Review: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

Title: One Hundred Candles (Past Midnight #2)

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 240

Publisher: Harlequin

Summary from Goodreads:

"It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences."

One Hundred Candles is the second book in the Past Midnight series. Haven't read the first book, Past Midnight? Well then you can check out my review here.

One of my complaints about the first book in this series was that the action wasn't enough. However, One Hundred Candles totally stepped it up in the action department. The spirits are bigger, badder, and meaner! Everything is more intensified from the first novel from Charlotte's relationships and family dynamics to the psycho killer monster that's after her! The book may have started out a little slow and I wasn't sure where Purnhagen was taking it at first but once it got going it was great! There were twists that I just didn't see coming which is always an amazing thing to have in a book.

Charlotte, as a narrator, still didn't do much for me however. I felt compassionate for her and I really did want her to see her succeed but there wasn't any real connection for me just like there wasn't in the first book. All of the characters, while extremely likeable and easy to read about, are just hard to connect to. I just didn't get the feeling that they were real people (which they're not but I still like to think they are).

Overall, even though I didn't connect well with the characters I still found this book to be very enjoyable and entertaining. It seems these books get better as the go so I can't wait to read the next installment in the Past Midnight series.

Review: Past Midnight

Title: Past Midnight (Past Midnight #1)

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages: 216

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

(Received via Harlequin Teen Panel)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.

All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive…."

Upon first reading the back of the book I really did not think I was going to like it. I just assumed that, like most books I've read that are about or contain ghosts, I wouldn't like it. I was very pleasantly surprised though.

The Silver family are your usual paranormal investigators. Instead of trying to contact ghosts they try to debunk them. I really liked this take on ghosts because it allowed for alternate opinions and scenarios to be presented to the reader. Everything wasn't so cut and dry.

The main character Charlotte, while not my favorite narrator, was pretty okay. She was someone who spent her life investigating the paranormal and for once just wanted to be normal. (Quite the opposite of what most books are about now a days!) She quickly made friends with popular Avery and while they're friendship seemed too quick to start and more superficial than Charlotte made it out to be, they were otherwise realistic and quite enjoyable. There really weren't any characters I disliked in this book but none that really jumped out at me either.

One thing I do have to say is, the action wasn't very... well actiony. (Not a word. I am aware of this.) I'm not saying there should have been some kind of epic battle but I never felt that there was any dire need for the characters to do anything until pretty much the end of the book.

Having said all that Past Midnight was an enjoyable, quick read that offers a new look on paranormal.

Review: Clockwork Angel

Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 476

Publisher: McElderry Books

Rating: 5/5

Summary from Goodreads:

"Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."

I was hesitant at first to read Clockwork Angel because I had read the first book in Clare's Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones, and I had not cared for it as much as it seemed everyone else had. The hype surrounding Clare and her books was very off putting to me. However, once I decided to pick up this book I couldn't put it down.

What I really enjoyed was the fact that there was such a twist in the plot. Clare did such a good job keeping everything hidden that I honestly did not know who the real villain was until the end! She set up a whole elaborate plot for the characters to follow when in all actuality they were just chasing a story. You never saw the real bad guys for who they were until the end. Most books you read it is very easy to pick out who the villain is or it is just told you up front. No surprises. But Clare kept the reader thinking and engaged in the story. There was never a dull moment.

Also, Clare did an amazing job mixing the aspects of fantasy such as the clockwork creatures and the supernatural beings with the reality of London in the 1800's. You would have thought Clare had been alive during that time herself she did such a magnificent job weaving the two worlds together.

All in all I found Clockwork Angel to be a surprisingly good read. It was compelling, witty, and action filled. The characters are endearing and the plot takes you for a wild ride that you don't ever want to end.

Review: I Am Number Four

Title: I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

Author: Pittacus Lore

Pages: 440

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: August 3rd, 2010

Rating: 4.5/5

Summary From Goodreads:

"In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.

I AM NEXT."

I was really looking forward to reading I Am Number Four. I had heard many good things about this book and I knew it was being made into a movie so I figured, "Hey how bad could it be?" And, it wasn't bad at all.

