The Nightmare Garden - Caitlin Kittredge

Title: The Nightmare Garden
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Pages: 417
Genre: Young Adult|Steampunk|Fantasy (eARC provided by NetGalley/Delacorte)
Publication Date: 2/14/2012
Rating: ****

Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.

*May Contain Spoilers from The Iron Thorn*

The Nightmare Garden picks up where The Iron Thorn left off, after Aoife destroyed the engine of Lovecraft. Aoife now knows that she is half fae and that the madness that overtook her mother was not the necrovirus, but iron poisoning. By destroying the engine, she has broken the gates of the Thorn lands and now is set out to fix them -- to keep the creatures of Thorn away.

I really love the world created by Ms. Kittredge. I feel like it is unique and original and so vividly described. The supernatural elements mixed in with the steampunk setting is fantastic.

I really enjoyed reading this one and I feel like it did not lack the adventure the first one had. The only real issue I had was with Aoife. While I still feel that she was a great heroine, her attitude nipped at me a bit. She started out so strong and courageous in The Iron Thorn whereas her I feel like she reverted in maturity a bit. While acting brave and mature in the last book, here she acted more of the sixteen year old girl that she was - sassy, rebellious and hard headed. With that said, I think some of it could very well be due to some of the events that occurred throughout the book. In the end, she did redeem herself, so it was incredibly disappointing and I hope her attitude in the end continues in book three, which I am impatiently waiting for.

This one has the same dark, foreboding feel that the first had and I was excited to continue unraveling mysteries and learning more of the Thorn lands, Lovecraft and Aoife. If you enjoyed the first installment, I really think you will love this one too and you will be eagerly awaiting the third.

Firelight - Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight
Author: Kristen Callihan
Pages: 372
Genre: Historical Fiction|Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: 1/31/2012 (eARC provided by NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing)
Rating: ****

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

A masked man and a woman with a fiery secret equals mystery, lies, smoky-steamy tension, and an exciting romantic adventure in Firelight.

I must confess that I had a lot of trouble putting this one down. It pulled me in and kept me hooked until the last words. Miranda was a strong, snarky heroine who had no trouble defending herself. Meanwhile, Archer is a mysterious, brooding man behind a mask. Put these two together and it makes for one steamy romance!

There were a couple of predictable things, but I enjoyed this and was hooked nonetheless. I felt that these two had a great chemistry and I liked watching their relationship develop and grow into love. It was a thrilling adventure unlocking their secrets and finding out what Archer really hid behind his mask. The whole time I am wondering, what on earth is going on with this dude?! Tell me NOW! And did I mention, this character is definitely sexy! You can tell what he feels for Miranda is genuine and their relationship didn't feel forced.

One complaint is that I wish we could have seen more of Miranda's fire powers. I thought it was a great aspect and was only a bit disappointed in the lack of its use. Most of focus was found in their relationship (which I knew was coming since it is a romance) and revealing Archer's secret (which I also knew was to be expected). Still, I couldn't put it down except by force.

In the end, it was exciting, fun, gritty, and darkly sexy! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good, steamy paranormal romance.

Note: I would suggest this for those 18+ for the more steamy scenes

Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 476
Genre: Young Adult|Steampunk|Urban Fantasy
Publication Date:
Rating: ****

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

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

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

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

I have to say that I enjoyed this one more than City of Bones and it was a lot easier for me to get in to. However, after gaining a little more knowledge of what exactly is going on, I do want to go back and try to read The Mortal Instruments again.

This was a slowly progressing read to me, until the last 100-150 pages, where it did finally pick up. I did really enjoy reading about the world Ms. Clare created, but I felt like it could have been a little more fast paced. It would pick up a bit, then slow down, then pick up, etc. I still enjoyed it, however.

There were dark bits and humorous bits. There were secrets to reveal and mysteries to unravel. I know there were things I didn't see coming and it was exciting at those times. I was disappointed in the lack of romance. There is a little, but not like I had hoped for. I liked the steampunk and historical aspects and the paranormal parts that were intertwined were good as well. Really the only complaint I have is the slow pace of the story/plot.

