Daughter Of Smoke & Bone By: Laini Taylor

Before I begin my review I would first like to say that I won this book from The Ravenous Reader over at Lushbudgetproduction.com, and let me tell you, it may be one of the new editions to my shelf, but it is now one of my most valuable. I was on the edge through out this whole book, and a few times asked myself (Internally of course, because externally I'd just look like a crazy person); "What is she? who is she? What is he to her?" AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I WANNA KNOW!!!!!!!!!!! but alas, the only way to know is to read the book in it's entirety, Miss Laini gives you tid bits, but gives none of the meat away...and me like it that way :)

 Book jacket:
AROUND THE WORLD, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Review:It's been a long time since I've read a story with so many twists and turns, and unpredictable plots unfolding before my eyes. Daughter Of Smoke & Bone was refreshing. It tantalized my curiosities, and set my insides on fire with the love story portrayed within. I like that Miss Laini gave you little hints as to who this girl really was, but even with those hints and clues, you still couldn't have guessed, or the back story for that matter. This world in which Karou lives in, is more questions than answers, and as the reader, you're unfolding these mysteries along with her. Daughter Of Smoke & Bone left me feeling like a fat kid sitting in front of a plate of crumbs begging for more. (I like using food to describe my emotions, because aside from reading, food is my next favorite thing.) I can't wait for the next book in the series to be released...I will probably be first in line at the book store :)

5/5

Red Glove By: Holly Black

Curses And Cons. Magic And The Mob.

     
Book blurb: In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth-he's the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything-or anyone-into something else.
     That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her.  Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's be cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion-working mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.
     When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue-crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too-they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone-least of all, himself?
     Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.


Review: It took me a few months to battle through this book. Not because it wasn't interesting, but I made the major mistake of putting it down to read the Hunger Games Trilogy, HUGE mistake on my behalf. I had to basically let my mind wander a few days with Katniss Everdeen before I was able to give Red Glove the attention it deserved, and let me tell you...it totally deserved it.


Holly Black has outdone herself AGAIN! I was instantly reconnected with my favorite usual suspects, Cassel, Sam, Daneca, Lila, Barron, Shandra, Zacharov and a few new unsavory characters that captivated me just the same as the old one's. 
As soon as I began reading, I remembered exactly where White Cat left off, keeping me in the loop so as not to have to back track. The cons are the same, the stakes are higher, and Cassel is a now senior at Wallingford Prep...but this changes nothing, he is still tormented by what the future holds for him, a life of crime and guilt. Soon after his arrival back to school,  A new student emerges at Wallingford, throwing a huge wrench in Cassel's plan to lay low, and soon after all hell breaks loose. Love, Murder, mayhem, lost memories, nightmares and seduction are just some of the plots that occur during the unfolding of the on going mystery and yet the questions stay the same, who is the murderer? how did they do it? and why? during Cassel's (along with Sam and Daneca) investigation of the mystery murderer, the Zacharov crime family are attempting to recruit Cassel for assassination purposes, while the FBI wants him for their own personal agenda. Either way, Cassel can't catch a break, and he's beginning to realize, that when it rains...it REALLY rains. This story reminds me of The Godfather (if the Corleones could kill you by touching you, or make you forget your life with the brush of a finger tip against your skin.) the betrayals, and victims, and the unraveling of lies, makes Red Glove deliciously wicked. I've never rooted for the villian in a book until now...is it wrong I have a soft spot for Lila's dad? especially when you finally get a small glimpse into his back story. It made me sympathize with him...at least a little bit. 
I don't want to give away too much of the story for those of you who haven't read it yet. I loved it, at times it got steamy, and definitely left me wanting more, no doubt. Can't wait for the next book, ESPECIALLY, with an ending like that :)


4/5

Silence By: Becca Fitzpatrick

I would like to just start by saying, it had been awhile since I read "Crescendo", and upon starting "Silence", I was completely lost and had to refer back to reiterate which characters were which. Once the confusion passed I was back on track with the story of Patch, Nora and the Black Hand...

