Shadow and Bone- Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone the Review

4 ½ Stars

            The book was slow in some parts but it wasn’t unbearably boring. I could handle it. That’s really all the bad things I can think of. I loved all the characters and I loved the plot. My favorite character had to be either Mal or the Darkling. I would have to say Mal because he is in love with Alina and she doesn’t even realize it. We don’t get to see him all that much in this book, but that’s ok because the parts we do see are sizzlin. On the other hand though is the Darkling. He is this mysterious character who basically uses Alina. But then again it would seem that he has feelings for her that go deeper than just wanting to use her for his own sick desires. I don’t know who I want her to end up with permanently. Although if I was held at gunpoint and asked to make a choice. Off the top of my head I would say Mal. I don’t know why I just would. Hm. Something to question. There’s really not much to say about this book except I look forward to reading the new one and watching Alina grow as a character.

 

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Vampire Academy- Richelle Mead

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Vampire Academy the Review

2 1/2 Stars

            Four things to say. One, poor Cameron. Two, I was kind of bored while reading. Three, Rose is kinda a witch, not literally. Four, laaaaaaaaaaaaaaame love story.

        First thing to criticize, Cameron. Why was everyone so hateful towards him? I get that his parents were like evil vampires, but I’m going to tell you a secret. We’re. Not. Our. Parents. *Gasp* Shocking right? Wrong. I mean seriously just because parents our evil it doesn’t mean the kids will. It’s like just because your parents are nice, that doesn’t necessarily mean we will be. People just treated him all wrong. Including Rose.

        Speaking of Rose, she is a witch. She is so conceited and I hated how she treated people. I hated how she always took things too far and I hated how she always made the decisions in her relationship with Lissa. She just seemed wrong to me. She was too protective even though it wasn’t her job at all to be. That’s what Lissa has Dmitri for. Dmitri and Rose’s relationship was bad. Why couldn’t the author of just let Rose end up with Mason or someone like that? Why did there have to be an older man in the picture? I guess it makes for a better story, although it doesn’t in my opinion. It’s like the forbidden love thing. Rose is not allowed to be with Dmitri because he is Rose’s teacher. Although I will say one of my favorite parts was when he explained why he couldn’t be with Rose. He said something how if he was protecting Lissa he’s supposed to jump in front of her but if Rose was with Lissa and him; he said he wouldn’t jump in front of Lissa. He said he’d jump in front of Rose. I just thought that was kind of sweet.

        Now Lissa is another thing that needs to be addressed. She gets all this crap from other reviewers and some of the things they say I have to agree with. But I did like her character. I liked her character more that Rose’s character. I don’t like some of the things she did. For instance cutting herself. But she has personality that I find lacking in other characters in other books. She has a real problem her problem isn’t that her shoes don’t match with her outfit. Her problem is legitimate and serious. I didn’t like how she let Rose walk all over her. She needed to stand up for herself just a tad bit more. I liked her powers though. Spirit. I liked that. I also liked her compulsion. Sure it’s manipulative, but did Lissa really use it for a bad thing? I don’t think she did but that’s my opinion.

        The plot was boring for me and I just couldn’t really get into it all that well. I got into it but I wasn’t attached. I didn’t have to have this book in my hands until I finished it. I could set it down and walk away if I wanted to. If I really wanted to, and at times I really did, I could’ve picked up a different book to read and I still wouldn’t have felt a difference. To me this book lacked substance. It lacked a certain something that makes all books amazing to read. I will not be continuing this series unless I get really bored and there is nothing else available to read.

 

Fallen- Lauren Kate

What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Fallen the Review

3 Stars

Luce and Daniel. Luce and Cam. Cam and Daniel. These three people all have one thing in common. And that is that they all have a secret past together. Luce and Daniel are lovers from a different point in time. Luce and Cam are like enemies or something like that from the past lives. Cam and Daniel are serious enemies. They hate each other. A lot.

Luce and Daniel have shared lives together. They haven’t shared a life together. They have shared LIVES, plural, together. I didn’t really like their love story. Daniel was a jerk and I hated how obsessed Luce was with him. Even though he is said jerk. She completely looked over the fact that when they first met he flicked her off. She didn’t even know his name and he flicked her off. Did that come into account when they were declaring their love for each other? No it didn’t. The fact that they even declared their love for each other was comical. I hate it when characters who have been reincarnated, base their love off their past life. I mean you have to love each other in the present. You can’t think, “Oh I loved you in the past so I must love you now.” That’s not right. Your love is supposed to be in the now, not in the past. When you can’t even remember your past life how can you be so sure of your feelings? I love a book with a good love story but this is not one of them. I liked the plot but not the love involved with the plot. In my opinion there wasn’t any sizzle in the romance.

