From Goodreads: Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.

She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.

Then she meets Drew Dean, the leader of a local support group for those with terminal diseases. When he mistakes her for a new member, Saylor knows she should correct him. But she can’t bring herself to, not after she’s welcomed into a new circle of friends. Friends who, like Drew, all have illnesses ready to claim their independence or their lives.

For the first time, Saylor finds out what it feels like to be in love, to have friends who genuinely care about her. But secrets have a way of revealing themselves. What will happen when Saylor’s is out?

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I have never met anyone with Munchausen syndrome; I’ve never studied it outside of a one-day Health class discussion, and I’ve certainly never read about it in a novel, so when given the chance, I jumped at it because this is something completely different.  And honestly, I think this is what made the story itself so interesting to me, as Saylor is far from the run-of-the-mill protagonist I see in many novels, and delving deep into her mind and sickness really made me stop and think about the world and the many, many people in it.  For someone who doesn’t suffer from Munchausen, Saylor probably seems a bit crazy, and it’s very easy for those around her to pass judgment on her.  Heck, it’s easy for readers to pass judgment on her, too, and to even dislike her because of her issues, but I found it extremely interesting, refreshing even, to have a main character with such a deep rooted issue like this, stemming from her childhood and her yearning for attention.  It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, and though I don’t condone her behavior or her lies, I get it, and that’s what made the story come together for me.

One of the huge underlying issues that this book addresses is Saylor’s relationship with her mother, the crux from which Saylor’s Munchausens and attitude towards life stem.  Though the main focus deals with Saylor’s whirlwind romance with Drew, the heaviness of the novel really sits on the mother-daughter relationship, which I found to be quite profound and intriguing.   

While I liked the novel overall, I will say that I found many of the situations within the novel itself to be rather unbelievable for me, personally.  For instance, if I were a therapist for someone with Munchausen, the last place I’d try to get them a volunteering job would be a hospital where they could potentially obtain medications and syringes, etc.  That just doesn’t sound smart, especially if all that stops her from going into certain areas is a badge… but hey, I’m not a therapist or a Munchausen specialist, so maybe this is completely normal and feasible.  For me, however, it had me slapping my forehead because it truly sounds like they’re just asking for something bad to happen.

Saylor is a dynamic character whom I truly enjoyed getting to know, even if I’m not necessarily a fan of her choices in life, and I am extremely happy with the ending of the novel because it did seem very realistic.  It wasn’t one of those novels where love heals all things, or peoples’ lies go unpunished.  It was just… perfect.  Three stars.

The publisher has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its publication on June 3, 2013.

From Goodreads: ‘I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.

Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.

If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall. Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.

I have never seen one.’

Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.

But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?
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This is a rather short novella that has a very interesting premise. However, I feel The Island could have been more fleshed out and less choppy had the story been more developed. I do understand the idea of a novella, but in this case, I’d really like to see this piece become a full fledged novel.  Truthfully, I believe this novella has all the workings of a great story, but just needs to flow a bit more and add in more storyline, further developing all the characters, their plights, and the background of the island, slowing down the pacing and giving readers time to digest it all, because, this story is actually quite phenomenal.

In terms of characters, I found them to be a bit too flat for my liking.  Yes, they all undergo a huge change, but I felt like they offered little to no resistance to this huge change that invades their lives, and they instead believe everything they are told without second guessing or much struggle. And, when the story really could have taken a turn and beefed up the plot through the climax, I found that everything resolves itself a bit too neatly. Truthfully, I liked the overall concept and the characters, but I need more substance, and making this a full novel, I believe, would do the trick.

Now, I feel I must also mention the connection to Star Wars, which had me baffled throughout much of the story.  I was initially floored by the introduction of this very well know movie saga, and, truthfully, I groaned a little when I made the connection because I couldn’t fathom where the story was going or how on earth these fictional characters from the movie flowed into this novella.  BUT, it did!  Minkman floored me again with her explanations at the end, which comes on very fast and all at once, shedding a very interesting light on the famous movie saga and how it all comes together for the characters in The Island.  And, for that aspect alone, I think everyone should read it, because it really blew my mind!  Three stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review prior to its release on June 1, 2013.

Make sure you check out the sequel, The Waves, which fleshes out the above story through the eyes of another character–it’s very well done!

