Review of Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Title: Jennifer Echols
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published by: MTV Books
Pages: 292
Source: Won
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all--the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug--of all people-- suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them?

Romantic teen drama at its finest. 

Who doesn't love the plot of the bad boy falling for the good girl?  Maybe it's the idea of opposites attract or of trying to reform a "lost cause" but I've always been attracted to the idea of a bad boy and Doug is my perfect kind of bad boy. 

The characters is this story seem a bit naive and at times clueless.  Zoey tries to be perfect, but her life is falling apart.  Instead of facing her issues she holds onto her perception of reality which ends up making her life that much more difficult.  As much as I liked the characters, I had trouble relating to them fully.  At times I connected instantly and then something would come up and I started to be unsure of their intentions.  Nothing is really as it seems in this novel including the characters. 

Besides the relationship drama, Zoey and her family were also going through an intense period.  Jennifer Echols didn't shy away from the difficult (and at times awkward) situations that happen too often in real life.  I thought this added a depth to the novel that is often missing in teen romance.  However, with so much happening in Zoey's life, I felt the novel was rushed at times.  Sometimes we seemed to go from one extreme to another without getting the time to process what had just happened.  This did keep the novel moving though, as it was impossible to put down because you just had to know what happened next and what it all means.

This was my first Jennifer Echols novel and definitely won't be my last. 

 

With all the wonderful "bad boy novels" out there, which is your favorite bad boy?

Review of Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

Title: Crusade (Crusade, #1)
Authors: Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié
Published by: Simon Pulse
Pages: 470
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain's Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.

Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.

Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

Do you ever stumble across those books where they start off so uninteresting and you want to put them down, but before you know it you're completely hooked?  That was how Crusade started for me.  I struggled to get through the first couple chapters of this novel, but once I started to get to know the characters and their backgrounds I wanted to know more and fast.  

This story is so much more than just Jenn getting betrayed.  The group of Salamanca hunters is an eclectic group of elite individuals brought together for one cause...to destroy vampires(the blood-thirsty, controlling kind).  They each came to the school to train for their own reasons and have their own vendettas to carry out.  This was the best part about the novel.  I can't begin to explain to you how unique each of these characters are.  I strongly believe each one deserves their own novel so we as readers can share in the complexity of their lives. 

While this book may have started off slow, the plot continues to build and thicken throughout.  The conflict grows intense and is interwoven between each of the characters leading up to an epic battle at the end with an unexpected twist.  The characters and the story made this one definitely worth sticking with, so if you are struggling with Crusade, don't give up...it gets so much better.   

Review of Torrent by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Title: Torrent (River of Time, #3)
Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Published by: David C. Cook
Source: Bought
Format: ebook
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they’ve lived in castles they’ve seen as crumbling ruins, become swept up in historic battles, and fallen in love with handsome knights willing to do anything to keep them alive.

They’ve returned to the present to save their father, just short of his tragic death, and now all four return to the place that holds the girls’ hearts, medieval Italy. But remaining there means facing great risk as the battle for territory wages on and the coming Black Plague looms. Can they convince their parents to stay and leave behind everything they’ve worked so hard to accomplish? And will the girls sacrifice their futures in an uncertain past? Or in facing death head-on, will they discover life as it was always meant to be lived?

I'm sure you've all heard it before and experienced it for yourself, but the end of a series is quite bit bittersweet for me.  I love that most of the endings get tied up all neat and tidy, but at the same time I know I'll miss the characters.  I absolutely loved Waterfall.  It was new and exciting, but for some reason Cascade and Torrent didn't live up to the first novel.  Sure they were fun and exciting, but that spark was missing for me.

Torrent is filled with battles, fights, capture, marriage and death.  It literally has it all.  I felt like we flew from one event to another without much downtime to spend with the characters and really get to know them.  There were a couple new characters that turned out to be real gems.  Lisa Tawn Bergren isn't afraid to introduced new characters throughout the series.  This gives readers soem fresh faces to focus on and even more characters to become attached too.

