Firelight

Author: Sophie Jordan
Series: Firelight #1
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: September 7, 2010
ISBN: 0062001221
Pages: 336



Summery:

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

Review:
  I really liked this book. The whole dragon shifter element was refreshingly unique. The author did a great job with the building of romantic and suspenseful tension. At times I was holding my breath. The only thing that I didn't like was Jacinda's indecisive yo-yo mentality. One minute she wanted to stay with her mom and the next she wanted to leave. One minute she is going to be with Will no matter the consequences and the next minute she is ignoring him.  After she yo-yo'd like that a couple of times It  bothered me. But it was written so well that it kept me reading every second I could find. And I think I'm going to be checking out some of the author's adult works also. And yes, I will be buying book 2 the day it comes out.

Cover:
  I absolutely love it. The coloring is beautiful and the bit of scales around the eye with the dragon pupil. Great job!

Rating:
          B-

Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #1
Genre: YA paranormal
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: 3/2/2010
ISBN: 1423121309
Pages: 336




Summery:

  Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch! It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father-an elusive European warlock-only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shape shifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Review:
   This was such a fun book to read! What Sophie lacked in maturity she made up for in hilarity. I've never laughed out loud so much reading a book. The world building was interesting and I liked the secondary characters as well. Archer threw me a big surprise and Jenna is always a curiosity. I just picked up the second book in the series and can't wait to see how Sophie handles her demon.

Cover:
    I'm not really loving it. The model isn't a true Sophie for me and I find the rest of it kind of boring.

Rating:
            B

Tohrment!

Just in case there's a JR Ward fan alive that hasn't heard......
The next Black dagger brotherhood book will be about Tohr!!!

Juliet

Author: Ann Fortier
Genre:Historical fiction
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: August 24, 2010
ISBN: 0345516109
Pages: 464




Summery:

 When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety deposit box in Siena, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a precarious journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose love for a young man named Romeo inspired Shakespeare’s unforgettable story. As Julie crosses paths with the families who turned medieval Siena upside down, she begins to realize that the notorious curse -- 'a plague on both your houses' -- is still at work.

Review:

   I should preface this review by saying that I love Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I have read it several times, have parts of it memorized and believe it is literary perfection...

So, this book had the potential to suck big time for me . I'm happy to say however that I loved it! The author  wrote a smart, creative, captivating tale. Romantic, mysterious and tragically poetic. It succeeded in  weaving the legend of the real Romeo and Juliet with Fortier's modern characters masterfully.  I'm so happy I sought this book out!

Cover:

 The cover is just okay for me but I would have liked something more than just a rose, Perhaps an image that was more romantic or had an Italian or historical reference.

yeah,  something a tad more like this!

Rating:    

                  A

Lover unleashed

Author: JR Ward
Series:Black Dagger Brotherhood#9
Genre:Paranormal romance
Publisher: NAL Hardcover: New American Library
Released Date: March 29, 2011
ISBN: 978-0451233165
Pages: 528



Summery:
Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, seductive cloth as her brother.
Imprisoned for eons by their mother, the Scribe Virgin, she finally frees herself-only to face a devastating injury.
Manuel Manello, M.D., is drafted by the Brotherhood to save her as only he can-but when the human surgeon and the vampire warrior meet, their two worlds collide in the face of their undeniable passion.
With so much working against them, can love prove stronger than the birthright and the biology that separates them?

Review:
  I have just been dying for the release of this book. I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I savoured every word in this book . I loved it! Okay, first I was so pleased Qhuinn's introspection and the changes hes making but I am concerned with the face he recalled and how that will impact his future and of course his relationship with Blay(go team Qhuay)! I loved how Manny and Payne just fell in love without someone fighting it and their inner demons. It was refreshing. Payne's naivete did annoy me at times. The chosen are schooled in sexual arts so I thought  Payne should have had some insight about that subject. She wasn't weak or stupid but it did annoy me slightly. I also grew more accepting of the state of Jane in this book than I have been in the past. And V & Butch, their bond just keeps getting tighter and better. Yes, this book was well worth the wait. I think I'm going to have to re-read the series , like one book a month leading up to the release of the next installment.