From Goodreads: Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl’s curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world’s most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she’s not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what’s left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend’s life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

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I’ve waited a very, very long time for this second installment in the Vampire Born series, and let me tell you, it was worth every minute!  Kace once again grips readers in this tale of love and betrayal, gluing readers to the pages as the plot develops, twists, and turns, leaving the reader wondering just who the enemy within the ranks really is…   

Mirko, Mirko, Mirko.  That boy is so epically swoon worthy and I envy Brooke to the highest degree!  In Descended by Blood, I couldn’t choose between Mirko or Jaren, Brooke’s two love interests, but Enemy Within sealed the deal and, like Brooke, my heart belongs to Mirko, with good reason.  Any guy who is willing to risk his life for mine is a keeper, and any guy who pushes me to the side because he can’t deal with my heritage, well… he has to go.  Kace does a phenomenal job fleshing out Mirko even more in this novel, giving readers more of his background while also playing up the boy rivalry and adding some steamy romance scenes (it’s still tame though).  Mirko melts my heart, and I just want to reach through the pages and bring him into the real world.  We could do with a few dozen men like Mirko walking the earth…

This novel also deals more so with the idea of the Pijawikas, former slaves of the vampire world, and I love how Kace brings in the themes of bigotry, racism, and hypocrisy, teaching very important lessons throughout her phenomenal story.  There are many similarities to the human world and the mistakes we’ve made in our treatment of other humans, and I loved that, while a sensational storyline, it also has its teachable moments.  And, of course, not all is as it seems, and not everyone should be trusted…

The cliffhanger in this novel nearly killer me, just like it did in the first, and I’m hoping and praying that we won’t have to wait another year and a half for the third book to release.  Five amazing stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

To see my review of Descended by Blood, click HERE.

From Goodreads: Jess Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She’s left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. But Jess soon discovers that passion can’t be left behind—neither her own, nor that of the one man who sees who she really is…and whose unexpected presence may breach the peaceful life Jess has painstakingly created for herself.

Devin Castile didn’t expect to meet a young woman who may be the missing puzzle piece to his existence…and who is also the victim of a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. But when Jess’s lies begin to crumble in the face of their undeniable attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life.
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I picked up this novel because it’s written by one of my favorite authors, Tamara Rose Blodgett (pen name Marata Eros).  Though I really try to shy away from most novels that I know deal with content of a more sexual nature, it’s somewhat impossible for me to pass up a book written by a favorite author, and so I purchased a copy and sat down to read.  And, once again, I’m very glad I did. Yes, there are some intense sexual encounters in this novel, and sexual tension abounds throughout, however, Blodgett walks a very fine line, staying just this side of too explicit, for which I am eternally grateful (I’m a bit of a prude, as you know).

Truthfully, though, I was worried I wasn’t going to like this novel as I found that the men in it, all of them, it seems, are demanding.  Most also seem to relish hurting women, which just isn’t my thing in any way, shape, or form.  That, in and of itself, really gets my blood boiling.  No, it’s not Fifty-Shades of Greyesque, thank God; it’s not that type of “hurting women,” but more so physical abuse.  In fact, I had more issues with the way men treated women in this story than I did with the sexual encounters, which is saying a lot, because I am a bonafide cringer—and cringe I do—when a scene becomes too explicit for my liking. But in this novel, I wasn’t cringing over the sex scenes, I was cringing over the inhumane treatment of Jess by the men around her, by their nasty demanding nature, and by their physical abuse towards her.  But, the story is so well written, and the ending revelation so perfect, that the novel did sweep me off my feet.  Sure, I screamed at the male characters a lot, especially Cas, who I originally disliked just as much as the other male characters, but he is redeemable, and Blodgett redeems him quite nicely in the end, as the truth is unveiled.  

Despite my reservations and dislike of abuse, this novel won me over, and I think much of that has to do with the characterization.  While Jess isn’t perfect, by any means, and she makes some bad choices, overall she’s got a good head on her shoulders and she’s believable.  And, truth be told, any novel that can get me so riled that I yell at the characters through the pages is a winner in my book, because it caused me to really feel, and really interact, and that is exactly what Blodgett did in A Terrible Love.  Blodgett has written a beautiful tale of redemption, full of suspense and mystery, and I highly recommend it for a more mature audience.  Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

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I really enjoyed this new twist on mythology, especially as it’s Norse mythology, something I haven’t come across in a YA novel before.  As an avid reader, I am always looking for something brand new and original, and this novel definitely has elements of that.  I won’t say it’s completely original, though, because the idea of a mysterious boy and a sweet innocent girl falling for each other instantly has been done many a time, but even so, not like this. 

Torin is definitely a swoon worthy character, and I highly enjoyed him.  He’s got the whole dark and brooding thing down pat, and it really works well for him.  He’s shrouded in mystery, and I was dying to learn the truth about his origins right alongside Raine, though I don’t harbor as many fuzzy feelings for her. 

Raine is… aggravating.  She and her best friend in the whole world have finally started dating, something she’s been waiting for her whole life, but her inability to stop checking out Torin, even before they “bond,” made me think much less of her.  She also decides to hide everything instead of trusting the people around her, which is very much a YA aspect that I don’t care for in my novels.  I’d like my heroes and heroines to trust someone, and it’d be nice if, on occasion, that person could be an adult, say, a family member.  I do get that teens hide a lot from their parents and family, but something huge and scary should break that ice, in my opinion, and I’d have liked for Raine to step up and ask for help, or, you know, at least tell her boyfriend something weird is going on and she can’t figure out why she’s drawn to Torin.  Bucking up and facing the music is so much better than running around and trying to see two boys at once.  Well, I think so, at least. 