Would I recommend this? Sure. It's a great story if you don't mind the slowness of it. I feel like it had good, strong characters, although I know some readers have compared them to the characters from The Mortal Instruments, which I haven't really read, but if you have that's a possibility.

There is a huge cliffhanger ending, just so you can be prepared, and I already want to get the next book, Clockwork Prince, to find out what is going to happen! I am hoping that now that a lot of the details and explanations of things are kind of out of the way the next book will be a little faster paced. I truly am excited to see what is going to happen next (and to read more about Will, who is one of my new story crushes *girly squee!*).

Two Way Street - Lauren Barnholdt

Title: Two Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Pages: 288
Genre: Young Adult|Contemporary
Publication Date: 6/26/2007
Rating: ****

There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Courtney and Jordan are on a road trip to Boston to go to college. You know this is going to a super-uncomfortable-awkward situation since they are broken up. They had a great relationship before, until Jordan dumps her for some internet bimbo, thus making things far more uncomfortable for them.

Except for one thing: Jordan has a huge secret behind the truth of why he really broke up with her.

I found it to be deeper than I expected. There were laugh-out-loud moments and such, but I felt like Courtney and Jordan were pretty realistic in their thinking and actions. I think it being told from both of their perspectives added to this. I really liked reading about how the other felt/thought and I must add that there were plenty of funny moments even through the more serious times. One of the better parts for me was how Courtney imagined his 'new internet girlfriend'. One negative was the amount of cursing. Some I really don't mind, most of the time it doesn't bother me, but I think there are times when it can be over used and this is one of those times.

I know that novels like this can be pretty predictable, but in this genre, you know what you're getting into most of the time, so in all honesty I can't complain about that too much. It didn't make it any less enjoyable and I still found myself wrapped up in their story.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a semi-light read (some of it is a good bit sad, or it was for me anyway) and a love story.

Incarnate - Jodi Meadows

Title: Incarnate (Newsoul, #1)
Author: Jodi Meadows
Pages: 384
Genre: Young Adult|Fantasy
Publication Date: 1/31/2012
Rating: ****

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

The first sentence took my breath away completely:

What is a soul, but a consciousness born and born again?

Incarnate was an incredibly and beautifully written novel, set in a world where the same one million souls are reincarnated over and over -- that is until Ana is born. Ana is a newsoul who is unfortunately born to Li, who is a horrible mother. Ana, who has just turned eighteen, sets out to find out who she really is and why it is that she was born and along the way meets Sam.

I really thought the concept of reincarnation was creative in that it recycled the same souls, yet the conflict of Ana's birth brought about all different kinds of reactions. I loved how the writing flowed and how easy it was to be drawn into the world Ms. Meadows created. Her descriptions of the world of Range and Heart were amazing.

Ana is a great character and I feel that she is strong even with everything she has been through and continues to go through. She lives in a world where most hate her and accuse her of being a 'nosoul'. The only thing that really got to me about her was her constant defensiveness. I totally get why she was defensive, having grown up with the horrible Li for a mother, but after awhile, I felt she could have loosened up a bit, especially with Sam and Stef. Overall though, she was a great character.

Sam was amazing. He had the kindest of hearts, and even though sometimes was a bit broody, it wasn't overwhelmingly so. It was more in a subtle type of way, whereas Ana's defensiveness was abundantly clear. I really liked that even though he was Ana's love interest it wasn't in your face as a lot of romances are in YA. Don't get me wrong, I am a total sucker for romances, but it was a nice change.

Overall I found this to be fresh and exciting and ultimately nothing like I expected. I would definitely recommend this one!

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages: 391
Genre: Young Adult| Paranormal
Publication Date: 10/13/2009
Rating: ****

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Okay, so this one has been sitting on my shelf since last year -- why did I put off reading it for so long exactly? I should have picked this one up sooner!

