Review: Elixir

Title: Elixir
Author: Hilary Duff
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication date: October 2010
Format: Paperback - 330 pages
Source: UK Book Tours
Other: Excerpt - Chapter 1
My rating: 7/10

Summary:

A soulmate for life...or death

Seventeen-year-old Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent politician, she has become a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a world that allows her to travel to many exotic places. But after Clea's father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea begins to notice eerie, shadowy images in her photos of a strange and beautiful young man - a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father's disappearance, and they discover the centuries-old truth behind the intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives - and their futures.

My thoughts:

I feel like I enjoyed this book for the wrong reason, it's so weird - I have no idea why I almost feel guilty for liking it! :P

I'll start with what I didn't like about this one I think because otherwise I'll start ranting about one character in particular BIG TIME!

There are two characters in the book - Clea and Sage (love the name by the way, it's different) - well, I really didn't like the relationship between them both. I'll let you read the book yourselves to find out exactly what their relationship is but for me, it didn't start or even progress in the right way at all. It came out of absolutely nowhere (when it was happening in the real world, not the dream one but again I'll let you read for yourself) and then it just became this huge deal. I still don't get what happened...

And the other aspect of the book I didn't like was the end. It felt quite rushed compared to the beginning which in itself was pretty slow. One thing that really frustrates me is rushed endings, in my opinion, the ending is the most important part of the book so for it to end like it did was disappointing.

What I did like about Elixir was the little surprises that came with characters looking for clues throughout the book to find the whereabouts of Clea's father. There were some parts of the book that shocked me in a good way just because they were quite out of place. But at the same time the said parts of the book were enjoyable and I took the change to the story in my stride and accepted it.

What I loved most though was SAGE. This character is the reason I liked the book even when I feel like I shouldn't. The funny thing is though, whenever I try to pinpoint what I like about him exactly, I can't because when I look back at his personality I kind of don't like him. I know it's so WEIRD! He's definitely hot stuff though! :P

The Elixir Series:

• #1 - Elixir
  
• #2 - Devoted
  

Hilary Duff:

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Review: Raw Blue

Title: Raw Blue

Author: Kirsty Eagar

Publisher: Penguin Australia

Publication date: 29/06/09

Paperback: 274 pages

Young Adult: Contemporary

Source: Loan from UK Swap Shop

Extract|Video

My Rating: 7/10

Summary:

Carly has dropped out of uni to spend her days surfing and her nights working as a cook in a Manly café. Surfing is the one thing she loves doing … and the only thing that helps her stop thinking about what happened two years ago at schoolies week.

And then Carly meets Ryan, a local at the break, fresh out of jail. When Ryan learns the truth, Carly has to decide. Will she let the past bury her? Or can she let go of her anger and shame, and find the courage to be happy?

My thoughts:

I had heard loads of great things about this one so I just had to pick it up.

Unfortunately though I was a little disappointed. It was a good read but I was expecting it to be a lot better.

Raw Blue is basically about a nineteen year old, Carly, who loves to surf and so she dropped out of University to have more time to do so. She's fallen out with her family, she has this a horrible past, she has to work in a horrible cafe during the night where she's not having a great time of it.

I really liked the characters. I thought the way Carly was written made reading the whole book a great experience where I was completely relaxed reading it and I found myself forgetting about everything else going on around me and was solely focused on the story.

Kirsty Eagar made a video about Raw Blue which I've linked at the top of this post and she mentioned that normally, writing is telling a story, but for Raw Blue it was like listening to one. I completely agree with where she's coming from because reading this was like listening to Carly's story. The problem was, I didn't feel like Carly was a strong enough character for me to feel the anger she feels in the book. I knew she was angry. I just didn't feel angry for her, which is what I should have felt given her circumstances. That's where I was disappointed.

Ryan was a great character. It was great how the typical roles in novels was reversed in this one. Ryan was the one to help Carly get through obstacles and tell him her past so she could deal with it. I think normally in books it's the other way round. However, I felt that Ryan wasn't mentioned no way near enough for how important he was to the story and to Carly's development as a character.

Overall I do recommend this read. It was a quick read and despite my negative thoughts about it, it was rather memorable.

Great Quotes:

Once they know they've got a hold of your shame, they can shake it out and hold it up for the all world to see. And you become less than it. You become something disgusting.

He’s still singing to himself, eyes closed, pretending, I think, that I’m someone else.
I shout in his ear again. ‘So you can’t just lay down and die?’
He doesn’t open his eyes, but he nods. ‘You can’t just lay down and die”

Kirsty Eagar:
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Review: Ashes

Title: Ashes

Author: Ilsa Bick

Publisher: Quercus

Publication date: 29th September 2011

Paperback: 465 pages

Source: Received from publisher

Young adult: Horror

My rating: 10/10!!!