The Norse mythology was very interesting, but I don’t feel like I know enough as of yet.  We’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg, and I expect, and hope, to learn much more about Torin and his posses’ origins and powers in the next novel, because, truth be told, I am hooked, even if I didn’t like the main character.  Three stars.

From Goodreads: Flattered by the attentions of Nick, the cutest guy in school, seventeen-year-old Grace Warren, captain of the math team, lets down her guard and gets pregnant the night she loses her virginity. Hopeful that Nick will drop to one knee and propose when she breaks the baby news to him, Grace is heartbroken – Nick wants nothing to do with her. Her best friend, Jennifer, thinks she should get an abortion, but Grace is certain that her morally upright parents will insist that she keep the baby. After she comes clean to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they surprise her by insisting that she terminate the pregnancy to avoid humiliating the family. But when she sees the fetus on the ultrasound, she decides she can’t get rid of it. Deciding to save the tiny life growing inside of her, Grace must face the consequences of being that girl – the good girl who got knocked up.

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This novel is absolutely, 100% amazing, and even days after I finishing it, I am still haunted by the story.  It’s one of those that really makes you think, mulling over the character’s choices and decisions, and wondering if, faced with the same adversity, you’d be able to do what Grace does.  She amazes me, as do all young women who choose adoption over abortion.  Truth be told, I wouldn’t be here today had my birth-mother not made the same choice as Grace, so this story definitely hits close to home.  But, it isn’t just the choice to keep the baby that is difficult for Grace.  It’s her parents’ abandonment of her, as well as the talk among her peers and community, that make it fifty times harder.  With no support system, I feel I’d never make it through the long nine months, but Grace perseveres and finds solace and true love, which made this heartbreaking tale one of triumph, one that will stay with you long after the last page, and one you definitely need to read—it will make you laugh, and cry, and rage all at once, it’s that good.

My only issue with this novel is that it seems to be making a derogatory statement about religious people.  In a secular society that already looks down on religion, especially Christianity, tagging the more conservative as bigots and the like, this novel furthers that belief.  Had Grace’s parents not been religious, the fact that they disown her wouldn’t have been as big a deal—still a big deal, but not as big—because so much more is expected out of someone who claims God and religion, as if they are not allowed to be human, be selfish, or make mistakes.  I feel the author chose to make Grace and her parents religious as it adds much more to the shock value, and believe me, some of the things Grace’s parents do shocked me to the core, but it also irked me just the tiniest bit that it becomes a religious issue and not so much a human issue, anymore.  I don’t think that it was done intentionally, again, readers and publishers are always looking for shock value in novels, but even so, coming from a religious background, I did view it as a bit of a dig at religion. 

No matter what, disowning a child should never happen, and I definitely was livid and angry, and didn’t want Grace to ever speak to her parents again, let alone forgive them, but then again, that just goes to show how religion can also be a healing power, allowing Grace to be the bigger person.  So, basically what I’m trying to say is, I dislike how the novel seems to look down on religious people, but at the same time, this is such a well written, well-rounded story that smoothes itself out in the end.  And, I highly recommend this novel to all!  Four and a half stars.

From Goodreads: Share the spine-chilling thrills and great emotional epiphanies as this company of friends are forced into the adventure of leaving their hollow lives in Moscow and Berkeley and becoming the earth mothers and fathers of Thunder Valley… if any of them survive the journey.

Thrill with the discovery that a hypercomputer can be fun, kind, happy… and the most dangerous person in existence to those who would destroy the earth – with the possible exception of one strange and lovely woman who grew up being told she was mentally deficient and utterly broken.

As this company of friends get to know each other better, the story accelerates into hyper-drive, with heart-pounding crisis after crisis, drawing you ever closer to The End of this high-stakes game for the continued existence of the human race on Earth. Winner takes all. If there is one.
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I’m sorry to say that this novel is not for me.  The synopsis was intriguing, but the story itself was not what I expected. It’s very scientific and matter-of-fact–from the very first page, and getting through it was very difficult for me as I didn’t know what the characters were talking about a majority of the time. Likewise, the character names were long and difficult for me to keep straight, so I struggled with that aspect as well in terms of understanding the story.   I’m sure people more interested in science and history book-like writing will enjoy this more than I did. It’s just not for me. One star.

I was gifted a copy of this novel, from Amazon, in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins’ delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

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While I enjoyed this novel for the most part, I also found that it wasn’t exactly what I have grown to expect from a Hawkins novel.  It’s not that is wasn’t well written, but rather that it seemed a bit cliché.  The main plotline itself had a very interesting premise, but I figured it out a little less than halfway in, and knowing the ending that far in advance sort of takes the fun out of the story, in my opinion.  Likewise, the idea of a young adult having to mainstream themselves in high school has been done a great deal in books and movies, so I felt that this novel lacked some originality.  Now, I don’t want to sound like I didn’t like the novel, because I did, I just have some personal issues with the plot development and scenarios presented.

The characterization was very well done, though.  I really liked Dex, though he’s about the only one from the Paranormal Management Society that I really liked.  He’s not dreamy, necessarily—in fact, he’s a little sickly, but I like that he’s unusual for a hero, as well as the fact that the story really seems to center around him.  The novel also ends quite well, and it’s not a cliffhanger, which is wonderful because Hawkins just announced last week that there won’t be a sequel for a very long time (maybe not at all).  So, while not all our questions are answered, like where Izzy’s sister really is, the novel ends in what I deem the perfect spot.  Three stars.   

From Goodreads: King Henry Price is fourteen, he loves everything he’s not supposed to and hates everything he’s supposed to. One day after his usual hour of detention he comes home to find an enigmatic woman named Ceinwyn Dale sitting in his kitchen, telling his parents lies about a special reform school. What she tells King Henry is different, she tells him he’s a mancer, a Geomancer to be exact, that he’s special, one in million maybe. She sure ain’t a fairy giant and King Henry sure as hell ain’t Harry Potter, but why not? Got to be better than the life he’s already got.

King Henry Price is twenty-two, a recent graduate of the Asylum as an Artificer. With the special ability to create lasting items of the Mancy, he’s spurned the Artificer’s Guild and struck out on his own to found an Artificer workshop looking to do things his way. One night, a vampire baroness claiming she’s named Anne Boleyn walks into his shop, telling King Henry he’s going to help her, and she’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer. King Henry is pretty sure the whole name thing is just a joke, but only pretty sure…

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Unfortunately, this novel is just not for me.  I was intrigued by the premise, and I really enjoyed the back and forth nature of the narration, where the narrator tells readers about his life at 14 and then switches to his current life, but the language and humor isn’t my style.

King Henry Price has had a difficult life, and I understand the angst and hatred he carries, but his obsession with sex, the middle finger, and words for certain body parts, both male and female, put me off of the story as a whole. Now, I do think the novel is very well written, and the characterization is also done very well.  In fact, King Henry is probably more true to life than I care to admit, but he also isn’t someone I’d surround myself with in real life, so listening to him cuss and make lude and crude comments throughout was much more than I could handle. Maybe I should have realized this might be the case based on the title, but I really wasn’t thinking “foul mouth” as in lude and crude to the level that this novel takes it.  A little bit of this is always tolerable and can even be funny, but King Henry just takes it over the top and it was too much for me, and I’m sorry to say that I, personally, can only give it one and a half star.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Reychel thought she was finally free. She was wrong. Everyone saw her gift of prophecy as a blessing, but her gift is uncontrollable. No one alive can teach her to manipulate her unique gift and the answers she needs lie buried within a madman’s journals. She’s thrust in the midst of a brewing war and the only uniting factor for her people is their belief in the Prophet.

Will Reychel learn to control her gift or will she be forced to deliver a false prophecy that could lead her people into a violent war?

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This second novel in the Cloud Prophet Trilogy is much more refined and solid than the first, Anathema.  Jensen has slowed the story down, and the development of the characters takes the forefront, allowing the story to flow together more seamlessly while providing readers with an easily understandable story that is highly enjoyable.

Reychel, a former slave, is now free and in a rival nation, hiding her abilities until the “right time.”  Believed to be the Cloud Prophet, though not entirely sure herself, Reychel must figure out the truth about the prophecy before she claims her heritage.  The main problem is, nothing makes sense, and her abilities seem to be waning, thus, she may be forced to lie to the nation in order to set things in motion, and save those she holds dear, but Reychel struggles with the thought that her lies could end in bloodshed. 

What I really enjoyed about this novel is the mystery surrounding the original Cloud Prophet.  Jensen sheds light on his life and his truths as the story progresses, and as it turns out, nothing is as it seems. I was surprised on many an occasion as I read, and I really enjoyed learning the truth alongside Reychel, even though that truth isn’t necessarily a good one.  And, of course, the mystery behind the betrayals within the castle also spurred me on as I read!  Add in the magical aspects, such as invisible threads leading to portals (which I thought was ingenious), and this story really turns out to be a great read!  This world Jensen has created holds many a mystery, and the magical realm really helped pull me into the story and connect to the characters, who are now very well fleshed out and much more likable.

