Swoon

Rating: B+/A-

Okay so when I first read the description for Swoon I knew that it would be a good book. And it definitely did not disappoint. I really like Swoon because of it's originality. It's very different from other books and the storyline is incredible! Nina Malkin knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and your heart pumping, anticipating what would happen next in the book. There is a lot of mature content in Swoon but that didn't stop me from reading. To be honest I sort of enjoyed the mature content because it just fits well with the whole storyline and title of the book.

I like pretty much all of the characters in the book but I couldn't really connect with Dice. I just couldn't picture myself in her shoes or living her situations but I still really like her as the main character. I actually do like one character in particular. You all know who and why. Sinclair Youngblood Powers :) As you all know, bad boys are my favorite characters and voila! We have a protective, sexy, mysterious and dangerous bad boy. Yum. Or swoon. Aha. The one thing I don't like about the book would have to be the ending. If you've read Swoon then you must know why. It's not that it's a bad end for the book but I was a little bit unhappy when I was finished reading.

Recommended? Yes! READ IT! It's honestly one of my favorite story lines and the book is sexy, dark, action filled, romantic and more! Definitely lust worthy

Living Dead Girl

This book is amazing. I picked it up on a whim, one of the few YA books we had enough copies of at work for me to borrow. Living Dead Girl tells a chilling story from the perspective of "Alice," a 15-year-old who was abducted at age 10 by a man named Ray, who proceeds to spend 5 years molding her into the perfect object of his desire, both physically and mentally.

The book is incredibly disturbing - as it should be. I wanted the entire time to just run to where she was, break the door down and get her out of there. I think what makes it so intense is watching "Alice" go from complete despair to find a thin, tiny thread of hope... and what results.

It is chilling to watch her helping to plot the abduction of another girl - even younger this time - she is SO willing to help commit another terrible act just to get her abductor's attention away from her.

The end is scary, dramatic, disturbing, triumphant - all rightfully so, and brought a jarring close to the story of "Alice." And yet, I'm happy for her...

It's hard to say who I'd recommend this book to, exactly. It's definitely very difficult, disturbing subject matter. I would mostly say adults should read it rather than teenagers. I think it is a cry for help for ALL children trapped in this kind of situation. It's a cry for everyone to pay attention to what is going on around them, ask questions, don't just shrug off your suspicions. People in these situations often cannot fend for themselves, or make the move to free themselves, so others need to be more proactive in watching for the signs.

All in all, this book greatly affected me, and I'd definitely recommend it

hush hush

I really enjoyed this book and the whole idea of the story. I read it in one sitting and just didn't want to put it down. It was a nice change to read about fallen angels, and the storyline had drawn me in that I couldn't wait to find out what was about to happen next.

The characters were written in a way that really showed each of their personalities. Patch, at least for me was mysterious in ways that I never really got a clear view of him in my mind. Dressed head to toe in black with black eyes he always appeared more of a shadow, or a silhouette, someone that wanted you to remember them for how snarky they were instead of remembering them for what they looked like. Well, at least for me that's how I felt. I can understand why Nora would have been both drawn to him yet also wanted to run from him. With these feelings she seemed to always be a mixed bundle of nerves and emotions, always edger to try to sort them out, to make light of if all.

There were only a couple things throughout the book that had me questioning things, however for the most part none of them took away from the overall story in the least. It would have been nice to have a bit more background on the whole fallen angel thing and angels in general in the world that Becca Fitzpatrick has created for us. I just hope that we see more of that in the next installments. The only other thing was that I felt it all ended too soon! Isn't always a good thing when a book leaves you wanting more?

Action, mystery, love and a bit of suspense, helped to make this a great read. One that I'm sure I'll read again. I'm looking forward to the next in the series that, and as always, it won't be out soon enough. If you haven't read this one yet, be sure to pick it up soon. Happy reading

fallen

I was really eager to read “FALLEN” by author Lauren Kate, and I think the book cover is absolutely dazzling! Love, love, love it!

The one thing I won’t do in this review (like so many others) is to compare it with Twilight. Ugh. Almost every freaking review I’ve read lately (on any YA book!) has a comparison to the Twilight saga. It’s so dang annoying! Look, I know, Meyer wrote a GREAT book, but does all supernatural YA have to be compared to her novels? Geesh!

It’s NOTHING like Twilight. It’s a good book. No, it was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot kept me guessing, and the unexpected twists at the end were well written. I like slower books that build up character development and throw in some action scenes here and there, then conclude with a climatic ending.

I liked Luce, she was a compassionate character and strong and interesting. I loved all her quirky friends and was super sad when one of them got killed off toward the end. The two love interests Cam and Daniel were fascinating and sexy. Her kissing scenes were damn good, too. She’s a prolific writer and sure to be a big hit with fans of the supernatural/romance genre.