Luce and Cam on the other hand, I liked their relationship. In my opinion I think their story, if they were to get together, would be more interesting. Of course in the book their relationship didn’t last long. I think that if the author would’ve allowed their characters to be together it would’ve made for a more interesting storyline. I mean think about it. Luce has a past with Daniel where they’re in love but then when she meets Cam in the present she falls in love with him instead. Well I think it would be more interesting storyline anyway I don’t know about you guys.

Cam and Daniel are strange. I feel like they are so wrapped up in each other. At the end they call an eighteen day truce but if they can help each other for eighteen days instead of trying to kill each other, why couldn’t they just keep the truce and forget years of fighting in a pointless war?

I don’t know. I guess the story was ok. I don’t know if I will read the second book only because it was really hard to get into this one.

The Cadet of Tildor- Alex Lidell

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.

The Review

0 Stars

        Lord have mercy on my soul. This book was so boring and bad. It was stupid and it was a book filled with lies. The characters were one dimensional and the storyline was executed poorly. I hated it. Don’t buy, borrow, or rent this book. Don’t even read the synopsis. You’ll regret it.

Forget You- Jennifer Echols

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

The Review

4 Stars

        I don’t understand why this book was so sexual. Zoey was a virgin and then one night she just gave it all up to a guy named Brandon. It wasn’t special and it wasn’t magical. It was hard and rough with no point to it.

        Well after that night Zoey says she’s dating but you couldn’t really tell. Brandon is a user and a player. I did not like his attitude or his character. He was a jerk to Zoey and he didn’t have her best interest at heart.

        Doug was… charming. He wasn’t a saint but he wasn’t the devil either. He was a nice little mix of both. He cared for Zoey, he really did. The most shocking thing in the book didn’t really come as a surprise. The most shocking thing was that Doug was in the car when Zoey had her car crash. The most shocking thing to me was that Zoey and Doug had gotten hot and heavy a few hours before the crash. Talk about a shocker. I loved how Doug knew how to push Zoey’s buttons.

        I like how Zoey’s mom got better too. In my opinion the book ended perfectly, even if it was a little sexual.

Click to Subscribe- L.M. Augustine

135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them. As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on. To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

The Review

4 ¾ stars

          West and Cat are adorable as best friends but they are fan flippin fantastic as a couple. You barely get to see them as a couple but the epilogue is so sweet. If they act anything like before, as friends, they will go a long way as a couple.

          West is so funny and smart but he acted like an idiot when he rejected Cat at the beginning. I loved the premise of the book and the way it was executed. A girl falls in love with her best friend and he doesn’t know what to do.

          An example of when West and Cat were being awesome is when they were at the ice cream shop. They were being so sweet and adorable. The part that really got to me though was when West broke down and went to his mother’s grave. He was really hurting and he didn’t know what to do anymore. His dad was a jerk who didn’t care about him and West was so lost. West didn’t know what to do about his feelings for Cat but he called her anyway. HE called HER and she came. She held him when he cried and she cared for him when no one else did!

          Eventually West comes to his senses and tells Cat he loves her. It made me very happy when I read it. I was all warm and fuzzy when I read it.

Splintered- A. G. Howard

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

The Review

3 ½ stars

        There were so many twists and turns in this book. Not all of them were good for the story. There was only one twist I really liked. SPOILER ALERT, I only liked that Alyssa turned out to be descended from the Red Queen. I thought that was really cool. It was my favorite part really.

        My second favorite part was when Alyssa and Jeb kissed for the first time. It was sweet and long overdue. I kinda feel bad for Morpheus though. I mean he loved Alyssa but she loved Jeb. I hope he does what he says and continues to fight for Alyssa’s heart.

        Now, time to discuss the characters. Alyssa got on my nerves. I swear she was so clueless sometimes. She tried so hard to be cool at times. I mean with the skateboarding and the hair clips and the clothes. She was a hot mess that couldn’t be cleaned up.

        Jeb was the boy next door who’s been friends with Alyssa since he moved in next door years ago. Alyssa has had a crush on Jeb for awhile but unfortunately he has a girlfriend. What happens between them? You’ll have to wait and read.

