Review : Fall of Night by Rachel Caine

Fall of Night
Series: Morganville Vampires #14
Author: Rachel Caine
Young Adult Paranormal

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Thanks to its unique combination of human and vampire residents, Morganville, Texas, is a small college town with big-time problems. When student Claire Danvers gets the chance to experience life on the outside, she takes it. But Morganville isn’t the only town with vampire trouble...

Claire never thought she’d leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into the graduate program at MIT, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Saying good-bye to her friends is bittersweet, especially since things are still raw and unsettled between Claire and her boyfriend, Shane. 

Her new life at MIT is scary and exciting, but Morganville is never really far from Claire’s mind. Enrolled in a special advanced study program with Professor Irene Anderson, a former Morganville native, Claire is able to work on her machine, which is designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires. 

But when she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire starts to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she’ll ever make...

MY THOUGHTS

Fall of Night is the 14th book in the Morganville Vampire series by author Rachel Caine.

I am a huge fan of this series.  I feel connected to Shane, Claire, Eve, Michael and yes Myrnin. There town is complicated and full of suspense and not much down time to just relax.  But that is what makes them the best characters when they have to deal with problems in a vamp run town.

In Fall of Night, Claire travels away to MIT.  She needs to find her way on her own and see what life is like outside of Morganville.  What she finds though is another game of chess being played between scientists, vampires, and undercover organizations.  They are all deadly and they want one thing.  They want the Vampire Gun also know as VLAD that Claire created.  They want it to start the war between humans and vampires and could care less for the reasons and rules that Claire had it built for.  This group of people are wanting to disable the vampires permanently.  The results in the final mock-up of the gun can have serious side effects though for the vampires.

I really enjoyed this installment in the series.  This book is shown with alternating chapters from Shane and Claire.  We get to enjoy Myrnin arriving to rescue them all.  Oliver finds his way into the group as well to help lead the group.  Also Jesse and Pete help the gang out and Jesse does have a deeper role than what we think.  While there is action and suspense with a little bit of sexy times thrown in when needed, it does leave the book left with unanswered questions.  With the way the book ends, you can't help but wonder how they gang is going to make it to the next book.  Is it the Daylight Foundation taking over?  Where is Amelie now when Morganville is having a major war between humans and vamps with the humans being the ones with the upper hand.

I can't wait for the next book and I do hope we will get to read more about Myrnin and how crazy that contraption actually made him.  Is he really going crazy again, or is it all a defense to keep  the humans on their toes?

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

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Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

MY THOUGHTS

Can we talk about this cover first to get it out of the way?  I find it hard to believe that the cover department couldn't come up with something other than the boring cover of white that we got.  If I were to see this on a bookshelf at a store, I would pass it over without thinking twice.  Thank goodness I read the summary of this book beforehand and decided to give it a chance.  Truly a good example of not judging a book by its cover.

Moving on from the cover fiasco.  I was actually surprised by this read.  I thought this was going to be a plot that would be juvenile and not my cup of tea.  What we get though is something so good and the writing that actually kept me interested and curious to know more.  The author does a wonderful job at scene set up.  While I admit that the first part of this book was slow and something I had to force myself to get through, by the middle of the book it started to take off.  I ended up enjoying the characters and the plot of the book. Yes there is some angst.  Yes there is a boy involved. Yes there is teen drama and gossip.  The end result though was self discovery, consequences to actions, and characters that fit the story.

I really ended up enjoying this book and I can say that it was much better than expected.  Would I read the story again in the future? Maybe.  It won't be one I will be dying to reread again anytime soon, but it is one I would recommend to read a first time.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

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Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point
Series: Pivot Point #1
Author: Kasie West

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

MY THOUGHTS

Pivot Point is the first book in the Pivot Point series by author Kasie West.

When I first saw the cover for this book, it sparked an interest in my mind.  I love that cover and I applaud the cover artist for it.  Then I read the summary and I was definitely interested in reading about Addison.  Then I read the book and can honestly say that I loved it.  I loved the theme, suspense, plot, and characters so much more than I though I would.

Since Addie can see into the future and see which decision she makes will have the outcome she wants.  She is called a Searcher and the name fits the power.  She has to search the outcomes to see which one would be best.  When her parents divorce, she sees one future with her living with her father and one future where she is living with her mother.  In both futures there are love interests and her best friend.  There is also mystery and suspense in each as well.

With each chapter alternating between both outcomes, we get to see the decisions that Addie is going to be forced to make in each one.  The author did a wonderful job of balancing the dialogue and narration without over doing it on either.  The characters were enjoyable and I found myself telling my family 'just one more chapter' before doing something for them.

If you are looking for a fresh and new paranormal read in the young adult genre, then Pivot Point should be your starting point.  I can't wait to see what the author is going to bring us for the second book in the series!

MY RATING

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

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Review: Louder Than Words by Laurie Plissner

Louder Than Words
Author: Laurie Plissner

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Since the snowy night when her family's car slammed into a tree, killing her parents and little sister, Sasha has been unable to speak except through a computer with a robotic voice. Nothing is wrong with her body; that's healed. But, after four years, Sasha's memory, and her spirit, are still broken. Then one day, she's silently cussing out the heavy book she dropped at the library when a gorgeous, dark-haired boy, the kind of boy who considers Sasha a freak or at least invisible, "answers" Sasha's hidden thoughts -- out loud. Yes, Ben can read minds; it's no big deal. He's part of a family with a host of unusual, almost-but-not-quite-supernatural talents. Through Ben's love, Sasha makes greater progress than she has with a host of therapists and a prominent psychiatrist. With him to defend her, bullies keep the world from ever understanding Sasha, he pulls away. Determined to win him and prove her courage by facing her past, Sasha confronts her past -- only to learn that her family's death was no accident and that a similar fate may wait for her, in the unlikeliest of disguises.

MY THOUGHTS

Louder Than Words is the debut novel by author Laurie Plissner.

The summary of this book was what intrigued me instead of the cover.  While I can say the cover did absolutely nothing for me, the summary itself is what drew me into wanting to read it.  I loved the premise of this book -- to the point to where I thought it was well outside the box of normal when it came to young adult paranormal.  The romance was a little on the darker side without the sweetness you would expect, but one that was different but good.  While I can't say I was a fan of each of the characters, I can say that the author did have a great voice in her narration and execution of story.

It is kind of hard to describe how I felt upon reading the last page of this story.  It was good, but it wasn't one that blew me away.  It had moments I enjoyed, but it also had moments that I didn't.  While some parts I wanted to reread again and again, there were also parts I wanted to skim over to get to the next part of the story. There were several things going on at one time that led the reader down a different path than what you really wanted to read about.  At times it became too much and I wished the author would have just stuck with one or two things to keep me interested.

While this book is good for a debut author,  I feel it could have been better.  I think the book just needed a little more polishing before the ending was revealed.  Even though it wasn't a favorite book of mine this year, it is an author I will keep an eye out for in the future for more.

MY RATING

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

 GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits
Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Author: Katie McGarry

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

MY THOUGHTS

Pushing the Limits is the first book in the Pushing the Limits series by author Katie McGarry.  The main characters in this book are Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins.

You see that boot over there?  That would be the boot that left the red mark on my behind for waiting so long to read this book. What was the matter with me?  I had heard great things about this book, but for some reason I had waited to start it.  I am so glad I finally got to sit down and read Echo and Noah's story.

Echo was attacked by her mother and left with scars on the outside. Mentally, she has the incident blocked and can't remember what exactly happened that fateful night that changed her life entirely.  She had recently lost her brother while fighting in the Marines, and then her mother does the unthinkable to her.  Afterwards, she saw a therapist who pushed her mind too fast to remember that night.  She ends up having a nervous breakdown from it.  When she starts school again, she is now the outsider. She used to be one of the most popular girls in school, but now she finds herself withdrawn and hiding from everyone.  The kids at school call her freak and have basically cast her aside from their social circles.  Not only has she lost family, but now she must cope with being a freak with no friends.

Enter Noah Hutchins. Noah, the sexiest stoner in school who is also known as a ladies man that pleases the women and then leaves the women when he is done with them.  When Echo finds herself tutoring Noah, they both find an attraction that shouldn't be there.  Noah lost his parents in a house fire.  He saved his two younger brothers from the fire, but they were eventually torn apart in the foster system.  His main goal is to get his brothers back and make them a family again.  To increase visitation with his brothers, he must apply himself to school work and be tutored by Echo.

I loved the character of Noah.  I really liked how he was willing to put everything before himself.  He wanted his brothers back and was willing to give up college and his dreams to raise them.  He was also willing to help Echo with her problem of rediscovering that lost night that ruined her life.  Echo seemed a little self absorbed and whiny at times, but overall it wasn't too bad.  Luke -- Echo's ex-boyfriend -- was a jerk and I couldn't stand him when he was given page time.  Grace -- Echo's ex-best friend -- was also one I wish we could have erased from the story.  I didn't like how her reputation of being the popular girl was more important than her friendship with Echo.  She treated Echo horribly and was glad that she wasn't featured as much as I thought she would be.  The rest of side characters were great.  I loved Isiah, Beth and Lila. I loved the bickering and the wit each of them showed.  They were engaging characters that really helped move the book forward.  I am looking forward to reading more about those side characters in future books.

Again, I wish I had read this book sooner.  I am still going to be kicking myself in the pants for a few days while thinking about Noah and Echo's story.  I can't wait to start the next book in the series! An engaging read that will keep you up all night reading!

MY RATING

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

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Review: The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt

The Thing About the Truth
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Genre: Young Adult

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


In this humorous love story from the author of "Two-Way Street", an unlikely romance is the best sort of surprise—but the wrong secret can ruin everything. Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before. But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth.

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoy the writing by author Lauren Barnholdt.  She seems to capture the language of teens and it comes across as real to the reader.  The problems I had with this story were actually rather minor, but they were things that ended up lowering my rating for the story.

First when we look at the cover we assume it is Isaac and Kelsey.  They are the main characters and they have alternating POV chapters.  The cover is sweet and gives the reader a small hint about them.  So here I am reading a book thinking the guy is going to have dark hair and the girl is going to be blonde.  I have the character all set up in my head because of it.  Then while reading the story, the actual descriptions do not fit what I see on the cover. The characters are completely different than what we see on the front.  I understand that the cover art department does this and that the author has nothing to do with this. If this sort of thing bothers you, well then you have been warned.

Now for the story itself.  The story does jump from present to past and back and forth again.  I think I would have enjoyed the story better if it was beginning to end.  I loved the slow building of the romance between Kelsey and Isaac.  These are two people with two different lifestyles and somehow they end up working on a project together.  Those few sentences would have been perfect for a sweet young adult read.  When the author brought in the secrets and lies, I think that is what was suppose to make it so dramatic.  Unfortunately, I felt the whole thing was a pretty weak one.  You have the amazing book and you are reading about them trying to figure out a way to work together and become friends.  After the big day where everything goes down, I still don't see much of a fallout because of it.  They end up reconciling right afterwards.  I also never could really understand the reason Kelsey did what she did to her ex-boyfriends car.  To me it seemed a little extreme and just used as a plot point to move the character from one school to the new school.

By the time the book came to a close I had to realize that the conflict for the climax of the story was brief and didn't hold much of an impact.  I just never could get the characters to connect with each other. Overall, this was an easy and fluffy read to pass the time.  It was okay and enjoyable,  but also not one I would want to be jumping through hoops to read again.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

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Review: Hush, Hush - Graphic Novel

Hush, Hush : A Graphic Novel
Series: Hush, Hush Graphic Novel #1
Author(s): Becca Fitzpatrick, Jennyson Rosero

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

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! This title also contains an exclusive, original story written especially for this book by the author. This bonus story tells what happens to the characters between Book 1 and Book 2 of this series and will only be available in this book.

MY THOUGHTS

Graphic Novels can be either an introductory to a series or a refresher on a series.  At least, that is my thoughts on them when they are based on a novel in the Fiction world.  I am a casual reader of these novels and usually only read them after I have read the regular series first.

This graphic novel was honestly the worst ones I have read.  The artwork isn't horrible as a whole, but it is such a contradiction to the original series and characters that obvious flaws are on every single page.  Where one person is suppose to be dark haired, in the graphic novel this person is blonde.  Where one person is suppose to be conservative, the graphic novel reveals seduction and tramp.  I am a firm believer that if you are going to base a graphic novel on a series, keep the descriptions and details the same.  It felt like the illustrator took what the characters are suppose to be and drew the complete opposite.

The only saving grace of this book was the cover.  It had the dark and gritty feel of the original cover, but that is where it ended.  This is definitely not a Graphic Novel that you want to use to form an opinion on the original work.  This is one that you need to take it for what it is, but realize that it doesn't stand up to the original work of fiction.

MY RATING

       

I did not like this book at all!

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Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night
Series: Under the Never Sky #2
Author: Veronica Rossi
Genre: Young Adult 

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

AMAZING!