In conclusion, “FALLEN” is an exceptional book, romantic, and engaging, and will no doubt be a very thrilling series. And did I mention how much I love this cover? (he he) Can’t wait to read the sequel!

The Oracle of Dating

No one at Kayla’s school knows she’s the famous Oracle of Dating—the anonymous queen of dating advice, given through her own Web site. Kayla doesn’t even have a boyfriend. Two relationship disasters were enough to make her focus on everyone else’s love life. But then her advice backfires on her own best friend. And Kayla starts to seriously obsess about Jared Stewart—the very cute, very mysterious new guy in school. Suddenly, the teen queen of advice needs her own oracle of dating--and she knows just where to find one...

Review:

It's no secret that I adore Harlequin Teen books, so as you can imagine I was ecstatic when I got the chance to read this. Thankfully enough, The Oracle of Dating was, without a doubt, the cutest book I've read so far this year, and a fantastic start to a new series!

You know those type of characters that you would love to have as friend in real life because they’re chic, smart, and fun? Well Kayla along with all her funny friends were that type. I loved how real they were and how the problems they faced were ones all teens go through; it was definitely high point. Plus, I really enjoyed seeing a real type of relationship between Kayla and Jared. Since unlike half the teen books out there, they became friends first and gradually worked their way up to being more.

The plot and the writing worked perfectly together, producing an awesome product, if I do say so myself. I loved reading Kayla/The Oracle’s dating advice and blog posts along with all the drama that occurred. And while the plot was a bit predictable, it never truly detracted from the overall story.

In all, The Oracle of Dating has a bit of everything that leads to gretness including relatable characters, laugh out loud funny scenes, a sweet romance, and dating advice, of course, which leaves this to be a book I'll definitely be suggesting come May. Great job yet again Harlequin Teen!
My first thought reading this book was it was going to be okay.Then as I started to read it my review change.I became in love with the characters it was really easy to do so.Even in Pride and prejudice it was hard to become in love with the characters that easy.The plot made it easy to identify with the characters.It seemed so easy to find yourself with them
this is a to-read book :)
oh and thanks to the author

Unwind

This is one of those books that once I finished it, I started it over and read the whole thing over again. And even after that, there were parts of it that I kept re-reading and thinking about. Before I go into my long review, I wanted to just mention that this book had one of the most nightmarish and horific scenes that I have ever read in my life. It contained almost no details at all, and none of the sparse details were graphic or gory. And that made it even scarier. My imagination provided more than any author ever could. It's been a few days and I can't get that scene out of my mind.

There are so many ethical and moral arguments brought up here and almost no clear cut answers. Here are just a few of the dilemas that come up or discussed about:

1.The obvious ones: abortion, stem cell research, tissue and organ harvesting.

2. In the case of minors, where does the line between "guardian" and "owner" cross over? The parents in this book treat children as property from the day they are born. They are things to donate to churches, sell for money, "put to sleep" when they are being a nuisance. When the parents sign the unwind orders, the State becomes the guardian of the minors. When the minors run away, they are considered to be stealing government property.

3. The power of euphamism. There are many terms and phrases in the book that seem very neutral, nonthreatening and almost positive. All the while, these terms mask draconian, horrific and barbaric rituals. I think a big message of this book is that euphamisms can be used as propaganda. People condone actions that they wouldn't normally condone because the euphamisms soften the messy harsh realities.

I find it interesting that some people were offended by the book and claimed it was too pro-life! I thought the book was very pro-choice. The author set up a world with abortion being illegal and the world being over-run with unwanted babies, who were discarded on random porches or put into massive institutions where teenagers were gotten rid of to make room for the mass influx of new babies. The message sometimes seemed to me that if you made abortion illegal, then the population would explode and children would be neglected and devalued to the point that people would sell their teenage children to organ harvesters because they needed the money or the kids were too inconvenient or annoying. There is no mention of illegal abortions or mandatory sterilization of undesireables

vampire academy

Rose and Lissa are best friends who share an unimaginable bond, even by vampire standards. Now, after time spent on the run, they have been returned to the school from which they escaped to face ridicule, speculation, and danger.

Welcome to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and the half-bloods who are bound to protect them. The Moroi are vampires, and the descendants of Moroi royalty are the social elite of St. Vladimir's. The Moroi are at constant risk, though. The Strigoi, the fiercest vampires, are out to get them, any way they can. The Moroi are protected by Dhampirs, guardians who are sworn to lay down their lives to assure that the Moroi bloodlines continue.

Rose is a Dhampir and Lissa is the last of the Dragomir line of Moroi royalty. Rose and Lissa share a special bond; one that nearly assures that Rose will be Lissa's guardian for life. Returning to school, however, proves to be more difficult than either of them imagined. The social politics have changed during their absence and Rose and Lissa are both the topic of several rumors. Their sudden disappearance, their time on the run, and their return are all subjects for speculation. In some instances, the truth may cause them more harm than rumors ever could.