Review:

Though the story, at times, was very predictable, it didn't stop me from wanting to continue the story. Through out the book you knew who the characters were, even if Nora's memory was too clouded to. I was excited every time she regained a new memory prior to her kidnapping. The once familiar world, now strange and swarming with seedy characters, and mythical beings. Nora has trouble deciphering what it is her kidnappers wanted her to forget, but at the same time with each clue she comes closer to a truth that doesn't feel odd to her at all.  I enjoyed "Silence", the third installment in the "Hush Hush Saga", but I wouldn't go as far as to say it was an excellent read. It kept me involved, but was far from a jaw-dropping, edge-of-your-seat literary confection.

3/5

Review: "White Cat" By Holly Black

Barnes&Noble Synopsis:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got magic, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail—he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to outcon the conmen.

Review:

This isn't your typical cookie-cutter, life is grand, pot of gold at the end of the rainbow type story. I found it dark yet enticing. Cassel is anything but innocent, aside from the small time gambling bets his classmates place with him, and his near fatal sleepwalking experiences, how deep does his darkness really go? Is he a murderer? Is he being worked? And among the several cats that appear out of nowhere, why does the white cat seem so familiar to him?
Aside from the complexity of his character, his family is a whole other situation. With their twisted values, and their loyalties to a crime boss. Figuring out just what their hiding shows to be essential if Cassel wishes to survive through another nightmare. As far as "normal" families go, this family is anything but, and as the story unravels it only gets worse. If you're looking for a love story, I would first like to ask; just what is your idea of love? In this story love is being so head over heels, that you would give your last penny, your last anything to that person, the shirt off your back even, because in your eyes you didn't know why you loved them you just did. And as time goes by the feelings slowly dissipate, but it doesn't occur to you, until it's too late, that anything is wrong. And one day, you'll awake in a haze and realize, that you've been worked.
If that's the kind of book you're looking for, look no further, because Holly Black delivers all that and more.
Magic, mischief, murder and deception are just some of the words that could come even a little close in describing what I just read. Holly Black's "White Cat" was beautifully dark and wonderfully wicked. I'm certain you will enjoy it as much as I did.

4/5

Shadow Hills By Anastasia Hopcus

Barnes&Noble Synopsis:After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA — a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach — the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after — seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.

Review:
Upon reading, I knew from the first three pages that I was going to enjoy the plot. Situations present themselves, and I knew it was going to be a nail biting mystery. Phe is not just some ordinary girl who rolls over and plays dead, she is a force to be reckoned with, and doesn't back down from any challenge. She is in Shadow Hills for a reason, and she's not going to stop turning over rocks until she finds out what that reason is.
Zach's character is interesting, not only because of his secrets, but his familiarity to Phe.
Things began happening, and not knowing who to trust, who's bad or who's good? made this book even more tasty. Once you think you solved it, BAM! just like that people aren't what they seem, and things are only going to get weirder. If you like a mystery with twists and turns, lust and betrayal, Anastasia Hocus's "Shadow Hills" is for you.


4/5

Vampire Academy #5: Spirit Bound

Vampire Academy #5
Spirit Bound


Barnes&Noble Synopsis:

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong… After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.

Review:

I've come to the conclusion that if I continue reading this series, I will end up bald, and nail less. I have never been so enraptured by characters from a book as much as I've been with the one's from Vampire Academy.
In this installment Rose continues kickin' butt and taking names, while involved in an anything but ordinary love triangle. I fell in love with her love interest Adrian. His issues make him real, and obtainable, and his infatuation with rose and pleasing her makes me wish that I could get that from a non-fictional character(lol). Aside from the dapper Adrian, Dimitri is back, and holy crap, that man is relentless, and knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. The plot unfolds pretty early on in the book and is definitely a page turner, and keeps you guessing right down to the end. A word of advice, don't try to predict the end result, you'll never see it coming.
Spirit Bound was a tasty and seductive adventure, it left me thirsty for more!

