Review | Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen

Title: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters
Series: N/A
Genre: Fiction - Fantasy/Humor
Publication: September 15, 2009 by Quirk Books
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher for review
Rating: ★★

Synopsis: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities.
As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon.
Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels?
This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen’s biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It’s survival of the fittest—and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love!

Thoughts: This novel takes Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and adds extra content and chapters with sea monsters that include scary lobsters, man-eating clams, giant octopi and even cities in giant underwater domes.

First off, I wanted to say that this book was better done than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. There were a lot more monsters in this one than there zombies in the first one which was the main reason why I accepted this book. I was surprised at how much more content there was and that was definitely better.

The novel is smooth and fits well with the original story with alterations that only make the story more enjoyable. Most changes took place in the different settings, but there were also a few physical changes in the characters which I very much enjoyed and sometimes a little surprised about.

Compared to the first one, this one was a lot more enjoyable, the gore and blood still similar and sometimes silly even a bit funny at times. There were also illustrations like in the first one which added to the story and I enjoyed looking at.

I must admit I liked the novel, but still not as much as I had hoped I would. This would probably enjoyed more by people who liked the original S&S, but I am not sure if others would enjoy it much.

Review | How to Score by Robin Wells

Her Life Coach
Museum curator Sammi Matthews isn't just in a dating slump, she's putting men on the injured list. After giving one date a black eye and cracking another's rib, Sammi decides she needs professional help. Enter life coach Luke Jones, who advises Sammi on how to overcome her klutziness. And their phone sessions work! Sammi soon meets a sexy FBI agent who seems to know just what she needs.
Is Changing Her Life
When his brother Luke goes into federal protection, FBI Special Agent Chase Jones agrees to cover for him. Then Sammi's hot voice sizzles down the line, and the usual "phone only" rule is out. With "Luke" coaching her by day, and Chase dating her by night, Sammi's confidence soars, along with her appeal. Chase falls hard, but how will Sammi feel if and when he comes clean? Chase would rather she break all his bones than risk breaking her heart.
In Ways She's Never Imagined

Thoughts: I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It played out like a chick flick: cute, funny and romantic. It is a nice fluffy read for a relaxing weekend or for those long summer days. It is easy to get into and the story is a bit different so it kept me entertained and coming back for more, something I hadn't expected.

The main characters, Chase and Sammi, are very likeable. Their personalities are really different but they are so funny and opposite that you can't help but enjoy them and their conversations. The other sets of characters, that included a forty-year old man who was an aspiring rapping accordian player and a dog with a leather fetish were also fun and entertaining.

I loved the fun and light romance of this book. It was a quick and enjoyable read that had plenty of silly, if not a bit corny, humor along with sweet and believable romantic moments and an ending that is nicely satisfying in every way.

Review | Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler

Title: Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler
Series: N/A
Genre: YA- Fantasy/Mystery
Publication:  June 19th 2008 by Philomel
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: ★★

Synopsis: It starts with a phone call. “I’m dying,” a voice tells Dusty. Who is he and how has he gotten her cell number? Dusty wants no part of this strange boy . . . until he begins saying things that only someone who knows her intimately could say—things that lead her to think he knows the whereabouts of her brother, who disappeared over a year ago. Suddenly drawn in, Dusty very much wants to save this boy. Trouble is, she cannot find him. Part human, part spirit, he won’t let himself be found. He is too dangerous, he says. There are mobs of people who agree and who want to see this boy dead . . . and who will hurt anyone who stands in their way.

A gripping, hair-raising mystery about a boy not of this world, and a girl determined to protect him.

Thoughts: It was not gripping, hair-raising, and barely really a mystery. It was not a very good psychological thriller either. It is a book I would not recommend.
 
It starts exactly like the inside flap says, with a phone call from a mysterious boy who knows intimate secrets that Dusty has never shared with anyone. Its mysterious and exciting and I want to know who he is? Why is he calling Dusty? How does he know these things? 
 
And then it sort of falls flat from there. There are a few fast paced, and somewhat suspenseful scenes that were a little better, scattered here and there, but I really wanted to put the book down and not finish it.

Towards the middle and mostly at the ending, the motive of Dusty becomes confusing and I really couldn't enjoy the story because I couldn't "get" the purpose of her actions, and really didn't understand her decisions. I didn't even like her. Or her parents, missing brother, or even her friends. The characters are so flat, so boring. I just really couldn't "get along" with anyone, because they were all so plainly similar.
 
I am still not sure what happened at the end. I feel like I read to the second to last chapter, and then stopped. And it's not that the story just stopped, because it had an ending. A very unsatisfying ending that is. I was left thinking, "Wait, what? That's it?" when I finished the last sentence. I have no idea what the ending really meant.

Review | Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything; at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Thoughts: I liked it. But not as much as I had hoped. I've read one other Sarah Dessen book, Someone Like You, and I loved that one. This one, not so much. I can't explain why because I really only have good things to say about it.

