Let's talk about books

{Book Review]: Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

2012-07-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Tempest Rising
Author: Tracy Deebs Website | Facebook
Stand Alone or Series: (Tempest, #1)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May, 2011)
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN: 9780802722317
Source: Purchased
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

My Review

First Impressions: Based on the description from GoodReads this sounds like the story of the daughter of the little mermaid. If the little mermaid had a daughter with a surfer guy and left her daughter. (It does to me!)

Plot & Characters: Tempest for most of the story struggles between what she wants and what she needs. She wants to stay on land with her family, yet her body longs for the sea. This seems to me like a problem she creates. Why can't she spend time in both places? I know she says she doesn't want to abandon her family but it just doesn't seem like that big of a problem.

Tempest has a boyfriend on land but introduce a dose of instant love and a few pages later she is attracted to another. I usually don't have a big problem with instant love but in this story it just seemed wrong. She threw away a relationship and years of memories and suddenly all she could think of was this new guy. Not cool.

The mythology was interesting. I enjoyed learning about mermaids and the other sea creatures. The evil witch was great and terrifying. The missing mother added a very interesting element to the story. I was anticipating the moment when I would finally meet her and learn why she abandoned her children. When she finally appears I felt ripped off. I was not given the reunion I wanted.

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed Tempest but was not able to connect with the main character. I recommend it if you enjoy mermaid stories and are not bothered by instant love.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Borrow. I enjoyed Tempest and will read the next in the series but for now it doesn't stand out enough for me to say buy.

My Rating:

{Book Review}: Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

2012-07-06T15:29:00.002-05:00

Title: Spellcaster
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Spellbound, #2
Genre: YA Fiction/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HarlequinTeen (March 27th 2012)
Hardcover: 384 pages
ISBN: 9780373210503
Source: NetGalley*
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:
Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

My Review

First Impressions: I enjoyed Spellbound and thus was excited about book #2.

Plot & Characters: One of the things I enjoyed the most about Spellbound was Emma's sense of humor and it was not the same in Spellcaster. Although I enjoyed it, it just didn't seem that different from the 1st book. Emma and Brendan fight for their love against a psycho[path, everything seems hopeless but their love and determination win in the end. I just wanted less predictable. I enjoyed it but expected more.

Final Thoughts: An ok series for those who enjoy YA Paranormal Romance. I will read the next on just to see where the story goes.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Borrow, you can always buy later if you love it. :)

My Rating:

{Review}: This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

2012-06-21T15:32:00.000-05:00

Title: This Is Not A Test
Author: Courtney Summers Website | Twitter
Genre: YA/Horror
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (June 19th 2012)
Paperback: 322 pages
ISBN: 9780312656744
Source: Publisher
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.
To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.
But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.
When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

My Review

First Impressions: I don't usually read horror stories. I have an overactive imagination and reading such books leaves me sleepless for a few nights. Yet, when This Is Not A Test arrived and I read the synopsis I was intrigued because it sounded more like a book about a girl finding a reason to survive then a gory retelling of people's flesh being torn off by the living dead.

Plot & Characters: Sloane has had it with life. She decides to end it but in a strange string of events she finds herself in her Cortege High taking refuge from the living dead with five other teens. I usually find it hard to relate to a character that wants to end her life and dislike when they are written in an over dramatic way but Courtney Summers does a wonderful job with Sloane. I loved the character and was almost praying for a fictional character.

The five other students are great because they show very different reactions to a catastrophic event. They have to not only deal with the zombies at their door but like typical teenagers the relationships between them.There are a few extremely sad moments as well as many very scary scenes. This Is Not A Test contains very little romance, it is more about raw human emotions in a time of crisis. Just as a warning, know that Courtney Summers is not scared to kill a character you really like and are hoping will survive.