There are hardly any alien books so it was cool to read something different. I really enjoyed the story line. John Smith (Number Four) and his guardian Henri, after finding out about the death of Number Three, move to a small town in Ohio called Paradise (I wonder if the author is a fan of Simone Elkeles?). Even though John knows he shouldn't he starts to make a life for himself. He makes friends, meets a girl, and just acts normal. Until his legacies (powers) start showing up. Since he is the next number the Mogadorians (bad guys) are coming to kill him and so he is thrown into the war for both his life and the life of Earth. There were many surprises along the way with his dog and some unexpected allies. Overall, it was very interesting and I'd say it wasn't the usual YA read.

The characters were pretty cool too. My favorite was probably Henri. He was such a nice guy even though his planet and his wife were killed. He always tried to protect John through everything. He devoted his life to saving John and the future of their race. The other characters were also great, they all really complemented each other but none of them stood out to me like Henri. (Except maybe his "dog" Bernie Kosar! :D )

Even though I loved the characters, the plot, and the writing style, there was still something missing. I'm not sure what, but the wow factor just wasn't there for me. It was the kind of book that even though I'm really into while I'm reading it once I put it down I could easily not pick it up for a day or two and not think twice about it.

Overall, it was a fun read that was very enjoyable but not doesn't completely consume you. I really do suggest this book though as I really liked did like it.

Guest Review: What a Girl Wants

To celebrate the fact that my wonderful sister, Mary, finished a book I'm letting her do a guest review! She dictated while my mom typed it up for her. Make sure to show her some love and let her know what you think by leaving her a comment!

Title: What a Girl Wants

Author: Kristin Billerbeck

Pages: 352

Publisher: Westbow Press

Published: April 11th, 2006

Rating: 2.5/5

Summary From Goodreads:

"Ever felt like the last item left on the clearance rack?

As a successful patent attorney, Ashley Stockingdale has all the makings of a perfect catch--the looks, the brains, even a convertible. But at 31, she's beginning to wonder if she's been passed over for good.

Deciding to adopt a new attitude, Ashley suddenly becomes the romantic interest of three men within a matter of days. While her heart enjoys turning the tables on the dating game, the rest of her previously predictable world is being turned upside down. Is it more than Ashley can handle? Or is it exactly what she wants?

Award-wining author Kristin Billerbeck combines comedy with spunk to create a memorable story in What a Girl Wants--an all-too-realistic picture of a single girl's search for being content with who she is...with or without a man."

This is a Christian chick-lit love triangle story about a 30 year old, successful woman trying to find romance. However, the "best" man did not win. One thing I like to do when I read these types of books is put myself in their shoes. That way I become emotionally involved with the characters. Ashley, the main character, has to choose between Seth, a long term friend who she crushed on for years and Kevin, who dated a friend of hers and that she later bumped into and they went out on a date.

I found her love interest, Seth, to be rude, mean and boring. I mean how many times can someone watch "The Matrix"? Even the way the author described Seth made him seem unattractive. Seriously, I'm reading to escape reality here . . . make the guy attractive! Then there was Ashley's other possible love interest, Kevin, who, she herself described as "the perfect gentlemen". He was charming, sweet, attentive, fun, etc. He even went so far as to bail her out of jail (He should be nominated for the "Whatta Guy Award.") I mean all in all Seth was there for her too but in an awkward sort of way . . . In the scenes where Seth is trying to be romantic, he fell waaaay short. I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or his attempt at romance was lame.

In the end Ashley and Seth are at her brother's wedding where he tells her he would like to have a relationship. In front of her family they start hooking up. Tacky... especially for a Christian. Now this is what really gets me. The reason she doesn't pick Kevin is because Kevin is not a practicing Christian. Give a guy a chance . . . Kevin did begin to embrace the faith and started to practice.

On the plus side, this book was a quick, easy read with just enough description to visualize what was happening with out being over bearing. I could easily sit down for a longer period of time with this book. It was a good airport read, which is where I got most of it done.

