Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 "Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it."

Summery:  In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all. One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs and determines your loyalties ... forever.


I have just fallen in love with this series. It has taken me ages to actually read Divergent. I even suggested it to people saying it was a good book. I tried a couple of times but I just couldn't get into it, but with the movie being made I was determined to read it and have fell in love.

It was similar to 'The Hunger Games' or 'Uglies' with the factions/districts and such. But was very different as well, and you couldn't compare the two books.
I thought that the book was well written (so kudos to Veronica) and I enjoyed the plot as well :D.

I really liked Tris (Beatrice), she isn't like your typical damsel in distress like what you get in majority of books these days. I also loved Four, and I enjoyed finding out why he is called Four as well.

I would of liked to be able to have more of an explanation about the history and how the factions and things all started out.

I thought it was pretty cool that they had to do a test to see what faction they would best belong to, but they still got to choose which one they actually wanted to go to.

 Dauntless seems like it would be the hardest to get into, jumping out of trains, off of buildings. We only hear what you have to do to get into one or two of the other factions so unsure. 

I was shocked about the ending, i didn't realise it was actually finished at first. I am so glad I've read it with the second book being out already or I may of went crazy waiting for it.

Tris has this whole internal battle of what is wrong and what is the right thing to do, she stands up for her friends but she wont stand up for herself against them. She is a character that is easy to relate to.

I would recommend this book to everyone, who is into dystopian books. 

 
Also if you want to know which faction you belong to, try this Facebook app.

Video Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

I will doing some written reviews, but for now, here is my video review of Daphne Du Maurier's classic 'Rebecca'. It's one of my favourite novels of all time so I really recommend that you give it a whirl!

- Zoe -

Review: Rizzoli & Isles, 4x10, 'Built For Speed'

Rizzoli & Isles
Season 4, Episode 10
'Bulit For Speed'
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Quick Summary: When a late-night amateur drag race turns deadly, the squad works quickly to solve what turns out to be a particularly dangerous case. As evidence unfolds, Jane suspects that the motive for murder may have been an attempt to conceal drug trafficking. However, when she turns to Lt. Martinez for help he seems to be thwarting her investigation.

Review: Okay, at the beginning I need to say that I cannot, nor I will even try to be impartial when it comes to this particular show, but I swear I will try to do this review justice.

It's hard to say that this episode was disappointing although it was far from perfect.

From valid sources we know that the writers of the show are trying to create a relationship between Maura and Jane's younger brother – Frankie. We can see a first poor attempt at the beginning of the episode, when medical examiner makes a blunt comment about man's choice of clothing. Good one here, writers, I can give that to you. But seeing the dynamics – or rather the lack of it - between Maura and Frankie since the first season, everyone can just safely assume that this is not going to happen. And if it does, 8.5 million viewers will just shake their heads at the same time.

Crime scene involves a burned victim, Giovanni - who thankfully happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and also... another potential boyfriend for our lovely doctor.

BT is quite good looking man, I admit. And he's smart too, a fact that doesn't go unnoticed by Maura. Here we go again, Tamaro. Fool us once, shame on us, fool us twice? Seriously? And that poor choice of BT's words to show how amazed he is with blond pathologist. Didn't we hear the exact same words falling from Jane's mouth last season? Well, at least you try.

We also hear Jane mentioning Casey for about three seconds. Just enough to remind us how straight our girls are. Good job!

Although this episode was filled with few flaws here and there, I am never disappointed with humorous part of the show. There are a lot of scenes where you can laugh out loud or simply smile with endearment. All brought to you by extremely talented Harmon and Alexander.

Well, you can see this has clearly been a review of a sad Rizzles shipper, but putting my feelings aside for a second: few mistakes are for sure not enough to skip this episode (or any other for that matter). It is easy to watch and definitely leaves you waiting impenitently for another one. Handful of great actors and pinch of humor is everything you need on Tuesday evening.  

Review: Criminal Minds 8x23, 'Brothers Hotchner'.

Criminal Minds

Season 8, Episode 23

'Brothers Hotchner'

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Brief Summary: When a number of ecstasy overdoses in Manhattan show a pattern, the team travels to the city for the profile. Hotchner is surprised, however, when the investigation reveals his long estranged brother is somehow involved.