I really enjoyed seeing Reychel grow into herself in this novel, especially with all the threats that crop up around her.  In the first novel, she seems a bit more sporadic and easily led astray, whereas in this novel she has a much better head on her shoulders, taking matters into her own hands and selflessly attempting to save the world.  She’s a great young heroine, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the story leads in the final novel of the trilogy.  So, if you’ve read the first novel and weren’t sure whether to pick up the next installment for whatever reason, I believe you should definitely give it a go.  The series definitely gets better!  Four stars.

From Goodreads: Abe put an end to the threat of the Devourer once and for all.

So why does the world keep getting more dangerous?

Unsettling events pile up one after another: animal corpses appear on the front porch each night, an abandoned graveyard in the North Carolina woods is now home to something unnatural, and wooden men with eerily familiar faces are spotted lurking in the nearby town of Halfway.

Abe finds himself caught in a game set in motion long before the rise of mankind. A game in which even the Devourer was merely a pawn and where losing means the death of every man, woman, and child on earth.

Standing with him are the survivors of Belmont: Anne, Chuck, Leon, and his old squadmate, Henry “The Professor” Monroe. Together they intend to hold the line against the encroaching darkness and prove that there are still things in the light to be feared.

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This second book in the Emergent Earth series is just as good as the first, but this time, the adversary is even more cunning and malevolent.  I have to admit, when I first read the synopsis and saw there would be “wooden men” lurking throughout the story, I was a bit perplexed and couldn’t fathom how the book would play out or how it would even seem feasible.  But, Langolis is an absolutely amazing author and he presents these wooden men in the most sinister of ways, explaining their origin in full, and whisking readers off on a adventure that won’t soon be forgotten.

Abe is back, along with the remaining crew that helped take down the Devourer in the last novel, Bad Radio, and I have to say, I really adore him.  He’s a phenomenal character, fully fleshed out and real, combating a host of supernatural entities set on destroying the world.  Langlois’ vivid imagination, extreme character building, and fast-paced prose will keep readers glued to the pages as the story unfolds, and I absolutely can’t wait for more!  Four stars.   

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: All Schools are the same and Spencer Pendleton expects no less from Greenfield Middle. But Spencer hasn’t met them yet-the Tribe, a group of runaway students who secretly own the school. They live off cafeteria food and wield weapons made out of everyday school supplies. Strangely, no one seems to know they exist, except for Spencer. And the group wants him to join their ranks. All he has to do is pass the initiations…and leave his mother and life behind. Can Spencer go through with it? Better yet, what will happen if he says no?

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This novel started out really funny and I highly enjoyed it, and then it took on a bit of a darker tone, fleshing out the theme of bullying, going from a more humorous tone to a didactic one.  It’s a great middle school novel just the same, though, and I love just how imaginative the author, Clay McLeod Chapman, really is.  As an adult, I never expect to laugh out loud when reading middle grade novels, but this one really had me snickering for a while there, and it drew me right in to the story.  Thus, I was already hooked when the novel went from funny to sinister.

As a kid, I always had this fantasy of living between the walls of places, spying on society, and being self-sufficient, and in a way, this novel really spoke to me on that level.  The Tribe does just this, but their fun antics quickly turn threatening and the more I read, the more I realized just how silly my childhood dream really was.  Mix in some hilarity with the outlandish, and it becomes clear fairly quickly that this really isn’t the lifestyle for me, or anyone, for that matter.  These kids have forsaken society, a place that shunned them and treated them badly, full of cliques and judgment, only to cut themselves off from reality in the sense that they eventually become what they hate.  As I said before, it’s quite edifying with lots of teachable moments, and a great overall theme against bullying.  Overall, I highly recommend it to MG readers, and I think many YA readers would enjoy it as well, especially with the intrigue surrounding the Tribe.  Four stars.

Disney Book Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its official release on May 7, 2013.

From Goodreads: Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims’ dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick.

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist’s knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie’s possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.

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This was an interesting time-travel novel that I think MG and YA readers will like, especially if they’re a fan of Eoin Colfer.  I’ve only read one other of Colfer’s books, and while I liked it, and I liked this novel as well, I didn’t fall in love with either.  The characterization is good, and the events are quick and energetic, but the novel itself just never pulled me in to the point where I just couldn’t get enough.

I liked getting to know Riley, but as a character, he almost seemed like a pushover.  And I didn’t care for Chevron much.  She’s a bit of a typical teenage female trying to save face, believing she’s tougher and better than those around her, and her lack of humility and ability to stop and listen to those around her really rubbed me the wrong way.  She does redeem herself throughout the novel, so I did get to the point where I liked her enough, but I never really got beyond that point, and a lack of connections between myself and the characters always makes it difficult for me to fall in love with the novel.

Colfer definitely has a knack for imaginative literature, though, and the situations these young teens find themselves in were interesting and piqued my interest enough to keep me turning the pages, and enough for me to be curious concerning the next installment.  I really liked the idea of a wormhole and sending important witnesses back in time to keep them safe, and the revelation of who Riley really is was great.  I didn’t see it coming, but it made perfect sense and I really enjoyed how Colfer made it all come together.  Overall, this is a pretty good read.  Three stars.

Disney Book Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its official release on May 7, 2013.

From Goodreads: Too many secrets. Not enough time.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

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Imagine growing up a fully fledged elemental, having complete control of one of the four elements: earth, water, fire, or air. It sounds phenomenal, doesn’t it? Except, your full control really isn’t much control at all, and when you call on your element, and sometimes even when you don’t, scary things tend to happen.  And that’s why the lesser elementals want you and your entire family dead.  You’re too dangerous.

Brigid Kemmerer’s latest novella, Breathless, gives readers something we’ve been yearning for for a long time, a glimpse into the heart and soul of Nick Merrick.  Up until this point, Nick has been somewhat of a background character, and though readers know a lot about him, we’ve never really experienced the depths of his heart and soul like we have his other brothers in the series.  But that all changes with Breathless.  In this novella, Kemmerer focuses her attention on Nick, air elemental extraordinaire.  And as we really get to know him, Kemmerer shows us his confusion and his true want and need for acceptance, not just from his friends, but also from his family.  Nick has always felt a little bit different than his twin Gabriel when it comes to girls, but until now, he’s repressed those thoughts and feelings.  Yet, while the allure of college calls to him, so does his yearning for a relationship, except for Nick, his preference would cause multiple problems with his family, or so he believes, and so he struggles to accept himself.

This is a very well written novella that I highly enjoyed, especially as we get to see how calm, cool, and collected Nick is anything but as he struggles to figure out just who he is and who he wants to be.  Believing himself to be the exception of the “norm” in his family, Nick’s thoughts and feelings will have readers rooting for him the whole way, and I cannot wait to see how everything pans out for Nick as he takes his next steps towards the relationship he truly desires. Four stars.

Kensington Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novella, via Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow, April 30, 2013.

From Goodreads: Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.

As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?

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Unfortunately, I really didn’t care for this novel.  The characters are a little too immature and their decisions made me constantly wonder just how much common sense they really had.  Ben and Maggie are in a time loop—in other words, they live the same day repeatedly until they are able to figure out a way through without dying.  However, the whole loop concept left me with a few questions.  For instance, how does one get in a loop?  Does everyone experience loops?  If this was Maggie’s fifth loop, having survived four others, then how did she get out of her other loops, and why not employ the same techniques?  Why do the children’s memories of the loop keep changing?  And, perhaps my biggest question and frustration was this: why didn’t the children go to any adults?

Now, while I understand that adults never would have believed them about a loop, they would look into a man chasing them down with a gun.  And, it’d be pretty hard to end up murdered in a storage room if the children were in police custody, or even at home with their parents.  I do understand the idea of fate pushing the children towards their destiny, but I found some of their solutions to be a little too underdeveloped and repetitious, as it were.

Maggie and Ben met in the same place every day, and though Ben initially doesn’t remember, Maggie does, and she drags him off on an adventure every time (instead of going to an adult—insert parent voice here).  Thus, by the second repetition of these events, I began to lose interest.  It’s a very hard thing to do, writing the same scenes repeatedly and making it seem fresh, and unfortunately, this novel falls into the rut of repetitiveness, in my opinion.   Although there were new obstacles thrown in the children’s way, they kept making the same trivial mistakes that ultimately cost them their lives and, though I’m now being repetitive myself, it really irked me that they never thought to pull in the help of an adult.  Perhaps I’m just over thinking it all, but in the end, this novel just wasn’t for me.  Two stars.

Disney Hyperion was extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 30, 2013.

From Goodreads: Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so–in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history–he agrees to help her complete her “unfinished business.” But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff’s new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he’s made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel.

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Perhaps the most interesting part of this entire story is just how much of a modern-day retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel it really is.  From the scarlet badge to the daring feats, complete with betrayal and blackmail, Aprillynn Pike has it all, including humor and a happy ending.  I was pleasantly surprised as I read, especially as I was a bit skeptical when I first picked up the novel.  Not skeptical that it would be good, this isn’t my first Pike novel, but that it would really stay true to the classic it attempts to portray.  And it did.

Jeff is possibly the most unlucky person in the world, especially when it comes to being the only person able to see Kimberlee, a girl synonymous with pompous (and a few other choice words I won’t write).  She grated on my nerves throughout much of this story, which is unfortunate, but I think she was meant to be that type of character.  It didn’t make me feel badly for her, though, on any occasions, not even in the end, so that part may have missed the mark with me, but overall, the story itself is very good, and Kimberlee was characterized quite well, even if I didn’t care for her.