        Now there’s Morpheus. He is a crazy control freak. He has manipulated Alyssa since she was a child. He has been trying to get rid of the curse on himself ever since he killed the Red Queen in battle. Yet along with being manipulative and controlling, he still loves Alyssa.

        The characters were good but the storyline was not. It was slow and boring. There wasn’t any progress it seemed to me.

Valkyrie Rising- Ingrid Paulson

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she'll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she's there.

What Ellie doesn't anticipate is Graham's infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect that something powerful and ancient will awaken in her and that strange whispers will urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, suddenly there's a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it's up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring, Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

The Review

3 ½ stars

This story just drug on and on and it felt like it didn’t get anywhere real in the end. The ending was too obvious.  The only thing that makes the book worth reading is the banter between the two main characters Ellie and Tuck.

Ellie is off limits to Tucker because he is Graham’s, Ellie’s brother, best friend. That doesn’t stop the brewing chemistry between Tucker and Ellie. Sure Tuck tries to stay hands off but knowing there’s a chance you’re going to die in the next hour can really change what you do with it. Tucker spent it strategizing and telling Ellie how he really felt. But that’s at the end. The things said between Tuck and Ellie are really funny. You would never guess that Tuck really likes Ellie because of what they say to each other. Oh! You can guess they like each other by their actions though.

The action didn’t really seem brutal to me. I didn’t really connect with the storyline. So the book was boring because of that and it caused the book to drag on.  

Pivot Point- Kasie West

Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier. . . .
Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through . . . and who she can't live without.

The Review

3 ½ stars

I was kinda bored with this book. I liked the premise of the book and I liked how it was executed… once I got into it. The first few chapters I didn’t understand at first but then I realized what the author was doing and I wasn’t confused anymore.

She seriously chose the wrong department in my opinion. But how she rectified her mistake in the future made sense and she save Laela from dying. So it worked out well in the end.

I loved Trevor so much more than Doug. Trevor didn’t have a hidden agenda when he got together with Addison. Doug did though, he was going to use her and so I decided he was a big pile of crap. I truly expected Trevor to freak out when he found out all she could do, but he didn’t. He trusted Addie. Addie was likable in a way. I thought she played the divorce card way too much. A lot of parents are divorced and their kids don’t always act out. Addie just took the, “Oh my parents are getting a divorce, somebody pity me.” Card way too much.

I felt the story didn’t progress fast enough for me to like it a lot. I do not believe I will be reading this book again. The only reason I’ll read the sequel is to find out if Addie chooses Trevor in the end.

 

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The Avery Shaw Experiment- Kelly Oram

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest

The Review

4 ¾ Stars

    Words were missing. That’s it. That is all the bad things I have to say about this book. I loved this book to pieces. It was one of those books where it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

    I loved the duel perspectives in this book. I liked being able to see into Avery and Grayson’s head. They were such different characters that you wanted to know what was going through the other’s head as the other was talking. I wanted to know what Avery thought of a situation and at the same time I wanted to know what was going through Grayson’s head. The author did a great job with the perspectives.

Now the growth of the characters is what impressed me the most. Avery changed from someone who hid from the public at every chance. She changed from someone who depended on her best friend. She became self- confident and she learned how to do things for herself instead of leaning on her best friend to be there for everything. Grayson changed from a guy who was really conceited into a person who could hang out with the “science geeks” for fun. He became someone else because of Avery.

Aiden was… mean. How could he do that to poor Avery? What did she ever do to him? Why did he have to tell her to leave his debate even after he said they could still be friends? I don’t know. He just didn’t care about Avery through half the book but then we see a change in him when he finally gets some sense knocked into him… literally. He deserved what he got. I was very happy when Grayson finally swung at him. He should have done it a long time ago.

I loved Grayson and Avery’s relationship. They’re relationship was effortless. Avery just had to realize what it is she really wanted. Grayson said he’d wait for her. I’m so glad he did because when they reconciled I heard bells ringing and angels singing Hallelujah.

Oh and I cannot forget about Avery and Grayson’s best friends, Libby and Owen. Libby was o funny and when she was paired with Owen I couldn’t stop laughing. They were so cute together also. I really hope the author does a book about their story.

There is nothing else for me to say except, “The Avery Shaw Experiment, I love you.”

So Over You- Gwen Hayes

Layney Logan, girl reporter.

