Update

"If life was easy, where would all the adventure be?"

School has started, and it takes up half my day. Five hours worth, really because I'm homeschooled online. But I have a language, and I must study, study, and study some more. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop working with this blog. It's my baby, so I can't do that xD

I will continue reading and posting reviews as well as the usual memes. I want to hold a contest, two great books that I think you'll love, but I only have thirteen followers- and I'm not making it easy like that xD So, any suggestions for getting followers and hosting a contest? Post comments with that!

I am currently reading three, yes three, books. I'm really lagging, and I have about six more to go. Usually, I'm quite a fast reader, but since I started The Lovely Bones- I don't know what's happened. Maybe it's just not my genere.

Oh well.

That's all I have right now for this update. Please post any tips about contests below, I really want to hold one, but I don't quite know how. Thanks! Oh, and please tell me how to use quotes? As you can see from the previous post, I tried horribly. Welp, I'm off to study more French, or check out other blogs. Isn't the picture cute? Au revoir!

Teaser Tuesdays [o5]

Want to join in? Follow these simply rules, or directions. Either way ya put it, it's entirely the same XD

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The first quote is coming from The Lovely Bones, and the second orginates from Interview With A Vampire. Auhtors are Anne Rice and Alice Sebold.

"I would like to tell you it is beautful here, that I am, and you will one day be, forever safe. But this heaven is not about safety just as, in its graciousness, it isn't about gritty reality."

"The vampire was utterly white and smooth, as if he were sculpted from bleached bone, and his face was as seemingly inanimate as a statue. Except for two brilliant green eyes that looked down at the boy intently like flames in
a skull."

In My Mailbox [11]

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at The Book Junkie.

Hey there! Sorry I haven't been posting much. But I'm here, a day before school starts :D The Lovely Bones is sort of baking up how fast I read. So that's the main reason there are less posts, a long book! So, I have one book this week, out of the seven I still have to read. Anyways....

Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic,
shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel or mesmerizing beauty and
astonishing force- a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense
and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only
Anne Rice could write.

Can I add that this cover is gorgeous? I looked everywhere to find the cover that I had bought, and not the old version. It was quite hard! But I found it :D If you can't see, there's like swirls a shade lighter than black, its really pretty. And so are the candles! I love black covers with simple things on it. Haha, expect a review soon. Along with all the others, of course.

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages: 400
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Rating: 10/5 [;

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Review:

Oh, oh, oh I have a new favorite book! I have a new book crush ;] And he is the infamous Patch. Okay, now that's out of the question, let's get on to the review... Shall we?

This novel follows Nora Grey through some terrifying encounters, and she thinks she knows who's up with all the misfit. Patch. The thing is, she's starting to like him more and more. Which is also something she doesn't do, fall in love. She starts piecing things together, and she can't believe her mind...

I loved this book, more than I thought was possible. I liked the idea of this book, fallen angels. Usually with paranomal-ish books you get angels, vampires, werewolfs, fairies, even dwarfs; but with this you get something totally orignal. I loved that! I have to admit, some parts deathly reminded me of Twilight, but it was different.

The characters were well rounded. Vee is Nora's best friend, and she keeps pushing guys at her, but she's still the best friend that she calls when she's scared or worried. Just like any friend. Patch is that bad boy any girl would want, but he's sweet as can be under that layer because of Nora; he's also dangerous. That's something else you don't get often. Nora. A girl whose independant and confident, falls in love with Patch. But! She doesn't completely fall for him with a snap of your fingers. It moved slowly, now that's a good MC. Then there are the other characters, and they add to it the story very well. Even if there are some from the past.

The plot kept me on my toes, and I know I say that alot, but it's really true this time. There's action towards the middle and end of the book. But throughout reading, there's suspense! And a lot of it. You think it's one person, then later on BOOM, it's not who you expected. Fitzpatrick did that wonderfully. The description through the book was awesome, and there was alot of it. Good way!

The cover is amazing. I love how it's actually showing what the book is about. The way he's falling, with the wings and the red on the very top. Captivating, I must say.

Overall, I'm in love with this book! And not in love as you would think, but book love! Hahaha, does that make sense? I think not, but anyways. I think Fitzpatrick did a really great job with her debut novel. I'm definately re-reading this book and looking foward to its sequel, yes sequel!, coming out in 2010[:

Review: Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters

Author: Michelle Zink
Publisher: Little, Brown Company
Pages: 352
Rating: 3.5/5

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-One good...One evil...Who will prevail? Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust. They just know they can't trust each other.





Review:

This book was creepy, and I'm not sure it was in a good or bad way. I'm leaning towards good, but I haven't read many "creepy" books much to even compare. It's in a Gothic area and I think that's why I found it creepy, but either way I liked it either way.

The characters were great, and the writing, and the plot! I couldn't put this book down, and when I had to I couldn't wait to get up and read more... The plot was THAT good. The characters were well developed and each had their place in the story. The writing. It made me feel as if I were really in the 1800's. I wish I could write that good!

The first book in the trilogy had a lot of twists and turns. The riddle of the prohecy was hard, but I could figure it out before the characters in the story! Well, most of it anyway.

I think you should read this, and for all of you who already read it...do me a favor and read it again(:

Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5

A prodigal son
A dangerous love
A deadly secret...

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant....I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me... I mean... why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

My thoughts:

The Dark Divine will entice you to the very end, all the while letting you swoon with the romance and cringe at the action.

Grace, our character, wants to keep her parents proud but something keeps getting in the way of that. Daniel. He's the dark, brooding and mysterious boy that used to be someone you know and now you don't. He was my favorite character of them all. Back to Grace. Her character was likable, she was realistic. Jude, the annoying big brother, can't help but hate Grace's actions against him. I liked him....at first, then I didn't like him so much throughout the end.

The writing in this book was fantastic. The plot took me for a twist and completely exceeding my expectations, but I have to admit that it did start out slow for me. But once the action and teh suspense kicked in it had me on it's leash. I cannot wait for the next book and hope it's just as amazing!

Ya'll should pick up this book whenever you can! You'll definitely love it, more than you think you will (:

Mega Contest Update!

Taschima at Bloody Bookaholic is hosting a major contest called Mega Palooza. That's so nifty! Ha. She has a whole list of arc's, great books already released, and other goodies that you may be interested in winning. She'll have three winners. The first is allowed to take seven books, while the second takes home three, and the third one. If your interested, go check it out right here. I'm getting good at these hyperlinks, :P

Here's What YOU could win:

- Signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia + Goodies
- Hardback Another Faust
- Hardback Prophecy of the Sisters
- ARC The Dark Divine
- ARC Hush Hush
- ARC Give Up The Ghost
- ARC Ash
- ARC Behind Every Illusion
- ARC Shiver
- ARC Eyes Like Stars
- ARC The Demon's Lexicon
- ARC Betraying Season
- ARC Any Given Doomsday
- Dead Until Dark
- Gossip Girl 1st Book
- The Black Tatto + poster
- Vampire Academy
- Frost Bite, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Shadow Kiss, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Blood Promise, a Vampire Academy Novel.

Go on, I can sense your wanting to win some of these big boys. So go on, I know you wanna, we all do!(:

In My Mailbox [1o]

Hey there. I'm changing it around this time around, guys. I got a video with my current favorite song mixed in along with all the books I have this week. Enjoy! In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at The Book Junkie! My library's teen section is sooo tiny.

From the Library:

• I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert
• My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
• Love Is Hell by Scott Westerfeld.
• Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
• Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
• Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
  

For review:

• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

All of these are links to Amazon, besides the last. Because everytime I went to Amazon for Eyes Like Stars my computer start acting weird, so yeah.

Girls, if you're Team Jacob in anyway, you have GOT to check this trailer out. It's a Meet Jacob New Moon trailer. It has Jane, who looks AMAZING, a sneak of the Volturi, and the wolfpack with their hot bodies. And for us Team Edward, your heart will break. It shows him in pain! :( Which I think is part where Jane kicks is ass using her powers, so sad!

The Twilight Saga: New Moon 'Meet Jacob Black' Preview in HD

Review: Wake by Lisa McMann

Title: Wake
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 210
Rating: 5/5

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreasm 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 life time.

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 night-more, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She's a participant...

Review:

Janie can see into other people's dreams, and she doesn't like it. She goes through every day hoping that no one dreams while she's in school. So she doesn't have to deal with the paralyzing annoyance that she has to keep up with. She's starting to see dreams and it's piecing together something that's more real than just a dream....

This book amazed me, and was just what I was waiting to read. The writing in this book was even more interesting and awesome, it follows Janie everywhere... Including in her dreams. I could really feel like I was in each dream as well. McMann did that amazingly well, with just a minium number of words.

The characters were well rounded as well, each had their own fears, wants, and hopes. The relationship between Cabel and Janie never failed to interest me, there were surprises with ever turn of the page. Cabel sounded amazing, especially after he changes his looks around...ahem.

There are two more books to this series, and I can wait to read the other two. This is a great novel, so of course I can't not read the other two (:

Review: I Know It's Over by C.K Martin

Title: I Know It's Over

Author: C.K Martin

Publisher:Random House Books for Young Readers

Pages: 256

Rating: 4.5/5

Pure. Perfect. Unplanned. Those were Nick’s summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parents’ divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs. All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he’s neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn’t mind in the least. But Nick’s world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then, weeks later, while Nick’s still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she’s pregnant. Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can’t stop caring for, the girl who insists that it’s still over.

I read the synopsis of this book, and was automatically drawn in. He wants to live through summer taking it easy and hanging out. That's all planned out, but meeting Sasha wasn't. Suddenly he's in a relationship, the whole deal. Then after Sasha breaks up with him, a week later she tells him she's pregant. And it all goes downhill from there.

I liked the fact that this was in Nick's point of view, and not Sasha's. Most young adult titles that I read that have to deal with pregnacy are written through the girl's perspective. So we go to see what the guy actually thinks. A really liked that fact. Sasha's pregency isn't the only problem that Nick has to deal with, he's got his parent's divorce as well. He went through each of them realistically, as do all the other characters.

Speaking of the characters, each were developed really good. They were realistic in every way possible, and I'm glad to say so! I didn't have any problem with relating to the characters, and that's meant in a good way and not a bad? Did that make sense? They were relateable, as people. Ahh you get the point.

There are a lot of issues that swirl around in this novel. There's the main idea which this book is surrounded with, which is teen pregnacny and what to do about it. But it doesn't stick with that, there's also dealing with being gay and taking the harshness from a parent. And lastly, what it's like to be a kid dealing with a divroce.

Overall, C.K Martin's debut novel is a hit. Although it was heartbreaking how it ended, it was all good. Martin does a very good job at putting a teen pregancy novel through the eyes of the guy. It's a light, heartfelt, and just a great book. Do me a favor? Go read this book, you'll love it!

Waiting on Wednesday [o4]

Okay, so it's almost time for me to be going to bed because honestly, I'm really sleepy. So yeah, bed time in like an hour! Hahah (: I've posted this late as you can probably tell. So here's the book I'm dying to read... ha I had to, it fit it with the book.

Charlotte Emerson seems to have the perfect existence. She is enviably beautiful and lives alone in a mansion full of reasures and beautiful clothes, perched atop the cliffs of the Pacific Palisades. But Charlotte has been lonely and dead for almost a century. Now she might get a second chance at life.

Okay, now I'm literally dying to read this book. I didn't even know it was about vampires! Okay, sure I've seen the cover before on other sites and didn't notice the fangs, but hey I have my moments. Harrumph, this is so not fair. I love, love vampire teen books and this isn't out yet... Guess I'll have to wait!

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

Title: Kiss of Life
Author: Daniel Waters
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Pages: 416
Rating: 4/5

The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Review:

In the sequel to Generation Dead, Adam was shot saving his love, Pheobe. It follows his struggle to be like the normal undead teens, and also follows Pheobe and her struggle to choose which guy she wants more.

I'll be honest, I barely read the first book, but read through this one faster than you can say 'Hey There's a Zombie!' I found it really good and interesting. It was nice having two point of views from everything... Maybe three? I couldn't tell.

Adam was great. Although he died, and was alive again, he still loved Pheobe. His chapters were hard to read, but they got better throughout the book. Which is showing how he's getting better at being undead. He showed great determination, and that's something everything should have.

The cover had absolutely no meaning in the book. I mean, aren't covers supposed to at least give off something from the book? In this case, no, this cover did not make me happy in any kind of way. I prefer the UK covers, go and look those up.

Overall, the plot, the writing, and the characters proved to make this a great read. If you loved the first one, or barely read it, your going to love this sequel.

Books Read

I'm gonna tell you this right now, I have read so many more books than what's going to be listed on this list right here, right here. The books I've read were at least thirty more, but at that time I didn't want to keep track. So from now on, I'm going to keep track! And isn't this picture adorable?

-A-

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Suplee
Assiniboin Girl by Kathleen Wallace
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

-B-

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
Braced 2 Bite by Serena Robar
Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi
Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwansey

-C-
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

-D-

Dating 4 Demons by Serena Robar
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

-E-

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

-F-

Fangs 4 Freaks by Serena Robar
Fat Cat by Robin Brande

-G-

Going to Far by Jennifer Echols
Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

-H-

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Hold Still by Nina LaCour
How To Say Goodbye In Robot by Natalie Strandiford
Hate List by Jennifer Brown


-I-

I Know It's Over by C.K Martin
Immortal by Gillian Shields

-J-

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Darkside by Beth Fantaskey
Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

-K-

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

-L-

Lessons From A Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
Look Both Ways by Jacquelyn Mitchard

-M-

Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle
Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian
Milestones by Samira Armin Hodges
My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent
Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

-N-

-O-

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Martin
Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCallough

-P-

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myrcle
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

-Q-

-R-

Ruined by Paula Morris

-S-

Strange Angels by Lili. St. Crow
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
Shiver by Maggie Maggie Stiefvater
Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison
Stake That! by Mari Mancusi

-T-

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
The Everafter by Amy Huntley
The Hollow by Jessica Verday
The Awakening by L.J. Smith
The Sky Always Hears Me by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

-U-

Unraveling by Michelle BaldiniLynn Biederman

-V-

-W-

Wake by Lisa McMann
Willow by Julia Hoban
What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson
Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
Wings by Aprilynne Pike

-X-

-Y-

-Z-

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

Policy

So, you want me to review your book? Well I've got news for you, I do just that. You probably have some questions about my blog. Am I right? Well, let's get to it.

Types of Books:
This blog is devoted to reviewing young adult titles, because that is what my blog's all about. If you're book hasn't yet been released, or it has, either way I would love to review it! It'll be my pleasure. I don't review E-books, it's just too much staring at the screen. Memoirs, science-fiction, non-fiction, and historic are usually not my favorites. There's an exception to historic, you'll need to send a synopsis along with your email. I do love paranormal, romance, and everything in between. If you want to ensure I'll review your book, send a synopsis of your book along with the email.

Review Timeline:
If you send me a book to review, great! When a novel isn't released yet, I'll post the review a month before it's release. However, it is released, you can expect a review anytime from 3-5 days depending on how much I liked it. Books for review are my first priority.

My review style:
I rate novels with the system posted below. If you receive five robots, or stars if you will, I absolutely loved it. It's exactly what I love in a book. If you received four robots, I loved it, but not as much as a five robot-ed rating. Three robots means that I liked a book, it was okay and reached my expectations. If you received a two robot rating I did not like it all it. It wasn't horrible, but I just disliked it. At last, the rating most books will never go, is one robot. It means I hated it, and isn't worth anyone's time.

Attention:
The first and foremost place that your book's review is going to be is on my blog, Darling Reviews. It's where most of them are posted. I do have a Goodreads account, and the review will be posted on that site as well for people who are always logged into that site. I have a Twitter, so my followers there will also know how much I liked a certain book. A picture, usually on the right sidebar, act as a coming up review.

Contests:

Followers:
If you are under thirteen, I'm going to have to ask permission from your parent's first. This is just for your safety, and not meant to be taken rudely. I would expect you to be completely honest. Just have one of your parents shoot me an email saying it's okay. You name and address will not be given to anyone else and is automatically deleted after I send the package.

Authors & Publishers:
If you want to host a contest through my blog, I would love to! Just tell me what you want given away, the deadline, and anything else and we'll come up with something! Also, if you want to schedule an interview or whatnot, I'd love to do that as well.

So that's about it. If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to shoot me an email at readdarlingreviews(at)hotmail(dot)com. I check it everyday.

*Updated 1/14/10

Review: Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

Title: Waiting for You

Author: Susane Colasanti

Publisher: Penquin Books

Pages: 319

Rating: 3.5

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

In this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to “be in the Now” and realizes that the love she’s been waiting for has been right in front of her all along.

Review:

Marisa is starting her sophomore year of high school and she's earning for a new start. It doesn't start out very well, but soon she's got the boy she's always dreamed of dating. Along with not getting her fresh start, things start going bad and she falls into a sort of depression state relying on a hidden DJ who really understands her, the thing is does she know him or not?

I was sort of iffy about this book, I never really read any other Susane Colasanti books before so I can't really compare. I liked the plot and how she incorrperated the amount of support we really have in life. From friends to familes.

The writing was overall good, but there were some parts I just couldn't stand. A lot of the time, throughout the book, the dialouge has 'She was like," and anything around that. It got on my nerves.

I liked Nash a lot. He secretly liked Marisa ever since he knew her. Yet he stays quiet. Even if he's not what Marisa wants, she figures out later on that he is what she wants. It kind of shows you that you can't always look at the outside picture. He was sweet and I wish every boy was like that...

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone. It's what most every girl should read. If they're a sucker for happy endings, you'll love this book. Just like I did. I would give a higher rating, but that part about the "she was like, he was all...etc." got on my nerves... remember?

Review: Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

Title: Once Dead, Twice Shy

Author: Kim Harrison

Publisher: Harperteen

Pages: 232

Rating: 5/5

Madison is dead. After she fled her prom with a mysterious guy and ended up in a crashed car—only to survive and then be struck down by this guy’s magical sword—she has existed in a curious state of purgatory. She still walks around, interacts with others, eats, and sleeps, only now she does so in the company of Barnabas, a light reaper—a kind of angel who fights off dark reapers trying to harvest the souls of people about to make fate-altering decisions. There are also timekeepers, dark wings, guardian angels, seraphs, and magical amulets.

If you’re already clutching your head in despair, you won’t be alone: the architecture of Harrison’s world is confusing even after several explanations. However, for ardent fans of the good-looking undead, this has plenty of verve, an enjoyable role reversal (Madison is constantly rescuing the good-guy hunk), and is quite fun when the supernatural characters are placed within a regular high-school milieu. Like it or not, a sequel is rising from the underworld as we speak.

Review:

Four words, I. Loved. This. Book. I'm known to love anything dealing with werewolfs, vampires, angels, reapers, anything; So naturally, I liked it. The last part about reapers, I've never read any books about Light Reapers vs. Dark Reapers. I like the orginality.

I've heard there were other books that may of led up to this one? I'm not sure, but I got everything sorted out and understood the book anyways. I liked the plot, everything led up great. The writing gave great descriptions, something I love in any book.

The characters; I loved Grace - or Madison's guardian angel - she was adorable. I liked the idea Harrison put off for guardian angels. Grace was a bundle of light, literally and mentally. She loves to make ryhmes, she was just cute. The other characters were well put together as well, but Grace was my favorite one.

I really liked the ending of this book, it was classic.

Overall this is a great read, I recommend you get off your tooshes and go get this book. Or if you've already had, go read it again! (:

In My Mailbox [o9]

I'm admitting, I have a problem. I went to pick up one book from the libarary that I've been waiting on for months, I went in returning two and back out with three. Seriously, I've got to stop doing that...

Books this week... again:

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison:

Madison is dead. After she fled her prom with a mysterious guy and ended up in a crashed car—only to survive and then be struck down by this guy’s magical sword—she has existed in a curious state of purgatory. She still walks around, interacts with others, eats, and sleeps, only now she does so in the company of Barnabas, a light reaper—a kind of angel who fights off dark reapers trying to harvest the souls of people about to make fate-altering decisions. There are also timekeepers, dark wings, guardian angels, seraphs, and magical amulets.

If you’re already clutching your head in despair, you won’t be alone: the architecture of Harrison’s world is confusing even after several explanations. However, for ardent fans of the good-looking undead, this has plenty of verve, an enjoyable role reversal (Madison is constantly rescuing the good-guy hunk), and is quite fun when the supernatural characters are placed within a regular high-school milieu. Like it or not, a sequel is rising from the underworld as we speak.

I Know It's Over by C.K Martin:

The book begins when 16-year-old Nick learns that Sasha, the girl who recently broke up with him, is pregnant. Then the story moves back and forward in time as Nick, in a true-to-life first-person narrative, describes what it was like to meet Sasha, fall in love with her, and then have to deal with an all-too-familiar situation. What lifts this from a run-of-the-mill problem novel is the honesty that Nick displays. A regular kid with a part-time job at a sports store, divorced parents who don’t speak, and a best friend who’s struggling with being gay, Nick runs a range of emotions. He can be sweet, he can be snotty, or oddly detached. His relationship with Sasha gives him vulnerability that Martin writes so well. The intensity of those feelings is raw, a counterpoint to the almost banal sexuality, except for their first time, when their painful dissatisfaction is spot-on. Kids will recognize themselves here, and though this is a morality tale, its lessons resonate

The Vast Field of Ordinary by Nick Burd:

It’s Dade’s last summer at home. He has a crappy job at Food World, a “boyfriend” who won’t publicly

acknowledge his existence (maybe because Pablo also has a girlfriend), and parents on the verge of a divorce. College is Dade’s shining beacon of possibility, a horizon to keep him from floating away.

Then he meets the mysterious Alex Kincaid. Falling in real love finally lets Dade come out of the closet—and, ironically, ignites a ruthless passion in Pablo. But just when true happiness has set in, tragedy shatters the dreamy curtain of summer, and Dade will use every ounce of strength he’s gained to break from his past and start fresh with the future.

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I read the first chapter of the first book, it took me long enough, and oooh can I not wait to finish it. I love the characters already. I've been wanting to read the second one for awhile now but never got around to it, so when I saw it I picked it up. The last I have NO idea what's in really about I picked it up once then changed my mind, and picked it up, so we'll see about that one.


Argh, too many books.

Death by Bikini and Latte by Linda Gerber

This is going to be a double take review, meaning there are two books reviewed in one post. Only because one is the first book, and the other is the sequel. Alright, here are the reviews:

Title: Death by Bikini

Author: Linda gerber
Pages: 223

Publisher:Penquin Group

Rating: 4/5

I really liked this book, the suspense was enevitable. Every where you read, you're looking to see who you can trust and who you can't. It also sends the message that some people aren't who they really say they are. I expected Aphra would be a stuck up chick, but she isn't; Seth on the otherside, he had so many undercover names it was hard to figure out which was his birth name. I liked him other than that. There is also a lot of action, so you'll be sitting on the edge of your heat most of the time. It's a short read, also. I like how the title is actually a death, but you're probably thinking, how do you die from a bikini? Well go get the book and see (:

Title: Death by Latte

Author: Linda Gerber

Publisher: Penquin Groupd

Pages:201

Rating: 5/5

This is the second book to a short book trilogy. Aside from the other book, Aphra finally finds here mom and she's going to go see her. She doesn't know what she's gotten herself into, everyone is acting weird around her. Just as the first book, it's the same wonderful characters and has more action and suspense. It still gets your mind working to figure out whose the good guys and who are the bad guys. It nearly confused me. There was also a gruesome scene, that was small in comparison but it was still nasty. This isn't a review is it? Well, gwarsh. Anyway, the plot was just about the same as the other, someone gets murdered, the CIA is involved. The whole deal, but overall I really liked this book, I can't wait to read the last one, for the series and to figure out how someone dies from denim XD

Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 304
Rating: 5/5

The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it's gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust . . .

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one – until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back – and this time, Dru's on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none. If she can't last until sunup, it's game over...

Review:

This book follows Dru and her father. Her father kills things that go bump in the night, and she helps sometimes. It's all going okay until one night her father doesn't return home and a zombie raids her house. Only to find, it's her father coming home.

Dru is a strong-willed girl, and I can relate to her somehow. She has to live with the thought that she killed her father, and live in the Real World and other world all on her own. I kind of feel sorry for her. (I didn't kill my father, in case you get confused! XD)

As for Graves, I really liked his charater. He's kind of awkward as we all are once, but caring and heartwarming. He had me from the start. I loved how he seemed like a kid on the run from foster care, but later on you find that he wants to finish school and get a head start on life. That's a nice quality to him. The way he sticks with Dru through the thick and thin is cute and sweet.

Christope, I kind of liked him as well. But he came into the story when it was halfway over, and that makes me not know what all of his qaulities are. He seems to have a bit of Lucius from the book I reviewed a couple weeks before. He has an attitude but at the same time he's sweet.

Overall, with the action, the suspense, and the creatures this is a great book. I can't wait for the sequel to this, I'll read it all the way through.

Waiting on Wednesday [o3]

Tempted by P.C Cast
Released in November 2009

Zoey needs a break after some serious excitement. Sadly, the House of Night school for vampyres doesn't feature breaks on its curriculum - even for a High Priestess in training and her gang. Plus juggling three guys is no stress reliever, especially when one is a sexy Warrior so into protecting Zoey that he's sensing her emotions. Wider stresses lurk too, and the dark force in Tulsa's tunnels is spreading. Could Stevie Rae be responsible for more than a group of misfit fledglings? And Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from the immortal Kalona and his dark allure - but they also show that only Zoey can stop him. She's not exactly keen to meet up, but if Zoey doesn't go to Kalona he'll exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. She just has to find the courage to do what's necessary, or everything that's important to her will be destroyed.

Why: The first and formost reason would be becuse of the cover, isn't it ah-may-zing? The guy on front, Stark maybe?, is super hot. Okay back to bookly things. I've read all the series and loved them, and I'm pretty much just excited for the next round! (:

Teaser Tuesdays [o4]

I'm currently reading Strange Angels and going on and off with Wuthering Heighsts. So two teasers this week (: Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The first teaser is from Wuthering Heights page 149:

"In passing the garden to reach the road, at a place where a bridle hook is driven into the wall, I saw something white moved irregularly, evidently by another agent than the wind. Not withstanding my hurry, I stayed to examine it, lest ever after I should have the convinction impressed on my imagine that it was a creature of the other world.

The second comes from Strange Angels page 220:

"The door opened silently, swinging wide, curtains of blue parting just slightly to let me through. I stepped out gingerly, still floating."

That's what I got, what are YOU reading? Haha, I just figured why classics are so good... compare the two quotes and tell me what you notice. You don't have to, thought it'd sound fun to do it.

In My Mailbox [o8]

So as you probably know from my Twitter updates, I have books from the library. A total of eight, mostly young adult except for one. Which is a classic I'm going to try to read; hence the word try. I really need to find some teen versions of those. Anyways, back to the books.

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow: The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it's gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust . . .

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one – until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back – and this time, Dru's on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none. If she can't last until sunup, it's game over...



Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti: At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

In this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to “be in the Now” and realizes that the love she’s been waiting for has been right in front of her all along.



Alyzon Whiterstarr by Isobelle Carmody: Are Alyzon’s new abilities a blessing . . . or a curse? Alyzon Whitestarr doesn't take after her musically talented father or her nocturnal, artistic mother. In fact, she’s the most normal member of a very eccentric family . . . until the day that an accident leaves her more unique than she ever could have dreamed.

Suddenly colors are more vibrant to Alyzon; her memory is flawless; but strangest of all is Alyzon’s sense of smell. Her best friend smells of a comforting sea breeze. She registers her father’s contentment as the sweet scent of caramelized sugar. But why does the cutest guy in school smell so rancid?

With Alyzon’s extrasensory perception comes intrigue and danger, as she becomes aware of the dark secrets and hidden ambitions that threaten her family. In the end, being different might be less of a blessing than a curse...


Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber: A fun, sexy, murder-mysteryromance for all teen sleuths! Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a remote tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family’s resort allows few opportunities for her to make friends—much less to meet cute boys. So when a smoldering Seth Mulo arrives with his parents, she’s immediately drawn to him. Sure, he’s a little bit guarded, and sure his parents are rather cold, and okay he won’t say a word about his past, but their chemistry is undeniable. Then a famous rock star’s girlfriend turns up dead on the beach—strangled by her own bikini top—and alarm bells sound. Is it too great a coincidence that Seth’s family turned up just one day before a murder? As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces...



Death by Latte by Linda Gerber: It was only a few weeks ago that Aphra Connolly's life changed completely. She had been living a quiet existence on her father's secluded island resort, until Seth Mulo turned up and stole her heart... and provided information that led her to find her mom in Seattle. But the reunion isn't quite what she expected. Aphra's mom, Natalie, doesn't seem happy to see Aphra, and Natalie's boyfriend, Joe, insists that Aphra go home. Even worse, Seth shows up, only to ask her to return the ring he gave her the previous summer. At least Natalie's hunky neighbor is sympathetic. But when Joe is found dead at a nearby coffee shop, Aphra discovers her whole trip to Seattle has been based on a lie. And now someone just might be trying to kill her...



Secrets of Truth and Beauty by Megan Frazer: And the first runner up is...When Dara Cohen was little, she was a bright, shiny star. She was the cutest seven-year-old who ever sang Ella Fitzgerald, and it was no wonder she was crowned Little Miss Maine.

That was then. Now Dara's seventeen and she's not so little anymore. So not little, that when her classmates find out about her illustrious resume, their jaws drop. That's just one of her many problems. Another is that her control-freak mom won't get off her case about anything. Yet the one that hurts the most is the family secret: Dara has an older sister her parents tried to erase from their lives.

When a disastrously misinterpreted English project lands her in the counselor's office--and her parents pull her out of school to save face--Dara realizes she has a decision to make. She can keep following the rules and being misunderstood, or she can finally reach out to the sister she's never met--a sister who lives on a collective goat farm in Massachusetts. Dara chooses B. What follows is a summer of revelations, some heartbreaking, some joyous; of friendship, romance, a local beauty pageant; and choices. And as autumn approaches, Dara finds she may have to let go of everything she's taken for granted in order to figure out who she really is, and what family really means.



Wake by Lisa McMann: 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....

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So there's what I got from the libarary this afternoon, I sort of can't wait to read Strange Angels and two of the Death By... Series. I did get Wuthering Heights, but I can't find a decent description of the book, sorry. And does anyone have anyone know of any classics made for teens that are already out? Please help me out if you do know some... So what did YOU get this week?