There is a little bit of instant love, to my initial chagrin, but Pike then goes back and fleshes it out quite nicely, putting substance behind the relationship between Sera and Jeff.  I really liked her, and as I learned about her past alongside Jeff, I just wanted to reach through the pages and hug her.  Yes, Kimberlee was a terrible person in life.  And learning about Sera’s past made me dislike Kimberlee all the more…

I can’t imagine a cave full of stolen goods, or being asked to redistribute them all, but Pike does a great job making the story funny and interesting, if a bit too far-fetched for my liking.  While it is a ghost story and I do love the paranormal, some of the feats Jeff and his peers complete, or attempt to complete, didn’t seem real enough to me.  I also never went to a large school (though I teach in one) and we never attempted to do crazy stunts like Jeff and his group do, so while it may seem far-fetched to me, it might not to another reader.

Overall, I thought this was a nice light read, and it ended on a happy note, which was nice, especially since I’ve read some darker novels as of light, and it was definitely time for something lighter.  Three stars.   

I recieved an ARC of this novel from the publisher while attending NCTE in November 2012.

From Goodreads: Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

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This second novel in the series follows Allie as she attempts to find and rescue her creator, Kanin, who we met in the first novel, The Immortal Rules. Unfortunately, the beginning dawdled a bit too long for me, starting off quite slowly as Allie spends much time traveling and trying to find her maker, eternally a step behind him.  It wasn’t until she joins ranks with some unlikely allies that the novel really took off for me; with the addition of these characters who we know from the previous novel, it became very interesting indeed, especially because, as is true with many of Kagawa novels, not all is what it seems.

I especially enjoyed the fact that the Red Lung virus is back, procured by Sarren himself, and this time it is dangerous enough that it may wipe out both human and vampire alike.  Thus, humans and vampire must come together to survive, and this unity was extremely interesting.  Though we see this same type of unity in the prequel, it is quite different in this novel as the acceptance level of human and vampire is viewed differently.  Kagawa also takes readers into the heart of the city, New Covington, where it all began for Allie, providing an epic glimpse into the world of the vampire prince as Allie and her companions come ever closer to finding Kanin.

Allie is, of course, a great character—strong willed and spurred on to do what is right.  I highly enjoyed her, and I really liked the other characters as well, though I won’t tell you their names because I was surprised by their appearance in the novel and I’d like to keep it that way for potential readers, as well.  What I will say is that these characters were very well fleshed out and presented on an ever-deeper level than readers saw in the first novel.  And, though we may love to hate one or two of them, and we may just love the other, the stakes are even higher and, like I said before, nothing is necessarily what it seems.  I was shocked, dismayed, and ecstatic throughout the novel as these characters waltzed into the story once again.

I loved the extreme suspense at the end of the novel, as well.  I was definitely on pins and needles, and the very end had me wanting to chuck my book across the room (but I didn’t, because it’s a Kindle…).  Of course, I’m now dying to read the next installment, which won’t be out for another whole year.  But, readers, know this: this second novel in The Blood of Eden series is definitely worth it if you can get through the beginning.  Three and a half stars.

Harlequin has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 30.

From Goodreads: This bestseller was the basis for the blockbuster film Die Hard starring Bruce Willis.

High atop a Los Angeles skyscraper, an office Christmas party turns into a deadly cage-match between a lone New York City cop and a gang of international terrorists. Every action fan knows it could only be the explosive big-screen blockbuster Die Hard. But before Bruce Willis blew away audiences as unstoppable hero John McClane, author Roderick Thorp knocked out thriller readers with the bestseller that started it all.

A dozen heavily armed terrorists have taken hostages, issued demands, and promised bloodshed all according to plan. But they haven’t counted on a death-defying, one-man cavalry with no shoes, no backup, and no intention of going down easily. As hot-headed cops swarm outside, and cold-blooded killers wield machine guns and rocket launchers inside, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between anti-hero and uber-villains. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fight to the death. Ho ho ho!

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I absolutely loved Die Hard, so I jumped at the chance to read Nothing Lasts Forever when it hit Netgalley.  Prior to that, I honestly didn’t know it was a book… shame on me.  But that’s okay because now I’ve remedied this and read the novel.  However, I actually liked the movie better.

What?  Yep, I said it.  I know it’s rare, but on occasion, I actually find a movie I like more so than the book it stemmed from, like the movie Stand By Me versus Stephen King’s The Body.  The movie was just so much more poignant… but I digress.  In terms of Die Hard versus Nothing Lasts Forever, here’s my reason for liking the movie more:  spatially and directionally, I have no compass, no imagination, so when it comes to all of Thorpe’s details about the building design and where John McClane is in terms of the building, and there’s a lot, I just couldn’t follow it.  Basically, it came down to this: I knew John was in an elevator shaft, or on the roof, or climbing through a vent somewhere, but in relation to the building, I had no idea where he was and I couldn’t imagine it—blueprints don’t do it for me.  They never have.  Thorp also described the landscapes and rooms in order to help readers visualize the barriers between John and the terrorists, but I had some difficulty visualizing that as well, mainly because I already had no idea where John was located.

Was the book good?  Of course?  It draws the reader in and there is a lot of mystery, suspense, and bloodshed.  But, for the spatially and directionally challenged, like me, it’s even more thrilling to see it come to heads on the big screen, since I can actually visualize everything.  Overall, I’d say those who have a keen sense of direction and can easily follow building blueprints will absolutely adore this novel.  If you’re like me, though, you might prefer the movie, but I’d definitely say that you have to read the book as well.  Thorp is indeed a terrific writer with an amazing plotline, and it’s not his fault that I have no spatial imagination.  Try it and see.  Three stars.

Graymalkin Media has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Megan Bright and Jackson Dawes are two teenagers who first meet each other on the hospital ward where they are both being treated for cancer. Megan is scared and worried about her illness, but Jackson seems to be an old hand, having been on the ward for ages. And everybody loves Jackson! He is a whirlwind of life and energy, warmth and sparkle. Megan will need to borrow some of Jackson’s extraordinary optimism to face her and Jackson’s future. A moving story of first love and a remarkably powerful debut novel.

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The title and synopsis of this novel basically foreshadows the dismal events that will transpire within the pages, but even so, it’s still a poignant look at the fragility of life, refusing to leave readers unscathed.  This is the story of cancer.  Of beating the odds.  Of watching good friends succumb. It’s a story of joy, heartbreak, and remembrance. Though relatively short, it packs a punch that will definitely leave readers reaching for the tissue box, even though much of the prose is clipped and choppy, jumping from scene to scene as Megan attempts to come to terms with her illness as it reshapes her entire life.

Though I personally was not a huge fan of the main character, and she wasn’t as developed as I’d have liked her to be, she is very true to life.  She’s also experiencing something completely raw, terrible, and emotional, and her attitude and disdain for those around her are more so a reflex and yearning for normalcy than a true rendition of her persona.  Hence, I hold nothing against her as she comes into herself, embracing her diagnosis and coming to terms with the very real possibility that she may die.  This is a novel that truly tugs at the heart strings and, I imagine, will be a very difficult read for parents, as it deals with kids and teens in a cancer ward.  Although choppy and uneven at times, my emotions were rubbed quite raw near the end, and I found it was indeed a great anthem for Jackson Dawes.  Three stars.

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 30.

From Goodreads: A man walks into the Texas Capitol. Shots ring out. A young aide lies dead. The killer’s excuse? He was under a spell.

Sounds like a job for Hunter Gamble, right?

Wrong. After his disastrous “victory” in the trial of Samuel Pollard, Hunter has turned his back on defending oppressed vampires, mages, and zombies. Having accepted a position at his father’s giant litigation firm, he’s trying the glamorous cases, working in a corner office, and making a six-figure salary–and hating every minute of it.

As Hunter plots his exit strategy, he finds himself inexorably drawn to the case of the Capitol shooter, who is an old friend from law school. As he works to clear his friend, Hunter discovers that there is much more at stake in this case than whether one man was under a spell. Before long, he finds himself pulled into a magical conspiracy dating back to before the Unveiling–and with a singularly cold-blooded wizard at its heart.

The clock is ticking. The search for answers is on. And the author of Atticus for the Undead invites you to come along for the thrill ride–and get the magic back.

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In this sequel to Atticus for the Undead, Abramowitz presents readers with another interesting court case, further developing the character of Hunter Gamble as he faces his most formidable opponent yet.  I really enjoyed the deeper development of Hunter in this novel, especially as he must come to terms with the realization that not all he believes is necessarily true.  With his desire to help a colleague in need and the revelations about his own father, Hunter must tread lightly in order to save much more than his client, and as he really came into himself, I enjoyed him more and more.  Hunter is a very complex character, struggling to do what is right, but learning that not all is what it seems, and nothing is as cut and dry as he’d like it to be.  Once again, he’s under fire as he takes on a huge case, going against his ideals that all Arcanes are human and have rights, muddying the water as he attempts to root out evil and save as many lives as possible.  But. is this evil really evil?

Whereas we learned much about witches and zombies in the first novel, Abramowitz focuses on two new groups in this sequel: magicians and the fae.  It was really fun learning about them, especially the fae as I’ve always enjoyed reading about their courts and changelings, an idea Abramowitz uses to his advantage as he throws many twists at his characters. Perhaps the biggest twist came right at the end, throwing the reader for a loop much like the prequel did, and I must say, this is a very good read.  We have both old and new characters alike in this novel, and as the story unfolds, it’s hard not to be enthralled with the court proceedings, especially as everything comes to light.

If you’ve enjoyed Grisham novels with their fast-paced legal drama, and you enjoy the paranormal at all, then I highly suggest you pick up this novel. Three and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.