Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon by Meg Cabot

April 26, 2011 by Point

Hardcover, 304 Pages

Borrowed/Library

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.
Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Review

In this modern day retelling of the Hades/Persephone legend, Pierce a girl who has it all quietly dies in her backyard while trying to save a bird stuck in her pool. Sometimes having it all -like money- doesn't stop fate from claiming its dead and as Pierce enters the afterlife, she is unaware death has even claimed her, until she meets the Lord of the underworld and is reminded of a time long ago when she met him at her grandfathers funeral. Cold, confused and allured by the mysterious mystery man, Pierce agrees to enter his home, but when faced with the choice to stay with John (Hades) or escape, Pierce chooses the later. 

Faced with her inner turmoil over her dark, romantic and twisted feelings over John and her death, Pierce deals with the aftermath of coming back from the dead. Her A+ brain doesn’t work as well as it once had, her parents have separated, her mother has moved them to a small town on an Island and she’s also starting a new school for alternative kids. All this combined with feelings that leaving death may have been a mistake leave Pierce depressed and confused. What Pierce doesn't know, is that the underworld knows all about her and they know John is in-love with her, making enemies come out of the woodwork to end Pierces existence. As John fights to keep her safe and Pierce faces danger head on, the two will have to finally work things out to bring balance back to the underworld.

I liked Abandon for what it was and really appreciated the fact that Cabot used Greek Mythology centered around her characters verses writing about actual Greek gods themselves. It gave the story freshness and a tad of originality. This was a few hours of laid back reading, even though at times it had the feel of a book-one-set-up, the characters were engrossing enough to overlook the nonevents happening. I wanted a lot more romance but got more of a friendship building into romance, so I did enjoy the tension. Im a big Meg fan so Ill be continuing on with the series. I must see if the romance will finally sizzle or if our caged bird will fly the coop.

Rating

Abandon is recommended to teen (14&up) and adult readers. Contains: Greek Mythology, death, suspense, subtle romance, kissing and mild violence.

3/5- YA-Greek Mythology

Twilight Re-Read Along!

So today I signed up to do the Twilight Re-Read Along! Hosted by a great group of blogs Im excited to go back to Forks and visit Edward and Bella again!

Schedule:

Monday, June 27: GReads! -
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 1-5

Monday, July 4: Lisa the Nerd -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 1-5
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 6-10

Monday, July 11: The Reading Housewives -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 6-10
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 11-15

Monday, July 18: Secret Life of an Avid Reader -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 11-15
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 16-20

Monday, July 25: The Reading Housewives -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 16-20
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 21-24 + epilogue

Monday, August 1: GReads! -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 21-24 + epilogue
Wrap up & Finale

If you want to sign up...head over HERE!

Bridge to a Distant Star by Carolyn Williford

Bridge to a Distant Star 

by Carolyn Williford

June 1, 2011 by David C. Cook

Paperback, 384 Pages

Review Copy

It All Comes Tumbling Down..........

As a storm rages in the night, unwary drivers venture onto Tampa Bay’s most renowned bridge. No one sees the danger ahead. No one notices the jagged gap hidden by the darkness and rain. Yet when the bridge collapses vehicles careen into the churning waters of the bay below. In that one catastrophic moment, three powerful stories converge: a family ravaged by their child’s heartbreaking news, a marriage threatened by its own facade, and a college student burdened by self doubt. As each story unfolds, the characters move steadily closer to that fateful moment on the bridge. And while each character searches for grace, the storms in their lives loom as large as the storm that awaits them above the bay.

Thoughts

Our story opens upon a rainy and gloomy scene, one which launches us right into the collapse of the Tampa Bay Skyway Bridge, where vehicles plunge into the waters below. I knew devastation was happening but to whom I didn’t and that’s where Williford begins her story and rewinds us back to meet the characters in her book. I painstakingly got to know members of three separate families and only painful because I knew they would be a part of that bridge collapse when everything met full circle in the end. My emotions got completely tangled up because I knew what was coming and I wanted to jump in the book, standing in front of that bridge blocking the characters from driving on it.

It’s certainly a mix of emotions and feelings hard to review without spoiling the journey this book has to offer. The ending however really did surprise me, I guess my mind frame didn’t match the time frame going on, which left me shocked and at a loss for words when the characters all tied together in the end. By far, Bridge to a Distant Star delivered a very gripping, intense climatic end with an emotional engaging in between.

Rating

BTADS is recommended to adult and mature teen readers. Contains: Suspense, accident violence, marital issues, teen issues including rebellion-aspirations-depression-romance, accident violence, hope and some intense situations.

4/5- Inspy-Thriller

Thanks to David C. Cook and the CFBA for Review Copy

Shelf Cravings {22}

 Welcome to Shelf Cravings an event now moved to Tuesdays!! This feature is about all the books Im craving to get my hands on. Just new, coming soon, on the Nook or just discovered, this week Im excited for...  ~Coming Soon~   

Halflings by Heather Burch

Jan 2012 by Zondervan

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.


A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

March 2012 by Bethany House

When her father disappears in war-torn Mississippi, Hannah Dandridge finds herself responsible not only for her younger siblings but for the ranch her father recently acquired on the Texas plains. Though a marriage of convenience could ease her predicament, she determines to trust God for direction.

Wounded soldier William Barnett returns to his home only to discover that his family's ranch has been seized. Though angry and bitter at this turn of events, he's surprised to discover that it is a beautiful young woman with amazing fortitude who is struggling to keep the place running.

Hannah, desperate for help, and William, desperate to regain his family's land, form an uneasy truce. But nearby Comanche tribes, the arrival of Confederate soldiers, and a persistent suitor all threaten the growing attraction that builds between them. Will they be able to set aside their own dreams and embrace the promise of a future together?

  

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

November 2011 by Bonneville Books

After their father’s disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn’t long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself—the most dangerous place in all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you'll never forget.

      

Prized by Caragh O'Brien

(Birthmarked #2)

November 2011 by Roaring Brook

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

   ~Just Discovered for the Nook~  

Somber Island by T. Lynn Tolles

December 2010 by Troll Pub/$2.99

Phoebe MacIntire, who is a servant to her father and sisters in her own house in Scotland in 1855, is an ordinary girl, with no big dreams for the future. She's perfectly happy in her humble life, with her cot in the basement and her little garden in the backyard. But when her father up and sends her to Newfoundland to be the lifelong servant to Lord Jacobs, she finds her life gets turned upside down.

Her journey across the Atlantic to her new home is long, scary and very unpleasant. When she arrives at the manor on a small island, she finds the beautiful place abandoned and only a note waits for her explaining her duties, the strange dietary requirements, and sleeping habits of her new master. The very first night in her new home she's haunted in her dreams by a woman who clearly does not want her there and a strange blue-eyed man-wolf creature that follows the woman. Her dreams become more and more violent and mysteries start to be uncovered about a woman who was killed in a fire on the island, a creature that preys on anyone that comes to the island and a love story gone wrong that dates back over a hundred and twenty two years.

  ~Cant Wait to Read~  

Class Collision-Phoenix Rising

by Annette Mackey

February 18th 2011 by Mandolin Publishing

Linda marries him, but she doesn’t have a clue who he really is.

David Bastien, born into one of the wealthiest families on the eastern seaboard, loses everything when at the age of ten, he is kidnapped for ransom. Although he escapes, events conspire against him to prevent his return home. Now, years later he and Linda are on the run from his former boss, Linda’s father. After a quick elopement, they head off to Seattle. With the prospect of work, David hopes to build a life of lasting happiness together, though Linda isn’t so sure. After learning that David has been lying to her, she begins to worry that he will be just like her father, abusive and cruel. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, David is forced out to sea where his hope of survival replaces long lost dreams of returning home. Now he must either tell Linda who he really is, or risk taking his secrets to the grave. Don’t miss the exciting conclusion in the Class Collision series where love and loyalty are tested beyond measure, families threaten to rip apart, old relationships are confronted, and the strength of the human heart is pushed to the limit.

So..so excited to read Phoenix Rising and find out if David gets reunited with his long lost family or go's all crazy!! Im anxious to meet these Halflings, not to mention getting back into the Birthmarked series, one of my favorite reads last year. I cant wait to get busy with chores on the Ranch, meet this Cinder chick and travel to Somber Island where Im hoping things aren't too....somber.....  

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Die For Me by Amy Plum
Narrated by Julia Whelan
Length:9 hrs and 20 mins
Release Date:05-10-11
Bought/Audible

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Review

Kate knows sadness, shes been lost in it since the night her parents died. Even with her love of Paris and the love she has for her Grandparents, Kate feels a bit lost in her new surroundings. The romantic spot of the world and its flavorful art help sooth some of the sad parts, but not until Kate meets Vincent does her heart truly beat again.....And so sets the tone and story in Die for Me, a tale of a lonely girl who falls in love with handsome nonhuman Vincent. The rain, the sadness in Kate's heart and the unfamiliar paranormal world evoke a Gothic and gloomy feel that worked perfect.

When Kate meets Vincent, the only thing she knows for sure is that he's beautiful and interested in her. What she doesn't know and soon finds out is that Vincent is a Revenant, a person who is compelled to die saving others. While the revenant dies for humans, they always come back to life (unless beheaded and burned) and live forever under the compulsion, dying horrific deaths over and over again. While some can fight it for a time, eventually the urge overtakes them. On top of that, without dying the revenant needs to resurge and once a month will lay dormant (physically dead) for three days. Needless to say, revenants lack the proper skills in a human dating relationship, that whole compulsion to fling oneself off a bridge is liable to scare the gal being wined and dined and Kate is no exception.......

Overall the plot was simple and touches on a side of paranormal that I found original in the classic battle of good verses evil. It also brings two characters together, both heartbroken from their pasts and both longing for an intimate connection. Vincent and Kate were perfect together and their chemistry and romance ultimately is what heals them both. I suppose the only thing that bugged me in the couples story was the inevitable "separation", which I knew was added for dramatic flair but seriously not needed. Kate was already growing as a character and even though the direction forced Vincent to open up, I thought the relationship would have eventually come to that point before they could move forward. The ending climatic angle is what made Die for Me stand out, I thought the action was even better than the romance and loved that while still a series in the works it ended softly with no cliffhanger, and sometimes in a story I need to know it will continue yet I can rest easy waiting.

A romantic and deliciously good time.

Narration

I really loved listening to Die for Me and I thought Julia Whelan did an excellent job presenting the reader Kate's story. Her tone was perfect for Kate and she had an excellent accent for Vincent and pronouncing the French in the novel (things I totally would of jacked up trying to pronounce) I enjoyed the smooth flow of her voice and had a lot of fun getting lost in novel, even with the small snag in the story that I found (the break up phase) I overall found this entertaining and will continue on with the series.


Rating

Die For Me is recommended to teens (14 &up) and adults. Contains: Violence, murder, death, depression, folklore, romance, mild sensuality (kissing), clubbing and aspects of French culture.

Plot- Original, twisty folklore
Presentation- Narration only
Narration- Very Likable voice with a fantastic french flair

4/5- YA-Paranormal

52.25/330 Hours- Whisper Challenge

Thanks to my pocket book for a fun purchase!

The Saturday Spotlight with Cyndi Tefft & Giveaway

Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, a weekly feature hosted by Tinasbookreviews and celebrates indie, self-published, up& coming and debut authors. This week I have the pleasure of introducing readers to:


CYNDI  TEFFT

Faith and Sex in YA lit

by Cyndi Tefft

I was reading through the posts on Tina’s blog (thanks for having me!) and noticed that she reads a variety of Christian literature. My debut novel, Between, is a young adult paranormal romance novel that, while not technically in the Christian genre, does address issues of faith. It also has some relatively steamy love scenes, so is geared more towards older teens.

In preparation for the launch of Between, I contacted YA book bloggers to set up reviews and interviews. Many of them have a Review Policy noted (which is sooooo helpful) to help authors and publishers know what types of books they'll accept for review.

I've come across several (say dozens) that don't accept books with religious themes or tones. I find this curious, since I have come across only one or two who specifically note that they won't take books with mature sex scenes. Most of those have been tweens who note that their parents read the blog.There have been countless blogs about sex in YA (how much is too much, should it happen on the page or off, should there be consequences, what about protection, etc...). There hasn't been nearly as much talk about issues of faith, though I would wager that most kids have to come to terms with where they stand on religion, too.There was a Twitter #yalitchat session a while back on this very topic (faith in YA). I loved the interaction and the thoughts expressed by those tweeting. It was a great chat and something we should talk about more often.I'd love to see issues of God, faith, spirituality and religion as a part of a teen's coming of age experience be poured into YA books and accepted by readers (and bloggers). While Christian literature certainly has its place, we shouldn’t necessarily tag anything with faith themes as belonging to that genre.

Let's not be afraid of talking about God anymore than we're afraid of talking about sex in YA. Everyone will have a different opinion, and that's a good thing as long as we're respectful and kind.

The good news: Since the launch of Between on June 1, reviewers have consistently noticed the themes of faith and spirituality in the book, but all have stated that it doesn’t come across as preachy, but as central to the story. I couldn’t be more thankful about that!

***

Between is available in both print and ebook format from a variety of online retailers:

Ebook only: Smashwords, Apple

Print only: Createspace, My website (signed copy)

Print and ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

There are a variety of ways to connect with me online: My blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Shelfari, and LibraryThing. 

**Thanks so much Cyndi for those thoughts on faith in YA. I do read a lot of variety in books and include faith based novels in the mix. I think the genre has plenty to offer readers. The bloggers Ive come across have always been respectful of my own faith and Im suprised by how many of us are Christians, Catholics, Baptists, Mormons and the list gos on. I think Im always looking for that YA novel that has a character dealing with real life issues including faith aspects presented in a way that doenst come of as cheese-fluff or generic preachy thumping.

GIVEAWAY

Today thanks to Cyndi, she is giving away one Ebook copy of Between. Everyone is welcome to enter, just leave a comment. Winner will be drawn July 1, 2011.

Between by Cyndi Tefft

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent. 

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates. 

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries?

TGIF {1} and Mini-Reviews

Well today is TGIF, a new meme hosted by the lovely Ginger at GReads! Ive been pondering the idea of creating a weekly wrap up post and color me happy, I found one already being done at Gingers!! 

TGIF lets us wrap up the week and poses a weekly question. 

Summer Love: Where is your ideal place to take a 

summer vacation & get lost in a book?

I live in Michigan, I really like traveling and seeing other places, but seriously I really love where I live. My favorite place in Michigan is Ludington, a few hours drive from my house. Its a small town right on the Great Lake and its got a beautiful beach. I love spending the day there and reading, walking the pier and getting an ice cream cone. Ive never ventured out there by myself because the family loves it too, but its a great vacation spot.

This week at Tinas

The Saturday Spotlight (Nook Special)
Review: Legacy by Cayla Kluver
Giveaway! The Girl Who Circum. Fairyland
Review: Warm Bodies
Review: She Makes it Looks Easy
Tgif and Mini-Reviews!

How Huge the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn

April 2011 by Kregel

Paperback, 304 Pages

Review Copy

Fifteen-year-old Julien Losier just wants to fit in. But after his family moves to a small village in central France in hopes of outrunning the Nazis, he is suddenly faced with bigger challenges than the taunting of local teens. Nina Krenkel left her country to obey her father's dying command: Take your brother and leave Austria. Burn your papers. Tell no one you are Jews. Alone and on the run, she arrives in Tanieux, France, dangerously ill and in despair. Thrown together by the chaos of war, Julien begins to feel the terrible weight of the looming conflict and Nina fights to survive. As France falls to the Nazis, Julien struggles with doing what is right, even if it is not enough-and wonders whether or not he really can save Nina from almost certain death.

Thoughts:

There is something riveting and heartbreaking at the same time whenever I read stories about the Holocaust or anything surrounding WWII. How Huge the Night takes on the perspective of 15-year old Julien and young Nina- a Jewish girl pretending to be a boy in order to evade Nazi soldiers. Julien while new in town, is basically the social outcast among his peer groups, due to suspicions and the chaos of war he doesn't really have any friends. Nina, risks everything to get her brother and herself to safety. Each character goes through harrowing circumstances and learns the value of friendship,  love and above all else the will to survive.

I found HHTN to be an engrossing read, seeing the war and devastation through young eyes. The pacing at times moved along very slow, giving time for more thoughts, but making it hard to get through. It was a tad disappointing that Julien and Nina's story were not as together as I was expecting, I kept waiting for the story to bring them together like the synopsis eludes to, but it didn't work out the way. Regardless of that minor issue, I think this book would be fantastic for a book club or even a classroom setting (think Private-Christian) to get younger teens engaged in a discussion about that period in time. The book has very strong elements of faith and religion and that age old question of why and while it would be great for all teens to read, I would recommend this to those who enjoy books containing religion, history and thought-provoking, less entertaining values.

3/5- Inspy-Historical

Thanks to Kregel for Review Copy 

She Makes it Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

She Makes it Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

June 1, 2011 by David C. Cook
Paperback, 384 Pages

Review Copy

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that “perfection” isn’t always what it seems to be.

Review

I think we’ve all met that perfect woman....

You know the one who bakes, has a sparkling clean home, resembles Mother Teresa in deeds, has cookie cutter children and has a killer body to go with it??? Well, that's exactly who Justine is in She Makes it Look Easy, from the head of the neighborhood association to the head of the women's group at church, Justine builds a facade of perfect around her. With a devoted husband, beautiful little girls and organizational skills that would put Martha Stewart to shame, this woman has a life most would kill for. Of course this life of Justine's that many women pine over, is full of disease and major foundation cracks, ones that cant be seen from the outside. That's why when Ariel moves in next door and sees Justine as the mom who has it all together, she starts comparing herself, her kids and her marriage to that of her new neighbors. However, even with her insecurities, Ariel is thrilled to be Justine's new friend and will work her butt off to prove it.


At first the friendship is fun, Justine teaches Ariel how to bake bread from scratch, work in a daily run and get the low down on all the juicy gossip around the neighborhood. Ariel cant believe Justine would pick her, how could a perfect, beautiful woman pick a scatter brained, mother of three hyper boys who's husband is always gone? No matter, Ariel is happy and cant wait to be more like Justine. Underneath the bubble of the women's plastic friendship though, is trouble. Ariel cannot see the real picture behind Justine's life and has no clue that she is being used for a bigger agenda. Lies eventually do come out, even in the most planned situations and after Ariel discovers just whats going on and what Justine's friendship means, she will discover things about herself and her own life that she never knew. Amazing growth and maturity come with a hard life lesson and both women will be changed forever from it.


I think what I liked most about this book, besides the writing itself, was Marybeth’s “honest” look into adultery. Its not like people wake up and say “hey Im going to destroy my family today” no its something usually that builds, emotions become tangled up and one thing leads to another. Justine had major issues in her marriage before she contemplated an affair, she was in-love with another man even before she married her husband, she was unhappy, lonely and depressed and she never dealt with those issues.

I find it amazing that so many people want to pretend this isn’t happening, in our homes and in the church. My husband and I recently left a church (for personal reasons as well) due to a pastors infidelity with his secretary…its happening and it happens to Christians everyday, because hey here’s a newsflash--- Christians aren’t perfect--- we are not robots programmed to make the right decisions everyday. Do you know how many men and women are addicted to porn, or how many couples actually go through this situation...yet the church doesn't want to talk about it? And if we do talk about it, people get all riled up!Justine’s character didn’t get the easy way out, nor was she made out to be the prodigal character, because she made a choice and I understand completely what the author was trying to show in her circumstance. Ive seen men (who I know) walk away from their wife and children to marry a 20 something. Ive seen couples in my church divorce because they found their soul mates and tell people God told them to do it...whatever people God does not tell anyone to marry soul mates when your already married!

I found this book engaging, thought provoking and brave enough to show us the reality of people whom we think have it all together but are in the deepest pit of despair, needing help. Sometimes the grass really isn’t greener on the other side.

Rating

She Makes it Look Easy is recommended to adult readers and contains: Martial issues- including divorce, infidelity and finances. Drinking, gossip, faith aspects, mild sexuality (nothing graphic) and single parenting.

4/5- Inspy-Contemporary

Thanks to the CFBA & David C. Cook for review Copy

Photo Source


Update 7/15/11

**Wow- this review won the blog tour award for June 2011. I was very shocked to see my blog on the Online Magazine. I'm so grateful to the CFBA and the community of Christian bloggers highlighting the many talented CF authors and publishers in the competitive market of book publishing.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

April 26, 2011 by Atria

Hardcover, 241 Pages

Borrowed/Library

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love—with a human—in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Review

It’s the future or maybe its the present. The human race has been almost depleted by Zombies. Whether by succumbing to de-braining, having your brains ate or having the plague that turns you into a zombie, theres really no running from the monsters in this world.....the outlook is bleak and the reality of life hangs on a limb.......(literally and maybe even chewed on....)

Zombies scour the alleyways and back roads for any chance to consume human flesh and brains, the only thing that gives the Dead a true moment of happiness. While eating brains, the zombie in mid-munch gets a flash of their victims life, they feed on the memories and the reminder of what being human was like, giving them the sensation of being alive. No zombie understands the impulse to feed, especially R- our surprise victor- who would rather ride the escalators, listen to his Sinatra records and ponder how he became a corpse. He and the others, all who are in various stages of decay,  know that eating the living is an uncontrollable need, while most days are full of moaning, groaning and drooling, once the crave starts and once the human smell hits, the monster inside truly takes over. They gather and go in groups to find humans, the larger the group, the better they can overcome taking humans down.

On such an outing, R kills a man named Perry and while eating his brain has a flash so intense that it immediately alters his perception. R even beforehand wasn’t the A-Typical zombie, he longed to understand why he couldn’t form words and speak, he felt guilt over killing humans and he desperately wanted his human man back. So when flashing on Perry's life, all the things R was struggling with come to surface with a more powerful grasp, he's able to remember his own thoughts and starts forming real human emotions. The strongest aspect to Perry’s memories were of Julie, his first love and the relationship that consumed him as a teenage boy, once these memories transfer to R, he also cant help but love the sensitive, tough by life girl. He decides in that moment and after to protect Julie and fight for his own humanity, he cant understand it, he cant even talk about it but he will save her and maybe even save the world..........

What a wonderful surprise, to find a gem in a brain eating hero. I love a great end of the world zombies have taken over story, probably because one zombies do not scare me and two because theres something about the human spirit in the most dire circumstances (war, famine, zombie apocalypse) that bring out the will to survive. Humans can endure so much and we are much more strong than we think, here in Warm Bodies, while the lazy days of American obesity and fast food restaurants are of the wayside, Marion presents a picture of what humanity has to hold onto. WB's ultimate message was to live life to the fullest and never give up on what makes the human spirit hope for. R’s observance of the humans and his determination to live was the entire unique aspect of the novel. The way "R" could anchor me to my own human emotions, gave the book among the guts and gore a quiet quality I have not found in other zombie novels.

Dont mistake me, its very violent and full of brain eating and arms ripping off, but the love story (which is not physical instant love but more of an awakening) balances the gloom and darkness. Marion did a fantastic job weaving Perry’s memories with R’s present reality and blending the two characters as almost one person/zombie. While R experiences the intense flashbacks from consuming Perry’s brain, he becomes stronger in his own humanity, no matter how lost it has become. Feelings begin diving to the surface, his hunger dulls and his love for Julie intensifies as does the fight to live. So what am I saying here readers, that a zombie can teach us a lesson?…..Yes that’s preciously right and a good one at that.

 

Rating

 

Warm Bodies is recommended to adults and is not suitable for young readers. Contains: Mega-Violence- with blood, guts, gore, gross zombies in action, romance, mild sexuality, graphic language, death, depression, war, the human condition, love and lots of braaaiiiinnnnssss......

 

5/5- Science Fiction-Zombies

 

GIVEAWAY ALERT- The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland......

GIVEAWAY

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente; Illustrated by Ana Juan   

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.


With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

 Giveaway Info:
 This is open to US and Canadian residents only and a winner will be drawn on June 30, 2011. To enter please just leave a comment, following is not necessary but welcome....Goodluck and happy reading!!
 
 
  Find out more about the author and this book at:
 http://us.macmillan.com/thegirlwhocircumnavigatedfairylandinashipofherownmaking
  

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Legacy by Cayla KluverJune 21st 2011 by Harlequin Teen Paperback, 496 PagesReview Copy

 

 

The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon of the nighttime sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, on the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.

 

 Now, as seventeen-year-old Princess Alera of Hytanica is besieged from all sides by suitors vying for the Throne, a teenage Cokyrian boy, Narian, is encountered within the walls of her Kingdom, a boy who will show Alera a world where women serve a purpose and not just a husband. As Narian helps Alera find her voice, she struggles against an arranged marriage that will shatter the life she has scarcely begun to live. And when Narian's shocking past is uncovered, and war with Cokyri looms once more, he must fight to defy a fate ordained at his birth. 

Across the land of Hytanica, under the shadow of the crimson moon, infant boys continued to vanish. Not until the blood had faded from the sky did the disappearances stop and the bodies of the murdered infants were found outside the gates of the city, a final word from the greatest enemy Hytanica had ever known. For the next sixteen years, peace reigned, but one mystery remained unsolved. The Cokyrians had abducted forty-nine newborns, but returned only forty-eight bodies.

 
Review
Princess Alera has always known her destiny to be the heir of her father’s throne. The Queen in waiting to Hytanica pleases her father in stature and propriety and with his blessing will marry a suitable husband to rule in her stead. Alera, while Queen will have no power in decision making, nor will she ever be consulted in political and military reason, her role is to produce an heir and stand by the Kings side. Only one man in the kingdom measures up to her father’s standards and that man happens to make Alera’s skin crawl. Steldor, son of Hytanicas military Captain is confident in his position to marry Alera, he reeks of everything naïve girls fall week in the knees for, ridiculous good looks, charm and power. Alera sees through that exterior and finds Steldor to be conceited, arrogant and aloof, only making the day to marry him repulsive.

When a boy is found in the country who is soon discovered to be a boy kidnapped as an infant by the Cokyrians, life in the palace is turned upside down. Talk of betrayal is rumored and the mystery surrounding Narian only brings Alera closer to the legends and politics about the hated Cokyrians. Even though Alera is to marry Steldor and she is a Hytanican, she can’t stop the unwanted draw towards Narian, her shows her a world where women are valued, where women hold power and respect and shows her the first stirrings of true love. But Alera’s father won’t stand for it and nor will her guard’s and especially not Steldor who will fight for his honor and to everyone’s surprise his shockingly true desire for Alera.

The first thing I must say about this book, is how blown away I was by the authors young age. The talent is certainly there and Im looking forward to watching Kayla grow as a writer and keeping my eye on her budding career. The biggest strength in Kluvers writing was the development of Alera's character, where she starts off timid and a bit naive in her youth, she grows and develops into what was expected of a girl in that century. I was very pleasantly surprised to see Kluver present a fantasy type world within the historical boundaries of that world, she pushed the limits of acceptability with Alera in certain scenarios but at the same time did not far-fetch the outcomes. In Alera's day to day life, as a reader (and a woman) I felt emotions of entrapment and slavery, whereas our character felt duty and allegiance to her royal position, giving me such a great look into the mind frame of a woman in her circumstances. Even through her doubt and her heartbreak, Alera came to be unbelievably strong, something that I admire in a female character. Her point of view from a male dominated society gave the book layers upon layers of inner turmoil. For the secondary characters, Im hoping to see more development in the upcoming novels, Steldor and Narian need and deserve a lot of fleshing out, the love triangle was very clever and Im completely torn towards both men, seeing faults and qualities in both, but not really having a firm opinion on who would be best for Alera, the most obvious choice based on emotion only probably is not the best choice in the world that these characters live in......after the small shocker that ended the book, only Kluver knows what her characters are whispering and Im dying to find out what happens next.

Rating
Legacy can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. I would say this is ok for mature middle school readers as well (think 8th grade) however the length may deter some. Contains: Violence, war, medieval culture, romance,  mild sensuality (lots of kissing) death, gender roles in society and the life of royalty.
4/5- YA-HistoricalThanks to Harlequin for review Galley. 
 
 
 
 

The Saturday Spotlight- Nook Edition

Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, a weekly feature all about authors. Today is a special Saturday Spotlight, highlighting all the great Nook deals I have purchased in the last few weeks. The regular spotlight will resume next week, until then happy Nooking.........

Nook Books Make Me Happy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay by C.C Jackson

Nook Edition .99cents

Callie is shocked when she is ripped from her home in the middle of the night. She is taken to a city that she never knew existed only to find that she has a strange connection to her sexy captor. To top it all off, he tries to convince her that she is not even human. She learns that she is actually a fairy. Not just any fairy, but a fairy who has been destined to become queen of the fairies.

The only problem is that the current queen is a cruel tyrant and Callie will have to fight for the title that she was meant for. She is not completely convinced that this is a life that she wants to live. She would love nothing more than to go back to being the normal human girl that she always thought that she was. When tragedy strikes, Callie finds that she no longer knows who she can trust. She must learn to survive on her own in a harsh underground world. She finds herself dealing with the struggles of life and love for the first time. Two gorgeous guys, a bunch of new friends, and a whole new world. Will it be more than she can bea? 

Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

Nook Edition .99cents

A huge fan of Jane Austen, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it's silly to wish for that, naive even. But she's met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen...well....

However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux. While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he's no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets, the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle's fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire.

Eternal Eden by Nicole Williams

Nook Edition- .99 Cents

College sophomore Bryn Dawson is a self-proclaimed poster child for normal. However, the day William Hayward enters her life, normalcy is the last thing Bryn will be able to count on if she wants to be with him. Too mysterious and appealing to be good for a girl, Bryn feels drawn to him in a way that seems out of her control—as if fate is orchestrating it.


Despite every red flag and warning siren going off in her head telling her not to, Bryn falls hard for William, knowing he’s categorically different from anyone she’s ever met. She never imagined how right she was. When William takes her deeper into the rabbit hole of his world, Bryn must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to be with him, knowing no matter what, fate always finds a way to have the last laugh.

Spinning a new twist on star-crossed lovers, Eternal Eden will put Bryn through a gauntlet of turmoil, challenging her to find the power within herself to become the heroine in her own story.

Betrayal by Mayandree Michel
Nook Edition .99Cents

Where there is love and power, there is always... betrayal.


At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it. In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

Lure by Stephanie Jenkins

Nook Edition .99Cents

Charlotte Brewer is sure she's crazy when she hears singing drifting from the ocean-normal people don't have arias playing on repeat in their head. When she gets wasted at a party and investigates the ethereal tune, she almost drowns. Charlotte comes to with an overwhelming thirst for salt water, a new desire to eat fish, and a heartbeat of only seven beats a minute. She wakes up by the sea almost every day and dead men wash up hours later. But then Charlotte meets Lorelei, a siren. Lorelei reveals she saved her from drowning with the "Siren's Kiss"-a curse that made Charlotte a soulless immortal. Her role as a siren is simple: guide the souls of the dead at sea. Too bad taking care of the dead means being stuck in the middle of a war between a fertility goddess and the sirens . . . and losing her soul. If Charlotte wants to regain her mortality, she must find love with a mortal. And if she fails to secure it, she risks becoming a puppet to the gods.

Those titles are all waiting for me on the Nook, but currently Im reading:

Eden- Nook .99 Cents  

Camille- Nook .99 Cents

Shelf Cravings (21)

Welcome to Shelf Cravings, a weekly feature about books. New releases, coming soon, books I've just discovered and books I cant wait to read. This week Im excited for....



~Coming Soon~

Holding her Breath by Nicole Green

July 5, 2011 by Genesis Press

Whitney Jones's first priority is making partner at DC mega-law firm Gibson and Grey. She feels guilty for not seeing her family as much as she should, but she always make it home to River Run, Virginia, o spend Christmas with her mom, stepfather, and the rest of her large family. This is how she quite literally runs into Chace on Christmas night as she's rushing toward the 7-11 to buy a very last minute Christmas gift.

Chace Murphy thinks he's hit rock bottom when his girlfriend dumps him on Christmas Eve for a man old enough to be his grandfather. However, the worst day of his life turns out to be not so bad when he takes Whitney off guard outside of the 7-11. He bumps into her while he'strying to drown his sorrows that night. She's gorgeous, but after the way they meet, he worries that she'll think he's just a bumbling wino. He doesn't think he'll ever see Whitney again until a chain of events leads to him going back to DC with her after Christmas. The closer Whitney gets to Chace, the more trouble she has figuring out what's really important to her. Chace makes Whitney challenge hermost basic assumptions about her life. When Whitney's chances of making partner are endangered, she is shocked to realize that there may be something more important to her than money and power—something as simple as Chace's embrace.

The Winters In Bloom by Lisa Tucker

September 13th 2011 by Atria

Kyra and David Winter are happier than they ever thought they could be. They have a comfortable home, stable careers, and a young son, Michael, whom they love more than anything. Yet because of their complicated histories, Kyra and David have always feared that the life they created was destined to be disrupted. And on one perfectly average summer day, it is: Michael disappears from his own backyard. The only question is whose past has finally caught up with them: David feels sure that Michael was taken by his troubled ex-wife, while Kyra believes the kidnapper must be someone from her estranged family, someone she betrayed years ago.

As the Winters embark on a journey of time and memory to find Michael, they will be forced to admit these suspicions, revealing secrets about themselves they’ve always kept hidden. But they will also have a chance to discover that it’s not too late to have the family they’ve dreamed of; that even if the world is full of risks, as long as they have hope, the future can bloom.

~Just Discovered/Kindle and Nook Editions~

Camille by Tess Oliver

June 2010- Kindle

(Thanks to Parajunkee for the tip)

At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, live a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves.When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study. Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would end their late night excursions. Yet beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh-tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille loses another inch of her soul to him. In a month’s time, she must face the prospect of destroying the boy who has stolen her heart.

Slumber by Samantha Young

May 2011- by Create Space

Kindle & Nook Edition

A sleeping beauty may be the damsel in distress, but her White Knight? Why her rather un-knightish best friend of course. And the White Knight’s White Knight? Well… none other than her reluctant mortal enemy…

When Haydyn falls victim to the mysterious Sleeping Disease, the world of Phaedra is thrown into Chaos. Rogan, Haydyn’s best friend and handmaiden, is the only one who can save her. Together, with the Royal Guard and their young Captain, Wolfe Stovia, Rogan must set off across the provinces to find the Somna Plant that will wake Haydyn from her dying sleep. 

Beset on all sides by the chaos, Rogan tumbles into a dark world of kidnapping, prejudice, betrayal and love… a journey that will change her forever, and a journey that will change their world forever, if she does not  retrieve the cure. 

In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

October 1st 2010 by CreateSpace

Kindle/Nook Edition

The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake.

Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn’t enough?

~Cant Wait to Read~

Eden by Keary Taylor

June 2011 by Kindle

(Thanks to Melissa for the tip)

Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior. The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.

So recently I've been having a love affair with my Nook and realizing how convenient ebooks really are. Its seriously fun going through all the .99 cents to 2.99 Kindles/Nooks to see what I can find!! Im reading Camille right now and its fantastic so far, I cant wait to dive into Eden, meet the Tyler family, catch the sleeping disease, find out what happened to Micheal and see if true love can survive in DC- even with all the politicians....(lol)