ARC Review: Perception + Giveaway

my thoughts in a few sentences: This series is chockfull of snark and unending wit produced by one awesome main character! Clarity never ceases to surprise me with her guts, bravery, and compassion, but she wasn't the only character who did dazzle me. For the first time, I fell helplessly in love with a love interest that I had no intention of caring for, my reluctance dissolving and inside me desires were lit that entirely centered around these two characters coming together. The growth and appeal of the cast made this read that much more enjoyable, and the mystery made for a quick-paced, tension-filled story that tipped into unlikely, yet somehow attractively predictable territories. Another fun murder mystery to add to my collection, I'm deeply in like with this paranormal mystery series!

hooking first line: "I stepped forward with forced confidence. "Let's do this.""

Rating: Sud-Kissed • No spoilers! | Point • Publicist • Paranormal Romance • 3/1/12 • $10.99

ARC Review: Fracture

Fracture

by Megan Miranda

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Purchase: BookDepository
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Walker/Bloomsbury
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Special: 2012 Debut Author Challenge
Rating: Sud Kissed

Hover over Books in the navigation bar above to find a link to My Rating System In-Depth.

About the Book:

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

—despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

The first time I died, I didn't see God. No light at the end of the tunnel. No haloed angels...

I'm not exactly certain why my brain repelled the idea of reading this book. It was like all the stress from this past week was being pinned onto this book and I instantly took several steps back. But when I finally hunkered down and started reading, I wanted to slap myself into a stupor for being so irrationally reluctant. A blend of two of my favorite genres, Fracture hit high scores for both its paranormal and contemporary facets. Anna at Anna Reads described it perfectly by connecting it to both The Body Finder and If I Stay, because that's one of the best ways to epitomize the sadness, guilt, and Delaney's miraculous recovery permeating the story.

The mystery of Delaney's unexplainable retraction from death kindles questions in our heads that we can't ignore while reading about her return to her once normal life. Our hearts go out to this young girl who was once carefree and happy, her only concern resting on where to hide during a game of manhunt while donning a bright red parka in the snowy white of her world, and who now has the role of the miraculous guilt-ridden survivor of a horror that has killed so many before her. What makes me so special? is her on-going dilemma that begins to fester and block out what's really important--like how her best friend has feelings that don't belong in someone who's just a friend. This survivor's guilt plagues her, and the sadness disarms us, clogs our throat as a result. Even when her guilt and sadness vaporizes her sense at times, we're subtly persuaded to sympathize with her, and all those around her who suffer alongside her.

Fracture is told entirely from Delaney's perspective, but the easygoing, simplistic connection running from us to Decker provides us with such insight into his feelings. Unlike half-done, far less appealingly written friendships, it's abundantly clear how well these two characters know each other, how deeply embedded they are into each others' lives. Their romantic spark just adds another delightful layer to their relationship, although at times we want to pull our hair out from the understandable, yet totally frustrating one-step-forward-two-steps-back transition. Their moments run from wrenching to heartwarming, and it's so hard to determine which their next scene together will fall under. At the same time, this aspect is so well-written and agonizing and genuine, that we're pleased when hope flourishes for what they may have together.

I expected to hate this one and was stupidly amazed when I realized I didn't once I hit the end. If the opportunity to read something else of Megan Miranda arises again, I won't waste time with foolish doubts.

"Are you insane?" Decker looked me over.
"What?" I asked, hands on hips.
"You're not serious."
We were on our way to play manhunt. Most kids played in the dark, wearing black. We played in the snow, wearing white. Unfortunately, Mom had gotten rid of last year's jacket and replaced it with a bright red parka.
"Well I'd rather not freeze to death," I said.
"I don't know why I bother teaming up with you. You're slow. You're loud. And you're target practice."
"You team up with me because you love me," I said.
Decker shook his head and squinted. "It's blinding." (1%)

Review: The Ghost and the Goth

The Ghost and the Goth
by Stacey Kade

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Release Date: June 29, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner
About the Book:

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead...

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

Alona Dare: It was easy enough to sneak out of school. I knew that from previous experience.

I love short books! Seriously, I appreciate a book that's under three hundred pages and still manages to hook me.  The Ghost and the Goth - told in dual perspectives - takes the cliche - The Queen Bitch, with depth beneath the surface, befriending the loser, who's actually very cute and not a psychopath at all, at school - and revitalizes it, giving each MC a very distinct, likeable voice. And the characters aren't the only surprise! The book itself, while character-driven, delves into issues existing outside of the supernatural problem the two characters have on their hands. There are some heavy issues explored, though with an overarching light tone that manipulates the atmosphere of the book to stay anything but somber or severe. It feels as though it's been a long time since I've had this much FUN reading a book!

As much as I claim to be a nice person, I can't help but snicker at Alona's type. Then the weirdest thing happened - I sympathized with her character! But the most refreshing thing about that is Alona is an unapologetic character who doesn't ask for nor want sympathy or pity, something that gets across loud and clear almost as soon as you spend a few pages with her. Which is why I couldn't help but agree with Will in that he admires her almost as much as he gets irritated with her. Despite her pitiful home life, Alona doesn't sit back and play the victim card, whine, pretend no one else in the world exists to live in isolation. Oh, no, instead she climbs the top of the social ladder at school, snags the boy everyone is pining for, and is ruthlessly blunt to anyone who doesn't try as hard as she does at life. Alona is a mean girl, no doubt, but her outlook goes something like everyone has control over their own lives, so those girls and guys at school who no one accepts and likes aren't trying nearly as hard as they're capable. To her, excuses don't exist. And you have to admire someone who isn't afraid to take what she wants without checking for vulnerable shoes susceptible to being stepped on.

I didn't like Will nearly as much as Alona, I will confess, mostly because he just doesn't have Alona's drive or her brand of meanness. (I find mean girls terribly appealing, if you haven't already figured out.) But what makes Will attractive - despite the fact that he's really cute! - is his unshakeable loyalty and protectiveness of those he loves. And even though he has family issues and a heartbreaking past roughing up his home life and zero tolerance or sympathy from his school principal making his schooltime horrible, he stands on his own two feet and remains self-reliant. He may not be as goal-oriented as Alona Dare but he's no wimp either! And best of all, he doesn't become compliant under Alona's tactics to boss him around or her demands.

