Masquerade Read Along, week 4

Hello and welcome to the final week of the Masquerade Read Along. This week we are hosted by Veronica over at Mostly Reviews. This week is the last week of questions with winners chosen next week on Cambria's blog. I have to say, I have really enjoyed meeting everyone during this Read Along and look forward to doing many more! Now, onto the questions...

Chapters 24-31

Final discussion questions

1. Heven develops a new “supernatural power”. She remarks that it isn’t that exciting of a power. Is this a power you would like to have, if not what kind of supernatural power would you like to have? I wouldn’t mind being able to see auras and I’m sure there’s a reason Heven has that ability. If I got to choose what supernatural power I had, I would pick telepathy or telekinesis. To be able to read minds or move things with my mind would be awesome!

2. Which character do you think makes the biggest internal change throughout the course of this book?  Is there a situation in your life that you can reflect back on as an experience that changed your life for the better? I think Heven made the biggest internal change throughout the book. She started out a shy, quiet, practically friendless girl who hid from the world because of her scars and ended up a confident young woman without the scars. She literally faced her demons and won. I do have a situation in my life that I look back on as life-changing (a couple, actually). Both were horrible situations that forced me to face who I was at the time and to decide who I would become. I believe I became a better person because of those incidents.

3. Who is your favorite character and why? This is actually the hardest question for me. I feel like I love equally the characters I’m supposed to (Heven, Sam, her grandmother) and despise the ones I’m supposed to (mainly China and the other hellhounds). So I don’t know that I really have a favorite. I’m indifferent about her mom (though her attitude needs a serious adjustment) and I’m suspicious of Logan. I don’t think I can answer this question yet. But I’m definitely rooting for Heven and Sam in the rest of the novels.

4. When the book ends the reader has an idea of what the next book will involve. Do you think the book ended in the appropriate place? Though I felt the book dragged a bit after Heven returned from the dead, I understood that certain things still had to happen. I do feel the book ended appropriately and cannot wait to find out what happens next in Charade.

  

5. Do you have any predictions for the next book in the series, Charade? I get the feeling Logan isn't everything we think he is and I’m afraid to find out he’s not really one of the good guys. I think he will betray Sam and Heven in some way.

6. Did you enjoy participating in this read along?  Will you join in future read alongs? Yes and yes. This is my first read along and I truly enjoyed discussing the book and meeting fellow bloggers/writers to talk about something we all loved. I loved seeing everyone’s opinions on things and having conversations about it. I look forward to my next read along.

Thank you, Cambria and the others for hosting a very fun Read Along. :)

Happy Reading!
EM

Masquerade Read Along, Week 3

Welcome back for another week of the Masquerade Read Along with Cambria Hebert and five fantabulous bloggers! This week's questions are hosted by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings.

Week 3, Chapters 16-24

1. Heven’s mother has definite ideas about Heven and her scars – what they mean – and their relationship is strained. Do you think their relationship can be saved? Unfortunately, no, I don’t think their relationship can be saved. Heven’s mother’s ideas are too strong and her belief in her own ideas are too strong for her to see passed them. I think Heven can/will forgive her mom, but I don’t see their relationship as being close anymore.

2. Sam tells Heven about how he came to be living on his own, how his parents kicked him out after he became what he is. He doesn’t seem angry though, he seems to accept it. Would you be angry? Do you think he should be? I think when Sam was first kicked out, he was angry and hurt by his parents disapproval. But I think now Sam has come to accept it because there is no other way for him to live with it. I think I would be the same way. I would be mad at first, but if there’s no way to change someone’s mind, you just have to accept it and move on. That is what Sam did. So no, I don’t think Sam should be angry; I think his time for anger has passed.

3. During these chapters, Heven and Sam visit the Inbetween and meet Airis (aka The Hope). Were you surprised by this series of events? Do you think a place like the InBetween really exists? Yes, I do think a place like the InBetween does exist, just as I believe angels like Airis do exist. I was very surprised by this turn of events; I never expected Heven to die! And to be transformed, her scars removed and her quest given… a very powerful move story-wise.

4. When Heven’s scars are no longer a part of her and she says “she no longer recognizes herself” – do you think that the absence of her scar will change her once more? No. I think she will remember those scars and the person she used to be. I don’t think being without scars will change her into a different person or worse, the person she used to be Before the accident.

5. Gran is very accepting of Heven and of Sam. Do you think that she understands more – knows more than she lets on about Heven’s life or do you think her love is just unconditional? I think Gran knows a little more than she’s letting on. Whether she knows about The Hope or just that there is more to Heven than anyone knows, I think Gran has some knowledge of it. I also think Gran might know something about what Sam is, but she sees the love between Heven and Sam and can’t condone it. Plus, Gran has always been accepting of Heven, Before and now. It’s obvious her love is unconditional.

Happy Reading!
EM

Masquerade Read Along - week 2

Welcome, everyone, to week 2 of the Masquerade Read Along. I apologize for the lateness of my post to questions for chapters 8-16. I have hardly been home to do anything on the computer! But without further ado, this week's questions and my answers....

1. Sam is admittedly drawn to Heven before they even meet. Why do you think this is? Because I’ve read the entire book, I have two answers to this question. The first, I think it is because of what happens near the end of the book and what Sam and Heven end up meaning to each other. At this point in the book, though, I think it is simply because Heven is so pure and Sam… is not. He’s drawn to her goodness.

2. In an earlier chapter The Hope states that Sam must prove himself. During these chapters Sam does some things – bad things – (covering up murder, fighting, hiding a body, etc.) all to protect Heven and his true identity. Do you think he was right to do these things? I understand why Sam thinks he has to do these things; he’s protecting himself and to protect what was happening between him and Heven. Taking it in that context, yes, I think he did the right thing. That’s not to say I agree with what he did.

3. In chapter twelve Kimber says some things to Heven that make the reader wonder about their friendship. Do you think there is any truth to Kimber’s drunken confessions? If so where do you think Heven and Kimber’s friendship goes from here? I always think there is some truth to a drunken confession. Yes, I think Kimber meant what she said. I think those are things she is always thinking about Heven and, with her tongue loosed by alcohol, they all came spewing out. As for their friendship, I think it will take a lot of work, but I think they can work it out (if Kimber isn’t too self absorbed to apologize to Heven for what she said).

4. Heven is changing, becoming more confident. Do you think that after something like this (her accident and disfigurement) happens to someone that she can ever go back to the person she was before? Do you think she will want to? I think after any life changing event (especially one with physical repercussions), it is impossible to go back to the person you used to. With Heven, she let her scar define who she was after her accident, giving up practically everything from her life Before. But, I think after meeting Sam and the confidence and goodness he brings out in her, I don’t think she would ever want to go back to the person she used to.

5. Towards the end of these set of chapters, Heven finds out Sam’s secret, who he really is. She has a strong reaction. Do you think you would react the same way? Why or why not? I think Heven’s reaction is perfectly normal considering the circumstances. She’s in love with him, ready to confess it to him, and her world turns upside down when she finds out he’s not what she thought he was. She feels betrayed by him. Yes, I would feel the same way and react the same way she did to finding out the truth.

Masquerade Read Along, week 1

Hello, everyone! As you may have heard, I'm participating in this month's Masquerade Read Along. Each Thursday, 5 questions are asked and answered about a certain number of chapters in the book. This week's questions deal with chapters 1-8. If you haven't picked up this book, I highly recommend it. I have read the whole thing and absolutely loved it. :) But a review is not what we're here for today. Here are this week's questions and my answers:

1. If you were disfigured like Heven (by some sort of accident) do you think you would have reacted the same way as her? (loss of self confidence, hiding yourself, etc)  I can answer this with a resounding YES. Because I am introverted by nature (hard to believe, I know), being disfigured the way Heven was would only add to my insecurities and cause me to want to be even more invisible. BUT I would hope to have someone like Sam who would come along and save me.

 2. Do you think that Kimber’s plan for revenge against Cole (for kissing another girl) is a good idea? NO. It was the worst idea ever. Everyone knows getting revenge by doing the same thing your significant other did always backfires in your face, which it did for Kimber. An eye for an eye might be a saying, but it shouldn’t be a way of life.

 3. In the beginning chapters, Heven is very drawn to Sam but won’t admit it due to her own insecurities. Kimber begins to “date” Sam… do you think that Heven should have spoken up? Do think Kimber should have seen Heven’s real feelings? Yes, I think Heven should have spoken up and told Kimber right away that she was interested in Sam first, but I also understand that Heven was too insecure about her own beauty to say anything at all. And really, I don’t think Kimber would have the ability to see that Heven liked Sam unless Heven spoke up about it; Kimber came off as a bit too self-absorbed for me and this instance and her getting upset with Heven when her feelings for Sam became apparent just proves that.

 4. Masquerade is broken in four separate POV’s: Heven, Sam, The Hate and The Hope. Do you think having multiple POV’s adds depth to the story? Why or why not? Yes. I loved having the multiple POV’s and the intrigue of The Hate and The Hope, not knowing what either of those was until later in the story. Having both of those POV’s give a side of the story that Sam and Heven aren’t able to give and gives the reader a look at things that are happening essentially behind the scenes.

 5. A great source of strength for Heven is her grandmother. Who do you think yours is/would be? I’ll admit this was the hardest question to answer. I just don’t think about where my strength comes from, but now I’ve realized the answer is in front of me every day. My kids. As much as I don’t like my job, some days I continue to go just to show them how to persevere and that sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to do. Despite all the heartache my family has gone through, I have to remain strong for them, even when I let them see me cry. For as much as I tell them they can be whatever they want to be, I strive to make my own dreams come true to show them anything is possible. They keep me strong and I love them eternally for it.

My inspiration, Riley and Kody.

Happy Thursday, everyone!
EM

Masquerade Read Along

Hello, everybody! Next month, I am happy to announce I will be taking part in my very first Read Along. As you can see above, I will be reading and answering questions about Masquerade, the debut novel by Cambria Hebert and a novel you definitely don't want to miss! To learn more about the Read Along, check out the original announcement made on March 13 or just click on the button I made in the upper left hand corner of this blog. :)

You have two weeks to enter into the fun. Questions are posted on a weekly basis and answered every Thursday in April, starting April 5.

Hope to see you there!
Happy Reading!
EM