From Goodreads: There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

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Wow.  Wow.  Wow!  This is a phenomenal novel; it’s an absolutely amazing, glued to my seat, wonderful, can’t get enough, kind of read.  But that cover?  Oh. God.  Someone please tell me they’re going to change that cover.  Truth: it’s hideous.  And, it doesn’t make me want to read the novel.  You can put a synopsis in front of me, and it might be the best synopsis in the world, but if the cover stinks, I’m only going to do a cursory glance before I move on.  Not pick it up, not fall in love with it, just pass it over.  Let’s be honest: we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.  Ever.  Nope.  But we do.  It’s human nature.  If I’m in a bookstore with thousands of books to choose from, what book is going to stop me and get me to pick it up to read the synopsis?  One with a magnificent cover.  This book, unfortunately, is not it.  I would pass it by in a heartbeat, and so would my students in book club… I showed them a picture and they vetoed the novel before I even told them what it’s about!!!  They thought it was about bees and being stung.  Which, I guess in a way it is, but… it’s soooooooo much better than that.  So, to the powers that be, please do the author justice and change the cover so more copies of this magnificent story fly off the shelves and are eaten up by readers.  Seriously.  Okay, rant ended.

I absolutely adored this spectacular novel.  As you can probably tell from the above rant, I wasn’t expecting much going in, but I received a free copy of Stung at NCTE this past November, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.  And boy, was I glad I did!

The fight or flight mantra throughout the entire novel kept me on my toes, especially as the story unfolded and it became apparent that Fiona and Bowen were in so much more danger than I originally thought.  And the characterization?  Well, Fiona is a great character! I loved her struggle with her memory loss, and the mystery surrounding her was intense and fascinating! But Fiona isn’t the only character I enjoyed;  I loved them all!  I highly enjoyed getting to know every single one, from the creepy sewer dweller to the militia men, these characters are awesome, well fleshed out, vivid, and real! And as events unfolded, the sincere fear and stress I felt for the characters put my heart in my throat—I couldn’t put it down, and I just love that this entire novel, from start to finish, is shrouded in mystery.  As the reader, we don’t know why Fiona has the mark, why she’s sane and others with the mark are not, why she woke up four years older than when she went to sleep, or why she has a connection to Bowen from the very beginning.  But as the story fleshes out, we’re given glimpses into the past, which helps us connect the dots leading up to the grand finale that had me whooping for joy.  This is just a great read all around, and I loved that it kept me guessing throughout.  I wasn’t expecting the reveals Wiggins provided, and I really liked them; the answers made sense in this not so distant future world, and as the puzzle pieces came together, the novel continued to blow me away.  This is a must read.  Five stars.

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in giving me an ARC of this novel for review prior to its release on April 2, 2013.

From Goodreads: In The Gateway, Glenn G. Thater transports us to an age of high adventure where knights battle supernatural horrors, magic is real but hidden, and the line between good and evil is all too thin.

The Harbinger of Doom saga centers around one Lord Angle Theta, an enigmatic warrior of unknown origins and mystical power. No mortal man is his match in battle. No sorcery can contain or confound him. No scholar or sage can outwit him. But for all his skills, he is but one of us; a man, a human, who shares our faults, our dreams, and our ambitions. He boldly strides across the land, fearless, peerless, and cloaked in mystery; all his will bent on righting such wrongs as he deems fit.

Until the day the Gateway opened and turned the world on its head. On that fateful day, Korrgonn came and washed away our dreams. And his outre’ realm of Nifleheim set its unholy mark upon our world and claimed it for their own. Only Theta and his companions see the enemies aligning against us. Only they foresee our end coming- the end of civilization, the end of the world of man.

Only they can hope to turn the tide of madness and preserve all that we hold dear. But no man, not even our greatest hero, can stand against the Lords of Nifleheim and the dark armies at their command. Fiends that infiltrate unseen within our ranks, that tear down our temples and our traditions; that devour us from within, unseen, unknown, unheralded, and unopposed until the hour grows far too late. Through the murk and mist that hangs before our eyes, one man only sees true. One man pierces the veil of magic that blinds us all and marks the world as it truly is, revealing secrets, secrets of Angle Theta, so horrifying as to shatter a man’s mind and call into question the very nature of good and evil.

When mad sorcerers open a gateway to the very pits of hell, releasing outre demons of darkest nightmare upon the world, only the intrepid knights of House Eotrus stand in their way. Claradon Eotrus takes up the mantle of his noble house to avenge his father and hold back the tide of chaos that threatens to engulf the world and destroy mankind. Claradon recruits Angle Theta and Gabriel Garn, mysterious knights of mystical power to stand with him. Theta and Garn take up their swords one last time against the coming darkness — a darkness from which only one will emerge.

