Review: "Winter Longing"

Winter Longing

by Tricia Mills

August 19th 2010

256 pages

From Goodreads: A plane crash in Alaska takes Winter’s first love away forever . . .

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love?

My Thoughts: I was hooked from the beginning, I couldn't put it down, and I finished the book in one sitting! I can't believe that this story was able to make me cry from the very beginning, and kept me teary eyed while reading almost the whole thing! Books don't usually have this effect on me, and most books definitely can't make me cry before I even know the characters I am crying for! But I guess "Winter Longing" is different.

Winter and Spencer have been best friends for a very long time! She has always had feelings for him that go beyond their friendship, and eventually she finds out that he does too, but they aren't a couple for long before Winter loses the love of her life in a tragic accident. This all pretty much happens in the first chapter.

We don't even get the chance to meet Spencer in the present, but instead each chapter starts out with short memories of Spencer and Winter, starting from middle school, and we get a nice little insight of their growing relationship while at the same time mourning him.

I felt a strong emotional attachment to Winter. I felt her pain, I felt her happiness, and then I felt her guilt for having a happy moment or two. The story really isn't about death, it's about living. It's about overcoming the feeling that your world has come to an end, and realizing that life goes on, and that you need to accept the things you can not change, and try to find happiness for yourself in this life.

Overall it was a heartbreaking story. Be sure to have a box of tissues by your side when you start reading, because you are probably going to need them!

Review: "Nightshade"

Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)

by Andrea Cremer

October 19th 2010

464 pages

From Goodreads: While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

My Thoughts: LOVE LOVE LOVE! I honestly think that this series has great potential to be the next big thing in YA fiction! I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes us!

"Nightshade" starts off on a high note, and kept me entranced until the very end! Calla is one of my new favorite protagonists. It's refreshing to have such a strong female character, who is brave enough to fight battles, sensitive enough to be in love, and clever enough to make important decisions for herself, even though it could put her life in danger. The love triangle between Calla, Ren, and Shay had me just as torn as Calla. I honestly could not decide who she should end up with! Although, I preferred her relationship with Shay, since her relationship with Ren had been arranged since birth. I just wanted her to have the choice, but I honestly don't think Ren would have been a bad choice, it was just the life that came with that choice that left a bad taste in my mouth.

The book is full of mystery. What is Shay's secret? What is the real history between the Keepers and the Guardians? Why are the Searchers after Shay? I had so many questions throughout the book and a lot of them were answered by the end, but the book ended with a huge cliffhanger that kept me wanting to know more! The only horrible thing about reading an advance copy of this book is that I now have to wait more than a year for the sequel.

Review: "Another Pan" (Updated with Cover)

UPDATED REVIEW: Since I didn't post an image with my first review, I wanted to update the review with the new official cover! (It's slightly different from the ARC)

 Another Pan

by Daniel Nayeri, Dina Nayeri

October 28th 2010

400 pages

From Amazon: Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to reimagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality.

My Thoughts: I wasn't really sure I was going to like "Another Pan" considering that I wasn't really a huge fan of "Another Faust", and because the story of Peter Pan is so dear to my heart and unfortunately has been redone completely wrong so many times before.

But "Another Pan" is a completely different story. The story continues to take place in the Marlowe School, and the evil governess Vileroy returns to the school. A few unimportant characters from the first novel also reappear in this second novel. Connor Wirth is dating protagonist Wendy Darling, and there was a small mention of Mrs. Spencer at a charity event, but really, the book is a completely different story, and you don't even need to read the first book in order to enjoy "Another Pan". (Although, I would recommend reading the first book at some point! I know it was a really popular read with some of my fellow bloggers)

I LOVED the book. It's definitely in my top 5 favorite books that I have read so far this year. I've been completely obsessed with the story of Peter Pan for as long as I can remember. As a child it was my first ever favorite book and the story has stuck with me my entire life. As I said before, I find that most people get the story wrong and I can go on an endless rant about that. But I feel that Daniel and Dina really understand the original story well.