I hope in the next book of this series Ashley comes to her senses and Kevin gets resurrected.

Review: Matched

Title: Matched (Matched #1)

Author: Ally Condie

Pages: 366

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Published: November 30th, 2010

Rating: 5/5

Summary From Goodreads:

"Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow."

I absolutely loved this book! Condie created a fascinating world controlled by rules and threats. I'm definitely a sucker for utopian/dystopian novels and this one was no exception.

The plot of this novel was great. It started out being the perfect place to live. Safe, happy, healthy. But as the novel progressed Cassia and the reader together learned that behind that polished exterior was a twisted (some might say sick) center. Piece by piece Cassia learns how the officials manipulate every aspect of their lives from birth to death. Cassia's relationships were manipulated in every way by the officials. As she finds out, even when she thought her decisions were her own, really they were the officials carefully calculated decisions coming into action. Cassia learns to hold on to the few secrets she has and at least attempt to show resistance.

The characters were all wonderful. Cassia was stronger that even she knew. Her parents fought for what they loved, their family, in the only ways they knew how. Xander also tried his best to protect the one he loved (Cassia) even when he knew he lost her to Ky. Ky was an interesting character with many secrets of his own. His and Cassia's relationship was built on trust and a need to share their secrets with someone safe. Something her and Xander (no matter how well matched they were) could never have. My favorite character was her grandfather though. All the way up to his pre-planned death he fought for his freedom and right to make his own choices in whatever way he could. He was a strong, smart character who inspired Cassia to be a better person and not allow her freedom to be taken away.

Matched was a beautifully written novel. The characters were enjoyable, the plot was enthralling, and the world Condie created was superb! One of the best books I've read in awhile and I just can not wait to get my hands on the next installment in this series!

Review: Firelight

Title: Firelight (Firelight #1)

Author: Sophie Jordan

Pages: 323

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: September 7th, 2010

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary From Goodreads:

"Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide."

Firelight was an enjoyable, easy read, with a fun concept. The writing, while simple, was superb! The idea of a draki is fascinating and is a great spin on dragons which aren't often seen. I absolutely LOVE the draki world that Jordan created. It was so unique! I wish that more of the story had taken place in Jacinda's home town (village?).

While the idea of draki was unique, the plot really wasn't. First off, there was the whole hunter/hunted relationship. Second, Jacinda was special even among the draki and they wanted her to be queen or whatever. It was just very typical and predictable from the second that Will saved Jacinda's life even though he's a draki hunter because he thought she was too pretty to kill.

For the most part, the characters were enjoyable. With the exception of the main character that is. Jacinda was very whinny and weak. She never really went after what she wanted, all she did was sit around and whine about everything. She let her mother make all the decisions even when she completely disagreed. She never even tried to really talk to her mother about what was happening, which was just frustrating. I did like the struggle for Jacinda to save her draki abilities while her life would probably be easier to let it go. I respect her for that, for continuing that fight. I pretty much liked Will, I don't have much to say about him one way or the other. I thought it was neat that how what they were not only brought them together but is what was sort of keeping them apart. I would have liked to see more of the other draki characters just because they seemed as if they would be interesting.

Over all, Firelight was a light, enjoyable read. Not the best book ever but definitely not bad either. If you're looking for a fun, fast read this book is definitely for you!

Review: Paranormalcy

Title: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1)

Author: Kiersten White

Pages: 335

Publisher: Harper Teen

Published: August 31st, 2010

Rating: 4/5

Summary from Goodreads:

"Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. "

Paranormalcy was quite a good book. I really loved the twist on the way paranormals were viewed. Normally you see one, maybe two types of paranormals and that's it. The main character Evie, a human but not really, wasn't even afraid of them, her job was to find them and tag them so that the International Paranormal Containment Agency knew of their existence and could control them so that no one else would find out about their existence. It was really cool how all of the different types of paranormals were shown. It really stuck to the original make up of the paranormals, vampires were scary, werewolves changed into beasts on the full moon, that kinda stuff. It was the paranormals that we love but better! In addition to the original paranormals there were some cool new hybrids thrown in there which was awesome to see something new!