Extract

Summary:

No, she thought. No, please, God, I'm not seeing this.

Seventeen - year - old Alex is hiking through the wilderness when it happens: an earth-shattering electromagnetic pulse that destroys almost everything.

Survivors are divided between those who have developed a superhuman sense and those who have acquired a taste for human flesh. These flesh-hunters stalk the land: hungry, ruthless and increasingly clever...

Alex meets Tom, a young army veteran, and Ellie, a lost girl. They will fight together and be torn apart, but Alex must face the most difficult question of all: in such a vastly changed world, who can you trust?

A story of high-wire tension, gut-wrenching twists, and burgeoning love, Ashes will leave you breathless.

My thoughts:

I can't even begin to describe how much I loved reading this book. I never wanted it to end!

It literally had everything I personally love in books. It had loads of twists and turns, great characters, horror that isn't for the fainthearted and such strong emotions that a reader can actually feel as the characters experience them because of the desperate situation they are in.

Alex was by far my favourite character. Not because she's the main protagonist, but because she's the no-nonsense, tell it like it is sort. She was smart and she wasn't afraid to act when the time came down to it. There was no 'acting the hero' sort of thing with her, it was just doing what needed to be done and to keep other people safe before herself.

Tom and Alex were great companions along with Ellie. They both fit well together and worked well as a team which made them both likeable. I felt that I couldn't really get to know Tom as a character properly though before the end of the novel for reasons obvious when you read the book. There were little tidbits of Tom's past that were revealed but not enough! I want to know more!

That's another thing, about halfway through the book, the plot takes a dramatic turn which I'm sure not everyone will appreciate. It did work for me though so I can't complain. It was one of those moments where you keep reading, sort of get a little confused for a second at the way the story is developing, and then just accept it as the way the author wanted it to go. I thought it was a brilliant turn of events and it made me read just that little bit faster!

The plot itself was amazing! An electromagnetic pulse? That could have gone either way, I'm sure, but in Ashes it worked so well. Plus, it was a read that made me cringe quite a bit which doesn't happen very often anymore with the amount of horror I read! I seriously loved every shiver that went down my spine and every revolted gasp I made!

One thing I can't believe though, was the ending. For obvious reasons I won't say how it ended but it took me so completely by surprise that I was kind of in shock for a while and couldn't read anything else! I really can't wait for more from Ilsa Bick because Ashes was a truly glorious read that gave me goosebumps! One of my top favourites of the year so far!

Ilsa Bick:
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Review: Kill All Enemies

Title: Kill All Enemies

Author: Melvin Burgess

Publisher:Puffin Books

Publication date: 01 September 2011

Paperback: 320 pages

Young Adult

Source: UK Book Tours

My Rating: 7/10

Summary:

Everyone says fourteen-year-old Billie is nothing but trouble. A fighter. A danger to her family and friends. But her care worker sees someone different.

Her classmate Rob is big, strong. He can take care of himself and his brother. But his violent Stepdad sees someone to humiliate.

And Chris is struggling at school. He just doesn't want to be there. But his Dad sees a useless no-hoper.

Billie, Rob and Chris each have a story to tell. But there are two sides to every story, and the question is...who do you believe?

My thoughts:

I really liked this read because of the realistic characters. They are probably the most realistic characters I have come across in a book so far which is always a good thing. They weren't likeable all the time but they each had their own story that came together in the end in a way that makes you question the way society works sometimes.

It's a good author that can make you like and dislike a character at the same time. The characters did stupid things sometimes and yet I felt for them when they continued to be misunderstood.

It makes you realise that a person's actions are for a reason whether it be good or bad. I won't bore you with a rant about society from me because I'll get carried away, but, it really makes you think twice about judging someone based on their actions and your immediate response.

Having said that the book didn't sit well with me at times. I can't place it exactly but the jump between characters and events sort of frustrated me somehow. Maybe there could have been more details and such but sometimes the book was uncomfortable to read. For me anyways.

I do recommend this one though. It's the book that makes you think whilst reading it in order to understand what's going on fully. It's a good read.

Melvin Burgess:
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Review: Seared by Desire

Title: Seared by Desire

Author: Jennifer T. Alli

Publication date: December 12th 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Source: Received from author.

My Rating: 8/10

Summary:

A cold heart…
For centuries Lucian has battled on two fronts. Defeating the Malachites, all that stand between him and becoming King of the vampires and the demon within himself, battling desperately for release. His attention stretched thin he has no time for women but Sara, his fiery bride won’t be denied.