Of course this isn't your typical Peter Pan type of story... but instead the book just holds a strong likeness to the original story with a huge Egyptian mythical influence. Peter is obsessed with staying young, and is forever chasing Egyptian legends in order to obtain eternal youth. Just like the Peter in the original stories, he is childish, self centered and simply doesn't care about anything but the adventures ahead of him. He has a huge following of misfit boys across the world called LB's (Short for Lost Boys) who do his bidding without questioning him. Just like the Peter in the original tale, he can't be bothered to remember their names, so he gives them nicknames, or refers to them as a number. Whenever Peter would get upset, the LB's would gather their happy thoughts, and text them to Peter and it would have a calming effect of him, which I loved!

I loved the chemistry between Peter and Wendy. It was dead on. Daniel and Dina hit the nail on the head! Peter was playful and sometimes even charming while around Wendy, and of course she falls for him instantly. Maybe because he's good looking, or because she can't resist his charm, or perhaps it's the adventure. Either way, Wendy fell for him, and I think that it's possible that she may be Peter's ultimate happy thought. Oh and I can't forget about John! His street slang had me laughing out loud!

Overall, the story is full of adventure! I loved the 5 Egyptian legends that led the characters on their dangerous missions in the underworld at the Marlowe School. The most important thing about this book that made me love it was the familiarities of my favorite childhood story! It was kind of like hearing the story all over again for the first time!

Review: "Girl, Stolen"

Girl, Stolen

by April Henry

September 28th 2010

224 pages

From Goodreads: Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

My Thoughts: This book grabbed me from the beginning and would not let go until the very end! Such a fantastic quick read! The author, April Henry, is a marvelous story teller! She told the story so well that I actually felt like I was in the story, and at one point I googled the character's names just to be sure it wasn't based on a true story.

Told in alternating point of views, I felt like I really came to know Griffin, the unintentional kidnapper, and Cheyenne, The blind teen that was abducted when Griffin didn't notice her in the back seat as he stole her step-mom's car. I began to respect both of the main characters for who they really were. Cheyenne was a strong character who would do anything to survive the horrific situation she was in. Griffin was a troubled kid, but he wasn't really a bad person. As they say, he was just mixed up with the wrong crowd, only in this case the wrong crowd for him consisted of his criminal father, and his two thug "employees."

All in all, this book was definitely a page turner. Even at some of the slower points where Griffin and Cheyenne are simply talking about their lives, it kept me turning the pages quickly because I found them both so fascinating! 

Review: "Bad Girls Don't Die"

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

April 21st 2009

352 pages

From Goodreads: Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. 

When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. 

Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

My Thoughts: If you scare easily, you'll probably want to read this book in the middle of a nice sunny day. I however, don't scare easily, and I read this book on a stormy night and I must admit, I was spooked!

Alexis is a loner who lives her life through her camera. She had a best friend at one time, but after the cheerleaders tormented her once best friend, she ended up moving away. Needless to say, Alexis and the cheerleaders really loathe each other. She occasionally hangs out with a group of misfit/goth/punk kids, but she feels that they really try too hard to be something they're not, and she doesn't really seem to fit in with them either. Oh, and on top of all that, her sister is possessed!

Carter, one of the most popular boys in school, takes a special interest in Alexis after accidentally hitting her in the head with a door. Mix in Meagan, one of those horrible cheerleaders, who has a special warning for Alexis about her sweet and incredibly creepy sister, Kasey, and you have an enthralling story about 4 unique characters that you can't help but love!

Things start off a little slowly with just enough of a creepy element that kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know more until the very end where Kasey became more violent and incredibly dangerous. Personally I do recommend that you read this on a stormy night... if you're brave enough.

Review: "Another Pan"

Currently no Official book cover. Normally I'd wait before posting a review, but since I read this book on an ARC tour, I have a deadline for my review :) I'll be sure to make an update when the book cover is officially released!