Kind of predictable? Sure. Did I enjoy it any less because of it? Nope! Am I totally crushing on Patch? You betcha. This was definitely a guilty pleasure read, and I ate it up in one sitting. When I first started reading this, I thought, 'Great. This is basically going to be like Fallen'. To my surprise however, it turned out to be much better.

Nora was a pretty likeable character. She was brainy and had her little quirks, but overall wasn't overly annoying the way some characters can be -- and thank goodness she didn't end up totally in love and making out with Patch by chapter two.

There were great mysteries to unravel about Patch -- and surprisingly about Nora as well, which made it even more of a page turner. It's one of those things where you know, but you don't know, so you have to keep your eyes glued and those pages turning so you can get it all pieced together.

So, while being typical in some areas, it was still very much enjoyable for me and if, like myself, you have put it off or haven't picked it up yet, I would say to definitely grab this one. I can't wait to get a hold of the next in the series, Crescendo.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Pages: 236
Genre: Young Adult Comtemporary
Publication Date:
Rating: ****

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is one of the cutest books I have ever read, yet surprisingly emotional.

I went into this one expecting it to be some cutesy-mushy, unrealistic but fun, love story. This was about way more than just some cute guy Hadley meets at the airport. Hadley Sullivan is getting ready to go to her father's wedding and meet his soon-to-be bride for the first time. However, due to a string of events, she ends up missing her flight by a mere four minutes. Due to this delay, she meets Oliver -- a super cute British boy who happens to be on the same flight as her.

I really liked Hadley and her quirks - like her hatred/fear of mayo and small spaces. Hadley still hasn't gotten over her dad leaving the family and to make things worse, he is remarrying. I thought Hadley's feelings about her father were very realistic. She struggled with wanting to be permanently angry with him, yet remembering how close they had been before. I was really sucked in to the emotion here and at times had me in near tears. I felt like the relationship between them was very real - it was that of not just a father and daughter but of friends as well.

Now we have Oliver. He is so quirky and cute (how could I ever choose between him and Etienne St. Clair?!). He and Hadley are different but in such a way that it works. However, it is clear that Oliver has issues of his own to face and overcome but he doesn't let that stop him from shining.

I would really recommend this to anyone who is looking for a truly adorable love story but also one that proves you can overcome problems and defy the rules of love.

Paranormalcy - Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Pages: 335
Genre: Young Adult/Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: 9/1/2010
Rating: ****

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

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

So much for normal.

I can say that Paranormalcy ended up being different than what I expected - in a very good way! Anything that started out with something like this:

He pulled his exaggerated white fangs back behind his lips. "What, imminent death isn't exciting enough for you?"
"Oh, stop pouting. But, really, the widow's peak? The pale skin? The black cape? Where did you even get that thing, a costume store?"

is bound to be entertaining. It honestly hooked me from the start.

I wasn't sure how much I would end up liking Evie at first - she is a big girly girl and usually I'm kind of eh on the super girly thing, but I ended up really liking her character. She's quite the comedic heroine.

When we meet Evie, she is working for IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Committee), where she catches and tags paranormals in order to ensure the safety of humans. Her best friend is Lisha, a mermaid living in a tank at the Center and she also has a creepy stalker ex-boyfriend, Reth, who is a faerie. Overall, as odd as her job and friends are, she is pretty comfortable with her life until paranormals start dying mysteriously.

Soon, after discovering that paranormals were being murdered, she meets Lend - different from any paranormal she has met. Lend was a fantastic character! He was a genuinely nice person paranormal. He really helped Evie find out more about who she was throughout the story.

Another that kept me reading was the mystery of who was behind the killings. One moment I would think I might be on the trail of the truth, when I would be given a new piece of information and then would be thrown off again. There was much to unravel - who was behind the killings? What did the prophecy mean? What were the motives? Of course, there was a lot to learn about Evie too!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Even with all the mystery, it was an easy, fun read, and it leaves me wanting to read the next in the series, Supernaturally.

Ash - Malinda Lo

Title: Ash
Author: Malinda Lo
Pages: 291
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Publication Date: 3/4/2010
Rating: ****

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief. (Goodreads)

Ash is a retelling of Cinderella with a twist - or two. Aisling, or Ash, is left orphaned and in the care of her not so fabulous stepmother and stuck up stepsisters. She tries to keep the warm memories of her childhood and parents alive through the fairy tales she grew up learning and reading. She keeps hopeful that one day a fairy will come and whisk her away from the miserable life she is in.

I really liked that even though it is a retelling of the classic, it is still unique and there are aspects of it that are definitely different. I love how Ms. Lo creates a beautiful fairy world and weaves the tales in and out along with Ash's own story. It was so easy for me to get lost in the world's that were created - Ash's world and the fairy world. I also like how in this story, there wasn't a predictable 'Prince Charming' to come riding in and save the day for Ash. Instead, the unexpected happens and Ash falls for the King's Huntress, while at the same time having a complex and mysterious relationship with the fairy, Sidhean.

The way Ms. Lo tells the story is beautiful and quite easy to get lost in, as I did. Ash felt like a mix of historical fiction, romance, and a fairy tale and I loved it! It was also full of emotion and mystery to boot. I would recommend this and I don't think you would be disappointed.

The only complaint I have is the ending. I wouldn't say it ended abruptly, but there is something about it I can't quite put my finger on. However, it didn't stop me from enjoying the story or feeling satisfied at the end.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad - Kim Culbertson

Title: Songs for a Teenage Nomad
Author: Kim Culbertson
Pages: 204
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Publication Date: 6/1/2007

After living in twelve places in eight years with her drifting mother, fourteen-year-old Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Fearful of putting down roots anywhere, but armed with her song journal, she moves to her own sound track through a world that bounces her between the school drama crowd, a mysterious loner, and an unlikely boy who will become her first love. But it's the troubling truth she uncovers about her father that forces Calle to face the toughest choice of her young life. (Goodreads)

Calle (Call-ee) has spent most of her life bouncing around from town to town, watching her mother's many relationships fail. the only thing stable she has is her love of music, which she keeps in a song journal. Each time she moves, it is always the same -- no friends, no one to depend on, and no stability. However, things are seemingly changing for her when she moves to Andreas Bay.

This book drew me in originally because of the music aspect, I have an intense, lifelong love of music of all kinds. This ended up being a wonderful story about a girl coming into her own.

I can say that a lot of the time I had to stop and say, wait, she is only fourteen? Perhaps her character seemed a little older due to her life experiences, but most of the time I kept thinking she was around sixteen or seventeen. I think Calle handled things exceptionally well given her age and all the things she had been through, not to mention the things she would end up facing.

In Andreas Bay, Calle finds some things that she thought she wouldn't. Here, she makes some true friends and discovers that maybe she isn't completely alone in dealing with the pains of the world.

Although it was kind of short, it was paced well and there was plenty of emotion in it. Calle had to deal with some issues typical for a girl her age, the whole high school scene with friends and love, etc. but she also had to deal with things that she really shouldn't have with watching her mother go through so many relationships and then having to swallow not knowing her father or anything about him.

In Songs for a Teenage Nomad we get to see Calle grow and unravel some of the mysteries of her life and grow in the process. There were times I smiled, times I worried, and even times I teared up. It will pull at your heart for sure. It was a great read and I think others will enjoy it as well.

On another note, I would like to say I found this little treasure at Amazon for $0.99 for my Kindle. This is the link to it.


What I give this book:

Ashfall - Mike Mullin

Title: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
Pages: 466 (ARC copy)
Genre: Young Adult/Post-Apocalyptic
Publication Date: 10/11/2011

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget. (Goodreads)

There is a dormant (though capable of awakening) super-volcano lying underneath Yellowstone (which this is actually true). If that fact right is not enough to put some fear in you, I don't know what will. This novel was terrifying, gripping, and I couldn't put it down for anything (okay, I had to for work but that is irrelevant here). I will say now that although this is put into the genre of young adult fiction, I think it should be geared more toward older teens and adults due to the nature in some parts, i.e. some of the descriptions of violence, some sexual nature (although generally a fade to black type situation, but either way...), etc.

