Review: Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Rate:

3/5

Goodreads Description:

“I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more. 

Review:

The whole book was just a big massive case of history repeats itself and that wasn't a plot twist I was rooting for in this case. For some it might've been romantic but not me. Maybe its because I just didn't care for the characters which if a person doesn't care for the characters then what is the point, because the shittiest of things could happen and we wouldn't give a flying damn.

Also, I can't stand when a character is stupid stubborn, like a freaking mule, like yeah, we are all a bit stubborn and even more so when it comes to certain topics, we are pretty much blind but not Lina, Lina wasn't blind about things, she was closing her eyes!

But anywho! Let me tell you why I liked it.

I just love when characters travel to cities ive never been to and when an author can give me a sense of adventure as the character itself discovered the place. Its beautiful when authors can make that interesting, its like seeing those places for the first time so many different times, seeing it through different eyes but since I have never been to those places, I can't see if they are wrong or not. 

Recommend it?

Eh... Its a skip.

My Defaced Books

So here you will find all of the designs that I have done for any sort of defaced book, some of these are available for sale on my Etsy right now, or have already been sold. 

Etsy Shop Name: ValesBookshelf

These are just kind of the idea of what I can do and of course, I am always looking to improve my stuff and way of doing things so never hesitate to ask if there is a design that you have seen that you want to check if I am capable of doing. I can always do a basic sketch of things before you commit.

I am also showing some of my fails because you know what, I am not perfect, I have made mistakes.

Some of these designs aren't available for sale because they are designs by other people, so they are not available for request UNLESS you show me that you have the artists permission for me to use. Feel free to send other peoples design but I will only use them for INSPIRATION unless you have proof of permission. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses- Sarah J Maas (Glow in the dark Front Cover)

A Court of Thorns and Roses- Sarah J Maas (Front Cover)

Six of Crows- Leigh Bardugo (Inside)

Six of Crows- Leigh Bardugo (Front Cover- Pre-order tattoo design)

Twilight/Life and Death- Stephenie Meyer (Outside)

The Burning World- Isaac Marion (Inside-Painted black)

The Burning World- Isaac Marion (Painted Edges)

Red Queen- Victoria Aveyard 

Red Queen- Victoria Aveyard

A Court of Mist and Fury- Sarah J Maas (Design by Steplace720)

Entwined-Heather Dixon (Back Side)

Entwined- Heather Dixon (Back Cover)

Entwined- Heather Dixon (Front Cover)

Entwined- Heather Dixon (Front Cover)

Entwined- Heather Dixon (Painted Edges)

Entwined- Heather Dixon (Back Insides)

Entwined- Heather Dixon (Front Insides)

Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins (Front Cover)

Eclipse-Stephenie Meyer (Front Cover)

Mockingjay- Suzanna Collins (Front Cover)

Breaking Dawn-Stephenie Meyer (Front Cover)

Divergent Series-Veronica Roth (Edges are now as bright as the red book this is GALAXY STYLE 1)

(GALAXY STYLE 1)

(Galaxy Style 2)

New Moon-Stephenie Meyer (Front Cover- Inspired by multiples)

New Moon-Stephenie Meyer (Back Cover- Inspired by multiples)

Winter-Marissa Meyer (Back Cover)

Winter- Marissa Meyer (Front Cover)

A Court of Thorns and Roses- Sarah J Maas (Back Cover)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- J K Rowling (Front Cover)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- J K Rowling (Front Cover)

A Court of Mist and Fury- Sarah J Maas (Inside pages- Design by Steplace720)

The Burning World- Isaac Marion (Front Cover)

Review: Lost Boys by Christina Henry

Rate:

4/5

Goodreads Description:

From the national bestselling author of Alice comes a familiar story with a dark hook—a tale about Peter Pan and the friend who became his nemesis, a nemesis who may not be the blackhearted villain Peter says he is…

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favorite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.

Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter's idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. Because it’s never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbors are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock—the kinds of playthings that bite.

Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever.

Review:

So I read her previous novel and jesus christ, I had nightmares. Henry writes really dark shit, the stuff of nightmares and it makes you wonder, WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? WHO HURT YOU?!

It sure as shit is unique.

I am not afraid to curse in this review because lets face it, if youre reading this book, language wont offend you.