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I was pleasantly surprised by this novella.  It’s a quick read and the rather long synopsis above says it all: War. With supernatural beings.  Much of this novella hinges on a very epic battle that reminded me so much of the awesome battle scenes on screen in the Lord of the Rings movies.  Those were amazing scenes, and Thayer aptly paints a riveting picture of a very different battle raging, in this novella, at the gateway as warriors fight to close the portal and keep evil at bay.  Some will perish, some will triumph, and some will get away in this awesome fantasy novella that sets the stage for the full novels in the series.  Based on this novella alone, I’d be more than willing to try the first novel in the series, even though I’m not really much into fantasy, as it were.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:

a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
 b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

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Unfortunately, this book isn’t for me.  It’s a very interesting take on the Persephone myth, but in all honesty, I felt it moved a little too quickly and the humor was a little too forced for my tastes.  It’s a very well written story, and the plot is there, but overall, I thought that it jumped forward too fast and didn’t necessarily fill in all the gaps or feel real, as it were.  Sophie finds out the truth about her heritage alongside her best friend, and neither are really phased by the power and mythology aspect staring them in the face, and I found that to be a bit unreal.   Likewise, I wasn’t a fan of Sophie, or her ex, Kai, and seeing as they’re the main characters, that made it hard for me as a reader.  Sophie’s humor and the way she tells the story just rubbed me the wrong way, but in all honesty, I think that teen readers will really enjoy her.  While my older self found her a bit juvenile, I think teens will love her humor and biting remarks, which is why I think this novel would be a great read for younger teens.  Likewise, while Kai is not really my style, and I didn’t care for him in the least, I can see where teens would swoon and really enjoy him.  Overall, this one novel might just be a little too young for the likes of me, and that’s okay.  I personally, can only give it two and half stars, though.

Te Da Media has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: People in Merit, Wisconsin, always said Jimmy was . . . you know. But people said all sorts of stupid stuff. Nobody really knew anything. Nobody really knew Jimmy.

I guess you could say I knew Jimmy as well as anyone (which was not very well). I knew what scared him. And I knew he had dreams—even if I didn’t understand them. Even if he nearly ruined my life to pursue them.

Jimmy’s dead now, and I definitely know that better than anyone. I know about blood and bone and how bodies decompose. I know about shadows and stones and hatchets. I know what a last cry for help sounds like. I know what blood looks like on my own hands.

What I don’t know is if I can trust my own eyes. I don’t know who threw the stone. Who swung the hatchet? Who are the shadows? What do the living owe the dead?

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This is one of those books that punches you in the gut, mainly because you cringe for the main character, his bad decisions, and the fact that this really could happen.  We learn the sad and often gruesome details of this story through the penitent letters of Ben, an extremely sad character who, a victim of circumstance, was at the wrong place at the wrong time, both literally and figuratively.  We often ask ourselves, “what if?” when dealing with tragedy.  This entire novel hinges on the “what if” as Ben slowly recounts what happened in his hometown of Merit, a place set in its bigoted ways, as he looks back on his not so distant past.

Jimmy is a young teen who, faced with narrow-mindedness and prejudice, looks for a different means of expressing himself.  Upon the revelation of some sexually charged photos published in a national magazine, both Ben’s and Jimmy’s lives are thrown into turmoil as Ben struggles to clear his “good name” and Jimmy attempts to appease his father and pastor.  One lie leads to another, and suddenly the world is turned upside down for Ben, though at no fault of his own.  Yet, as he attempts to make Jimmy understand, the unthinkable happens.  Murder.  In a small town.  A hate crime.  And Ben saw it all.

I have to admit, when the novel first opened, I wasn’t exactly sure where it was going to go.  It starts off rather slow, and we learn that Ben has indeed escaped his small town, but he hasn’t escaped his memories, and it is these memories that slowly eat away at his mind.  Hence, the letter format that Bick employs as Ben attempts to purge his soul.  It is ingenious, and it isn’t until the very end that readers understand the purpose of the letters. Thus, I highly recommend that, though the graphic nature of the novel is tough at times, readers should continue onward to the conclusion.  It is an amazing, sad story.

This is a breathtaking novel that is all the more scary because it could easily happen, though society would like to think that we are beyond this brutality.  The Sin-Eater’s Confession is a eye-opening novel that stares intolerance in the face.  Gruesome and graphic, yet palpable and poignant, Bick’s novel is not one you’ll soon forget.  Five stars.

Lerner Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: A bittersweet masterpiece filled with longing and hope, Jennie Shortridge’s emotional novel explores the raw, tender complexities of relationships and personal identity. Who is Lucie Walker? Even Lucie herself can’t answer that question after she comes to, confused and up to her knees in the chilly San Francisco Bay. Back home in Seattle, she adjusts to life with amnesia, growing unsettled by the clues she finds to the selfish, carefully guarded person she used to be. Will she ever fall in love with her handsome, kindhearted fiancé, Grady? Can he devote himself to the vulnerable, easygoing Lucie 2.0, who is so unlike her controlling former self? When Lucie learns that Grady has been hiding some very painful secrets that could change the course of their relationship, she musters the courage to search for the shocking, long-repressed childhood memories that will finally set her free.

