*Review* : Stolen - Lucy Christopher

Quick note - Book shelf video tour will be up Monday/Tuesday!

Review of Stolen by Lucy Christopher 

Released : 4th May 2009

Finished : 28th February 2011

Source :  Chicken House (Thank you Claire!)
Plot : 5/5
Cover : 4/5
Page Turner : 5/5
Characters : 5/5
Ending : 5/5

Overall Rating :

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Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

This book is actually something very different from what l am reading at the moment, most are paranormal or some sort of dystopian so this book had the potential to be a refreshing read for me. Wow it was. It left me speechless.
The thing about this book is, for most of it, Stolen is set in the same place with the same two characters yet never in this book did l get bored of the characters or the story. Never. l was constantly holding out for the next line, the next chapter. Needing to find out what happens, needing to stay in the world alongside Gemma. I could never guess what was going to happen next and if l guessed a tiny bit of it, something bigger would surprise me. 
First off, what makes this so amazing is the emotions. Gemma truly feels like a real person, l bow down to Lucy and how she got the emotion so right! It was how l could imagine myself acting if l found myself in Gemma's situation. Gemma is such a likeable characters, not just a typical teenager but someone  l really felt like l was there alongside her feeling the emotions she was feeling. Feelings which are explained in such a great way by Lucy. 
Ty, the captor is a very unique character, the perfect character for this book. Creepy but not too creepy to be kind of likeable. I have seen a few reviews where people have said they liked him and although it may sound strange if you haven't read this, l liked him too!
Being honest, l can see some people may not enjoy this if the writing style isn't right for them but for me Lucy Christopher is a beautiful writer, she gets across the emotions in this book which are so important with this type of book. I think it shows that the writing is beautiful when you find yourself crying at the end of the book for the characters. 
Overall this is must read for everyone for me. Stolen is one of those rare books which makes you feel like your a different person in the writers world. l seriously don't think any review l write will show you how amazing this book is in every way. This is my favourite book of February and l am sure will be in my top 10 of the year. I will be looking out for more books by Lucy!

The Time Will Come ... (#7)

I actually chose Matched for one of these but ... l am now reading it! Yay

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My new meme - 
Basically every Thursday l am going to list a book which l really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are all books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Or even a book you have had on your shelf for a while but aren't sure about.

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Other 'The Time Will Come' Posts -

#1  #2  #3 #4 #5 #6

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The Dark Divine - Bree Despain
First off, isn't the cover gorgeous? and l love how the second follows on from this cover, they will go so nice together on a shelf!
I have heard such great things about this series that when l seen it in the library l picked it up straight away. l believe it was a very successful library trip as l also got Raised By Wolves and Matched!
Since then (month ago) l haven't read any 3 of them and really need to so l can take them back and let someone else read them!
l always feel really bad when l keep them out forever!
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Join in and let me know what books you have had on your shelf for a long time and if you have read The Dark Divine! 
Make sure  you add yours to the linky

*Review* : Hourglass - Claudia Gray

Review of Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Released : 9th March 2010

Finished : 27th February 2011
Series: #3 Source :  Library
Plot : 5/5
Cover : 3/5
Page Turner : 5/5
Characters : 5/5
Ending : 4.5/5

Overall Rating :

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 The review AND blurb will contain spoilers for the first two in the series

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, the elite group of vampire hunters led by Lucas’s stepfather. When Bianca’s close friend—the vampire Balthazar—is captured by Black Cross, Bianca knows she has to do whatever it takes to save him. But at what cost?
Hourglass, the third book in this gripping vampire series by the author of the New York Times bestseller Stargazer, has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s books runaway successes.

How this series manages to get better with every book l do not know but it does!

This book carries on nicely from the second one and although l'm sure you could skip to the 3rd one, as it explains what has happened previously, l have really loved getting to know these characters and really loved the previous two. 
The book actually jumps into action really quick and l weren't that far in when you found yourself totally engrossed in the book and many scenes where your heart is racing while trying to read faster, it really is one of those sort of books! I did find Evernight (#1) kind of slow paced and if that has put you off this series then think twice because Stargazer and Hourglass are anything BUT slow paced! Something is constantly happening and when a certain situation seems to be resolved in one way or another something else is quickly brought up. I find it hard to see how any person could get bored reading this book.
Bianca and Lucas relationship is explored more in this book, in Stargazer they are apart so much in the book it's hard to get to know them as a couple more. l found this book really made up for that.

The ending l'm not sure about, it took a HUGE twist which l did not expect and l am still kind of deciding on my opinion on this. It changes everything in this book which the readers have known about the characters and sort of creates a whole new storyline. I think it was kind of a risk, for some people l can see it maybe ruining the series but with others it will make for a VERY interesting 4th book. I will definitely be reading it to find out what happens. 
Overall this book will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through and then wanting more when you have finished it! Gray has lots of surprises in store for readers in this book and brings lots of fresh new ideas into Hourglass!

February 2011

Read Books

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Haven - Kristi Cook

XVI - Julia Karr

Memento Nora - Angie Smibert

Stargazer - Claudia Gray

Low Red Moon - Ivy Devlin

Cryer's Cross - Lisa McMann

Darkness Becomes Her - Kelly Keaton

The Emperor's Edge - Lindsay Buroker

Fauxmance - Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Hourglass - Claudia Gray (Review to come)

Stolen - Lucy Christopher (Review to come)

Stats
My Aim : 10 Books

Total number of read books : 11

Average : A book every 2 and half days

Comments

I loved this month, it was probably even a better month for books than last, so many fantastic books. Also read more than my aim of 10 a month which is great! Helping me catch up because l only read 7 last month. 

Favourite book and cover (Of Feb)

This is a cover l have come to love! I have to admit  not many covers of books l read this month stuck out to me but  l do like this one. I think it's simple and pretty and l like how it relates to the story and also shows it's aimed at younger audience. 

Paperback or Hardback? (#10)

Previous posts l did of this is here - #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9
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Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen

Paperback 1

Paperback 2 <3 <<

These are both paperbacks but l thought they were so different l wanted to include them in this post and compare them.
The first paperback does really well with the title and l love the font and different things on it such as the flowers. 
Paperback 2 has a nice summer feel to it and l would think it's more my sort of book, summer read too =)
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The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E.Pearson

>> Hardback

Paperback <3 << 

I am not sure about either of these covers.
I don't know why l don't love the HB, l usually love covers with butterflies on. Well l guess l must sort of know, maybe it's the colours anfd l don't think the cover is really a clear one, it's hard to read things and the font is in the wrong place (for me!)
The paperback stands out more to me, it's very unique and much more clear, let's of a 'full' cover.
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Just One Wish - Janette Rallison 

>> Hardback

Paperback <3 <<

I am suprised how l usually prefer PB over HB books as l actually prefer to read HB books, get damaged easier etc! Anyway, l like to pick covers like this to see what tiny differences it can make to a cover. I like the tagline in the PB, l think it helps you judge a book without having to read th efirst chapter. You can usually tell from a tagline if it's your sort of think (well l find it with myself!) I like the purple more and how they have used more than one colour too.