Another part of the book that was beautifully written was Gabi's struggle with her beliefs.  I felt this was very realistic as she questioned other's beliefs and tried to find her stance on God and religion in general.  I love that Father Tomas was so gentle and never pushed or prodded, only showed Gabi through his actions and beliefs.  He was a kind and gentle soul and I truly wish I could have met him.

I enjoyed this series and I'm happy with the way it ended. 

What other YA series do you love the endings for?  

 

Review of Entwined by Heather Dixon

Title: Entwined
Author: Heather Dixon
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 485
Source: Bought
Format: ebook
Rating: 2.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea.

This must be the week of fairy tales for me.  Somehow, lately I haven't been able to get enough, be it actual fairy tales or the retellings.  Entwined is based off the fairy tale known as "The Shoes Were Danced to Pieces" or better known as "Twelve Dancing Princesses."  This is one fairy tale that I didn't know much about so the story itself wasn't so much a retelling, rather it unfolded this mystical world of wonder.  With not knowing much of the background to this fairy tale, there was more mystery involved then the normal retelling which always lead to something unexpected and intriguing. 

The story was a bit darker than expected, as it was lined with death, deception, and power struggles.  There were some touching moments as well though that kept me intrigued and not overwhelmed by the darkness.  Especially towards the middle with the interactions of the daughters and their papa, the King.  At first their relationship was strained, but I believe he was always looking out for their interests to the best of his ability.   

I did have a hard time connecting with the characters on this one.  They seemed too out of reality and it always felt like I was reading a story instead of living it.  Azalea and her eleven sisters had different personalities, but at the same time all kind of blended together.  I only remembered some of their names and even then it was hard to not only maintain who each princess was, but also the revolving cast of other characters in the story.  The only character that stood out to me was the villain and that is because I despised him.  I had a hard time with how forceful and controlling he was and was horrified every time he hurt Azalea.  I felt like he didn't have a conscious and was a deranged and certifiable crazy.   

Entwined was a intriguing story, but not exactly my type of retelling.  While I like a bit of uncertainty it was just too dark for my idea of a fairy tale. 

Review of Cascade by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Title: Cascade (River of Time #2)
Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Published by: David C. Cook
Pages: 295
Source: Bought
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

Who doesn't love time travel, especially when it involves manly knights and epic battles?

Gabi and Lia are at it again.  Once more they return to Siena, but this time they bring along their mother as well.  I loved how their mom fit in so well.  At first she was a little thrown by traveling back in time, she soon fit in seamlessly.  The characters in this series are always a joy to be around.  They are hopeful and daring.  Well most people from the 21st century would complain about hot water and indoor plumbing these ladies not only suffer in silence but also join in the deathly battles.

Florence and Siena are still battling.  The battles sounds dangerous and deadly, but at the same time them seemed more like a story to me instead of actually being in the middle of battle.  For some reason I had a harder time connecting to this book than I did to Waterfall.  There was lots of action and Gabi and Lia were always in the middle of it, but I never really feared something was going to happen.  There was a definitely separation at times in the book where I felt I was reading a great story instead of actually living in it.    

However, there was a new plot point in this novel that I loved.  There is a new character, Lord Greco, completely caught my attention and I want to know more.  There were some definitely twists in this story that keep you on your toes and your nose glued to the pages.  I look forward to seeing where Gabi and Lia's adventures take them next. 

Review of Vixen by Jillian Larkin

Title: Vixen
Author: Jillian Larkin
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 421
Source: Bought
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.

Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry.

If I could go back in time to any era, I would pick the 1920s.  Ever since I was little I wanted to be a flapper; there is something about the sexiness and the scandal that pulls you in.  Jillian Larkin portrayed this wonderfully in her novel.  She brings you to the past filled with  gangsters, speakeasies, and flappers who captivate your attention in a way where you won't want to come back to the twenty first century. 