A burning touch…
With a deadly curse hanging over her head, Sara knows her time is short. Placing her life in Lucian's hands is a risk she knows she must take and one her innocent heart gladly makes for Lucian makes her body burn and her soul fly.

Never had hot and cold reacted so combustively.
Sara’s presence pushes Lucian to the brink of madness, her nearness making him crazed with the need for her blood. Though his fangs ache with longing, to bite her could condemn them both but the attraction between them is too strong to be denied. As they race headlong towards a fiery conclusion will they emerge unscathed to will the flames of desire consume them both?

My thoughts:

This a great read about a fire elemental, Sara, who is shunned from both her family and community for being powerless. However, things soon change when Sara discovers she is cursed and that only one certain vampire can keep her alive.

I think the best thing about this novel is the characters. Lucian, the Lord of the vampires, is a strong character from the start - completely unselfish with only his people in mind, a strong warrior and to top it all off he's completely irresistible.

The plot was full of desperation, anxiety and a few battle scenes so it had a little bit of everything. It had a perfect ending which definitely leaves you wanting more from the author. Definitely a recommended read!

Jennifer T. Alli
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Review: Angel's Fury

Title: Angel's Fury

Author: Bryony Pearce

Publisher: Egmont

Publication date: 4th July 2011

Paperback: 304 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Young Adult

Source: UK Book Tours

My Rating: 9/10

Summary:

I've started to have dreams while I'm awake. I remember music I've never heard ... I've got all this extra stuff in my head, but I'm forgetting things from my own life. I feel like I'm being taken over.

Cassie Farrier has always suffered from terrifying nightmares. On a trip to Germany she recognises scenes from her dreams and finds evidence of a sixty year-old massacre. Fearing for her sanity, her family sends Cassie to a retreat where she meets others with symptoms like her own and finds out that she has lived a number of past lives.

However, the Doctor at the retreat is not what she seems. Cassie and the boy she comes to love must escape the Doctor’s influence but can they also escape the misery of their shared past?

My thoughts:

I really, really enjoyed this read. It was so original I couldn't not.

It had everything I like in a book. Great characters - every single one of them had their own story and own distinct personality as a result of an interesting backstory.

Angel's Fury immediately starts with one of the dreams the protagonist, Cassie, frequently has which prevents her from sleeping.

The dreams are described throughout the book and they get more and more detailed and descriptive and sometimes, downright creepy. However, the focus of the story was the Doctor who is supposed to help with these dreams at a retreat. I felt that too much focus was on Cassie's home life at the start - it lasted for quite a bit of the book so when Cassie did eventually go to the retreat and meet the characters the were important to the story, it seemed irrelevant because I had already read so much about Cassie's home life.

The rest of the novel more than made up for it though. It was a brilliantly intense and original read that always had me on the edge of my seat. I loved it and it's definitely a must read!

Great quotes:

"I've started to have dreams while I'm awake. I remember music I've never heard... I've got all this extra stuff in my head, but I'm forgetting things from my own life. I feel like I'm being taken over."

Bryony Pearce:
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Review: Paradise 21

Title: Paradise 21

Author: Aubrie Dionne

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publication date: August 2nd 2011

Ebook edition: 228 pages

Genre: Science Fiction

Source: Enchanted Book Tours

My Rating: 6/10

Summary:

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.

But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price.

The life of the man she loves.

My review:

The idea of this book is really great...someone rebelling against people who set her whole life out for her - who to marry and what career path to take regardless of her feelings on the matter. And then someone else who had been kicked off of his own ship in a mutiny and abandoned on a desert planet. And everyone is trying to find a habitable planet because Earth was ruined. I mean...I saw the summary of the book and just thought I have GOT to read that!

I don't really read that much science-fiction - not anything like this anyway so I was a little bit apprehensive to start with.

For me this was one of those reads that is just 'okay' which was a little disappointing. I enjoyed reading it, but it's not memorable at the end of the day - it's not one that will constantly be on my mind like some books are.

It also had one of those love stories that I hate. Two characters meet, spend like three days together, and then fall in love? It frustrates me! Granted they spent the most stressful time together possible on a desert planet almost being hunted and eaten but still!

Anyway, this was still an entertaining read. It was full of action and the story was switched between alternating character's points of views. So there was loads of variation of characters and different personalities which was interesting.

Overall it was a good read and a quick one too!

