Burned by Ellen Hopkins

BURNED
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Source: Library Loan

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (October 23, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416903550
ISBN-13: 978-1416903550

SUMMARY:

Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, Pattyn Von Stratten starts asking questions -- about God, a woman's role, sex, love. She experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control. Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance -- until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go.

MY THOUGHTS:

Where do you even start in describing such an emotional and deep book?  I had no idea what to expect in this story and I was in no way prepared for the roller coaster that my emotions would travel on with the journey through the book.


Pattyn was a girl who grew up in a religious family that took their beliefs to the extreme.  Not only were the beliefs so extreme, but her Father was horrible as well.  I couldn't believe how much the family suffered with his abuse.  When Pattyn moves in with her Aunt for the summer, her life begins to change and so does her beliefs in God.  When she encounters Ethan, she knows she has found her 'forever love'. Can they still have a love filled relationship when he returns to college and she has to return to her family? Can they survive the abuse of her father if he finds out about them?


I cried so much near the end of this book. I literally felt sickened by the lengths Pattyn's father goes to.  My heart broke for Pattyn and Ethan.  I haven't cried so much with an ending in a long time and this book opened up the water well of tears for me.  The ending left it open for hopefully a sequel and I hope the author starts writing it sooner rather than later.  

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

The Dark-Hunters , Vol. 1 by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Manga Edition)

THE DARK-HUNTERS, VOL.1
Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Art by: Claudia Campos
Source: Personal Purchase

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312376871
ISBN-13: 978-0312376871

SUMMARY:

In the war against vampires, mankind has only one hope: The Dark-Hunters. Ancient warriors who died of brutal betrayal, the Dark-Hunters have sworn themselves into the service of the goddess Artemis to protect us. 

It’s a pact with pretty good perks. Immortality, power, psychic abilities, wealth and a cool wardrobe. But it comes with a few drawbacks: fatal sun poisoning and a new, irreparable dental problem. But aside from the fangs and nocturnal lifestyle, it’s not so bad.  Until Kyrian meets the most frightening thing imaginable. An accountant who’s being hunted by one of the most lethal vampires out there. If Amanda Devereaux goes down, so does he and no offense, he doesn’t want to die (hence the whole immortality thing). And he doesn’t want humanity dead either which is a good thing for us since he and Amanda are all that stands between us and oblivion. Let’s hope they win.  

From the wild imagination of Sherrilyn Kenyon comes the humorous and suspenseful manga debut of the #1 internationally bestselling Dark-Hunter series. The world of manga will never be the same again.

MY THOUGHTS:

Let me say that I am in no way a huge Manga fan.  My daughter reads Manga and she is constantly trying to get me to try them.  I on the other hand, would rather have a book rich in words than a book rich in illustrations.  Call it the bookworm in me, but books are made to be read, not to enjoy an illustration with dialogue like a comic book.  So after constant nagging from my daughter, I caved into to reading a Manga novel.  I did have one requirement -- it has to be a Manga based on a book by an author I know.  So decided to start my Manga journey with The Dark-Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.


While I wasn't a big fan of the illustration -- due to the fact that Kyrian looked too girlish ---the writing was actually great.  Granted, author Sherrilyn Kenyon edited this book and it was from her voice, so it made it a better experience than what it would have been if done by just any Manga author I think.  I loved the witty dialogue throughout the Manga that was true to the authors voice.  I actually read it so fast that the book was devoured within an hour. 


If you are worried about reading Manga, I suggest that you do the same thing I did and read a Manga book from an author you love already.  Consider it an easier transition into the world of illustrated and comic book feel of books.

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

(ARC Review) Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

WHEREVER YOU GO
Author: Heather Davis
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; None edition (November 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 054750151X
ISBN-13: 978-0547501512

SUMMARY:

      Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?

     As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

MY THOUGHTS:

Wherever You Go was supposed to be a heartfelt and sweet book about love lost, love gained, and emotional turmoil.  It indeed had all of that, but at times it was drawn out and dull.


I had a really hard time getting into this book.  The first half of it is so slowly paced that I could have read an entire other book while waiting for something interesting to happen.  Once I was about halfway through the story though, it did start to pick up and start to capture my interest.  Another thing that I didn't like about the book was the swapped point of views from three different people involved with no heading to the switch.  Most books that are told from different points of view have a chapter header at least telling which characters head we are in.  This one just used little symbols and I had to keep back tracking in the story to figure out whose head I was in.  