Character wise I wasn't in love with Evie's character, I couldn't really connect with her in the book but she seemed to have her head on as straight as she could given the circumstances and she wasn't overly obnoxious. The other characters were great however. Reth, a faerie love interest, was exceptionally interesting, you never really knew where he stood until the end. Evie may not have been in love with him but I think I was! Lend was interesting because he started off a mystery but opened up gradually as he began to trust Evie. The best part about him though, he could look like anyone he wanted. He's one of those awesome new paranormals I mentioned!

Overall, it was pretty well written. A nice balance of action and love interest. Definitely a series I'll continue and most certainly a book I'd suggest!

*BTW The front cover is cool but the back is even more awesome!!!

Review: Salvaged

Title: Salvaged

Author: Stefne Miller

Pages: 352

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Published: May 18th, 2010

Rating: 5/5

Summary From Goodreads:

"My body was being torn apart, and my stomach felt as if it exploded. The pain was excruciating, and I was aware that I was dying...

'Mom?' My vision was murky, but I could see her face. It was bloody, and her eyes were large and full of fear.

Her voice calmed. 'Get out of the car, Attie.' Her words sounded crisp and clear.

I looked into the backseat in search of Melody and found her lying covered in blood in a twisted heap on the floor. I turned my attention back to my mother and out of the corner of my eye saw fire.

'Get out, Attie!'

'Mom?'

Everything went dark.

Attie Reed should have died in the wreck that stole the lives of her mother and best friend. But her life was spared. Why? When Attie moves to Oklahoma to stay with the Bennetts for the summer, she hopes she has left her nightmares behind. But her battle is far from over, and Riley Bennett steps forward to help her fight the nighttime monsters. As the battle wears on, Riley begins fighting monsters of his own: his feelings for Attie. And Attie realizes she must begin to face the monsters of the night herself if she wants to conquer them for good. Can Attie's life be Salvaged?"

Oh my goodness! I must say I am absolutely, positively, irrevocably in love with this book! It's the kind of book that you can just read over and over! It was so good I don't even know what to say about it!

The characters were great. The point of view switches back and forth from Attie and Riley which was awesome because you were able to see everything from two points of view. It really allowed the reader to get into their heads and you really got to know them. You were able to see how they hurt and the struggles they faced and the joy and love they had for each other. Attie and Riley both grew and changed throughout the novel and it was great to watch. They, along with their friends and families, were funny, serious, loving, and caring. They were all beautifully written characters that I wish I could meet in real life.

It was really great to read a book where God was a major part of the novel too. I feel that in books these days religion is throw aside, almost taboo to write about. It's very rare to get a book that mentions going to a church let alone has Jesus as a character! Salvaged had strong moral values which I really appreciate and added excellently to the novel. (I know not everyone is into religion but it was extremely tastefully written and I think anyone, no matter what their religious views, will loves this book!)

Salvage was a love story, a family drama, and the typical teen thing all rolled up into one. I definitely suggest this book to anyone looking for a good, powerful read. I don't mean to gush but it was one of the best books I think I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Review: My Soul to Take

Title: My Soul to Take
Author: Rachel Vincent

Pages: 279

Publisher: Harlequin

Published: August 1st 2009

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis From Goodreads:

"She doesn't see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next…"

My Soul to Take was okay as far as books go. The idea of the main character being a bean sidhe (aka banshee) was very refreshing. None of that vampire and werewolf stuff that's become so popular ever since Twilight hit the shelves. (Don't get me wrong, I fully support the vampire/werewolf books! It's just nice to read something different from time to time.) I liked that they really got into the details of bean sidhes because I didn't really know much about them. Like only the females can sing for deaths but the males can direct the souls back into the body. Another cool aspect was the involvement of reapers. There's a very cool reaper hierarchy set up among the reapers. Death is a very organised system, who knew?

Kaylee, the main character, I thought handled her gift very well. She wasn't obnoxious about it and she really wanted to do the right thing. I did find it weird how fast her relationship with Nash developed though. I mean, I realize book relationships happen in a matter of a chapter or two but I felt like theirs developed in a page or two and that they were really only together because of what the both were. I would have liked to get a better feel for their relationship.