That's all she's ever wanted to be. This year, her senior year, not only does she have to share the coveted Senior Editor position with her arch nemesis, Jimmy Foster, she also has to figure out how to keep the school paper alive. With the local paper closing and the school cutting Journalism from the budget, it's a long shot. Working side-by-side with Foster, the guy she likes to call Lucifer,makes it even worse.

The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster think he got the best of her, so she takes
his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time.

And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she’s kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.

The Review

3 Stars

I liked this book. I think. I’m not really sure. I liked the idea of the story but I don’t think I liked how it was carried out. I didn’t like how the author separated the chapters. I didn’t like how she did it based on the dates. Speaking of the dates, I didn’t like how one of them acted when they wanted to keep seeing her and she turned them down. He was so huffy and puffy that it didn’t really seem like he liked her. I also don’t like how she made Tyler her best friend, when Layney didn’t even know him.

And another thing. I didn’t really get the feel that Layney really hated Jimmy Foster. Sure she said it but her actions spoke otherwise. Sure she got mad at him but I get mad at a lot of people and it doesn’t mean I hate them. She also kissed him. Why would you kiss someone you hate? You don’t. The one thing I did like though was the characters personalities. Jimmy was so protective of her even though she always said she hated him. He just played it off. Layney was fun because even though she had something horrible happen to her, she didn’t let it get her down.

So all in all I think this book was ok.

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy- Anne Eliot

After a car accident--an event he considers a prank gone bad--jaded pop star, Hunter Kennedy is forced to hide out with his aunt in small-town Colorado. He’s supposed to rest, heal his scars and attend high school in disguise until the press dies down. But he only wants to get back to work.

Worse, the girl who’s been assigned to make him over into a geek is a major geek herself. Vere Roth is a chattering pixie, a blushing tornado and a complete social disaster. He’s never met a girl who’s never-been-kissed, believes in romance and thinks Hunter’s a 'nice' guy.

Funny thing is…Hunter is nice around Vere because she’s his first real friend. He also can’t seem to stop sharing his secrets or keep her out of his heart. Knowing he’d never deserve a girl as sweet as Vere, he resigns himself to the friend zone, and helps his new bestie with her own makeover.

She tortures him daily for ridiculous guy advice on how to snag her life-long crush. A guy Hunter thinks is totally wrong for Vere, and sadly, one who has taken note of Vere’s stunning transformation.

When Vere asks her best friend for some kissing advice, Hunter can’t resist.
And that’s when things get out of control…



Songs-
History in the Making- Darius Rucker
This- Darius Rucker
We All Fall Down- Darius Rucker

The Review

4 ¾ Stars

          The only reason this book is not five stars is because the author put words in all caps and it bugged the crap out of me. Other than that I felt this book was perfect. I love how at the end Hunter came to understand his mother and I love how he finally learned to accept what he did and move on. Vere was so sweet. She didn’t even know what she was doing to poor Dustin/ Hunter. She was so oblivious to her feelings for Hunter. But that didn’t stop her own feelings from growing for him. Oh her feelings grew all right. Right along with his but she was so blinded by her “love” for Curtis that she couldn’t see what was really going on. Speaking of Curtis, he was a Class A jerk. He tried to turn her against Hunter. He spoke badly about Hunter not really knowing that Dustin was actually Hunter of course. Charlie was terrible. I don’t understand why he didn’t just hit Hunter again. Why did he have to spill his secret? I don’t have a problem that he did, I just wished I knew why.

          Dustin was so sweet. Some of his inner dialogue brought tears to my eyes and when he finally called his mom up, I started crying with the words he said. Tears fell. He was funny too. He loved Vere and it was evident in everything he did for her. Even when he didn’t think he was in love with her, you could tell he was.

          Vere was a-dor-a-ble. Some of the things she did or said had me cracking up. The things she said in front of Curtis always had me cringing because it was just so embarrassing. Vere was a real character. She wasn’t perfect like all the other characters in books these days. She was real and that’s what makes this book amazing.



Poison Princess- Kresley Cole

She could save the world—or destroy it.Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.But she can’t do either alone.With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?Who can Evie trust?As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

The Review

2 ½ stars

One word. Boring. I was so bored with this book. I really didn’t want to finish it but, I did. The only thing that made this book interesting was the characters. I liked the characters. Just not the plot and the things the characters did. I didn’t really appreciate Jackson trying to get into Evie’s pants. They were just kissing and he decided to take things further. Way too far! There was no point to what he did. It just basically destroyed his relationship with Evie. But then he finds this new girl to screw around with him but according to him they never screwed around and according to her they did. So who should we trust? I don’t really care. I don’t know why this book got such great reviews. It was not that good. I really don’t have anything left to say that would help me like this book. Except I do have to say I like the cover other than that nothing. Honestly it was just baddddddd. This book doesn’t even get a fancy color it was just so bad.

