Audiobook Review - Eve by Anna Carey

Okay. I think it’s official. I’m obsessed with dystopians. As much as I get tired of these run down, hard knock universes, I find myself drawn to them more and more. I feel like lately it’s all I read! They are all the rage lately, so that’s part of it. Never are stakes higher than when you’re saving world or yourself, right? They tend to have great action, exciting romance, and a lot of them have interesting twists. They’re thrilling without being a thriller. I love the ride.

So it’ll come as no big surprise then that I really enjoyed Anna Carey’s “Eve.” I’ve been listening to it over the past month or so. (I listen to audiobooks slowly. I love ‘em, but I only listen in the car or at the gym. Obviously, I need to go to the gym more.) Before I dive into the story, let me give a shout to the narrator, Tavia Gilbert, who handled the material fantastically. Since I’m a voice actor myself, you know I’m obsessed with the vocal qualities of the narrator. Tavia did an awesome job. She transitions between characters smoothly, while still having them all be distinct. I especially loved the voices she used for the older couple you encounter later on in the book. Top notch! It’s so wonderful to encounter such a talented narrator on a young adult novel. Way to go, Tavia!

Back to the book, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I’m going to steal the Goodreads.com description because every time I attempt to talk about this book, I end up spoiling something. Gah!

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

The settings are fantastic. I really felt like I was traveling with Eve throughout the book. I loved the memories to her life back at school. It really helped me connect with Eve and get to know her better. I could ramble on and on, but as I said, I liked it. It’s a solid dystopian and I’m interested to see if some of the questions I have about the world & Eve’s future are answered in book 2.

I purchased the “Eve” audiobook via Audible.com. The audiobook was produced by Harper Audio. You can hear an interview with Anna Carey (along with Amy Garvey, Kiersten White, and Claudia Gray) over at Authors are ROCKSTARS!. She’ll be returning to the podcast in May, so stay tuned for that! :)

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Despite the buzz, I held off reading “Everneath” by Brodi Ashton because I’ve been a little burnt out lately. Don’t get me wrong, I *love* reading. However, I have picked up so many books in the last few months that I had been looking forward to that I ended up not being able to finish. It breaks my heart to put a book down only partially read. I know it is irrational and I shouldn’t waste my time reading things I don’t like, but I..feel...SO...guilty. But hey, I’ll get over it. Let’s move on to the topic at hand - Brodi Ashton’s debut novel “Everneath”.

“Everneath” is new story inspired by Underworld myths such as Persphone and Eurydice. Such an awkward way to put it, but it always seems that with these myth-inspired stories that there are reviewers who get all up in arms about it not being precise to its source material. I totally do not understand this. Anyways, I digress. At the beginning of the book, we meet Nikki Beckett (or Becks, which confused me for a bit. I missed reading her last name and thought for awhile there were two heroines. Whoopsy!). Nikki has just returned to our present day after spending a century in the Underworld, being fed upon by an Everliving, an immortal who feeds on human emotion. Though for Nikki an entire century has passed, back home only six months has gone by. They have been six long months for her loved ones. No one knows where she’s been, including her boyfriend, Jack, whose smiling face was the thought that saved her from shriveling up and becoming a shell of her former self in the Everneath. She’s returned to earth to reconnect to him, her father and to say goodbye because the Everneath will not let her go forever.

I really enjoyed this book. The one thing that really stood out to me about this one is how real the characters are. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I love this. I think it really shows true writing prowess and grace when you can seamlessly weave in real people within unusual circumstances. Ms. Ashton does this in such a powerful way. Her characters really stuck with me and I was proud of the choices Nikki made as she reclaimed her life and atoned for the pain she had caused others. Nikki was definitely flawed and was still very much a teen girl, but she also showed that she could learn from her mistakes. I’m not doing them justice, but I’ll just state again - so real. They are probably the most genuine real people characters I have ever encountered in an unnatural world.