Each of these girls bring a new element to the story.  Gloria is the perfect girl who just wants to rebel a little and break out of her strict confines.  Lorraine is jealous and completely out for herself and Clara just wants to escape her past.  All of the character were completely believable and while Gloria and Clara were easy to like, Lorraine is another story.  I have never yet a character was deceitful and vindictive.  Her tone was completely petty and self-entitled.  She was an easy character to pin as "the bad guy." 

Vixen is filled with forbidden romance and surprise love around every corner.  At first it's hard to know who to trust and who not to, but each character shows their true colors soon enough. 

I don't know what has taken me so long to read Vixen, but I can't wait to continue the series.  I hope it's just as fabulous and as scandalous. 

Review of The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Title: The Eleventh Plague
Author: Jeff Hirsch
Published by: Scholastic Paperbacks
Pages: 288
Source: Won
Format: Paperback ARC
Rating: 2.5

Summary from Goodreads:  In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever.

Jeff Hirsch makes a name for himself with his debut novel The Eleventh Plague.  I hadn't heard much about this novel, so for once I felt like I was completely looking at a novel with fresh eyes.  While the premise of this story was entertaining, it wasn't as original and unique as I was hoping.  This seems to be a reoccurring theme and while I do enjoy dystopian novels I want ones that catch my attention or bring something new to the table.  

Stephen is an enjoyable character that is loyal and a bit of a rule breaker.  After coming to Settler's Landing he wants to start over, but he has trouble trusting others and can't seem to go of his past.  Jenny on the other-hand is a fantastic character.  She’s charismatic, spunky and full of life.  She's got an edge to her and you can tell she's completely comfortable with who she is and what she wants.  I'm actually kind of in awe of her and wish I could be as confident as she is.  Jenny's a bit of an outsider too so when she teams up with Stephen trouble is sure to ensue.

The other characters were not very memorable.  I did like Jackson, Derek, and their quibbling along with the rest of the teenage characters was fun.  It was nice to see light-heartedness in this hopeless world.  One thing I did really enjoy about the story was when the teens got together and played baseball.  It seemed such an ordinary thing to do and I loved that they kept up a small amount of normalcy despite the disarrayed world around them.   

As for the writing, I enjoyed the style though it was a bit simplistic.  It was an extremely fast read and when it was over I felt that it was almost too short.  I think there could have been more detail and pages devoted to certain situations and feelings.  I felt that the romance was a little rushed and I wanted to know not only what the characters did, but also how they felt. 

The Eleventh Plague was a bit darker than I was expecting, but not so much that it shifted to horror.  While this book didn't do it for me, I'm interested to see what Jeff Hirsch comes up with next. 

Review of Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

Title: Kiss of Midnight
Author: Lara Adrian
Published by: Dell

Pages: 402
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads: He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

 While some people are over vampires, I still love them.  I think it's amazing that an author can take this classic idea of vampires and change the lore to make it their own.  We have born vampires, blood-made vampires, sparkly vampires, men only vampires, warrior vampires and a personal favorite...hot and sexy vampires.  Maybe I came upon this series too late, but for me something was missing.  I wanted more from Kiss of Midnight and the start of the Midnight Breed series.  

Gabrielle is a character that even after reading the book I don't fully feel like I know.  I never really connected with her.  I loved that she was a photographer and she seems to have a unique ability (or curse depending on how you see it) of her own, but what about who she was as a person?  The one insight into her personality was her reaction to vampires.  she wasn't all accepting at first when she found out about vampires. She was shocked and a bit horrified, but was willing to listen to reason.  I felt her reaction was better than some I've read in literature of instant acceptance and worship.  

Lucan on the other-hand is mysteriously sexy and I want to know more about him.  He was kind of aloof and protective which I feel is why we didn't get to know a lot about him until the end of the story.  However, I did feel that Lucan and Gabrielle made a wonderful couple.  I thought their personalities complimented each other well and I liked how despite the early physical relationship it took them a little bit to realize their feelings for one another.  

The writing in Kiss of Midnight was good.  The action scenes were fast-paced and exciting while the intimate scenes were steamy and sexy.  Even though I didn't connect to the story right away, the ending left me shocked.  I can see how this series could become addicting if all the books end the way Kiss of Midnight did.  

Review of The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Title: The Emerald Talisman
Author: Brenda Pandos
Published by: Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Source: Obtained free from Amazon (12/27/2011)
Format: ebook
Rating: 2.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

The Emerald Talisman started out with so much promise.  In fact, I flew through the first third of the book.  The writing was good, the plot enticing, and the characters quirky and fun.  Then for some reason it changed for me.  It didn't hold my attention or feel like anything that was extra special.  It turned into one of those novels that you feel like you've already read. 

Julia has led a hard life and it just got more crazy.  She did seem caring and used the gift of empathy to help her friends, instead of using it to her advantage.  I'm not sure how much she would call it a gift, but it seemed to help her out at times as much as it was a burden.  I liked Julia, but felt she was a bit obsessive and was annoyingly stubborn at times which put not only herself, but others at risk.  She didn't think very clearly and instead acted on emotions alone.  This is not someone I'd like in my corner when facing blood thirsty stalkers.

The story was good, but not very original and it got a bit weird at the end.  A lot of major events happen at the end without any real explanation.  The conflict of this story did get resolved, but I think Brenda Pandos also used this novel to set up her next in the series by leaving the readers with some major questions. 

While it wasn't my favorite read, I still think I'll check out the next in the series to see if some of those questions get answered. 

Review of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Title: Jessica's Guide Dating on the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt             
Pages: 351
Source: Obtained free (on December 30, 2011) from Amazon
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth--and he's her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess.

But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war--and save Lucius's soul from eternal destruction.

What would be your reaction if you find out not only that someone else is a vampire but you are too? 

It seems lately in YA literature that characters just accept the paranormal like we do colored hair, tattoos or piercings.  It is not a shock to them, more they expect it and accept it.  I find this a little unbelievable (in YA lit...not the colored hair, tattoos and piercings which I all like).  If someone told me they were a vampire I would think they were crazy.  This was my favorite thing about Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.  It takes Jessica a long time and a lot of proof--given multiple times--for her to actually believe that Lucius is a vampire and that she is too.  I think that proves how down to earth and real Jessica is. 

At first Lucius is kind of a jerk and very pretentious.  The one thing I did love about him is that he had a great appreciation for the generously proportioned female form.  He kept telling Jessica that she was beautiful and not overweight.  I loved the way he seemed mesmerized by her curves.  He was a true gentleman in that way.  I think it also showed his true nature when he tried to blend into society for her.  He tried to change himself so the shock and surprise would be easier on her, even though it was harder on him.  That goes a long way in my book! 

The story itself was good, but I was hoping for a little more action, both physical and romantically.  While I do enjoy reading about the situations of everyday life (well at least everyday that involves a vampire) I wish there would have been more nail biting, sitting on the edge of your chair, scenes.  I also felt the ending was a little rushed.  They rest of the book took it's time getting to each point in the novel but the end felt too fast to me.

Overall I enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to see what is in store for Jessica and Lucius in the next novel.   

Review of Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

Title: Jenny Pox
Author: J.L. Bryan
Pages: 216
Source: Free from Amazon (Obtained December 27, 2011)

Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.

Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.

Are you scared of catching the Jenny Pox?  It's similar to the chicken pox, only it's deadly. 

This is one of those books that I easily slipped into.  It was intriguing and held my attention from page one.  Jenny is a complex character; she really wants to be normal but she can't touch anyone for fear of killing them.  So of course, who does she fall for but the town's golden boy and her arch-enemy's boyfriend.  Miraculously while Jenny kills with her touch, Seth can heal with his so he is the only person Jenny can touch.  I really wanted Jenny to be liked and appreciated by others, and I truly liked Seth but I just wish he wasn't the "it" boy.  What is wrong with a cute, slightly geeky guy?  Why can't main characters fall for one of those boys, instead of the star football player? *sorry for the off-subject rant*

I think that as a child Jenny isolated herself and soon everyone else isolated her as well.  I understand that Jenny needed to isolate herself in fear that she'd really hurt someone, but I can see how people would think she was standoffish at first.  I feel someone in the community or school should have reached out to her or at least tried harder to get to know her.  

As for the other characters no one really stood out for me besides, Jenny's arch-enemy, Ashleigh.  While Jenny may kill with her touch, Ashleigh is the deadly one.  She does some really horrible things in Jenny Pox.  I had a really hard time stomaching her character.  She was vicious, cruel, cold and manipulative.  I couldn't believe someone could act the way she did and do such hurtfull things and still be ok with herself at night. 

The ending of this book was explosive.  It was chaotic, crazy, and even days after finishing it I'm still trying to sort it out in my head.  I'm a little confused as to what happened and a little appalled at certain people's actions.  I think I need some time to digest what happened before going on to the book.

Review of Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

Title: Dreaming Anastasia
Author: Joy Preble
Published by: Kindle Edition
Source: Free from Amazon (Obtained February 3, 2011)                  
Format: ebook
Rating:★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.

In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…

I'd heard of the story of Anastasia Romanov before reading this book, but didn't know much about it.  After learning more about the massacre of her family and the rumors of her possible escape, one can not help but get intrigued. 

Joy Preble takes the story of Anastasia and give it some more depth.  Instead of just escaping the massacre Anastasia is actually taken by a witch in thoughts it would save her family from being murdered.  Along with Anastasia's kidnapping a prophecy is discovered that only a decedent of the Romano bloodline can be the one to save Anastasia and set her free.  This twist was really interesting and I think it added not only a fantasy component but also made the story more real by including a common girl who has to save the day. 

I enjoyed Anna as a character.  I thought she was feisty and wasn't quick to believe a stranger.  Even after weird events happened, it still took some convincing for her to believe she was connected to Anastasia.  I thought this part was very believable.  I think most people would have a hard time believing they were suppose to save someone, who has been thought to be dead for 100 years, from a fairy tale witch.  One of the things I did have a hard time with is Anna being able to skip school and gallivanting around town with a boy she had just met.  As protective as her parents sounded, I think she would have been more than grounded.

Well the story was enjoyable, it took awhile for me to get into it.  About midway through the action picked up and I became a little more invested in the story.  There were some plot twists I was expecting and also a couple I wasn't.  I wish I could have connected more with the characters.  They seemed a bit distant and not approachable.  Well I may not have loved the characters I liked their drive and determination to save Anastasia. 

Beware, the ending may take you by surprise.  While I wasn't expecting the ending I did understand it and I'm intrigued to see what will happen next.

Review of Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Title: Five Flavors of Dumb
Author: Antony John
Published by: Dial
Pages: 338
Source: Won in a contest
Format: Hardcover
Rating:

Summary from Goodreads: The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.

The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band's manager and get her share of the profits.

The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she's deaf?

Piper can't hear Dumb's music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb.

Absolutely brilliant.  I loved this story from the first page to the last.  From the unique storyline, to the crazy, messed-up characters this book had all the elements for a great read. 

Piper is almost 100% deaf and somehow through unexpected circumstances, lands the job of managing an amateur rock band.  Piper is a character you instantly like.  She's spunky, a bit moody, and like a lot of teenagers...insecure.  Piper takes on this gig without really knowing much about music.  Not only does she have to understand the industry, but also to really feel what makes music that magical element that it is.

The band itself is made up of some pretty awesome people who will completely change your opinion of them by the end of the novel.  The ones that I originally liked I ended up seriously disliking, and the ones that I didn't care about at the beginning I ended up loving.  Each character in this novel added so much depth.  You know how there is usually one character that doesn't really matter to you or is often forgettable.  This didn't happen for me.  All of the characters made the story what it is. 

The things that really made this story great was how people change and how our opinions of people can change also.  Five Flavors of Dumb threw a lot of stereotypical people at you, but also makes you realize that there may not be stereotypical people after all.  Everyone, no matter who they are, has a little bit of rocker in them, and Antony John lets that shine through in his characters. 

The one aspect I had a bit of trouble with at the beginning is Piper's family.  I felt really bad for Piper and I think she often got the short end of the deal.  Her dad was a complete jerk and her mom just didn't seem to have all her priorities straight.  Throughout the novel I understood their dynamic a little more and by the end things had changed enough that I was happy with how it ended.  In fact, I was more than happy.  The ending was ridiculously awesome! 

I am so happy I gave this book a chance and I hope to read more by this author someday.   

Review of A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Title: A Need So Beautiful
Author: Suzanne Young
Published by: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 267
Source: Traded with Erica from The Book Cellar
Format: ARC
Rating: ★★★

Summary from Goodreads:  We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Is helping others  and spreading love worth being forgotten?

Charlotte seems like your typical teenager, yet she is compelled to do these mysterious acts for people she doesn't even know.  She always imagined herself different and tried to hide her "needs" from everyone, but soon they started taking over her life.  While I feel bad for Charlotte, because being a teenager is hard enough without having to search out strangers and convince them to do something, I also never felt connected to her.  I agree that her situation wouldn't be fun, but I never really felt compassion for her because I never really knew her. 

I felt the same way about the other characters.  While they were interesting, I never felt connected with them either.  Harlin seemed like the perfect boyfriend, but almost a little too understanding.  If my significant other was running off at all times of the night after having an "asthma attack" I would be more than a little suspicious.  I did like Sarah though.  I felt she was a very real character and someone I could connect too.  She's lead a hard life and I felt sorry for her.  I loved her quirkiness and spunk, but think in real life she would get on my nerves after a while.  She was quite needy and I felt like she dominate the friendship.   

While I'm not a huge fan of angels or beings of light, I love the twist that Suzanne Young brings to them.  The story or concept of the book was my favorite thing.  It was fresh and original.  The idea of a person being compelled to help others and add more love to the world is something I think we should all strive for be we supernatural creatures or not.  In fact, I don't think I'd like being a forgotten, but I like what they stand for.

While I may not have connected with the characters, the story was enough to win me other.  It was a fast and enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more from this author. 

Review of Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina LaCour
Published by: Speak/Penguin Group
Pages: 231
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: In the wake of her best friend Ingrid's suicide, Caitlin is left alone, struggling to find hope and answers. When she finds the journal Ingrid left behind for her, she begins a journey of understanding and broadening her horizons that leads her to new friendships and first love. Nina LaCour brings the changing seasons of Caitlin's first year without Ingrid to life with emotion, honesty, and captivating writing.

Heart-wrenching, poignant and captivating.  Hold Still is a novel that starts with heartbreak and guides us along Caitlin's healing process.  While at times this novel was difficult to read, it was also beautiful exploring Caitlin's and Ingrid's relationship and how Caitlin deals with being left behind.  It was such a raw novel and Nina LaCour made you go through the spectrum of emotions never expecting what was going to happen next.  

I can't imagine being Caitlin.  She's lost and confused after Ingrid's suicide.  She really doesn't know who she is as a person without her best friend there.  Soon she discovers Ingrid's journal underneath her bed and page by page she starts to understand more about Ingrid's disease and gains information about a side of her that Caitlin never knew.  By the end of the novel Caitlin turned out to be a thoughtful and very delightful character.

While Caitlin takes over the majority of this novel there were also some wonderful side characters.  Dylan is a spunky, spitfire of a character who is so unique you get a bit excited because she feel like a breath of fresh air.  She seems so cool that I was almost intimidated by her and yet she always seemed to know the right thing to say and do.  And what are YA novels without a little bit of a love interest.  At first I was suspicious of Taylor, but by the end of the novel I felt immense gratitude for him.  He is just a plain wonderful guy.  Dylan and Taylor came into Caitlin's life at the perfect time and seemed to reach out a hand as she was drowning in her grief. 

Nina LaCour wrote a beautiful novel.  Not only do we get to experience each stage of Caitlin's grief, but we also get to see her take back control of her life.  Caitlin meets some new wonderful people and finds out how to keep Ingrid in her heart, while also making room for new people. Hold Still was powerful story that will leave you with a bit more strength and a lot more hope for life.     

Review of Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Title: Hate List
Author: Jennifer Brown
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★

Summary from Goodreads:  Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Hate List is an emotionally stunning novel.  While reading this novel so many emotions and feelings are brought to life and they are never what ones you expect.  The villains are not always the villains, and the good guys are not necessarily angels either.  Once you think you figured someone out, a new piece of information is brought forward that changes your outlook.  It is very true to real life and shows the complexity of human emotions...both good and bad. 

Valerie is broken.  She doesn't understand exactly what happened last spring and even more importantly why it happened.  Valerie is such an interesting character and one who is in a very unique situation.  While she isn't the one who shot anyone, she is the one who started the Hate List and she did love Nick.  As the you learn more about Valerie your opinion of her may change.  Even after reading this novel I'm not quite sure what to think of her or how guilty I believe she is.  At times I wanted to scream at other people that she isn't the one who shot anyone, but on anther page I wanted to tell Valerie that her actions are not completely without fault either.

Hate List is one of those books that really makes you think.  One of the reoccurring questions is who is to blame for all of this.  Of course, Nick is the one pulling the trigger, but what about all the actions that led him to pick up the gun.  What about Valerie and the Hate List?  What about all of the bullies?  This is a difficult issue to discuss because a lot of the bullies died or were injured, but at the same time the bullying was never really discussed with the school.  There were times it was brought up among the student's themselves, but I wonder how much of it was brought up with the faculty and the parents of this school.

There were situations in the novel where Nick was bullied that I was literally in tears.  I felt so much for him during these times that I wanted to reach out to him.  I know that being bullied is not a reason for him to go around shooting people and I'm not justifying his actions, but I understand a little more about where his pain and his anger came from.

Captivating and thought-provoking, Hate List is a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.    

Adult Review of Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Title: Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3)

Author: J.R. Ward

Published by: Penguin Group

Pages: 464

Source: Bought

Format: ebook

Rating: ★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her...

When I asked people what was their favorite Black Dagger Brotherhood novel almost everyone responded that it was Lover Awakened.  For some reason the resident bad boy of the brotherhood was the one that melted everyone's hearts.  Did I end up agreeing with everyone...YES (though I may be kind unqualified to answer this because I've only read three of the books so far).  This novel invoked so many unexpected emotions and had more depth then the usual paranormal romance. 

Zsadist flat out scared me in the other novels.  Don't get me wrong, I found him extremely sexy and hot as hell, but he was one to look at and not touch.  While other novels hinted at his past as a blood slave this novel really told us the down and dirty of what went on.  There is no glossing over the horror in this novel and Zsadist's background is one to make you understand his tough exterior.  If that doesn't melt your heart on Zsadist than the ending will.  Zsadist and Bella's story is one of change and hope.

Bella knew she wanted Zsadist from the minute she saw him.  No matter how much he scared her and mistreated her, she knew there was more behind the hard exterior and scared face.  I really admire her.  She knew what (or should I say who) she wanted and went after it.  She saw something good and pure in Zsadist that not even his brother could find.  She never gave up hope and for that I think she is a saint.