Aubrie Dionne:
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Review: Witch Song

Title: Witch Song

Author: Amber Argyle

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing

Publication date: September 1st 2011

Ebook edition: 321 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Young Adult

Source: Received from publisher

My Rating: 8/10

Summary:

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fades, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

My Review:

This story did have a bit of a slow start when compared to the rest of the novel. However, when it got started a ton of things seemed to happen right after each other. That's all very well, but there was no balance in that respect for me. There was no time in the story where things were just left to settle and characters were able to reflect or interact - it doesn't seem right when characters are going through a moment of reflection whilst being fired at or dealing with being in the middle of a battle or whatever, no matter how relevant the said moment of reflection is to the story.

Now that the criticism is out of the way, other than that I really loved this story. It was really new and original and had great characters.

The protagonist of the story, Brusenna, was flawed in that she saw everything as up to her and that she was alone, with her being the last witch. I love that in characters. Especially when surrounding characters are there to point it out and try and help. Brusenna developed a lot throughout Witch Song and even though everything seemed to be up to her, when everybody else got involved and maybe didn't seem to be so grateful to her, she didn't react like a spoilt little brat. She took it in her stride and kept her mouth shut when she should have and spoke out when the opportunity arose. My point is, it just goes to show that not every successful heroine has to be loudmouthed just to get her opinions heard or refuse to accept a man's help for fear of being seen as inferior. Brusenna was none of that and as a result she was probably the most realistic heroine ever!

Other than the characters the plot was really original. Witches who's power lies in their voice? So cool to read about!

I really recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of YA or otherwise. Pick it up, you won't regret it!

Great quotes:

A Witch with a weak song is barely a Witch at all.

Amber Argyle:
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Delirium Review

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication date: 3rd February 2011

Hardback: 393 pages

Genre: Science Fiction

Young Adult

Source: Bought

My Rating: 7/10

Summary:
There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.
Then, at last, they found the cure.
Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But then, with only twenty-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable...

My Review:
This is going to be one of those reviews where I know what I want to say but it's hard to put into words and get across so bear with me.
The idea or the premise of this novel would appeal to anyone. A world where love is seen as a disease that can be cured as soon as we turn eighteen. A world with no pain, no sadness and freedom. Who wouldn't at least want to pick it up.
But! But, it was hard to read. Here's where it gets hard for me to write...
The writing was excellent. It was packed with emotion where there should be emotion, it was nicely paced and it had fabulous description. However, as far as the emotional touches went, they put me off. Normally, a book like this should be emotional right? That's obvious. But if compared to other similar books, the emotional side normally makes me, as a reader, feel emotional. I mean, that's the whole point. Delirium didn't. It actually pained me to read at times.
Aside from that it took a while to get going but as soon as Lena meets Alex things start happening and certain aspects of the lie Lena has been living start to unravel. There are quite a few surprises throughout the book which I liked because they were completely unexpected and fit in well with the story.
Overall, I did like the novel and I'll definitely be reading the sequel.

Great quotes:

"And now I know why they invented words for love, why they had to: It's the only thing that can come close to describing what I feel in that moment, the baffling mixture of pain and pleasure and fear and joy, all running sharply through me at once."

"I run for I don't know how long. Hours, maybe, or days. Alex told me to run. So I run. You have to understand. I am no one special. I am just a single girl. I am five feet two inches tall and I am in-between in every way. But I have a secret. You can build walls all the way to the sky and I will find a way to fly above them. You can try to pin me down with a hundred thousand arms, but I will find a way to resist. And there are many of us out there, more than you think. People who refuse to stop believing. People who refuse to come to earth. People who love in a world without walls, people who love into hate, into refusal, against hope,and without fear. I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."

Lauren Oliver:
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Review: The Survivors

Title: The Survivors

Author: Amanda Havard

Series: The Survivors #1

Links: Goodreads|Amazon|Website

My rating: 8/10

---

Summary:

In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived.

The Survivors is the first instalment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.

On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all...

HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?

The Survivors will steal your heart and invade your mind. Fall into the pages of Sadie's life, a world so frighteningly similar to your own, you'll find yourself wanting to go to the Montana mountains to find the Survivors for yourself.

And it is only the beginning.

---

My thoughts:

This was definitely not what I was expecting.

Finishing this made it seem like it was just the beginning to the rest of the series just to get readers used to the world it’s set in. I normally don’t like that but in this case it was brilliant. I felt that the introduction into the settings of the story didn’t distract any attention from the actual plot.

I loved the protagonist Sadie, she developed well as a character and she was very likable and above all relatable because she still made mistakes.

I did find it hard to read to start off with for some reason which I can’t really identify. I think it just didn’t catch my attention at first but it started to get better and better very quickly and the end was just brilliant. Just enough was revealed but not too much that I wouldn’t want to carry on the series. I still have so many questions I want answered!