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This novel takes readers on a journey through Lucie’s soul, uncovering her past, illuminating her present, and glimpsing her future, should she choose to accept them.  It’s a very lovely tale that shows just how hard starting over really is, especially if we’ve lost sight of ourselves along the way.

Something has happened to Lucie Walker.  She wakes up knee deep in the freezing bay, unsure of her surroundings or how she came to be there.  Her finance, Grady, comes to the rescue once her story goes public, but if Lucie can’t remember her past, how can she build a future, let alone live in the present, with a man she doesn’t know?  Told from three different perspectives, readers learn Lucie’s fears, Grady’s secrets, and Helen’s memories, all leading up to the realization that those past lives are not necessarily the truth, and that, no matter our age, we all can change.

I really enjoyed this novel.  I was a little afraid going in because I don’t always enjoy adult fiction, but I really loved the writing style and the mystery surrounding Lucie’s background.  The multiple points-of-view made is extremely interesting and gave much needed insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, and though I wouldn’t say this is a romantic novel, it’s real and poignant.  Four stars.

Gallery Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on April 2, 2013.

From Goodreads: With Sam and Kayla missing, Kiera, Potter and Murphy head for the Dead Waters. Here they hope to find their missing friends and the answers to why their flesh keeps cracking like that of a statue.

Knowing Potter has lied to her, Kiera is struggling with her feelings for him. Therefore, Kiera tries to keep Potter at a distance, scared that she might get hurt again.

With Skin-walkers and statues close behind them as they make their journey to the Dead Waters, Kiera can’t help but fear she is being led straight into a dead end.

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I just died a little bit.  But just a little, because I know O’Rourke is going to fix it.  He can’t leave it like that, can he?  Well, he can, but, will he?  Good God, I hope not!  This one time I’m hoping that I’m right in my inkling about the ending.  About what really just happened, about what sucker punched me in the mouth and ran off with my breakfast.  Seriously. I never saw it coming, and then it was there, and I gapped and screamed and yelped like child.  Because… that cliffhanger is mean, but perfect, as it were.  I’m just hoping… fingers crossed, that this once, just this once, what I think will happen will actually happen, because it’s the only way I see out of this dark tunnel.  But on the upside, O’Rourke had a vast imagination and he’s already twelve steps ahead of me.  *Sigh* the wait for the next two installments of series two might put me in the grave.

This is another fabulous Kiera Hudson read, full of raw anger, lust, and love.  Yes, there is a fairly graphic love scene in this novel, so no, I wouldn’t give it to your kids, but it’s perfect, especially as Kiera and Potter have come such a long way from the beginning of the first series, 13 books ago.  That’s not to say that there haven’t been some graphic scenes like this in prior novels, but… this one is the most graphic, in my opinion.  It also symbolizes the extreme love, passion, and freedom Kiera and Potter feel around, and for, each other.  So, truth be told, I loved it.

This novel also sheds light on the mysterious statues that seem to be following Kiera, Potter, and Murphy throughout the second series, and, of course, it all comes to a head as we learn just who the Wolf Man really is, and what he really wants.  O’Rourke has created another masterpiece, and I highly suggest it for those who have read the previous series.  And… there’s a treat for us readers at the very end of the book.  Keep scrolling through your ereader to see it after you finish the last page.  I promise, you won’t be disappointed! Five stars.

P.S. If you haven’t yet started this series, well, pick up Vampire Shift right now and get started.  Seriously.  It’s only .99 cents and worth so much more than that.

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

For MORE Kiera Hudson by Tim O’Rourke:

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)

From Goodreads: “Robbie,” my dad said. “You told me yourself how Billy has been behaving. And you know the case against him-he had a grudge against the victim, he was found with the weapon, he was at the scene. Motive, method, opportunity.”

Robyn’s best friend Billy has been a mess ever since her other best friend Morgan dumped him. To make matters worse, Morgan started dating hockey star Sean Sloane right afterward. Billy is a vegetarian and an animal rights activist-he wouldn’t hurt a fly. But when Sean winds up dead on the ice, Billy becomes the prime suspect. Can Robyn prove her friend’s innocence?

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This is my fourth McClintock novel and I must say, I really do enjoy her YA novels. The three that I read prior to this one were all part of the Orca Soundings books for reluctant readers, which I stumbled across a few years ago, and which my struggling readers really enjoy.  Orca Sounding books are written by many different authors, and they’re engaging in that the storyline is at teen level, but the writing is for that of second through fourth grade readers.  This is very helpful when students read below their grade level, especially as the stories are engaging and help promote a love of reading, which is key.