Strands of Bronze and Gold- Jane Nickerson

The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

The Review

4 ½ Stars

          I have never read the Bluebird fairytale so I didn’t know what to expect when I read this book. I just expected the guy to be a little crazy but he was a lot of scary. After I finished this book I had to find a copy of the Bluebird fairytale. I needed to see if Bluebird was as crazy as Bernard. Yes he was but I think Bernard was crazier.

          Sophia is the main character and she is the voice of the book. Her father has died so she goes to live with her Godfather otherwise known as Bernard. Bernard seems nice enough at first but then you get to see his real colors. He is really possessive and he is really into Sophia. He seems like the kind of guy you should stay away from. And you should. He is bad news. Like seriously, bad. But Sophia doesn’t notice. She only sees his appearance he keeps up in front of her. The only time she sees his real side is when he is angry. When Sophia’s brothers and sister come is a good example.

          Bernard acts all nice at first but then he is questioned by Sophia’s sister and he forces the family to leave earlier than expected. He breaks Sophia’s heart in the process. Bernard asks Sophia to marry him and she says yes. But not in the name of love. She only agrees because she can use his money to pay off her brother’s debts. If she didn’t have debts she would’ve said no because her heart already belonged to another. His name is Gideon and he is a minister at the local church who is not liked by Bernard. I hate how this was an instant love part of the book. Why does everything have to be instant love?

          Sophia’s character was interesting. She wasn’t a defenseless girl, maybe just naïve. She didn’t trust her gut instincts. She also sometimes felt like a gold-digger only staying with Bernard for the gifts and the money.

          Now I know this is bad but my favorite character had to be Bernard! He was a creepy and interesting guy. He pulled me in and captured my minds attention. I wanted to constantly know what he was thinking and what he was going to say or do next. He was such a great character.

          Gideon didn’t intrigue me as much as he intrigued Sophie. I didn’t see the appeal. He was kinda boring and a bit stupid honestly. How could he not see Sophie’s feelings for him? Only an idiot wouldn’t have been able to recognize them.

All in all I loved the book and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Spellcaster- Claudia Gray

When Nadia's family moves to Captive's Sound, she instantly realizes there's more to the place than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia can sense that a spell has been cast over the tiny Rhode Island town—a sickness infecting everyone and everything in it. The magic at work is darker and more powerful than anything she's come across and has sunk its claws most deeply into Mateo . . . her rescuer, her friend, and the guy she yearns to get closer to even as he pushes her away.
Mateo has lived in Captive's Sound his entire life, shadowed by small-town gossip and his family's tormented past. Every generation, the local legends say, one member of the family goes mad, claiming to know the future before descending into insanity. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl from a car accident actually come true, he knows he's doomed.

The Review

3 ½ Stars

          Sigh. Poor Mateo. He has a curse thrust upon him from a crazy witch. To make matters worse his friend, Elizabeth, is the friend who cursed him to begin with. Elizabeth is a centuries old witch who has ruined Mateo’s family for generations. All because she wants to know the future. So she cursed people to get ahead in life. So again, poor Mateo. Mateo is not done though. He still has to deal with the fact that not only is he cursed but he is also the steadfast of Nadia, our leading lady. Nadia is a witch who has lost her mentor, aka her mother, due to a messy divorce. Her mother wants no contact with her or her little brother and boy does that have to hurt. Her Father moves them to new town for a fresh start. Before they even get inside the town’s border Nadia knows that there is something wrong with the town. She knows another witch is out there. She just doesn’t know who yet. Before she enters the town Nadia is in a car crash and Mateo saves her because he had a vision. I’m not going to go into details of the plot because I didn’t really like the plot all that much and it was kind of slow but still enjoyable. I want to talk about Veraline. She is Nadia’s friend who is also cursed by Elizabeth. She has been cursed so that nobody will like her. It is only at the end, that the curse is lifted from her. Nadia realizes that Veraline is actually her best friend but she couldn’t tell before because of the curse placed upon her. I loved Veraline’s character. I thought she was interesting and fun. She wasn’t crazy and in your face. She had a quiet demeanor that sucked you in and wanted you to know her better. I enjoyed the book and I really want to read the next book in the trilogy soon but alas the book must come out first. Alas, again, it comes out in March of next year. Insert pouty face.



