that he doesn't show anyone else. She's determined to make everyone see what she sees in him.

Callie defies her parents by leaving the island with Tristan. But when his ugly habits rear their head, Callie realizes maybe she's the one who's wrong about him. He's beyond her help. But it's too late for her to walk away. This summer, she learns that love can be stronger than reason.

Seasons in the Sun is a spectacular prequel novella! To be completely honest, I had no idea that it was leading up to a series or anything. My good friends told Kristen about me, so she sent me an ARC. I immediately fell in love with the story, because it wasn't boring!

I had no idea what the book was about. I just started it and read until I was finished! Kristen did an exceptional job developing her characters! Every individual was clearly portrayed as their own person, and I was very pleased with that! The plot was nice and short (because it's a novella) and I liked it like that. It was like a literary snack, if that even makes sense! 

Callie is actually someone I can somewhat relate to! I'm also homeschooled and, at times, I feel bound by parental regulations, so therefore I rebel. Callie wasn't deliberately trying to rebel, she was just trying to get to know this guy because he was nice, handsome, but also mysterious. Since she never got attention from guys, she was really affected by his interest in her. Such a sweet character, overall.

Keisha was such a mess! She was the typical sexy chick who gets what she wants and says what she wants. Not the best example for Callie, and certainly not the best conscience! She's what I would call a valley girl, for sure!

Tristan was someone I couldn't quite figure out for the longest time. He was respectful and kind, which made me glad he was going for Callie, because that's someone she deserved. No spoilers, but this guy never topped giving me surprises!

Overall I really enjoyed this book while waiting in line to see the new Hobbit film! As I said before, it's a really fast read, but you'll just LOVE IT!

Definitely check it out!

Also, don't forget to look for Because the Nightby Kristen Strassel! It follows Seasons in the Sun!

Stay warm and Merry Christmas!

-Matt

Dream Cast for FIND ME by Romily Bernard!

FIND ME is Romily Bernard's debut novel that just came out this past October. It quickly became my favorite debut novel OF THE YEAR, easily making it into my top ten favorite books EVER! (Look at the review I wrote for it for more details and a synopsis). Because of all this, I have decided to create a dream cast for this extraordinary book! Enjoy!

Grace Morretz is a beautiful yet fierce actress who would definitely be able to play Wick! She is amazing in every role I've seen her in and she does not disappoint! I keep playing scenes over and over again in my head and she's just PERFECT for her!

Choosing an actor for Griff was a little bit more difficult. He had to be handsom, charismatic, but also cunning and brave. Lucas Till seems to play this role in every movie I see him, so it's just meant to be! Obviously he doesn't have dark hair like Griff, but that's what hair dye and makeup is for! ;)

Willow Shields IMMEDIATELY came to mind when I thought of Lily! Didn't even have to think twice! She obviously has talent for playing a strong younger sister (i.e. Primrose Everdeen in The Hunger Games) and her style and personality match Lily's personality in the book.

Hugh Jackman is the kind of actor that could play ANYBODY, really. I would love to see him as Carson! NUFF SAID.

For someone to be Todd, they'd have to be handsom, kind, understanding, charismatic, and just Todd-like. Bradley Cooper would totally nail this role! Mostly because he's a lot like him in real life. He's the kind of guy that makes you just want to give him a hug he's so awesome (don't judge). So this is Todd!

For some odd reason, since the beginning of FIND ME when Bren was mentioned, I've always mentally pictured her with a British accent. So Emily Blunt's been bouncing around in my head ever since! She would be a great Bren! She could be this moody foster parent married to the sweetest guy ever. Totally.

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. SHOULD BE WICK'S DAD. THAT IS ALL.

Woody Harrelson is one of the greatest actors EVER in my opinion. It wouldn't even be hard for him to be Joe. He has already been in many other movies in which he has had to be characters similar to Joe. Therefore, Woody is Joe, Joe is Woody. POOF! One in the same!

And last but certainly not least is Tally! She also took a while to think about. But when Elle Fanning popped into my head, IT ALL MADE SENSE! Elle Fanning never ceased to amaze me with her INCREDIBLE acting skills! If you just compare her strong, superior role in Super 8 and her gentle, innocent role in We Bought a Zoo, you're mind will be blown. Like, BLOWN. Aside from her amazing acting, she fits right in my head, so it is right! 

