Saturday, March 30, 2013

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.

Summary:(from goodreads)  It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor. 
Review: This is the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood and much like its predecessor, I really enjoyed it. I was excited to finally get back into this story and become reaquainted with the characters. The plot was exciting and intense especially the last few chapters. Although, I think this book ended on a good note and the story seemed complete I wish there was going to be more books in this series. I love all these characters so much and I want to know what happenes next. Cas is such an awesome main character. I can't help but love him even if he doesn't always see things clearly. Thomas and Carmel are also great. I liked them even better in this book. I just feel like this series was to short. I can't wait to read more from this author though.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Summary:(from goodreads) Everything about Jessie Gillmansen’s life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, she’s about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accent—he’s a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessie’s small town.
It seems change is the one thing Jessie can’t avoid.

Review: This is the first book in the 13 to Life series and I enjoyed it. It was pretty typical for a paranormal romance but was still able to stay fresh and new. It took a very long time for the paranormal twist to be revealed which I had mixed feelings about. First of all, I just thought it was annoying because as a reader I figured out what this big secret was a long time before the characters did, so I just wanted to get the big reveal over with and move through the various stages of shock. On the other hand, part of me liked the slower pace that this book took. Although there were some suspicious things going on it wasn't entirely focused on the paranormal. Now the rest of the series can delve more in to that aspect of the storyline. I had mixed feelings about the characters as well. I liked Jessie and Pietr, there were a few things that bothered me about them though. First of all, I thought their romance was kind of sudden and the chemistry was not all that believable, especially in the first half of the book, it did get better. Another thing that annoyed me was that Jessie did not seemed near surprised or shocked enough upon finding out the truth. Also, I don't find her forgiveness to be all that realistic. overall, this book was a good read and I will be continuing with this series.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Summary:(from goodreads) Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.
Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love. And then came the fall.
 

Review: I thought this was a pretty cute story. I didn't really have much expectation going into it but overall, I enjoyed it. The plot was well paced even though it was simple and fairly predictable. I thought Dominique and Wes were both really cool characters. Dominique was somewhat typical,but somehow she still had a unique voice and i liked getting to know her better. I also appreciated the fact that Wes was not a typical super hot bad boy/sports star. he seemed like just a regular guy. It made the story so much easier to relate to.  I wish they were a little bit more well rounded instead of constantly being focused on sexual things but it didn't really bother me that much. The one thing I didn't like is how graphic some of the scenes were. I understand what the author was trying to do but for me it was hard to read at some points.  Overall, this was a cute story and I recently discovered that there is a sequel to this book so I am interested to see how that plays out.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Summary:(from goodreads) As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.
Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.
 

Review: This is the second of Jackson Pearce's fairy tale retellings  and I really enjoyed it. This is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel. This story was taken to an entirely different level. The were a few surprising plot twists that kept things very interesting. There was a lot of mystery and intrigue in the plot as Gretchen is trying to discover the truth behind the witch.  I really liked Gretchen. She really changed a lot over the course of the book. She started out scared and timid and then was able to overcome her fear and uncover the truth. I also really liked Samuel. He was super awesome added a lot to the story. Sophia was an interesting character. I don't really undertsand some of the things she did and why she couldn't just move on.   I think anyone who is a fan of fairy tale retelling should give this series a try. I can't wait to continue with the next book.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Miss Me Not by Tiffany King

Summary:(from goodreads) Madison Hanson's past demons have given her a shadow of an existence with little hope. With the sudden tragic death of a fellow student, Madison questions her own life choices, and is now forced to evaluate everything she thought she believed in. When fate intervenes and partners her with Dean Jackson, a popular "all around good guy" from school, Madison gets a glimpse of a life that is filled with sunshine that has the power to break through the darkness she has cloaked herself in.
With Dean's help, Madison discovers a desire to finally step out of the shadows, and embrace life and all its gifts.
 
Review: I didn't really have to much of an expectation for this book when I started but I actually enjoyed it. I thought the plot was well paced and interesting. As far dealing with the subject of suicide I thought this book was ok. Most of the book was focused on the aftermath and how it affected Madison's life. I thought Madison and Dean were both really great characters. Although, I did get fed up with Madison's attitude after a while. For a large part of the book she was so unwilling to let anyone in. This might sound bad based on the way she acted i found her story to be slightly anti climatic. The way her parents acted was really annoying as well. Her mom especially had no reason to act the way she did. Overall, i thought this book was just ok.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Summary:(from goodreads)  When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon. 

Review: I have been a fan of Gayle Forman's writing for a while so I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this one. I thought it definitely lived up to the hype, although it was different than I expected. This book was more focused on the journey of self discovery that takes place over the course of the year. The romance even though it plays a very important role, is definitely not the focus.
Allyson was such an awesome character. I loved the way she had changed by the end of the book. The message in this book about discovering yourself and living life to the fullest was one of the things that made it really special. Willem was alsoe a really great character and I am looking forward to getting to know him better in the nest book, which is told from his perpective. All of the people Allyson meets on her journey play a part in helping her overcome her fears and follow her dreams. I really enjoyed this book and anyone who wants a sweet, exciting and awesome contemporary book should pick this one up.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Summary:(from goodreads) When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.
Review: I really liked this book. One of the things that surprised me about it was how short it was. But after reading it, I can say it didn't need to be any longer. This is a very character driven story and plot moves along at a comfortable pace even though it is not particularly action packed. The subject matter is not something I haven't read very much about, but I feel like it was realistic and well written. Travis and Harper were both such awesome characters. I think they were both easy to relate to in certain ways. Although, this was a short book i still fell like there was a good amount of character development. The one thing I didn't like was the plot line involving Paige. I just thought she was annoying and it could have been done better. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am interested to read other books by this author.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Summary:(from goodreads) When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be. 
Review: I thought this book was a cute, lighthearted read. The plot was pretty predictable but I did think it still made for an enjoyable story. I liked Katrina as a main character. Even though she did some things that kind of annoyed me, I thought the way she handled the situation was realistic and turned out to be a strong character. I was annoyed about the way she acted about Vincent. At first I understood where she was coming from, but after a while it just got annoying. Malcolm was a really fun character as well. I liked getting to know him throughout the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fun and lighthearted book with a bit of romance thrown in.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Prodigy by Marie Lu

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series

Summary:(from goodreads) June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?
Review: This is the second book in the Legend trilogy and I really liked it. The plot was pretty fast paced and there was a good amount of action taking place. There were a few parts where I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation and suspense. I also appreciated that there was a more background information given about the past and how and why this society was formed.  There were also a few plot twists that surprised me. Although, the way things ended wasn't really a cliffhanger, it was shocking and I already can't wait for the third and final book in this trilogy. I absolutely love Day and June in this book. I think they both go through a lot of development in this book as they come to realize the truth of their situation. Overall, this was a great continuation of this series.