Now what do you do when you have two headstrong characters meant to fall in love? You grab a bag of popcorn, some soda, and pick a better seat! The romance here progresses gradually but does NOT border on nonexistent or subtle. The chemistry and tension is there, a reluctant sparking that crackles into oh-so-delicious moments. And as the two learn more about each other, seeing all facets of the other's personality, those feelings escalate into something you know is going to be explored thoroughly in later books.

While the paranormal element is more of a sub-plot, I didn't mind. I enjoyed that touch of the supernatural even as I dived deeper into the characters. The paranormal aspects only made the book more intriguing, without overshadowing the characters, and drove the book forward at a pretty steady rate. The mystery and conclusion wasn't top-marks perfect but it did its job and served as a great incentive (besides the romance!) to continuing reading the series. Because by the time you're done you have just as many questions as the characters do! Queen of the Dead, here I come!

Will: She rolled her eyes. “Please. I meant it metaphorically. Besides, how are YOU going to kiss ME?”
Stung, I stiffened my shoulders. “I’ve never had any complaints. I’m a good---”
She kept talking like I hadn’t said anything at all. “You’d look like a loon. Your head all tilted, tongue sticking out.” She threw her hands up in the air, like she was holding on to someone’s neck, closed her eyes, tilted her head dramatically, and waggled her tongue around outside her mouth. (157)

Review: Desires of the Dead

Desires of the Dead (#2)
by Kimberly Derting

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Release Date: February 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Sud-Kissed  
Series: The Body Finder (#1)
About the Book:

Highlight to read:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Violet leaned forward on her hands and knees over the frozen landscape. Inside her boots, her toes felt as if icy shards were burrowing beneath her skin and slithering into her veins...

Desires of the Dead begins in a way that made me feel as though I'd never left Violet's world. Violet has now aroused the suspicion of mysterious forces working under the FBI, unintentionally setting them on her trail thanks to her, shall we say, knack for tracking the murdered dead, in a moment of desperation. Not quite covering her tracks properly leads to accusations headed by the intriguing Sara Priest, out for answers Violet is unwilling to surrender. Trailing not too far behind the Priest woman is an enigmatic boy around Violet's age who seems to know more about how Violet's gift works than she does!

I loved The Body Finder, but I didn't enjoy Desires of the Dead quite as much. Maybe because being the object of a psychotic killer proves to be more exciting than the focus of someone else's obsession. And unveiling the identity of The Obsesser wasn't as much of a hardship as with uncovering the truth about book one's serial killer. The suspense sadly didn't serve as much of a motivation to get pumped up with excitement.

A combination of two major aspects resulted in my enjoyment of this book: The first? Jay and Violet, uh duh. I swear to Bob, these two are one of my favorite couples in YA. The childhood friend romance has never been done quite this way, has never been written in such an appealing manner. Jay and Violet have this connection that just runs so deep, and a romance that blooms so... sexily. Seriously, their romance has the perfect dose of sweet and soft and hot and busy *waggles eyebrows*. And even though they're friends, the two are exploring each other in new ways all the time now that their relationship has evolved. While in book one Violet was less concerned with how quickly they were making the transition, the ramifications of their progression into uncharted territory are expressed here. Violet is trying to balance herself on the thin tightrope between friendship and lovers. What should she tell Jay? What should she keep from him? Should she be keeping anything from him? All questions which dog her conscience as the book moves forward.

The other big thing about this book is chipping away at the mystery of Sara Priest and that guy, Rafe. Both are evidently not what they appear to be, and much more involved in the paranormal than I would've guessed. I'm all for new characters being placed in the game, so long as none of the other players get tossed aside. That "Spark" of Whatevs that keeps flitting between Rafe and Violet needs to take a hike, because I will not stand for a love triangle! I refuse to believe that this is where Derting is taking us, because I just can't imagine a world where Violet and Jay aren't together. (*winces* Gawd, that came out so cheesy and melodramatic! When did I become that cheesy peasy romance writer?)

My dilemma with this book is simply that it reads too much like an in-between-a-series book. No, I didn't miss the memo where it says that Desires of the Dead is a part of a series. But, I want my sequels to be as devastatingly amazing as I found the book that started it all to be. It should stand on it's own, and it should be just as exciting as the last book! I'm hoping that with The Last Echo, the intensity level gets spiked up to unbearable, the romance (WITH JAY) is dazzling, and that not a smidgen of disappointment will taint what I'm assuming to be the last book in this wonderful series!

“It used to be that I would never keep secrets from you. You were my best friend. But now that we’re dating, it’s just... different. I feel like I have to watch what I say, or you get all worried. Sometimes I just want you to be the old Jay again, so I can talk to you.” Violet crept behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek against his back...

She felt him relax, and his voice softened. “Is that what this is all about? You feel like you can’t talk to me anymore? We haven’t changed; we’re still the same people.” (189)

Review: The Name of the Star

Happy Halloween! Today is the day of dead, and supposedly the day when beings from Otherworlds can gain entry into ours. When the veil that separates our realities is thinnest! So, a few tips to avoid being eaten or kidnapped:

1. If a man or woman with a strange pallor and rather large incisors approaches your doorstep, do not let them in, no matter how much they insist. (Note: It may be wise to ingest vervain, to be on the safe side.)

2. If your dogs begin exhibiting erratic behavior and start barking wildly, do not go outside to see what all the fuss is about, because, chances are, you're going to walk smack into a werewolf.

3. And if anyone has infant children at home, be sure to line the windows with salt and leave iron nearby. You don't want to wake up with monster faerie changelings in your children's cribs.

Remember to be safe, everyone! And make sure to haul in tons of candy, because, after all, this is the only day you'll get it for free ;). Please feel free to leave comments containing pictures or fun little anecdotes about the day!

Review

The Name of the Star

by Maureen Johnson

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Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Age Group: Older YA
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner
About the Book:

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins. She didn't notice them, of course...

As soon as the story opens up, readers are thrust right into the first found killing that parallels the early Jack the Ripper murders of the late 1800s, and Maureen Johnson does not pull her punches. It's graphic, it's gritty and chilling. Johnson immediately caught my attention with the gruesome  murder, especially coming into the book with the knowledge that this has to do with the Ripper. And poor Rory Deveaux, straight from Louisiana, arrives just as it all begins, swept up into the current of "Rippermania" that soon overtakes London.

Trying to solve the identity of the enigmatic killer behind the ensuing murders that send everyone into a panic, is what sets off the edginess that will grip readers. And even when a face can be put to the murderer, readers will still be left in the dark as to the person's true identity and how it pertains to the overall story. Any suspicions conjured will be swiftly dispelled over the course of the book. And although the book starts out light enough, the atmosphere quickly grows darker and darker with each turn of the pages, much like when the shadows creep closer as the sun sets - sort of without warning. And Rory herself soon becomes a source of fascination for the wanted killer, and a magnet for danger as a result.

Rory is one of the best kinds of heroines out there - a Serious Supergirl with an HoG (or Heart of Gold). She's funny, determined, and she hates sports and loves warm Cheez Whiz! You can party with this girl, have serious conversations with her, and she takes what seems boring and turns it into something interesting. She babbles incessantly and shares comedic anecdotes on her weird family members back home. And despite how fabulous she is for being brave and sticking up for herself when people try to shoot her down, she's a real teen girl. With genuine feelings and insecurities and crushes on cute boys. I can relate even as I sit there in awe of her stupendous courage.

And besides writing an awesome heroine, Johnson manages to incorporate fun side characters and NO instaluv! Jazza is Rory's first true friend in London, and an endearing one at that. She's quiet, serious, and very loyal, with a hidden rebellious streak that makes her a little unpredictable. She's exactly what Rory needs in a strange place with strange words and customs. But that's not the end of her list of new friends. There's Boo, who shows up later in the story, a colorful person that adds a little excitement in Rory's life. And then there's also Jerome, both friend and uncertain love interest, who has an odd obsession with the Ripper murders staining various places in London. My only problem with the sort-of romance between he and Rory is the uncertainty there, it's hard to tell who Rory's going to end up with. And the romance aspect of a book is extremely important to me, and for it not to be very clearly defined knocks down my interest a bit.

Despite the lack of romance, which wasn't an overpowering issue for me, the pacing is what bothered me. With such a thrilling story being told, the right pacing needs to be set. For me that means no slow-mos. In the beginning it started out kind of slow, but that was fine, because it's basically expected when you just open the book. But once the murders began cropping up, the mystery is being unraveled, and the meetings with Callum and Stephen - two dudes you so want to do, just saying - become frequent, I needed a boost in the pacing. I can't say that this is a fast-paced story, which would've suited the plot line much better.

Overall, though, if you're looking for a deeply disturbing murder-mystery accompanied by incredible characters to delve into, The Name of the Star is what you want to pick up, a gimme-now read, if you will. I'm so happy that this will be turning into a series and I am so freaking stoked for more!

In the most totally inappropriate way you can imagine, PBP books are the books you want to do, they're so bloody brilliant... (My Rating System In-Depth)

I decided to deflect her attitude by giving a long, Southern answer. I come from people who know how to draw things out. Annoy a Southerner, and we will drain away the moments of your life with our slow, detailed replies until you are nothing but a husk of your former self and that much closer to death. (24)

"The school was having a dance--" I said.

"I know," he cut in.

"You told me to tell you everything," I snapped. "So are you going to listen or are you going to tell me what you already know." (238) 

"...If you don't show me, I will stand here and stare at you. I will follow you. I will do everything you don't want me to do. I am giving giving you no choice."

The corner of Callum's mouth twitched slightly. "No choice?" he said.

"You have no idea how reckless I can be." (263)

"Let me put this another way," I said. "I'm coming. I'm not asking permission. I can't live like this. I can't live not knowing how this ends."

As soon as I said those word, I knew I had hit on the reason for my sudden burst of pure courage. I couldn't go on this way... I was either going to stop this, or I was going to die trying. (309) 

Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder

by Kimberly Derting

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Release Date: March 16, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner
About the Book:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

Violet Ambrose wandered away from the safety of her father as she listened to the harmony of sounds weaving delicately around her...

The story kicks off right away, with a riveting opening chapter in which eight-year-old Violet stumbles on something, or should I say someone,  horrifying on what was supposed to be an innocent walk through the woods. This part was especially chilling for me because I kept visualizing this little girl with pigtails stumbling on this bloodcurdling scene. Derting hooked me as soon as I was done with that prologue.

Violet Ambrose has a unique skill -- a grim power in uncovering the dead. This, to me, was especially intriguing because yeah, there are the typical psychics, but never a girl with the ability to sense the murdered dead through strange echoes that emanate from the corpses. I got goosebumps every time she heard an eerie ring or saw bright flashing lights. Typically Violet only unearths small dead animals, but like when she was a child, The Body Finder really gears into action when teenage girls near and from her small town begin disappearing and their bodies start calling to Violet.

Violet is the kind of girl I'd want to take on shopping trips, jog with, and to drive me home when I'm intoxicated. I'd extend her a glittery invitation into my life anytime, because she would be good friend to have on my side. Violet equals caring, tough, and real. Unlike most FMCs, Violet has key traits that I desire in my MCs, the top of the list being tolerable, likable. She makes mistakes, falls into the perpetual angst lurking in teenagers, but, at the same time, I found her to be pretty amazing. Despite her initial struggle with the idea of a killer on the loose and the consequences that could ensue if she were to find the murderer hiding in the shadows of the town, she makes the decision to track him down, because, she realizes, she's the only one who can. That's courage. She likes her friends for who they are, puts up with insecure bullies, and just has this innate goodness that lured me further into the story.

And overlying all of this - the disappearances, the mysterious serial killer - Violet is struggling with her rising feelings for her long-time childhood best friend, Jay Heaton. I don't think I recall ever liking a Best Friend romance more. These two have such a good chemistry, a fabulous friendship between them that when the sparks start flying I was waving my pom-poms very enthusiastically. There's jealousy, miscommunications, and misunderstandings. Evil cheerleader bullies, hilarious best friends, and boy attacks in car-sittings. It seems like everyone but Violet has been aware of this connection she and Jay share up until this school year when Violet's romantic feelings finally surface. I got such a charge watching the friendship escalate into something... delectably intense.

Dreadful and disturbing were the chapters in between Violet's third-person point of view, in which Derting writes the shuddersome perspective of the serial killer/kidnapper himself. Homecoming, suspicious persons, and near-death experiences morph this book into a total and absolute page-turner! So why the lack of undying love that would result in a Special Shelf rating? While The Body Finder was a great and entertaining read, it missed that certain umph, that special something that burns the amazingness of it onto your mind, leaving it forever scarred by it's unbelievable awesomeness.

In the most totally inappropriate way you can imagine, PBP books are the books you want to do, they're so bloody brilliant... (My Rating System In-Depth)

[Grady] held his hand up in surrender. "Stop! Stop!"
Jay seemed to have a difficult time deciding. And then he leaned over, his fist balling up again, ready to strike, as he reached in and jerked Grady forward by the collar of his shirt. "Isn't that what Violet said to you, you jerk? Didn't she tell you to stop?"
Grady recoiled...
She watched as Jay let Grady fall back to the ground. Well, not fall exactly, it was more of a shove, releasing him and making him smack his head against the car as he collapsed backward.
But he wasn't quite finished with his warning to Grady, and he snarled at him from between gritted teeth, "If you ever... ever...touch her again, I swear to God, Grady, I'll fucking kill you. Do you hear me?"  (174-175)

Review: Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey *no spoilers*

Out for Blood
by Alyxandra Harvey

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Release Date: December 21, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Sud-Kissed
Related Review(s): Hearts at Stake,
Blood Feud
About the Book:

(highlight to read)

Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends-or even more.

When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra... help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

Shakespeare said, "What's in a name?" Well, my name's Hunter Wild, so I say: a lot...

So, yesterday I reviewed Blood Feud, and I think so far it's my favorite in this ongoing series. Though, I really liked Quinn's story in Out for Blood. There's always an irresistible appeal to a character who is a well-known player and ends up taking the Big Fall. Exploring Quinn Drake's reactions to his sudden growing feelings for vampire hunter Hunter Wild was the most adorable experience and probably the aspect I loved the most about the book. I'm telling you, there's just something about the Drake brothers that's way more fun to read about than when it was all girls in Hearts at Stake. And because this is a companion novel, of course you see the previous few couples from the first two books making a very wanted appearance in this third installment.

Issues are cropping up more and more as the series progresses, things are starting to get more dangerous, and that makes these books all the more delectable to read and ultimately addictive. Besides the fact that the characters are lovable and dynamic and the writing is vivid yet simple. Harvey always manages to impress me with her writing style. If you'll notice, in each progressing book, Harvey focuses on a sub-world of the vampire culture in her book. Book one we mostly deal with the vampire courts, regular vamps, and the overlying problem that stretches to all of the books. Book two deals with the Cwn Mamau or the Hounds. And now, with Out for Blood Harvey provides her readers with a deep look into the world of the Helios-Ra, or the vampire hunters, which keeps me engaged in the series. I know I'm going to learn something totally new about Harvey's vampire world in every book.

In the first two books, Quinn Drake is one of the brothers in the background. And now that he's a main character, I got greater insight into who he is and let me just say, Yummm. Seriously. What makes his romance with Hunter so fantastic is that she's not one of those girls willing to fall in line with Quinn's groupies. She's tough, she can take care of herself, but she's also aware that she's not invincible. She knows when to ask for help, she knows she can be vulnerable. And accepts those things. Although she falls for Quinn pretty quickly, she'll be damned before she lays out all her cards on the table for a guy like him. So their relationship development is funny and heartwarming and cute. And at times, deliciously steamy. Man, Harvey got really good with her smoochy scenes. I devoured those smoochy scenes and felt myself blushing several times. I love this couple!

What I also love is as the Drake Chronicles go on, each brother is different. And that's apparent in their differing POVs. I keep expecting Harvey to slip-up and have them sounding like the same person. But it never happens. It's evident that Harvey spent a lot of time with these characters and knows them well. In turn, that helps me get to know them and create connections that are so lacking in other PR books. And as I kept on with the series, there's that awesome, fundamental familiarity toward these characters. They almost start to feel a little like you're own family. I think that's one of the pieces of the whole that makes this series so enjoyable.

I know it seems like vampire books are lacking in originality but Harvey elegantly spins a great twist on her own vampires, so that the lore is both familiar and fresh. If you're looking for an entertaining, hooking vampire series, the Drake Chronicles are your go-to books. Bleeding Hearts, you better get here quickly, because I'm dying to continue!

Those delightful moments during your bubble bath, with a book companion in one hand and a glass of chocolate milk in the other, are the best way to describe the luxurious feelings that Sud-Kissed books create. These books can sometimes be even more rereadable than Special Shelf books... (My Rating System In-Depth)

...I'D NEVER MET ANYONE WHO ENJOYED A SKIRMISH QUITE SO MUCH. EVEN GRANDPA SAW IT AS DUTY BEFORE PLEASURE. WITH QUINN, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HE WAS FLIRTING WITH ME.

I COULDN'T BE SURE IF HE WAS GOING TO LEAN IN TO TEAR OUT MY JUGULAR OR KISS ME SENSELESS.

INSTEAD, HE KICKED OUT AND TRIPPED ME, BUT WHEN I FELL BACKWARD HIS HAND WAS AT MY BACK TO CATCH ME. MY LEFT ARM CROSSED BETWEEN US, FIST PRESSED OVER HIS HEART TO PROVE MY POINT. I MIGHT HAVE STAKED HIM IN THAT MOMENT, IF THE SITUATION WERE DIFFERENT.

BUT I MIGHT NOT BE ALIVE TO DO IT.

HIS FANGS RESTED TENDERLY ON THE INSIDE OF MY THROAT. THE LENGTH OF OUR BODIES PRESSED CLOSE TOGETHER. I FELT THE COOLNESS OF HIS SKIN AND WONDERED IF THE HEAT OF MINE FELT LIKE A BURN TO HIM. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I COULD ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE SEDUCTION AND THE ALLURE OF BARING YOUR THROAT TO A PREDATOR. IT HAD ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE MADNESS TO ME, OR THE RESULT OF READING TOO MANY NOVELS. IT STILL DID. BUT THERE WAS THE BAREST SWAY OF MY BODY TOWARD HIM...

CHLOE WAS THE FIRST TO BREAK THE SILENCE. SHE LET OUT A SHAY BREATH.

"IS IT SUDDENLY HOT OUT HERE, OR WHAT?"  (101)

"YOU TASTE LIKE... RASPBERRIES."

I SWALLOWED. "NO, I DON'T."

"YOU DO." HE WAS STARING AT MY MOUTH NOW. I CLAMPED MY LIPS TOGETHER. THE TINY CUT ON MY TONGUE THROBBED. IT FELT LIKE A BEACON, ONLY IT WAS CALLING THE SHIP TOWARD THE ROCKY SHORELINE INSTEAD OF SAFELY AWAY. I RAN MY TONGUE OVER MY TEETH, TRYING TO GET RID OF THE BLOOD.

"I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU," HE PURRED.

I JERKED BACK BUT I WAS STILL TRAPPED IN THE CAGE OF HIS ARMS. I NARROWED MY EYES. "QUINN DRAKE, STOP IT RIGHT NOW." 

"BUT I DON'T WANT TO," HE DRAWLED. "I WANT MORE."

"I DON'T WANT TO DUST YOU."

"I JUST WANT A LITTLE TASTE."

"YOU'VE HAD ONE," I POINTED OUT.

"NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. I'M GREEDY FOR YOU." (209) OH MY GOD. NO MATTER HOW CRAZY THIS SCENES WAS... WOW. *FANS SELF*

Review: Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey *no spoilers*

Blood Feud

by Alyxandra Harvey

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Release Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Sud-Kissed
Related Review(s): Hearts at Stake
Good for 2nds Challenge
About the Book:

(highlight to read)

It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena's royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha's reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte--a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself--the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles--told from both Logan's and Isabeau's perspectives--has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.

If Isabeau St. Croix had known it was going to be her last Christmas Eve, she would have had third helping of plum pudding...

Hearts at Stake, the first book in the Drake Chronicles, didn't do as much for me as this book. Even so, somehow the writing and characters of this series is addictive. This time, however, Harvey writes way better in this second book. I think I ended up liking this book way more because it's focused on one of the Drake brothers as opposed to Solange. When I first read about the brothers, Logan was probably my favorite, so it was awesome reading about his romance in this book!

But Logan isn't the only who stole the show for me. Isabeau St. Croix is a kick-ass female protagonist. In Hearts at Stake, readers were given only a glimpse of the Cwn Mamau or the Hounds tribe of vampires, and while I was intrigued by the concept of them, I had no idea what they were like. In Blood Feud there's no need to wonder anymore because Isabeau is one of them and Harvey fed me wonderful insight into these remarkable vampires.

Isabeau's history also kept me firmly entrenched in the happenings of the story. While at times her flashbacks into the past seemed tedious, there were moments where I found myself sickened and horrified. Isabeau lived during the French Revolution and survived, but without escaping some seriously haunting and terrible memories that instantly forged a connection to her character. The injustice against her parents was enough of a motive to cry. I don't think I would've come out anywhere near as strong or whole after the heart-wrenching events of her past. And Harvey does a magnificent job in captivating the time period and unfolds said events beautifully for her readers.

It's been almost a year since I started this series and yet it was incredibly easy to immerse myself into the story. Like I'd just read the first book days ago instead of months ago. With a solid, immersive plot, dual first person POVs (which I LOVED, because I really got inside both Logan and Isabeau's heads), an enamoring heroine, a charming hero, and a slew of other characters new and old that forced me to stay absorbed in the story, Blood Feud is a much better written sequel, and ten times more of a fascinating read!

If Out for Blood is anything like Blood Feud, expect to see another exuberant review tomorrow!

Those delightful moments during your bubble bath, with a book companion in one hand and a glass of chocolate milk in the other, are the best way to describe the luxurious feelings that Sud-Kissed books create. These books can sometimes be even more rereadable than Special Shelf books... (My Rating System In-Depth)

"THE DOGS HAVE NEVER MET A HOUND BEFORE," HE SAID AWKWARDLY. EVEN WITH MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, I KNEW FOR A FACT THAT HE WASN'T OFTEN AWKWARD. IT WAS ENDEARING, MORE SO THAN HIS CHARMING SMILES.
I CLIMBED THE STAIRS CONFIDENTLY. DOGS DIDN'T HIDE THEIR MOODS, DIDN'T PLAY GAMES OF MANNERS OR INTRIGUE. LOGAN'S HAND WAS ON THE DOORKNOB. "THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY," I ASSURED HIM.
I FELT BETTER WITH THREE HUGE SHAGGY BOUVIERS CHARGING AT ME. IF BENOIT WERE ALIVE, HE'D HAVE CLICKED HIS TONGUE AT THAT. I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE DOGS, BARELY FLICKED THEM A GLANCE. I JUST STOOD MY GROUND AND LET THEM SNIFF ME ONCE BEFORE I SNAPPED MY FINGERS AND POINTED TO THE GROUND. THREE FURRY BACKSIDES HIT THE MARBLE FLOOR.
LOGAN GAPED AT ME. "DUDE." (31)

"YOU'RE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR BROTHERS," ISABEAU INSISTED. "THEY DON'T LIVE IT THE WAY YOU DO. I COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY."
"YOU NOTICED ALL THAT IN THE FEW HOURS YOU SAW THEM?" AND I ABSOLUTELY WASN'T GOING TO WONDER WHO SHE'D THOUGHT WAS THE CUTEST. QUINN HAD A WAY AROUND GIRLS, AND IT MADE THEM STUPID. I SUDDENLY WANTED TO PUNCH HIM FOR IT.
"NO, IT'S KIND OF NICE," SHE MURMURED, AND SUDDENLY QUINN'S FACE WAS SAFE FROM MY FIST. "IT'S LIKE THE BOYS i KNEW IN FRANCE."
I WASN'T ENTIRELY THRILLED WITH THE WORD "BOY."
"I DIDN'T KNOW I MISSED IT," SHE CONTINUED, AS IF SURPRISING HERSELF.
I'D NEVER WANTED ANYTHING MORE THAN I WANTED TO KISS HER. I WANTED IT MORE THAN I LUSTED AFTER CHRISTINA RICCI IN SLEEPY HOLLOW. AND I'M ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS IN CORSETS. ISABEAU'S LONG, THICK BLACK HAIR, STRAIGHT AS THE WATERFALL IN THE CAVES UNDERNEATH US, HER GREEN EYES AND SCARRED ARMS AND VICIOUS PARRY WITH A SWORD. HOT. EVERY LAST BIT OF HER.
I DECIDED TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE IN MY HANDS AND I LEANED IN SLOWLY... (150)

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass

by Myra McEntire

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Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Egmont
Age Group: Older YA
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner
Good for Debut Author Challenge
About the Book:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

My small Southern hometown is beautiful in the haunting way an aging debutante is beautiful. The bones are exquisite, but the skin could use a lift...

I'm so glad that I followed my gut on this one and grabbed it from the library shelves, because if I hadn't I would've missed out on an impossibly fantastic debut! It was two steps away from making Special Shelf, that's how excellent it is. Superb narration, snarky heroine, riveting story line, and fabulous characters. Hourglass contains all of that AND a phenomenal twist on a paranormal element that hasn't been exhibited nearly enough in YA fiction. A wonderfully well-told story, Hourglass ranks top ten on my favorites list for this year!

Emerson, Emerson, Emerson, can't get enough Emerson. It has always been easier for me to connect and fall for The Guys of the books, but never have me and The Chick connected so seamlessly. What started out as just another book to read, Emerson is like the frosting on an already sumptuous cake with Michael Weaver and Kaleb Ballard playing the cherries that go on top. Michael, Kaleb, Michael, Kaleb. McEntire masterfully weaves a love triangle that makes your head spin, leaves you breathless, and, for once, deliciously (agonizingly) conflicted. No half-assed love triangles designed as a plot device to steer the novel in a different direction or lengthen the story. McEntire delivers something infinitely more powerful and downright swoon-worthy.

Full of action-packed, danger-ridden events and a smart twist on the paranormal, Hourglass will tantalize you with answers to questions that keep cropping up. A villain that terrifies, characters that enchant (finally, parental figures with some sense and control!), and dialogue that engages and humors, this book surprised me in the best ways and kept me engrossed to the very end. It reminded me vaguely of X-Men, adding to my already lengthy list of reasons as to why I love this book.

If you want something special, something that will keep you on your toes, then Hourglass is what you've been waiting for. It was exactly the thing to break me of my reading funk and get me back on track, giving me hope that I'll come across more reads as amazing as this one! I'm left with one burning thought, What awaits Emerson Cole after that explosive ending?

For those of you who'd like a teaser, click here.
(It's a recycled scene in the book, but it's a BIT SPOILERY.)

In the most totally inappropriate way you can imagine, PBP books are the books you want to do, they're so bloody brilliant... (My Rating System In-Depth)

...I HADN'T BEEN OUT LONG. I STRETCHED AND OPENED MY EYES TO MICHAEL, WHO APPEARED TO BE IN PAIN. HIS BROWS PULLED TOGETHER OVER HIS DARK EYES, AND THERE WAS A HARD SET TO HIS MOUTH.
I FROZE MIDSTRETCH. "WHAT'S WRONG?"
"NOTHING," HE SAID, HIS VOICE ROUGH.
I DIDN'T THINK I HAD CROSSED ANY BOUNDARIES SINCE I TOUCHED HIM BEFORE I GOT IN THE CAR, AND NONE OF MY ROOMMATES AT SCHOOL EVER CLAIMED I TALKED IN MY SLEEP.
"I'M SORRY ABOUT BEFORE, ON THE STREET--"
HE SHOOK HIS HEAD. "IT WASN'T THAT."
"THEN WHAT DID I DO?"
"BESIDES FALL ASLEEP?"
"I'M SORRY. IT'S NOT THE COMPANY, BUT WE WERE UP SO LATE, AND THE SUN FELT SO GOOD." I STOPPED. WHY WAS I DEFENDING MYSELF? MICHAEL WASN'T TOO BIG ON EXPLANATIONS, SO I HAD NO IDEA WHY I WAS TRYING TO CLARIFY ANYTHING TO HIM.
HE LOOKED AWAY FROM ME TO FOCUS ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. "YOU SEEM SO VULNERABLE WHEN YOU SLEEP. I DON'T GET THAT FROM YOU A LOT."
I SHIFTED UNCOMFORTABLY IN MY SEAT. "I ALMOST CRIED AT DINNER THE OTHER NIGHT. WAS THAT NOT VULNERABLE ENOUGH FOR YOU?"
"THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. AT DINNER YOU WERE SAD; TODAY YOU'RE... SOFT." (121).

Review: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Haunting Violet
by Alyxandra Harvey

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Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Walker
Source: borrowed/Public Library
Purchase: Book Depo. | Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

It wasn't easy making the switch from yesterday's werewolves to ghosts in the Victorian Era, but the transition was quick after a couple of chapters into Haunting Violet. While it's not--and it kinda couldn't be--the action-y book my bookish soul is forever yearning for, it was a delicious read nonetheless. Any YA novel that takes place in the mid-to-late 1800s is a novel I'll surely enjoy. Not to mention factoring in a likable, quirky heroine, a frantic ghost fueling an unsolicited murder investigation, and a gorgeous-looking manservant to add some romantic excitement!

I describe Violet Willoughby as quirky mostly due to a mix of her ludicrous upbringing and her own personality. Looking at this Victorian setting through her eyes was... unique, different from the more common approach of describing everything in painstaking detail. The snow was gathering slowly in the muddy streets as we left Cheapside. It turned the gray stones and dirty gutters into a landscape made of gingerbread and buttercream frosting. It made me hungry just to see it (2). With Violet narrating, I received a clear picture of what was surrounding her but the descriptions were colorful and simple, as opposed to dull and lengthy. Book lovers like myself will be happy to know that in Violet they'll find a kindred spirit. Her incessant desire to read and discover new books made me smile. Her disgust and resentment aimed at her mother is both justified and sympathy-inducing. She struck me as a sweetheart. Someone who can't stomach the way her mother takes advantage of other people's grief and pain, who can't quickly reject a nice guy even if she's starting to realize feelings for someone else, who can't turn her back on helping someone in need... even if that someone is the ghost of murdered young girl. Because of her innate kindness, no matter how much she wants to, she refuses to shy away from her newfound and still-forming psychic abilities if it means taking the easy way out and not helping this ghost find justice. She's courageous in that, despite the blatant warnings, she continues this very dangerous investigation into the ghost's death. Sure she annoyed me here and there, but it was mostly because I was frustrated at her and Colin's one-step-forward-two-steps-backward dance. Other than that, I held only positive feelings for Violet.

The murder mystery, I must say, was both easy and difficult to puzzle out. It took me a few tries to get it right, but even then it only happened toward the end anyway. So, technically my great mystery-solving skills didn't do me any good and instead I found myself genuinely perplexed. Still, unlike my feelings with Clarity, I agreed with explanation and villain. The murderer was a sensible choice, a clear-cut villain, and his motive was both logical and horrible. Perfect. The fact that Harvey stalled me from discovering the truth for as long as she had gives her major points on the plot. Plus, tagging along with Lizzie, Violet's closest friend other than Colin, and Violet on this journey to the truth was fun and hectic and thrilling!

However, I have a confession to make. I was hurrying through this novel not because of the murder mystery, or Vi, or the ghosts, but for Colin. Well, Colin and Violet, and their blossoming relationship. I couldn't help it! Right from the beginning, I saw their relationship as adorable and, I don't know, hot. They've been together since they were kids, going through all of the awkward phases together, the boy-pulling-girl's-pigtail syndrome phase most especially, with all these shared memories between them, and then here they are, old enough to embark on something scary and thrilling and wonderful, and I just couldn't contain my excitement. Or my growing agitation as their progress into that stage was hampered at first, then slow. But, in the end, I can't really complain as it all worked out in a way that made my heart stutter and sigh.

I don't think this is going to evolve into a series, and, truth be told, it works best as a standalone anyway. Still, I'm ready for whatever Harvey has cooked up for us readers in the future. Did I forget to mention that I have yet to finish her ongoing Drake Chronicles series? So you can expect more Alyxandra Harvey-related reviews to come!

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

My stomach gave a funny little hitch. I slipped my hand into Colin's. He didn't grimace at me like he sometimes did; he just squeezed back. (5)

And then suddenly I was free, sailing backward without warning.

"Get off her!"

I hit the trunks, bruising my shoulder. A hat box fell to the ground. I pushed my hair out of my eyes just in time to see Colin rearing back to punch the ringleader. (17)

"He's not good enough for you."

"What?" I stared at him incredulously. "I'd say you have that backward. He's from a good family. I'm not." His fingers slid away from mine. A swallow darted between us. "So if you'll excuse me, I have to go convince his mother that I'm not a desperate fortune hunter with a liar for a mother and a disgusting talent for drugging old ladies."

"No."

I frowned. "What do you mean, no? What's the matter with you?"

He just stepped closer to me, right on my shadow, which had been the only thing between us. His eyes were angry and conflicted but his hands were gentle on my face, wrapping around the back of my neck. He pulled slightly and I stumbled forward... (86)

Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity by Kim Harrington

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Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: own/Purchased
Purchase: Book Depo. | Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth? This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Amazingly, I really liked Clarity. I don't mean to sound like I don't care for that feeling or to sound so surprised, but, frankly, I'd let so many reviews form a preconceived image of my reaction to the book that I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I think many people missed it for what it is--a part serious, part entertaining tale of a psychic girl  dealing with demons of her own, WHILE helping the police with an investigation of a murder. Undoubtedly, the story was not without flaws. But there were so many good, enjoyable aspects as well.

Clare and I, we have one of those I-love-you-hate-you relationships. On the one hand I admire her, even respect her some. She takes up the police's request that she help them track down a killer in the town. If it were me, I would've balked, in thinking of the dangers and repercussions of accepting. But, Clare has a strong, almost too black-and-white sense of right and wrong. And it's right to help stop a murderer in her book, despite potential dangers and lacerations. I applaud her for that. I can commend her for mature way of dealing with the skeptical Gabriel, and the not-so-mature way of handling her archnemesis during that one diner scene in the beginning. I'd like to be as ballsy as her. However, I'd like to pop her one for the way she treated Justin, her ex-boyfriend.

I noticed in a lot of reviews people said that they couldn't decide between either guy in this love triangle, on the grounds that they didn't like them or didn't get to know them well. I beg to differ. I had very strong, very definitive emotions toward both boys. Justin, he has my sympathy and my support in his quest to regain Clare's trust in him and to be with her again. Gabriel, well, he's another story. I don't like him, don't trust him. There's something about him that gave me the heebie-geebies while reading. But, back to my wanting to punch Clare in the face--was it really necessary for her to act like such a jerk to a guy who clearly regrets his biggest mistake? Every time she was around him (except toward the end) I wanted to sock her one, simply because her treatment of him was unwarranted. (You'd think a girl would want to try for dignity, if anything, when dealing with an ex that cheated.) I was fully prepared to detest Justin. But he's not your typical jerk-face two-timer, and the fact that .5) he never doubts her or her family 1) he's a good guy 2) he acknowledges and deeply regrets his mistake 3) he hurts because his actions hurt her and 4) he's still in love with her screams I AM THE RIGHT CHOICE. I understood and accepted her reluctance to fall back into a relationship with him. I just didn't get her raging need to withhold forgiveness from him for as long as she did or intended. But I think you'd have to read the book to recognize where I'm coming from.

While the plot/murder mystery deal could've been executed a bit better, and the actual killer a more clear-cut villain, I had fun with trying to solve who the killer was and why. You know, uncovering the motive--which, I think, despite the explanation given, wasn't as logical as I'd wanted it to be. I did like the constant suspicion that tagged along with me throughout the ride. Not knowing who done it--could it have been her brother? Her neighbor? A friend? Who? Even if I hadn't been frantically gripping the book, ripping through pages in a rush to find out, I was entertained and I didn't feel like my time was wasted by the time I was done.

My only real issue was the supporting cast. In particular, Clare's mom and brother. Perry, Clare's brother, seemed like this cool guy. A player, good-humored, and caring. However, since he was depressed for most of the book, it was hard to be charmed by him. I have hope though, in this area, considering that this IS a series, and assuming that he doesn't crop up as another suspect, I'll get to see the side of him I'd been initially attracted to and intrigued by. Clare's mom irritated the hell out of me, for some reason. It just bugged me how she was so... I don't know, carefree, when it came to her kids, at random points in the novel. If you realize that your son is scared and frustrated because of his involvement with the investigation, wouldn't you be more worried about him, make an attempt to get him out of his funk, support him? She was too much of a side character. As a mom, as a parent, I'd like her to have more of a role in this story, more of a power over, and a bigger CONCERN for her kids.

Being that there was no real cliffhanger, apart from wondering who Clare's going to end up with, I'm curious to see how this series will continue. What kind of bad guys will show up, relevance to the mystery of her father, and WILL SHE CHOOSE JUSTIN?? I'm excited to see how things pan out in the future!

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

He poked me in the shoulder blade.

And that was his mistake.

I'm willing to overlook a stupid comment here and there. But poking me? Nuh-uh. I lifted my elbow up and brought it back hard into his gut.

Frankie let out an oomph as he doubled over.

I twirled around with a sweet-as-pie smile. "Oh no. Did you catch my elbow in your stomach while I was putting my change in my pocket? Sorry, Frankie. You should learn not to stand so close to people" (3).

"I heard you and Tiffany got into a catfight over me at Yummy's," Justin announced with an overconfident grin that pissed me off.

I slammed the door behind me. "First off, I dumped a soda over head. That was it."

"Damn, a catfight sounded much hotter. I was picturing ripped shirts, exposed skin."

I rolled my eyes. "And second, it wasn't over you, egomaniac. You can date every girl in town as far as I'm concerned. I hate you. I pray every night that you'll fall victim to some strange and unusual castration accident." I pointed to the door. "So get the hell out."

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. (42) One of the rare times I actually enjoyed Clare's ferocity toward Justin.

I motioned to my two boys. "We have stuff to talk about. We're going upstairs."

Mom didn't exactly give me permission, but she knew I wasn't going to have an orgy in my room or anything. (217) There's something so very hilarious about that line.

Review: Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby

Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby

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Release Date: March 30, 2011
Publisher: Createspace
Source: own/Purchased
Purchase: Book Depo. | Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

Her mom is dead.
Ghosts follow her around.
Her best friend is an elephant.
And she’s about to meet the biggest game changer of all: a boy. With a secret.

When circus-dwelling Gemma Flannery learns she will be attending public school for the first time in her seventeen years, little does she know that fitting in with her 12th-grade classmates will be the least of her concerns. A pro at hiding her knack for seeing the dead (“shades”), Gemma is grieving the recent suicide of her mentally ill mother, a process eased by the introduction of her first real love interest, the charming and painfully handsome Henry Dmitri, who is harboring his own collection of dangerous secrets. Together, they will be presented with a frightening challenge: to assume their roles as heirs to a 3000-year-old magical text, the AVRAKEDAVRA, a book the über-rich, sleight-of-being master Lucian Dmitri would do anything to get his hands on. As each terrifying layer in her new reality melts away, Gemma unearths truths that her quiet, nomadic life with the Cinzio Traveling Players is not at all what she’d always cherished. Gemma and Henry must rely on each other to stop Lucian’s diabolical plotting that will bring the world to its tired, scab-riddled knees, and are sent on the flight of their young lives, to save themselves, their families, and the world from the darkest kind of destruction.

Let the chase begin.

What I would like to know is why there aren't more people going on about this book? It's fantastic!

I first found out about Sleight... well, I don't remember precisely how I discovered it, but I did a feature on it for Covetable Covers because I was so in love with cover. And being an unapologetic cover girl, I was almost ridiculously eager to become entangled with the story. I'm happy to report that although Sleight tantalized me with its cover, it was the story behind it that hooked me in and arrested my attention.

Gemma Flannery was certainly a winning determinant, as she's an attractive character--a girl I think everyone can identify with. She's a bit shy with underlying snark, and she's trying to cope with the recent loss of her mom. While she didn't strike me as bitter, nor hostile toward the world, she strives to keep attention to herself to a minimum. Probably derived from her need to withhold her special ability to see the dead from everyone. From those first few pages, it's pretty clear that Gemma wants to escape notice. But, she slowly breaks out of that shell once Henry comes into the picture and he becomes her friend. She's willing to go along with what ever her best friend wants to do--with complaint, mind you, but with reluctant participation nonetheless. Later, when the deep, overlying mystery snatches her up, her reactions are genuine. She freaks out when she realizes what kind of dangers and surprising, almost unbelievable SUPERNATURAL truths involve her life, yet she's smart enough, brave enough to calm down and take up action, hunting down answers for herself. Her narration helped fortify a connection with me; her feelings and thoughts poured off the pages and onto my own. And that's the thing about Sommersby's characterizations--even though I didn't get to know every single character, I ended up liking them and feeling for them despite my lack of full blown connection with them. My only problem as far as characters WAS that lack of knowing more about the characters, AND the absence of some insight into the circus world. Sadly, I was given only glimpses of what it's truly like to be part of a circus and perform. Granted it's not the focus of the book, but if the main character is unique, one of the reasons being her circus background, wouldn't it stand to reason that the circus be a significant part of her, her life, and, therefore, the story? Maybe that's just me.

Still, in spite of my obvious love of Gemma and Co. (her very cool Circus fam), I wouldn't have been satisfied if there'd been no romance. As much as I am a cover girl, I'm a romance girl. I simply cannot completely immerse myself in a book without there being some kind of love interest and amorous scenes between the heroine and said love interest. So, I was absolutely pleased with Henry and Gemma's development into that romance stage. My favorite aspect of the romance was the slow simmering progress into that part of their relationship. They started out as FRIENDS. This is just about the most effective way of getting me fixed on a romance. It was amazing, seeing those long conversations in which each of them revealed themselves, those slightly awkward or embarrassing moments, the secret-sharing, leading all the way up to that tender, and oh so, so sweet encounter. Of course, there was a touch of the enigmatic to Henry and a bit of suspicion on Gemma's part. But it wasn't a Bella's-crazy-freaking-obsession-with-Edward-Cullen type of deal. I think Gemma felt that Henry was entitled to oddness and secrets, as she wasn't exactly forthcoming about her own abilities. The only thing that bothered me a little even as it warmed me was the sometimes overly sentimental scenes, where it bordered on the unrealistic.

But the most compelling part of Gemma's journey would have to be the big, hush-hush, magical Avra-K, short for AVRAKEDAVRA, an ancient text that one horrible, sicko villain is after like sharks after blood. The connection between Gemma, Henry, Lucian, and many others and their roles in this fight for the book kept me on my toes. The unexpected, yet somehow unsurprising betrayals of long-time friends, the deaths of people who came to matter, and the hidden truths that involve so many anchored me to the story. The undeniable link between Gemma's ghost-seeing abilities, her mother's death, and Henry's own innate capabilities promise for a thrilling, more exciting adventure on the horizon--and maybe my battle-deprived soul can expect some crazy fantastic fight scenes...?

Sleight laid the groundwork for something epic, and acts as a wonderful start to this magic-ridden, humorous, and intriguing series!

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"You writing about the lion story?" his message said.

"Yup. What about you..."

"Same boring stuff. Probably will reuse an essay from another English class and throw in some details about the scheming you & I will do to rule the world."

"We should make the Hershey or Ben & Jerry's plant our lair of evil," I wrote. "Ample chocolate and ice cream to fuel our maniacal plotting sessions."

"Ur a fan of ice cream and chocolate, I take it?"

I laughed and spoke my response out loud as I typed it. "Duh! I'm a GIRL."

"Nuff said," he said. (44)

He reached for my hand and pressed it to his cheekbone.

"See? All better," he said.

A pleasant silence settled between us, our fingers intertwined against his clean-shaven face. The tingle of anticipation surged through me as Henry pulled me around to his side of the table. I scooted toward him, and he moved his hand to my cheek to brush a few wayward curls around the side of my face.

"May I?" (114) *melts*