That concludes my dream cast for FIND ME! Hope you've enjoyed reading about my dreams and opinions once again! 

Don't forget to look for FIND ME wherever books are sold! It is BEYOND WORDS AWESOME! 

Also, you can follow the author on Twitter @RomilyBernard! 

That's all for now! 

Merry Christmas book rebels!

-Matt

Waiting On Wednesday!

This week, my waiting on Wednesday pick is the third and final book to a trilogy I have been with since the beginning! 

RUINS by Dan Wells!

"Kira, Samm, and Marcus fight to prevent a final war between Partials and humans in the gripping final installment of the blockbuster Partials Sequence.

Our time is almost up.

As the clock ticks closer and closer to the final Partial expiration date, humans and Partials stand on the brink of war. Caught in the middle, thousands of miles apart, are Samm and Kira: Samm, who is trapped on the far side of the continent beyond the vast toxic wasteland of the American Midwest; and Kira, now in the hands of Dr. Morgan, who is hell-bent on saving what's left of the Partials, even if she has to destroy Kira to do it.

The only hope lies in the hands of the scattered people of both races who seek a way to prevent the rapidly escalating conflict. But in their midst appears a mysterious figure, neither human nor Partial, with solemn warnings of the new apocalypse-one that none of them may be able to avert.

The last book in the Partials Sequence is a thrill ride of epic proportions, as the last remnants of life on our planet fight to determine its final fate."

The PARTIALS series is an EPIC dystopian series, but it's completely unique and original! It has tons of action and thrills and romance and plot and everything a great book should have!

It feels like I have been waiting a life time for this third book and I STILL have to wait until NEXT YEAR! Until then, I shall be writing a novel of my own.

Maybe I'll grab an ARC!

Check out PARTIALS by Dan Wells, the first book in this fantastic series!

Have a great Wednesday!

-Matt

Book Peeves! Little things about books that annoy me.

We all have pet peeves! Some of them are about how their good is served, if the light stays on or off, or even how the toilet paper should hang (which is over, not under). There are also little things that really peeve me when it comes to books, and I'm sure some of you will agree with me, so here is a list of book peeves.

1. Sequel covers that don't match the first book.

Don't you just hate it when you buy the first book to a series when it comes out, but when the second book is released, so are a new set of covers? I understand that, most of the time, the covers improve, but it is still annoying nonetheless because when you take Instagram photos of your books, they don't match! I swear, you should be able to send in the older version of the book to the publisher and receive the updated cover in return. 

Example: 

I love James Patterson to death, don't get me wrong! His books are amazing and I stand in awe of his pure genius and his ability to write so many books and one time while keeping his sanity! But he is NOTORIOUS for changing his covers all the time. There must be thousands of different versions of his Maximum Ride series (which I love)! 

In some cases I am glad that they changed the cover (i.e. Delirium, Legend, Lightning Thief...) because the rest of the series then stuck with that special format, but in most cases, STOP CHANGING THE COVERS!

2. Undressed books with nothing to show.

When I purchase or receive a hardcover book, the very first thing I do is undress it! (Remove the sleeve) Most of the time I will find soem clever little impression of something on the book itself, which pleases me very much!

Example:

The Insignia trilogy, the Divergent trilogy, and the Lorien Legacies series all have little surprises behind their sleeves! WELL DONE!

But then you have the books that have absolutely NOTHING behind the sleeve but a smooth front. I still like the books, but this annoys me, I must admit.

Example: 

See, you have no idea what these books could be by just looking on the front. They are all plain, and this disappoints me. 

3. Paperback books that should be hardback.

I love long books! I like the detail and the long story that just consumes me for days. What I don't like is when someone publishes a long book in paperback, and since I am desperate, I buy it immediately and regret it when the hardback is released. 

Example: 

 These books are so thick and have such thin covers, that I'm gonna have to buy hardcovers in a little while, because they are going to fall apart! Again, I LOVE these books, but they each have something that peeves me.

4. The first chapters of the next book at the end.

I have no example pictures for these because I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. It may not bother anyone else, but it drives me nuts when they have the first chapters of the next book in  the series you're reading at the end of the first book. AGGHHHH! 

