Review: Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal

Genre:   YA

Release Date:  March 2011

Series:  Sweet Valley 

Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press

Author Website:   http://www.sweetvalleytenyearslater.com

Format Read:  ebook

Pages:  304

Source:  Borrowed, but will put a copy on my bookshelf 

Rating: Three stars

ARC Review: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Series:  None

Genre:   YA

Release Date:  January 2011

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Author Website:  http://www.paigeharbison.com

Format I Read:  ARC ebook

Pages:  224

Source:  Net Galley

Reading Challenge:  Debut Author Reading Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

My Thoughts

First of all, I had mixed feeling about reading this book.  I am very anti mean girl and tend to not read YA books that spotlight spoiled, bitchy teens.  However, I read so many good and bad reviews of this book, that I just had to satisfy my curiosity and see what all the fuss was about.

I love the Here Lies Bridget cover.  I smirked at the toe tag and daisies because I thought it was a clever reference to death.  Lame of me, yes, but still very clever.  I liked the story and most of the characters, but had an instant dislike for Bridget, the main character.  She perfected the mean girl attitude and whined obsessively about how unfair her life was. From my point of view, I thought she lived a charmed life, but was too caught up in herself and self loathing that she took everything and everyone for granted. 

Seriously, Bridget got on my very last nerve, but I kept reading with the anticipation of someone throwing all of her actions back in her face, preferably an open handed smack.  On second thought, that probably would have made for a very weak cat fight and I would have been even more annoyed with her for getting beat up.  In the end, I didn’t get the satisfaction the way I wanted it, but I was happy that Bridget got a second chance to redeem herself.   The ending was a little predictable, but it worked and I liked it.

The one thing that bothered me was that there were a few unanswered questions in the end.  I actually wanted another chapter or an epilogue just to see how Bridget repaired her relationship with her parents.

Rating

Four flowers of love, very good read and would recommend this one

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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ARC Review: Wither by Lauren Destefano

Series:  Chemical Garden Triology, Book #1

Genre:   YA, Dystopia

Release Date:  March 22, 2011

Publisher:  Simon Schuster

Author Website:  http://www.laurendestefano.com

Format I Read:  ARC paperback

Pages:  368

Source:  Publisher

Reading Challenge:  Debut Author Reading Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. 

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

Awesomeness:

Linden looks so piteous and apologetic, standing there.  His three wives are huddled together on the bare mattress, one of them dying; when we’re together, we form an alliance he can’t touch.  He’s scared to even try.

My Thoughts

I have heard so much about dystopian novels and to be honest, I still don’t really know what the heck they are.  But if this book represents the genre, I am now a fan and can’t wait to read more.

In a word, Wither was awesome.  It didn’t have a lot of action and adventure, but plenty of drama.  The story unfolded slowly but held my attention until the very end. I loved the artwork for the cover and I thought the designs on the intro pages were really neat.  The characters are unforgettable and the story was unique.

Rhine, the main character, was a great heroine.  At a young age she found a way to deal with life without drawing too much attention to herself, but constantly plotted and planned to gain her freedom back.

At times, the story had me shaking my head in disbelief, other times it brought tears to my eyes as I sympathized with the sister wives.  The girls went through so much to please their “husband” and to try to find what little happiness they could as their lives slowly wasted away. Through it all, Rhine kept the sisterhood tight and proved to be a very good friend.

Linden, the “husband” was also a good character.  He was very misguided and didn’t know what was actually going on in his house.  I felt sorry for him because all he wanted was a real family.  If he and Rhine had met under different circumstances, I think they would have made a cute couple, but I was secretly rooting for Gabriel.

Overall, I loved this tragic love story and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Rating

Four flowers of love.  I really liked it and would recommend reading it.

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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ARC Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Series: Angelfire, Book #1

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance

Released: Date: February 2011

Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books

Author Website: http://www.courtneyallisonmoulton.com/

Format I Read: ARC ebook

Pages: 464

Source: Net Galley

Reading Challenge: Debut Author Reading Challenge, Kick Ass Heroine Reading Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb
When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.


A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.


While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts
I am always interested in reading different takes on the origins of angels so when I read the summary for Angelfire, I knew I would love it. The cover was also an attention getter.

I thought the story was interesting and full of plot twists. It was slow one minute and fast paced the next. The romance was predictable but still had me speed reading to see how their relationship would play out.

Ellie and Will are my new Buffy and Angel. She’s a kick ass slayer when she’s in her zone and he’s the tortured soul trying hard not to succumb to his own personal darkness. I could tell from the first moment Will popped on the scene that there was more between them than their mission. Of course he was in love with her but their relationship was beyond complicated. And for me, complicated love is the best to read about because the characters go through so much just to prove that they belong together. Will and Ellie had centuries to figure it out, but the greater good always came first.

The only thing I didn’t like about the story was the father and his attitude. I think I know what’s going on with him and hopefully it will be discussed later. I am anxiously awaiting the second book to confirm my suspicions. Overall, this was a very good debut from Courtney Allison Moulton and I am counting the days until I can get my hands on the next in this awesome new series.

Rating

Four flowers of love-really liked it and would recommend it

Other Books In This Series:

Wings Of The Wicked, Book #2 (Coming in 2012)

Hymn To The Fallen, Book #3 (Coming in 2013)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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Giveaway: ARC copy of Mystify by Artist Arthur

Mystify: A Mystyx Novel, Book #2

By Artist Arthur

Kimani Tru | January 2011

Sometimes being an outsider is the best way to fit in…

Sasha Carrington has grown up feeling like an outsider, and her parents are too concerned with scaling the Lincoln, Connecticut, social ladder to even notice her. They’d be really horrified to know about the supernatural abilities Sasha and her friends Krystal and Jake possess. But as part of the Mystyx, Sasha has found her place.

Now her parents have suddenly taken an interest in everything she does, and their timing couldn’t be worse. Sasha’s father wants her to become BFFs with snooty Alyssa Turner, who hates Krystal for stealing her boyfriend. Then there’s Antoine Watson, the boy Sasha has liked forever, the boy her parents would never approve of. But with the dark side getting more dangerous by the day, and the Mystyx’s own powers growing in unexpected ways, Sasha is facing choices that could affect her friends, her love life—and even her destiny.…

I enjoyed this book (read my review here) and look forward to reading future books in this YA series.  Thanks to Lisa @ Online Publicist, I have one ARC copy of Mystify for giveaway.  

Giveaway is a print copy and is only open to US/Can residents.  Giveaway ends on March 3.  For a chance to win:

• Read my Contest And Giveaway Rules
• Be a GFC (Google Friend Connect) follower of this blog
• Fill out the Entry From

*To learn more about Artist Arthur and other books in her Mystyx series, visit her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

*To learn more about Lisa Roe, visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

ARC Review: Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Series:  Iron Fey, Book #3

Genre:   YA, Paranormal, Fantasy

Release Date:  January 25, 2011

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Author Website:  http://www.juliekagawa.com/

Format I Read:  ARC eBook

Pages:  362 (Nook pgs)

Source:  Net Galley

Reading Challenge:  Kick Ass Heroine Reading Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

Awesomeness:

“You alright?” he asked, steadying me as the last of the nausea faded.

Anger flared.  No, I wasn’t all right.  I was a freaking faery who couldn’t use glamour!  Not without fainting, throwing up, or getting so dizzy I was practically useless.  I was allergic to myself!  How pathetic was that?

My Thoughts

I was recently turned on to this awesome series by some fellow book bloggers.  I read the first two books and novella back to back and anxiously awaited to get my hands on this latest book.  I have to say that I was not disappointed because I easily finished it in one day.  All 362 pages!  The book is full of action, unlikely alliances, and some heartbreaking scenes that disrupted the HEA that I was so sure would happen.

Iron Queen continues with the Iron Fey wrecking havoc in Nevernever making the dysfunctional Summer and Winter courts hell bent on sacrificing Meghan to save their own necks.  Meghan isn’t the same girl, which is a good thing because she finally tells King Oberon and Queen Mab where to stick it.  She is still learning, but I felt like she made better choices and handled things a little bit better this time.  She realizes her destiny and accepts her place.

Puck continues to annoy the hell out of me.  To be honest, the Three Musketeer act could easily be a twosome and I would love it.  I know that Puck is put in the story as sort of a comic relief to lighten the dark mode that this book takes on, but I found myself skipping over his parts and not caring what I missed.  Yes, I am a Puck hater.

Ash is the man.  From the time he was introduced to the story, I knew he would end up with Meghan.  He was a prick at first, but his love and devotion to Meghan is what draws me to the series.  Now this is a love story, rated PG, but still a great love story.  It’s tragic that destiny keeps pulling them apart, but in the end I know the HEA will be worth the frustration of having to wait.

Overall, the story was easy to follow, the characters were good, and the plot was even better than the last.  If you are a fae fan and haven’t gotten around to reading this series, you are missing out on some good reading.

Rating

5 flowers of love.  An awesome new favorite for the bookshelf

Other Books In This Series:

The Iron King, Book #1

Winter’s Passage, Novella

The Iron Daughter, Book #2

The Iron Knight, Book #4 Coming Soon

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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ARC Review: Mystify by Artist Arthur

Series:  Mystyx, Book #2

Genre:   YA, Paranormal

Release Date:  January 18, 2011

Publisher:  Kimani Tru

Author Website:  http://www.artistarthurbooks.com

Format I Read:  ARC ebook

Pages:  248 (Nook pgs)

Source:  Net Galley

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Sometimes being an outsider is the best way to fit in… 

Sasha Carrington has grown up feeling like an outsider, and her parents are too concerned with scaling the Lincoln, Connecticut, social ladder to even notice her. They’d be really horrified to know about the supernatural abilities Sasha and her friends Krystal and Jake possess. But as part of the Mystyx, Sasha has found her place.

Now her parents have suddenly taken an interest in everything she does, and their timing couldn’t be worse. Sasha’s father wants her to become BFFs with snooty Alyssa Turner, who hates Krystal for stealing her boyfriend. Then there’s Antoine Watson, the boy Sasha has liked forever, the boy her parents would never approve of. But with the dark side getting more dangerous by the day, and the Mystyx’s own powers growing in unexpected ways, Sasha is facing choices that could affect her friends, her love life—and even her destiny…"

Awesomeness:

“Life is not about what we want, Sasha.  It’s about what’s best for us, for our family, our legacy.  Want rarely comes into play.”

What he really means is that want rarely comes into play where I’m concerned.  My parents seem to have everything their chilly little hearts desire.  Me, on the other hand, well, let’s just say I’m not like my parents.  Some days I wake up and even consider requesting a DNA test.

My Thoughts 

This is another YA series that I continue to enjoy. Artist Author has created a paranormal adventure featuring a teenage clique of supernaturals that keep me tagging along as they deal with their personal dramas and use their powers to deal with the Darkness that is stalking them.

In the latest book, the story turns to Sasha.   Her friends continue to judge her and think she’s a stuck up “Richie” simply because her parents are.  I thought she was a likable character, a little bratty and spoiled at times, but overall she was more mature than her friends, Krystal and Jake. 

Jake and Krystal got on my nerves in this book.  I always thought that Krystal was self centered, but she really out does herself in this book.  And Jake has serious anger issues.  His story is the next book, so hopefully I’ll be able to have a better understanding of who he is and what he’s dealing with personally before I start to hate him.

A new member was introduced to the supernatural clique and she seems to balance out the trio which is a good thing because their friendship was seriously headed for an ugly break up.

I am anxious to figure out the mystery of the “M” birthmarks and how all the kids ended up in the same town or exactly why they have their powers.  The mysteries are slowly unfolding, giving me just enough bits of information to keep me following the story.  

Overall I really liked Mystify and will continue reading the series.  I am very interested to know what in the world is going on with the Darkness and what it’s really after. 

Rating

4 flowers of love.  Very good and a recommended read.

Other Books In This Series:

Manifest, Book #1

Mayhem, Book #3 (August 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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ARC Review and Giveaway: Human Blend by Lori Pescatore

Series:  The Blend, Book #1

Genre:  YA, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi

Released:  June 2010

Publisher:  Self Published

Author Website:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lori-Pescatore-Author/141156271014

Format I Read:  ARC Paperback

Pages:  231

Source:  Author

Book Blurb

Marion, Virginia seemed like a nice place to live a normal life, but she is not a normal girl. Laney has special abilities that keep her looking over her shoulder as she makes her escape from the men who had kidnapped her. 

A young doctor's interest is piqued when he witnesses her mysteriously curing a young child's illness. He befriends her due to his growing fascination with uncovering the true nature of her abilities, but not without harboring secrets of his own.

Laney's budding relationship with a local boy puts both of them in danger when the men she was hiding from find her. All of their lives will change forever as ancient secrets become unearthed. 

 Awesome Line:

“Sure you can take care of yourself.  That’s why we all spent the last two days chasing after you and that crazy-ass thug with a death wish.  Face it, Julie, your life screams ‘damsel in distress’”

My Thoughts

I did not know what to think going into this book.  The book has an interesting cover and a unique plot that keep me interested.

Human Blend is about Laney (Julie) who has a combination of unusual abilities.  She was kidnapped as a child so she’s never been taught how to use her abilities, where they came from, or exactly what they are.  All she knows is to do whatever she is told to stay alive.  She has tried several times to escape, but each time they find her, anyone that has come in contact with her or tried to help her in anyway end up dead.

Human Blend is another good book that kept me wondering what would happen next.  It has romance, action, a little bit of paranormal mixed with science fiction and fantasy. 

I immediately liked Laney and felt her pain of wanting to fit in and just be normal.  She was young and naïve so she naturally she sucked at fitting in. Her first mistake was choosing a small town where everyone knew each other and someone new would easily stand out.  She also had that vibe where anyone that came in contact with her never forgot meeting her.  Besides being beautiful and super sweet, her vibe drew people to her and made them take notice.  At times, that vibe drew unwanted attention, but in the end, it provided her with the protection that she desperately needed.

The love triangle kept me frustrated because I couldn’t decide who I wanted Laney to end up with. Austin was the sweet, romantic guy next door that she easily fell for.  But knowing her past might catch up with her at any moment, she could never be completely honest with him and tell him about her life because there was no way he’d ever understand.   She also didn’t want him to get hurt.

Then there was Eli, the handsome doctor with secrets of his own.  He had a way of seeing right through Laney’s lies and making her trust him enough to share. I have to admit, when Eli was introduced, all I could think about was Dr. Cullen from Twilight.  Weird, but the mysterious doctor had vampire written all over him, or so I thought.  I had him pegged all wrong, but I enjoyed finding out about him and the other not so human characters in this book.

Another character that I liked was Marcus.  He was also a mysterious and a little too blunt with his words.  All of his scenes were memorable and funny as hell.   

Rating.

I give Human Blend four flowers of love because the story doesn’t have the usual paranormal creatures in it, but something new to wonder about.  I can’t wait for the next book so I can learn more about the characters and their origins.

Other Reviews Of This Book:

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Giveaway

Lori has been sweet enough to offer a copy of Human Blend for giveaway.  This contest is open internationally and the winner will have the choice of receiving an ebook or print copy.  The contest will end Jan 3^rd. Here’s how to enter

• Must be a follower of this blog
• Must comment on this post
• Must read Contest and Giveaway Rules
• Must follow Lori Pescatore on Facebook or Twitter
• Must fill out the entry form

Good luck!!!

Review: The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone by T L Clarke

Series:   A Gabby Girls Adventures, Book #1

Genre:  YA, Fantasy

Published:  July 2010

Publisher: One Wish Publishing

Author Website: http://tlclarke.blogspot.com

Format I Read:  ebook

Pages:  88 (Nook pages)

Source:  Author

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

Can you help the Gabby Girls solve the clues?

The Gabby Girls are drawn together by the only thing that they have in common, which is the mysterious scarlet pendant they each possess. But things seem even stranger when they find a clue that tempts them with the answer to the question they have longed to know. 

After all, Gabby Girls always stick together, and every day is a...Gabby Girls Adventure!

My Thoughts

The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone is a quick and fun read.  It’s full of mystery, mischief, and girl power.  It took me back to my tween years when I first discovered what fun reading could be.  It also reminded me of The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins, my favorite tween books.

The book centers around four girls that are relative strangers but end up being roommates at boarding school.  At first they don’t have much in common but discover that they all have the same necklace and are anxious to unlock the mystery that has brought them together.

I thought the story was cute and well written, but it’s best suited for middle grade or junior high readers.  It was a little too innocent for my corrupted reading tastes, but still a good story. 

My  Rating

I give The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone three and ½ flowers of love.

1/2