Review: I liked it but I didn't love it, who the unsub was kind of ruined it for me. I always enjoy finding out about the teams backgrounds and family as such. I had forgotten that Hotchner had a brother, the storyline for them was done well. I would of liked to have more brotherly scenes with them together but I understand why there were not as many (fingers crossed for it in a later season) I found the case quite an interesting and clever one.

So we have the episode starting off with Sean (Hotchners Brother) calling up his brother because he was in the room when a girl died of a 'seems to be' drug overdose, but she wasn't the first one and seems to be not the last one either. The unsub was using PMMA also known as 'Doctor Death' on the streets (sounds like such a nice drug doesn't it ..not) and it all kept leadin back to the bar where sean worked. It found out that his bosses (Jim and Thane) are involved, but of course nothing is ever that simple.

I was kind of disappointed that the unsub had been a father whose daughter had died from a suspected drug overdose at one of Jims's other clubs. I was hoping for something a tad more dramatic and not typical unsub. It was pretty awesome how Reid was the one to take him down by knocking him over using a bag haha (It was pretty badass for Reid).

The episode ended with a little tease for the finale, as Garcia was closing everything all her screens were taken over with photos of the team and te word 'ZUGZWANG' repeatedly, this happens just before the replicator made his move and entered Strauss' hotel room and stood over her while she slept (kinda creepy ig you ask me). I think they did a good job of setting up the finale with that scene.

Line of the episode would go to Garcia for her doctor who reference with "I found something stranger than a time-traveling police box."

 

Castle Season 5 Bloopers

- s c r e a m s -
Oh and watch the bloopers because FUNNY

Castle Season 6 Promo #2

Can you hear all the fans screaming? Because I can (and I am). Watch the latest promo released by ABC for Castle's sixth season airing September 23rd.

Recap and Review: The Newsroom, 2x07, 'Red Team III'.

The Newsroom
Season 2, Episode 7
'Red Team III'
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The latest episode of The Newsroom was hands down the best episode of the season. Red Team III saw the complete undoing and total trainwreck that was the Operation Genoa story. It came as no surprise to me to see that Jerry's downfall came from the basketball game in the background of the General's interview.

The start of the episode saw the team being interviewed by Rebecca Halliday (don't you just love Marcia Gay Harden?) as we finally began to understand the extent of the 'wrongful termination' suit brought against ACN by Jerry Dantana.

The flashbacks thoughout the episode walk us through the Red team meetings with the objectve of using fresh eyes to find any holes in the Genoa story. It was also supposed to be the first time Will ever heard about the story, except that's not the case when it becomes apparent he heard the story from a 'very reliable source'. You have to wonder though why Will never voiced the story to anyone before it was brought to him during the red team meeting. Also why did no one ever check to see if Will and Charlie's source where the same?

Evidence Rundown

General Stomtonovich: Confessed in an interview that U.S. troops used sarin gas on civililians during Operation Genoa. Except we all know he didn't. Jerry grew some balls to edit the footage in his favour.
Tweets: Neal used his sources to find tweets about Operation Genoa
Eric Sweeney: One of the Genoa informants. During an on air interview with Elliot, he mentions in passing that he along with three of his fellow comrades "suffered traumatic brain injuries". This proposed a HUGE problem for his reliaiity surrounding Genoa as one of the symtoms of his injury was memory loss.
Valenzuela: The dead soldier who apparently never died but did the Genoa interview to back up his good ol' friend Sweeney.The problem with his interview turns out to be the fact that Mac lead him through the interview. He never said any knew information and only recited what Mac had told him happened.
Manifest: That piece of paper Shep gave Charlie that says but doesn't say sarin was on board the plane involved in Genoa... but hey, it turns out Shep's son was an employee at ACN until he was fired and long story short had a drug realapse and died. So this manifest? Yeah, it was fake. Hold it over a light for 20 seconds and the message 'fuck you, Charlie!' emerges in invisible ink. Charlie, duuuude, you got played. I still don't know if I should laugh about it or not.

But the ending. Damn. Jane Fonda stole the whole damn show (and I completely agree, everyone should want to be Daniel Craig). To quote Jeff Daniels: “I told Aaron when he showed us the script to this episode: ‘You wrote a Jane Fonda scene to beat all Jane Fonda scenes.’” Leona Lansing has transformed from the bitch we all loved to hate in season 1 to basically the greatest human on the planet (right behind Sloan Sabbith of course).