This is not a flaw, this is a torture device and works of pure evil! 

WHY MUST YOU TORTURE ME SO?

5. Crammed pages with small font.

When a book has pages that have a minuscule font and words filling up all the margins, it simply turns me off immediately. Thankfully, I have only encountered this annoyance with school books on the reading list. 

It's okay to make it longer! You don't have to fill every little space with words. Readers need room for our eyes to wander, room to breathe! (Sounds weird, but it's true!)

There are MANY other peeves you can come up with, but these are the top 5 things about books that peeve me. Authors, take notes! But remember, just because your book may fall into one of these categories, it has nothing to do with your brilliant story between the pages. Just keep these things in mind when you're designing your books! ;)

And now I shall present the winner of the Perfect Book contest.

Drumroll please! 

*beats floor rapidly*

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FIND ME by Romily Bernard!

This book has everything a reader wants, and nothing that one doesn't want!

It has a breath-taking cover, it has a surprise behind the sleeve, it doesn't have a snippet of the sequel in the back, and it doesn't have crammed pages! 

BEHOLD, THE PERFECT YA BOOK! 

-Matt

COVER REVEAL for The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings!

We have been waiting for this moment a long time! We have all heard of TMC and we've all gotten excited, but now we actually have the cover!!! 

So here it is...

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TA DAAA!!!!!

Beautiful, isn't it? I cannot wait to read this amazing book! Hopefully I can snag an ARC so I can review it for you guys ;)

Check out Lindsay's blog for a giveaway and contest! 

http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/cover-reveal-and-contest-murder-complex.html?m=1

Have an awesome Saturday! Good luck to those participating in #NaNoWriMo this year!

And don't forget that if you didn't make it to YALLFEST this year, you can keep up with what's going on with @EpicReads and all the awesome authors through the hashtag, #EpicReadsYALL 

-Matt

Lunar Insignia Contest Entry!

There was a contest Marissa Meyer was hosting. The winner would receive an ARC of CRESS! When I heard about it, early in October, I immediately got to work, thinking of the perfect ideas that would best represent the Lunars. 

The finalists were chosen by Marissa this afternoon. I didn't make it, but I'm proud of what I made, so I'm going to share it with all of you! 

Even though I wasn't chosen, there are still a few other ways to receive an ARC for CRESS! You could enter the #NaNoWriMo competition! It's great fun! But it's takes dedication to write so much! This is my first year participating, so I'm going to try my best not to quit! I'M A FIGHTER! I'm grateful for Marissa Meyer for inspiring me to try out #NaNoWriMo!

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas!

It all began with a ruined elixir and a bolt of lightning.

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's been told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of the Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the most powerful tyrant and mage the world has ever known. This would be a suicide task for anyone, let alone a reluctant sixteen-year-old girl with no training.

Guided by his mother's visions and committed to avenging his family, Prince Titus has sworn to protect Iolanthe even as he prepares her for their battle with the Bane. But he makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the tyrant closing in, Titus must choose between his mission—and her life.

THE BURNING SKY is an EpicReads book that you will not soon forget! I've been wanting to read it for a long while until it finally came in the mail last week! 

This book is just the perfect mix of action/adventure, fantasy/magic, and romance! So much of this book is pure, rich plot that kept me turning the pages! (Even got in trouble for reading it too late at night hehe) 

I was in absolute AWE of Sherry Thomas' natural way of writing beautifully and poetically! This was brilliant literature to read, let me tell you! She is descriptive and talentedly captivating! I MUST read more of her books!

IOLANTHE SEABOURNE. First of all I love this name. I don't really know why, but it's just kinda perfect. Secondly, she's a spell-casting, butt-kicking boss! Iolanthe is independent, fearless, and extremely determined, which makes for an EXCELLENT protagonist! You get really attached to her epic personality! Plus, not very many beautiful girls can convincingly pull off being a guy for 3/4 of a book! 

TITUS was a great guy. Though he was of royal blood and all, he certainly didn't act stuck up and arrogant about his fortune. He stayed on track with the task at hand, and I liked that. I have an embarrassing/confession moment I'm going to share with you: Somehow I missed something or read something wrong, so for the longest time I thought that "Titus" and "the Prince" were two different people... I felt really stupid when I realized my mistake. Boy, was that a revelation!