This book took me a little while to get hooked, due the start being about Nikki’s quest to say her goodbyes and make amends before the Underworld reclaims her. Once you get to know Nikki and Jack, you won’t be able to put it down. I realize that my review totally leaves out Cole, the “Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.” (from Goodreads.com summary) To be honest, that description kind of blows him out of proportion. He does exist. He is handsome and charming... but the love triangle? It is pretty weak. Again though - so very realistic. I have NO problem with this. I just want to warn those of you who are Love Triangle-aholics... Lotriaholics? Trilovers? Triangerosophiles? Anyways, you know, those of you who love that, it’s not a big factor in this book. I adore them too, but they’re not necessary for every single romantic paranormal out there and I’m glad it doesn’t play that huge a part here.

This book is a solid, well-written and entertaining read from beginning to finish. I could not put it down! If you’re a bit burnt out on paranormals, I think this would be a perfect book for you to get picked up and get hooked all over again. And if you’re not burnt out on myth-inspired YA? Well then what are you waiting for!? Go read “Everneath” by Brodi Ashton today.

“Everneath” is published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) and was released just last week. I received an ARC for review. This is Brodi Ashton's first novel.

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Man, this is is my third "E's Pick of the Week" featuring a book by Kevin Henkes. If you haven't picked up on it yet, this man is brilliant and you should go out and buy all of his books right now. E is currently obsessed with this one. It's a lovely little story about a bear who goes to sleep for the winter and has dreams of all the seasons passing by. As always, it features Kevin's magical illustrations that full of so much color and life. You can't go wrong with any Kevin Henkes book. They're perfect for children of all ages, even trouble makin' little two year olds who can barely sit still.

His charming illustrations and stories enchant parents too. I seriously want to get prints of Mr. Henkes work to decorate my house with! :)

"Old Bear" by Kevin Henkes is published by Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins) and is available in board book and hardcover formats.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Ahhh... finally, I got to read this book. I’ve had the ARC for awhile, but I was waiting until January 1st to start reading it so it would qualify for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge. I knew I was going to love it and boy, was I right.

“Under the Never Sky” is a dystopian with a very sci fi feel or is it a sci fi with dystopian scenery? Heck if I know, but whatever it is - it rocks. In this world, the Earth is falling apart and the land is being ravaged by these “aether storms” that tear apart the landscape and make it difficult to survive. Apparently, generations ago, a part of the population decided to leave the struggle and live in a giant dome structure that would protect them from the storms. To keep from going stir crazy in a confined, bland space, they use a virtual reality technology that keeps them hooked up together and able to go and do anything they want. Aria, our leading lady, finds out the hard way that this way of life can have complications though. When her mom goes missing, she knows she has to do whatever it takes to find her. Unfortunately, she messes with the wrong people and finds herself fighting for her survival in a world she’s only heard horror stories about and with a man, a wild man, who isn’t at all like she expected.

I really enjoyed this one... I don’t dish out 5 stars lightly on Goodreads.com, but I was tempted. This book meshes a lot of my favorite things - sci-fi, action, romance (and good ol’ slow building romance, not INSTA-LOVE), self-discovery, strong female character (who wasn’t INSTASTRONG either), dystopian setting (I love it when the stakes are ridiculously high!), etc. It’s sci fi though for people who wouldn’t necessarily love sci fi. I am trying desperately not to spoil you here, but there are different environments at play and not all of them are virtual, okay?

I know some other reviewers didn’t enjoy the romance aspect because it didn’t make them tingle, but I liked that. Not that I don’t like a good tingly romance, but sometimes, romance grounded in reality is a lot more enjoyable. Romance isn’t all anguish or passion with tingly, fiery intensity. (I am so into the word tingly today.) For a sci fi dystopian who’sawhat’sit, this book is so grounded in reality. I love that. Way to go, Ms. Rossi for making this book feel so real. It is so nice to feel instantly connected to characters and really feel for them when they’re going through this “out of this world” experience. To me, that’s a sign of an amazing writer.