The saving grace of this book is definitely Holly's Grandfather.  He added the soft and caring touch that this book needed.  He is also the only one who can see Holly's dead boyfriends ghost, Rob.  He made the story heartbreaking and touching at the same time.


Would I read this story again? Probably not.  Would other readers enjoy the book? Probably.  This is one of those books that you just have to read for yourself to know if it was a great read or just a mediocre read.  

MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

Possession by Elana Johnson

POSSESSION
Author: Elana Johnson
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442421258
ISBN-13: 978-1442421257

SUMMARY:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself. 



But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn. 


This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am having mixed feelings for this book.  I don't know if it is the fact that the hype built up my expectations, or the fact that the book was long and fast paced.  I just don't know what it was exactly that burst my bubble for this book.

I wasn't a fan of the characters.  How many more angry and angst filled heroines do we really need in a book? Fighting for what you want is one thing, but angry at everything is just overload for the reader.  I wished Vi would bring out her smile more often so we could see an emotion run through her besides anger.  I was also confused through much of the book.  It had me rereading more paragraphs than normal and made this book longer than what it needed to be.  It actually took about half of the book before I could get into a good reading pace for this story.  The set up for the world in which Vi lives in is also confusing due to the fact of not much of a history being told.  I wasn't sure what their world involved and how it was established.  I just was left with that question mark above my head wondering why the beginning of the book couldn't have explained things better for the reader.

I will admit to loving the ending.  It was one that left me excited for the next book in the series.  I just hope that the author can make the second book as great as the ending in the first.  This is one book that didn't live up to the hype I had heard. I wanted more and didn't get it until the end when it was too late. I also felt that too many things were left unanswered and that a few of them could have been wrapped up in this book to help satisfy the reader.

MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

Recreate A Cover Contest Entry

Princess Bookie is having another Recreate A Cover contest over on her blog for Contest Craze. I had a hard time choosing a cover to do, so I just went to my bookshelf, closed my eyes and pulled out a book.  The book I ended up pulling out was A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford.

Here is the original cover:

And here is my take on the cover:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments what you think of my take on the cover. When voting time comes around, please consider voting for my cover if you like it the best!

After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

AFTER OBSESSION
Author(s): Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599906813
ISBN-13: 978-1599906812

SUMMARY:

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her. 

MY THOUGHTS:

First lets talk about that amazing cover!  As you all know, I am the first to admit when a cover is the main reason a book captures my interest.  When I first saw this cover unveiled, I just knew I would end up reading it without even knowing what the book was about.  Then when I read the summary, I was curious to find out how two authors were going to create a wonderful story.


With the story revolving around two points of view, a heavy dose of Navajo heritage and lore, and a basis of paranormal suspense, this book should have been a hit for me.  Who can go wrong with seeing a story unfold from both characters perspective and some creepy paranormal thrown in? Well, this book was wrong for me.  I felt both characters were sort of dull together with no real sparks to keep me interested.  I did love how the authors involved the Navajo traditions and tried to make the relationship work, but at times it felt to forced.  I just couldn't seem to get in the romance groove for this couple.


While the creepy paranormal was a great factor for the book, it just didn't balance out the parts that left me uninterested.  I applaud the efforts though of both authors in trying to make a book work was a joint project.  That alone is a great accomplishment in writing a book.  I just wish that the story would have excited me as much as the cover did.

MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

BREATH OF ANGEL
Author: Karyn Henley
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307730123
ISBN-13: 978-0307730121

SUMMARY:

The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.

Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When the feud turns violent and Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without the repayment of an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

MY THOUGHTS:

Breath of Angel is the first book in the Angelaeon Circle series.  The cover is what originally captured my interest in this book.  It was dark and eerie which seemed to fit my mood at that time.  Unfortunately, this book was not as great as I was hoping.


Everything you would want in a plot is touched on in this book.  At times, it became to be a little cliched.  There are many books out there that feature angels and such, but this book really didn't have anything to really stand out in my mind and make it great.  I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't fall for it like I have done with other books in the past.  This book is also classified as a Fiction Fantasy.  Don't make the mistake of thinking it is just a paranormal read.  While I love a great paranormal book, fantasy has never been one of my favorite genres.  I am not a huge fan of priestesses and magic.  Maybe that is one of the reasons this book didn't fit well with my reading habits. 