There’s not really much more for me to say. I am sincerely looking forward to more from this author’s future works and I can’t wait to find out what happens throughout the rest of the series!

I really do recommend this read…it’s a gem!

---

About the author:

Amanda Havard has been telling stories since before she could write. She grew up in Dallas, Texas, where her first book was published in her elementary school library at age 7. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Vanderbilt University. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her baby grand piano and more story ideas than she could tell in one lifetime.

 

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton Books

Publication date: December 2nd 2010

Buy the book

My rating: 10/10

---

Summary:

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

---

My thoughts:

I really don’t have anything bad to say about this book….seriously.

I loved this read. It made my heart melt at times and it had a great pace to it. I loved the settings, the characters, the story…everything.

Anna starts off at a new school in a different country at the start of the story. She’s completely thrown into the deep end as it were and has to find new friends and learn a new language. It seems like the new environment allows Anna to reflect and to develop as her own person.

I’m really fussy about how relationships develop in books. I hate it when you immediately know that two people are going to get together and everything’s going to be fine between them. This didn’t happen in this book. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I loved it.

That’s all I really have to say. It’s definitely a recommended read to everyone. The rating says it all really.

---

Great quotes:

"Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?"

"The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you."

"I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it."

---

About the author:

Hi there! I'm Steph, and I wrote ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. It has funny bits and kissing, so you should totally read it. If you're into that sort of thing. There will be two companions: LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR (2011) and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER (2012).

The Mockingbirds review

Title: The Mockingbirds

Author: Daisy Whitney

Publisher: Little, Brown

Publication date: November 2nd 2010

Series: The Mockingbirds #1

Links: Author Website|Facebook|Twitter|Buy the book

Book source: UK Book Tours

My Rating: 8/10

---

Summary:

Some schools have honour codes.

Others have handbooks.


Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honourable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

---

My thoughts:

This is a pretty easy review for me. I thought this was a brilliant read and I loved everything about it.

For dealing with such a hard topic, this book was a really easy read for me with the way rape was dealt with and how the protagonist felt about it. I felt all of her pain, confusion and doubts which made it a really refreshing read.

I would say the only problem I had with this book was how ‘The Mockingbirds’ punished students who did something out of line in any way or form. For rape it was kind of…unfair. I did enjoy how they encouraged people speaking out and discovering their voice as it were, but sometimes it made me a little bit uneasy.

I really do recommend this read though, it was fantastic and it’s definitely one I will read again.

---

Good quotes:

"And we're all good, everything is forgiven between Beethoven and me because this is the part of me that hasn't changed. In this moment I'm not defined by the other things, the things that happened to me, the things I didn't choose. This is the part of me that defines me for all time, for always. The thing I choose completely."

"Hush, little students, we'll say the word,

Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.


And if that mockingbird won't sing,


Mama's gonna write down everything.


And so that book won't look the same,


Mama's gonna add a brand-new name."

---

About the author:

By day, Daisy Whitney is a producer, on-air correspondent, podcaster and raconteur in the new media business. At night, she writes novels for teens and THE MOCKINGBIRDS is her debut. Little, Brown will publish it in fall 2010. When Daisy's not inventing fictional high school worlds, she can be found somewhere north of San Francisco walking her adorable dog, watching online TV with her fabulous husband or playing with her fantastic kids.  A graduate of Brown University, she believes in shoes, chocolate chip cookies and karma.  You can follow her writing blog and new media adventures at Daisy Whitney.com.

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Review: Die For Me

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Revenants #1
Publisher: Atom (UK)
Publication date: May 2011
Genre: Paranormal Romance (YA)
Book source: Atomics
My rating: 6/10
Buy the book

---

Summary:
In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.
When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.
Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.
In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

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My thoughts:
The characters in Die for Me were great. There were quite a few but each were relatable in a different way, had their own distinctive personalities and traits and each were lovable for different reasons.
The description of Paris in this book was really great. I loved how every time I read about the cafes and streets of Paris I could imagine everything. Especially towards the end of the book. It’s kind of magical.
What I didn’t like about this book was how little action was in it. When there was a bit of action, however, it wasn’t dispersed throughout the story very well so when it did happen it was unrealistic and unsurprising.
Of course, I have to mention the idea of the book being about ‘Revenants’. Revenants were pretty cool and original which kept me reading to the end of the book.
Overall though I would recommend this read and it’s a quick easy book to pass the time.

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About the author:



After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She juggles between managing restoration on their old French farmhouse, writing fun stories in her hundreds-of-years-old office (a stone house on the other side of her garden), and playing with her two extremely energetic pre-school age children.