Congratulations Ms. Rossi on your awesome debut. I cannot wait to see what you have for us in book 2!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher for review. This book was the first of many debuts I'll be reading this year as part of the Debut Author Challenge hosted by "The Story Siren". This book is published by HarperCollins and hit shelves this month. Pick up your copy today!

Unearthly and Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Wow, I seriously was surprised by how good this series is so far! I mean, you guys kept on telling me how much I’d love it, but to be honest, I was a bit apprehensive. I have high standards for my angel fiction. Plus that pretty cover? Gosh, I fell in love with that cover the moment I saw it. Well, I’m happy to report that the hype, the few of you who nagged me... you were all right. I *loved* “Unearthly” and its sequel, “Hallowed”. I cannot wait until the 3rd book comes out next year!

In Ms. Hand’s version of our universe, angels bred with human beings and another species was formed - angel bloods. Each descendant, each “angel blood” is given a purpose from the big guy, told to them in visions or dreams. At the top of book one, our heroine, Clara, begins having a series of visions, laying out her purpose. Once her mother help her figure out where she needs to be, she and her brother are whisked away from California to Jackson, Wyoming. New school, cute boys, and a purpose from God - talk about an interesting life as a teenager.

The feel of the story was a bit stereotypical at first, but as “Unearthly” developed, I fell in love with the characters and couldn’t wait to read more. I ended up reading these two books in a matter of days and it was worth the lack of sleep! “Unearthly” was charming, fun and intriguing, but it wasn’t until “http://amzn.to/w1u8Y1” that I can truly say that this series had me hook, line, and sinker. Ms. Hand really found her flow in the 2nd book and it showed. It was much more polished and the storyline was incredibly heartbreaking and full of so many levels. Have a tissue box nearby folks. This one hit a little close to home for me and I spent the next 30 minutes sobbing into my pillow so I wouldn’t wake my husband. I know that sounds like a bad thing, but it isn’t. I connected so deeply to these characters that I just couldn’t help myself.

“Unearthly” and “Hallowed” are published by HarperTeen. “Hallowed” will hit shelves on January 24th. In the mean time, “Unearthly” is on sale for only 99 cents for all eReaders! Get it while it’s hot, people.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Okay, apparently I wasn’t kidding. It really is dystopian time on my blog. Three reviews in a row makes it official. Today, I review for you “Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi.

This book is fabulous. It is like a breath of fresh air on a cool summer’s day, except in Ms. Mafi’s dystopian world, the air isn’t so cool and I bet it smells pretty bad. Her dystopian universe is a very frightening realistic one. It’s a world in which we’ve drained the planet of its resources and it’s slowly falling apart. A regime of powerful people, called The Reestablishment”, are in charge and are hoarding the limited resources for themselves. One of these “resources” is our heroine, Juliette. She’s being held in solitary confinement when we first meet her and is on the verge of insanity. Juilette’s different. Her touch...kills. Locked up, she’s not a danger to anyone, but when offered a chance at freedom, she has to decide if she’s willing to be a weapon or if she’ll follow her heart and stand up for what is right.

I cannot express how much I loved this story. It’s this really cool mix of dystopian, romance (oh what juicy romance!), with this mysterious other element going on that’s a little science fiction and a little paranormal. I don’t know how to describe it other than FABULOUS. The way Ms. Mafi writes too.. gosh. It’s this cool stream of consciousness with run on sentences, strike outs, and sometimes jumbled thoughts. As Juliette becomes more grounded, so does the writing. Geeze, it’s just terribly hard to write about how great it is. It’s just SO COOL, can you just take my word for it? I need to warn you though - this book is INTENSE (in a good way!). You are instantly pulled into the emotional journey of this nearly insane person. I had a very hard time not reading the whole thing cover to cover immediately.

Ms. Mafi will be on Authors are ROCKSTARS! in January, so be sure to subscribe over there. You aren’t going to want to miss this interview.

I purchased my copy of “Shatter Me” at Ms. Mafi’s launch party. It was released in November of this year by HarperTeen. Get your copy today!

Fateful by Claudia Gray

“Fateful” is a paranormal romance with werewolves, set on the Titanic.

I know what you’re thinking... “Werewolves on the Titanic?!”

Now, hold on a minute. Say it aloud a few times. Werewolves on the Titanic. Werewolves ON the Titanic. WEREWOLVES on the TITANIC.

Yup. It just SANK (wah wah wah) in a bit, didn’t it? Claudia Gray’s “Fateful” is pure brilliance. What a clever idea! It’s a beautiful mesh of historical and paranormal, making a lot of fun for fans of either genre. For people like me who love both? It is a gift!

Tess is a servant to a once wealthy noble family who is making the voyage to New York hoping to marry the daughter, whom Tess waits on, into money before the family name isn’t enough anymore. Tess is determined to free herself from her mistress’ odious mother and brother upon arriving in New York City. She’s saved up and as soon as her feet hit the ground, she’s giving her notice and starting a new life. Prior to even boarding the ship though, Tess meets a mysterious young man named Alec. He saves her from a rabid wolf and then dismisses her quickly with a threat. She runs into him again aboard the ship and finds herself attracted to him despite his aura of danger. She is quickly drawn into a world full of dangerous men who can turn into wolves and who want something possessed by the family she works for. The werewolf they sent will stop at nothing to get it. He is actually looking forward to toying with and then killing her along the way. Despite all this danger, Tess and Alec fall in love and with this strength, they go into battle - willing to face whatever the evening brings, be it murderous werewolves or their ship hitting an iceberg.

Claudia Gray is a fantastic writer. She weaves together historical and paranormal elements with amazing agility and grace in “Fateful”. It’s such a perfect fusion of both that fans of either genre will be pleased with the result. I know I was! The werewolves aren’t cheesy and are truly frightening. Tess is definitely one tough cookie, but it’s not out of character for her or just due to the love she’s found in Alec. The life of a servant in this time period was incredibly tough and it made Tess into who she was. I could go on and on trying to appeal to all the potential worries that I see people having, but then this review would be BORING! Just trust me, okay? “Fateful” by Claudia Gray is definitely worth reading.

You can choose to win a copy of "Fateful" over at Authors are ROCKSTARS! right now. We're doing a giveaway where you choose from "Supernaturally", "Eve", "Cold Kiss", or "Fateful". The remaining three will be given away here for my end of the year crazy giveaway. Remember me talking about that? If not, click here for the details so you can be qualified to win!

“Fateful” by Claudia Gray is published by HarperTeen and came out in September. I purchased a copy to giveaway over on Authors are ROCKSTARS!

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

From Goodreads.com:
Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

Let me preface this review by saying I think Ms. Fallon has a lot of potential. I wanted to love this book. I have always been fascinated by Irish lore. This book though didn’t do it for me. It just felt unpolished and far too much like “Twilight”. I know a lot of people fall back on “Twilight”. It’s like a YA reviewing cheap shot, but seriously - this book IS like “Twilight”, just with a twist. Misty of The Book Rat posted a review on her blog that included a chart that breaks down the similarities.

Yeaaaaah. See? I’m not being lame. It’s TRUE. So if you like Twilight and don’t mind instant love, convenient coincidences, and the possibility of freakish monster babies, check this out. If not? Well, skip it... duh. ;)

“The Carrier of the Mark” was published by HarperTeen in early October. I received an ARC for review.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

“A Beautiful Dark” is a stereotypical, albeit well-written, paranormal romance. I don’t mean that as an insult though. I *like* the stereotypical paranormal romance formula. It works for me and I take comfort in its familiar feeling. It’s my old cozy shirt for reading - I know it has some holes in it, but I’m okay with that. This book was definitely a wonderful addition to that genre. Plus.. it was an angel oriented paranormal book that I liked. These are so few and far between.