Final Thoughts: This Is Not A Test does not have a dull moment. From beginning to end I was biting my nails scared for Sloane's life. If you enjoy contemporary books with tough issues or if you enjoy zombie/horror I think you will really enjoy this book. I wouldn't recommend this book to a younger audience because of the tough subject matter.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy, but if you have an overactive imagination DO NOT read at night.

My Rating:

{Book Review}: Above by Leah Bobet

2012-05-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

Title: Above
Author: Leah Bobet Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (April, 2012)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 9780545296700
Source: Publisher
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook
Description from GoodReads:

Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee’s wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above—like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.
But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe’s history and the shadows’ attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home—not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.

My Review

First Impressions: Above sounds like a fun read full of adventure and wonderful characters. It sounds different from anything that I have read.

Plot & Characters: I wanted to love this book but I was completely confused at the beginning. The book is written to reflect Mathew's background. He lacks a proper education so he is missing words, or just strange structure in his sentences. I found the writting style interesting but had difficulty understanding. It brought to mind me the book Room by Emma Donoghue not in the subject matter but in the writing style since Room is told by a child.

After a few chapters I was able to relate to Matthew and understand him. However, I was not able to get into the story and found it difficult to finish this book. Above is more the story of individuals that are trying to find a place where they belong than a story about supernatural creatures and their adventures.

Final Thoughts: This is one of those book that you will either love or hate. If you enjoy books that are written in creative ways then this may be the book for you. If you are looking for a fun read where you will read the adventures of the beautiful bee girl in the cover of this book then read the synopsis again because the cover is deceiving. I think the cover is beautiful but a bit misleading.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: I would say borrow for this one.

My Rating:

{Review}: Halflings by Heather Burch

2012-04-20T16:16:00.000-05:00

Title: Halflings
Author: Heather Burch Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: (Halflings, #1)
Genre: YA Fiction/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Zonderkidz (January, 2012)
Hardcover: 287 pages
ISBN: 9780310728184
Source: *NetGalley
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.
A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

My Review

First Impressions: Talk about an action packed start. In the first pages Nikki is chased by hell hounds.

Plot & Characters: Not one, not two but three supernatural mysterious guys. Mace, Raven, and Vine are trying to find out what it is about Nikki that causes the forces of darkness to want her dead. I enjoyed the love triangle, the strong female character and learning about the history and role of Halflings. The mysterious villain is someone I wish to learn more about in the next installment of this series.

There are many parts where you can predict what will happen next and wonder why it is taking the character so long to figure things out. There are other parts where you are left wondering and trying to figure out what is going on. The writing is good but I just don't feel that Halflings offers anything different from the rest of the YA angel paranormal romance novels that are out there. I enjoyed it and will read the next one mostly because I want to find out more about the villain.

Final Thoughts: If you are a hard core YA paranormal romance reader that cannot get enough love triangles, mysterious bad boys, "I love you but It's better if we are not together" conflict and demon fighting angels then you will enjoy Halflings.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Borrow for now, I really have to see where this story is going. The first book was good but nothing stood out.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

*Thanks Zondervan and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read Halflings prior to its release in exchange for an honest review.

Feature & Follow 4/20/12

2012-04-19T21:39:00.000-05:00

Feature & Follow Friday hosted by parajunkee.com and alisoncanread.com

The main idea behind FF is to discover new blogs, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee &Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: Fight! Fight! If you could have two fictional characters battle it out (preferably from books), who would they be and who do you think would win?

A: Elyse from Opression by Jessica Therrien and Helen from Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. I know the question says fight but I would like these two characters to meet. They both have god-like powers and are new to them. If they did fight I think Helen would end up winning because of her strength.

{Review}: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

2012-04-19T21:25:00.000-05:00

Title: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: (Medusa Girls, #1)
Genre: YA Fantasy/Mythology
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books ( September, 2011)
Hardcover: 345 pages
ISBN: 9780062001818
Source: Borrowed from Library
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

My Review

First Impressions: I heard great things about this author so I was looking forward to reading one of her books. Sweet Venom totally had me at descendants of Medusa. It just sounds extremely cool.

Plot & Characters: Not fallen angels, or vampires but descendants of Medusa. We meet Grace, Gretchen and Greet. Tera Lynn Childs creates another magical world where these three girls from different backgrounds come together to discover their role in an ancient prophecy. The writing is great I was able to distinguish the three personalities and I was never confused as to who was narrating. The multiple narrative was a bit confusing at first but it doesn't take long before you get used to it and enjoy it.

Sweet Venom was fast paced and left me wanting more. This is one of those times when I was happy that this book was part of a series because I need answers. If you enjoy romance there is a bit of that. The story does not center on the girls love story it is more on meeting them and accompanying them on their discovery of who they are.

Final Thoughts: Recommend to those who like adventure and action packed YA fantasy mixed with mythology.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy. A great start to a series from an amazing author. A great addition to my library.

My Rating:

In My Mailbox 4/15/12

2012-04-16T13:38:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by The Story Siren, held usually on Sundays that encourages bloggers to share what they bought, borrowed, received or won this week.

Only one book last week, the conclusion of the Trylle Trilogy. If you have not checked out this series and you enjoy YA paranormal romance I believe you are missing out on a great one.
Received

Title: Ascend (Trylle Trilogy, #3)
Author: Amanda Hocking Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 24, 2012)
ISBN: 9781250006332
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself. If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe. But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end. Everything has been leading to this moment. The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

* Received from St. Martin's Griffin for an honest review. Thank you!

In My Mailbox 4/8/12

2012-04-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by The Story Siren, held usually on Sundays that encourages bloggers to share what they bought, borrowed, received or won this week.

Received

Title: Above
Author: Leah Bobet
Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian
ISBN: 9780545296700
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (April 1st 2012)
Source: Publisher for honest review
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

An extraordinary debut urban fantasy about dangers outside and in.

Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above—like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.

But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home—not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.

ABOVE is the debut of an amazing new voice.

Title: Of Poseidon

Author: Anna Banks

Genre:YA fiction/Mythology

ISBN: 9781250003324

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 22nd 2012)

Source: Publisher for honest review

Available on: Amazon| Barnes&Noble| TheBookDepository| Kindle| Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma’s gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .
Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

Title: Struck
Author: Jennifer Bosworth

Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian
ISBN: 9780374372835

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR (May 8th 2012)
Source: Publisher for honest review
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

NetGalley

1. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown GoodReads|Amazon
2. Endure by Carrie Jones GoodReads|Amazon
3. Yesterday by C.K Kelly Martin GoodReads|Amazon
4. Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs GoodReads|Amazon
5. Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen GoodReads|Amazon
6. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross GoodReads|Amazon

Purchased

Title: Pandemonium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Fiction/Dystopian

ISBN: 9780061978067

Publisher: February 28th 2012 by Harper Teen

Source: Purchased

Description from Goodreads:

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven taught me to do.The old life is dead.But the old Lena is dead too.I buried her.I left her beyond a fence,behind a wall of smoke and flame.

*Thank you to all the publishers!

What's in your mailbox?

{Book Review}: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

2012-04-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Incarnate
Author: Jodi Meadows Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Incarnate, #1
Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (January 31st 2012)
Hardcover: 374 pages
ISBN: 9780062060754
Source: NetGalley
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

My Review

First Impressions: The cover is beautiful. The idea of reincarnation and soul-mates are common among YA novels so I was hoping that this story stood out among the rest.

Plot & Characters: At first like most post-apocolyptic stories the setting is a bit hard to understand. In Ana's world a predermined number of souls where born and are reborn again and again into different bodies and retain all of their memories. Which leads to 5,000 year old souls living and crating a community together.

The problem arises with the birth of Ana. She is a new soul that has replaced one of the old souls. Ana is raised in a world of ancients with no place where she belongs, that is until she meets Sam.

I really enjoyed this story. The connection and relationship between Ana and Sam was great. I really believed their relationship. The other characters such as Sam's friends and Ana's mother where fun to read about. Great character development in this story. The setting was also well developed their community, the rules they lived with, what they believed in. It is all explained so as to bring the reader into Ana's world so they too can feel like a new soul learning everything.

Final Thoughts: if you are looking for a fantasy/dystopian/romance/good book then you should give Incarnate a try.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy! Great story and beautiful cover. A great addition to any library.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

{Book Review}: Tempest by Julie Cross

2012-04-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Tempest, #1
Genre: YA Fiction/Sci-fi
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (January 17th 2012)
Hardcover: 334 pages
ISBN: 9780312568894
Source: For honest review from publisher
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

My Review

First Impressions: I am not an usual reader of this genre but the idea of time-traveling and the motives of trying to save the girl he loves pulled me in to read this book.

Plot & Characters: Jackson is trying to live a normal life and control his time-traveling abilities. That all changes when his girlfriend is shot and he finds himself stuck in the past.

I enjoyed the adventure Tempest takes you on. However, I was not able to relate to the characters or understand how their world worked. Especially when it came to the rules of time travel I have no clue how they work. I was constantly having to go back and forth trying to figure out what year it was. There were other aspects that were a little hard for me to believe like his friends Adams incredible knowledge.

The pulling force in this story is Jackson's want to save Holly's life. This is what made me want to read this story. Yet, I found their relationship weak and at times a bit strange.

Final Thoughts: The adventure and suspense where great but the story and character development were a bit weak for my taste. The only other time-traveling story I read was The Time Traveler's Wife and Tempest was very different so I can't compare it. It could be that I am not an usual reader of this genre or that it lacked the romance or connection between Jackson and Holly for me to give this a higher rating.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Borrow unless you enjoy action packed sci-fi thrillers and are not looking for the romance between the characters.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

Feature & Follow 4/6/12

2012-04-05T22:59:00.000-05:00

Feature & Follow Friday hosted by parajunkee.com and alisoncanread.com

The main idea behind FF is to discover new blogs, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee &Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This Week’s Question:
Q: Have you ever bought a book BECAUSE of a bad review?

A: No, I have not purposely purchased a book because of a bad review. I have bought many books with not so good reviews but I base my books on the synopsis and subject matter. If I read a bad review on a book I try to see if we have similar taste. Maybe the things they didn't enjoy I would love.

Please follow and leave a link to your blog so I can share the love :)

{Book Review}: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

2012-03-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Under the Never Sky, #1
Genre: YA Fiction/Dystopian
Publisher: Harper Collins (January 3, 2012)
Hardcover: 374 pages
ISBN: 9780062072030
Source: NetGalley
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:
Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

My Review

First Impressions: Under the Never Sky sounds very promising. I just hope it stand out and doesn't feel like the many others I have read.

Plot & Characters: It begins with aria being forced to leave her protected home. She is thrown out to die. In a world of wild violent storms and cannibal tribes, odds where not in her favor that is until she meets Perry.

The dual narrative helped the reader understand the world from both perspectives, from that of an outsider and that of a dweller. The added "magical/evolutionary" elements were amazing and made this a better story.

It was great that both Aria and Perry had goals and drives, they did not exist and were not there just to be the others love interest.

Final Thoughts: A great dystopian that shows us another world where I wouldn't last a minute. :)

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

2012-03-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test, #2)
Author: Aimee Carter Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Fiction/Mythology
Expected Publication Date: HarlequinTeen (March 27, 2012)
ISBN: 9780373210459
Pre-Order On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone

Why I am waiting: I loved the Goddess Test with all of it's interesting characters. I cannot wait to go back into that world and read more of Kate and Henry.

Top Ten Favorite Covers

2012-03-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Favorite Covers

(These are my top ten book covers. I know the first 3 are series but I couldn't choose one from them.)

I would buy these series just because of their covers

1. Hush, Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick

2. Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

3. Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr

It might be the red dress but these are wonderful

4. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

5. Die For Me by Amy Plum

I do love my Greek Mythology

6. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

7. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

These just freaked me out, but they did make me want to read the book

8. Warm Bodies by Isaax Marion

9. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

10. The Cella by A.J Whitten

{Book Review}: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

2012-03-05T20:43:00.000-06:00

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Starcrossed, #1
Genre: YA Fiction/Mythology
Publisher: HarperTeen May 31, 2011
Hardcover: 487 pages
ISBN: 9780062011992
Source: Purchased
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:
Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention.

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

My Review

First Impressions: I have heard many people compare Starcrossed to Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. I cannot imagine how they will be similar but I enjoyed Twilight and hope to enjoy this book.

Plot & Characters: Starcrossed was action packed from beginning to end. The way Josephine Angelini interwove greek mythology with the life of two young adults was a joy to read. You will find romance, revenge, and mystery in Starcrossed. Even though this is the first of a series, the ending left me wanting to read more yet satisfied until the next one.

The hate the characters feel for each other when they meet was very refreshing. I was loved that Helen didn't just fall in love with Lucas at first sight. I don't necessarily have a problem with instant love but it is a bit refreshing to see something different.The characters in this story are amazing, from Helen's friend to Luca's family there are many well developed characters that help make this a great story.

* There were a few things that might be compared to Twilight but for the most part they are very different. I would imagine that those who enjoyed Twilight will enjoy Starcrossed but that is because they are both good stories with young characters that fight supernatural obstacles to protect their love.

Final Thoughts: Starcrossed will keep you entertained and transport you to a world where gods, curses, and prophecies are an everyday problem.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy! A great story and the beautiful cover will make a great addition to any library.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

This week...

2012-02-18T11:37:00.002-06:00

I will be in Rome, Italy thus I might be unable to write reviews this week. I have my laptop and my trusty Kindle so lots of reading will be done at least on the plane. :)

Have a great week!

{Review}: Die For Me by Amy Plum

2012-02-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Series (Revenants, #1)
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen (May 10, 2011)
Hardcover: 341 pages
ISBN: 9780062004017
Source: Borrowed from Library
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart--as well as my life and my family's--in jeopardy for a chance at love?

My Review

First Impressions: I feel like a broken record always talking about the beauty of a certain cover making me wanting to read the book but sad as it may sound it is true. Die for Me is not the exception. I mean look at it! It seems like another perfectly normal girl meets heavenly handsome but mysterious boy and all hell breaks loose.

Plot & Characters: After loosing her parents in a tragic accident Kate moves to Paris with her siter Georgia to live with their grandparents. Kate is depressed, lonely and heart broken. Enter Vincent Delacroix who with his good looks and fun personality make her feel a bit of happiness again.

Like any good YA Paranormal Romance someone is not going to be human and we can guess from the description who it is but I'll leave it at a mystery to what he is. I won't say more because I really enjoyed learning about this different take on this paranormal creature. It also gets extra points for taking place in Paris and letting us discover it along with Kate.

Another aspect that I liked about this story is that Kate is a strong matured character that is not too fast as letting a paranormal come and take over her life.

Final Thoughts: If you are looking for romance, it has plenty. Swoon worthy characters, there are a few.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: BUY! I cannot wait to read the second in this series entitled: Until I Die.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

2012-02-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Sweet Evil
Author: Wendy Higgins Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Expected Publication Date: HarperTeen (May 1, 2012)
ISBN: 9780062085610
Pre-Order On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.
Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
A cross-country trip forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Why I am waiting:

Just look at the cover! The red dress and dark shadowy figure behind her that is whispering in her ear. What can I say I am still in love with young adult paranormal romance and this book cover and blurb scream "read me" to me.

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little

2012-02-13T20:51:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little

(The Broke and the Bookish is going Anti-Valentine's Day)

These are the top ten book that made my little heart break.

1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

2. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

4. Room by Emma Donoghue

5. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

6. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

7. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

8. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

9. Atonement by Ian McEwan

10. The Book thief by Markus Zusak

Did any of these make your heart break? Please leave links below to your Top Ten Books that made your heart break so that I can go take a look and hopefully find awesome reads. :)

{Book Review}: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-02-13T19:41:00.000-06:00

Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Series (Everneath, #1)
Genre: YA Romance/Mythology
Publisher: Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray January 24th, 2012
Hardcover: 370 pages
ISBN: 9780062071132
Source: *NetGalley
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

My Review

First Impressions: I admit that one of the main reasons I just had to read this book was because of its beautiful cover. There were also many things in the blurb that intrigued me because it appeared the author added a few things to the classic Hades and Persephone myth.

Plot & Characters: This is one of the books where even though amazing things are happening in the story the main focus is the characters and what they are feeling. Nikki was a very believable and likable characters. She goes through a lot in this book and yet she is still strong and determined.

The guys, Cole and Jack are both add important elements to the story. Cole is one of the main triggers that set this story into motion, he takes advantage of Nikki's despair to not feel pain and uses it for his advantage. At first, he appears to be the villain of this story but there is more to Cole and his obsession with Nikki that I hope the next book will clarify. Jack is Nikki's ex-boyfriend, so throught the story we are trying to figure out what he did to hurt Nikki. Yet, at the same time we cannot help but like him because of the way he acts when Nikki comes back from the Everneath.

Everneath has a great plot. It is told in such a way that allows for the action to begin from the first pages. It changes narration back and forth from past to present to tell the story of what caused Nikki to end up in the Everneath and what she is doing to not return and get her life back. The mythology is a bit confusing and it was the only things that i didn't really like just because I am still not 100% sure I understand how it works.

Final Thoughts: Highly recommended to those that enjoy young adult paranormal romance with a mix of mythology. Fast paced and emotionally engrossing.

Buy, Borrow or Skip: I would definitely buy this book. I love the cover and I think it is a great start to what seems like an amazing series.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

*Thanks Harper Collins and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read Everneath prior to its release in exchange for an honest review.

{Book Review}: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2012-02-09T20:28:00.000-06:00

Title: Hallowed
Author: Cynthia Hand Website | Twitter
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher (Jan 17, 2012)
Hardcover: 416 pages
ISBN: 9780061996184
Source: NetGalley*
Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Review

First Impression: I absolutely loved Unearthly by Cynthia Hand so I was just dying to read the second in this series. I love that it begins where the other left of.

Plot & Characters: We get more of our favorite characters. We get to know Christian a lot more and of course we get more Tucker. In Hallowed, Clara not only has problems with deciding which boy she likes the most but also trying to predict what loved one is going to die and of course deal with a certain Black Wing. Can her life get anymore complicated. The plot and characters where phenomenal. I loved every minute of this book. Make sure you have tissue prepared because this book made me cry.

Final Thoughts: Everything I expected. I loved the plot and that we learned more about Christian. Recommended to those who enjoy a healthy love triangle and a great angel story.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

"Waiting on" Wednesday (10)

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Forbidden
Author: Syrie James Website | Facebook
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: HarperTeen
Expected Date of Publication: January 24th, 2012
ISBN: 9780062027894
Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

She should not exist.

He should not love her.

Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she’s desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there’s no way she’s going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she’s been having or the creepy warnings that she’s in danger.

Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn’t factored Claire into his plans. . . .

Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire’s unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her?

Title: Fallen in Love

Author: Lauren Kate Website | Twitter

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers

Expected Date of Publication: January 24th, 2012

ISBN: 9780375990670

Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository |

Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

What makes your heart race a little faster? Just in time for Valentine's Day, it's FALLEN IN LOVE, four wholly original new stories collected in a new novel set in the Middle Ages by Lauren Kate. FALLEN IN LOVE gives fans the much-talked about but never-revealed stories of FALLEN characters as they intertwine with the epic love story of Luce and Daniel. The stories include: Love Where You Least Expect It: The Valentine of Shelby and Miles , Love Lessons: The Valentine of Roland; Burning Love: The Valentine of Arriane; and Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda.

What are you waiting for?

{Book Review}: Fateful by Claudia Gray

2012-01-08T22:53:00.000-06:00

Title: Fateful
Author: Claudia Gray Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: HarperTeen (Sept 13, 2011)
Hardcover: 328 pages
ISBN: 9780062006202
Source: Purchased
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .
Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

My Review

First Impression: Have I ever mentioned how much I loved the movie Titanic? No? Well I absolutely do. I watched it like a million times. You can imagine my enthusiasm when I heard that Claudia Gray would be writing about about Titanic and adding paranormal creatures to it.

Plot & Characters: Fateful is like Rose and Jack backwards and with werewolves. Tess Davies is aboard the Titanic to change her life. She plans to leave the Lisle family and make a new life in America. Tess is a strong determined character that fights for those she loves. I enjoyed that even though she was just a girl from an underprivileged background and without supernatural powers she is able to stand up to everyone and fight for what she wants.
Alec Marlowe is not one of my favorite young adult paranormal swoon worthy guys. He constantly puts Tess in danger and does almost nothing to protect her. It seemed like it was the other way around with Tess protecting him.That however, did not stop me from enjoying their love story. As you can expect their falling in love happens rather quickly since they only have a few days in the Titanic. The limited time frame does not hinder this book from keeping you on the edge of your seat. I was constantly trying to figure out who would survive the voyage. The plot also adds a few twist that had me crying and rejoicing.

Final Thought: A great historical paranormal romance! Yes, we all know how the voyage ends but accompanying the characters on their journey to a new world is incredibly entertaining in Fateful by Claudia Gray.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

{Book Review}: Switched by Amanda Hocking

2012-01-03T15:44:00.000-06:00

Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Series (Trylle, #1)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin (Jan 3, 2012)
Paperback: 293 pages
ISBN: 9781250006318
Source: Publisher for honest review*
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

My Review

First Impression: I love the cover of this book. The girl in white sitting there with a castle in the background is just amazing. After reading the blurb on the back I was intrigued and had to start reading right away.

Plot & Characters:
With our bookshelves full of werewolves, vampires and fairies, Amanda Hocking brings us something refreshing with her story about trolls. Not the ugly under a bridge troll but a beautiful, wealthy, and magical Trylle, as they like to be called.

In Switched, we follow the story of Wendy Everly. Her mother tried to kill her when she was six because she was convinced that Wendy was a monster. Now seventeen Wendy is trying to not get into any trouble at her new school because she wants to avoid problems for her brother Matt and her aunt Maggie. Even though she tries to live her life normally and ignore her past Wendy is still unable to forget and has a hard time fitting in. Her trying to be normal comes to a halt when she meets Finn and he introduces her to a world he claims she belongs.

In Förening, Wendy is confronted with trying to fulfill the role that is expected of her as well as deal with her own problems such as love problems, attempting to learn her abilities, eagerness to fill her emotional gap that only a mother can fill, missing Matt and Maggie and also fight enemies that want to use her abilities. As you can see, Wendy does not have an easy life but it is a joy to read.

Amanda Hocking did a great job with the characters. I enjoyed reading about Wendy and her journey and discovery of Förening. I found Wendy to be a relate-able character in her struggle between what she wanted to do and her duty. The romance was great because it was not instant and the characters got to know each other and it allowed the reader to fall in love a long with Wendy.

Final Thought:
If you enjoy reading YA Paranormal Romance and are a bit tired of the usual werewolves and vampires you should definitely check this book out and who knows maybe trolls will become your favorite paranormal creature.

The best part is that Torn and Ascend, book #2 and #3 will be published February 28th and April 24th respectively, so we don't have to wait that long to see what happens in the Trylle series.

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for allowing me to read this book.