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Review: High School Heroes

Title: High School Heroes

Author: James Mascia

Publisher: L & L Dreamspell

Publication date: August 29th 2010

My rating: 8/10

Buy the book

Links: Goodreads|Website|Blog

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Summary:

What if you discovered you had the ability to read minds?

 What would you do with that power? 

On Christine Carpenter's first day of her sophomore year at Thomas Jefferson High School she makes a startling discovery. She can hear peoples' thoughts. After convincing herself she's not going crazy, Chris must learn to control her amazing mind-reading ability. Using her power she quickly realizes her crush, the captain of the football team, is also blessed with a special ability.

 She is soon sucked into a world she never thought possible when two more of her classmates, and a teacher, turn out to have powers as well. 

What are they meant to do with their special gifts that can either help, or harm others? 

Christine soon finds out when a monster, lurking in the depths of her school, threatens to murder the student population. When it becomes apparent that the creature is someone she knows, she must decide whether to try and save him, or destroy the beast. 

If she chooses destruction, can she live with the consequences?

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My thoughts:

High School Heroes is definitely a cute, easy read that appeals to the comic-book side to everyone.

There aren’t many super-hero related stories available so this definitely was a new one for me to try out! It was refreshing to read about something different as well as something that still has a great plot and characters.

I loved the characters in High School Heroes. The way they were introduced was different with every one and the way they interacted was great. They each had their own personality, their own faults and their own beliefs that made every one of them relatable in one way or another and very three-dimensional.

The protagonist, Christine, is by far my favourite character in the story. She sort of grounds all of the others in that she has the down to earth opinions and sometimes cynicism in the way she thinks about becoming a super hero. It makes the story more realistic as opposed to ‘I have super powers…I’m off to save the world now!’ sort of thing. It was great.

I loved the backstory of the book it gave it a whole lot of depth but I’m not going to give anything away about that!

Overall this was a great read that had a nice flow to it. It had a few twists and turns that kept me guessing and great, relatable characters. I definitely recommend this one!

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About the author:

James Mascia is an English Teacher in Maryland, currently teaching at the high school and

post-secondary levels.


Originally from New York, James got his Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from SUNY New


Paltz, he then went on to obtain his Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in


Literature and Writing from Dowling College.


Writing is James' passion. He enjoys writing mainly for younger audiences. He has recently had


several short stories published in A Thousand Faces, a quarterly journal of super-human fiction.

James also has published a middle grade fantasy novel called The Island of Dren.

James currently resides in Maryland with his beautiful and loving wife, Shelley.

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Review: Kea’s Flight

Title: Kea’s Flight

Author: Erika Hammerschmidt and John C. Ricker

Publication date: May 2011

My Rating: 5/10

Buy the book: Amazon|B&N|Lulu epub|Lulu PDF|Paperback

Links: Goodreads|Website

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Summary:

It's the 25th century, and humans have learned how to end unwanted pregnancies by removing and cryogenically freezing the embryos to save for later. But they never planned for how many there would be, or how much control people would want over their offspring's genetic makeup.

Kea was an exile before she was born. Grown from an embryo that was rejected for having autism-spectrum genes, she has been raised on a starship full of Earth's unwanted children. When a sudden discovery threatens their plan to find a home, Kea must join with other rejects to save the ship from its own insane government.

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My thoughts:

Kea’s Flight is definitely a very different read. I liked the different characters who were, at times, vulnerable, relatable and enjoyable to read about.

I really liked the idea behind the story and you can really learn a lot from this book, however, for me it was one of those reads that start of great but then loses it’s steam.

I started to feel like there was no basic plot line…not that there wasn’t a plot but that there were so many things happening that led on to another happening that it just became too much. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t enjoy it either…it just wasn’t for me.

I do recommend this book for others though. It was a really clever read at times and it surprised me at points. It was just one of those times when I found myself losing interest…it happens.

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About the authors:

 

Erika Hammerschmidt was born in Minnesota and graduated from Augsburg
College with two language majors and an art minor. She was diagnosed
with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 11, and has written Born on the
Wrong Planet, a memoir about her childhood. Her husband John C. Ricker
was born in Hawaii, received a diagnosis of Asperger's at the age of
24, and studied computer science before working in vacuum technology.
They live in Minnesota with their parrot, Rain Man. Together they have
co-authored the science fiction novel Kea's Flight.