Embrace- Jessica Shirvington

It starts with a whisper: "It's time for you to know who you are..."

On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. She will have to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, EMBRACE is a compelling novel of good and evil, seductive desires and impossible choices. A centuries old war between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity chooses a new fighter. It's a battle Violet doesn't want, but she lives her life by two rules: don't run and don't quit. If angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden.

LINCOLN: He's been Violet's one anchor, her running partner and kickboxing trainer. Only he never told her he's Grigori—part human, part angel—and that he was training her for an ancient battle between Angels and Exiles.

PHOENIX: No one knows where his loyalties lie, yet he's the only one there to pick up the pieces and protect her after Lincoln's lies. In a world of dark and light, he is all shades of gray.

Two sides: Angel or Exile.
Two guys: Lincoln or Phoenix.
The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...                  

The Review

4 Stars

            Holy fudge nuggets! I have to fan myself with all the guy hotness in this book. There’s Lincoln a good Grigori who plays by the rules. He doesn’t let himself actually have a relationship with Violet. Besides that of a partnership and a friendship. The friendship is blown to smithereens when Lincoln betrays Violet. He lies to her and I think that is a pretty crappy thing to do. I mean the persons your best friend. Don’t lie to them. Even if it might protect them! Hello! Lying will only make things worst in the end. When Violet is betrayed by Lincoln she turns to Phoenix. Holy gosh I really liked that kid but then he made me mad because he betrayed her too. But in the end, in the end. Plus he was a bit controlling. Violet was a character. Sometimes I thought she was strong and other times I thought she was a bit whiny. Although I thought she was really strong when she came into her powers. Phoenix is controlling and manipulative but he was there for Violet when Lincoln betrayed her. I liked his sense of humor. Then there’s Lincoln. When we got to see him I really liked him. Although I didn’t like how Violet was all hung up about him. He wasn’t THAT impressive. Sure he was impressive but not THAT impressive. Then let’s not forget the best friend. She wasn’t present a lot and she seemed a bit boy crazy. But she was there for Violet when she needed someone to talk to. So I guess that makes her ok. Honestly the only thing I didn’t like was Violet’s sometimes whining and all the betrayal from all the male characters. Speaking of the male characters, I can’t wait to see who Violet chooses. Will it be Lincoln who’s always been there for her? Or Phoenix the manipulative, controlling, but supportive character? I’m hoping for Lincoln. But that’s just me.

Of Poseidon- Anna Banks

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen’s not fully convinced that Emma’s the one he’s been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help—no matter what the risk.

The Review

5 Stars

I loved this book. I loved the point of views and I know other people don't but I do. I like the banter between the main characters. They had me laughing until the end. The only part where I wasn't laughing was when Chloe died. I know right? The main character's best friend dies. How is that supposed to make for a fun book? Well even though she dies Emma gets along with her. Sure Emma misses Chloe but who wouldn't miss their best friend if they died? I know I'd missed my bestest friend in the whole widest wildest world. O-K enough with all the sappy stuff. Something else comes out of the day Chloe dies though. Emma meets Galen. Galen is a merman but he doesn't like people using that term but I'm going to use it anyway because I am just awesome like that. Galen has washed ashore to meet Emma because he feels that she can save his kingdom. But can she? Can she really? How can Emma, a human, help the Syrena kingdoms? Oh that's easy. Turns out Emma's not completely human. She is actually half- mermaid. She doesn't have the tail though. Insert sad face here. Emma can talk to fish and make them do whatever she needs. It is rare and only comes once in a blue moon to only people from the Poseidon line. Emma knows none of this though. And so it is up to Galen to figure everything out and help her through these things.

Now Galen is so much fun. Him and his sister, Reyna, are hilarious. Throw in Reyna's mate Toraf and we have a force to reckon with. Now Reyna doesn't entirely like Emma, but Emma starts to grow on her in the end. The banter between Emma and Galen was fun. The way Galen really didn't know anything about the human world, made all his reactions sincere and hilarious all at the same time. The point of view switches from first person to third person. I really like it that way. Some people don't but I do. I like that we get to see into Emma's head and we get to see how Galen reacts to things. It's a nice change to the point of view world. The next book is Of Triton, which is reviewed on this blog.