Alex is a fifteen year old boy who, until the Friday his parents and sister leave to visit family in Illinois, has lead a pretty normal life. After his parents leave, all heck breaks loose -- a super-volcano heck that is. In this novel, we follow Alex in the search for his parents after the eruption of the super-volcano that rests underneath Yellowstone, causing a cataclysmic reaction; ash, lightning, rains, volcanic winter, deafening thunders lasting for hours. Along the way, Alex runs into some of the more hospitable people in the world -- and unfortunately some of the nastier specimens we still label as human. Luckily for him he meets Darla. I loved Darla. She was sarcastic, witty, but still had a good heart underneath her tough exterior. Alex really was a typical teen boy, but through the chaos we see him grow and mature in a lot of ways, if not wholly. Even with it being written from his perspective, I still feel like it had a more adult tone.

All in all, I would recommend this, even if bits were disturbing and violent. If you think about it, this probably is pretty realistic for a situation this extreme. However, I still would not recommend for younger readers (under 16/17).




What I give this book:

Matched - Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Pages: 384
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publication Date: 11/30/2010

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

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

Look for CROSSED, the sequel to MATCHED, in Fall 2011! (Goodreads)

Cassia lives in a world where everything is controlled: the food you eat, the clothes you were, what you read, what you watch, what you listen to, who you love, when you die. Cassia accepts this and trusts the Society to make the right decisions to keep them safe, alive, and healthy. I could not imagine living in this type of world. You have no choices in what to make of your life and I could never give up such a freedom. When Cassia sees Ky flash for a second after seeing Xander, her match, she begins wondering if maybe the Society is as perfect as they have believed. What if she is really is meant to be with Ky instead of Xander? If she was meant to be with Xander, why did Ky's face flash across the screen?

One 'glitch' to the story is that it started out slow at first. It wasn't uninteresting, but the farther along it got, the better. In the beginning Cassia is so sheltered in the world, too trusting, maybe even going as far as naive. That first time she sees Ky, she knows it was a mistake and that is she supposed to be with Xander. Then, she really starts questioning things and discovers that maybe their infallible Society is more flawed than it seems. I think Cassia was a great character. Throughout the story, she really grows and develops in a strong young woman.

All in all, I thought this was a great read. I loved reading about Cassia slowly falling for Ky. Ky was so mysterious and broken, but unique in their world. I was rooting for them 100% of the way. I wanted to see her overcome her fears and doubts and show the Society a thing or two! I can't wait for Crossed, which comes out this November, to see if she does and what happens. Matched was left dangling, so I'm anxious for the next installment!

Also, the rights to the movie have been bought! Here is the link to read more about it:

http://www.thematcheddepartment.com/the-movie/


What I give this book:

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Beth Fantaskey
351 pages

The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Jessica Packwood is starting her senior year when she meets Lucius Vladescu, the Romanian vampire prince - and lo and behold, she is the long lost Romanian vampire princess, his fiancee. What a way to start off senior year!

I seriously loved reading this! You have Jessica, math whiz, believer in anything that can be considered rational, solved, and logical. It took A LOT of convincing her to even believe that vampires existed, so there was struggle #1. She was a quirky, quick-witted girl. You can imagine how she would react to learning she is supposed to be a vampire princess.

Lucius was way awesome too! He had the whole dark, dangerous, brooding thing down, but he had such a great sense of humor! I loved when he would write letters to his uncle describing his stay at the Packwoods'. He has an interesting take on Americans and their way of living. Even though he is a vampire teenager too, being brought up in a royal (and vampiric) setting, he has developed different mannerisms and etiquette, so when he was being snarky, it was quite entertaining.

The second Jessica book, Jessica Rule the Dark Side is expected some time early next year!

I recommend this most definitely! It is filled with great humor, a roller-coaster romance, and of course, VAMPIRES! This is not your typical Twilight book. For those wanting a good non-sparkly vampire novel, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is for you...