Peter Pan is such a beloved character, he has a serious fan base. In a way, we all wish we were Peter, we dont wanna grow up. I sure as shit don't. I wanna play all day, I don't wanna work, I wanna stay with friends. Surely his world sounds so perfect. James will show us otherwise. From the beginning, James lets us know he presently has beef with Peter, that things were fine at first, but the more he got to know him, throughout the centuries, the less he liked him. 

This can be blamed on the fact that James has had to do some of the dirty work for Peter over the years, yeah he is his right hand but that doesn't mean life if full of perks. 

The book is not suitable for kids, not in any way shape or form, this is not the Peter Pan our grandparents, parents or WE grew up with. As creative as the book is an entertaining, I hope this is not the Peter Pan ANYONE grows up with.

Recommend it?

Uy.... UY....

no comment. I dont want to be blamed for anything. 

Review: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Rate:

5/5

Goodreads Description:

Bilbo Baggins is a reasonably typical hobbit: fond of sleeping, eating, drinking, parties and presents. However, it is his destiny to travel to the dwarflands in the east, to help slay the dragon Smaug. His quest takes him through enchanted forests, spiders' lairs, and under the Misty Mountains, where he comes across the vile Gollum, and tricks him out of his 'Precious' - a ring that makes its bearer invisible, and wields a terrible power of its own.

J.R.R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition:

"If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) - if you do not already know all about these things - much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period."

"For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to excitement. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rare. They do not like noise." 

Review:

I just LOVE LOTR, and in May when I decided to start reading classics after finishing my yearly goal, I was like I need to read LOTR and The Hobbit. I started with the Hobbit since it IS the prequel ish. 

I went the audiobook route and oh boy. It was so much fun, what a beautiful way to tell the story but in audiobook form, I cant say what version of the audiobook I went because I am not sure but it was adapted from book to radio and it was so entertaining, there were sound effects, music and multiple readers. That is the way to go. 

The story itself is a fun one, I am just as anxious about adventures as Bilbo. I would much rather stay home, eat, read, drink, and stay as far away as possible from any sort of dangers. So I felt just as stressed as he did when he started his journey, not at all like the movie. 

While I love the movies I gotta say that truly, the book is better, because they made 3 movies out of one book, they added a lot of things that just weren't there. But hey, don't we wish they would do that out of some of our favorite series xD Like Harry Potter.

Lord knows we would watch 30 hours or more.

Recommend it?

Yes. Its beautiful.

Review: The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burrough

Rate:

3/5

Goodreads Description:

The adventure continues across two continents as Tarzan travels back to England, where he becomes embroiled in royal intrigue and espionage. Later, returning to his African jungle home, he is proclaimed leader of the Waziri tribe--and told about a fabulous lost city full of treasure ruled by a beautiful priestess. The priestess falls in love with Tarzan, but he cares only for his fiancée, the American beauty Jane Porter--and when she's kidnapped by a dangerous tribe of apelike men, Tarzan must use all his powers as king of the jungle to rescue her. 

Review:

I dont know what it is about the series that I actually enjoy. There is something about the writing that before I would've totally hated, I know it, but now a days, it is simply so freaking interesting that I wish nothing more than to continue on. Tarzan himself would stress me out, why did he have to be so freaking noble at first, which speaks a lot more about his ape mother rasing him than most people in the civilized world. 

Here, we see Tarzan in said civil world and trying to adjust to the rules of the modern world and yet still having the rules of the animal world in his heart and blood. 

With all that being said, this one took me a lot longer to get through than the first book, Edgar Rice sure knew how to set up a world, I mean there is a reason his books are among the most popular and classic of its genre, so I can't quiet place what it was. Maybe it was my disappointment over Jane and Clayton but not really being able to hate either one of them, truly understand what it was where they were coming from, and both of them being genuinely noble. But then again, we hardly see them throughout the beginning of the book. It could be that Tarzan being such a perfectly selfless character was getting to me, cuz that just wasn't realistic to me. Then again, that in itself speaks about the flaw we have as a society, as Tarzan would so boldly state. Will I give up on the series? Not at all, I still have one more book in my collection and I intend to tackle it this year.

Recommend it?

Yup!