The story all together was very realistic, very easy to relate to. There were many parts were I could think, "I've been there," and I was able to enjoy the book so much more. There is also a wide range of topics written about and blended well together that I can't help but love Dessen's writing style. There was a lot of tough stuff, a lot of different issues that many teens go through and I liked that.

The characters are likable. I think Annabel was a great character and very similar to girls of that age. Owen is a bit less realistic to me, just a bit, but still great. I actually really liked him :) The rest of the characters, the family and friends, were also really great, each with their own unique personality.

I would definitely recommend this book to YA fans, as well as Dessen fans, if you haven't read it. Although it is not one of my favorites, it is a good read.

Review | The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1
Genre: YA - Horror
Publication: July 2009 by Gollancz
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: ★★

Synopsis: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Thoughts: I was pretty excited to pick this book up because I'd heard so many good things. I was expecting a zombie full, action packed sort of book. But instead, I was left pretty disappointed.

It started out interesting enough, with an attack, a beginning to a love story, and hints that there might be many secrets which would explain why everything was the way it was. It seemed like it was setting it off to be a great story. But then it kind of stopped being interesting. There was no real explanation to why there were zombies, no real reason to why Mary was in love with Travis, no real background to her family or her lost friendship with her brother. It felt like there was too much going on, but nothing was really happening. There were chunks and pieces of what felt like some mystery, some romance, some horror, but nothing really concrete.

Although there were some really great and descriptive scenes, full of gore and mayhem, I think the characters lacked personality and any connection with each other. Mary seemed sort bland, being nothing more than selfish, caring really only for what she wanted. I didn't really feel the bond between her and the other characters. I saw no real connection between her and Travis, her best friend or her older brother. The other characters just seemed to be just there.

I really thought the ending was terrible because it seemed quickly done in order to keep the reader wanting more for the sequel, but there were too many loose ends to provide a satisfying ending. It was really abrupt leaving too many unanswered questions, sort of like stopping the book blindly somewhere just to call it an ending.

I think I may be one of the few readers who didn't enjoy this book, but I still think that if you want to read it, go ahead and pick it up. You might really enjoy it like many others have. As for me, I'm still undecided whether I'll pick up the next book, The Dead-Tossed Waves, which I can only hope to be better.

Review | Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Thoughts:The book starts off with 90 (or is it 93?) year old Jacob.

From the moment I started reading it, I really enjoyed it. Although it took me a few weeks to actually finish it, it wasn't because it was no good, but because of lack of time. I did really love this book.

The story goes from the past to the present every few chapters, and Gruen's writing style makes this transition between times easy to follow. It adds more depth to the story, as well as a making the reader curious to learn more. I was happily surprised with the ending, and the way the story led up to it was very nicely done.

There are many different things going on throughout the book, and the characters are so well described and their feelings so well drawn up, that it kept me coming back for more.
I did hear a few complaints about the animal cruelty that is written in this book, but although I in no way support it, I think it makes the story a lot more realistic. I must admit though, those scenes were a bit tough to read.

Overall, I thought this book was really well written, a really great and unique story and setting, as well as greatly detailed characters. I would recommend this to older young adults and adults who enjoy fiction.

Review | Book of Shadows, Book #1: Sweep by Cate Tiernan

Morgan and her best friend, Bree, are introduced to Wicca when a gorgeous senior named Cal invites them to join his new coven. Morgan falls for Cal immediately— and discovers that she has strong, inexplicable powers.

Thoughts: This book was sort of ehh for me.

Now that I have finished it, I want to know what happens next because the last chapter has a pretty major cliff hanger, but overall I thought the story was sort of bland.

The characters were sort of uninteresting, with no real personality, and I found it hard to relate or even like them much. It did have a lot of interesting information on Wicca and magick, but the story could have been more descriptive and a little more exciting. It just didn't have too much going on.

I've heard the other books are better, and this one is sort of just starting the story off, so I really want to get to the second one soon.

happy reading :)

Review | Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Thoughts: This book sat on my shelf for a few months, and I knew I really wanted to read it, but just didn't have the time to. I eventually found myself reading books I wasn't enjoying, and decided to pick this one up for a fresh start.

What I wasn't expecting was such a tragic and sad beginning. I knew what the book was about when I first picked it up at the book store, but after a while, I easily forgot. A few pages into it, and excited over Anna and Matt's new romance, I read the inside flap, and realized that this sweet love was going to be short lived. So I dreaded the moment that he would die quietly hoping that it really wouldn't happen that way.

I quickly was able to relate to Anna, her feelings and emotions, the way she felt torn throughout the book, from keeping a secret from a best friend and betraying the only guy she loved when she finds someone new. Ockler's wonderful description for the characters made this book so great to read. And not only were the characters amazingly written, but so were the settings. Everything was detailed perfectly. I could hear the waves, feel the floorboards creak, fell the wind against my skin.

Truly one of the best books I've read, I highly recommend it to YA book lovers and anyone looking for a emotionally honest book.

Favorite Quote:

A lie? It hits me like a sledgehammer, releasing all the hurt and sadness and confusion I've held inside for the last fourteen months. I jump up without speaking and bolt to the shore, unable to hold it any longer.

"How could you leave us like this?" I bawl at the sky, tears spilling into my mouth, ignoring the blurred runners who pass behind me without slowing. Just another drunk little girl, they must think. "Tell her!' I shout. 'Tell her you made me promise! Tell her it's your fault! Tell her it was a lie for you, too! Tell her you loved me!"

Tell me you loved me.

I look out over the ocean, all the way to Japan, waiting for an answer.

Review | And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

First there were ten - a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to any of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal - and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder, and one by one they begin to fall prey to an unseen hand. As the only people on the island, unable to leave and unable to call for help, they know that the only possible suspects are among their number. And only the dead are above suspicion.

Thoughts: The last mystery book I read, was about twelve years ago, and it was the Two Minute Mysteries. Even though I loved that book, I've always avoided the mystery section at the library and at bookstores. This book, I happened to pick up because it came along with the computer game. I never got to play the game, because I wanted to read the book first, and I just got to the book after its sat on my shelf for about 2+ years.

So finally picking it up, I was surprised on how wonderfully good this book was. It was a quick paced, and nail-biting story that had me turning every page quickly to find out more. Up until the end I was at a loss to who the murderer truly was, and that just made it so much the better.

Following the Ten Little Indians children tale, each person on the island begins to die the same way as each of the Indians. One of them must be the murderer, but who? There was no one to trust, and going crazy awaiting the next ones death.

I loved the plot, the simple yet captivating writing style, and the suspense in every page. Agatha Christie writes a thrilling and short story that all mystery lovers must read, and even non-mystery lovers like me. I will definitely pick up another one of her books in the near future!

Review | The Giver by Lois Lowry

Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.
When Jonas turns 12, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. Now, it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Thoughts: I know many people my age who have read The Giver, because it was assigned reading in junior high and high school. I heard of it in 6th grade from a fellow classmate and even though I was curious, I never read it. Anyways, I've heard from some that it's an okay book, and from others that its a great book.

One day the boyfriend, his best friend and I are hanging out. We make a quick trip to Target and while we wandered around, the boyfriends best friend walks away, and we find him later in the book section. He was looking around for a while, and finally decides to get The Giver. It's one of his favorite books, and he's read it fourteen times before(!). He's so excited about reading it (or maybe we've bored him) but he starts reading it right away, and just follows us around with his nose, literally, in the book. He read it twice that night. So I borrow it from him a few weeks later, and it takes me a while to get to it but finally I get to reading it.

This book is beautifully written, and deeply disturbing. It is a haunting story of what human-kind would have to do, and the sacrifices we would have to make in order to create and maintain a Utopian society.

I loved the authors writing style, the way the book deals with disturbing and complicated themes, but I thought it might be a little too complex and powerful for ten and eleven year old's. I found this book very hard to read, only because of the plot, how it develops into a painful experience through Jonas eyes, and the struggle that he goes through in the end. I found the ending very intense, and have heard different interpretations of what it means from a few friends.

I highly recommend this book to anyone 14+ because I'm not sure if many younger readers will appreciate or understand the emotional roller coaster this book puts you through, especially when its assigned reading at school.

Review | Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker

 (ARC)
Beth is a lucky girl... She comes from a loving family. She has three best friends. She loves to surf and lives five minutes from the beach. She also recently discovered that the boy she's grown up with has the most amazing green eyes... Beth has every reason to smile. Every reason to be happy. Every reason to feel blessed.

Then why is she sticking her fingers down her throat?

Thoughts: This is a quick and enjoyable book that deals with teen issues, such as weight problems, anorexia, and divorce. Beth is a typical teenager, but inside she is suffering from her parents divorce, and the distance that is growing between her and her father. Instead of talking about it, she closes up and does not tell her three best friends what's going on emotionally inside her.
When the four best friends begin to diet to lose a few pounds, Beth finds herself unhappy when she finally reaches her goal and the diet soon escalates dangerously and she doesn't know how to change the situation she's in or what's causing it. The people who love her begin to help her, by showing her support and she learns to deal with the pain differently and soon begins to eat again.
This story, although good, was too short to satisfy me. I do not think that all the events that took place in the book could happen over three weeks. Realistically, it would have taken a few months for all this to take place, and maybe the author could have made the book a bit longer.
Another thing that I didn't like too much was the ending. The book is only 170 pages long and with about twenty pages left, the author added a solution to everyone's problem and a happily ever after, which to me seemed a little forced. There definitely should have been more pages to make the conclusion more realistic than what it was.
I think this was a good book, that talked about many problems teens today face. The characters are detailed well, and you feel like you know them, but a little more length would have helped bunches. I also thought the title of this book was great, I loved it, especially after reading this.

happy reading :)

Quick Reviews #5

100 Bullets Volume 3, Hang Up on the Hang Low by Brian Azzarello
Life is a bitch...and then you die. Or at least somebody dies. Most likely, when you enter the shadowy world of 100 Bullets, it's a whole lot of people. That's just what a young man named Loop is about to find out.With a gun and 100 rounds of untraceable ammunition--courtesy of the mysterious Agent Graves--he's set out to find the father he never knew, and find out first-hand what the underworld is really like. It's going to be worse than he could possibly imagine.
Thoughts: Similar to the last two that I read, this one goes a little more in depth with this story and the main character. Although it is a great story, I don't think it would work well as a stand alone. The graphics are great, the dialogue is good and the story gets more interesting every time, so I want to read the fourth one.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank...
Thoughts: A powerful novel about drug addiction and its consequences, written in short poems that flowed well. This book tells the story of a young girl, and her encounter with "the Monster," a heartbreaking story of what drugs cause. It is a very realistic book, the poetic format adds an extra dimension to it, and the story is altogether depressing and insightful.

Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum
Vampire Haiku is a poetry journal written by a vampire whose life spans for centuries, starting during the birth of America. The undead poet was turned into a vampire hundreds of years ago and has lived through (and possibly caused) some of America’s defining events. Although many of the haiku stand on their own, the hundreds of haiku also flow together to tell one story of being a vampire, living during the entire history of America, and forever longing to find and be with the woman who turned him into a vampire many years ago as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this quick, delightful and a bit gross book. Made me laugh quite a bit. My favorite haiku was in reference to the Twilight series:

"If this were real life,

Ed would have looked at her neck--
Bite, dead, burp, credits."

The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman
An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: There is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. Rick Grimes finds himself one of the few survivors in this terrifying future. A couple months ago he was a small town cop who had never fired a shot and only ever saw one dead body. Separated from his family, he must now sort through all the death and confusion to try and find his wife and son. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living.
Thoughts: Based on post-apocalyptic times, this graphic novel is full of zombie horror and people learning to survive. The images are all black and white, which I wasn’t too happy with, since I prefer gore and bloody images. The storyline was great, although the beginning wasn't too strong: a man waking up from a coma and the world is pretty much dead and eating the living; it could've been a bit more original.

Quick Reviews #4

Jessica Z by Shawn Klomparens
When Jessica Zorich met a tall, charismatic artist at a San Francisco party, her life had been all about coping: with a baffling and dangerous world, with a mostly inane job, and with a sweet but meandering relationship with her upstairs neighbor. But Josh Hadden doesn't cope: he's a man of action, of big visions, and of relationships that span the globe; a man certain of his passions, politics, art, and desire. And what Josh desires most is Jessica..
Thoughts: I'd heard good things about this book, so when I saw it I picked it up, but was not at all what I expected. I was surprised it wasn't chick-lit or a romance story, but much more than that. More mature in a way, with no happily-ever-after, and a terrorist thread that ran through the whole novel and made it even more thought provoking. The story seemed a little vague and in the end you are left feeling like you never really knew the characters, and that didn't satisfy me. It was a good plot, but as it developed it could've been better I think.

30 Days of Night, Volume 1 by Steve Niles
In a sleepy, secluded Alaska town called Barrow, the sun sets and doesn't rise for over thirty consecutive days and nights. From the darkness, across the frozen wasteland, an evil will come that will bring the residents of Barrow to their knees. The only hope for the town is the Sheriff and Deputy, husband and wife who are torn between their own survival and saving the town they love.
Thoughts: I almost wish this wasn't a graphic novel because it's a great storyline for a long, interesting and scary book about vampires. The idea I think is very unique, although there are a lot of vampire books out there now. I loved the setting, which I think is what made it more particular and story builds up well, even though it is written in such limited space. The art was great, the images blurry causing a snow storm looking kind of effect, and the blood and gore was done well enough to look pretty scary. If you've seen the movie, this is very similar except for a few changes, and you'll enjoy slightly more.

Reading Club, Volume 1 by Cho Ju-Hee
Fear and insanity take hold in Korea's first horror comic for girls! After getting stuck with the job of cleaning her high school's long-forgotten library, a 9th grade girl stumbles across a suspicious looking book. Simply opening the book causes her to see unspeakable horrors - does she dare read it? If she does, she could find something more terrifying than she ever imagined...
Thoughts: Mostly, I think this is blah. I think the idea is good, but it seems written very quickly, like forced together in a way. Some parts don't seem to make much sense to me, and the characters aren't interesting enough for me to care much about them or what happens next. I'm pretty sure I won't be reading the next one.


So two out of three isn't bad.
Hope everyone is enjoying their books.
Happy reading :)

Quick Reviews #3

Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people's dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power.

Thoughts: As soon as I stared reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The storyline, I thought was great and very unique. I also really liked the way the book is written, in short sentences and sometimes fragments, made it interesting. It was a great story, and I can't wait to pick up the next book, Fade, which continues Janie's story.




At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her—until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart. And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever.
Thoughts: I've read many of Julia Quinn's books, and even though most of her books develop the same way and seem very similar, I was still able to enjoy this one very much. Although it started out a little like the rest, this one contained different problems for the characters and I wasn't too sure what to expect next, even though I was pretty sure there would be a happy ending. I can't wait to read her most recent book, which is based on one of the smaller characters from this one.



 
Halley and Scarlett have been best friends for years, sharing secrets, clothes, and crushes. People know Scarlett as the popular, flamboyant one; Halley is just her quiet sidekick. Then, at the beginning of their junior year, the balance shifts. First, Scarlett's boyfriend Michael is killed in a motorcycle accident; soon afterward, she learns that she is carrying his baby. For the first time, Scarlett really needs Halley.
Thoughts: My first Dessen book, and I was not disappointed at all. Very familiar to what it was like growing up for me and for friends, problems with family and being close to people your own age, I was able to relate to the book and to the characters. Although I was never faced with the same situations, the author's voice and writing make it very easy to visualize and understand what both girls where going thorugh. I loved her writing style and I hope it remains the same throughout all her books, which I plan on reading soon!

That's it for now, happy reading everyone :)

Review | Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Gossip thrives amid the Mercedes-Benzes, mega mansions, and perfectly manicured hedges in the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Behind their big Gucci sunglasses, beneath their perfectly pressed Polo's, everyone has something to hide, especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna. Spencer covets her sister's gorgeous new boyfriend. Aria is having an affair with her English teacher. Emily is infatuated with the new girl at school. And Hanna is using some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. Deeper and darker still is a horrible secret the girls have shared since sixth grade--a secret they thought was safe forever. Then the girls start receiving threatening messages signed by someone named "A." Could "A" be Alison, the ultra-popular girl who disappeared three years earlier? Alison was their best friend. She knew everything about them. But if Alison isn't "A," who is? And how could anyone else know so much about the bad girls they've become? Suddenly, their secrets--the big ones, the little ones, even the long-buried ones--no longer seem so secret. Suddenly, nothing is safe in Rosewood.

Thoughts: I can't remember why I really picked this up since I thought I would dislike it very much. I didn't expect the girls in the book to have distinct personalities and I wasn't surprised when it was full of clichés. But I actually found myself enjoying it because of the clear differences of each girl and the dark secrets they all had. It was well-written young adult novel, full of suspense which gave me chills a few times. Its a book full of drama and a few eerie moments, and I can't wait to pick up the next few to find out what happens next.

happy reading :)

Review | 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares

Summer is a time to grow...
seeds
Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead.
roots
Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . .
leaves
Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products.It is a new summer. And a new sisterhood. Come grow with them.

Thoughts: 3 Willows is a great book, both charming and wonderful. It centers on the challenges of friendship and growing up in a well-written and fun read. The different points of view of each girl, as they struggle through changes within themselves and their friendship is unique, and Brashares narrates all three stories without much confusion. Each girl is simple and different, and explained with such detail that you are likely to find one to relate to, if not all of them. This book is separate from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but anyone who has not read the Sisterhood books can enjoy this book greatly like I have, since I haven't read any of them either. I will defintely pick up more of her books soon because I really loved her writing style.

happy reading :)

Review | Smack by Melvin Burgess

Like so many teenagers, Tar and Gemma are fed up with their parents. Tar's family is alcoholic and abusive, and Gemma feels her home life is cramped by too many restrictions. The young, British couple runs away to Bristol in search of freedom, and finds it in the form of a "squat." This vacant building is also occupied by two slightly older teens who share everything with Tar and Gemma (including their heroin habits). For a while, everything is parties and adventures, but slowly Tar and Gemma find themselves growing more and more dependent on the drug--whose strict mandates are even less forgiving than those of the parents they fled. As Gemma says, "You take more and more, and more often. Then you get sick of it and give up for a few days. And that's the really nasty thing because then, when you're clean, that's when it works so well..."

Thoughts: I read this book in high school, and I remember being shocked by such a powerful story. It is written in several stories, of everyone who meet Tar and Gemma, two fourteen year old runaways. They, along with two older teens, go through many struggles on the streets after leaving their lives at home and soon find themselves dealing with an addiction: heroin.

This book is well written and the different points of view made it more interesting to read and easier to follow the different events. I thought the characters and the writing style made this book very realistic without the lecturing, and I recommend to everyone.

Review | The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler

 Fern will never pass for normal. Fern communicates with her dog, blisters just moments in the sun, and has correctly predicted the daily weather for more than two years. Even so, she's always seemed to be a normal twelve-year-old girl...until one day when Fern closes her eyes in class and opens them seconds later on a sandy beach miles away from school. When Fern disappears again, she begins to realize exactly how different she is.

With the help of her twin brother, Sam, Fern struggles to gain control of her supernatural powers. The arrival of a sinister vampire in town--who seems to have an alarming interest in Fern's powers--causes Fern to question her true identity. Who is she? More importantly, who can she count on? Soon Fern finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old battle--one that could destroy Fern and endanger everyone she loves.

Thoughts: From the beginning, I really enjoyed this book, and not just because it was about vampires. Although I really picked it up because of that reason, it was a little different than most vampire books I've read recently since its not a romance.
This book seems directed to younger teens, since the main character is twelve and her biggest problems consist of being weird and not fitting in with the kids at school.

I really liked that the author mixed vampire history with mythology as well, making it quite interesting to learn about. The character and plot were all developed very nicely and the book flowed nicely.
There were a few chapters that were a bit slow, but overall it was a very fun and quick read that young adult lovers can enjoy. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel, but I think this book is great as a stand alone.

Review | I Want You to Want Me by Kathy Love

 Erika Todd moved to New Orleans because she needed a change --and, well, yes, because that's what the fortune teller said she would do. Not that she'd admit that to many people. But so many of the psychics predictions--about her work, even finding that stray black cat--have already come true. Now all the lonely sculptor needs to meet and fall in love with the prophesied dark-eyed prince...

Reclusive musician Vittorio Ridgewood has a new neighbor he's been trying to avoid. Sure, she's gorgeous, but she's coming on strong, and the last thing the 200-year-old vampire needs is to get involved with another mortal. Especially since several of his former human paramours have lately been turning up dead...

Sensing the relentless beauty needs someone to watch over her, Vittorio agrees to sit for a sculpture, and their attraction to one another quickly ignites. But is passion even this hot worth dying for?

Thoughts: I Want You to Want Me is the second book from Love's 'Fangs' series. A humorous, sexy and romantic read that I enjoyed. I didn't read the first one, but I was able to read this one without any confusion, as it stands alone very well. The characters are developed rather quickly and the story is fast paced, with some mystery and a little suspense. Although it is a "vampire" book, Vittorio and his brother Ren are lampirs, and thus they only take humans energy and not their blood, so there is in fact no gore. Very much like the romance novels I enjoy, except with demons and psychotic lampir mothers.

Review | Echo by Francesca Lia Block

Title: Echo by Francesca Lia Block
Series: N/A
Genre: YA - Magical Realism
Publication: August 6th 2001 by HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Synopsis: Echo is caught at the crossroads of a physical world full of hope and despair and the realm of the supernatural, where young men have wings and skeletons speak. On the way, she is graced by angels and fairies and haunted by ghosts, psychopomps, and vampires. But as Echo falls under the spell of demons who threaten to destroy her, she must ultimately look within to find the strength to survive.

Thoughts: The whole book is written in a dreamlike way, sort of poetically. Each chapter tells a new short story, which didn't make sense to me. I was confused with the new characters that were introduced in every chapter, each different and not related to the last, some only appearing once and with no meaningful significance. In the end, I could see how the stories all connected to Echo in some way, but I didn't like the way it was brought together. I'm not sure how I feel about the author's writing, but I will definitely pick up another one of her books and see how I like it.

Review | The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.


Thoughts: I loved the story, it quickly gets suspenseful and dramatic which kept me glued to it. The characters were explained with depth and detail, and the writing made me feel involved. This book tells a great story and it feels realistic, something that can happen in any neighborhood and between any rival gangs.
I would recommend this book to my fellow readers. Its a quick and really great read that you are likely to enjoy :)

Review | Go Ask Alice - Anonymous

 The torture and hell of adolescence has rarely been captured as clearly as it is in this classic diary by an anonymous, addicted teen. Lonely, awkward, and under extreme pressure from her "perfect" parents, "Anonymous" swings madly between optimism and despair. When one of her new friends spikes her drink with LSD, this diarist begins a frightening journey into darkness. The drugs take the edge off her loneliness and self-hate, but they also turn her life into a nightmare of exalting highs and excruciating lows.

Although there is still some question as to whether this diary is real or fictional, there is no question that it has made a profound impact on millions of readers during the more than 25 years it has been in print. Despite a few dated references to hippies and some expired slang, Go Ask Alice still offers a jolting chronicle of a teenager's life spinning out of control.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't like the writing style, and it may because it was in the 70's I believe, but it was still pretty cheesy and not believable. I've heard that the same editor to this book, edited Jay's Journal, and the similarities in both make it hard to believe this work isn't fictional.
This is the kind of book you expect to be powerfully good, to make you to stay away from drugs because of the way it ruined someone's life. It wasn't. I don 't want to go out and try acid either, but it wasn't as motivational as I thought it would be.
It was a bit interesting, whether the story was true or not.

Quick Reviews #2

Family Sold Separately by Kate Long

Synopsis: On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Katherine wants only three things: a smidge of social grace, the body of Courteney Cox, and two parents. What she has instead is an almost complete lack of friends, a pudgy figure, and one extremely eccentric, nearly blind grandmother named Poll. Since Katherine’s father died and her mother disappeared, Poll is her only family. And not only does Poll buy all of Katherine’s clothes, but she forbids her to leave the house unless it’s absolutely necessary. Would a chance to go to Oxford count? But the bigger question is: How can she abandon her grandma?

Just when Katherine has resigned herself to a lifetime of watching daytime television, sparring with Poll, and visiting the town library for “fun,” along comes a handsome, magnetic young man named Collum, who claims to be Katherine’s long-lost cousin. But as Katherine is about to learn, when it comes to family, things aren’t always as they seem.

Quick Thoughts: I wanted to enjoy this book, but I found it hard to really hard to concentrate on it. The main character didn't intrigue me much, so I wasn't really motivated to keep reading it much. It was a pretty easy read, although I had some problems understanding the British English slang.



Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Synopsis: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s witty comedy of manners—one of the most popular novels of all time—that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.

Quick Thoughts: What can I say that hasn't been said before? This book is just great/amazing/fantastic. It was re-read for me, and I must say I was able to appreciate it so much more the second time around. I love the plot, I love the characters (as silly as they can be) and I love the themes. The writing is great, and its one of my favorite books of all time. Love, love, love this book :)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Synopsis: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry?

Quick Thoughts: I was uber excited about this book when I first heard of it, I mean Jane Austen and zombies? Best of both worlds right? Wrong. The cover the best part of this book and maybe the first two or three chapters are entertaining, but then you can call it a day. I couldn't even finish the book, I just skimmed most of it except for the pictures which were pretty creepy. It's a good idea, but nothing unique was really added to the story.

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Synopsis: Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

And if I should die before I awake,

I pray the popular attend my wake.

Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal.

If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is. In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we'll go to be seen.

Quick Thoughts: A quick and fun read, I thought it was cute if not a bit silly. The storyline is pretty simple, and I enjoyed Hurley's writing. There were a few things about Charlotte that annoyed me, but other than that I enjoyed it. The cover, illustrations and deco for every page are a nice touch that I really liked.

Review | The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.
Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.
Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, The Host is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time

Thoughts: Where to start? I was completely unsure of this book. I got it, looked at it and put on the pile of TBR books I have on my desk. I didn't touch it for three weeks, and since it was a book I borrowed from the library, I tried to renew it a few days before it was due. I couldn't, so now what? I set all other books aside and started it, not really sure if I really wanted to read it all.

Now, I've read a few reviews on this book, and they seem to say 'ehh, it was good, but not too enjoyable' and all I wanna say is 'what? are you crazy? this book was awesome!' but I won't because everyone has they're opinion.

When I first read the inside flap of the book, I expected an evil alien invasion kind of book, but its not like that. The "souls" as they call themselves on Earth, have quietly and non-aggressively conquered the earth. The soul we follow is Wanderer, a kind and pacifist soul that has lived on nine planets, a record for her kind. Melanie, is the human host she has been given. Confused over being able to hear and feel Melanie, Wanderer fears that she will eventually take control over her. Instead, they form a special bond, and start the search of the people they love, and are able to learn how to live life together.

At first, I was confused; I had no idea what was going on and the beginning frustrated me. I didn't understand what was happening and I desperately wanted explanations. It wasn't until about half-way through the book that I started to really get into it. Once I got halfway, I could not put it down. It felt like a roller coaster, everything happening, one exciting and fearful event after the next. And as the book got closer to the ending, I really wasn't sure how it would end, and I was dreading it. The last about 100 pages made me cry, tears streaming down my face. The way it was written made me feel like it was me, in my head, like I was there and so I got really emotional as always.

I love Meyer's writing style. I know its complained about a lot, and her characters aren't liked much, but I love them. Since I first read Twilight, I fell in love with her writing. I think she is a great storyteller, and as her first adult novel, I think she went above and beyond than with the Twilight series. I really loved this book, I would definitely read it again, and I probably loved it more than the Twilight series. I've already heard rumors of there being a sequel and possibly a series for this book and I must say I was a tad disappointed. I did read this to jump the band wagon, but I was hoping this wouldn't be another Twilight fanatic kind of book. But I'd probably read them also...

Review | Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I've been reading this book for a while, and I'm glad I finally got through it. It's not that I wasn't enjoying the book, I really was, but I guess I'm trying to read too many books at once and I keep getting distracted with another. I enjoyed this one, but not as much as Pride and Prejudice. It is my second Jane Austen novel, and I'm really looking forward to watching the movie actually. I've heard good things about it and I love Kate Winslet.

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Review | 100 Bullets Volume 2: Split Second Chance By Brian Azzarello and Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

Split Second Chance, the second collection of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's acclaimed crime series 100 Bullets, will bring you deeper than ever into their raw and unforgiving world of gutter crime and sanctioned retribution. With a seemingly simple gift--an untraceable gun and a hundred rounds of ammunition--the mysterious Agent Graves offers the powerless and wronged a chance at vengeance. But beyond the decision of whether or not to pull the trigger, a deeper question is beginning to emerge: just who is making this possible--and why?

In this second volume of the series 100 Bullets, I think the plot is starting to take off. There's a glimpse into what's going on with Agent Graves, the Trust, and Mr. Shepherd, all important characters. There is also a few new characters introduced, which I personally liked better. You start to get the feeling that there is something deeper, and how everyone might somehow be connected. I enjoyed this volume more than the first one, and I actually want to read what happens next. There is about thirteen volumes in the series, and I hope there is no big reveal soon, or else the series will most likely lose its appeal. It is a "noir" type of novel, and there are some dark and a few disturbing parts, so I would recommend it if you enjoy that sort of thing. I am no expert on graphic novels, but I have read a few review on this series, and the art seems particularly popular.


While parked at the gas station, Rhonda sees something so incongruously surreal that at first she hardly recognizes it is a crime in progress. She watches, unmoving, as someone dressed in a rabbit costume kidnaps a young girl. Devastated over having done nothing, Rhonda joins the investigation. But the closer she comes to identifying the abductor, the nearer she gets to the troubling truth about another missing child: her best friend, Lizzy, who vanished years before.
This book alternates between the past and the present, and although I was a bit skeptical about that at first, it really helps to develop the story. I was captivated in just a few chapters and finished it rather quickly. I really enjoyed McMahon's style of writing, and the character development was well done.
The story is split into two, the past in which Rhonda's best friend disappears, and the few years that lead up to her disappearance and the present, in which Rhonda witnesses a kidnapping and after doing nothing, is consumed in the investigation. As she gets deeper into the case she starts to uncover secrets of her past and how maybe her best friends disappearance could be closely connected with the kidnapping that took place right before her eyes. The ending, I have to say, was quite surprising. I for one, thought I had it all figured out and it wasn't until the last few chapters that I realized I was completely wrong. It was a compelling read, and I definitely want to read more by this author.

Review | God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo

“When I was twelve, a fortune teller told me that my one true love would die young and leave me all alone. Everyone said she was a fraud, that she was just making it up. I’d really like to know why the hell a person would make up a thing like that.”

Probably one of the best books I've read all summer. I really loved it, and it was quite a simple story. I was sitting in front of my English class, waiting for the professor to show up when I finished it, and I cried. The somewhat sad ending left me a little surprised, but it ended the book well I believe.

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Review | Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Tally had finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted. But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom- is a nagging sense that somethings wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold. Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life--because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

When I read the first book of the Uglies trilogy a few months back, I really enjoyed it. I was captivated by the story, the way the characters were and the way the whole book evolved. When Tally made her decision to be pretty at the end, I was pretty surprised. Even though I really enjoyed the first one, this one disappointed me a little. From the beginning, Tally's confusion of being pretty and her foggy past bothered me. I didn't get used to the "pretty talk" and it was annoying at times. The story all together seemed to be a little mixed up. It wasn't until about half way that I think it started to pick up and I was able to read the last hundred or so pages rather quickly. But even in the end, the situations were similar to those of the first book, a bit redundant, making me want to skim through the book instead. I don't think the ending was too satisfying, but since it was sort of a cliff hanger, I was left with a small urge to read the third one to see how it all ends.

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Review | Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery

WANTED: -Single mom seeks billionaire's pocketbook to fund dying son's research cure.
Will seduce if necessary.

Blackmail is not out of the question.

Miracles welcome.

-Cynical billionaire seeks working mom with a heart of gold for PR campaign to improve his standing in the community.

Must be willing to attend social events.

Anyone looking for love need not apply.

It seemed like the perfect match… until the unthinkable happened.

Very quick and simple read. It took me a few days longer than expected because of the busy weekend. I liked it a little, but it was a bit slow to start off, and it was pretty predictable. The last twenty pages had me crying my heart out though, so that's got to count for something. It wasn't too well written, but there were some pretty funny parts that had me laughing out loud. I'm glad I didn't purchase this book,and supported my local library instead because I will most likely won't read it again. There were some cute moments, but I wasn't able to connect with the characters as much I like to.

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Review | Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

By far, one of my favorites of the Twilight Series :) I loved the fast-paced story and the ending. I was satisfied with the ending, I really was. It surprised me that they were married and pregnant before the book was even half-way through. There was some good stuff going on there, and I was happy that there was finally a "The End" on the last page of the book.

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Review | A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

I haven't ever really been a Shakespeare fan, but I loved this book. The story was lovely and although I was a bit confused of course, I really enjoyed reading it. I've only read a few other of his books, like Romeo and Juliet of course and As You Like It. The new old friend let me borrow this book, and although I am infamously known for keeping every book ever given to me to borrow, I always return a copy. It may not be the same copy but it's still the same book. So I was browsing through Borders recently and I was looking through for a copy of this book. Instead I had the bestie pick out any Shakespeare book. He picked up Richard III, I believe. Although I didn't buy it, it's my goal to read that Shakespeare book next. Whenever next is, because I'm stuck on quite a few books at the moment.

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Review | The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Surprised I fell into the hands of another young adult novel? Not at all. Seriously, not more for the next two or three months OK? Good.

So the book follows five Victorian teens who are caught up in scandals, money and family problems, and engagements they can't break but don't want. It switches point of view between all the characters, and although it has somewhat of a surprise ending and a sequel, I'm sure I will not read it. It held my interest long enough to finish it, but not enough to want to know much more. I gots many other books to read...

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