Mini Review: Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate

Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate
Details: Hardcover, First, 452 pages
Published: December 8th 2009 by Delacorte Press
Source: I bought it
My Rating: 3/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

My Review: Between the beautiful cover and all the great things people were saying about this book I just knew I had to pick it up right away. I read it not long after I bought it and I just have to say that I was very disappointed. Maybe if my expectations weren't so high going into it I would have loved it.
I found the story to be a bit slow at times and I didn't feel that attached to any of the characters. However, I did enjoy it enough that I bought Torment. I haven't been in any hurry to read the second book but I plan on getting to it soon. Hopefully it will be better than Fallen.

Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Details: Paperback, 345 pages
Published: March 8th 2004 by Puffin (first published May 27th 2002)
Source: I won it.
My Rating: 4/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?



My Review: Believe it or not, this was the first Sarah Dessen book I've ever read. I actually won this book awhile ago with a couple of others. I just kept putting it off since I didn't know what to expect going into it but I can honestly say that I enjoyed it so much that now I want to read all of Sarah Dessens books.

This Lullaby was a fantastic read. It was also a fast read. I flew right through it needing to know how it would end. I just couldn't put it down. I kept telling myself that I would take a break after one more chapter but that never happened. I read the whole thing in one sitting.

The main character, Remy, was hard to like at times but for me that just made her seem more real. She actually had flaws which is pretty unique. Usually if a main character has flaws it's something that can be looked at as kind of cute and not much of an actual flaw. So as much as I wanted to smack Remy sometimes, it was also refreshing to have a character that seemed so real.

Dexter was just plain awesome. I wanted to be friends with him from the start. He is so funny and just impossible to not like. He had me laughing so hard at times. Even weeks after reading This Lullaby I wanted Dexter to be real and not a fictional character so I could hang out with him
Overall, this was a great book, with an interesting plot and it was well written. I am now a Sarah Dessen fan and I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

Mini Review: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins
Details: Hardcover, 390 pages
Published: August 24th 2010 by Scholastic Press
Source: I bought it
My Rating: 4/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

My Review: I love this trilogy, however I was slightly disappointed with this book. After I finished Catching Fire, I had to start Mockingjay right away. Going from such an amazing read is probably why I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two. Don't get me wrong, it is still an incredible read, it just didn't feel the same as the books before it.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because even though it was a bit of a let down, I still really loved it. I wish there was more.

Review: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Details: Hardcover, 391 pages
Published: September 1st 2009 by Scholastic Press
Source: I bought it.
My Rating: 5/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol

My Review: What can I say about Catching Fire other than wow! I put off reading The Hunger Games because of all the hype. After I finally read it, and loved it, I told myself I would put off reading Catching Fire because I wanted these books to last as long as possible. It wasn't easy but I managed to keep it on my shelf for a month or so.

I finally caved and read it and I loved it just as much as the first book. I may have even enjoyed it more. I want to dive right into Mockingjay. I want, no, I need more.

Collins really knows how to create amazing stories and develop incredible characters. I need to read Mockingjay right now. I can't wait any longer. I have to know how it all ends.

Review: Far from Xanadu by Julie Anne Peters

Far from Xanadu by Julie Anne Peters

Details: Paperback, 288 pages
Published: April 1st 2007 by Little, Brown Young Readers
Source: I won it.
My Rating: 5/5
Buy It: Amazon

Summary: Every day in Coalton is pretty much the same. Mike pumps iron in the morning, drives her truck to school, plays softball in the afternoon, and fixes the neighbors' plumbing at night. But when an exotic new girl, Xanadu, arrives in the small Kansas town, Mike's world is turned upside down. Xanadu is everything Mike is not--cool, complicated, sexy, and...straight. This heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful novel will speak to anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone just out of reach.


My Review: Julie Anne Peters is probably my favorite author, so needless to say when I found out I won a book of my choice, I picked this one.

Every book I've read by her is even better than the one before it. This one is no different. I devoured it. I just couldn't get enough and in the end, as always with Peters books, I wanted more.

I have fallen for a lot of straight girls in my life and I know how hard it is. Especially when they do the kind of things that Xanadu does. It's torture and never ends well. So I know exactly how Mike feels and what she goes through. I have related to characters before, but never like this.

The writing, as usual, is incredible. It is so easy to read, it just flows and pulls you right in. It's kind of like watching a movie. The characters and the plot are believable and real and I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I needed to know what was going to happen next.

If you've never read anything by Julie Anne Peters, what are you waiting for? They are some of the best books I've ever read. I need to get more of her books and soon.

Please, I am begging you, pick this book up. You will not regret it. In fact, pick up all of her books. You will love them.

Far From Xanadu now has a new title, Pretend You Love Me, and a new cover. I may have to buy it just for the hell of it.

Buy It: The Book Depository

Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Details: Hardcover, 563 pages
Published: December 1st 2009 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: I bought it.
My Rating: 5/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: 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.

My Review: This was another one of those books that I was worried about reading because of all the hype. Just like I was with The Hunger Games. Once again, I am super happy I picked this book up.

I honestly don't think I can say one bad thing about Beautiful Creatures. It is the perfect book. Everything about it is incredible. I love the characters, the plot, the writing, not to mention the cover is gorgeous. I have absolutely no complaints.

I will be recommending this book to everyone I know and if you haven't read it yet, you must. It is one of the best books I have ever read. I can't wait to start reading Beautiful Darkness. And you can count on me buying Beautiful Chaos when it comes out.

Review: Mission (Un)Popular by Anna Humphrey

Mission (Un)Popular by Anna Humphrey

Details: Hardcover, 416 pages
Published: June 14th 2011 by Hyperion Book CH
Source: I got it for review.
My Rating: 3/5
Buy It: Amazon

Summary: Margot Button has a resolution for 7th grade: Be more normal. Easier said than done when you have --no best friend (sent to Catholic school because of your "bad influence")--no new clothes (stepdad had a "moral objection" to his job)--no eyebrows (tweezer mishap)--improvised bangs (see above)--a new nickname ("Hamburglar")--an unpaid afterschool job (babysitting the triplets--five days a week) Well, Rome wasn't built in a day. If Margot could just learn to control her big mouth (and hair), there is hope. The new girl, Em, needs a friend too. Plus she dresses like a rock star, is quick with comebacks, and actually has the guts to stand up to Evil Sarah. Em has an agenda for change at Manning Middle School and wants Margot on her side. Progress! So, okay, Em has a flexible relationship with the truth, and goes too far with her comebacks. And her secret campaign to turn the tables on Sarah's clique may involve bending some laws. But after years of Sarah's bullying, it's hard for Margot to resist Em's call to action. Margot's approval rating is finally up, and well, it's only fair to take the mean girls down a few notches...isn't it?

My Review: Mission (Un)Popular is a really good book. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry and it even has a great message.

Margot goes through a lot throughout this book and comes out a better person for it. She learns a lot about herself, friendship and life in general.

I found this book to be well written and is very believable. As someone who was walked all over by "friends" and was always doing dumb stuff to fit in when I was a kid, I can definitely relate to Margot. I will be reading more by Anna Humphrey in the future.

Review: The MIS-Adventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. Peterson

The MIS-Adventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. Peterson


Details: Paperback, 96 pages
Published: June 14th 2011 by Bonneville
Source: I got it for review.
My Rating: 4/5
Buy It: Amazon

Summary: Pip, whose real name is Phillip Isaac Penn, feels that the world is against him as he struggles to deal with angry parents, a bossy older sister, a frazzled teacher, and memorable characters such as Bully Bart, Cheater Chaz, Know-It-All Nell, Liar Lizzy, Stealer Steffan, Conman Cody, and Tattle-Tale Tess. Every day of the week brings another challenge that Pip handles in his own endearing way. Yet, no matter how hard he tries, he realizes that it’s just not easy being a kid.

My Review: Pip really dislikes his name and no matter how hard he tries to be good, he always seems to get into trouble at home and at school.

I was smiling the whole time I read this book. It is such a cute, fast read. Pip is a really great character. He reminded me of myself when I was younger. I was always getting yelled at.

I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone. It's a great book for younger teens and kids, but it's so much fun that older teens and adults will enjoy it too.

Review: Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef

Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef

Details: Hardcover, 192 pages
Published: April 18th 2011 by Clarion Books
Source: I got it for review.
My Rating: 3/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Jane Austen’s popularity never seems to fade. She has hordes of devoted fans, and there have been numerous adaptations of her life and work. But who was Jane Austen? The writer herself has long remained a mystery. And despite the resonance her work continues to have for teens, there has never been a young adult trade biography on Austen.

Catherine Reef changes that with this highly readable account. She takes an intimate peek at Austen’s life and innermost feelings, interweaving her narrative with well-crafted digests of each of Austen’s published novels. The end result is a book that is almost as much fun to read as Jane’s own work—and truly a life revealed. Includes bibliography and index.

My Review: I just re-read this review and I think it is pretty obvious that I have no idea how I feel about this book. I am all over the place. I both liked this book and felt like it didn't do what it was supposed to do, tell me more about Jane Austen.

Jane Austen: A Life Revealed is a short, fast, easy to read biography for young adults. It is packed full of information about Janes' family and her novels. However I feel like I still don't know much about Jane. This book is well researched and well written, although a bit slow at some parts and once in awhile it reminded me a little of something a teen would write for school.

I still can't believe how much I learned about her family in such a short time. I just wish I learned more about Jane. That is why I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was good and I did enjoy it, I just don't feel like it tells you much about Jane herself. You learn about her family, friends and novels, but not Jane.

I wouldn't recommend this book to people who haven't read all of Jane Austens' novels due to spoilers, I do think everyone who has read them all should pick this up. It is a must read for all Jane Austen lovers. Even if it leaves you with more questions then answers.

Review: The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch

The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch

Details: Paperback, 288 pages
Published: October 4th 2010 by Norn Publishing
Source: I got it for review.
My Rating: 5/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: She gave up everything to become a Salbine Sister, member of a religious order of powerful female mages. But when Maddy nearly dies while trying to draw forth elemental fire, she learns that Salbine has withdrawn from her the gifts every sister works to master. Feeling trapped in an order to which she no longer has any right to belong and believing herself unworthy of the love of Lillian, one of the most powerful mages in the sisterhood, Maddy begs the abbess to let her travel to another monastery to research her condition.

On her journey, Maddy's faith in both herself and Salbine are tested to their limits. When she attempts to draw fire and fails horribly, frightened townsfolk throw Maddy into prison. Fearing that the abbess will never learn her fate and rescue her, Maddy resigns herself to a short and brutal life.

The only bright spot in Maddy's existence is Emmey, the pickpocket with whom she shares a cell. Through her and the steadfast love of Lillian, Maddy learns that Salbine's purpose is not always the same for everyone, and that love and compassion are more valuable than magic.

My Review: The Salbine Sisters is an incredible read. I honestly don't even know where to begin. This is one of the best book I've read so far this year. It is beautifully written, with amazing characters and a fantastic plot. I wish it never had to end. I just couldn't get enough and when I got to the last page I was so sad that there was no more.

I love this book so much and I recommend it to everyone. You have to pick this one up. Please get it. It is a must read. You will love it. I know I will be re-reading this one in the future. Probably more than once.

Review: The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

Details: Hardcover, 314 pages
Published: February 8th 2011 by Walden Pond Press
Source: I got it for review.
My Rating: 4/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Chris Rylander delivers a funny Ferris Bueler-style middle grade novel with The Fourth Stall.

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. It's what he does—he and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boys' bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday. It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over, it's going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples, an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school, and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years. And that's just the beginning. Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else's problems is that there's no one left to solve yours.

My Review: The Fourth Stall is a fun read. It was surprisingly intense and very well written. It wasn't as light as I thought it was going to be and there was a lot of action.

The kids in this book are so brave, smart and tough. I wouldn't want to go up against them.

Rylander creates an exciting, unique story that is impossible to stop reading. This is a very hard book to put down. I definitely recommend it.

Review: Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

Details: Hardcover, 336 pages
Published: October 12th 2010 by Bloomsbury
Source: I got it from a friend
My Rating: 3/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Lady Catherine is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens—until her forbidden romance with Sir Walter Ralegh is discovered. In a bitter twist of irony, the jealous queen banishes Cate to Ralegh's colony of Roanoke, in the New World. Ralegh pledges to come for Cate, but as the months stretch out, Cate begins to doubt his promise and his love. Instead it is Manteo, a Croatoan Indian, whom the colonists—and Cate—increasingly turn to. Yet just as Cate's longings for England and Ralegh fade and she discovers a new love in Manteo, Ralegh will finally set sail for the New World.

Seamlessly weaving together fact with fiction, Lisa Klein's newest historical drama is an engrossing tale of adventure and forbidden love—kindled by one of the most famous mysteries in American history: the fate of the settlers at Roanoke, who disappeared without a trace forty years before the Pilgrims would set foot in Plymouth.

My Review: Cate was one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens until she fell for Sir Walter Ralegh and is sent away. She is strong and brave and forced to start a challenging and terrifying life in a new place where she doesn't know if she, or anyone else, will survive.

Cate of the Lost Colony is an incredible and well written story with love and adventure. I was pulled right in from the start.

If you like historical fiction, there is a good chance you will enjoy this book. I will definitely be reading more by Lisa in the future.

Review: Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely #3) by Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely #3) by Melissa Marr

Details: Paperback, 389 pages
Published: May 28th 2009 by HarperCollins Children's Books
Source: I bought it.
My Rating: 4/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Aislinn never expected to rule in Faerie--but that was before Keenan stole her mortality to make her a monarch. Now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever dreamed of.

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone--but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he's ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on a new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

My Review: I love this series. It is one of my all time favorites. Every single book is incredible and well written. Out of the three I've read so far, Fragile Eternity isn't my favorite, but I still absolutely loved it.

Melissa Marr really brings the story and characters to life. You feel like you are actually there and not just reading a book.

I love how much focus is on Seth in this book. He is an amazing character and it's nice to know more about what he's thinking and feeling.

I honestly can't wait to start reading the next book, Radiant Shadows. Hopefully that will be sometime this summer.

Review: Ironside by Holly Black

Ironside (The Modern Faerie Tales #3) by Holly Black

Details: Paperback, 336 pages
Published: August 6th 2007 by Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Source: I bought it.
My Rating: 3/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie.

Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?

Holly Black spins a seductive tale at once achingly real and chillingly enchanted, set in a dangerous world where pleasure mingles with pain and nothing is exactly as it appears.

My Review: Ironside is the third and final book in the Modern Faerie Tales trilogy and it was a pretty good end. Valiant is still my favorite of the three, however I really did like this book.

Ironside was hard to put down. It didn't pull me in as much as Valiant, or even Tithe, but I still wanted to keep reading to find out how it all would end. I have to admit though that I was just a tiny bit disappointed in the ending. It just didn't feel finished.

Holly Black is a fabulous writer. She creates a gripping story filled with friendship and danger. So of course I would definitely recommend this trilogy to everyone. All three books are fast, fun and well written.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins
Details: Hardcover, 374 pages
Published: October 1st 2008 by Scholastic, Inc.
Source: I bought it.
My Rating: 5/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Review: Where do I begin? I've read only three books this year so far that have pulled me in completely and this is one of them. While reading The Hunger Games I forgot all about sleep and eating. I couldn't put it down. I read right through it, dying to know what was going to happen next.

There were so many times I picked The Hunger Games up in the store just to put it back because of all the hype. It's the same reason it sat on my self for months before I finally decided to give it a try.

The hype for other books ruined them for me so I was more than a little worried going into this one. I am so glad I didn't pass it up. I think the last time I read a book with a plot this good, characters this interesting and with writing this incredible was when I read Harry Potter for the first time. I have never compared anything to Harry Potter before because I had never read anything as perfect as that series until now.

If the other two books are as amazing as the first, I know I will be re-reading all three over and over again for many years.