Please do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK ASAP! You will not be sorry! I cannot wait to read the sequel! Who knows, maybe I can snatch an ARC!

Have an awesome day, and don't forget to watch #TeaTime today with @EpicReads at 2:45pm CST!

-Matt

Avalon by Mindee Arnett Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Jeth Seagrave is the leader of the Malleus Shades, the galaxy’s most accomplished and elusive band of teenage mercenaries. Working for feared crime boss Hammer Defoe, Jeth and his crew have made their name stealing unsecured metadrives – the complex piece of technology that makes faster-than-light-speed travel possible. The ITA–the far-reaching organization that produces and polices metatechnology–has been on Jeth’s tale for years, and is looking for any chance to take down Hammer’s black market metatech trade.

But Jeth doesn’t care about any of this. All he wants to do is earn enough money to purchase his parents’ ship, Avalon, from Hammer. His parents, former ITA scientists, were executed for treason years back, and Jeth, his sister Lizzie, and their uncle Milton fell into debt to Hammer. Finally, Jeth has found himself just one job away from freedom. This job, however, is going to give Jeth much, much more than he bargained for – and when he finds himself in possession of information that both Hammer and the ITA will kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he’ll go to get the freedom he’s dreamed of for so long.

IF YOU LOVE FANTASTC, CREEPY, THRILLING SCIFI THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! Even if you don't love fantastic, creepy, thrilling scifi you should still read it because anybody would love a book this grand!

There was never a dull moment in this book, nor was there ever a lull in the plot! It was very fast-paced and attention-grabbing! Plus, the characters were so perfectly complex!

JETH is the leader and captain of Avalon and with that responsibility comes bravery and a robust personality! He fights and navigates and kisses (yes, kisses) his way through all his problems with ease! 

LIZZIE was such a real character. She was very energetic, fun, and sanguine! I don know what else to say about her, but  she was my second favorite (After Jeth).

SIERRA was very mysterious, so I didn't really know what to think of her for the longest time! She was calm, collected and always seemed to know what was going on. A very superior character. I liked her almost fearlessness and her warrior attitude!

I hope you've gathered enough to know that WITHOUT A DOUBT you should read this book!

Publication date: February 2014

Add it on Goodreads! You won't want to forget about this epic scifi that begins a series!

-Matt

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

THE CHAOS OF STARS was such a fun, thrilling read! One of the distinct things I love about Kiersten White's characters is their constant humorous, sarcastic remarks! It might just be me, but I laughed many times! 

There were so many little things going on in the plot. It was so fun to read. There was Isadora and her relationship with her mother and how that was working out, then there was the underlying problem of the death threat in her mother's dreams, and of course Isadora's relationship with Orion.

It was well-written, engaging, romantic, and humorous, all things I enjoy in a book! I encourage you to read Kiersten White's latest masterpiece of a novel! 

Look for it in a bookstore near you! 

Also, look for her other amazing books! Including MIND GAMES and the PARANORMALCY TRILOGY!

-Matt

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Book Review!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Everyone, ALLEGIANT is finally here!

*This first half of the review is spoiler free! Spoilers will have warnings to ensure your mind's security*

Truthfully, I was both dreading and anticipating the conclusion of the epic Divergent Trilogy, and I have concluded that I was right to experience those feelings. 