Now if you are a fantasy reader, then give this book a try.  I on the other hand, was not a fan of it.  It could have been my reading mood at the time, so I might give this book another go somewhere down the line in the future.

MY RATING:

 
  If the library doesn't have it, don't worry about reading it! 2 STARS

(ARC Review) The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

THE IRON KNIGHT
Iron Fey #4
Author: Julie Kagawa
Source: Publisher
*I received this ARC copy free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373210361
ISBN-13: 978-0373210367

SUMMARY:

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.


I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

MY THOUGHTS:

Just when I thought the story ended with The Iron Queen, author Julie Kagawa surprised her fans with a story to help ease our Ash addiction with The Iron Knight.  With the conclusion in The Iron Queen, fans of Ash and Meghan were left hoping for one more chance at a future for the two.  Well, the author did not disappoint with The Iron Knight.

I will start off by saying that The Iron Knight does take a bit of time to get into.  It starts rather slowly - even with Puck and his rambunctious ways - and takes a few chapters to really start enjoying the story.  Ash and Puck are on a journey to find the End of the World.  If Ash can succeed in finding it, he might have a chance at passing the final test called The Gauntlet to earn a human soul.  With a human soul, Ash would be able to fulfill his promise to Meghan of finding a way to be together again and living within the Iron Kingdom. 

Along the way, we also get some familiar faces to keep us going. Of course Grimalkin the cat is there to help keep their minds thinking and to just be a pain in the butt whenever he can. They also meet up with the Big Bad Wolf -- yes that Big Bad Wolf -- to help as well with the journey.  With a surprise character joining the fold as well, Ash finds himself second guessing his strength and decision on finding a way to receive a human soul. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the way they author gave the readers a conclusion worthy of fairytale legends.  There were obstacles thrown at the characters that are overcome, futures that can be changed, and past issues that are finally laid to rest.  Above all else, the author finally gives the readers of the series an ending that is truly called a Happily Ever After.

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

CRANK
Crank #1
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; Original edition (October 5, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689865198
ISBN-13: 978-0689865190

SUMMARY:

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless. 


Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have read so much about the series of books that Ellen Hopkins has out featuring all sorts of addictions and obstacles that teens can face.  When I picked up Crank, I was intrigued to see how an author was going to portray the drug abuse that can run so rampant through teenagers without going overboard.  I wanted to read something that stayed true to the abuse and didn't portray it lightly since it is a serious subject to begin with.
Ellen Hopkins did everything I wanted and more within the pages of Crank.

When Kristina meets her Father again after years of abandonment, she gets a glimpse into the world of drugs and the world her mother suffered through before breaking free of him.  With her first hit of crank, we see the downward spiral that Kristina begins to fall into and brings out the persona of Bree.  Through the heartache of romantic breakups, the lure of numbness from drugs,  and the acceptance of being an addict, we see how drugs can easily grab hold of someone and refuse to let go. 

I will say though that I wasn't a big fan of the verse writing in this one.  While it may have worked for some people, I found it to be too much.  The story alone had an impact on the reader and the verse writing was overkill in my opinion.

If you are looking for a book that touches on a serious subject that effects teens everywhere, then I recommend sitting down with Crank and prepare for a dark ride.

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS
 

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

SHUT OUT
Author: Kody Keplinger
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Poppy (September 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316175560
ISBN-13: 978-0316175562

SUMMARY:

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading The D.U.F.F. some time back, I just knew that I would have to read any other books by author Kody Keplinger in the future.  She has the talent to write from a teens point of view that truly captures the spirit of what teens are feeling in this angst filled part of life.  So when the publisher sent me Shut Out, I dived right into the world of teen drama and relationship heartbreak!


Most schools have a rivalry between other schools and their sports teams.  Unfortunately, in Lissa's school the rivalry is between their own soccer and football team.  Pranks are common, up to the point of injury, while the girlfriends are neglected and thrown into social circles for the separate teams.  Lissa is tired of the bickering and the girls having to choose sides according to the teams. What is a girl to do? Go on strike with all of the girlfriends and refuse any type of romantic contact including make out sessions and sex if need be.  Yes parents, this book does have the dreaded 'sex' in it but honestly, what teen doesn't know about the birds and the bees by high school?  I applaud the author for using this as a plot point for the book.  