Cover:
  Its just okay for me. It keeps in theme with the other books in the series but Ive always felt that they are slightly lacking.

Rating:       
              A+

Fair Play

Author: Deirdre Martin
Series:New York Blades#2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 3, 2004
ISBN: 978-0425194577
Pages: 368





Summery:
 To the deep disappointment of her large family, PR princess Theresa Falconetti never dates Italians, men from her old Brooklyn neighborhood, or professional athletes. Michael Dante, winger for the Stanley Cup champion New York Blades, is all three--and he is head over heels for her. So when Theresa finds herself a buttoned-up lawyer, Michael is forced to take his game to the next level.

Review:
     Micheal falls for Theresa the first time he meets her and she turns him down flat..... and the second time and the third time and so on and so on.  It gets to the point where he just walks into a room and she gets pissed off and insults him and complains about his presence. Half way through this book I was wishing he would just tell her to go screw herself and move on. But no....Theresa is dating someone else and working on her issues with a therapist. Yes, that's about it. I like Deirdre Martin and I'll read her again but this didn't even feel like a romance to me.

Cover:
         I liked this one even thought its a cartoon. It looks good and implements many elements of the story.
Rating:
           D

Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar

Author: Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Series: Vampire Empire: Book 1
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Publisher: PYR
Pages: 301
Release Date: 11/18/2010
ISBN: 978-1-61614-247-6





Summery:
In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once great cities were shrouded by the grey empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya. It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming. Princess Adele is heir to the Empire of Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit as well as with a sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles into a life of duty and political marriage to man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is The Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans. The Greyfriar: Vampire Empire is the first book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, The Greyfriar brings epic political themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

Review:
     This is a dark, Gothic, vampire fantasy. Different from the other books of it's kind with it's unique world building. Vampires that are so powerful but have a weakness in heat and humans that therefore live mainly in areas around the equator. The vampires in this tale are cold, cruel vicious race of the vampires. They feel they're superior to all things human and the humans that live in vamp lands are treated like cattle. The humans are inventive, creative and resilient but spiritually bankrupt and planning a world war to win back the planet.  I was thinking things like how much more powerful the vampires are than the humans but the humans have the power to feed and heal the vamps and so the vampires need them even though they despise them. I was wondering why is religion band if spirituality is such a powerful force and I was reminded of Romeo and Juliet toward the end, which I loved! The growth of Adele and Gareth both were satisfying to watch leaving me guessing at so many different outcomes for them and so I'm very much looking forward to book two.

Cover:
    Okay, I liked the airships in the background but the models are not how I imagined the characters to look.

Rating:
            B+

Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Infernal Devices

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Release Date: August 31, 2010

ISBN: 1416975861

Pages: 496
Genre: YA, Paranormal




Summery:
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gas lit streets. Only the Shadow hunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadow hunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadow hunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world.

Review:
    I had was immediately drawn into this creative, mysterious, Magical world! I enjoyed this book so much and was so sorry when it ended. Tessa is a smart, strong character. I liked that she didn't take any crap from anyone, not even her brother. Will is a puzzle, yes he is a jerk but that's just what he's going for. And James is a beautifully unique soul. I can not wait to watch their story unfold in the rest of the series.

Cover:
 Very nice romantic, steam punk look. And of course, I love the angel!

Rating:
               A

Desires Of The Dead

Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: Body finder#2
Genre: YA,Paranormal
Publisher: Harperteen
Pages: 358
Release Date: March 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-177984-8





Summery:
 Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered-and the matching imprint that killings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.
   As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous  obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend, Mike. Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Review:
          I was hoping that this book would be as good as the first book in the series, The Body Finder. I was wrong, it was even better! The mystery was intriguing, the characters were interesting and the story was well paced and beautifully worded. I just have to say that I love Jay. He is such a great guy. I wish that Violet opened up earlier on to him but I think the story was more tense because she didn't. I also liked the new characters that were introduced, they kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I'm so looking forward to the next book. A great read!
Cover:
 The cover is okay, it matches the first. I had it on my desk at work and other people mentioned how pretty it was.
Rating:
        A

Recent Disappointments

            I was so dissapointed. I couldn't finish either of these books. I tried but after forcing my self to read almost half  of each I got a point where I rolled my eyes and said out lound " Oh my God, you have got to be kidding me". Thats about the time I admit I've wasted money and stop wasting my time and trash it.