As far as the writing, it wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it wasn't horrible either. It kept my attention while I was reading it but I could easily put it down and not come back to it for awhile. I didn't feel the need to keep reading like I normally do. Will I read the rest of the books in the series? Maybe if they're at the library. Would I suggest this book to someone? Maybe, depends on the person. It was certainly and easy read and it was interesting enough, not my first choice but not a bad choice.

Preview Review: Injane

Title: Injane

Author: Douglas K. Pearson

Publiser: Pot-Boilers Publishing

Pages: 198

Summary from Goodreads:

Most people think I'm crazy because I see things they cannot. But if they saw the blood and the torture, or felt an ounce of the pain I feel, they would know I'm not insane. No one believes me and that makes me more alone than I feel. To those who meet me for the first time, I'm Jane; once they hear my one-sided conversations and terrified screams, they refer to me as Injane.

I was lucky enough to get to read the first chapter of this interesting book and I can honestly say it's pretty different than anything I've read before. But in a good way! Jane has a great voice! She's humorous and kind of dark at the same time. The concept is interesting too. Everyone thinks she's crazy because she sees light and dark figures and has conversations with them (these conversations however appear one sided to everyone else who can't see the figures, so yeah it makes sense that they think she's crazy). Jane's gone through twenty foster homes because of this. Her file is even marked "Mature themes. Not intended for young audiences." I'm pretty sure I don't have to say anything else because obviously by that line alone you know it's going to be a pretty awesome book! I personally can not wait to read the rest of this book and I suggest you guys give it a shot too!

You can check out the Injane Facebook page here:

Injane Group

Review: Other

(Can't get any pictures to work at the moment! :( Sorry!)

Title: Other (Other, #1)

Author: Karen Kincy

Publisher: Flux

Pages: 336

Rating: 2.5/5

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

It's been a bit since I read this book so I'm going to make this short and sweet and to the point.

Other was an okay book. It didn't quite live up my expectations. I feel that the characters weren't bad but they weren't extraordinary or memorable. The main character, Gwen struggled with her identity as an Other throughout the book and showed extreme hypocriteness (not a real word but I'm going with it). This did, however, make for an interesting inner struggle to follow as she had to accept who she was and not what other people wanted her to be. Tavian, her partner in crime (not real crime, it's just a saying!), was short. I know, I know, height has nothing do with a character but it just bothered me. It's one thing if he's short and so was she but he was significantly shorter than her! (Sorry I'm 5' 10" and extremely height obsessed so you all can just disregard the last two sentences. I just wanted to put it out there!)

The plot was just alright. I liked the idea of it, but that's probably because I've seen it before. It really wasn't all that original, the idea of someone going around and killing Others because they weren't human. It's just over done. Also, I feel there needed to be more action! She's a SHAPE SHIFTER, there could have been some really cool action scenes I think. The end however, was extremely well written and I really enjoyed it. I was surprised by who the killer was but at the same time I wasn't. It made sense but it wasn't obvious. You get what I'm saying? Hopefully, because I don't know how to say that any better.

The writing was very simple. It's definitely a book that would easily work for the younger part of young adult. I actually found it maybe too simple? But, sometimes simple is nice. It's not a long, hard read. Definitely a book you can relax with!

Overall, the book was simple (not sure if that's good or bad, it's up to the reader), had a kind of unoriginal plot, and only okay characters. It really didn't live up to the expectations I had for it. The end was well written though so I probably will continue the series because I like an author who knows how to end a book!

Not quite as short as I thought this was gonna be! Guess I remembered more than I thought! :)

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1)

Author: Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 276

Rating:

Summary from Goodreads:

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

I have to say this book is definitely a solid four. It was really very good and I definitely want to get the next one in the series.

The characters I found very likable. Belly was pleasant and tried to be independent rather than just let the boys dictate what she did. Jeremiah and Conrad, while extremely different, both were great characters and you couldn't help but love them both, Belly sure did! (Especially Jeremiah!) Susannah has a hidden secret and because of this I find her to be a very strong, brave character.

The plot was also good. There was everything you needed for a good summer read (or any other season when you really just wish it was summer). There was the beach, boys, and parties! But, it wasn't just another shallow book about some girl falling in love. There was a deeper side to the book too, there was more than meets the eye with all of the characters which was really interesting.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending. BUT, it's okay because it's A SERIES! This is always the kind of book I wish was a series but never is, but it is now! Also, the writing, I think was just mediocre. I wasn't bad, definitely not bad, but I found it simple.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to continuing the Summer series!

Double Review: Beautiful Creatures + Beautiful Darkness

Title: Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1)

Authors: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 563

Summary From Goodreads:

"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.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

Title: Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles #2)

Authors: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 512

Release Date: Oct. 12th 2010

Summary From Goodreads:

"Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems."

I decided after reading both of these books that it would be best to review them together because they're so similar (duh, they're a series lol) and because I had the same opinion of both books.

Both books were excellently written although I found them very hard to get into. I found myself struggling to make it through parts of both of the books, especially in the beginnings. But, once the action got going I couldn't put the books down! And, the endings were so great that it didn't even matter what I thought of the first half of the book I needed the next!

I know, I know, I know! A lot of people love this series and it has a remarkable following so you're all probably thinking "HOW COULD YOU SAY YOU STRUGGLED THROUGH ANY PART OF THESE AMAZING BOOKS?!" Really, I think it had to do with the characters. I wrote this paragraph once and deleted it because it came out too bashy and not constructive in any way, shape, or form (not to mention bashing this series should just be a federal crime, it really is excellent). I just wish that the characters were deeper. This is definitely a book that I'd like to see a switch in perspective. I'd even like to see into the bad guys heads so I could get more of a sense for how evil they are. I found myself not liking characters because I didn't feel a connection and understand their emotions enough thus, I wasn't able to get into the majority of the book that was all about the characters.

Toward the end of the books though. Just wow. I couldn't even put the books down once I hit this part. I love the action scenes and the good against evil struggle that takes place both physically and psychologically. The action is just amazing. Very descriptive and it's all very creative. Garcia and Stohl have some awesome imaginations. There's also always some kind of twist or something too in the books that makes it more than meets the eye. Such, with the songs, Lena's eyes, the visions, objects, animals and even the characters. Which is cool to see.

Overall, the books would just each get maybe a three at best with out the endings and I'd say that would be being generous, but the action and the cliffhangerish endings really made the books great so that definitely pushes them each up to a solid four. I would love to get a more indepth look at the characters because I feel, even Ethan who's perspective it's from, is just a bit too shallow.

Rating For Both Books: (Out of 5, Both Books Received the Same Rating of Four)

Review: Glimmerglass

Title: Glimmerglass

Author: Jenna Black

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pages: 294

Rating:(out of 5)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she’s had it with being her mother’s keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go . . ."

I don't know if it's just me but I love faeries, and when I heard this book had faeries in it I immediately had high expectations for it because of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. This book did NOT disappoint! Glimmerglass was beautifully written with a great plot and even better characters! I can't even wait for the next installment of this wonderful series!

Dana was an awesome protagonist! She was strong and intelligent yet caring at the same time! I really like that she didn't just let herself fall for Ethan too! (Well, at first she did but she wised up and didn't let herself be taken advantage of! She kept her head on as straight as anyone could with a hot faerie guy!) She did what was best for her and the ones she loved! Ethan, the aforementioned hot faerie guy, was hot. He was a typical player who ended up falling for one girl! Aww. :) I saw it coming but it's still adorable! :) Ethan and his sister, Kimber (LOVE that name!), had ulterior motives for quite a bit though. :o Oh yes. My favorite character (and the hottest of them all in my opinion, even though he wasn't in the book that much) was definitely Keane! Oh my goodness! He's so awesome, dressing in black, being a faerie rebel and being like an awesome fighter and teaching Dana how to fight! (Have I mentioned I've been obsessed with guys that do martial arts ever since I saw Cam Gigandet in Never Back Down? Great movie, go watch it!) I so hope there's more of him in the next book or I'll be very very sad! :(

The plot was wonderful! There was a lot of great characters and you're never sure of anyone's motive's. Through it all Dana is just questioning why she ever came to Avalon and how she can get out safely. Dana has unusual abilities that every key player in Avalon politics (and some political figures in other worlds) want to take advantage of or see wiped out forever so getting out is going to prove harder than getting in. It was a wonderful story line that had just the right balance of action, romance, and everything else needed to make a great book.

The world in which the story was set is AWESOME! Avalon is such a cool place. It's where faerie world and the human world overlap and it's the only place where both can walk. In this book, faery's can only live in faerie and humans can only live in human world for lack of a better term. This isn't something I've really seen before so I definitely loved the concept! Before everyone could just go where they wanted but faeries and human can't enter each others worlds. With out the help of a faerie walker that is. A faerie walker is a person who is exactly half human and half fey and can not only walk between both worlds but also bring magic/technology and other people with them! Anyway I got off topic. Avalon is so cool! It's a mixture of magic and technology and they are actually able to coexist! I haven't seen that before! Normally technology kills fey, and iron still does, but they are able to live peacefully (enough) side by side which is really cool!

Overall, the plot was great, the characters are likable, and the setting was awesome! I definitely can't wait to read the next installment in the Faerie Walker series!!!

Want more faeries? You can read a short story from Jenna Black that I believes takes place before Glimmerglass about Kimber and her magic HERE!

Review: Perfect Chemistry

Title: Perfect Chemistry

Author: Simone Elkeles

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Pages: 360

Rating:(out of 5)

Summary from Goodreads:

"A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart."

I was very very very excited to read this book because I saw quite a bit of hype about it throughout the blogs I follow! And I have to say, it was just okay. The romance was certainly great, but I would have liked to see more of their life outside of each other and maybe just a bit more plot wise. I think that the gang that Alex was in would have definitely been interesting to hear more about too along with both of their friends and what was going on with them.

For the most part I liked both Brittany and Alex. You got to watch them change and become more confident through the book and you saw their struggles well because of the switching perspective (I love when authors use multiple perspectives). I would like to have seen more with Paco and Isabel (I think that's her name the book isn't here with me right now and I'm way too lazy to get up and get it, please forgive me). It would have been nice to see what was going on with their relationship because it was brought up a few times briefly.

The book was well written in my opinion and you really were able to connect to the characters and plot. I just wished that there was a bit more of both because it's definitely a book I wouldn't mind a lot more and I wouldn't mind to go into greater detail. Elkeles did an amazing job with the switching of the perspective, keeping it even and clear. Sometimes that can get kind of muddy but it worked great!

Overall, this book was great but I just wished it was more detailed!

Review: Beastly

Title: Beastly

Author: Alex Flinn

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 304

Rating:(out of 5)

Summary from Goodreads:

"I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly."

I found Beastly to give an enthralling, modern twist on the well known Beauty and the Beast fairytale. The characters were interesting and the plot was refreshing. No vampires or werewolves! (Not that that is a bad thing at all! I love my vamps and wolves!)

The characters in Beastly, I thought were pretty cool. The main character Kyle Kingsbury, who is transformed into a beast by a magical spell cast upon him, matured so much through out the novel and it was cool to watch. At first it was small things, then it would grow larger and larger. The character of Lindy, who is Kyle's love interest, is a very strong character. She puts up with so much to protect the ones she loves and to succeed in life. The last two characters who I want to mention are Will, who is Kyle's blind tutor, and Zola, his life long maid. These two characters are very interesting. Will is witty and Zola only ever wants the best for Kyle. They are both two very good people.

I really enjoyed to story line. It definitely was based off of the classic Beauty and the Beast scenario but it was so so good! There was just the right amount of action, drama, and a small hint of romance for the story to be great. I found it refreshing that they didn't just fall in love at first sight. I was kind of getting tired of reading about the same old thing, two dumb teens fall in love really fast, fight and break up, and end up together again. This book breaks away from that. The relationship in Beastly is much deeper and doesn't feel the need to too physical too fast. In fact, I could actually say that by the end of the book I would have maybe wanted just a little more out of their relationship. (Although I didn't really.)

The only thing that bothered me, and this is totally just how I felt and many will probably disagree with me, I felt the ending didn't fit quite right. It was a good enough ending but I feel that the writing toward the end was lacking what it had throughout the book. Maybe it was just my depression that such a great book was ending or maybe not. It just didn't sit quite right with me. That's the only complaint I can really make about this book though.

Those little internet chat things. I've heard a lot of people say they didn't like them, but I personally loved them. It was cool to have a few different stories going on in the background of the main one.

Overall, I found Beastly to be an exceptional book aside from the uneasy feeling I got from the ending.

Review: The Last Summer (of You & Me)

Title: The Last Summer (of You & Me)

Author: Ann Brashares

Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover

Release: 6/6/07

Pages: 320

Rating:(out of 5)

Summary from Goodreads:

"From the author of the multimillion-copy, #1 bestselling series The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants comes a heartbreaking first adult novel.

Set on Long Island's Fire Island, The Last Summer (of You and Me) is an enchanting, heartrending page-turner about sisterhood, friendship, love, loss, and growing up. It is the story of a beach community friendship triangle-Riley and Alice, two sisters in their twenties, and Paul, the young man they've grown up with-and what happens one summer when budding love, sexual curiosity, a sudden serious illness, and a deep secret all collide, launching the friends into an adult world from which their summer haven can no longer protect them.

As wise, compelling, and endearing as her Traveling Pantsseries, and as lyrical, thoughtful, and moving as the best literary women's fiction, this novel is sure to win an entire new generation of adult fans."

When I finished this book I found myself trying to decide between two extremes: totally hating it and absolutely loving it. I'm still not sure which side I'm on.

The plot was completely riveting and entrancing yet boring and repetitive at the same time. I absolutely loved the romance aspect of the book! The relationship between Paul and Alice was undeniable and you just knew that they had to be together. I just wished they'd developed the relationship more earlier on in the book rather than have it be all physical. Also, the sadness that is Riley. *Spoiler Alert* Riley's illness and her struggle to be herself and preserve the past was very moving. Unfortunately it wasn't a tear jerker like I had been hoping for but it was still very emotional. *End Spoiler Alert* The book did get extremely repetitive though. It seemed as though Alice's jobs would be described endlessly! I would have rather she spent the time developing the characters and showing how they changed more than describing the store and park in which Alice worked. Also, when they described everyone's worry for Riley and Riley's impatience for the attention, that was also beaten to death. It would have been better if that was more of a side thing and there was more, real plot.

The characters was another love/hate relationship. On one hand I loved Alice and how sweet she was. She was generally a good person and it showed. It did annoy me that she made some stupid decisions regarding school but in the end it ended up working out best for her any way. Paul who is Alice's love interest was also pretty awesome. He had problems and he knew it so it was okay. He was the kind of guy I would definitely fall for! Riley is where the hate comes in. She was just annoying. And she was a word that rhymes with witch and starts with a "B". She purposely kept her sister and Paul apart because she was like jealous? Lame. She couldn't just accept everyone's kindness for her which was annoying. Her mother, who she hated for absolutely no reason, just wanted to be there for her and love her but she was totally rude to her from what I could tell! Speaking of the parents. They were interesting and I wish that Brashares had gone more indepth with their relationship and the same with Paul's mother's life. That would have been really juicy in my opinion!

One more love/hate thing left. Bare with me here. The setting. Fire Island just seems like an amazing place to live! The community they described and homes and towns! It just seemed like such a great place to vacation and if that's how it really is, I really want a home there! After such a great setting like Fire Island, New York seemed pretty lame. Brashares tried to make it magical I think with the park but it just wasn't happening. New York just was kind of blah and it's such a cool place that I feel she could have done better with it.

Overall, everything about this book was split right down the middle. Some was great and some was terrible.