The story revolves around Skye, who meets two mysterious handsome gentlemen on the night of her seventeenth birthday where they bust into her birthday party fighting. The next day, she discovers they are new students at her school and it seems they’ve taken a keen interest in her. They say they’re cousins, but something is just not right. They’re polar opposites, having only their good looks (although very different features) in common. She soon learns that they’ve come for her and that the life she knew isn’t as normal as she thought. She discovers two sides within herself, both in regards to the boys she can’t help but be attracted to and a war she now has become a key player in. What side and with that, what boy, will she chose? The world hangs in balance, waiting to find out.

Like my little dramatic summary? Why thank you! In all seriousness though, it’s well-written, good ol’ paranormal fun. Love Triangles with Hotties + Interesting Mythology + Action/World Deciding Decisions = crazy fun in my book. If that isn’t your cup of tea, skip this one. I personally cannot wait to find out what happens next. The cliffhanger is a doozie!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies was published by HarperTeen in September. I received a digital copy to review via Netgalley.com.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't know Harold when I was a child. I don't know how my mother missed this one since we both adored the color purple and had avid imaginations. Craziness! I'm happy to report though that E is in love with Harold's adventure tale. His Great Grandma gave him this book - how cute is that?

It's one of the longer books that E will sit through. He loves telling us what will happen to Harold next. It's also great for night time since it ends on the note of going to bed! Whoo!

If you are unfamiliar with this book, like I was, it's a must-read classic for any little one. Go on an adventure with Harold and his magical crayon today! :)

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" is published by HarperCollins and is available in paperback and hardcover.

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

“Cold Kiss” by Amy Garvey is a fantastic character piece about a young woman learning to let go of her first love and becoming a stronger person while learning from her mistakes. Wren is a special girl. The women in her family can do things others can’t, so when her boyfriend Danny dies, she does everything in her power to bring him back to her. What she brings back though isn’t the Danny she knew and now she’s caught up in a world of secrets and lies. She’s been keeping Danny a secret for months now and suddenly, in one day, the new kid Gabriel has unravelled her web and knows what she’s done. His family can also do things others can’t and Gabriel befriends Wren to try and save her from the consequences of her impulse decision to save Danny. Things get messy though and in the end, Wren is the only one who can fix the wrong she made that night she brought Danny back.

If you’re looking for action and gore, then look somewhere else. This story is all about Wren and her relationships with her family, and her friends, Gabriel and Danny. If you like heart wrenching tales of love and loss, written in an incredible, beautiful and real voice, then look no further. Amy Garvey’s “Cold Kiss” is just for you. As someone who has gone through the grieving process recently (I lost my mother almost exactly two years ago to sudden and unexpected cancer), it was easy for me to connect to Wren, to understand why she did what she did and to hurt with her when she realized that life was never going to be the same again. Ms. Garvey’s writing is beautiful and will bring you to tears. Sure, there is a zombie and Wren is magical, but this isn’t a paranormal romance or zombie action story. It’s a story about loss and growing up.

“Cold Kiss” is published by HarperTeen. I received a digital ARC via NetGalley.com to review. It was published on September 20th so go get a copy today! Amy will also be joining us on a special edition of Authors are ROCKSTARS! along with Kiersten White, Anna Carey and Claudia Gray so stay tuned.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

In a world where war cycles between a nation practicing dark magic and the nations faithful to God, a gift from God is bestowed upon one child on their naming day each century. A beautiful stone is embedded in their body on their naming day by a bright light (God). Elisa, a princess, is the chosen one. Despite this special privilege, she doesn’t feel special. She’s overweight, treated disdainfully by her older sister, and on her sixteenth birthday, her family marries her off to a strange king from a neighboring country. This handsome king needs her, the chosen one, but all he gets is Elisa, a religious “sausage” of a princess. It isn’t until she is thrown into the middle of a war that Elisa finds her inner strength and the ability not only to help her husband and herself, but the entire world. That is, if she can figure out how to harness the gift God has given her and survive. Most chosen ones don’t make it to old age.