In addition to the social pressures, Lissa may be in even more danger than anyone could have imagined. In addition to being Moroi and royalty, Lissa seems to have special abilities that haven't been seen among the Moroi in centuries. Abilities that make her an even more tantalizing target to the Strigoi.

VAMPIRE ACADEMY is a thrilling adventure that draws you along and makes you continue to turn the pages. As the danger to Lissa gets closer, it gets more difficult to put the book down. In a world that seems saturated with vampire books, Richelle Mead has created characters and a world that is both unique and believable.

2010 best books to read (to me)

recommends it for: young adult, fantasy, paranormal

My Grade

Plot: 5
Setting: 4
Writing: 5
Originality: 5
Characters: 5
Passion: 5
Overall: 29/30 = 96% =A
Cover/Title Bonus: 4


I won this ARC on Bree’s blog in one of her monthly pre-release celebrations for The Dark Divine. I also got a bottle of matching nail polish as seen on the cover and a pedicure kit! :)


Summary (Bree’s website)

A prodigal son
A dangerous love
A deadly secret ...more My Grade

Plot: 5
Setting: 4
Writing: 5
Originality: 5
Characters: 5
Passion: 5
Overall: 29/30 = 96% =A
Cover/Title Bonus: 4


I won this ARC on Bree’s blog in one of her monthly pre-release celebrations for The Dark Divine. I also got a bottle of matching nail polish as seen on the cover and a pedicure kit! :)


Summary (Bree’s website)

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.


Excerpt (Bree’s Website)
The first chapter is available to read on Bree’s website. It’s very good!


Plot

The above summary does an amazing job at explaining what’s going on without saying too much. This book is written so well it all flows amazingly well and keeps you guessing what will happen next.

There’s a major artist theme going on in here too. Both Grace and Daniel draw/paint, him better than her, and it’s a very cool common bond they share.

The ending was handled wonderfully. I enjoyed this entire book.



Setting

The town is said to be near Apple Valley. A lot happens in the art class, the parish, the Divine house and backyard and downtown.

It’s a fairly common setting with nothing really standing out.

I particularly enjoyed the tree climbing and finding baby James the best. OH! And the angel memorial: awesome.

It’s present time.

Writing

Amazing. Seriously. I can’t explain how it’s written but it’s written very well. It’s not like books I’ve read recently. The tone is unique in a way that makes me second guess myself each page turn. The details that you’ll be guessing at are within reach but you don’t reach them until the exact moment that Grace does. LOVE THAT! I hate figuring it out before the main character. I had my guesses but so did Grace but neither of us knew until it was there.

It’s written in Grace’s POV the entire time. I wished I could get into Daniel’s head a time or three. He was very interesting and I wanted to know more about him.

Originality

I knew what Daniel was when I read the first chapter on Bree’s website. But like I explained above Bree had me second guessing myself the entire book. So, even though I’d figured it out already I just didn’t feel 100% confident that I really knew and that kept my interest at top notch. I honestly couldn’t put the book down! I finished it at 2:00 am!

What Daniel is is easy to figure out but it gets explained very well. I enjoyed the details and thought they were very original.



Characters

Grace is the main character. She’s the daughter of the Pastor. “Pastor D-vine.” :) She’s still struggling with Daniel’s disappearance from a few years prior and doesn’t handle his return very well. She’s clearly head over heels for him and it makes her sad, angry, and heart broken.

Jude is Grace’s older brother. He’s a sweet guy, always helping others, but he’s troubled by the attack from Daniel a few years prior. He doesn’t like or trust Daniel.

Grace’s Dad is cool. He’s all about helping others too. He nearly goes mad trying to help Daniel and ultimately his entire family it seems. I enjoyed his character a lot.

Daniel. Daniel is the black sheep of his family. They abandoned him a few years back. His mom choose his dad over him, only a young boy. He returns to his home town looking for a fresh start.


Passion

This is my favorite category but sometimes it’s the hardest to review. There are major sparks flying between Daniel and Grace. I love that it was there in the story but it wasn’t the front runner. Their relationship plays a huge role in the book yet it was handled with great care. I enjoyed their relationship immensely. Me? Beat around the bush? No…..


Overall

Amazing. Awesome. Superb. An unexpected thrill of a ride. I knew it was going to be good but it surpassed my expectations. It was written so well. Everything was covered and it ended well wrapped up.


Cover/Title Bonus

The title is awesome. The cover….it’s beautiful and catches the eye but it doesn’t represent the book very well. I’m not sure if I’m missing something or what but I’m not crazy about the cover after reading the book. It’s gorgeous but it lacks focus or direct representation of the story.

have you ever thought?

you are the only one who read in your school or in your family
well I have.
It wasn't until I found www.goodread.com that i actually had friends with my same taste of book (yes I am a geek in reading)
so let me tell you about me i hate stephanie mayes book but at the same time love them .
i love alot un realist-fiction
and i love to go to the library.
I hate tv