What this book also touches on is the power that women have in life.  Not just sex, but women also have the power to do things they set their mind to including using their brains to stop an old feud.  I also enjoyed the reference to the play, Lysistrata. I actually found myself checking it out at the library so I could have a better understanding of the book within this book.  


The only thing that I did not enjoy about this book was the fact that it could be predictable.  Yes, you know what the outcome is going to be, but the way the author writes the characters you just forgot about predictability and enjoy the story unfold.


A great new young adult book that adults will enjoy as well.  If you are a fan of this authors previous work, then you won't be disappointed in Shut Out.

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

IMM: In My Mailbox (53)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Here is what showed up in my mailbox this week!

Such a wonderful week for my mailbox!  I received my monthly batch of books from Harper Collins/AVON books, some review books from Sourcebooks, and a couple from Amazon Vine that I can't wait to read as well. I did want to buy some books this week, but unfortunately my budget would not allow it.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER IMAGE

----------------------------------------

 FOR REVIEW 

SEXIEST VAMPIRE ALIVE by Kerrelyn Sparks

IF WISHES WERE HORSES by Robert Barclay

HELL TO PAY by Wendy Corsi Staub

THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER by Sandra Hill

EVERY SCANDALOUS SECRET by Gayle Callen

WHAT A DUKE WANTS by Lavinia Kent

IN TOTAL SURRENDER by Anne Mallory

IN PURSUIT OF ELIZA CYNSTER by Stephanie Laurens

-Thank you Harper Collins/AVON books!-

A DEMON DOES IT BETTER by Linda Wisdom (ARC)

DREAMING OF THE WOLF by Terry Spear (ARC)

HOT ZONE by Catherine Mann (ARC)

THE LURE OF SONG AND MAGIC by Patricia Rice (ARC)

-Thanks to Sourcebooks!-

WHEREVER YOU GO by Heather Davis (ARC)

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

-Thanks to Amazon Vine!-

----------------------------------------

So that is what I got this week.

What did everyone else get?

(PROMO) Hush, Hush: The Graphic Novel

HUSH, HUSH: The Graphic Novel

Based on the novel by Bestselling Author:

Becca Fitzpatrick

 

Writer(s): Becca Fitzpatrick and Derek Ruiz

Artist Name(s): Jennyson, Mel Joy

Cover Artist(s): Johan

Release Date: November 8, 2011

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She is 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 is not sure who to trust.

Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She cannot 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!

http://www.beccafitzpatrick.com/

http://sealionbooks.com/

 

Interview with the author about the graphic novel:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34413

 

And just so you can gaze at the awesome artwork whenever you want, Sea Lion Books has included this amazing wallpaper for your computer! Just click on the image for a larger picture and save it to your computer!

 

Her And Me And You by Lauren Strasnick

HER AND ME AND YOU
Author: Lauren Strasnick
Source: Gifted

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse; Reprint edition (August 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416982671
ISBN-13: 978-1416982678

SUMMARY:

 I met Fred first.

Fred: Hot. Enigmatic. Alex’s first friend in her lonely new town. Maybe her first…everything.

I met Adina the following Monday.

Adina: Fred’s twin sister. Cold. Troubled. Trouble.

I kissed him.

She pressed her mouth to my mouth.

People warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, but Alex is drawn to them. She wants to be part of their crazy world…no matter the consequences.

MY THOUGHTS:

I wasn't sure what I was expecting with this book, but what did happen was not it.  I was expecting some angst filled romance between and boy and a girl.  Throw in a psycho sister and you get the mix of this book.

I felt a little dizzy trying to keep up with everything in this book.  One minute we are reading a sweet scene between Alex and Fred, then his weirdo sister comes and wrecks everything with her attitude and psycho behavior.  What was so confusing though was when his sister Adina would change her tune at a drop of a hat and pretend everything was fine with no explanation of what caused the reactions.  Add on the fact that Fred keeps defending her and not accepting that something is wrong with Adina and your head will be getting that dizzy feeling as well.

I am also finding myself agreeing with another book reviewer in the fact that this book had real no purpose.  Yes, that seems a little harsh but I like my books to have a plot point involved.  There were so many unanswered questions involved with this book that I felt it to be incomplete.  It felt like I was missing the beginning and the end of the book and was left with only the middle.  The book ends in a way to where there is no real closure for the reader which just leaves more unanswered questions.

