Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Review: Shadow Embraced


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Shadow Embraced
Cheree Smith
Dark Cherry Press
 
 
No escape.

Those words haunt Scar's dreams. She thinks the creature that terrorizes her while asleep isn't real, but when she's abducted and taken to a reform school meant to contain creatures too dangerous to function in society, she starts to wonder whether she isn't some monster.

She turns to an underground fight club full of vampires, werewolves and witches established by the students to control her urges, and who is she kidding, she loves to fight.

When fighters begin to disappear, turning Scar into the prime suspect, she must race to prove her innocence before her true nature is exposed.

The only problem is that she's not entirely sure she's innocent.
 
 
My Review :  I really enjoyed this book. The fast pace and action was great. I liked Scar because she was a teen and acted like one. She was rebellious like all teen are to discover who they are. I also like her because she was not afraid of any one, male or female. She is a strong character.
 
  The action in this story is very violent but does not cross the line into gruesome. I also found the world created very captivating and easy to lose yourself in. The paranormal aspect were well done too and included all paranormal beings. This book was a very unique and interesting read I look forward to the second in the series. I would like to see more growth of the characters.  
 
 



Review: You Are Mine





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You Are Mine
Janeal Falor
 
 
Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.
 
 
 
My Review: I was a little taken back by this book. Women being owned. I was intrigued to read more. Serena is a outspoken and courageous character in a time when a woman can be punished for speaking her mind and is only valued for her blood (or magic in her blood). I relate to Serena because I speak my mind and I protect the ones I love. Serena is old enough to enter the marriage pool and is found to have high levels of magic in her blood, which make her very sought after by the upper class of her society . This pleases her farther who wants to sell her for a good price.
 
  I did enjoy this book. I like the interesting society Janeal Falor created and her take on the warlock culture is also unique. Serena is a great character though she puts up with a lot of cruel and unusual punishments in a world that allows them. She never stops being true to herself. It is inspiring to have a character who knows things are wrong and does not fear to question things or does not think before talking. The supporting characters are just as well written and give substance to a wonderful story. I will be looking for more in this series because I need to see what happens next.
 
 



Saturday, October 26, 2013

Review The Girls He Adored




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The Girls He Adored
Jonathan Nasaw
Atria Books
Adult Suspense
 
For ten years, the charmingly disheveled veteran FBI Special Agent E.L. Pender has been investigating the apparently random disappearances of a dozen women across the country. The only detail the cases have in common is the strawberry blond color of the victims' hair, and the presence of a mystery man with whom they were last seen. Then, in Monterey, California, a routine traffic stop erupts into a scene of horrific violence. The local police are stunned by a disemboweled strawberry blond victim and an ingenious killer with multiple alternating personalities. Pender is convinced he has found his man, but before he can prove it, the suspect stages a cunning jailbreak and abducts his court-appointed psychiatrist, Irene Cogan.

In a house on a secluded ridge in Oregon, Irene must navigate through the minefield of her captor's various egos -- male and female, brilliant and naïve, murderous and passive -- all of whom are dominated by Max, a seductive killer who views her as both his prisoner and his salvation. Irene knows that to survive she must play along with Max's game of sexual perversion. Only then will she be able to strip back the layers to discover a chilling story of a shattered young boy -- and all the girls he adored.


My Review: This book was great. I should have read it sooner. Pulse pounding action and intriguing plot. Jonathan Nasaw is a wonderful writer that make you want to read more. I wanted to scream at points while reading this book. Fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and chills running up your spine. Dark and deadly two of my favorite things to read. Could not tear myself away from the story.
    Well written and fast paced I could not believe I read this book so fast. I am continuing the series even though I will have to re purchase the first two books so they will be on my book case for a creepy and terrifying re-read for next year.






 


Review : Sweet Venom


 


 
 
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Sweet Venom
Tera Lynn Childs
Katherine Tegen Books
Y/A
 
Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.
 
 
 
My Review :  Amazing, outstanding, and action packed. Those are the words to describe this book. I must admit I bought this book not knowing anything about it I just loved the cover. I am glad I did. I loved the story of the three girls and how different they are. I enjoy mythology and this new take on Medusa is delightful to read. Once the action in this story starts hold on to your seat. Fast paced and very enjoyable this books makes you hold your breath at points and laugh out loud at others. Great read for anyone who likes Mythology and thinks they know everything there is about Medusa and her sister.  
 
 
 
           





Sunday, October 20, 2013

Review : An Ice Cold Grave





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An Ice Cold Grave
Charlaine Harris       
Berkley  
 
 
Hired to find a boy gene missing in Doraville, North Carolina, Harper Connelly and her brother Tolliver head there, only to discover that the boy was the only one left of several who had disappeared over the previous five years. All of them teenagers. All unlikely runaways.

All calling for Harper.

Harper soon finds them—eight victims, buried in the half-frozen ground, all come to an unspeakable end. Afterward, what she most wants to do is collect her fee and get out of town ahead of the media storm that's soon to descend. But when she's attacked and prevented from leaving, she reluctantly becomes a part of the investigation as she learns more than she cares to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of Doraville—knowledge that makes her the next person likely to rest in an ice-cold grave.
 
 
My Review :  This is the third book in the series so I will not spoil it for you. I did enjoy this book. Harper was struck by lightning when she was a teenager and as a result has the power to find dead bodies. Her and Tolliver (Her adopted brother ) Now travel the country and help local law enforcement and private citizens to locate bodies.
       This is a good series I enjoy the mystery that always surrounds the bodies and the way the crimes are eventually solved. Harper is a wonderful character and I love how she has grown as a person over the course of the series. Tolliver is the devoted brother and travel companion who is mysterious and sometimes creepy himself but always there for Harper in a jam. Their relationship goes through some bumpy points but they are always there for each other.
     I am going to read the last one in the series and I will miss Harper I hope the series ends well. I have also saved all four of the books so I can re-read them and keep them on my bookcase. These books remind me of "The Body Finder " series.
 


  
         

Review : The Monstrumologist








The Monstrumologist
Rick Yancey
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
 
 
These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me.

So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthorpe, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

A gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does man become the very thing he hunts?
 
 
 
My Review: This book was amazing. It is refreshing not to read a book about vampires, zombies and werewolves. Rick Yancey has created a monster that chills the blood. The monsters in this book are exactly that monsters. Refreshing to see and read about. I am happy to read this book for the sheer terror instilled by the wonderful description of these creatures. A creature that's only purpose is to feed on humans . That is the first thing that grabbed me about this book. 
   The second thing was the idea that there is a science to study monsters. A hidden society of men whose life is dedicated to hunting and examining these beast to protect the people of the world and have a better understanding of them. 
   Third was Will Henry himself 12 years old working in this field with Dr. Pellinore Warthorpe ( the half crazed scientist ) and his dedication to this man. His loyalty to a man who has not a responsible bone in his body. The relationship that bonds them is touching at times but the other times you don't understand why Will Henry does not just run the heck away. 
 The last thing is the writing. To say this was well written would be an understatement. It is the best book I have read in a long time one of my favorites and I am going to continue the series because I got lost in the world that Mr. Yancey wrote about and I want to go back there. I will keep my eyes peeled for monsters.
 
 
 
  
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Review: Sky Jumpers


 


 
 
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Sky Jumpers
Peggy Eddleman
Random House Children's Books
 
 
12-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town struggling to recover from the green bombs of World War III. The bombs destroyed almost everything that came before, so the skill that matters most in White Rock—sometimes it feels like the only thing that matters—is the ability to invent so that the world can regain some of what it’s lost.

But Hope is terrible at inventing and would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath—the deadly band of air that covers the crater the town lives in—than fail at yet another invention.

When bandits discover that White Rock has invented priceless antibiotics, they invade. The town must choose whether to hand over the medicine and die from disease in the coming months or to die fighting the bandits now. Hope and her friends, Aaren and Brock, might be the only ones who can escape through the Bomb’s Breath and make the dangerous trek over the snow-covered mountain to get help.

For once, inventing isn’t the answer, but the daring and risk-taking that usually gets Hope into trouble might just save them all.
 
 
 
My Review: This is a wonderful debut from Peggy Eddleman. I look forward to reading more from her. This book is a middle grade read that has values we should encourage all children to have. Valuable friendships, a belief in oneself and self value. I like Hope because she never gives up and her determination is inspiring to people to young and old alike. I am running out and getting a copy for my daughter tomorrow because I thing all kids and parents should read this book.
 
 
 


Review: Pretty Dark Nothing

 


 
 
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Pretty Dark Nothing
Heather L. Reid
Month9Books
 
 
 
It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.


My Review: I was looking for a great Halloween read and I found it. The fact that I read this in one night tells you I could not put this book down. If your looking for a intense and nightmarish story this is it. I loved it. The darkness of this story keep me on the edge of my seat.
 Quinn the main characters life falls apart. Father leaves his family, boyfriend dumps her, then the nightmares begin. Not being able to sleep without plunging into a dream filled with demonic creatures that she can not keep at bay. Using any method she can to stay awake works for a while till she collapse at school. A fellow student name Aaron helps her.

    The relationship between Quinn and Aaron is stormy and can be frustrating at times but as you read on you understand why. I found this book a delightful read if your looking for something to scare you a little with enough twists and turns to keep you reading this is a great book.


 

Monday, October 7, 2013

Review : The Iron King


 


 
 
 
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The Iron King
Julie Kagawa
Harlequin Teen
 
 
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
 
 
My Review: If like me you have waited for all the hype of books to die down before you read a book. Then let me tell you to run out and buy this book. I was enchanted by this book. I could not figure out why I waited so long to get around to reading it. I could not and did not tear myself away from this book for days. I was getting less sleep and thinking about the book more. This is the first book I have read from Julie Kagawa but not my last. Loved this book and looking  forward to reading the rest of the series.
 
 
    The world building is descriptive and dazzling. I was transported into a world I did not want to leave.  I also like how the author used characters from Shakespeare' s works. My daughter has never read " A Midsummer Nights' Dream " This book has her interested in that now. I could not put this book down and as soon as I am able I will be buying the second in this interesting and wonderful series. I am on a book buying ban right now trying to clean old books out for the new books I want.


                                     
  

Review : Zoey Rogue











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Zoey Rogue
Lizzy Ford ( Incubatti # 1)
Evatopia Press
 
 
He only needs three nights to make her his …

With more heart than sense, fearless, beautiful Zoey has saved countless college-aged women from horrifying deaths at the hands of supernatural sadists. She may be a mere half-succubus in a society that views half-breeds with derision, but she still retains the highest rescue rate of any Hunter in the Sucubatti society.

As the calm, disciplined leader of the Incubatti Enforcers, Declan is the polar opposite of Zoey – and the sworn enemy of her society. Forced to rescue her one night, Declan realizes two things: he doesn’t need someone as wild and independent as Zoey in his life – and he can’t live without her.

In this world, there’s only one incubus for every Sucubatti and Zoey and Declan are stuck with each other. They’re just as likely to kill each other as they are to yield to each other’s sex magic.

She has authority issues and drinks too much. He is the irresistibly sexy incubus pre-ordained to tame her. Neither can fight their intense attraction, and yet trusting each other is out of the question.

What happens when their worlds crash down around them?

Strike three. You’re mine.
 
 
My Review: I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced and action filled. This book keeps the reader entertained and in the story. Zoey is a strong and self reliant hero who only wants to have a normal life. That is quite hard when you are a Halfling ( succubus and human) created in a lab to do one thing fight and kill  Cambions ( Incubus and human mothers ).  Who threatens young women.
  
   When Zoey's "normal" life falls apart and she feels like giving up, she meets her Soul-Mate but there is one problem. He is an Incubus, her sworn enemy. How can that be. Being pulled into two different direction one by loyalty and one by an attraction she can't explain she must decide who too trust. 

 That is the part I really liked. The part I was torn over was the sex in the book. This is my first New Adult book I have read and I don't know if it is because I am a mother but I would not give this to my daughter to read at age thirty let alone seventeen.  Then I thought back to when I was seventeen and I would have wanted to read this book. I think this is a great read for mature 17 year olds and older.