 Another Pan

by Daniel Nayeri, Dina Nayeri

October 28th 2010

400 pages

From Amazon: Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to reimagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality.

My Thoughts: I wasn't really sure I was going to like "Another Pan" considering that I wasn't really a huge fan of "Another Faust", and because the story of Peter Pan is so dear to my heart and unfortunately has been redone completely wrong so many times before.

But "Another Pan" is a completely different story. The story continues to take place in the Marlowe School, and the evil governess Vileroy returns to the school. A few unimportant characters from the first novel also reappear in this second novel. Connor Wirth is dating protagonist Wendy Darling, and there was a small mention of Mrs. Spencer at a charity event, but really, the book is a completely different story, and you don't even need to read the first book in order to enjoy "Another Pan". (Although, I would recommend reading the first book at some point! I know it was a really popular read with some of my fellow bloggers)

I LOVED the book. It's definitely in my top 5 favorite books that I have read so far this year. I've been completely obsessed with the story of Peter Pan for as long as I can remember. As a child it was my first ever favorite book and the story has stuck with me my entire life. As I said before, I find that most people get the story wrong and I can go on an endless rant about that. But I feel that Daniel and Dina really understand the original story well.

Of course this isn't your typical Peter Pan type of story... but instead the book just holds a strong likeness to the original story with a huge Egyptian mythical influence. Peter is obsessed with staying young, and is forever chasing Egyptian legends in order to obtain eternal youth. Just like the Peter in the original stories, he is childish, self centered and simply doesn't care about anything but the adventures ahead of him. He has a huge following of misfit boys across the world called LB's (Short for Lost Boys) who do his bidding without questioning him. Just like the Peter in the original tale, he can't be bothered to remember their names, so he gives them nicknames, or refers to them as a number. Whenever Peter would get upset, the LB's would gather their happy thoughts, and text them to Peter and it would have a calming effect of him, which I loved!

I loved the chemistry between Peter and Wendy. It was dead on. Daniel and Dina hit the nail on the head! Peter was playful and sometimes even charming while around Wendy, and of course she falls for him instantly. Maybe because he's good looking, or because she can't resist his charm, or perhaps it's the adventure. Either way, Wendy fell for him, and I think that it's possible that she may be Peter's ultimate happy thought. Oh and I can't forget about John! His street slang had me laughing out loud!

Overall, the story is full of adventure! I loved the 5 Egyptian legends that led the characters on their dangerous missions in the underworld at the Marlowe School. The most important thing about this book that made me love it was the familiarities of my favorite childhood story! It was kind of like hearing the story all over again for the first time!

Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June

by Robin Benway

August 3rd 2010

282 pages

From Goodreads: Three sisters, three extraordinary, life-changing powers!

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.

Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other. Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood. 

My Thoughts: I simply could not put it down! I finished it the same night I started reading it, it was THAT good! Named after the months they were born, sisters April, May, and June are about as different from each other as three people can be. Not only do they share the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, but after their parents get a divorce and they move, they discover that they each have some pretty amazing secret abilities.

 April, the oldest sister, is definitely the most responsible of the three girls. She is the "perfect" sister. She gets good grades, is very health conscious, she's a safe driver, and most importantly she watches out for her younger sisters, and tries her best to keep them safe while also nagging them about being on their best behavior at all times. When she finds out that she can predict the future, she is shocked by some of the things she can see. Especially when she starts to have visions of her and that punk boy at school going on dates. He is sooo not her type!

May, is the middle sister. She took the divorce the hardest, and the only thing she wants more than her big escape to Paris someday, is to be able to spend more time with her father who now lives in Houston. May is very witty, sarcastic, anti-social, and usually just wants everyone to leave her alone, so it's really no big surprise when May discovers that she can turn completely invisible. Literally.

June, the youngest of the three is entering her Freshman year of High School. Since she is starting a new school she wants to start a new life. She wants nothing more than to be popular and she'll do almost anything to get to the top of the social ladder. She's bubbly, carefree, and when she finds that she is able to read people's thoughts, it gives her a huge advantage in gaining popularity. But just because she can read what people think, doesn't exactly mean she can always see the whole picture.

Overall it was a fun read, I loved each character and their unique persona's and I loved seeing their abilities come together in the end to avoid a potential disaster!

Review: "Hunger" by Michael Grant

Hunger (Gone, #2)

by Michael Grant

May 26th 2009

590 pages

From Goodreads: It's been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as the FAYZ. Things have only gotten worse. Food is running out, and each day more kids are developing supernatural abilities. Soon tension rises between those with powers and those without, and when an unspeakable tragedy occurs, chaos erupts. It's the normals against the mutants, and the battle promises to turn bloody.

But something more dangerous lurks. A sinister creature known as the Darkness has begun to call to the survivors in the FAYZ. It needs their powers to sustain its own. When the Darkness calls, someone will answer -- with deadly results.

My Thoughts: "Hunger" is just as disturbing as "Gone"... if not more. I can't help but get sucked into the storyline, and worry about each of the characters as they struggle to survive in a world without adults. Not only is there no adult supervision, but now the food supply has diminished and kids are starting to go to desperate measures for food.

Sam continues to be in charge of over 300 kids. Kids expect him to help them with all of their issues, from fights over what they should name their new dog, to kids starving nearly to death. Sam hears it all and the stress is starting to bring him down. He is only 15 after all, what is he really expected to do? On top of that you have fights breaking out between the normal kids and the kids who have super powers, he has to deal with his evil brother trying to take over, and the fields are being taken over by flesh eating worms making it impossible to gather food from their last possible food source.

The battle in this book is a huge disaster! There are at least three major things happening all at once, which I thought made it nearly impossible to put the book down.  Even though the book is almost 600 pages long, I tore through it very quickly, and I can't wait to get a hold of the third book in the series, which luckily is already available! I wonder what Michael Grant is going to do next!

Review: "Wake"

Wake (Dream Catcher, #1)

by Lisa McMann

March 4th 2008

210 pages 

 

 From Goodreads: NOT ALL DREAMS ARE SWEET. For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.... 

My Thoughts: I found this to be an extremely effortless read. Normally I probably wouldn't like a short story, with very little description, but I actually thought it was done very nicely in this book. It was quick and to the point, just enough information for you to enjoy the story, while moving it along at a fast pace.

Even with little description, I thought the main characters, Janie and Cabel, were very well developed! They were very real! They were troubled with many flaws, and they just seemed like real teenagers with real problems... other than the fact that Janie gets pulled into the dreams of the people around her.

Overall, it was a very interesting read. I loved reading about the dreams of others, and I never really thought about how personal dreams really are. They're your best kept secret. Even though your dreams may not be literally how you feel, they are connected to you in some ways.

"Wake" is the first book in a series, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

Review: "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner"

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

by Stephenie Meyer

June 5th 2010

178 pages

From Borders: Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

My Thoughts: I love the Twilight books, and I thought that Eclipse was the best book in the entire series. With the movie coming up later this month, I knew I wanted to read Bree's side of the story before I go see it!

The story is about Bree's life as a vampire. Riley is in control of the newborn vampires and he keeps them on a short leash. Feeding them lies about their abilities, telling them to keep a low profile and to be home before the sun rises if they don't want to be burned to a crisp. "Home" is a dark basement full of rambunctious trouble making newborns and staying alive is a challenge. Luckily Bree finds safety hiding behind Fred everyday. No one messes with Fred.

She manages to make a short friendship with Diego. Together they start to make discoveries that make them realize that Riley isn't exactly telling the truth about a lot of things.

Even though I already knew how Bree's story would end (if you've read Eclipse, you know what's coming) I still found myself rooting for her. I started to care about her, and I so badly wanted a happy ending for her. Unfortunately things don't turn out well for Bree. I was actually teary eyed by the end of the book.

Check out this introduction to Bree Tanner:

Review: "Wings"

 Wings

by Aprilynne Pike

May 1st 2009

294 pages

 

Goodreads: Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My Thoughts: I am not usually a fan of faerie books. However, I decided to give this one a try, and I am really glad that I did! I really loved it! I was hooked instantly, and I couldn't put it down! I finished the entire book in one sitting!

Laurel always knew she was different from other kids her age. She just didn't realize how different she actually was until the day flower petals grew from her back.  Not knowing what was happening to her, she confides in her best friend, David. He tries to help Laurel as much as he possibly can, but then she meets a mysterious guy in the forest behind her old house, named Tamani, who claims to be just like her... a plant faerie. He seems to know more about her than she knows about herself!

I found it extremely easy to fall in love with all of the characters, which only left me thinking about them long after finishing the book! I am thankful that this is the first book in a series, because I can't wait to read more about Laurel, David and Tamani!

Review: "The Ghost and the Goth"

The Ghost and the Goth

by Stacey Kade

June 29th 2010

288 pages

From Goodreads.com: After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.


Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

My Thoughts: When I first heard about "The Ghost and the Goth" I knew that I had to read it! Luckily I was able to get my hands on an ARC copy during a tour! I assure you it didn't disappoint! Unfortunately I had to send the ARC to the next person on the tour, but I know I will be buying this as soon as it comes out! I loved the story, and can I just say that this cover will look amazing sitting on my bookcase? YES!

The story is told in alternating POV's which sometimes can be hard to follow in novels, but in this case I felt that the different POV's helped move the story along very nicely! First we meet Alona... beautiful, popular, and definitely a mean girl. An unfortunate accident turns Alona into one of the living impaired (She'd rather not be referred to as a Ghost). She's confused as to why she hasn't seen the light and why she hasn't moved onto whatever is next. Then Alona notices that weirdo, Will, laughing at her. Meaning, Will is the only one who can see her!

Then we are introduced to Will. Misunderstood, and believed to be schizophrenic, he has been prescribed an iPod by his therapist to help block out the voices. What his therapist doesn't understand is that he isn't really schizophrenic, he can see ghosts. But he isn't willing to admit this ability he has, he'd rather turn on the iPod and ignore the ghosts around him. You see, the dead can be extremely demanding once they find someone who can actually see them!

Alona and Will hate to admit it, but they need each other. Will can help Alona find her light, and Alona can help keep the other ghosts from bothering Will! Just one problem... they kind of hate each other.

I hear that "The Ghost and the Goth" is the first installment in a series. I definitely can not wait to read more about Alona and Will!

Review: Runaway by Meg Cabot

Runaway (Airhead, #3)

by Meg Cabot

April 20th 2010

310 pages

Description: Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself. With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope... what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to. Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved—since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

My Thoughts: I thought this was a wonderful ending to an amazing series! The writing was completely captivating, and I finished the book the same day that I go it! I just could not put it down until everything was resolved. It's nice to finally have all the answers!

The character that surprised me the most was Brandon. I've always kind of hated him, but by the end of the series he turned out to be a pretty decent guy!

If you liked the first two books in the series, then you are definitely going to want to hurry and pick the last book up! I promise it does not disappoint! It may have even been my favorite out of the three books.

And if you haven't yet read this series, then I encourage you to give it a try! I felt that the series only got better and better with each book! Each character showed tremendous growth throughout the series, especially the protagonist, Em! The story is also full of characters that you are sure to love!

Overall, I found this series to be a pleasant surprise! I had expected the whole story to be completely different from what it actually was, and I am really glad that I decided to pick up this wonderful series!

Review: Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Being Nikki (Airhead, #2)

by Meg Cabot

May 5th 2009

336 pages

Description: Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts. Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel. But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts. 

How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns — especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side... Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.

But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

My Thoughts: I loved "Airhead" and since the book ended abruptly, I found my self throwing it down and quickly picking up "Being Nikki" so that I could continue with the story.

After reading "Airhead," I thought I knew what to expect with it's sequel, but I was wrong yet again! I expected an interesting novel about a normal nerdy girl who had her brain transplanted into the body of the world's most famous teen supermodel, and her struggles with her new celebrity lifestyle while also trying to juggle her school life. I thought trying to get Christopher (her best friend, and long time crush from her previous life) to notice her would be her biggest challenge. But the sequel contained so much more!

It's not enough that Em's a paranoid mess. She has a feeling that not only her phone, her computer and her loft are bugged, but she also believes that Stark Enterprises are also monitoring her friends and family as well. Making it extremely hard to just tell people the truth about what happened to her, and what is going on in her life. But then Steven shows up at her loft, he claims to be her brother, and is angry with her for not knowing that their mother has disappeared! Of course Em wouldn't know anything about this, she had no idea Nikki even had a family, and neither did Nikki's friends because she never talked about them.

By the end of the book, the story had taken some strange twist and turns that I definitely did not see coming! I was literally shocked! Which normally I pride myself on being able to have at least some idea where the plot is going, and in some parts I did, but wow, some things I just did not predict at all! The story ends with a major cliffhanger that had me rushing out the next day to buy the third book in the series, "Runaway," which luckily was released just a few days before I finished "Being Nikki."

Review: Airhead by Meg Cabot

Airhead #1       
by Meg Cabot
May 13th 2008

340 pages

Description: Emerson Watts, 16 and female, loves playing video games, hanging out with her best friend, Christopher, and has made peace with her less-than-supermodel-esque looks. But when she's involved in a mysterious accident, she wakes up to find she's now in the body of...a supermodel. Who was behind this switch? What was the motive? And how can she get Christopher to realize she's still the same person inside?

My Thoughts: I LOVED IT! I was actually really surprised with Airhead, and it was so much better than I thought it was going to be! Not that I have ever doubted Meg Cabot... I knew I was going to like this book, I just didn't know I was going to like it as much as I did!

It was a little different from what I had expected. I had expected some sort of "spirit transfer" due to a terrible accident that affects two young girls, which is something that has been done a million times before. But that was not the case! Em Watts does finds herself in the body of supermodel, Nikki Howard, after she has a horrible accident, but it's because of an advance medical procedure that made the "whole body transplant" possible. You'll have to read the book to find out more about this. I found it quite interesting.

I was also pleasantly surprised about how likable I found the characters to be! I figured the rich and famous would be annoying spoiled brats, that I wouldn't care for. Partially because of the way Em perceived the F.O.N. (Friends of Nikki) before she actually got to know them. But instead I found these characters to be extremely likable! Nikki Howard's socialite B.F.F. Lulu was my favorite! But don't get me wrong... there were definitely a few annoying spoiled rich brats in the bunch.

It was really fun reading about Em's crazy situation, and trying to learn more about Nikki along the with her. I found it really difficult to put the book down! I also like that Em was able to hold onto some parts of her old life, even though hardly anyone knew who she really was. It was really interesting to see how her life had changed just because she had become Nikki Howard.

Also, if you are going to read Airhead, (which I think you should) be sure to have the second book "Being Nikki" on hand, because the story kind of stops abruptly. Which makes me glad that I started this series late! It left me wanting to know more, and it left me very curious!

Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves

The Dead-Tossed Waves (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #2) by Carrie Ryan
March 9th 2010
404 pages


Description: Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

My Thoughts: Love, love, LOVE!!! I must admit, I am slightly obsessed with Zombies! I pretty much read every Zombie book I can get my hands on, and I think that I've seen every horrible Zombie movie ever made. Most Zombie movies/books that I come across seem to be the same as the one before it:
Step 1) Your neighbor is now a Zombie... ahh!
Step 2) Run!
Step 3) There is no hope. Everyone dies.

But then you come across the amazing Carrie Ryan, who not only throws romance into the mix, but she skips right past Step 1... we already know that Zombies exist, we've grown up around them. Instead we live among the survivors, beyond the safety of the fences and barriers. Of course there is a Step 2 in Carrie Ryan's books... it wouldn't be a good Zombie story if there was no running for your lives! But instead of Step 3, she throws hope into the mix as well. The end result being two of my favorite books: The Forest of Hands and Teeth and now the sequel The Dead-Tossed Waves. Which, if you love Zombies like I do, then you MUST read both!

In the first book, we were introduced to Mary, and although the sequel has a new protagonist, Gabry, we soon find out that the story takes place many years later, and Gabry is actually Mary's daughter. Unlike Mary, Gabry is not brave. She lives by the rules, and she is perfectly happy living in her safe little town, protected from the dead that walk beyond the barriers. Until one huge mistake changes her life. Gabry showed tremendous growth throughout the story. She started as a weak coward, and turned into one tough cookie!

I love Carrie Ryan's writing style. It's just... beautiful... and that's saying a lot considering that the story includes a lot of dead people who want nothing more than to rip your face off! She has a way of captivating the reader. I simply could not put this down!

Elias, oh Elias. How I love you so... *sigh*
Oh, and let me tell you what I thought of the end... one word: O.M.G. (yes, that's one word, don't question my logic!) I need the 3rd book. I need it in my life! 2011 is an eternity away!

Review: Fallen

Fallen
by Lauren Kate
December 8th 2009
452 pages
I give it:

Description: There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

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

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


My Thoughts: First off, can I just point out how beautiful the cover of this book is? It's amazing! I've been known to occasionally judge a book by the cover, and after seeing this cover I knew instantly that I wanted it on my bookshelf! Luckily I found the story just as hauntingly beautiful as the cover!

Although the story really had no action until the last few chapters, I found the mystery behind each of the characters to be enough to keep me engrossed in the story, and I found it really hard to put the book down!

I really don't want to give too much away, I think this is the type of book that would be enjoyed more with the less information you have on the plot. I want you to be curious about the characters until the very end! I will however say that I thought the story was completely original. I loved that the setting of the story took place at a reform school, where pretty much all of the students had a criminal record. I felt that the setting only contributed more to the mystery behind each of the characters, and made them so much more interesting!

The end might as well have had a big "TO BE CONTINUED" written on the last page! It left me wanting more! I felt that there are tons of unanswered questions, but I have faith that Lauren Kate will answer these questions in the next book in this series called "Torment" which will be released in September.

I can't wait to continue this series!

Review: The Hunger Games

FYI: If you have not read "The Hunger Games" yet, you may want to skip over the description of "Catching Fire"... it contains a spoiler! Although, I did accidentally read the back cover of "Catching Fire" before I read "The Hunger Games" and I still found it to be incredibly suspenseful! Just a heads up though :)

Catching Fire
(Hunger Games, #2)
by Suzanne Collins
Published: September 1st 2009
391 pages
I give it:

Description: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.


My Thoughts: A short review would simply say "OMG! OMG! OMG! I LOVED IT!"... but I should probably try to come up with something a little better to say than just that, right?

While I didn't think this book held quite the same magic as "The Hunger Games" did for me, I did find it just as addicting! It definitely did not disappoint!

"The Hunger Games" left me wanting more, so I quickly dived into this book without hesitation! I even hid this in my purse and would steal a few moments from my day to pull it out and read a few pages while no one was looking. I probably could have gotten in trouble for reading this while I should have been doing other things, but it was worth the risk!

We get a better look at who the characters are, which only makes me feel even more attached to them! We are also introduced to a few new characters who mix things up a bit, and only make the story more interesting!

The book ends in probably one of the most frustrating cliff hangers I have ever come across in any series I've read! How in the world am I supposed to wait until August for the third and final book in this series?! That seems like forever away!

I've been talking about this series non-stop since finishing up the first book, and I've been bothering my friends in hopes that I can convince them to read this series too. Seriously, if you haven't started reading "The Hunger Games" yet, then what are you waiting for?!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I am definitely Team Peeta! How about you?

Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
by: Suzanne Collins
Published: October 01, 2008
384 pages
I give it:

Description: In a futuristic society, the United States is divided into 12 districts, each based on their area's natural product. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, an area once known as Appalachia. District 12's product is coal. Almost everyone is a miner. It is not a wealthy area. Residents are forced to eat whatever they can find or pay with a chance on their child's life to obtain government surplus foods. Luckily Kat's father taught her how to hunt and gather before he was blown up in a mine explosion. After his death her family depends on her for survival, until the very worst thing happens to them: She is sent to the Hunger Games to represent District 12 in a fight to the death. If she wins, both her family and her district will be rewarded with all the food and wealth they need. Kat is ready to do battle with the wilderness and the other tributes, but she isn't ready to fall in love. What happens when she finds she has feelings for her partner and knows she must kill him to win the games?

My Thoughts: AAAAHHHH! I am so obsessed with this book! I honestly could not put it down after I started reading it. I read the entire book in one sitting, even though I had originally intended on only reading the first few chapters. It was that good! The story grabbed me from the very beginning and didn't let go until the very end.

Everything about this book is perfect. It's simply amazing! I laughed, I cried, (mostly cried)... I was happy, I was angry (mostly angry)! It's very well written, and I became extremely attached to the characters, and their struggle.

Even after I finished the Hunger Games, I found myself obsessing over the characters long after I had closed the book. I couldn't get them out of my head! I couldn't wait to pick up the sequel to this wonderful story: Catching Fire! (I am almost finished with it already)

I find that with books I am completely in love with, I somehow can not write a decent review. I just want to scream OMG! OMG! OMG! over and over again, and call it a review.

Review: "Pretties" by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties (Uglies, #2)
by Scott Westerfeld
Published: November 1st 2005
370 pages
I give it:

Description: Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.
Tally has 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.

My Thoughts: Westerfeld has done it again! I really really enjoyed "Pretties", probably even more than I enjoyed the first one.

Now that Tally is "pretty", she has pretty much forgotten her ugly past, and the promise she made to the new smokies. But her new pretty world is turned upside down when some "ugly" party crashers come to remind her of her promise to them.

There is a new guy who has captured Tally's heart. His name is Zane, and he is probably the most unique pretty in the city, as he has somehow managed to hold onto a little bit of his old self, even if he doesn't quite remember who he was when he was ugly. He and Tally embark on an adventure together, to be able to gain control of their minds, be independent thinkers, and escape the city together.

I wish we would have seen a little bit more of the smokies, especially more of David in this second novel. Hopefully they will have a bigger appearance in the third novel "Specials". However, we do meet an entirely different group of people out in the wild, that throws a wrench into the plot, and I hope we get to know them a little bit better in the next novel, and thanks to Westerfeld's cliffhanger endings, I am dying to read more!

It's complicated, but for some reason I want to live the life of a pretty. I guess I can relate with Peris the most in this book. I'd love to play tricks, and go on a little bit of an adventure, but personally, I think I'd be content with living in a city where all I had to worry about was what fun thing, or what party I was going to go to next, while the lesions on my brain force me to be "pretty-minded" all the time. It is, however, a world that has achieved world peace and is disease free! How bad can THAT be?

But then on the other hand, I guess your freedom and sense of self is completely gone. While you do get to make your own choices, they seem to be pretty limited, and you aren't ever allowed to leave the city.

I wonder if I am the only one who thinks this way after reading these books?