First off, Allegiant was everything I'd hoped for and everything I'd feared would happen in the current of the story! It was, of course, as BRILLIANTLY written as the previous two books, Divergent and Insurgent, and certainly did not lack plot twists or richness in the story itself. It was amazing how many questions were answered about characters' histories and the history of the Divergent world as a whole! Most of which were answered in one particular chapter. To remove the temptation of reading ahead, I will not tell which chapter. 
It was also very thrilling and exciting to finally see things through the eyes of Four (Tobias); how he makes decisions, how he reacts to situations on the outside versus what is going on inwardly, his thought process etc. Since I'd been hearing the story in Tris' perspective thus far, it was definitely hard to remember that, at times, I was listening to Four's thoughts. At first it was confusing and I had to constantly go back to the beginning of the chapter to review who was speaking, but then it became normal in my mind. 
As far as invigorating action scenes go, Allegiant did not make those scenes its focus, like Insurgent. Insurgent was a stressful, thrilling book full of intense, non-stop action. Allegiant was still extremely stressful, thrilling and contained great action-packed chapters, but, as Veronica Roth told us earlier this year, she is letting the developed characters run with the story. She allowed this book to use the emotional tension in the trilogy to take charge and become the main focus. 
Something I was glad Veronica did not do was forget about characters or leave someone in the dust from the previous books. All of our characters that we have fallen in love with, including the bad ones, made an appearance in Allegiant! Particularly how she made the death of Tris' parents mean so much to the story! That is probably the most complex part of the story, how/why they died. 
In conclusion, Veronica Roth did a truly phenomenal job wrapping up everything she's made for us and I am proud to say that though she made me cry, she did what was right for the finale. 
When asked about her future writing career, Veronica Roth said that she will be taking a long break, but she will definitely revisit the YA community because she loves the books and she loves her readers! 

*APPLAUSE*

YAY!

And now we have come to the part of the review where I let my feels take over the keyboard.

***SPOILER WARNING***

*MATT UNPLUGGED*

On Wednesday morning, I took a shower and immediately sat down and finished Allegiant in one sitting. I CRIED A RIVER OF TEARS WHEN TRIS DIED! AND EVEN MORE WHEN TOBIAS WAS HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT! Those scenes just ripped my heart out of my chest, through it the length of Cowboys Stadium, and laughed as they watched it explode on the concrete ground of reality. THIS WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! Yes, it even tops THE CLOCKWORK PRINCESS and MOCKINGJAY! 

AND WHY OH WHY DID URIAH HAVE TO DIE?!?! I just KNEW he was going to be the character to be killed off because he was just too perfect and brought so much joy to people that he had to be eliminated. It makes me feel slightly better that Veronica herself experienced emotional trauma from killing off one of the best characters in her book. But in the end, her evil side won over, and the great Uriah was no more!

TRIS GREW UP SO MUCH I JUST LOVED IT! Throughout these books, Tris has gradually matured and grown mentally, physically, and emotionally, making better and better decisions along the way and truly beginning to grasp what true sacrifice and selfishness is! SHE TOTALLY KICKED BUTT!!! When she foiled the evil plans of the enemy to get their hands on the death serum, I just felt SO PROUD!!! 

TOBIAS!!!!!!! IT WAS SO AMAZING TO FINALLY SEE THROUGH HIS EYES! HE IS SUCH A BOSS CHARACTER! Besides the fact that he can basically kill anyone, it was very comforting how he still had to refrain from doing so to people he despised so much (i.e. MARCUS). The worst scenes for Tobias was when Uriah was basically killed because of him and when he had to talk to Zeke and his mother (her name escapes me). It was one of those times when you were so helplessly sad and wanted to crawl into a hole and die because that scene was killing you so much!

(I realize that none of my sentences are grammatically correct in my rant, so please ignore that and keep reading!)

THE END BROUGHT ABOUT MY DEEPEST FEAR, TRIS' DEMISE..........

 While I was reading those short chapters, I was telling myself the whole way through that everything was going to be okay and I was imagining things and that they were going to somehow revive her. But deep down I knew that this really was the powerful ending Tris deserved! 

IT KILLED ME AND I LOVED IT! IT MADE ME CRY AND I WAS PROUD! IT TOOK MY SOUL AND GAVE ME A NEW ONE! 

THIS BOOK WILL LIVE FOREVER

If you want to learn more about why Veronica Roth killed off Tris and other huge plot twists, click HERE to watch an interview that brings up all the spoilery discussions! 

Thanks for reading!

Be brave 

 -Matt

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Book Review!

Rating: stars that cannot be fathomed into constellations! 

“Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”—John Green, The New York Times Book Review

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.

So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.

I’m not kidding, he says.

You should be, she says, we’re 16.

What about Romeo and Juliet?

Shallow, confused, then dead.

I love you, Park says.

Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.

I’m not kidding, he says.

You should be.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

I CAN'T EVEN!

JUST READ IT!

-Matt

Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis Book Review!