If I had a choice to read this book again, I would not read it a second time. Why waste my time on a book that causes more questions and has no real storyline to keep my attention?

MY RATING:

 
I did not like this book at all! 1 STAR

 

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
Author: Kendare Blake
Source: Publisher
*I received this book fee of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen; First Edition edition (August 30, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765328658
ISBN-13: 978-0765328656

SUMMARY:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 


So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Do you know how long it has been since a book has sent chills up my spine with fear and suspense? I am still in awe of how this book achieved what so few books have done in the past for me.

Cas hunts ghosts that need to be put to rest using his Father's athame.  His Father passed away after hunting a ghost and now Cas has been following in his footsteps in the hopes of one day putting the ghost to rest that killed him.  When Cas gets a request to put down Anna Dressed in Blood from an associate, he is intrigued and finds himself mysteriously pulled to the spirit of Anna.  Let me tell you my dear readers --Anna is one bad ass ghost!  She will swat you like a fly without even a second thought or breaking a ghostly sweat.  Cas is in for one hell of fight when he confronts Anna at her home and realizes that he is going to need some back up in dealing with her.  Enter Carmel, Thomas and Morfran to help save the day.  When  they try to figure out the source of Anna's strength and the reason for her early death, they find out she is more than a haunting spirit.  They discover she can actually be a useful ally in the goal of killing a Voodoo Obeahman.

The author did an amazing job of describing all of the bone chilling details for this book.  I literally was on the edge of my seat and looked like a horror movie watcher yelling at the cast to get the hell out of that house!  My heart raced with each confrontation the characters had to face when a ghost appeared. I just new it was going to be bloody and painful.  What I didn't expect was the way I felt about Anna.  I pitied her and wanted her to be alive again.  I wanted a happy ending for Anna and Cas.  What does happen is what needed to happen to finish the book, but I wanted more pages in this book so I could stay in their world a little longer!  I didn't want the thrilling ride to end so soon.

I am so excited that there is going to be a sequel to this book in the future.  The ending that the author leaves you with is a hint at what is to come in the sequel and I can't wait to see that journey revealed.  A fabulous new book that will keep your heart racing, your spine tingling, and listening closely at the things that go bump in the night.

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

Blue Bloods Series by Melissa de la Cruz Info!

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(ARC Review) Crossed by Ally Condie

CROSSED
Match #2
Author: Ally Condie
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0525423656
ISBN-13: 978-0525423652

SUMMARY:

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

MY THOUGHTS:

Crossed is the second book in a dystopia themed trilogy from author Ally Condie.  After finishing the first book in the series called Matched, I was a little wary in my expectations for this one.  So many things were left unanswered in the first book and I was hoping that the author would at least clear some of those things up.  Why is Cassia so drawn to Ky? Who are the informants within the Society? Is there a Rising and are they better than the Society? Will Cassia find Ky and choose him over Xander?


As I sat down to start reading Crossed, I didn't get my hopes up.  I will say that the author does give some answers to the questions I listed above.  Cassia does find Ky, but there is a huge portion of the book that is the search for each other that could have been condensed to something less.  I wasn't really thrilled to read about them crossing another plain or hiding in another cavern every other chapter. 


Crossed is also in alternating points of view between Cassia and Ky.  We get to read about each of their journeys through their eyes and the struggles that they endure during the search.  With mentions of Xander along the way, Cassia is determined to find Ky and join the rebellion.  Ky, with new friends in tow, is on the search to find his way back to Cassia.  Together they meet in the middle and decisions will have to be made.  Secrets are discovered in this book, but there are also new ones that surface.  We don't get to see them all revealed in this installment, but I am hoping the wait will be worth it when the final book is revealed.


My best description for this story so far is a jigsaw puzzle.  Imagine the Society being the center of the puzzle.  The outcasts are the outer edge pieces that are described as the Outer Provinces.  The author is giving you the big picture, but she isn't handing you all of the pieces yet to complete the finished product.  There will be times when the pieces don't fit and you have to keep thinking about the puzzle.  Eventually, I am hoping all of those pieces will fit together and actually create a beautiful picture in the end.


I am still on the fence about this trilogy.  I want to like it as much as everyone else has, but my reading experience with it is just okay.  I want answers to start becoming clear and for less of the repetitive scenes. I will read the final book just so I can see the secrets revealed and the effects it will have on all of the characters involved. Hopefully the last book in the series will finish the masterpiece puzzle the author has created.

MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

Matched by Ally Condie

MATCHED
Matched #1
Author: Ally Condie
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (September 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 014241977X
ISBN-13: 978-0142419779

SUMMARY:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

MY THOUGHTS:

After seeing so many reviews on this book-- some good and some bad-- I caved and decided to read it since the publisher sent them to me.  I knew it was a dystopia themed book, but I still didn't know what to really expect.  In dystopia novels, the author has such creative freedom that you never really know what type of world you are going to step into when you open the book to read the first page.  


In the first few chapters my interest was captured with the characters and the Society.  I anxiously awaited the Matching ceremony along with Cassia and Xander.  Unfortunately, after the Matching ceremony is concluded, my interest started to dissolve away like the paper in the book.  I had a hard time finishing this book and it wasn't because of the emotions that should have gripped my heart.  Instead, it had to do with the fact of repetitiveness and story that could have been chopped to move it along faster.  The poetry was nice for the first half of the book, but after awhile it started to get annoying and forced on the reader.  I know the poetry is suppose to hold some meaning, but I felt it to be confusing for the reader to keep up with.


I also didn't understand the attraction that Cassia had with Ky.  It was so instantaneous and off the wall that it never really clicked with me.  I have heard other readers have this problem as well between the two characters, so I know that I am not alone in this one.  Xander was patient and understanding up to a point, but I felt he needed to defend his relationship with Cassia a little more. 


By the end of the book, my curiosity was peaked again but it came too near the end.  I wish my interest could have been throughout the whole book and not just an ending that left me with more questions than answers. 

MY RATING:

 
  If the library doesn't have it, don't worry about reading it! 2 STARS

IMM: In My Mailbox (52)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

Here is what showed up in my mailbox this week!

Well not much came in my mailbox again this week, but I did get some great books for a contest and some great books for review! I did order some from Paper Back Swap, but they haven't arrived yet.  Those will be in next weeks IMM.

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER IMAGE

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 FOR REVIEW

HIS COUNTRY GIRL by Jillian Hart -- 5 copies

-Thanks to Harlequin Ambassadors-

IN PURSUIT OF ELIZA CYNSTER by Stephanie Laurens

-Thanks to AVON books-

EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton (ARC)

-Thanks to Balzer+Bray-

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So that is what I got this week.

What did everyone else get?

Girl Stolen by April Henry

GIRL STOLEN
Author: April Henry
Source: Gifted

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805090053
ISBN-13: 978-0805090055

SUMMARY:

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

MY THOUGHTS:

It would be horrifying in itself just to be kidnapped as a teenager, but add in the fact that you are blind and it has to be the worst thing imaginable!  When I first received Girl Stolen, for some reason I kept shoving the book to the back of my reading stack.  The book wasn't really on my radar and I hadn't read many reviews at the time for it.  So when I finally picked it up again, I decided to give it a go and see what it was all about.


The point of view in this book alternates between Cheyenne and Griffin.  Cheyenne was in her stepmothers SUV while she was in getting Cheyennes prescription for pneumonia.  Cheyenne had left her seeing eye dog at home and soon realizes that was a mistake.  Griffin jumps in the SUV and steals it with Cheyenne in the backseat.  When Griffin realizes that Cheyenne is in the SUV, he panics and realizes he has made a major mistake.  Not knowing what to do, he takes her with him to his house where his Father comes up with a plan to hold her hostage for ransom money.  


It was refreshing to read about something that could happen so easily in our world today.  I liked the twist of having the victim be blind as it caused some story arcs that wouldn't have been there if she wasn't.  I wanted to dislike Griffin so much, but like Cheyenne I started to see a softer side to Griffin and realize he didn't really want any of this to happen.  His father is abusive and I can see him doing this as a way to gain his fathers approval.  As the story progressed, I was cheering for Cheyenne and Griffin.  I wanted them to both overcome all of the obstacles that were thrown at them.


If there was one thing that I didn't like about this book, it is the ending.  I absolutely can't stand open endings that are left open for the readers interpretation.  I like closure when I finish reading that last page of a book.  To me, it always feels like the author just decided not to finish the story because they got tired of it.  I like to read a finished product!  Some people might enjoy these types of endings, but I am not a fan of them.

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS