Read with Dee

Heroes of Olympus, Son of Neptune: Rick Riordan

2011-11-19T11:30:00.001-08:00

This is seriously one of the best YA fantasty series out there right now, so why don't more people talk about them? I totally get that the first part of the Percy Jackson series is pretty "middle grade" fiction, so it's kind of hard for an adult to get hooked, but I pushed through because I enjoyed the cadence of the story. As the series progresses, much like a lot of series, as the characters age, so does the level of the book. That said, this is the 2nd part to the Percy Jackson series and the 2nd in this series Heroes of Olympus (the first was Lost Hero. You're going to need to read the Percy Jackson series (think Harry Potter meets Greek Mythology), but if you do and you like that series, then this series is WAY better! Same characters and then some. Same crazy gods, but then with a Roman twist. Loved the series and loved this second book!

5 stars and totally recommend.

Summary:

In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a blood-chilling quest:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Who are the other four mentioned in the prophesy? The answer may lie in another camp thousands of miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea.

With an ever-expanding cast of brave-hearted heroes and formidable foes, this second book in The Heroes of Olympus series offers all of the action, pathos, and humor that Rick Riordan fans crave.

Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First Edition edition (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423140591

The Death Cure: James Dashner

2011-11-19T11:25:00.001-08:00

The much anticipated finale of the the Maze Runner trilogy.

I liked it and really did enjoy it, but I felt I still spent most of the book going, "Huh?" It was just confusing, but it was a great story and I'm satisfied with the ending. I'm a little torn, what did you think?

4 stars and recommend

Summary: Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.
The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Exclusive Edition edition (October 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385738773

Inheritance: Christopher Paolini

2011-11-19T11:01:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure I could be more sad right now.

The Inheritance Cycle is over. It's over!

I feel like I was married to this book. Okay, that's a bit strange, but I read the first book a few months after I got married and slowly but surely a book has come out throughout the big events of my life. It's almost like I have measured the length of my adulthood with this series and now it's done. So does that mean I'm going to die soon? KIDDING!

But I must say, I love how it ended.

I loved it.

I loved how it didn't end like 4 pages after the final battle too.

This is a fabulous book and I really hope it goes down into the halls of literature with the likes of all the other great epic tales because I truly think it's epic.

I mean, it has it's own map, world, languages, battle struggle between good and evil, young boy, mentor, journey, group of friends, betrayal, love, final battle that changes the face of a world; how much more epic can it get?

Again, SO sad this series has come to an end, but I loved the way it did. Oh and it was 880 pages long. How awesome is that?

five stars and YES read it!

Summary:
Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?
This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

Hardcover: 880 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; First Edition/First Printing edition (November 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375856110

Mile 81: Stephen King

2011-09-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

So this is one of Stephen King's short stories. Just around 80 pages long, so it's a short read.

It's classic King, it really is. Lots of language, gore and characterization all set in New England.

It's a super short read, but I would recommend it, although it's gorey. But when you read King, you know what you're getting into.

4 stars and recommend.

Quest: David Wood

2011-09-24T05:32:00.000-07:00

This sort of has an Indiana Jones feel to it, but without the Spielberg/Lucas genius. It wasn't a bad book, just wasn't that great. Pretty predictable and the writing was subpar. Oh and it was short. Like a smidge more than 250 pages.

I recommend it if you are bored and want a cheap kindle book, but no promises of awesomeness. 3 stars.

Summary:
149 B.C.- Escaping just ahead of the invading Roman legions, a Carthaginian soldier carries an ancient secret to places unknown.
1925- Percy Fawcett launches his final expedition into the Amazon, but what is his true objective?
Dane Maddock is back. Deep in the Amazon, a university group encounters a horror beyond their darkest nightmares and vanishes without a trace. Called upon to undertake a daring rescue mission, Dane and Bones must trace the true path of Percy Fawcett's final expedition, but the secret that lies at the end of the search might be even deadlier than the enemies who seek it. From the streets of London, to remote islands in the Atlantic, to the deadly jungles of the Amazon, Dane and Bones must penetrate a secret lost to history, on their deadliest Quest.

Paperback: 266 pages Publisher: Gryphonwood Press (July 4, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0983765502

The Help: Kathrynn Stockett

2011-09-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

So I'm like the zillionth person to recommend this book, but it's true what they say. It's a great book. It will make you cringe and shudder when you realize what black people went through just 50 years ago. It's crazy and insane to think this was "normal". So incredibly sad. But I think it's a must read for people and it's a great story. It flips between 4 people's points of view and I must say, it's fantastic. You need to read it! I haven't seen the movie yet as it hasn't come out here in Belgium yet, but I'm planning on it.

Anyways 5 stars and recommend it!

Summary:
In writing about such a troubled time in American history, Southern-born Stockett takes a big risk, one that paid off enormously. Critics praised Stockett's skillful depiction of the ironies and hypocrisies that defined an era, without resorting to depressing or controversial clich√©s. Rather, Stockett focuses on the fascinating and complex relationships between vastly different members of a household. Additionally, reviewers loved (and loathed) Stockett's three-dimensional characters—and cheered and hissed their favorites to the end. Several critics questioned Stockett's decision to use a heavy dialect solely for the black characters. Overall, however, The Help is a compassionate, original story, as well as an excellent choice for book groups.

Paperback: 544 pages Publisher: Berkley Trade; Mti Rei edition (June 28, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0425245136

Eden: Keary Taylor

2011-09-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, one of my favorite books I've read in 2011. It's sort of like a machine zombie apocolypse. Sounds strange, but I'm telling you, you're going to like this book!

I won't give anything away, but it's good and you should read it.

Totally recommend with 5 stars.

Summary:
Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She’s seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn’t just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve’s reality. In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior. The technology wants to spread and it won’t stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.

Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 420 pages Publisher: CreateSpace (June 3, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 1463525966

Blood Red Road: Moira Young

2011-09-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

This sort of reminded me of that movie Book of Eli. You know when the world ends and all these crazy people take over like it's the wild wild west?

Blood Red Road is sort of like that, but in a good way. I really liked the book although I thought the ending was a bit "ehh". I felt it was sort of anticlimactic the way it was all resolved.

But again, liked the book and totally recommend it with 4 stars.

Summary:
Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother, Lugh, is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent—and she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.
Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, intense action, and an epic love story—making Moira Young one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 464 pages Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (June 7, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 1442429984

Witch and Wizard: James Patterson

2011-09-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

This to me was a TOTAL waste of money. I like James Patterson in his adult genre, so I thought this would be fun, but dear Lord was it terribly written.
I mean, James, these are teenagers not apes you're writing too! Taming down your writing is one thing, but dumbing down to this level is insulting and I'm not even a teenager!

Stupid plotline, stupid characters. Definitely one of the few books I've read that I REALLY didn't like, yet finished.

1 star do NOT recommend.

Summary:
Wisty and Whit Allgood have magical powers, but they don't know it. At least they don't know until they are arrested by the guards of the New Order, which has just come to power. Their parents have always been into herbs and plants and predictions; they don't send their kids to typical schools, and when the teens are allowed to take only one item each to jail with them, they send a drumstick and a book with no words that are visible to the naked eye. The kids start to get an inkling of what they can do when Wisty bursts into flames when she gets angry, and before long she is turning people into creatures and conjuring tornadoes, and lightning bolts shoot from her hands. The bulk of the book takes place when Whit and Wisty are locked up in a reformatory where they are bullied by the guards. The chapters are only one to three pages in length and alternate between the two main characters' points of view. The action doesn't really pick up until the last third of the book, when the siblings make their escape. Readers expecting something akin to Patterson's "Maximum Ride" series (Little, Brown) are bound to be disappointed, but the groundwork is set for subsequent volumes that might make wading through the first one worthwhile.—

Reading level: Young Adult Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Mti edition (March 1, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0446562432

Legends of the Guardian King series: Karen Hancock

2011-09-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

I read these books off of a recommendation and the fact that their Kindle price was pretty cheap (hey, I'm on a budget!)

I feel kind of mixed about these books, even though I really liked them. They are overtly in the Christian genre, which to be honest, I don't normally like. However, I got into these books. They have a way more "fantasy" feel than normal Christian books do, although their "analogies" were pretty obvious. Like Tersius is Jesus, just say it already! :)

If you like the fantasy genre with magic and warlocks and such, but are looking for a bit tamer version, then I would definitely recommend these to you.

I liked them and you get the feel good feeling of good triumphing over evil. But it's not all roses as the protagonist goes through the fire similar to Job! But I think it just makes you love him even more.

When you read the summary you'll probably be like me and like "ehhh", but give it a shot! Plus if you have a Kindle, book 1 is free, can't beat that!

Anyways, totally recommend with 4 stars.

Summary of book 1:
Hancock's intriguing Arena [BKL Ap 15 02] drew a great deal of praise for the originality and starkness of its alternative universe. In The Light of Eidon, she begins a fantasy series called Legends of the Guardian King that is more clearly a Christian allegory but is so crisscrossed with subplots and deceit that exactly where the light of Eidon shines may baffle the reader. It certainly baffles young Abramm Kalladorne, Hancock's hero. He is the little-valued fifth son of the king of Kiriath, a vivid kingdom that seems a bit like medieval England, with a bit of ancient Rome. Abramm is drawn to the religious life, but after eight years as a novitiate, he discovers that his spiritual leader is a fraud and that the true path to Eidon's light lies elsewhere. But upon leaving the monastery, he finds himself in the middle of court intrigues, and his brothers sell him into slavery in a faraway, barbarous land. For a while, Hancock's novel seems like a gladitorial epic, but then Eidon, or Jesus, makes his truths known. A great battle ensues, but victory is not complete and many questions remain. Readers will certainly return for the second installment.

Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Bethany House (July 1, 2003) Language: English ISBN-10: 0764227947

The Knitting Circle: Ann Hood

2011-09-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

I read this book because I was going to join in on a book club while I was in Texas. This didn't happen, but I still read the book.

Sheesh, it was sad! It was one of those books where you really delved into the characters and the overall sadness they were experiencing. Each person involved in the knitting circle has a deep tragedy they are dealing with and knitting helps them get through it somehow. Or really, having each other to lean on does.

Anyways, it's a good book though pretty sad and dark at times. I'm still glad I read it and I recommend it with 4 stars.

Summary:
While mourning the death of her daughter, Hood (An Ornithologist's Guide to Life) learned to knit. In her comeback novel, Mary Baxter, living in Hood's own Providence, R.I., loses her five-year-old daughter to meningitis. Mary and her husband, Dylan, struggle to preserve their marriage, but the memories are too painful, and the healing too difficult. Mary can't focus on her job as a writer for a local newspaper, and she bitterly resents her emotionally and geographically distant mother, who relocated to Mexico years earlier. Still, it's at her mother's urging that Mary joins a knitting circle and discovers that knitting soothes without distracting. The structure of the story quickly becomes obvious: each knitter has a tragedy that she'll reveal to Mary, and if there's pleasure to be had in reading a novel about grief, it's in guessing what each woman's misfortune is and in what order it will be exposed. The strength of the writing is in the painfully realistic portrayal of the stages of mourning, and though there's a lot of knitting, both actual and metaphorical, the terminology's simple enough for nonknitters to follow and doesn't distract from the quick pace of the narrative.

Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st Norton Pbk. Ed edition (January 17, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0393330443

Girl in the Steel Corset: Kady Cross

2011-09-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

This was the first time I've ever read "Steampunk" genre book. Well, I guess Clockwork Prince is sort of a Steampunk book, but this was a lot more true to the genre.

I liked it. Sort of a alternate history, League of Extroidinary Gentlemen type feel to it. I think she's making this into a series and I'll for sure read the rest of them.

I recommend and give 4 stars.

Summary:
In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 480 pages Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (May 24, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0373210337

Jaguar Stones, Book One, Middleworld: Jon and Pamela Voelkel

2011-09-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

I read this book because I'm a big fan of the Percy Jackson series. Like totally love the series even though they are written for Middle Grade.

What did I think about this one? Way too elementary for an adult, but a great read for actual elementary school age kids. I'm definitely keeping this book for something Lyric can read when she gets older, but I won't be finishing the series. It was good, don't get me wrong, just too "young" for me.

recommend (for kids) and 4 stars (for kids)

Summary: Fourteen-year-old Max Murphy is looking forward to a family vacation. But his parents, both archaeologists and Maya experts, announce a change in plan. They must leave immediately for a dig in the tiny Central American country of San Xavier. Max will go to summer camp. Max is furious. When he's mysteriously summoned to San Xavier, he thinks they've had a change of heart. Upon his arrival, Max's wild adventure in the tropical rainforests of San Xavier begins. During his journey, he will unlock ancient secrets and meet strangers who are connected to him in ways he could never have imagined. For fate has delivered a challenge of epic proportions to this pampered teenager. Can Max rescue his parents from the Maya Underworld and save the world from the Lords of Death, who now control the power of the Jaguar Stones in their villainous hands? The scene is set for a roller-coaster ride of suspense and terror, as the good guys and the bad guys face off against a background of haunted temples, zombie armies, and even human sacrifice!

Reading level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: EgmontUSA; Revised edition (April 27, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 1606840711

Firelight: Sophie Jordan

2011-09-24T04:35:00.000-07:00

I've had this book on my Kindle Reading List for quite some time. The bloggysphere loves this author and this book and so I've wanted to read it, but just was waiting to feel "in the mood" to read about dragon people.

How did I feel about it? I liked it! I didn't love it, but it was a decent read. I know it's a young adult novel, but it felt definitely for the younger age group - though some of the themes I wouldn't want my pre-teen to read about.

The second book in this trilogy just came out and I haven't read it yet. I'm just not sure I want to spend $10 on it, so I may wait till the price drops a bit in a few months.

ANYWAYS, I recommend it with less than 4 stars but more than 3.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Summary: Jacinda is extraordinary–even for a draki (descendants of dragons who can shift into human form): she is a fire-breather. Unique and invaluable to her “pride,” the 16-year-old is kept on a short leash, and it has already been ordained that she will mate with the alpha male, Cassian. Jacinda's determination to do things her own way finds her nearly captured by dragon hunters, but a surprisingly kind young hunter named Will allows her to escape. Rather than suffer the pride's punishment for her daughter's risky behavior, Jacinda's mother decides the family should flee to live among regular humans. Masquerading as a typical high school student would bury Jacinda's draki nature until it died out. When Will turns out to be a classmate, Jacinda finds that her inexplicable attraction to him keeps her feel of fire and flight alive. Being near a hunter is the most dangerous choice Jacinda can make, yet her desire for him–and need to preserve her inner dragon–cannot be ignored. This distinctive twist on the popular supernatural romance theme will appeal to fans of the genre, even if a lack of resolution at this story's culmination may frustrate some readers. “Twilight” fans ready to move beyond vampires will jump right in.

Reading level: Young Adult Paperback:
352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (September 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061935093

Birthmarked: Caragh O'Brian

2011-09-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

This was one of my more favorite books I've read in 2011. It may be because I had a baby and the protagoinist is a midwife? I'm not sure, but I enjoyed the book. It took a bit to get going, but once it did, I really enjoyed the characters and the dystopian world they live in.
The second book in the trilogy comes out next month and I'm really excited about it!
I will give it 4 stars and recommend it!

Summary: It’s been 300 years since Lake Michigan became Unlake Michigan; the “cool age” is only hazily known to residents of Wharfton, a small village that sits alongside the walled city of the Enclave. Gaia is 16 and works in Western Sector Three with her mother delivering babies, “advancing” the first three per month to live a better life inside the city. It’s a wrenching routine Gaia doesn’t question until her parents are mysteriously arrested by Enclave authorities. Gaia’s rescue attempt is fraught with peril—the burn scar on her face marks her as a “freak” who would never be allowed into the Enclave’s exclusive gene pool—and soon she herself is tossed into a cell with other female physicians. Although the setup suggests speculative fiction, O’Brien’s concerns are corporeal; her impulsive and spirited heroine (who even resists, yes, romance) is the kind readers adore. The facts behind inbreeding and the numerous birthing scenes will give this an added appeal to science-minded teens. Continual revelations push this toward an ending that hints at more to come.

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Square Fish (October 11, 2011)
Language: English

Origin: J.A. Konrath

2011-09-24T03:34:00.000-07:00

An interesting book. Wasn't the best I've ever read, but not the worst.
It's just sort of "ehhh". Does that even count as a rating?
I'm tenatively recommending it with 3 stars.

Amazon Summary:
Thriller writer J.A. Konrath, author of the Lt. Jack Daniels series, digs into the vaults and unearths a technohorror tale from the depths of hell...
1906 - Something is discovered by workers digging the Panama Canal. Something dormant. Sinister. Very much alive.
2009 - Project Samhain. A secret underground government installation begun 103 years ago in New Mexico. The best minds in the world have been recruited to study the most amazing discovery in the history of mankind. But the century of peaceful research is about to end.
BECAUSE IT JUST WOKE UP.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (November 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1453887660

The Fourth Awakening: Rod Pennington

2011-06-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... what do I feel about this book??

The jury is just out, but most likely going to come back in with a guilty verdict.

I finished it so that tells you it wasn't a terrible book, but the thing was I just thought it was not that great of a book.

The premise seemed pretty wobbly to me and a little too scifi without the thrill of discovery.

I just didn't enjoy it and I also didn't like the writing style.

I give it 2 stars and don't recommend.

Summary:
Penelope Drayton Spence made a choice years earlier, and picked marriage and family over a promising career as an investigative reporter. Now, divorced and with her children spread around the country, she is having second thoughts.
A mysterious call from the Managing Editor of the Washington Post, offers her a second chance at big time journalism. He has a story so sensitive that the President of the United States personally asked the Post to leave it alone.
With rumors of 30 top scientists missing and rich industrialist, Michael Walker, being held incommunicado in a prison typically used for terrorists, the story is too big to ignore. He quietly goes "off the grid" and turns to the only person he knows who is good enough to crack this story, his old college friend Penelope.
The moment she picks up the phone her life is turned upside down and she soon finds herself traveling cross country with the most wanted man in America looking for information about the top secret "Hermes Project."
On one level it is a straightforward suspense story with plenty of action, a healthy dose of humor and a pinch of sexual tension. On another it is a spiritual quest by a remarkable woman who meets an enlightened man the likes of which have never been seen in fiction before.
Thanks to Michael Walker she gets a "do over" that allows her to go back and select the path not taken. Over the course of the story she gradually grows to understand Walker and the amazing spiritual powers he possesses.
Penelope also becomes aware of the looming Fourth Awakening, and makes the chilling discovery that her reporting skills and ability to fight her personal demons may be the only thing that can save humanity.

Paperback: 298 pages
Publisher: Integration Press (June 12, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1572420006
ISBN-13: 978-1572420007

Delirium: Lauren Oliver

2011-06-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

I had heard a lot about this book as it really made the rounds in the blogging circles as the author/publisher wanted to get the buzz out.

That said, I sort of hesitated to read it because it seemed a little blah.

You guys know that my genre of choice is Young Adult Dystopian Fiction, and this is right up that alley, but the premise of a society that cut out the emotional section of their brains at 18 seemed a little silly to me.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not the best I've ever read, no. But I enjoyed it and it kept my attention and actually had me wanting to read the sequal. SO?

I give it a wobbly 4 stars (though it's more of a 3.5 stars) and I do recommend it.

Summary:
Lena Haloway is content in her safe, government-managed society. She feels (mostly) relaxed about the future in which her husband and career will be decided, and looks forward to turning 18, when she’ll be cured of deliria, a.k.a. love. She tries not to think about her mother’s suicide (her last words to Lena were a forbidden “I love you”) or the supposed “Invalid” community made up of the uncured just beyond her Portland, Maine, border. There’s no real point—she believes her government knows how to best protect its people, and should do so at any cost. But 95 days before her cure, Lena meets Alex, a confident and mysterious young man who makes her heart flutter and her skin turn red-hot. As their romance blossoms, Lena begins to doubt the intentions of those in power, and fears that her world will turn gray should she submit to the procedure. In this powerful and beautifully written novel, Lauren Oliver, the bestselling author of Before I Fall, throws readers into a tightly controlled society where options don’t exist, and shows not only the lengths one will go for a chance at freedom, but also the true meaning of sacrifice

Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061726826

2011 Summer Reading List:

2011-06-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our upcoming R&R, I have compiled my summer reading list. Now to just get the hundred dollars I need in order to purchase all these books :-) Oh the life of an avid reader!
Just click on the links to go to Amazon to read the summaries if you are interested. I'll of course post my thoughts on them once I've read them all!

Wither: Lauren DeStafano

2011-05-18T02:50:00.000-07:00

Now this is a great dystopian novel (which is one of my favorite genres).

All about what would happen if humanity's life span dramatically shurnk due to all our "progresses" in science.

What would it do to the social makeup of our lives if everyone was only living 20 years? How would we keep the human race surviving?

Great book! I give it 4 stars and totally recommend it!

Amazon Summary:
When scientists engineered genetically perfect children, everyone thought it would ensure the future of the human race. Though the first generation is nearly immortal, a virus causes all successive generations to die early: age 20 for women, 25 for men. Now, girls are kidnapped for brothels or polygamous marriages to breed children. Rhine is taken from her hardscrabble life and sold with two other girls to Linden Ashby. Though they live in a palatial Florida home surrounded by gardens and treated like royalty, the girls are sequestered from the outside world, and Rhine longs to escape. Her growing affection for her sister wives, her pity for Linden, and her fear of Housemaster Vaughn, Linden's manipulative father, keep her uncomfortably docile, until she falls for servant Gabriel.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1 edition (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781442409057

The Lost Hero: Rick Riordan

2011-05-18T02:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, this book was awesome! I read the entire Percy Jackson series and although, yes, it was quite juvenile, I totally got into it (it gets less juvenile as the books progress in classic HP style). I've always had a soft spot for Greek Mythology and I just really enjoyed the series and the characters and was sad when after 5 books, the series concluded...

OR SO WE THOUGHT :-)

Riordan seriously brought it in this book and also brought it as far as page count goes. This book isn't one of the tiny ones he's written earlier, it has some girth to it and I really appreciated that.

If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, you're going to love this beginning to a new series. I just wish I would have found out about this book after the 2nd one was already out because I wish I could have started on it immediately!

5 stars and totally recommend!

Amazon Summary:
Readers longing for a return to Camp Half-Blood will get their wish in the first novel of the Heroes of Olympus series, which follows Riordan’s popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and includes some of the same characters in minor roles. The new cast features Jason, Piper, and Leo, teen demigods who are just coming to understand and use their unique abilities as they learn how much depends upon their wits, courage, and fast-developing friendship. Setting up the books to come, the backstory of a master plan to unseat the gods is complex but is doled out in manageable bits with a general air of foreboding. Meanwhile, the action scenes come frequently as the three heroic teens fight monstrous enemies in North American locales, including the Grand Canyon, Quebec City, Detroit, Chicago, Omaha, Pikes Peak, and Sonoma Valley. Flashes of humor lighten the mood at times, but a tone of urgency and imminent danger seems as integral to this series as the last. With appealing new characters within a familiar framework, this spin-off will satisfy the demand for more.

Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1st edition (October 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781423113393

Ghost Country: Patrick Lee

2011-05-18T02:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.readwithdee.com/2011/05/breach-patrick-lee.htmlAfter reading The Breach I was definitely interested in continuing the series as I got really into it.

Well this second book, in my opinion, is better than the first one! I really enjoyed it and was sad when it was over and the story concluded. I could have kept reading for ages.

Totally recommend this book (but you'll need to read The Breach to understand) and give it 5 stars.

Amazon Summary:
At the start of Lee's dramatic sequel to Breach, gun men hit the motorcade in which Paige Campbell, who has just met with the U.S. president, is riding through Washington, D.C., and kill everyone but her. Before she's captured, Campbell uses her cellphone to get off a call for help to Bethany Stewart, her colleague in the shadowy outfit known as Tangent. Stewart, in turn, recruits Travis Chase, who was once briefly involved in a Tangent operation, and reveals to him the existence of an "entity" resembling a dark metal cylinder that opens a hole in time. Since the entity has shown a horrific future for humanity, Chase and Stewart, who suspects the president was behind the motorcade attack, must scramble to save their friend and forestall devastation in the years to come. Lee imaginatively blends a Baldacci-like political tale of betrayals and assassination with time travel in a thoughtful science-fictional thriller.

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Harper; Original edition (December 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780061584442

The Breach: Patrick Lee

2011-05-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/Sometimes when I'm at a loss for what to read next, I go to this site. You can enter the ISBN number of a book you enjoy and it comes up with recommended reading.

In one of my searches, I came across this one, checked out the reviews and decided to give it a go even though the description seemed a bit, "bleh".

Well I TOTALLY enjoyed this book! I really recommend it and give it 5 stars. It kept me on my toes the entire time and I really got into it. It has just enough scifi to keep me interested, but not going over the top.

It's also one of those books that both men and women would get into.

Anyways, great book!

Amazon Summary:
Lee's debut thriller pits ex-con ex-cop Travis Chase against increasingly dire odds as the action ratchets up like levels in a complex video game. Fresh out of prison, Travis sets out on a solo Alaskan trek, wanting nothing more than quiet time for introspection. Then he encounters a downed plane containing the dead bodies of the United States's first lady and several others, plus hints about a mysterious missing item. Armed with superior firepower and the instincts and savvy of a good cop, Travis tracks down the murderers, who are torturing hostage Paige Campbell to get her father, Peter, to reveal another clue. Travis manages to rescue Paige just as Peter confesses the information and is killed. His last words send Paige and Travis into a dangerous world of secrets and conspiracies, where they slowly learn about the eponymous Breach and meet progressively more menacing foes. It's all here: brilliantly devious enemies; nifty, innovative gadgets and weaponry; hang-on-to-your-hat action; and razor-sharp plot twists aplenty.

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Harper; X edition (December 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780061584459

City of Fallen Angels: Cassandra Clare

2011-05-18T02:28:00.000-07:00

This is the MUCH anticipated 4th book in the Mortal Instrument series. I totally loved this series so much and obviously I was looking forward to reading this one.

It definitely did not disappoint and I think it was a great progression.

It also has a great twist and ending, which of course sets up for more books.

I wish these authors put books out quicker.... sigh.

Five stars and recommend!

Amazon Summary:
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.
When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry; First Edition edition (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442403543

Hare Moon: Carrie Ryan

2011-04-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

This is a novella and is sort of a prequel to the Forest of Hands and Teeth where we get to learn why Sister Tabitha is such a punk.

Well she has reason to be!

The only bad thing about this book was that it was a novella and therefore super short. I really wanted to keep reading.

Totally recommend this, but AFTER you read the series.

5 stars.

Amazon Summary:
Tabitha can’t shake the feeling that something exists beyond the fences of her village. And when she sneaks out, past the gates and down the path into the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she meets a boy who teaches her heart things she never knew. But love in a world surrounded by so much death doesn’t come without its sacrifices, and Tabitha gradually realizes just how much she’ll have to give up to live among the Unconsecrated.

Currently, the book is only in digital format.