Change of Heart is the seventh book in the Robyn Hunter series, but it stands completely alone, as I suspect all the novels in this series do.  It wasn’t until after I finished reading the novel that I realized it was part of a series, but in truth, it doesn’t matter either way.  McClintock introduces the characters quickly and begins the story, giving readers just enough background and information, and the best part is that, though it’s not an Orca Sounding book, it’s still written for the reluctant reader.

Robyn Hunter is stuck between a rock and a hard place here as her best friend, Billy, is charged for murder.  Truth be told, it doesn’t look good—from the initial fighting and stalking to the possession of the weapon with his fingerprints and victim’s blood on it, everything points to him.  But Robyn doesn’t believe it.  And she’s the only one.

I wouldn’t say that this is Robyn is necessarily a modern-day sleuth, but she does slowly begin to piece things together, more-so through perseverance than ingenuity.  It was very interesting to see how the puzzle fit together, and I liked that, each time I had a suspect, more information was presented to change my tune.  However, I wasn’t really a fan of depressed, angry Billy, shy Robyn, or pissed off Morgan.  That being said, I enjoyed the novel, but the characters made be a bit angry.  I think this would be great for a seventh or eighth grader, though.  Three and a half stars.

Lerner Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

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Two words: Phenomenal. Tissues. (You’re going to need a lot.)

If you’ve read Chelsea Fine’s novel, Sophie and Carter, another great novel depicting children forced to grow up before their time in this cruel world, then you’re no stranger to having your feet knocked out from under you, and that’s exactly what Murdoch does to her readers in her fantastic novel, If You Find Me.

Raw. Emotional. Gut wrenching. Triumphant.  This novel pulled me in from the very first page and kept me up late into the night as I read, unable to put aside this beautiful novel that so captivated me.  Carey’s story is one of heartbreak, gripping readers as the plot unfolds, all leading up to the night that everything changed for Carey and Jenessa.  The prose, imagery, and characterization are absolutely phenomenal, and I am in awe of Murdoch’s writing style.  Poignant and tragic, our heroine Carey steals the stage as her emotions overflow, unable to release the past, afraid of the future.  Her life has been one of extreme hardship, caring for her little sister, Jenessa, and hoping to survive another day.  This powerful novel is a must read for all lovers of YA; it’s emotionally overwhelming, but amazing all the same.  Easily one of the best novels I’ve read this year.  Five stars.

St. Martin’s Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on March 26, 2013.

From Goodreads: There’s more than one way to be powerful . . .

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva–sixteen and nearly friendless–makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush–and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there’s Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history–and her heart–before she can face the powerful truth.

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This novel has an interesting premise that begins with the development of Abby’s character, placing the reader in her shoes, living through her eyes.  Normally, I search out novels like this, ones that give me a deep connection with the main character, but in this case, I didn’t like who I ended up meeting.  Abby just isn’t the girl in school I’d befriend, and I’ll tell you why.  As I got to know her, I saw how deeply selfish and nasty she really was, underneath it all.  Now, I completely understand being concerned with your own troubles, but when others point out that you’re being selfish, the appropriate response is to look deeply inside yourself and figure out if it’s true.  And if it is, you apologize, especially if you’re not Miss Popular on the friendship front, as it were.  Abby doesn’t do that.  She allows her only true friendships to fall by the waste side because of her own issues, wants, and needs, which really rubbed me the wrong way.  I mean, I get that we’re selfish beings.  I am guilty of being selfish at times as well, but when I’m called on it, I take it to heart.  I might brood about it for a day or two, but in the end, my friendships with others override my initials wants and needs.  So, truth be told, Abby and I would never be friends.  Which is okay.  I don’t need to be her friend.  But as a reader, I do need to like her in some way, shape, or form, in order to fall in love with the story.  And I didn’t.

But that’s all subjective to the reader; you may love her, so don’t write off the story just yet, especially as, overall I enjoyed much of the storyline.  I liked the allusiveness of Rem, and I enjoyed the whole witchcraft aspect of the novel, as it was very different from previous novels I’ve read.  I thought the writing was good, too.  But I didn’t care for the love triangle (again, back to the selfishness of Abby and her love potion), and the ending felt a little too forced.  It was quick and clean, but over in a matter of pages, and I think that left me with more questions than answers in the end.  This is a series book, though, so more is to come, though I would have liked a more solid ending in this first novel.  Two and a half stars.

Scholastic Inc. has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read a copy of this recently released novel, via Netgalley.

 From Goodreads: When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

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This was a really cute, clean novel that I highly enjoyed.  Honestly, I was hooked from the very beginning as Mallory vividly tells her tale of betrayal in the form of “Bubble-Yum,” the online persona Jeremy has started a “fake” life with, unbeknownst to Mallory.  Of all the betrayals in a relationship, I think finding out my beau is seeing someone online is the worst.  And, Jeremy is a complete tool about it all.  I abhorred him throughout the novel, and loved to hate him, especially as his cousin, Oliver, swoops in on the scene and helps Mallory pull it back together.

Mallory and her sister, Ginny, where wonderful characters: fleshed out, authentic, and hilarious.  As Mallory dismantles her technologically filled life, looking to live a much simpler life like that of her grandmother, she finds that not all is what it seems, and less technology doesn’t necessarily mean less complications.  This is a great life lesson because I think so many your people think we (as in the older generations), had it so much easier, but in reality, teenage life is difficult, no matter the time period.

Ginny is a great little sister with some awesome one-liners that made me giggle.  The fact that she is supportive of her older sister also won lots of points with me because I feel like so many books deal with the dysfunctional relationships within families, and this one instead focused on the unity and support of family, instead.  And, Mallroy’s grandmother is a great role model for the young, even though we find out she’s made some mistakes along the way.  She’s level headed, caring, and there to support her family, even if she seems aloof at times, which is why I loved her so much.  Overall, this is a great novel that I highly suggest all read.  It’s cute, quirky, and full of spunk.  Four stars. 

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this awesome novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on March 26, 2013.

From Goodreads: Whether you are working to lose 100 lbs or that last 20 lbs, figuring our your strategy for how you should be exercising is one of the bigger pieces to the weight loss puzzle.

This book is not a “how to” guide in terms of actually doing the exercise. It is a book about how the author manages to create an exercise plan that fits her lifestyle and how you can do this too.

It’s about taking a three-pronged approach to exercise right from the beginning of your weight loss plan and tips for finding the right types of exercise that you will enjoy and be motivated to do longer term.

Like the other books in this series, this one is all about finally creating a plan that can work for you to get the weight off in a way that is fun and realistic.

This book, like the previous volumes, is a quick read told from a very real perspective.

If you’re looking for some help and motivation for finally getting the exercise piece of your weight loss plan under control, then “Exercise for Weight Loss” is for you! Grab your copy today!

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I picked up a copy of this “guide” novella when it was free on Amazon and didn’t realize that it’s one book in a series. This one happens to be book five.  After I read through it, I perused the rest of the novellas to see what they’re about, but, truth be told, I wasn’t impresses with the synopsis’ of any of them, nor with the information in this one, really.

I know the synopsis for this particular novella explicitly says it’s not a “how to” book, but I didn’t read that when I picked it up.  Instead, I saw the cover and thought I’d be getting a “how to” book with a plan I could use.  In that sense, the title of this novella, and series, is misleading.  What this novella does it tell you how the author lost her weight by creating an exercise plan, but that we’re all different and will have to find our own plan.  And, I found it very repetitive.  In fact, I personally didn’t learn anything new in this novella except that weight training will help take off excessive skin if you are losing a ton of weight.  That’s good to know, since I’d like to lose a lot of weight.  But, other than that, I didn’t really get much out of this short novella.  Two stars.

I picked up a copy of this novella from Amazon when it was FREE.

From Goodreads: Janie Grey is dedicated to hunting the undead, an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors and generations of powerful Seekers before her. Then, there’s Kai. He’s like no one she’s ever met – cocky, fast, skillful, infuriating, and gorgeous. Not only has he become a valuable asset in her fight against the growing population of the vampire/demon hybrid known as Daychildren…

She’s unwittingly fallen for him.

Just when Janie thinks she’s learned everything there is to know about Kai’s mysterious past, there’s a newcomer to Baltimore. Someone who will do anything to make sure Janie loses Kai forever.

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I absolutely adored the first novel in this series, Dark Seeker, and was extremely excited to note that I was just as enamored by this second novel as well.  Sequels can be really tricky, and though I may love an author, sometimes their middle novel falls a bit flat, but that was not the case with Dark Return!  This is a kick-butt sequel that carries just as much action, angst, and terror as the first.  I loved it!

Kai and Janie are back, and Janie’s family is trying ever so hard to be nice to Kai, especially since Janie’s so adamant about it, but… he’s not exactly the boy-next-door.  I really like this angle of the story because it puts Janie and Kai between a rock and a hard place, but they’re fighting to overcome their differences and remain together.  Kai, too, is fighting to maintain his humanity, which adds a whole other aspect to their dating game as, should Kai change back, he’ll be at the top of Janie’s most wanted ‘kill’ list.  With a plotline like that, what’s not to love?

This is a fast-paced novel full of mystery and intrigue as we begin to delve deep into Kai’s past, learning about who he used to be, and how he became who he is today.  I loved the background knowledge and was on pins and needles throughout the novel as his ex shows up on the scene intent on ripping away his humanity and reclaiming his for herself.  There were so many ups and downs as I read, and I was thrown for a loop on many an occasion.  Overall, this was another great read and I cannot wait for more!  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author is enxhcange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: How sick is this: I’m the major jock-stud in high school, but my brother has the brain of a badminton birdie and a body to match. I’ve got everything and he’s got nothing. I’m a three-year, three-sport letterman and Shawn can’t even stand up! Like I said, sick, huh?

Fueled by rage at what has happened to his family, Paul is ready to explode. And he is haunted by something even worse–something he can never tell anyone. It is something he will have to face if he is to have any hope of a future at all. While Cruise Control is a companion to Terry Trueman’s Printz Honor book, Stuck in Neutral, it is the completely independent story of a family’s “other” son–the one who is healthy, gifted, normal. It is a courageously hopeful story told with power, compassion, and humor.

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A few years ago, I read Stuck In Neutral, and though I really didn’t enjoy it, the concept was very interesting—life from the point of view of a young man with Cerebral Palsy.  It’s a gut wrenching and brutal look into Shawn’s life, and there were a lot of things in the novel that I, personally, didn’t like, like all the talk of sex, which made it very difficult for me to read.  I’d say the reading level is that of a 5^th or 6^th grader, and it’s a very quick read, but it just wasn’t for me.  The topic was too difficult, especially as Shawn is convinced his father is trying to kill him…

Enter Cruise Control, a companion novel by the same author, Terry Trueman, which focuses on the other brother in the family, Paul, a young man who’s “perfect” in the health sense, but dying on the inside as his father continues to distance himself from the family as his brother, Shawn, struggles to get through each day.  This is a story of rage, and rightfully so.  Paul watched his father leave the family when Shawn was born with Cerebral Palsy, and though Paul loves his brother and wouldn’t wish harm on him in the least, he hates his father for abandoning them.  His rage fuels the story, giving readers and in-depth look at the father we grow to despise in Stuck In Neutral, and laying out more of the facts that we didn’t get from Shawn’s point-of-view.

This novel is written for the same reading level as its companion, Stuck In Neutral, but it adds much to the story, and, though another difficult topic, I liked this novel much more than the first.  It’s focus on Paul’s anger shows the raw depth of his feelings, and his love for his family, which is important, but it also shows his growth, as well as that of the family.  While I still don’t care for the father, I found I was much more forgiving of him in this novel and, I assume, he grows as well, able to better deal with his son.  Though it is still unclear as to the final outcome for Shawn concerning his father’s thoughts of murder, I didn’t feel as angry upon conclusion of this novel.  Truthfully, I think Stuck in Neutral and Cruise Control need to be read in tandem as they shed light on each other, even though they’re separate novels, and even though I didn’t really like Stuck in Neutral.  Three stars.   

I borrowed a copy of this novel from the library.

From Goodreads: In love with Vincent and trying to move on with her life, Sydney Hart is visited by an old friend. When this friend suddenly goes missing, Sydney finds herself in a desperate race against time, not only to save her friend’s life, but also her relationship with Vincent.

With Michael wanting to spend more time with her in order to rekindle their relationship, Sydney’s life and emotions become ever more complex.

Trying to stay focused on the hunt for her missing friend, Sydney has to figure out who is telling her the truth; but most importantly, who is Mr. Yellow?  

*A New Adult Novel Recommended for mature readers*

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I wasn’t kidding when I said O’Rourke’s turn around time for releasing novels is extremely fast!  The first novel in the Sydney Hart series, Witch, released January 31^st, and the second novel, Yellow, soon followed on February 22^nd.  I mean, that’s fast.  Really fast.  And I just love it!  I am in awe of O’Rourke and his ability to write such wonderful novels so quickly.  It’s amazing, and it makes my day every time a new one releases!

Yellow is another mystery novel involving police officer Sydney Hart.  Sydney has learned a lot in the last month, and she’s still reeling from it all when Yellow opens.  On leave from the police department and less than keen to show her face in town, Sydney is laying low in her apartment with the charming Vincent, acting out their *ahem* deepest desires.  Now, I’m not really a fan of reading about sex in my novels, but I think O’Rouke handles it very well.  It’s not too overbearing or belabored, which is great for a prudish reader like me.  Yet, those who enjoy this aspect of books will definitely swoon.

Sydney is even less sure of herself in this novel as all she’s ever known has been dashed to pieces, and the love of her life continues to disappear, as if he’s purposely distancing himself from her.  Honestly, I really likd how real Sydney’s thoughts and feelings are in this series.  O’Rouke captures Sydney at the point in her life when everything is an uncertainty, and he lays her soul bare as she slowly, but surely, begins to pull herself back together, realizing truths about herself, while also on the hunt of her life to save her best friend from sure death.

And, who is Mr. Yellow?  Well, once again, O’Rourke stumped me and kept me guessing throughout the entire novel. I was sure I knew who it was multiple times as I read, only to be proved wrong time and time again.  With the final reveal, everything fell into place, and I absolutely adored the conclusion, though a bit jarring and definitely not what I expected.  A happy ending?  Well, that’s for you and Sydney to decide.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: Sixteen year-old Dante Delgado is staring down the barrel of a gangbanger’s gun when he’s surprised by the arrival of a clown on a unicycle.

Dante hates clowns. He hates everything to do with the circus. He once dreamed of being one of the few trapecistas able to do a quadruple somersault in the air. Then a tragic accident took his parents, their circus, and his ability to fly. But when faced with the choice between the circus or a bullet, he jumps on the clown’s shoulders and rides off to an even more mysterious adventure involving Dia de los Muertos, two dangerous girls, and the nemesis of the tiny, magical Mumbo Jumbo Circus, the evil Las Vegas spectacular, Cirque Patron.

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This was a very fun read.  What I liked about it is that, though the second book in a series, it can stand alone.  We have a brand new protagonist in this story, Dante, and while our old cast of characters are back, too, readers don’t need to know all of their background in order to understand the plot of this story, which is great.  I love sequels that I can seamlessly melt into, where I don’t have to try to remember what happened in previous books because, let’s face it, I read too many to remember them all.  So, a sequel that continues the fun, but doesn’t tax my memory is a wonderful thing.

I’d say that this is a novel that will appeal to most MG readers as the reading level isn’t too difficult.  The plotline itself is a bit straightforward, with heavy foreshadowing that foretells much about certain character’s loyalties, but it’s still a fun, easy read.  However, the amount of repetitive swearing in Spanish (one word) and the references to sex make it a book I wouldn’t actually give to an MG reader.  Instead, I’d peg it for maybe a 15-16-year-old YA reader, even though the reading level might be a bit below that age group.  But I’m pretty sure they would get a kick out of it, regardless of age, because, well, I did, and I’m not even close to a teenager in years anymore…

This novel is full of great themes that touch on loyalty, family relations, love, selflessness, and even selfishness.  Dante, a lone teen abandoned by his brother, struggles to find his place in the world.  With the death of his parents, an accident that left him crippled, and his loss of his dream, he sees no up in life.  Even when he finds the circus, his own wants and needs cause him to trust the wrong people and push away those that would help him if he only gave them the chance, and while a lot of his decisions really irked me, his emotions make him very real.  I can’t imagine being in his situation, and if I had the chance to do what I’ve always dreamed of doing, well… I might make some of the same decisions Dante does.  It’s easy for me to judge him from the comfort of my living room, but we never know how we’ll react in certain situations, and I love that this novel makes me stop and think about that.  I also love the magic that George entwines with both this novel, and the prequel, Mumbo Jumbo Circus, as it gives that extra bit of oomph that adds to the fun of the circus in and of itself.  Try it and see.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: Blackstone is a mercenary sorcerer who does not rule any valleys and has yet to be bound to another sorcerer. Undertaking work for the sorceress queen, Spiral, he finds himself the expendable pawn in an assassination mission. Turning against the queen he fights Spiral’s loyal sorcerers and finds himself tasked with the guardianship of the marked man’s son. As the two flee from Spiral they have to work through their mutual bitterness and distrust of each other. A new tangle is thrown into their relationship when Blackstone frees a werewolf from her cage set in a town square and reverts the werewolf back to a young woman, cursed since childhood with lycanthropy.

Fleeing from the townsfolk who had previously kept the young werewolf, Loralune, captive, the three person band must confront Loralune’s transformation under the full moon, the posse that runs them to ground and a sorceress looking for revenge against Hiroe and Blackstone. Survival against these threats leaves them vulnerable to other, more insidious dangers.

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Truth be told, lately I have found that I am all fantasized out.  It’s been a very long time since I’ve picked up a fantasy novel, or a sci-fi one for that matter, that really drew me into the story and enveloped me with the characterization and plot line. But Drawing the Circle did just that, which was a real treat!  Beineke has created a wonderful story that pulls readers into the text with its fantastical world filled with sorcery and strange creatures.  It was a lot of fun to read, and I especially liked Blackstone.  He is a very interesting character who is able to see goodness in even the most dangerous creatures.  He also never gives up hope, attempting to help as many people as he can along the way, regardless of their perceptions of him, which is a very admirable quality.

The story follows Blackstone for much of the beginning, but then shifts to follow the life of Hiroe in order to give readers his background leading up to the confrontation with Blackstone.  From there, the story parallels both characters as the two hero’s travel together, but then it takes on a rather strange twist.  Almost out of nowhere, the novel jumps ahead multiple years to show Hiroe as a grown man.  Initially, I was quite unhappy with the sudden jump into the future. I wasn’t expecting it and it disrupted the flow of the novel.  I wasn’t sure why Beineke decided to do this to such a wonderful story, but as I kept reading, small clues began to emerge that explained the sudden change in the novel, and by the novel’s end, I was once again happy.  In other words, there is a rhyme and a reason for this sudden shift, but to find out what it is, you’ll have to read the book.  I highly recommend it!  Four stars!

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

From Goodreads: The only thing worse than forgetting her past… is remembering it.

From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

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This novel was a lot of fun to read, and I really enjoyed putting together the mystery surrounding Sera’s existence. She is a very interesting character, and if you’re a lover of the TV series Kyle XY, then I think you’ll really enjoy this novel.  It’s similar, but different in a very big way, and I was floored by the big reveal towards the end of the novel as I realized what had really transpired.

I enjoyed the characterization throughout this novel very much, especially when it comes to Sera and Zen, though I did find the entrance of Sera’s foster brother, Cody, to be a bit strange.  He’s quirky and cute for his age, but I felt like he was able to do a lot more than I expect the average 13 year-old to be able to handle, such as aiding and abetting Sera, helping steal a car, etc.  I also found some of the middle portion of the book to be a little long-winded, focusing on things within the story that I wouldn’t have minded skipping in order to get to the good stuff: the truth about Sera and Zen. But overall, I really enjoyed this story and am eager to learn more.  Brody’s writing style has intrigued me and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.  Four stars.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) have ben extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to it’s release tomorrow, March 5, 2013.

From Goodreads: A YOUNG WOMAN IS DISCOVERED hanged in a room in a decrepit hotel, and Gothenburg’s Chief Inspector Erik Winter must try to figure out what happened. As Winter looks around, he realizes that he was in the same hotel room many years earlier, when it was the last known location of a woman who subsequently disappeared and was never found. The two women seem to have nothing in common except for this hotel room, but Winter suspects that there may be other connections. The young woman’s parents are bereft and unable to explain the puzzling contents of a note she left behind. Winter, however, senses that they are holding back some secret that might help him to find her murderer. As he pursues his hunch and digs into the old police report on the woman who disappeared—one of his first cases as a young detective—Winter becomes increasingly convinced that the two cases are somehow related. Room No. 10 is a first-rate thriller, suffused with the gray seaside beauty of Gothenburg and filled with the characters that Åke Edwardson’s readers have come to love: Winter, the veteran detective who veers between pessimism and optimism but never gives up; Bertil Ringmar, the methodical old-timer whose analytical mind keeps everyone focused; hotheaded Fredrik Halders, whose temper sometimes overwhelms his passion for justice; and Aneta Djanali, Halders’s girlfriend, an immigrant from Burkina Faso whose ability to talk to other women can open new leads. As compelling as they are dedicated, they are an unforgettable team determined to find a bizarre killer.

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I’m sorry to say that this novel isn’t for me.  The back and forth style just didn’t do it for me this time, whereas I usually love it.  I think the fact that Edwardson meshed the murders together made it somewhat difficult for me to follow along, whereas one moment Winter is a seasoned detective investigating the murder of a young woman found dead in a seedy motel, and the next he is a babe on his first detective detail, investigating the disappearance of a woman from the same room in the hotel, ten years in the past.  Normally I really enjoy jumping between past and present, but in this novel, it did nothing but confuse me.  I’m not sure if it’s perhaps the translation that makes the transitions choppy, or if it’s just Edwardson’s writing style, but either way, I didn’t really enjoy the story, overall.  It moved at a very slow pace, and I really felt like Winter and his team were getting nowhere.  Add in my inability to connect with any of the multiple characters, all of whom left me feeling extremely uninterested in their plights, and I have to say this novel just isn’t for me.  One star.

Simon and Schuster have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on March 5, 2013.

From Goodreads: Ethan Harris never thought monsters and darkness would consume his daily thoughts, but every night the same visions repeat in his dreams. He’s careful to project a semblance of normalcy, keeping the suffocating darkness locked inside. As much as he wishes he could focus on girls, sports, and cars like other seventeen-year-olds, nothing distracts him from his own demons or shines through.

Until Nara Collins crosses his path. The blonde fascinates and intrigues him, giving him a measure of peace he’s never felt before.

When Ethan discovers there’s more to Nara than she allows others to see, that she might have a unique secret of her own, suddenly his world comes into focus.
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This is a great prequel to The Brightest Kind of Darkness series, giving readers insight into Ethan’s mind prior to meeting Nara.  I’ve absolutely adored the series so far, and I was very excited to see Michelle back track a bit, writing the story that leads up to the very first novel… giving us Ethan’s side as he struggles with his own abilities and life, and his immediate connection to Nara. This prequel is very short, but it’s very well written and I highly enjoyed it.  It’s the perfect starting point if you haven’t yet read and of the books in the series as it leads right up to the beginning chapters of The Brightest Kind of Darkness.  I highly suggest picking up this series.  It’s awesome!  Four stars.

I purchased a copy of this novel from Amazon.