What I give this book:

This World We Live In - Susan Beth Pfeffer

This World We Live In
Susan Beth Pfeffer
239 pages

The heart-wrenching companion to the bestselling novels Life As We Knew It and The Dead & The Gone.

It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. Miranda and her two brothers spend their days scavenging for food and household items, while their mother stays at home and desperately tries to hold on to the ordinary activities of their previous life. But they all know that nothing is truly normal in this surreal new world they live in.

The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

In the conclusion to the Last Survivors series, we are with Miranda again, who is now seventeen, reading about life in this post-apocalyptic world through her journal entries. Life is still a struggle, trying to cope with hunger and hoping you'll survive. There is still no sunshine, it's hard to breathe with volcanic ash everywhere, and still cold.

Miranda is still pretty much the same - a little more grown up but still a teenage girl underneath it all and still struggling with her family to survive. The difference now is her father returns, with Lisa and the new baby, except now he has brought three strangers along with him.

Through her journal entries we see how they all struggle to survive together. The unexpected happens for Miranda - she finds herself in love with a boy named Alex Morales. Now she has to make life changing decisions, ones that will affect her and her family.

I didn't like this one as much as the first but better than the second. In this third installment, the lives of Miranda and Alex are brought together and now they have each other along with what's left of their families in this despairing world.

I really loved this series and I know that I will still be thinking about it for some time. It was both touching and frightening. I highly recommend this series.


What I give this book:

Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life As We Knew It
Susan Beth Pfeffer
337 pages

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

Where do I even begin? While I was reading this book - even from the beginning I was not able to stop thinking about it. I still can't get it out of my head or quit talking about it.

Miranda is a sixteen year old girl who mostly lives a normal life. Her parents are divorced, and Dad and new wife have just found out they are expecting a baby. Her older brother Matt is at college and her younger brother Jonny is pretty average and has a love of baseball.

The only thing different is scientists and astronomers are saying that a meteor is going to impact with the moon. Everyone is excited about the event and some are even throwing parties while they watch. However, there is one thing that they are not predicting - that the impact is about to knock the moon a lot closer to earth.

The moon being pushed closer is causing major problems. There are massive tsunamis, brutal storms, and volcanic ash that blocks out the sunlight turning even the hottest of summer into an arctic wasteland. Miranda, her two brothers and their mom are left to try and survive this world changing catastrophe with limited supplies and resources.

I loved this - it scared the pants off me, but I truly enjoyed it. I have never read a book and felt so frightened or had the urge to go to every store I could and stock up and anything and everything. Maybe it is realistic, maybe not, but when it comes to things up/out there you never truly know. That in itself was enough for me!

As much as I loved it, Life As We Knew It wasn't without flaws. For a good portion, Miranda irked me a bit. I know that teens can be unpredictable and hormonal sometimes, but when things got bad I would have expected a more mature attitude out of her sometimes. Some of it I could understand, I mean, hello end of the world type business going on here, but other times I felt that she was being straight up selfish and immature. Of course, there were other times I wanted to defend her as well. All in all, she grew up a lot by the end and I felt kind of proud of that. No matter how she may have been acting or how hopeless and bleak things were looking, she never lost hope and I think that had a lot to do with getting her through things.

Life As We Knew It has a kind of drop off ending, but luckily there are still two more books to go and I am hoping there will be a more positive ending/outlook for Miranda and her family.


What I give this book:

The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

The Summoning
Kelley Armstrong
390 pages
After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Chloe Saunders is a fifteen year old art school student with the normal trials and tribulations of a teenager, except that her father is always away on business and her mother is deceased. That all changes the day she sees the ghost at her school. This gets her sent to the Lyle House - a place for troubled teens. She soon discovers that they have something in common and that she is not just stuck in a house full of crazy teens.

Most of the book I thought it was about a 3/5, but the last bit of the book had me going! It was an easy read - had it finished after one sitting, but still enjoyable. I really did like it, but this earned itself a rating of four after it truly picked up. I was shocked, surprised, and had a bit of whoa-this-is-crazy thoughts going on.