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Review: The Damned Busters

Title: The Damned Busters

Author: Matthew Hughes

Publisher: Angry Robot Books

Publication date: May 2011

My Rating: 6/10

Buy the book

Author: Website|Goodreads

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Summary:

Chesney Arnstruther: by day, mild mannered insurance man; by night, fearless superhero crime fighter. By his side, his wisecracking demonic sidekick, in a somewhat ill-fitting costume.

Watch out all you freaks, weirdo's, werewolves and assorted furry monsters, the Damned Busters are on your trail!

File Under: Comic Fantasy [ Satanic Unions / Hell on Strike / A Deal with Satan / Crooked Preachers ]

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My thoughts:

I was definitely intrigued about this book when I heard about it. Where else can you find a book about  an ordinary man summoning a demon by accident who then becomes a superhero?

Yeah, it was a really fun, creative idea for a story that was refreshing to read. It was a fabulously funny story with great ideas about good and evil and it was brilliantly written at times.

But there was a problem for me. The first quarter or so of the book was great. It made me laugh, it made me think, it was going good. But then I sort of started to not like the protagonist and then I found it hard to continue to stick with the story. It sort of lost it’s steam at some point.

I don’t really know what else to say…it had loads of potential to be a lot better for me but I just lost it at one point. I did finish the book but it didn’t really sit well with me.

It does deserve a lot of credit though for the whacky idea and the writing…it was a whole load of different.

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Review: Wayward

Title: Wayward

Author: Ashley Girardi

Publication date: March 27th 2011

Book source: Book Lovin’ Bitches

My Rating: 9/10

Buy the book

Author: Blog|Twitter|Goodreads

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Summary:

Born without magic, seventeen-year-old Helena “Hex” Wayward is an embarrassment to her power-hungry relatives.

As the weakest member of the world’s most deadly magical family, Hex learns early how to avoid confrontation. There’s no defending herself against an errant curse or the pit-demon that her cousins like to summon during family reunions.

When the dark magic inside of her -- magic that she never dreamt even existed -- erupts in a violent display, it kills a member of a rival family.
Now, Hex's family hopes to use her magic for their own sinister purposes and their enemies just want her dead. Abandoning her magic will leave Hex defenceless but she's seen how quickly power corrupts even the best intentions.

Caught between the seductive sorcerer who wants her power for his own and the forbidden love of a human boy, Hex has to make a choice:
Save her life or save her soul.

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My thoughts:

I really don’t have that much to say in this review other than I love Wayward!

It was such a great read that I seriously could not put down for the life of me. It’s really not at all what you’d expect it to be. It certainly left me shell-shocked at times with how dramatic it was and how easily I was hooked to the plot.

I loved the main character in this one. She was a real bad girl but at the same time she had her open, vulnerable moments that made her such a great character.

I only have one criticism, if you can call it that, and that was that the main character did seem to be a bit older than she actually is in the story but it did seem to fit at times considering her back-story and what she had to go through.

Wayward was also surprisingly creepy at times. It actually made me shudder at one point especially where Hex’s family is involved. It was definitely a new for me.

What got me though was the fabulous ending! It was so great. I couldn’t read anything else for a while for thinking about this read and what might happen next…it’s a definite must read! Please go and check it out!

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This review was part of a book tour hosted by Book Lovin’ Bitches

Check out the rest of the tour stops for more reviews, guest posts and giveaways!

5/1   review @ Read My Mind
5/2   review @ Sara Is Reading What?
5/5   giveaway @ Sara Is Reading What?
5/8   review @ Awesomesauce Bookclub
5/9   interview @ Read My Mind
5/10 giveaway @ Awesomesauce Bookclub
5/11 giveaway @ Books Glorious Books
5/11 review @ Splash Of Our Worlds
5/12 review @ Just Another Book Addict
5/12 review @ It's All About Books
5/13 review @ Spellbound Witch Reviews
5/13 guest post @ Just Another Book Addict
5/14 giveaway @ Splash Of Our Worlds
5/14 giveaway @ It's All About Books

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Review: The Book of Lost Souls

Title: The Book of Lost Souls

Author: Michelle Muto

Publication date: March 6th 2011

Book source: Book Lovin’ Bitches

My Rating: 8/10

Buy the book

Author: Blog|Twitter|Goodreads

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Summary:

When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumour: Like father, like daughter. Ivy has heard it all before - that her father, who left when she was seven – was involved with the darkest of magic.

Making the rumours worse, someone uses an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers. Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits that want her and her friends dead: the school’s resident bad boy and hotter-than-brimstone demon, Nick Marcelli. Nick’s offering Ivy more than his help with recovering the missing book – he’s offering her a way to ditch her scaly reputation as a lizard-lover. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and as Ivy soon discovers, it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to survive long enough to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end.

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My thoughts:

This book was definitely a pleasant surprise. I knew from the start it would be a great, fun read that would be perfect to sit down with in the sun along with a nice cup of tea!

It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. I read it entirely in one sitting it was that entertaining. It sort of appeals to the mischievous, high school girl in me.

I loved all of the characters and the way they interacted as friends or otherwise. They developed perfectly throughout the story and were all relatable and realistic. I loved how each of them had a certain characteristic that was pointed out at sometime in the story, it made them that much more three-dimensional as characters and it added to the story somewhat.

What I enjoyed most about this book though is how much of a laugh it really was. There were some really fun and creative ideas strewn throughout that made me smile and some great conversations that made me laugh. There was it’s fair share of serious events though which balanced it out considerably, like the mystery in the plot and the protagonist’s relationship with her father…and her complicated love life!

Speaking of, the plot was fantastic! Really original and it kept me on the edge of my seat at times. A real page-turner.

There were a few twists and turns too which definitely kept me interested and the ending was brilliant. I can’t wait for more from this author in particular.

All in all this read was a perfect mix of drama and humour and is a fun, entertaining read.

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This review was part of a book tour hosted by Book Lovin’ Bitches

Check out the rest of the tour stops for more reviews, guest posts and giveaways!

4/22  guest post @ My Bookish Ways
5/2    guest post @ Awesomesauce Bookclub
5/9    giveaway @ Novel Addiction
5/9    interview @ Immortality and Beyond
5/11  giveaway @ Books For Company
5/15  review @ A Chick Who Reads
5/17  interview @ Spellbound Witch Reviews
5/19  review @ Hooked To Books
5/20  guest post @ Hooked To Books
5/25  review @ Splash Of Our Worlds
5/29  review @ Read My Mind
5/30  giveaway @ Aobibliosphere
6/8   review @ Just Another Book Addict
6/15  guest post @ The Bookish Snob
6/16  guest post @ Sugarbeat's Books
6/21  review @ It's All About Books

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

 

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Review: Invincible Summer

Title: Invincible Summer

Author: Hannah Moskowitz

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication date: April 19th 2011

Book source: Galley Grab

My rating: 8/10

Buy the book

Author: Website|Blog|Twitter

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Summary:

Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

Not your typical beach read.

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My thoughts:

I really loved this read.

It definitely was not what I was expecting. Especially the writing by Hannah Moskowitz. It was really, really well written.

I expected the typical summer romance between the protagonist and a girl he met somewhere along the way and then they fell in love and whatnot. But no, it was so much more.

It was definitely an emotional read. I cried more than once I have to tell you!

What I really loved though, is how thought-provoking it was. As the characters developed – which they did really well – they learnt things about themselves and about life in general which I felt like I was learning right along with them without actually experiencing what happens in the book.

Back to the writing though, it was absolutely breathtaking. It added to everything that happens in the plot and it has such a blunt feel to it that it made the read really realistic and relatable.

I loved the characters in Invincible Summers too. They all had their own distinct personalities, their own way of thinking, their own traits. They were all likeable in their own way. Especially Gideon, Chase’s deaf younger brother. Seriously fell in love with him!

This is definitely ‘not your typical beach read’. The summary is sort of misleading I guess. It sort of doesn’t do the book justice.

All in all though, Invincible Summers is a brilliant read that I more than recommend. Please go out and get it!!!

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About the author:

 Hannah Moskowitz wrote her first story, about a kitten named Lilly on the run from cat hunters, for a contest when she was seven years old. She was disqualified, as her story was dubbed too violent. Her first book, BREAK, was on the ALA's 2010 list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. She is a student at The University of Maryland.

 

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Review: My Sparkling Misfortune

Title: My Sparkling Misfortune

Author: Laura Lond

Publisher: Dream Books LLC

Publication date: April 28th 2010

Book source: Received from author

My rating: 6/10 – good read

Buy the book

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Summary:

Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way. Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a sparkling instead a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains plans. Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of best interests is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.

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My thoughts:

As soon as I started reading this I knew it was going to be a fun read.

It was one of those reads that is amusing and makes you smile no matter how cheesy it can get. It’s all part of the charm.

It was also original. You don’t get many stories about a villain who makes the mistake of capturing a nice spirit instead of an evil one. Chaos ensues!

I loved the protagonist more than anything. Lord Arkus was a great character who you couldn’t help but love despite him being a self-proclaimed villain.

I have to say though, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the ending and I can’t really say why.

Overall though, this a cute, original read suited to appeal to the child inside every single one of us who gets excited at any mention of heroes, villains and scary, dragon-like creatures!

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