5/5

Review: Morganville Vampires#8 "Kiss Of Death"

The Morganville Vampires#8 "Kiss Of Death"

By: Rachel Caine

I was anticipating this book immediately after finishing the last book "Fade Out". So you can guess my excitement when I received "Kiss Of Death" as a birthday present from one of my besties Amanda :) Thanks chica!

Barnes & Noble Synopsis:

A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga. Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...

Review:
I don't want to ruin the story for those of you haven't been following the series, so I will try my best not to indulge...too much.

So things are somewhat back to normal in Morganville, well as normal as they'll ever be. Claire and her friends are back to the daily grind, with two exceptions. One, they owe a huge favor to a sinister vamp, (who does not play well with others) that exchanged their lives for the promise that they would grant him freedom from the town. And two Micheal has turned into an overnight sensation, which entails leaving Morganville with certified passes to follow his career to Dallas Texas, so that he may record a demo. Simple right? well what seems to be one thing isn't always so in Morganville. Upon receiving the passes, planning the trip, and meeting their Vampire escort, who isn't much liked by the bunch, Eve, Micheal, Shane and Claire are pumped to see the outside world...that is until they reach Durram, Texas. A town none of them wished they'd ever set eyes on. Rednecks with loaded guns, and overflowing testosterone, A mission for ice cream, and a sheriff who isn't much fond of underage kissing. The trouble starts here, but nothing this group can't handle...or can they? A little motel in the middle of nowhere, chocolate chip cookies and peace and quiet, I actually thought for a moment that all is well that ends well, that is until Eve's car is set on fire, and the group is left completely stranded, silly me. As defeated as this seems, it has no comparison to the next deserted town they eventually get dragged into. The threat it poses isn't like anything they've ever encountered. I held my breath, unable to turn the pages, afraid one of the characters wasn't going to make it to the next. Claire is so intelligent, and damsel in distress she's not. In fact it's her quick thinking that makes her survival, as well as the rest, not impossible. Claire and Micheal's resiliency is put to test, entrusting someone who's never given them reason to otherwise, while Shane and Eve must survive at all costs. I chewed my nails wondering what else could possibly happen, and just when I thought I knew what would happen next, I was turned for a loop and back at square one, wondering if we would survive. (YES I SAID WE! LOL) I must say, along the way I met some very unsavory characters, a well as one's I never wanted to leave. A bad ass grandma with a shot gun, and a librarian who is anything but book worm, this book was friggin AWESOME! The stolen kisses between Shane and Claire, and the few moments of passionate, romantic tenderness between Micheal and Eve made the story even better. Who would have thought someone could make carnage, fiery, dangerous, life threatening, deserted terror romantic? well Rachel Caine kudos to you, and trust that I will be continuing to live in your town of Morganville as long as I can.....survive.

5/5

Review: Hourglass(Evernight Series#3)

Barnes & Noble Synopsis:

Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—hiding is no longer an option.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything . . . but can it survive what's to come?

Review:

Out of the three books in this series, this was by far thee most intense. And though some parts were a little foreseen, the story didn't slow, it only grew more enthralling.

Bianca and Lucas, as in love as they are, seem a little clouded in judgement by thinking they can escape their fates. The real action begins when Mrs. Bethany and her crew pick up on the Black Cross's trail, and someone very close to Bianca betrays her and Lucas, causing a whirlwind of events to follow. I like when they mix the violence and the sexuality. (lol. Forgetting Sarah Marshall reference.) There's stolen kisses, violent attacks, secret rendezvous, unrequited love, rooftop pool conversations, and unexpected alliances. And trust me, that's not even everything. But, the ending was bittersweet, and I found my eyes welling with tears. The thought did cross my mind at one point that it was a possibility, but I was not prepared for this book to end the way it did. Very different from the two before it, in a catergory all of it's own, Hourglass is totally worth the read, but I recommend keeping the tissue nearby.

4/5

Review 2/23/10: Fragile Eternity

Fragile Eternity

By: Melissa Marr

Barnes & Noble Synopsis:

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone—but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her—but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

Review:

After reading Fragile Eternity it gave me the impression that book two; Ink Exchange, was merely a companion novel written to further augment the plot in this book. There were so many characters to follow, but you felt an intimate relationship with them all. Even the one's who weren't so favorable. The writer doesn't give you a false sense of love, and instead provides the reader with real love, one with complications, and barriers, and unconventional partner relationships. Even in this invisible world of faeries, nothing is simple, and there's so much more at stake than a broken heart.

Aislinn tests her abilities, not only as the queen of the Summer court, but also at being able to maintain her relationship with Seth, among the mortals. Her duties are seemingly becoming more and more difficult. Keenan requests her presence more often, and the disputes between the Dark Court and that of the Summer are intensifying. Aislinn is strong willed and stubborn, but also oblivious to truths that are played out right in front of her face. While I was reading this book, there were quite a few times when I had to stop reading because Aislinn's ignorance was pissing me off. Juggling two men, one whom she loves with all her heart, the other, who needs her more than she needs him. Everyone in the Faerie courts know the arrangement between the Summer king and queen, and it's this arrangement that poses serious dangers for everyone involved.

I absolutely fell in Love with Seth upon reading this series, and later, also with Niall. Their unconventional friendship evolves into something greater, and their alliance helps Seth obtain information that will aid him in his quest to be with Aislinn forever, even though it will cost him a great deal. I've already given so much away, and I don't want to ruin it for those of you who have not read this series. So to sum this review up, I was not dissapointed, I was completely enthralled, and I can't wait to continue to follow this series.

Review 2/22/10: Beautiful Creatures

Review: Beautiful Creatures
By: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl





Book Back:

IN A TOWN WITH NO SURPRISES, ONE SECRET COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
Review:

First of all I would just like to point out, after reading the back of the book jacket, who wouldn't be intrigued, and want read this book?
I have to admit I struggled a bit when I first started this book. It's very intimidating upon looking at it, 600 pages is a pretty nice size book. And once I started reading it was a little hard to fall into the story right away. Reading from a character perspective of a young teenage male, with more family issues than the Osbourne's, only not famous, posed a difficulty for me to ease into the story. Once I got passed the first hundred or so pages, this book was nearly impossible to put down, let's just say is was well after 12 O'clock before I even thought of setting it on my night stand.
Ethan is such a strong character in this book, seeming completely average at first, until the story begins to unravel, and you realize there's so much more to him than just some boy from the South, on the basketball team, with a chip on his shoulder. There's a major tragedy that occurred in his life, and though horrible (you find out much later, on why) the writers have made it a positive, and a crucial key to solving this on going mystery. He's so curious, and determined, and it's those character traits that intensify the plot of this story.
This story had so many twist and turns, my head is still spinning and deciphering all at the same time. Lena is not at all what she seems to be, and just when you think you've grasped the truth about her and her unusual family, there's another fork in the road, and your left reeling, thinking "what just happened?" The unspoken words between her and Ethan only make the plot yummier, along with their undeniable attraction between one another.
While digging deeper and deeper into not only the town's, but both of their family's secrets, things begin to heat up, and soon they realize they're in over their heads, and have no choice but to entrust information with a few people. Time is not on their side, and it's a rush to find out what happens next, and obtain the information he needs to save the girl he loves, before it's too late. Aside from the obvious obstacles they have to overcome, it's the new one's that pose an issue. They find the people they most trust, are the one's burying the secret, and possibly the solution, even deeper.
This story grows only more intense the longer you read. Amma; Ethan's seemingly supersticious housekeeper, Macon Ravenwood; Lena's crazy ellusive uncle, along with his somewhat all-knowing dog Boo, and oh! my personal favorite, Lena's super seductive and super persuasive cousin Ridley, if evil had a cover girl, she would be it, cherry lollipop and all.
My expectations were completely exceeded by this book, and I can't recall lately reading a more tantalizing, hope filled, superstitious, tragic, loving, scrumptious, funny, mysterious, heart broken, edge of your seat, heart racing, soul searching, count down, fight to the finish kind of story in a long time. I'm sure you all will thoroughly enjoy it as much as I did.
5/5

Moonlight

By Rachel Hawthorne

Brief Synopsis(Barnes&Noble):
I see him and know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.

kayla is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying—and thrilling—gene that will change her life forever.

lucas is dangerous, gorgeous . . . and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.

Review:

So the last book I read was neither bad, nor good, I felt completely under stimulated by it, and a little disappointed. But after I completed it, I decided to start a series again, and let me tell you, the first book in this series was very cute, well written, and captivating. Though there were not many twists you could not predict, and some parts were very simplistic, those little characteristics did not effect the overall reading material. Never once did I think "Ugh I can't possibly finish this book". I stayed up well passed my bedtime, and was never disappointed by any parts of it whatsoever.

The main character Kayla is completely strong willed, her draw to the forest is a mystery to her, considering what horrible event took place there. Yet she's still enthralled by the beauty of it all, losing herself in the vastness of the territory in which she finds she has always been a part of.
The relationship between her and Lucas is complicated, but very intense, and though Lucas frightens her, she can't deny that he may have something she desires. I honestly did not think their was a surreal depth to their relationship, and despite whatever thoughts I had, the description of the way Lucas stared at her, and the way he felt the need to take "control" of her and the situations surrounding her, made the read that more entertaining.

I don't want to give too much away, but there's a light weight love triangle that comes in to play, and the intentions behind it are wicked and cruel. Ignorance is bliss, but being oblivious can be torture. And I'll leave this review on that note.

4/5

Bones Of Faerie

Brief Synopsis (Barnes&Noble):
The war between humanity and Faerie devastated both sides. Or so 15-year-old Liza has been told. Nothing has been seen or heard from Faerie since, and Liza’s world bears the scars of its encounter with magic. Trees move with sinister intention, and the town Liza calls home is surrounded by a forest that threatens to harm all those who wander into it. Then Liza discovers she has the Faerie ability to see—into the past, into the future—and she has no choice but to flee her town. Liza’s quest will take her into Faerie and back again, and what she finds along the way may be the key to healing both worlds.

Review:
This story was very interesting, to me it was Science Fiction meets Fantasy Fiction. It started off great, very dark, a beginning that made me want to continue. The main character Liza is beaten, and not just physically, but emotionally too, by a father who is dead set in maintaining an order in their village, to keep it safe, not just from what remains of the world from before, but from themselves as well.
The writer sets the stage for adventure, and sorrow, loss, and discovery, but as the story continued it lost me. A journey takes place, Liza and her friend Matthew (whom set out after her upon her departure) venture into the woods at night, where the only goal to reach, is to get as far away from home as possible.
I found it hard to continue reading. As the story began to unfold, the "action sequences" began to dwindle in their intensity. I had to re-read certain parts, because I was unaware that I read past a pivotal point in the story. I was not very impressed by the introduction of characters, though their names stuck with me through out the story, their personalities were not evident. When I reached the last sixty pages of the book, the story picked up it's momentum, and it was hard to put down, I wanted to know the reason for these visions, and how they pertained to the world Liza lived in. Though I found I struggled to finish this book, I found the ending was done quite well, and my only hope was that the writer would have distributed the edge she showed toward the end, throughout the entire book.

Rating: 2/5

Never Cry Werewolf

Brief Synopsis(Barnes&Noble):

Moonlight can totally change your life.

And it all starts so simply.

You. Him.

The moon.

You're toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material-his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy . . . but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good-looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

Review:

The main character in this story seems to have gone through a lot. Losing her mother, gaining a superficial stepmother, her father growing distant from her. As the story trails on I came to the conclusion that the story was good, but the plot was very predictable. So, as I read, I took into consideration that this is a young adult novel, and some young adults may be surprised by the twists and turns this novel has to offer. I mean, a character who is apparently the son of a tabloid magazine owner, who is hell bent on finding out the truth about Austin, may draw younger readers into it. A camp counselor with a big gut and a huge heart, may draw others in, I don't know! I haven't been a young adult in awhile. What I do know, is the writing was good, the read was fast, and it was a very cute book. As for mystifying me....it did not. but I'm sure my twelve year old niece would enjoy it.


