Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitpatrick

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 391
Overall:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I’m not sure what it was about this book, but it just was not as entertaining as some of the other books I’ve read. It might have been that the story seemed very familiar (Sparkly Vampire anyone?), or that there were places where it kind of drug on.

The characters weren’t as memorable as I would have expected. Nora Grey is as average girl who suddenly become attracted to Patch even though it is obvious that he’s dangerous and wants to kill her. Patch is this boy who for his own reasons wants to kill Nora, and yet there is something about her that keeps him from doing so. Why do characters end up like this? What is so special about Nora that he considers giving up his quest for her when she’s just an average girl of no means? The characters were just a pair that could be easily mixed up with some other characters of the same story idea.

The writing was not bad except for the fact that it was slow and more detail in places where we did not necessarily need the description, nor want it. In the places where we would want to know more, it rushed through leaving is kind of confused or wanting more. It just seems as if it could have been better.

I like the story idea, but I think it could have been executed better if done slightly differently or had a twist at the end that the reader doesn’t see coming. I’ve heard there is a sequel coming out sometime next year, and I’ll probably pick it up, but it’s not my first priority to see where this story goes.

Who Might Like This Book:
Angel Lovers
Paranormal Romance Lovers

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Waiting on Wednesday (11)

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine


Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
Release Date: May 25th, 2010

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she’s had it with being her mother’s keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go . . .

Teaser Tuesday (8)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

She didn't make very much progress before a hand clamped over her mouth from behind.

"Do not move," a low voice growled. "And don't try to sing. I'll take your throat out before you can get two words into your spell."

Warrior by Marie Brennan, Pg. 230

Love You Hate You Miss You

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Release Date: June 1st 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 276
Overall:

You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff. 

I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.


It's been seventy five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her, and she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.

No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance.

It is so hard to describe this book. It left me speechless after I read it and think it is a book that everyone should read. It really speaks to the reader, allowing him or her to relate to something happening in the book.

Amy is an intense character who embodies exactly what teens go through when put in a stressful situation. The last time I read a character so intense, it was in the book Cut by Patricia McCormick. Amy is dealing with Julia’s death and goes through the stages of grief, dealing with people in her life that are treating her differently. She grows so much throughout the book that it is so inspirational to the reader.

The writer style was incredible. I love how Elizabeth Scott let’s the reader to get inside Amy’s head and understand what she’s truly going through and her thoughts concerning Julia. The letters show the development that she goes through in regards to Julia’s death, as well as her realization with her therapist. The scenes in which Amy interacts with her peers show the outward reaction that happens as she comes to terms with what happened with Julia.

I loved this book and definitely plan on reading it again in the future. I’m definitely going to pick up more of her books, since this was the first I read

Who Might Like This Book:
Life and Death Readers
Realistic Story Readers
Teen Issue Readers

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In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren



Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Hardback/Little, Brown Books for Young readers/December 1st, 2009)

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner (Paperback/Ace/December 29th, 2009)

They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders — but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…

Vicky’s demanding job keeping the city safe from all manner of monsters is one reason her relationship with workaholic lawyer (and werewolf) Alexander Kane is in constant limbo. Throw in a foolhardy zombie apprentice, a mysterious demon-plagued client, and a suspicious research facility that’s taken an unwelcome interest in her family, and Vicky’s love life has as much of a pulse as Deadtown’s citizens.

But now Vicky’s got bigger things to worry about. The Hellion who murdered her father ten years ago has somehow broken through Boston’s magical protections. The Hellion is a ruthless force of destruction with a personal grudge against Vicky, and she’s the only one who can stop the demon before it destroys the city and everyone in it.

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow (Paperback/Razorbill/November 17th, 2009)

She’s no angel . . .
Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .
Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (Paperback/Warner Books/ October 30th, 2006)

When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. An angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do. Then, during a furlough, he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah Lynn Curtis is attending college in North Carolina, working for Habitat for Humanity, and totally unprepared for the passionate attraction she feels for John Tyree. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty, and John realizing that he's ready to settle down with the young woman who has captured his heart. Neither can foresee that 9/11 is about to change the world and will force John to risk every hope and dream that he's ever had. Like so many proud men and women, John must choose between love and country. And like all those left behind, Savannah must decide to wait or move on. How do we choose wisely? How can we face loss-without giving up on love? Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover that loving Savannah will force him to make the hardest decision of his life. An extraordinary, moving story, Dear John explores the complexities of love -- how it survives time and heartbreak, and how it transforms us forever.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Hardback/Harcourt Children’s Books/October 1st, 2008)

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Heart's Blood

Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 416
Overall:

This is a stunning gothic love story based on the legends of Beauty and the Beast. Whistling Tor is a place of secrets, a mysterious, wooded hill housing the crumbling fortress of a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan's family and his people; those woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom. For young scribe Caitrin it is a safe haven. This place where nobody else is prepared to go seems exactly what she needs, for Caitrin is fleeing her own demons. As Caitrin comes to know Anluan and his home in more depth she realizes that it is only through her love and determination that the curse can be broken and Anluan and his people set free.

Juliet Marillier is the writer of my favorite series The Sevenwaters Trilogy which I think I have reviewed at least two of them earlier on. She has also written Wildwood Dancing and Cybele’s Secret. Being my favorite author, I might be slightly biased, but I loved the book and story.

While the story mimic’s that of the typical Beauty and the Beast storyline, the characters are unique and immediately loveable. The thing I liked more about these characters was that Caitrin, (who plays the Belle character in comparison to the Beauty/Beast story) does not become a beauty until after she spends time at the enchanted fortress with the ‘Beast’ or Anluan. The character of Anluan is different from the typical Beast; yet share many of the same qualities. The curse that is placed upon Anluan’s people is also amazingly new and unique. I loved the Host and the characters it brought to life through them.

The beginning is a little slower than some of her other books, but it did not stop me from being sucked in after the first few chapters. It is more complex than her teen fiction novels, but could still be enjoyed by mostly anyone. It was nice to read a book that was a little more challenging and could not be finished in a day like some other books that I have read.

It was a great story, and I would definitely reread it at some point in the future. Juliet Marillier has a way with taking an old fairy tale and putting an amazing twist on it that people do not expect, with characters that stay with you long after the story ends.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fairy Tale Lovers
Fantasy Romance Lovers

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Merry Christmas!

Hey Everyone,

There will be a new review up tomorrow.

I've been hanging out with the family like I'm sure many of you have been doing.

I hope everyone's holidays are great!

See you guys tomorrow.

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

Gurgle, gurgle, the naiad spoke in my mind. The canoe was slowing down.

I looked ahead, and I saw why.

This was as far as they could take us. The river was blocked. A dam the size of a football stadium stood in our path.

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan, Pg. 205

Blood Promise

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 25st, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 503
Overall:

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?
The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.
He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Let me just start by saying, Oh My Gosh. I love this series and this book did not let me down one bit. It picks up right where the other one left off and throws you immediately into the action, giving the reader almost exactly what they want to read while throwing in a few surprises.

You get to know more about Dimitri in this one, where he comes from and who his family is. It also gives a new view on the Bond of Lissa and Rose by showing a different type of connection, letting on just how strong and powerful this bond could become if it hasn’t gotten there altogether. Through this book, you learn more about the characters and the bonds of friendship, love, and family that they all share.

The writing was amazing. I love how Richelle wrote the parts that involved Lissa. I was slightly worried that she would either cut out Lissa from this book since Rose would be in Russia, or that it would be overly tacky in keeping her that would be completely out of character for Rose. Instead she did it in a great way and I loved the way the story lines ended up together.

I cannot wait for Spirit Bound to come out. I desperately need more to the story.

Who Might Like This Book:
Vampire Lovers
Paranormal Romance Lovers

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Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Coming Back Around~

Hey Everyone!

I know it has been a couple months, but let me tell you, it was much needed.
Last semester nearly killed me, it was so stressful. I only read two books (which kills me) the entire semester due to be bogged down with school work and everything else. Thankfully that semester is over! =D

So~ What does that mean? I'll be back now! Woot!

I'm going to be getting some book reviews up and posted in the next couple days, as well as reading to catch up on how far I have fallen behind in my book pile!

See ya soon!