 Rating: 5/5 stars!

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water. 

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

-Goodreads

MY MIND HAS BEEN BLOWN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! MY HEART WAS ON A THRILL RIDE ALL DAY!!!

Mindy McGinnis, I applaud you! This has become one of my favorite scifi's EVER!!! 

NOT A DROP TO DRINK was brilliantly plotted! It was set in the dystopian future, after the drought apocalypse and a few wars have occurred. It was so full of twists and tragic events, I just had no way of knowing what could possibly happen next! 

Aside from just the story and the plot, it was pretty educational! I learned so many different little facts and survival tactics. 

LYNN was such a fierce young teen with a relentless attitude! She makes do with what is given to her and fights for her life and the lives of others constantly. I love this about her! At times she was a bit reckless, but I really loved her character in general!

STEBBS was such a great friend/mentor.

His personality reminded me a lot of Haymitch Abernathy! (Which made me really like him). It was cool how Mindy just slowly unraveled his character. 

ELI was a pretty regular teenage guy thrown into a situation where he has to become a leader and a provider. He was respectful, resourceful, helpful, and reasonable. He was one of many characters in the story who had a tragic life story. In fact, all the characters did.

In conclusion, this book is beyond-words AWESOME!!! Keeps you on the edge of your seat and throws twists at you left and right! It's a very brutal, serious, intense read. I HIGHLY recommend this book to all Hunger Games fans! It has the same survive-to-protect theme, which I know we l love! 

Add it to Goodreads and then READ IT ASAP!!!

Plus, something that I just HAVE to mention is that the amazing author, Mindy McGinnis, always has the BEST blog posts! They always make me crack up, no matter what she's talking about. It's pretty ironic, come to think of it, since Not A Drop To Drink isn't humorous in the least. ANYWAY! Here's the link to her awesome blog: http://www.mindymcginnis.com

And check out @EpicReads on Twitter! Without them, I wouldn't have been introduced to this author and her brilliance!

Conclusion: 

READ THIS BOOK! 

-Matt

Find Me by Romily Bernard Book Review!

Rating: ∞AN INFINITY OF STARS∞

“Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN! I have been waiting so long to finally read this EPIC THRILLER! I just read SIX MONTHS LATER earlier in the month, and I wasn't expecting to read thriller that good for a long time. THEN FIND ME SHOWED UP! Unfortunately, I couldn't get ahold of an ARC. But it was worth the wait!

This plot was so intricate and fascinating! I couldn't miss anything without feeling clueless! This was an amazing mystery/thriller! It was so genius how Romily laid out all this information of me, but I still felt like I wasn't sure. There were so many times when I thought I had figured it all out, and then BAAAMMM!!! I'm totally wrong and she has just blown my mind! 

WICK was a very relatable protagonist, which is one of my favorite fictional character qualities! I found her personality and her decision-making skills very realistic for a teen. 

GRIFF was a very hard person to figure out! Billions of thoughts about him were always milling about in my head. Is he the bad guy? Is he who he says he is? Should she believe a word he says? Isn't it creepy that he appeared at her window? Oh, the suspicions are endless! Overall, I liked his character a lot! A very patient, clever guy with the loyalty of a German Shepherd and the guts of a thousand butcher scraps. (That was probably the strangest analogy I've ever used).

FIND ME was such a page turner! The action and suspense NEVER STOPS! I looked ridiculous wallowing in the floor of my bedroom nervously and the book reached its end. SHE ENDED IT PERFECTLY! It had closure and 'openendedness' at the same time! BRILLIANT! 

Look for FIND ME in any bookstore near you! You don't want to miss this new YA series! REMEMBER ME will be released in 2014! (Hope I get an ARC for that one!)

This is the kind of book that makes me sad I didn't join the street team! Maybe sometime in the future!

I look forward to reading Romily Bernard's future works! 

-Matt

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Scheider Book Review!

Rating: 10/10 stars!

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes? 

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

-Goodreads

ROBYN SCHEIDER, MY HEART IS BROKEN! I LOVE YOU AND YOUR BOOKS! 

Wow! This book is absolutely STUNNING!!! It is one of those books that will not allow you to speed read through it! It makes you take your time to capture its full beauty! 

This YA standalone was just EXCEPTIONAL!!! The characters were so unique and described in such detail! Also, their personalities really stood out!

EZRA is DEFINITELY the kind of guy I'd be friends with! I really liked how he doesn't act like a wimp. I hate it when people/fictional characters use and abuse injuries to make people feel bad for them. Thankfully, Ezra agrees with me and takes no part in this manipulation! He a very reasonable, genuine guy and for that I praise him!!! I felt like a part of me died when I read the tragic scenes of this book. It was a strong connection.

TOBY was so awesome! He was an awesome best friend to Ezra, no matter what happened. Even after he and Ezra's relationship was kind of out on hold, he just accepted him again and they went right back to being best buds! He would give honest advice and listen to Ezra's problems even when he didn't really feel like it. Toby, you HAVE to be my best friend!

Then there's CASSIDY. Even though she wasn't honest to Ezra all the time, I still think she was a great girl. Everyone has there ways of coping and I'm not one to judge her for keeping a few secrets. But she was very honest about how she FELT! While I was reading about her I just wanted to be there, meet her, give her a hug, and tell her how amazing she is! I will never agree with her final decision though, no matter what her reasons. I'm not going to spoil anything but the end doesn't leave you feeling happy. Don't get me wrong, it's excellent and it definitely has closure, but my heart hurt. 

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING to all Nerd Fighters (John Green fans) and anyone else who loves a great standalone! 

Can't wait to read more books from Robyn Schneidet!!!

NOW GO AND READ THIS BOOK!!!

-Matt

Waiting on Wednesday!

My Waiting on Wednesday pick this week is...

UNBREATHABLE by Hafsah Laziaf! 

This book is amazing! Though I've already read it, I am still SUPER EXCITED for it to be released!!! 

Go add it on Goodreads RIGHT NOW! It hits the shelves October 29th!

Go check out my review for it! You can type UNBREATHABLE in my search bar to the right and it should pop right up!

Happy Wednesday!

-Matt

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan Book Review!

Rating: it is infinite

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Rick Riordan is the most praiseworthy person living on earth! His books have changed my life! Every time I read his books, I feel like I am invincible! Or perhaps able to defeat a few empousai.

Anyways, the terrible, brilliant cliffhanger of The Mark Of Athena left us fans sobbing and DYING for more! Let me tell you, The House of Hades did not disappoint! It was full of heart-wrenching plot, TONS OF ACTION, love, adventure, humor, twists... EVERYTHING! 

This book is a nonstop thrill ride that wouldn't let me out it down! (Thanks, Uncle Rick) 

Demigods, this book will destroy your soul, scatter the remnants, and put it back together with laughter. YOU MUST READ IT ASAP! 

That concludes my somewhat professional review.

***SPOILER WARNING***

OMIGOSH PERCABETH TOGETHER FOREVER! They put me in tears in the late hours of the night! They stuck together and kicked butt! AND THEY MADE IT OUT! *APPLAUDS* My OTP lives!!!

HAZEL. WOW! Her Mist manipulation is BOSS! How she defeated the thief god was just EPIC! So proud of you girl!

FRANK IS PRAETOR. He controlled the legion of undead souls WHAT NOW. He really proved himself!

JASON YOUR DEMIGOD POWERS LEAVE ME IN AWE! Plus, his leadership during this tragic journey was SENSATIONAL! And how you took Nico under your wing...

NICO! You are straight You are straight You are straight

PIPER I BARELY SAW YOU! I needed more...

PERCY JACKSON YOU SHALL ALWAYS BE MY THE MOST RESPECTED DEMIGOD IN MY REALM OF LIFE! (Annabeth too!) You were a true gentleman and hero even in the depths of TARTARUS! YOU'RE AMAZING!

ANNABETH CHASE YOU HAVE MADE OLYMPUS AND DEMIGODS AROUND THE WORLD VERY PROUD! You fought valiantly in the midst of terrible dangers WITHOUT YOUR KNIFE!!! 

SHOUT OUT TO HECATE! Thank you for helping Hazel defeat Clytius! You have gained my respect!

I LOVE YOU UNCLE RICK! I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THIS BOOK! 

I am done with my rant... 

THE END

-Matt