Highlights of the Episode

Sloan Sabbith. She's the highlight in every episode. "You wouldn’t survive in jail, Don. I would. I’d thrive.”

When Mac finally caught on to the fact that Genoa was a giant scam my heart literally broke into a thousand pieces. If you didn't want to hug her when she told the team to retract the story you must have a heart of stone

When Leona Lansing takes no shit: “No, I do not accept your resignations! And Jerry Dantana is not going to get ONE FUCKING DOLLAR! I’ve got some kick ass courtroom outfits.”

Promo: 2x08, 'Election Night, Part 1'

Book Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green

Looking For Alaska by John Green

"Francois Rabelais. He was a poet. And his last words were "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.”

If you're constantly browsing Tumblr just like me – something I'm not even a bit ashamed of – there is no way you didn't at least once stumble upon John Green. I did and frankly I've never been more grateful for anything in my life.

'Looking For Alaska' is a story about group of friends – socially awkward Miles 'Pudge' Halter, his roommate Chip 'The Colonel' Martin and mysterious Alaska Young. Three of them trying to do their best in Culver Creek Preparatory High School, filling their free time with smoking cigarettes and seeking a Great Perhaps. And while everyone seems to be doing well, some of the secrets find a way to hunt their owners in a worst way possible. Later on a tragic accident occurs and Pudge along with his friends tires to discover what really happened, not only to bring justice to the victim but to find answers to the questions that should have been answered.

I'm not going to exaggerate if I say that this book is truly magnificent. Green magically happens to capture nature of teenage relationships in a way that no one else can. Author uses his word wisely and before you know it, you're suddenly finishing the book. I like the fact that he doesn't focus entirely on character's love life, but goes dipper. Personally I like book that make you not only mindlessly read but also think. Before finishing this book I came up with at least dozen of endings that could possibly happen and Green still found a way to surprise me with the lack of it. There's something powerful in having a say on how somebody's story will end and Green gives you that power. If you ask me, I find it quite remarkable.

John Green books are definitely that kind of books that you come back to after years of letting dust cover the pages. You enjoy them and every time they leave you craving more. 'Looking For Alaska' for sure will stay in my memory for a long time – if not forever. 

Free Ebook Friday

The Scarlet Dagger by Krystle Jones
Download here

Goodreads Summary
The strength of Sloane’s heart is about to be put to the ultimate test.

After the Eclipse – the night vampires began openly slaughtering human victims – everything changed. Out of fear, the government salvaged what remained of the human population and enclosed them in massive, security-laden cities called White Sectors, while marking the vampire infested territory as Red Sectors.

When seventeen-year-old Sloane McAllister’s twin brother disappears, she seems to be the only one who thinks he isn’t dead, and vows to stop at nothing to find him. Gathering her courage, she braves the Red Sector to search for clues to his whereabouts. By chance, she encounters Aden, a handsome, charismatic vampire with a hidden agenda. He turns Sloane against her will, and whisks her away to his underground city. Enemies quickly become friends as Sloane struggles against her attraction to Aden, and resists her growing loyalties to the creatures that ruined her life. But the vampires themselves are the least of her problems. The city is harboring a devastating secret, one that could change the tide of the war and threaten to destroy everything Sloane has come to believe in.


Insight by Jamie Murray
Download here

Goodreads Summary
Before that fateful summer night, Willow had balanced the insight of emotion, and the vivid images. That night, the figure in her nightmare marked her wrist with a star, giving her father no choice but to tell Willow a family secret that would abruptly change life, as she knew it, forever. Before Willow had time to absorb the shock of her father's secret, her soul mate that had shared every stunning dream with her, found her, and darkness captured her closest friends. In order to save them, she must weave through broken myths and the undeniable power of the Zodiac. In the end, Willow discovers that at the moment of our birth we are all given a divine gift.

Book Review: Creation In Death by J.D. Robb

Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eve has seen this crime scene before: the artfully arranged body of a young brunette, arms spread, palms up, body marked by the signs of prolonged and painful torture. Carved into her torso is the time it took her to die - in hours, minutes, and seconds. And on the third finger of her left hand has been placed a silver ring. Eve is catapulted back to a case nine years earlier, when a man whom the media tagged 'The Groom' put the city on edge with a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days.