That one word above is my reaction after finishing the last page of Through the Ever Night.  Is it any surprise?  This author rocks my socks off with her writing.  Not only has her writing grown by leaps and bounds, but the characters come alive in your head like a movie.

The characters in this book were also amazing.  I think Roar might have even tied with Perry in this one for my favorites. Not everything that happens is what the readers want, but in the end we grow to respect what we do get.  Action is another focus in this book. While some authors go overboard on the action, I have to say that it was balanced really well with the romantic tension between Perry and Aria. The conflict will also leave the reader shocked.  Who will Aria choose to hold her trust when it is most needed?  That my friends is the question you will have answered when you read this book.

I really don't know how to share my feelings on this book any better than what I stated above.  I don't want to share too much of the plot because of spoilers.  So I am going to leave you with the following:

Friendship, love, angst and full of drama -- the perfect combination!

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: Nailed by Jennifer Laurens

Nailed
Author: Jennifer Laurens
Genre: Young Adult

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

One girl. Two guys. Who says three's a crowd? When Mandy takes an unusual summer job-in construction-she has to prove she's just one of the guys. But she gets more than she bargains for being the only girl on the job. The mixture of hot guys, sunscreen, raw wood and testosterone proves to be an elixir she can't protect her heart from. Brooding Boston and flirty AJ find themselves looking at Mandy as more than just a girl who holds a hammer. Mandy soon finds herself not only lost in a whirlwind of a male-dominated world, but also the center of an inadvertently "constructed" love triangle. Mandy must choose between two guys who want her heart. But what's a girl to do when she wants them both?

MY THOUGHTS

Usually I am a big fan of author Jennifer Laurens.  I had been wanting to read this one for a while now and never really got around to it.  When it was offered up free on Amazon for the Kindle, I snatched it up and it got shuffled in my list.  Finally, I was sorting through them and came across it and decided to dive in.

I am a sucker for a love triangle.  I guess this would be considered New Adult in the genre realm now as Mandy is 19, just out of high school and working with her brother.  All of the main characters are around the same age except for A.J. who happens to be 27.  Mandy finds herself falling for A.J. and Charlie, AKA Boston, while having to work on a house building project headed by her brother Marc.

First, that cover I think is the reason I forgot about it.  It just doesn't scream 'read me', although I did notice on Amazon that the print version has a different cover.  Second, A.J reminded me of a creepy guy who preys on young girls.  He calls Mandy 'baby doll' almost every time he addresses her and is constantly giving her a full teeth smile.  Then we have Larry, the fourth guy in the crew, who is basically a man slut. He is a player to the extreme level.  Marc, Mandy's brother, should never be in charge of anything because he can't even keep his mind out of the gutter while his sister is standing right there.  Then we have Charlie, who Mandy nicknames Boston. I never could really grow to like him.  He came across stuck up and standoffish.  Lastly we have Mandy.  She was just as boring and dull as Boston so I could see the appeal of the author using them together as part of the triangle.  She was indecisive, snobby, and has no clue whatsoever. After all those characters we have a best friend for Mandy who is basically just there to buy his romance books in the bookstore and to fill page time.

Definitely not one of the authors better books and one I would not read again.

MY RATING

       

I did not like this book at all!

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: Fall To Pieces by Vahini Naidoo

Fall to Pieces
Author: Vahini Naidoo
ISBN: 9780761462170

SUMMARY
(From Goodeads)


When your best friend dies, you’re supposed to know what happened. You’re supposed to know why.

But Ella has no idea what happened the night Amy jumped to her death. She has no idea why Amy would want to die.

Ella’s other friends, Mark and Petal, are hiding something. Ella thinks they know exactly what happened that terrible night. But they’re not talking. Instead, Ella, Mark, and Petal play Pick Me Ups—a game in which they jump from dangerous heights. And every time Ella falls, she begins to remember pieces of that night. . . 

It’s still not enough. So Ella brings a mysterious new guy into the group, hoping he will help shake things up and unearth the truth. But Ella’s “Explosive Boy” has secrets of his own.

And there may be some secrets that Ella doesn’t want to face. The truth—the real truth—about Amy’s death might just be more than she can handle.

MY THOUGHTS

Four friends suddenly become three.  Ella, Mark, Petal, and Amy suddenly become Ella, Mark and Petal after Amy dies.  Ella is having a hard time remembering what happened.When Mark creates a game called Pick Me Ups, Ella starts getting flashbacks of the night Amy died.  Instead of an adrenaline rush, she is getting glimpses into the secrets that are locked within her head.  Then Ella brings Tristan into the fold but he has secrets of his own.

