SPOILER ALERT! Review for "Switched" by Amanda Hocking

For a while now people have been suggesting that I read up on author/phenomenon Amanda Hocking. They told me that if I could figure out how she became such a success, that I could do the same things with my books. Amanda Hocking started out as a self published author and popularized her books by getting people to review them and such. I've had my eye on a few of her stories for a while now, and I thought 'even if I don't manage to do things how she did them, that I'd still want to read her books.'
So, when I got my tax refund I spoiled myself with quite a few books, and one of them was "Switched" by Amanda Hocking. Now, those of you who know me, know that I'm always on the go; I'm so busy I don't really have much time to myself, let alone time to read (as it is, I'm writing this blog in the time slot between work and school since I already ate)! This book is roughly three hundred pages, and I still managed to read it in under three days! I couldn't put it down!
WARNING: I MAY GIVE AWAY PARTS OR SCENES OF THIS STORY, SO IF YOU'D RATHER READ IT WITHOUT THE SPOILER STOP NOW! I SHOULD BE POSTING A SIMPLIFIED REVIEW ON GOODREADS AND AMAZON THAT WILL BE SPOILER-FREE AT A LATER TIME!
This book started out fantastic! I was excited right off the bat and I love Amanda's witty writing! There was an immediate action scene where the main character was nearly killed by her own 'mother.' I was hooked...
The book progressed and I felt a longing to find out the outcome of the sparking romance between Wendy and Finn. The story got slow around the middle and I must admit I got a little irritated and a tad bit anxious (but then again, if I was able to read more often and get through the slow parts faster, I might have been satisfied at the pace of the story). I kept reading and I felt really connected to a couple of the characters like Rhys and Tove, and I love the personalities Amanda gave them!
The story didn't end the way I thought it would, and when the action hit, it hit hard! I was expecting it, but also not, and I still found my heart pounding in anticipation. While I'm not used to the way this book read, I'm terribly excited to buy the concluding two in the trilogy! I give this book a four star, and I recommend it to young adults and adults alike.
What do you think? Have you read the story? I'd love to hear your comments! Ta for now!

The Original Unusual: A is for Almost Done with WOH!

The Original Unusual: A is for Almost Done with WOH!: Lately I've been working like crazy on my book "Johnny Darkling," and I've been neglecting The War of Hope... It's so sad in a way because I...

A is for Almost Done with WOH!

Lately I've been working like crazy on my book "Johnny Darkling," and I've been neglecting The War of Hope... It's so sad in a way because I'm so close to finishing it...
However, in truth I haven't been writing much at all in the last few months, so me writing at all was a huge thing! I can't believe I can simply just not do my favorite hobby for such long stretches of time, and yet I lacked the gumption to finish book three.
Johnny Darkling has been in my vault for several years, originally titled "His Name was Johnny," then "I'm in Love with a Wolf." I've only recently been perfecting it, and I got so involved that I outlined the entire novel! It's so ready to be written!
So you see, that has been my dilemma... write Johnny, or finish WOH, then write Johnny? I had to think about it long and hard and I originally thought I could write Johnny really quick and get back to WOH, however, the fans have said "NO! DON'T YOU DARE!" and so on, and so forth... So today I did something I haven't done in quite a while... I worked on WOH!
Crazy, I know!
I wanted to let you all know that I have been working on it today, and it shouldn't be long now until it's done. The downside is that books one and two have been pulled from the shelves because The Heroes of Edenville is being published by Firefly and Wisp, so book three won't be out on the market for a while... Book one should be out in November bytheway...
Again I'll say 'however,' I know that a few of you have been dying for book three, so I'm considering giving out some previews before it's due to be published!
For now, I'll continue to work on it until it's done, and shortly thereafter I should have Johnny Darkling out as well! Of course my other main titles like "Reaper," and "Kiss of the Phoenix," will be soon to follow! Till then, don't forget to tell your friends about my heroes! They would simply love the attention!
G'night!