I don't want to say too much and give away the good stuff, so I am stopping here. I recommend this and I think you will enjoy it too. It does have a huge cliffhanger ending and and I'm excited to get he next book, The Awakening.


What I give this book:

Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins
323 pages

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Sophie was a great character. I laughed quite a bit while reading this. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would and honestly had a hard time putting it down. This book was filled with a lot of humor, serious moments, twists, turns, and a lot of other great characters, like Jenna - Hex Hall's only vampire student. You had witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, and fae.

Sophie is sent to Hecate Hall after a love spell gone wrong. Hecate aka Hex Hall is pretty much a reformatory school for Prodigium (magical people). It doesn't take her long to have things go wrong for her - Elodie, Anna, and Chaston, three powerful dark witches now consider her enemy number one and make her a subject of ridicule. She becomes friends/roommates with the biggest outcast of the school, develops an enormous crush on the hottest boy in school, among other things. And to top it all off, there is the mystery in the school of who is attacking fellow students.

I was really impressed with this and look forward to reading the next in the series, Demonglass. I would most certainly recommend this to others and I think you will thoroughly enjoy this as well. At first it seems like it may be one of those silly school girl witch stories, but it really is so much better than that

The only complaint I have is the way it ended abruptly, so that being said...

What I give this book:

The Secret Year - Jennifer R. Hubbard

The Secret Year
Jennifer R. Hubbard
192 pages

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one - not even Julia's boyfriend - knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can't mourn Julia openly, and he's tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia's journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he's desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place? (Goodreads)

The bit about being like Romeo and Juliet meets The Outsiders is a perfect description of this novel. The Outsiders has been one of my favorite books ever since I read it several years ago.

Colt lives in the flats and Julia on Black Mountain. They are from two different worlds, him from a home where money is hard to come by and her from one where it is abundant - shiny cars, big houses, country clubs, and parties. One night they meet and things take off, leading them to spending a secret year together - until Julia dies tragically one night.

Colt is trying to learn how to deal with the death of Julia. I could not imagine being in his situation. He couldn't very well talk to anyone about it or grieve publicly since the relationship he had with Julia was a secret. This was a very pain-filled read and most certainly not a light one emotionally. Some parts were hard reading - like the ones that described how he felt about Julia or about how he felt like he was less than her.

All in all, I enjoyed this very much even though it was hard to read. I highly recommend this and I don't think you will be disappointed.

What I give this book:

Passion - Lauren Kate

Passion
Lauren Kate
420 p.

"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever. (Goodreads)

This one was a bit of a whirlwind. You go through so many places, times and emotions. I definitely enjoyed this one better than Fallen and Torment.

Passion picks up where Torment left off, with Luce traveling through the Announcer into hers and Daniel's past. She is seeking answers as to why their love is cursed and what she can do to change it. Each trip back through seems to get us closer to an answer without it being completely unraveled.

There were bits that were funny, love that moved you and moments that made you feel hopeless for them, but all in all it was a good read. I think others may enjoy this third installment better than the first two if you can keep patient through all the whos, whats, whens, wheres and whys.

I feel as though I am closer to learning the truth except I still don't quite understand everything. I still finished this one feeling more satisfied than I did with Fallen and Torment. I am disappointed though that I will have to wait almost a year before reading Rapture, which is scheduled for Spring 2012.

What I give this book:

Glass Houses - Rachel Caine

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

I can't believe I am just now reading this series. Why did it take so long to let the awesomness of the Morganville Vampires escape me?!

Claire Danvers is a sixteen-year-old college freshman. Yes, young, but she is incredibly smart and gifted. She is a little quirky and a very cute character. I think she does well for her age. When she goes to Morganville for college, all she wants is to study, get good grades, and prepare for a better college. Little does she know that in Morganville she is going to find nothing but trouble and an enormous secret about the town: that Morganville is run by vampires.

I really enjoyed this. It was a light read (for me) even if it had some darker moments when the plot thickened. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, which is The Dead Girls' Dance.


What I give this book: