Review | Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Title: Jekel Loves Hyde
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 282
Rating: 3.5/5

"Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad."

Jekel Loves Hyde is a dark, twisted, chemistry filled novel with love hidden in all the right places. Definitely surprising and filled with twists and turns, it makes for an interesting read.

Jill Jekel is still hasn't overcome the grief that precedes the murder of her father. She's the quiet, good girl. The one who's focused on school and nothing more nothing less. With her character, you could visibly see the pain that she holds inside. And the anguish she feels after she finds out the truth about her father. Tristan, on the other hand, is your brooding, mysterious guy. But in no way is he cliched. He deals with his own internal struggles, and it's visible as well. His character was well favored by me! Their relationship, however, I couldn't find the chemistry behind it. It just lacked and wasn't that realistic.

The chapters alternate between Jill and Tristan, but not in the way I would have liked. I found myself wanting more of Tristan and his struggles rather than Jill's. And the chapters, did I mention there are ninety four chapters? I found it not likable, I really prefer less chapters, and more pages in them. That's just a personal preference. The plot heightened, and I mean heightened throughout the middle and the end. The relationship grew and felt more realistic with the that aspect. The ending tied together beautifully, but left me a bit confused.

Another enticing read by Fantaskey, it will surely savor your romance, mystery, and dark-twisted story line tastes. Most definitely. Even if you haven't read Jekyll and Hyde the classic, you'll have no problem with this book!

(This review was written before I changed my review style, so please deal :])

Teaser Tuesday [14]

Hey sorry, the reviews are lacking. I've been busy all weekend and haven't be able to read at all. The schedule (found at the left sidebar) is going to be a little messed up this week.

But here's a Teaser Tuesday!

"In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place."

"Muddy banks covered in tangled water plants lead to large rocks that increase in size until I begin to feel somewhat trapped. It would be no small matter to escape the stream now."
- Page 251

Dark Divine Contest!

"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 his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy'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."

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Interested in winning an advanced copy of The Dark Divine? What about the nail polish featured on the cover? One for you, and one for a friend or sibling? Interested, eh? Well all you have to do is fill out this form. Here are some lowdowns:

• Have to be a follower, more details on form.
• Ends 3/15 at 12:00 P.M EST. Need help on that? Click here.
  
• Opened to U.S and Canada.

Review | Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Title: Wish
Author: Alexandra Bullen
Publisher: Point
Pages: 336
Rating: 5/5

"For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.

With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again.

In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, Wish asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?"

My thoughts:

Wish is a heart squeezing, emotional, and magically created book that's worth every minute of your time.

The main character, Olivia, is your type of girl that's overcome with grief. She can't really live, or even thrive because of it. She was my favorite character and you really saw her grow out of that grief and finally accept everything that's happened. Soren and Miles, our main boys, were amazing characters as well. Soren is your carefree guy, who just skates around. Then you have Miles, the quiet, low-key guy. Both are awesome and have a significance in Olivia's life. As all of the characters do. Violet to me plays a bigger importance in the book. To me she urges Olivia over her grief and pushes her to live. She's a major importance, as I said, each and every character plays a part. Well, most anyways.

The writing was fantastic and had just enough oomph and creativity to keep you flipping pages. I have to get this through; this book is not just about fairytales and happy endings. There's more to it than that. More of getting through something terrible in your life. Forgiving the guilt that you feel. About not letting the past overcome everything you do in your present. The author portrayed that perfectly. Even though the beginning started a little slow, I think it works perfectly well with the novel.

Overall, I really, really recommend this book. Just think, not all books about wishes are fun and games. Some are just more intense and deeper than that.

Disclaimer: Borrowed from local library.

Author Thursdays | Alexandra Bullen

For this author, her 2010 release was something a lot of us were waiting. The first Author Thursdays author is Alexandra Bullen; the wonderful author of Wish.

________________

Wish was really intense (in a good way!), so what inspired you most to write Wish?

Thanks for having me, Kaylyn. You're right - WISH deals with some pretty heavy stuff. I think that's where the idea for a little bit of magic came from, actually. I'm not usually big into wishes and fairy tales, but there was something about meeting Olivia when she was so low, and so unable to pick herself up, that made it seem like she desperately needed some extra special help.

When you're writing, do you need any essentials?

It really depends on the day and on what I'm writing. Sometimes it's absolutely quiet at my desk, and other days it's music and the couch.

When you first saw your book on the shelves, what was running through your mind?

I just recently saw WISH on shelves in the bookstore I used to spend hours in growing up. It was amazing to see my book displayed in the very place I found so many of my all-time favorites.

Is there going to be a sequel?

There is going to be a sequel, of sorts. It's a brand-new story with all new characters, but Poseyand her magical dresses will be back to grant three more wishes to another deserving girl. I'm working on it now and it's been so much fun to write!

Lastly, are you anything like your main character, Olivia? Any last words?(:

When we meet Olivia at the beginning of the book, she's never really had a chance to be herself. When Violet was alive, Olivia was always living in her sister's shadow, and now that Violet is gone, she's so overcome by sadness that it's hard for her to move on. I relate a lot to the way that Olivia depends on other people to bring her out of her shell, and admire the way she ultimately is able to step into the spotlight on her own.

Thanks for the great questions!

_________

Waiting on Wednesday [1o]

There are so many good books this year, I can't help but pick more than one book I'm dying to read! Welll, here they are!:

"When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks.Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past. The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever."


"Acclaimed YA author C. K. Kelly Martin offers a sexy, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue in this romantic feel-good love story that celebrates friendship, first love, first lust, and second chances.

Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world."


"Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?"

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1st Book: I cannot wait to read this! I've heard some really good things about this one. And even though it's normally not what I read, I am still wanting to read this. A lot.

2nd Book: This one sounds really good. I found it and automatically want to read it. I loved One Lonely Degree, so I'll probably love this one!

3rd Book: So. Excited! Need I say more?!

Review | The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

Title: The Secret Year
Author: Jennifer Hubbard
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 192
Rating: 3/5 (Check rating scale in sidebar. This is not a bad rating.)

"Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept."

My thoughts:

The Secret Year is an emotional, heartbreaking book that met my expectations, but didn't amaze me.

Colt's character was written highly relateble. You could sense just how much he felt for Julia and the pain that he feels after he loses her to a fatal car accident. Anything that he felt throughout the story, you felt it as well. And being in a male's point of view is really telling you something! I think the author created Colt amazingly.

The writing was fantastic, you could create vivid images with the emotions and descriptions. The letters to Colt from Julia were, to be blunt, boring. All you hear about is her wanting to break up with Austin. I expected more from the letters, and didn't get it. To me, this book was a mix between Romeo and Juliet and The Outsiders. And I loved that!

Emotionally consistent and an overall good read, this book is really something and I definitely think you should read this no matter what people say about it!

Disclaimer: Borrowed from the local library.

New Changes-For the good!

I feel like I've been lacking on reviews, memes, and everything blog-worthy. I can't seem to get into a book, like at all. You can call it a book slump. Mine don't last very long, but it's still there... ya know? Anyways that's the first half of this annoucnment? Okay, whatever.

I've been meaning to start a schedule. If you remember, there was a poll at the top of my blog. From what I saw, you guys like two to three reviews a week. To me, that's perfect. I also did a post, and deleted it because it wasn't getting much attention, and it showed you guys like to switch it up a bit with memes, intereviews, etc. So I've come up with a weekly schedule for my blog! Neat, huh? Yeah probably not.

Monday: None
Tuesday: Review

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday (That'll be easy!)

Thursday: Author Interview

Friday: None

Saturday: Review

Sunday: In My Mailbox

Okay, that's not going to be direct on right now, but eventually it'll get started up and I'll be needing your guy's opinions. So yeah. Is the schdule too much? Too little? Just perfect? Any other ideas? Leave a comment below! Please? [:

Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday! [13]

"The streets of downtown Bering were clean and lined with mature trees and iron lampposts. It was small, comfortable, and naggingly familiar, but in a good way."

-Page 71

Review | A Match Made In Highschool by Kirstin Walker

Title: A Match Made In Highschool
Author: Kirstin Walker
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 288
Rating: 5/5

"When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky male cheerleader/jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes."

The thoughts;

A Match Made In Highschool is a hilarious book that will have your gut hurting from laughing so much.

Fiona is your carefree, I don't care what people think type of girl who's independent. Her character was my favorite. She was also spunky. She gets paired with Todd, the guy she can't stand. Todd is your know it all jock. The kind that you can't stand and is well, excuse my language, cocky. You couldn't help to like him throughout the end, but you'll have to read it to find out. The relationship between the two was hilarious. The snarky remarks, the pranks, everything about it was funny. The other characters, though, including Todd's girlfriend, the other students, and her best friend add even more action to the plot.

The writing was really good, in my opinion. I love how the author took everything that you feel during highschool and threw it into the book and took you for a whirl wind of a ride. There's the love, the drama, the friendship, and the humor. The author portrayed each and placed in perfectly into the book. Did I mention the author is completely genius when it came to the humor? You'll definitely be getting strange looks from those around you when reading this novel.

All in all, I highly recommend this book no matter how old you are. You'll laugh out loud more times than you can count and reel back with the realizations throughout the end of the book as well.

Disclaimer: Given to me by the publisher.