This is one steamy book.  I'm sure I was blushing multiple times while I was reading this book.  J.R. Ward sure knows how to write scenes that will leave you feeling more than a little warm and breathless.  She also knows how to write huge unexpected twists.  There is one part in Lover Awakened that I'm extremely sad and upset about.  I don't want to give too much away, but I felt heartbroken and angry that she overturned a wonderful and pure situation.  I'm sure it will lead to a future story line of importance but at the time it seemed unnecessary.

If Lover Awakened doesn't make you addicted to this series than I don't know what else will. 

Review of 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published by: HarperTeen
Pages: 319
Source: Free from Amazon (obtained 4/12/2011)
Format: ebook
Rating: ★★★

Summary from Goodreads:  When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.

13 Little Blue Envelopes is the perfect vacation read.  While traveling this last week I though this would be a light, fun and fast read.  While I was right, I also learned this book had more depth than I expected.  The story behind these envelopes itself is heartbreaking and while Ginny has a mission with each envelope her adventures teach her more about herself then seeing the world.  Each envelope challenges her and creates a journey she won't soon forget.

First off, I'm very impressed with how well Ginny followed the rules that came along with the 13 envelopes.  I would have cheated.  There is no way that I would have traveled to Europe with no money, credit cards or electronic contact with anyone in the United States.  Also there is no way I would limit myself to just one backpack.  Who am I kidding the last time I went to Europe I had 4 suitcases just for myself.  Ginny is very trusting of her Aunt who sent the envelopes.  She went along with each mission no matter how crazy or unlikely they seemed.

Some of Ginny's actions surprised me throughout the novel.  I would have been more conscious of others and scared out of my mind to be taking this journey alone.  She somehow convinced her conservative parents to let her take this journey.  I feel this part is a little unbelievable for her age.  Maybe if she was 18 or traveling with a friend, but I don't see most parents letting someone go off on this journey with no idea where they were staying or what they had to do.  I definitely had to suspend reality a bit to get over this part, but once I did the story was fun and touching. 

I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel or not.  I enjoyed how the story ended and I felt that both Ginny and I had closure.  Who knows though...

Review of The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 308
Source: Traded with The Book Cellar
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★

Summary from Goodreads:  In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

At first I was a little apprehensive about reading this novel, because I'm just not a Zombie-type person.  I thought there was going to be some human-Zombie love so that is what originally deterred me from reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  I just cannot picture Zombies as sexy so hence my neglect of this novel.  I think I cursed myself with my fear of disliking this book, because I didn't actually enjoy it that much.  It wasn't a bad book by any means, and I really think this was a case of me more than anything.

When I originally started reading this book I thought of M. Night Shyamalan's movie "The Village."  There are great similarities between that movie and this book.  They both lived in these small communities with no knowledge of an outside world and a fear of the surrounding woods that were crawling with creatures.  This concept in itself is a great one and I really enjoyed the setting of the book and the plot.  Carrie Ryan did an amazing job at giving us a picture of a secluded lifestyle and the hope that there is more out there than monsters. 

The major issue I had with the novel was the main character Mary.  I couldn't stand her.  I thought she was self-centered, selfish, whiny, rude and just a not nice person.  I feel like she wouldn't listen to what anyone else had to say, instead she just believed she was right and everything she did therefore was the right thing to do.  She didn't have any respect for others and that was portrayed many times through her actions, especially with her friends.  I understand that she lives in a completely different situation than I do and her actions were probably normal for the setting of the book and how the main character should act, I just wasn't fond of her. *see more evidence it was me and not the book*

I think if the main character was different I would have loved this novel.  It has all the elements to be a great novel and I've read some spectacular reviews for it, so again it points to it being more of a me issue than a bad book issue.  If you've read this novel let me know what you thought of Mary?