This was a book that led me into the trap of 'just one more chapter' before setting it down.  I wanted to know what would happen next and I wanted to learn more about the way Amy died.  I thought the book did great in the time line and gave the reader just enough with each chapter to make you want to keep reading.  So the pace was done okay.  The characters were okay, but they all stood out about the same for me for some reason.  While I enjoyed the book, it was just a mediocre read for me.  I will also mention that the language is high in profanity in case this is a no-no in books that you want to read.  Be warned.  To me it wasn't a big issue, but to others it can be.  I also just couldn't connect with the characters in the way the author was wanting.

Not bad for a quick read, but one that does need to be warned of the profanity mentioned above.  Don't go into it blind.  Like I said earlier, just an okay read for me and one I won't be thinking about afterwards for long.

MY RATING

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

GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski

The Shadow Society
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN:  9780374349059

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


Darcy Jones doesn’t remember anything before the day she was abandoned as a child outside a Chicago firehouse. She has never really belonged anywhere—but she couldn’t have guessed that she comes from an alternate world where the Great Chicago Fire didn’t happen and deadly creatures called Shades terrorize the human population.

Memories begin to haunt Darcy when a new boy arrives at her high school, and he makes her feel both desire and desired in a way she hadn’t thought possible. But Conn’s interest in her is confusing. It doesn’t line up with the way he first looked at her.

As if she were his enemy.

When Conn betrays Darcy, she realizes that she can’t rely on anything—not herself, not the laws of nature, and certainly not him. Darcy decides to infiltrate the Shadow Society and uncover the Shades’ latest terrorist plot. What she finds out will change her world forever . . .

MY THOUGHTS

Borderline love/hate with this story is the only way I can explain my feelings on this book.  Its dark and different than what I am used to reading which was refreshing in the way that I got to step out of my box with it.

The characters were the main thing for me that kept me from rating it higher.  I think the main problem I had was that some characters were not needed to make this story great while others weren't used enough.  Another problem is the cliched new boy who is dark yet sexy.  The plot was interesting enough that I didn't need some of the problems of love triangles and cliches to lure me in.

Like other reviewers have said about this read -- you will either love it or hate it.  Some will think it had the perfect balance and others will say it lacked in balance.  I, felt that it was walking a fine line between being great or it being bad.  This is the type of read that you will more than likely have to choose for yourself in forming an opinion.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: The Bully Book by Eric Kahn Gale

The Bully Book
Author: Eric Kahn Gale
ISBN: 9780062125118
Publisher: HarperCollins

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)


The rules governing middle school are often a mystery, but for Eric Haskins, they’re a mystery he needs to solve, and fast. He’s a normal, average kid, until sixth grade starts. For some inexplicable reason, the class bully and his pack make Eric the Grunt. Even his best friend since first grade turns on him. Eric can’t figure out why he’s the Grunt until he hears about the Bully Book, a cryptic guide that teaches you how to “make trouble without getting in trouble, rule the school and be the man” and how to select the Grunt-the kid who will become the lowest of the low. 

Eric Haskins may be this year’s Grunt for now, but he’s determined not to stay at the bottom of the social ladder forever. Hilarious and compelling, The Bully Book is a must-read for every tween, tween parent, librarian and educator!

MY THOUGHTS

Have you ever wondered why someone gets chosen to be picked on in school?  What is going on through the minds of the bully and the one being picked on?  While this may not be what actually goes on and it may not be the way one is chosen to be picked on, it does give you a greater understanding on why it can happen.

I used to be picked on all through school.  Now that I am older and have children of my own, I constantly worry about them being bullied.  As a parent you want to protect your child.  As a child you just want to be accepted and have friends.  What do you do when those so called friends turn on you and decide to target you as their next scapegoat?  The Bully Book gives you an inside perspective of both the child being chosen as the target and the child that is doing the actual bullying.

While the over all tone of this book focuses on the horrible act of bullying within the schools, it does have some lighthearted moments as well.  As a tween book, it still kept this adult reader interested and compelled to finish the story.  I needed to know what would happen and the outcome.

This is a great read for younger readers no matter if you are boy or girl.  It can be shocking, enduring and eye opening.  While the adult might be as interested in it, I could see the younger generation reading it.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!

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