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.

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Pages: 199
Genre: Young Adult|Contemporary
Publication Date: 4/9/2009
Rating: *****

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make -and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

I have never read something so emotional in so few pages. While a quick read, it was a difficult one because it is so heart wrenching. There were several times throughout reading this that I found myself with tears in my eyes and the feeling of my heart breaking. This is such a poignant read that it will grip you by the heart and drag you in, leaving you with no other choice but to devour it.

I thought I knew what to expect going in and I have heard a lot of readers gushing about it but I really had no idea that it would be this good. Could you imagine being in such a tragic situation while you are only an outsider, a witness to all that is going on around you while you can do nothing but think and reflect? There were some incredibly painful moments to read but I couldn't tear myself away from it.

If I Stay has such an intense emotional impact that it will leave you breathless and linger in your mind well after you have finished it. It contains so many emotions - helplessness, despair, unimaginable pain, yet it is surrounded by happiness and so much love you can feel every bit of it. The characters are realistic and you will find yourself hurting for them, laughing with them, and above all, wanting to reach out to them in their darkest moments.

This is one that I feel is unforgettable. I am eager to get my hands on the sequel, Where She Went. I highly recommend this one and I urge you to get a copy ASAP, buy, borrow, what have you, it's a must read!

Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Pages: 326
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal|Historical
Publication Date: 2/7/2012
Rating: *****

"Blessed with a gift..."cursed" with a secret."
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave. Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.

I would like just a moment to totally gush over the cover of this book! It is so gorgeous!

Having just finished Born Wicked, I'm not sure how I will make it until I find out what happens in the next books! This was written wonderfully, being set in the late 20th century in an alternate New England. It has the historical aspect, witches, forbidden love, secrets, mystery, danger, excitement!

Cate Cahill and her sisters, Maura and Tess, are witches -- a dangerous secret that must be kept, otherwise could result in being sent to a prison or asylum by the Brotherhood. After their mothers' death, Cate is left responsible for her younger sisters and it is up to her to care for them and to keep what they are a secret. Things really begin to unfold when Cate learns of a prophecy, one that will change their lives forever. With Cate's seventeenth birthday quickly approaching, meaning she will have to announce an engagement for marriage or an oath to the sisterhood, she is running out of time to put together the pieces of the puzzle.

Most of this one was exciting and I loved unlocking the secrets of the Cahill sisters and their little town. Some of it was a tad slow, but it didn't discourage me from reading on. The Brotherhood gave me the creeps a little, their rules and governing gave it almost a *slight* dystopian feel, though this is not a dystopian novel. While their is the wonderful forbidden love, it is not the center point of the story. I think it focused more on Cate and her sisters than it did with her relationships with Finn and her childhood friend, Paul (not that I would have minded a little more Finn!). I do, however, wish there was just a little more magic and witchery, though I can understand since the point was that it was supposed to a closely kept secret.

I feel that Cate was a great character. Some might view her as hard or harsh, but given the position she was put in to, I felt that she was strong and brave. In the end, no matter what her decisions were or what choices she was having to make, she did everything with her sisters in mind. Protecting them is what mattered the most to her and to me that makes her incredibly selfless. Whether she was dealing with the fiery Maura or sweet Tess, she did what she did to keep them safe.

Finn. Wow! I have been developing some major fictional crushes as of late! So let's go right on ahead and add Finn Belastra to that list.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is the book trailer:

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.

A Million Suns - Beth Revis

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Pages: 386
Genre: Young Adult|Science Fiction|Dystopia
Publication Date: 1/10/2012
Rating: *****

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

So you know how most second books tend to be fillers or mediocre compared to the great start of a first in a series? This is SO not the case here! A Million Suns was such a great read, I'm still in shock from everything my brain has just absorbed. The Across the Universe series just keeps getting better and I honestly don't know what I am going to do while I'm waiting for the last book to be released (mind you it's going to be almost a year!). Ultimately, this was an amazing follow-up to Across the Universe.

A Million Suns takes place three months after the end of the first book. We still have many, many more secrets, lies and mysteries to unravel aboard Godspeed. This book had me on the edge my seat, squirming about in nervousness and I think my eyes my have been bulging just a bit at some points. I know there were times I even gasped aloud in surprise/shock.

Yeah, it was that good.

If you enjoyed Across the Universe, you will definitely enjoy this. I feel like I can't rave enough about this trilogy and the last book is even close to being out yet (unfortunately). So, with that said -- go get this now!!

Croak - Gina Damico

Title: Croak
Author: Gina Damico
Pages: 311
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 3/20/2012 (eARC provided by NetGalley/Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt)
Rating: ***

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

Lexington 'Lex' Bartleby is a sixteen year old trouble maker. To get her to change her ways, they send her off to her Uncle Mort's for the summer. Lex's Uncle Mort lives in upstate New York -- on a farm. She is absolutely dreading the trip and the idea of working on a farm. This is, of course, until she discovers what her Uncle Mort really does. He is a Grim Reaper.

This wasn't too bad. A lot of things were a bit predictable but some things were unexpected.

I think it started off pretty well. It was laugh-out-loud funny and I loved the idea of this one. However, Lex truly is a ticking time bomb. She has a horrible temper and attitude (even if her sarcasm is hilarious) and she seemingly has no reason for it. At times I found myself thinking - is that really even necessary!?

Overall the characters were decent. They weren't perfect by any means but they weren't all out horrible either. I liked Uncle Mort and Driggs, who were also pretty funny.

It did end with a big fat cliffhanger as to set you up for the next in the series. With this series, I could take it or leave it. I am sort of on the fence about because I really do want to know how things turn out, but at the same time I'm not so sure since I found myself getting distracted from it easily.

Everneath - Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath (Everneath, #1)
Author: Brodi Ashton
Pages: 370
Genre: Young Adult| Mythology
Publication Date: 1/24/2012
Rating: *****

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

This turned out to be a bit different than expected, but not in a bad way. After being so incredibly disappointed with Abandon [review], I was a bit hesitant about trying another retelling of Persephone, which as it turned out, was closer to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Throughout the story, I felt so bad for Nikki. She was in so much pain knowing that seeing the people she loved was only temporary, for soon she would be taken back to the Everneath. It felt like she was this hollow shell of a person who so desperately just wanted to be with those that she loved, but knew that there was nothing she could to change it. Nikki desperately wanted to be with Jack, her former boyfriend, but didn't want to put him through the pain of losing her again. Unfortunately, there is Cole, who is always lingering over her like an ominous dark cloud.

Now, don't be mistaken and think this is another YA novel focused on some sappy love triangle -- it is not. I know Jenny will be disappointed, but I really did like Jack and totally rooted for him over Cole. I couldn't imagine loving someone and then the person disappearing and having no idea what happened to them other than rumors. don't get me wrong, I did kind of like Cole and had a soft spot in my heart for him. I spent most of the book having a strong distrust for him. I know he cared about Nikki but there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on with him.

I really thought that Everneath picked up when she started trying to dig deeper into things, to find out what she wasn't being told. I'm not going into too much here because I don't want to give too much away.

One thing I was not expecting though was to be brought to tears. That is exactly what it ended up doing. I'm still here, even writing this, thinking about it and I'm just so in shock. It was the kind of tears that are caused by not just pain, but a mixture of that and feeling so overwhelmed by that kind of love and dedication to a person.

So, with all of that said, I definitely enjoyed Everneath and the emotions it evoked, even if they weren't always happy ones. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mythology retellings or just stories of love. I don't know how well I'm going to hold out waiting for the next book.

Oh and can I say -- look at that gorgeous cover!

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!

Cryer's Cross - Lisa McMann

Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Pages: 233
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 2/8/2011
Rating: *

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried...

Kendall lives in the small town of Cryer's Cross, Montana and dreams of going to Juilliard. She lives a relatively normal life - except for her OCD. Things start to change, however, when a young girl goes missing in their small town and then others start to disappear as well.

I had heard pretty good things about this one but I was so incredibly disappointed. I was not a fan of the writing style at all - and don't get me wrong, I have read plenty of good books written in third person, but this was not one of them. I found it to be a bit bland and monotonous.

I also felt like it focused way too much on her OCD. Kendall straightens the desks a certain way and arranges the markers a certain way. She checks her window locks so many times, etc. I understand it was supposed to be a big part of her character/personality or whatnot, but it was distracting me away from the actual story way too much and it was done in such a way that it didn't really make it interesting for me. I think it was just a little too simplistic for my taste.

Another thing, I was not creeped out in the least by this. I have read quite a few that gave me the chills, but sadly this one didn't. I was hoping for a good spook story, so again, it was disappointing.

This is the first book by Ms. McMann that I have read, and I have also heard many great things about the Wake trilogy (I actually own the first book), so I won't give up on the author yet, this particular one though was just not for me. With there being so many great reviews on this one though, I won't discourage you from giving it a go for yourself because you may find that you really like it.

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.

Across the Universe - Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author Beth Revis
Pages: 398
Genre: Young Adult|Science Fiction|Dystopia
Publication Date: 1/1/11
Rating: *****

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

WOW! I seriously could not put this book down (unless it was absolutely necessary). This was way different than a lot of the things I have read and I am dying over here to buy A Million Suns, the next in the trilogy.

There are so many lies, secrets, and unexpected twists and turns, it keeps you hooked! Across the Universe is told from the perspectives of Amy and Elder. Amy and her parents are cryogenically frozen aboard Godspeed, the ship that is taking select people to a new planet to live. Elder has known nothing but life on Godspeed. When Amy is unfrozen too soon, mysteries and secrets begin to unravel as both of them discover that perhaps what they knew as the truth isn't the truth at all.

I am amazed at the world that was created by Ms. Revis and I'm still going over in my mind all the things I learned about the workings of the inhabitants of Godspeed and wondering about all the truths left to discover. While the cover insinuates a lot of romance, there isn't as much as you would think. However, this was not disappointing for me as there was still loads of things to keep me intrigued and glued to the pages. I loved the whole concept of this one and it did not disappoint in any way I can think of, for me at least.

I highly recommend reading this one!! The only disappointing thing for me is that I put off reading it for so long.

The Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney

Title: The Iron Witch
Author: Karen Mahoney
Pages: 289
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 2/8/2011
Rating: *

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I was really looking forward to this, but could not get into it for anything. I didn't really like Donna or Nav, which I'm sad to say. This one has been on my TBR list since last year but I just couldn't get into it.

I think that this is one that could have been something completely awesome but unfortunately wasn't. I just felt that it was a bit flat and had the potential to be way better than what it was. I can't say that I would recommend it (although I'm sure some will love it) or that I will be buying the next in the series.

Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Pages: 316
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal|Horror
Publication Date: 8/30/2011
Rating: *****

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Wow! This book was amazing! As in: captivating, awesome main character, will scare your pants off, can't put it down amazing!

Theseus 'Cas' Lowood is a ghost killer. Not your Casper type ghosts -- the ones that make you fear for your life. These are the ghosts that kill and it's Cas's job to get rid of them... until he meets Anna - Anna Dressed in Blood.

Again, wow! That was quite the ride! I really had a hard time putting this one down and even now I'm still reeling from the adventure. Ms. Blake's descriptions of death, gore and all things ghostly had me hooked. I loved Cas's voice and reading from his POV.

I thought I was starting to learn my lesson with the whole ghost/paranormal/spook factor, but I have gone and done it again. Yeah, good luck me getting to sleep with vivid images of blood and icky spooks! I would recommend this to older teens and adults because bits can be pretty graphic for younger readers and there is some strong language.

I don't even want to say too much because to me Anna Dressed in Blood is just one of those you have to read for yourself. Don't let this one slip by you! Go get it NOW!

New Girl - Paige Harbison

Title: New Girl
Author: Paige Harbison
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Publication Date: 1/31/2012 (eARC provided by NetGalley/HarlequinTEEN)
Rating: ***

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

After just finishing New Girl, I feel totally confused and have that thought of 'What...huh?'. I can't say that I totally hated this book but I can't say I loved it either. This was comparable to some kind of whirlwind that is filled with a bunch of what-in-the-world? with flashes and bits of things that keep you reading (this isn't necessarily a bad thing here).

New Girl (you won't be finding out her real name until the end of the book) has just started Manderly Academy and finds herself shadowed by a missing student: Becca Normandy. This book is told from New Girl and Becca's perspective, New Girl in present day and Becca before she went missing.

Okay, I have a few things good bit to get off my chest here. First, I really did not like New Girl or Becca, although half way through I started liking New Girl more and of course, Becca even less. New Girl really, really - and yes, I mean really - needed to grow a backbone and tell people to shut it already. That grated on my nerves something awful. She would let these other students talk to her so horribly and talk behind her back and wouldn't say anything. Luckily, that gets better eventually.

Becca. This girl obviously had no morals or any kind of decency or respect to anyone or herself. I am not even going into this one otherwise it will overtake the whole review.

Max and Johnny were semi-okay. I think they could have been better, but all in all not bad - when they weren't tied up around Becca anyway. Dana was a complete nut case and there were times I would wonder why she wasn't in some kind of counseling or therapy... or perhaps a strait jacket when she went into one of her screaming-crazy-Becca-obsessed fits (although later on I did develop some sort of sympathy for her).

With all that out of the way, I say again, I didn't actually hate this book. There was a great mystery to it, I had to know who New Girl was (not just her name) and I had to know what exactly happened to Becca and why on earth she was such a vile person. At the end though, I still felt like there was something to know that was left unsaid and was left feeling a little uneasy. I don't know if it was the overall weirdness of the story or what. It wasn't written poorly, but the story in itself was strange. I am curious now to read Rebecca which is what this story is based off of.

Overall, I would say read at your own risk. It's not one I would run out and demand people to read, but at the same time I wouldn't say never read it, just to enter with caution.

The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson

Title: The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
Pages: 372
Genre: Young Adult|Paranormal
Publication Date: 9/29/2011
Rating: *****

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

A book about a killer mirroring Jack the Ripper? Heck yeah! Paranormal twist? Even better! I can say that I really enjoyed reading this one - some moments I would be laughing, other times sitting with eyebrows knit together, and of course other times I would be looking around the room in a frenzied paranoia, worried that for some unfathomable reason, a Jack the Ripper knock off was prancing about my house somewhere ready to strike at any moments notice (and of course, I HAVE to wonder, why do I do this? I have this same problem with horror films, which are of course way worse in my opinion. Yet, I still subject myself to their horrendous plots and crazy creatures). Note: I also caused myself to bubble up a little paranoia with The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. I also tortured myself with Unsolved Mysteries on television as a kid. At night. In the dark. So with my rambling about my weird relationship with things involving mystery/horror/spooks out of the way...

I really liked how Rory was different from most of the heroines we meet. She wasn't anything grand, but I wouldn't say she was boring either, she was just normal. Rory is now at Wexford, a boarding school in London, coming all the way from Louisiana. She is spending her senior year there when soon, someone starts to copy the murders of Jack the Ripper.

This wasn't rushed, yet is wasn't painfully slow either. It was set a pretty decent pace. There wasn't a huge love triangle or conflict with other students, which frankly is a great change. It really focused on what was going on with the murders and finding out who was behind them. Oh, and about that...

Ms. Johnson did an excellent job in writing about the Ripper and his murders. She described enough that it was chilling but not in a blood and guts and wow that's really gross kind of way. I think she did a fantastic job in writing The Name of the Star. This is the first novel I have read by her, and am interested in more. I really can't wait until the next one comes out (I noticed this is a series, which makes me pretty excited, although I am going to have to wait until the end of September for the second book in the series, which is NOT exciting).

So, if you are looking for an awesome, edge-of-your-seat, thriller/mystery with a dash of paranormal, grab this book. ASAP. I don't think you will be disappointed!

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.

The Water Wars - Cameron Stracher

Title: The Water Wars
Author: Cameron Stracher
Pages: 240
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Rating: *

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for...

Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.

Honestly, the one star is mostly for the cover. The cover is fantastic! The writing however...

I tried desperately to get into this one and just couldn't. I will be honest and say that I didn't even make it halfway through. I know some really liked it or hated it for one reason or another. For me, I just couldn't get past the writing. It seemed too monotone for me. Not only was it monotonous, but it just felt like this:

"We have no water, spilling water is illegal blah blah... Random filler stuff blah blah... Introduce new blah character...", etc.

That sums up my feelings on this one, but it could still work for some readers. Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne - Kady Cross

Title: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne
Author: Kady Cross
Pages: 78 (Kindle)
Genre: Young Adult/Steampunk
Publication Date: 5/1/2011
Rating: ***

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…

This was a pretty decent read. I was struggling with whether or not to give it 2 stars or 3, but decided on 3 in the end just simply because it has gotten me interested to continue reading The Girl in the Steel Corset again, which I had picked up a couple of times but haven't finished.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is somewhat of a mini-mystery. We are introduced to Finley - a young woman with some incredible abilities. When we first meet her, she is in the process of being fired from her job for hitting a governess. Eventually, she acquires another job, which is to be a companion to Lady Morton's daughter, Phoebe.

Throughout the story, we are basically led along to discover the true motives of Phoebe's fiance.

One thing I can say I was not crazy about was Finley's constant talk to herself of 'there's something wrong with me, I'm not normal, I have a dark side, blah blah...' It might just be me, but it grated on my nerves a little after the first few comments made about this. In general, I did like Finley, so don't get me wrong there. It was this one minor thing I had issues with.

Overall, this wasn't bad and the good news is that it is free (ebook only). You can pick that up here.