Review: Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. & Kristin Cast

Details: Hardcover, 290 pages
Published: January 4th 2011 by St. Martin's Grffin
Source: I got it for my birthday
My Rating: 2/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: “My love, speak to me. Tell me everything.” Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.

“What would you have me say?” He didn’t meet her eyes.

“Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

“She does.”

“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.” She started to walk away from him.

“Where are you going? What will happen next?”

“It is quite simple. I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma. There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

My Review: While I was reading this book I couldn't stop thinking about other things. I don't know if I'm getting sick of this series or if this book just wasn't as good as some of the others. It seemed to be very slow with not a lot happening. I didn't get pulled in like I have before with these books and I didn't find it at all interesting until the last few chapters.

It did have it's good moments, but like I said, they were near the end and by that point it was a little late. I almost gave up on this book. There were also some things that made me angry and I spent a lot of the time rolling my eyes at the characters.

In the end, I will probably still buy the next book, Destined, and keep going with this series until the end. I just hope it gets better.

Review: American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout

American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout

Deatils: Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Published: February 22nd 2011 by Mira
Source: I got it for my birthday.
My Rating: 5/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: HE'S THE GOOD KIND OF VAMPIRE. SORT OF.
Buried in the Heartland is a town that no one enters or leaves. Graf McDonald somehow becomes its first visitor in more than five years…and he was only looking for a good party. Unfortunately, Penance, Ohio, is not that place. And after having been isolated for so long, they do not like strangers at all.

Jessa's the only one to even remotely trust him, and she's desperate for the kind of protection that only a vampire like Graf can provide. Supplies are low, the locals are ornery for a sacrifice and there's a monster more powerful than Graf lurking in the woods. New men are hard to come by in this lonesome town, and this handsome stranger might be Jessa's only hope for salvation.

Even if she has to die first…

My Review: Graf McDonald is a vampire. He is also stuck in a small town with people who haven't been able to leave or have seen anyone new in five years, and they don't like strangers. To make matters worse, there is a monster more powerful than he is somewhere in the woods.

When he first arrives in Penance, Ohio he meets Jessa. Graf saves her life and she takes him in before she knows what he is. Though they argue a lot, Jessa is the only one in the town that trusts him.

I could not put this book down. It's been a very long time since I've been pulled into a story this much. If I did put the book down it wasn't for long because it was all I could think about. I had to pick it back up and keep reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next.

The plot is fast-paced. The Writing is incredible and the characters are very real. Jennifer made being stuck in a small town with a vampire and a monster believable. I will definitely be reading more by her.

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimee Carter

Details: Paperback, 304 pages
Published: April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Source: I got it for my birthday.
My Rating: 3/5
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Review: Kates' mom is dying and wants to move back to her childhood home. While there, Kate meets Henry who says he is Hades and will keep her mother alive if she agrees to spend six months with him trying to past seven tests.

How could I not enjoy a book like that? It sounded so good and I hadn't read a book with a twist on Greek myths before. I am definitely happy that I picked The Goddess Test up. It was a fast, easy read that would be perfect for summer. I just wish I had saved it for the beach.

I really liked Henry. I thought he was a great character but I'm not so sure how I feel about Kate. I honestly can't say that I didn't like her but I don't know if I can say that I did. As for the writing, it was a little too easy and fast for me and I think that is the biggest problem I had with this book. I wanted more.

I liked The Goddess Test but I just didn't love it. I still enjoyed it enough that I will be getting the second book, Goddess Interrupted, when it comes out next year.

Review: Valiant by Holly Black

Valiant (The Modern Faerie Tales #2) by Holly Black

Details: Paperback, 336 pages

Published: September 5th 2005 by SIMON & SCHUSTER CHI

Source: I bought it.
My rating: 5/5

Summary: When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

My Review: Val comes home to a very big surprise, and not the good kind. Deciding to get away from it all she runs off to New York City. While there she meets some kids her age and they start hanging out. This leads her into some new and interesting situations.

Valiant is such a fast, fun, intense and compelling read. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I don't have one single complaint with this book other then I wish it was longer.

Holly Black is a fantastic writer. You get pulled right into the story and feel like you are right there with the characters, experiencing it all with them.

I will definitely be reading this one again.