Rating:

          F



Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy trilogy#1
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: 8/30/2010
ISBN: 0061985848
Pages: 352




Summery:

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone—or something—starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal and normal is so boring.

Review:
   This was a really enjoyable teen read. The only thing that bothered me was some of the banter that went on in Evie's head got to be annoying. Maybe I expected her to be more mature than is normal for her age.Lend was great! He was a totally new and unique kind of being for me to encounter. It was refreshing to read a character with properties that I haven't thought about before.

Cover:
                 Not bad. Not great.
Rating:
            B

The Winter of Red Snow

Author: Kristina Gregory

Series: Dear America

Genre: Children's historical fiction

Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 0439445531

Release Date: 1997

Summery:

 In her beloved diary, eleven-year-old Abigail Jane Stewart chronicles the despair and the hope of the winter of 1777 and 1778, when she witnesses the struggles of George Washington and his soldiers on the fields of Valley Forge.

Review:

    I have been having trouble finding a book good enough to finish lately. This book has been on my daughters shelf for 10 years. I've had my eye on it for a while and now I wish I had picked it up long ago. This short read was a nice break for me.  I like reading about this period in history and this book was well done. It was written to be appropriate enough for kids and engaging enough for an adult to keep turning the pages. I found myself disappointed when it ended. 

Cover:

      I love it. I also love the title.

Rating:

              B

Body Check

Author: Deirdre Martin

Series:New York Blades#1

Genre:Contemporary romance

Publisher:Jove

Release Date: February 25, 2003
ISBN: 978-0515134896
Pages: 336

Summery:

 When persistent sports publicist Janna MacNeil butts heads with hockey team captain Ty Gallagher, they don't just crack the ice-they melt it!

Review:

   Another hit for Martin! I really enjoyed this book. The contemporary romance section is a little slim these days. I think they are more of a challenge for romance writers. There are less situation that present obstacles to couples now than there were in the past.  In "Body Check", Martin has given us two strong characters, each very likable. Both care very much for each other but are afraid that the relationship will risk careers that they both have worked so hard for. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Cover:

         Again, I'm not a fan of the cartoon covers. I wish it were a photo.

Grade:

            B

                                    



The Society of S

Author: Susan Hubbard
Series:Ariella Montero#1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Release date: 2007
ISBN: 1416534571
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Paranormal




Summery:
 What if everything you knew about your family was a lie: What if, when the lies began to crack, beneath them lay a truth so dark and deep, yet so compelling, that it pulled you inside? The Society of S, a character-driven literary mystery, is the future of vampirism, told in a voice that will haunt you---and make you think.

Review:
   This book was just okay for me. Some of the writing is so profound it feel like this could be an epic and then the characters turn out to be such a disappointment.
 Ari lives in a house that she isn't free to roam in, with a dad she really doesn't know and a cook that doesn't like her and it takes half of the book for her to start asking why. Her fathers lack of feeling towards her, his lack of reaction at her moms leaving and Ari's leaving and then showing up again all bothered me. Her mom's lack of  emotion and reaction bothered me too! And how come after everything is revealed, Malcolm is still hanging around? I just don't get these characters and how passive they all are, it killed the story for me.

Cover: I like it but the meaning of the dragonfly wasn't elaborated.

Rating:
             C

Icebreaker

Author: Deirdre Martin
Series: New York Blades #9
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Pages:289
Release Date:2011
ISBN: 9780425239797






Summery:
 

 Attorney Sinead O'Brien's new client is Adam Perry, the star of the New York Blades. It's a good thing she doesn't date clients, especially jocks. Charged with assault on another player, the private, no-nonsense Adam knows this is his last shot at Stanley Cup glory. Sinead quickly discovers that there's a wounded man under that helmet, and she's falling for him-hard. Can they play on their feelings without penalties?

Review:
      This book was such a nice read. Sinead and Adam are both very emotionally guarded people. It was wonderful to see them open up and become vunerable. The relationship developed in a believable way and the story was sexy and sweet enough. I thought the dialogue was really good, real and fresh. I went and bought the first book in this series!
Cover:
   I love it ! The bicep on that cover kept me flipping back to look!
Rating:
               A

Major Crush

Author: Jennifer Echols
Genre:YA, romantic comedy
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: August 2006
ISBN: 9781416918301
Pages: 287










Summery:
   

 Tired of the beauty-pageant circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles -- drum major of the high school marching band. Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute... But as the drum major's heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything -- including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster.

Review:

  I had started out with and adult romance. The characters were so stupid that half way though, I quit. Why waste my time with crap, when there is so much good stuff out there? I picked up this light, funny, teen romance and finished the book a happy girl. It was well done. I liked Virginia and seeing her and Drew struggle to work together was enjoyable.

Cover:
   Ive said before, I don't like the cartoon covers. This publisher does!!! Not a winner.

Rating:
               B
      

Karma Girl

Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: May 2007
ISBN: 0425215113
Pages: 368
Genre: Paranormal Romance










Summery:
    Bigtime, New York, is not big enough for both Carmen Cole and the superheroes and ubervillains who stalk its streets. An intrepid reporter, Carmen's dedicated her life to unmasking the spandex wearers, all because her fiance turned out to be a superhero, and a cheating one at that-sleeping with none other than his nubile nemesis. Exposing the true identities of the nation's caped crusaders and their archenemies has catapulted Carmen from her sleepy southern hometown to the front pages of the country's biggest newspaper. Hobnobbing with millionaires and famished fashionistas is all in a day's work for a woman on the trail of the Fearless Five and Terrible Triad. But when Carmen gets the scoop of her career, her life comes crashing down around her. And even Bigtime's sexiest superhero, Striker, may not be able to save her.

Review:
   This book was light and funny and just what I needed after coming off a Hunger Games marathon. At first, I didn't think I could take a city full of super heroes sseriously enough to get through this book but I went with it and it was fun! Carmen was smart and tuff and flirted with danger and masked men. The secondary characters had some spice of their own.  Although predictable at times, it was unique and enjoyable.

Cover:
  While I'm not a fan of the animated covers, this one isn't bad.

Rating:
            C+    

Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins
Release Date: August 24, 2010
ISBN: 0439023513
Pages: 400
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Series: The Hunger Games #3










Summery:





  Against all odds, Katniss has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss Everdeen. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. Third in the Hunger Games Trilogy.

Review:
    The final instalment of The Hunger Games was as satisfying as the first two books in the series. In this book, Peeta has been captured by the capital, Katniss has to choose if she is willing to be a pawn for the rebellion and Gale is trying to keep his place in her life while moving into a new role of his own. The world building was consistent perfection. I loved all of the characters even the villains. Following Katniss on this emotional marathon was so intense that I just let the tears fall about halfway through. I loved her breakdowns and the times when she just withdrawals. Its those moments that make her real to me. Again in this book, as in the previous two, my only disappointment is with Katniss's resistance to love and be loved. I try to understand her fears and why she hardens herself but as a romantic, I wanted just a little more from her. Especially at the end. The final paragraph was just to short of a wrap up for me. I liked the ending but even with the epilogue, I would have like the final paragraph to be its own chapter. That said, this book is going on the keeper shelf with the other two.

Cover:
       I love it. Consistent with the others in the series and I love the Mockingjay spreading its wings and breaking the symbol behind it.

Rating:
       A

Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger games #2
Release Date: 2009-09-01
ISBN: 0439023491
Pages: 391
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic Press








Summery:
  

 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 a life of safety for themselves and their families . 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.

Review:
  I devoured this book. It takes up right where The Hunger Games leaves off and hits the ground running. Katniss spends the first part of this book adjusting to life as the victor of the games. Just as she's learning to deal with her post tramatic stress from the games and the duality of her public and private selves, she's once again fighting for her life. Once again the writing grabbed me and pulled me in from page one. The only thing that leaves me feeling dissapointed is her feelings or lack there of toward Peeta. I love Peeta and always want more from her in their relationship. Needless to say I will be finishing this trilogy asap!

Cover:
      Good, sharp. Consistant with the first. I like it.

Rating:
              A

 

           

The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins
Release Date: 2010-07-03
ISBN: 0439023521
Pages: 384
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic










Summery:
    

   The  Hunger Games introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where an overpowerful government called the Capitol has risen up after some devastating disasters. Each year, just to prove they can and they hold the power,each district randomly selects the names of one boy and one girl, who are then forced into an arena to fight against each other in a televised game of life and death and forced to kill each other until only one remains. But all is not over for her yet.

Review:

      After hearing so many rave reviews, I expected alot of this book and it did not disappoint. It was an awesome read! The main character is Katniss, who is brave, wise, loyal and tough and still just a teen. I loved her reflections of her childhood and her father. The games and the capital are calculated and cruel and I felt the injustice of the people in Panem. I enjoyed all the secondary characters, even the ones I didn't like. I found myself routing for certain characters over others and hanging on everyword. This story was told so well that after just a few pages, I went to the store for book two!

Cover:
              Well done. Its sharp and I like the use of the mocking jay pin.

Rating:
             A

The Macgregors:Serena & Caine

Title: the Macgregors:Serena&Caine
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: The Macgregors
Publisher: Silhouette Books
Release Date: 1998
Contains: Playing the odds
                 Tempting Fate
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 0373483880
Pages: 384







Summery:

When fiery heiress Serena MacGregor ups the ante on cool Comanche gambler Justin Blade, steamy doesn't begin to describe the results. Attorney Caine MacGregor has rarely met a case--or a woman--he couldn't win. But can he overrule ice princess Diana Blade's adamant objections to love?

Review:
        I want to start by saying that Ive read many, many books by Nora Roberts that I have loved. This series however was just not for me. This book contains two stories, the first, Playing the odds, had a male hero that didn't understand the word "NO" and a lead female who just went along with it. I was waiting for him to just hit her with his club and drag her by her hair. I just didn't like it and didn't finish it.
      I still decided to give the second story, Tempting fate, a try. It had a decent start but I just don't think that the lead characters were fleshed out enough. I didn't understand Diana and I was annoyed by Caine because he seemed to understand her in such an over dramatic way , I was left rolling my eyes at the page. I decided to spend my time reading something decent. Sorry Nora, I didn't finish this one either.

Cover:
          Pretty, serene. I like it.

Rating:
              F


   

Nevermore

Author: Kelly Creagh
Published: 2010-08-31
ISBN: 1442402008
Pages: 543
Genre: Young Adult, paranormal

Summery:

 Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with piercing eyes another look.
Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.
His life depends on it.

Review:
     At  543 pages, this was a long one and worth every word. I enjoyed this book so much that its even made me want to read some Poe. I loved every move Isobel made, I found her and her family believable. The way she spoke up & stood up for the right thing made me say "Yes", And I liked how, I wasn't sure,really, what she would do. I enjoyed the mystery and seeing all the sides of Varen, especially the reveal of what the nocs were at the end. I enjoyed the writing so much that I even went slowly over the Poe stuff to make sure that I didn't miss any details. The only part of the story that I didn't like was how it ended...until  I discovered that its the first book in a trilogy!

Cover:
    This is a great cover. I do picture Varen slightly different  than this model(no lip ring?)but I like the contrast between the him & Isobel. I like that she's wearing the pink dress and that the title is in Varen's signature font.

Rating:
             A

Devoured by Darkness

Author: Alexandra Ivy
  ISBN: 1420111353
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Zebra
Release: 12/01/2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Guardians of Eternity,#7

Summery

 

 Tane is a Charon, sworn to hunt and kill rogue vampires. His new assignment seems like a waste of his talents…until he catches up with the Jinn he's been sent to capture. Half human, half demon, Layla has a vulnerable streak that strikes right through to Tane's cold heart. He should be furious when she uses her powers to bind them together, preventing him from dragging her before the Commission. Instead he welcomes any reason to stay close enough to touch, to taste, to seduce…
Layla doesn't know why she was chosen to protect a child who may be the catalyst in a war between good and evil. But the mysteries of her past pale compared to the dangers approaching. Tane is devastatingly strong, breathtakingly sensual. And Layla will have to trust in every ounce of that strength, because her enemies are drawing near, eager to destroy them both.

Review:
 Let me start by saying that I loved the first four books in this series. Book five was okay for me, book six I pretty much skimmed but....I had hope. Nope, book seven didn't redeem Ms. Ivy's skill for me. I liked the two main characters but the dialogue kept pulling me out of the story. There were so many modern references and even the figures of speach that they use distracted me. I just kept thinking that beings who are this long lived  and powerful have more wisdom and don't sound like they're in their 20s. The plot was interesting, the world building consistent but by the 2nd half of the story I found myself skipping to the dialogue just to finish it. I think I'm done with this series.

Cover:
     The art was not bad. I like the purple and it was consistent with the series but the model looks nothing like Tane is described in the book.

Rating:
       D

  
 

Almost Perfect

Title :Almost Perfect

Author:Susan Mallery

Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: 06/29/2010
ISBN: 9780373774906
Genre:  Contemporary Romance  Summery:   Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she'd stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they'd ever meant to each other. Devastated and pregnant, Liz left Fool's Gold, California--forever, she thought....Now Liz must return to town and face the man who doesn't know of their son's existence. And this time she won't have the option of ...making a quick getaway. Ethan and Liz can't deny their passionate attraction, even after all these years. But will their desire be enough to spark a second chance at love? Review:  This  book was so hard to finish. The male hero in the book was an absolute jerk. His mother was a jerk and well, most everyone in the town were jerks. Liz tends to forgive and forget the worst of things. Even when she catches someones stealing from her, she apoligizes to them and asks if they need more. I was angry through most of it and in the end, I can't say that I even consider it a romance. It was as far from perfect as I've seen a romance get. Cover:        Nice Grade:            F

The Body Finder

                                            

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Publication Date: March 16, 2010
ISBN: 9780061779817
Page Count: 327
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Summary:

    

  Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself

Review:
 This story was totally engrossing. I think I set a speedy reader record with this one. Violet's gift was interesting and unique.The love story was wonderful, the mystery was full of suspense. The plot and pacing were perfect. It made me glad I was snowed in so I could keep reading!

Cover:
  Decent cover art.

Grade:
       A

Grave Sight

                                                                                                                                     

                             

Title :Grave Sight

Author: Charlaine Harris

release:10/04/2005

Genre: Paranormal suspense

The first book in Charlaine Harris's mystery series introduces readers to Harper Connelly, a strange young woman who -- after being struck by lightning as a child -- is able to locate dead people and determine exactly how they died.

Accompanied by her stepbrother, Tolliver (who works as her manager), Harper heads to small-town Arkansas for their next job. Her client is a socialite named Sybil Teague, who wants Harper to find a teenage girl who disappeared on the day her son was found shot dead in the woods. The girl, Monteen "Teenie" Hopkins, has a reputation for being "wild as a razorback," and scandalous rumors abound about the two. But once Harper locates Teenie's corpse a short distance from the spot where Sybil's son died and reveals that she was shot in the back while trying to escape, the real trouble starts. As more town residents begin to turn up dead -- and with her brother in jail on bogus charges -- Harper must find the real killer before she becomes his next victim.
Review:
             After reading the True blood series three times, I was quite dissapointed with Grave sight. While I liked Harper and Tolliver, I found their relationship strange through most of the book. I hated the town and diliked all the secondary characters.
            Harper's gift  was very interesting but the fact that no one in the town seemed interested in so many murders happening in one small town was hard to believe. All anyone seemed to care about was how much they disliked Harper. It was a bit hard  to keep track of how the whole town was related so I just let it go. The motive was kind of thin and lastly, I found I was totally taken out of the story but a confession of murder that was so easy it was really unbelievable. All that said I will give the Harper series on more chance with Grave Suprise.
Cover:
  Im not a fan of the cartoonish covers. This one however isn't bad.
Rating: C+

Before I Fall

title:Before I fall

Author: Laren Oliver

Genre: YA paranormal

 Release:3/02/2010

ISBN: 978-0061726804
Publisher: HarperCollins

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Review:

    This book was amazing. I laughed and yes, I cried, I stayed up way too late. I liked Sam and was emotionally invested from the first page until the last.While the plot was familiar, the writing was engrossing. The secondary characters were well developed and I looked forward to seeing what each new day would bring and how her relationships would change. Ms. Oliver has gone on my auto buy list!

Rating: A+