Eve and her partner Feeney, her friend and mentor, couldn't stop him before he disappeared, only to resurface in other parts of the world to kill and kill again. But now The Groom seems to have come back to where he started. When it turns out that The Groom's most recent victim was employed by Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him onto the case. A move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made it personal. The corpse was washed in products from a store Roarke owns and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures. With the Groom's monstrous return, Eve is determined to finish him once and for all. Familiar with his methods, she knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. But his sights are set on the biggest challenge of his illustrious career - an abduction that will test his skills and that promises to give him satisfaction as he's never known.

Time is running out on another woman's life and for Eve.

My review

I absolutely loved this book and it instantly become another one of my favourites. Creation in Death is definitely not the best In Death book in the series so far but is defintely hovering around that top spot.

The novel explores Eve and her team hunting down a serial killer whom the media dubbed 'The Groom' - 9 years ago. The killer seems to have resurfaced to finish what he started - painfully torturing women for prolonged periods of time, carving into their torsos the time it took them to die. On the third finger of their left hand is placed a silver ring. This time, however, the killings become a whole hell of a lot more personal with all the victims being employees of Roarke.

'The Groom' case was an extremely good one for bringing out some variety with how characters react and interact with each other - most particularly the strain it caused between Eve and Feeney. I enjoyed the fact that Roarke got a more hands on approach with this case - being involved every step of the way - and got more of a feel of how cops operate during high-profile/intense cases.

The fast pace of the narrative was a very nice additition, helping reflect the speed the killer ets through his victims as well as highlighting the non-stop buzz within the team as the tried to hunt him down. It would have been extremely interesting to see if Robb was abale to incorporate more twists but the plot worked regardless.

I absolutely loved 'The Groom's' last victim, Ariel. She was brilliant in trying to prolong her life and her interaction/connection with Eve was something that made me smile. I'd love to see her in a future novel even if only mentioned in passing.

In the future of the series, I hope we get to see Eve in a little bit more danger, and by that I mean, where Eve is put into a position where Roarke, Feeney, Peadbody etc have to work hard to get her back. Physically make a huge effort. An effort that may last a few days where we get to see the strain it places on everyone involved. I don't want the team to already be legging it towards the place Eve is being help minutes after she's been captured. Other than that, this was a well written book, with another cracking case and more brilliant characterisation.

Book Review: The Marriage of True Minds by Stephen Evans

The Marriage of True Minds by Stephen Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story of a crossed love that is star to every wandering bark.

Together as husband and wife, Nick Ward and Lena Grant ran a successful boutique law firm in Minneapolis, vanquishing all their legal foes side by side. When Nick’s charmingly erratic behavior finally became too much for Lena, the marriage and the partnership ended. But—like C. K. Dexter Haven and Tracy Lord—it seems that Lena and Nick just can’t quite separate.

Lena works out fiercely, keeps her dates with the boring and conventional Preston Winter, and daily battles on against corporate greed. But Nick’s not doing so well.

Still brilliant and devilishly clever, he is now also almost crazy. He is prone to fantasy and the big gesture, and he engages frantically in guerrilla activism for the sake of animals wild and domestic. Nick doesn’t make plans; he has visions. And eventually his antics put him back into Lena’s hands. While she tries to navigate the legal waters into which he’s thrown them, Nick veers out of her wake and into the midst of a strange set of companions, including Oscar, his psychiatric attendant and Action Comics collector; Ralph and Alice Wilson, the rebellious managers of the city animal shelter; and an aging Russian hound named Wolfram.

My review

The Marriage of True Minds may be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Evans sharp ear for dialogue and brilliant characterisation makes this novel an extremely witty and fun read.

The reader is immediately thrust into the magnetic and somewhat dysfucntional relationship between the clever Lena Grant and devishly brilliant/delusional Nick Ward.

Recently divorced, Lena is entrusted with the burden of baby sitting her eccentric ex-husband after he ends up in the psych ward for filling the mayor's pool with ice and live lobsters - making his getaway in a stretch limo. Lena battles the waters of keeping the very blasé Preston Winters happy whilst inevitably keeping Nick out of prison and confronting her feelings once and for all in regards to one extremely 'cracked partnership'.

This minimalist novel cleverly interlaces themes of love, mental health and animal rights into a scintillating narrative where ideals clash with reality.