3/5

Blood Promise: A Vampire Academy Novel

Brief Synopsis
(Barnes&Noble):

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?




Review:

The story takes place in Russia, Dimitri's homeland, which means new characters come in to play, and all just as interesting as the one's from the previous novels.
Rose has taken the responsibility of hunting Dimitri to keep her promise to him, only to find that Russia isn't as easy to navigate as she had hoped it would be, and the language barrier makes things even more difficult, but Rose's resiliency and her strength to complete the task at hand, forces her to trudge forward with her plans.
Rose's character in past novels has always seemed to be a realist, and at times she was perceived to lack optimism. In this book, not only is she optimistic, but towards the end she becomes naive. It's a Rose we haven't seen, as strong as she may seem at times, she really has tender moments, and moments of weakness. Through out the book there were times when Rose had flash backs of moments spent with Dimitri, moments that weren't written in Shadow Kiss. Though this was very interesting, it did border a little redundant, but luckily it did not slow the story's momentum. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, I finished reading in record time, and was quite satisfied at how it ended. I especially enjoyed the last chapter, and to be more specific the last two pages. Cliff hangers seem to be Rachelle Mead's specialty, and she does them so well. I can't wait to see what the future will hold for our pal Rose, and her friends.


5/5

The Immortals Series Book 1

Brief Synopsis
(Barnes&Noble): For fans of P.C. Cast and Stephenie Meyer, a paranormal young adult novel about a psychic girl who falls in love with an immortal boy.
Review:
Evermore is quite dramatic. Our main character, Ever, endures a huge tragedy, that not only forces her to relocate and rebuild her life in a completely different environment, but she realizes soon after that she has gained a special gift that allows her to hear the thoughts of others. Though we all imagine at one point or another we could read minds, in Ever's situation it is quite painful, and she wants nothing to do with it. In the tradition of good YA (Young Adult)books, a mysterious young man comes into town, and is drawn to Ever. Though at first sight she is not comfortable with his staring, and the strange way he seems to transport, so as to always be one step ahead of her. He is strangely familiar, and so the puzzle begins. Who is Damien? and Why does Ever have a feeling that knowing him is an understatement? This story is never what you imagine it to be. I had so many thoughts running through my head as to what secret Damien was hiding, and not once was I right. I was totally surprised in the end, and with young adult novels I can usually see what's going to happen next. The twists the writer adds makes it almost impossible to put down. The relationship between Ever and her friends is carefree and normal, as far as they know, but aside from them your attention can't help but fall on the mysterious connection between Ever and Damien. You crave them more and more as the details and secrets begin to unravel, and just when you think you've figured it out, another twist, and you're wrong again.
I was captured by this book, and it's beautiful cover, that only makes sense once you've read the book. I was completely engrossed by Alyson Noel's writing style and Bought the second book in the series not too long ago. I look forward to the rest of the series.
3/5

The Mortal Instruments

Brief Synopsis
(Barnes&Noble):

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Review:

Cassandra Clare captured me the minute I bent the binding. I was lured into her world of Demons and hunters, vampires, and fairies. A world that exists hidden behind glamors, and the revelation Clary makes when she stumbles into it. Oh to be a part of this world despite what lurks in the dark alleys and smoky clubs. Clary, though naive at times, is full of empathy, and curiosity, and there are no lengths to the dangers she will endure for the truth, and her family. When her fascination becomes familiarity, the book turns to glue and there is no way you can put it down. The characters she meets along the way are equally enthralling. Their backgrounds carefully mapped out so as to captivate you upon meeting them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well as the two that followed. It satisfied my need for danger, and sorrow, excitement and fear, curiosity and longing. And what will happen next? It keeps you on the edge of your leather recliner wanting more that's for sure.
5/5