I have conflicted feelings about “The Girl of Fire and Thorns” by Rae Carson. Mostly good, but still, conflicted. This book relies a bit too much on “show” rather than “tell”. A lot of the character development stems from our heroine telling us things about the other characters. That being said, it wasn’t overrun by this problem and I happily read the entire thing in a 48 hour period. Elisa is an interesting character. It was really refreshing to have a heroine who isn’t thin and fair. However, her constant self-deprecation, while plot appropriate, did get a little overwhelming. I want to address two common complaints I’ve heard about this book.

1. Religion - Yes. It’s “religious” (though nothing real world - it’s all fantasy). When your lead character has a lifeline to God in her gut, her “Big Guy” is kind of going to be on her mind. It’s a fantasy, people. Relax.

2. Elisa getting skinny then becoming strong - Bologna! She was strong before, she just couldn’t recognize it in herself until she was forced to spend time reflecting. This time (trying to avoid spoilers here) also happened to inadvertently lose weight. It wasn’t like she had a magic “lose gut and kick butt” spell put on her. It was plot appropriate.

If you’re looking for a good, clean fantasy, with interesting magic and cultures, then this book is for you. There is some romance too, but it’s not what the book is all about. The book is about a young woman blossoming into a force to be reckoned with. I know I cannot wait to see what happens to Elisa next.

Oh and one more thing, THANK YOU Ms. Carson for writing a series book with a very satisfying ending. Always appreciated! Now go, pre-order you copy!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher, Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins) via Netgalley.com. “The Girl of Fire and Thorns” is scheduled to be published on September 20th.

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

I really enjoyed this book. Action packed science fiction with a touch of sexual/romantic tension? Um, yeah, that’s a “must read” for me. “The Power of Six” does not disappoint. It pulled me in immediately and kept me reading as fast as I possibly could. Just to give you a series summary, here is the official description of the first book, “I Am Number Four”.

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing. But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four. I am next.

This book is from the perspectives of Number Four, John Smith, who we got to know in the first book and Number Seven, Marina, who is currently cooped up in a convent/orphanage in Spain. The change in voice is indicated by a subtle change in font, which I thought was a really nice touch. Marina is sassy and strong, but hasn’t lived her life on the run like John and Six. Once she and her cepan (or guardian) found this convent, her cepan embraced the life as a nun and forgot about their mission. Marina has had to deal with most of her legacies on her own. She has some cool ones too, but I don’t want to spoil ya. Number Four, Six and Sam’s plot line is super fun and I absolutely love Six. She is totally kick butt, but has some real emotional depth. I’m really looking to forward to seeing even more of her in the next installment.

For those of you who haven’t read the first book, I wouldn’t recommend jumping right in unless you read it or watch the movie. (I know I know, some people say the movie isn’t that great, but I loved it.) The movie will give you enough background to move forward if you just can’t wait. I know I couldn’t if I were you! This book is fabulous and it is just came out this week. Go, buy yourself a copy. Any fan of action, adventure or aliens will absolutely love this book. It’s the classic battle of good versus evil. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

I was provided with an ARC of “The Power of Six” by the publisher, HarperCollins. It was released this week (August 23rd).

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Okay, so let me just start out saying I really like this series. It is such a neat twist on the usual paranormal stuff out there. If you haven’t read it already, go check out my review of “Firelight”.

To steal from my own review and avoid spoilers, here’s my summary:
“This is a tale of love, a love that is powerful and consuming. Will and Jacinda are a modern day Romeo & Juliet. Jacinda is a draki, a race descended from dragons and hunted for their skills and healing properties. She grew up in a sheltered society where she was treasured for her innate draki gift, she’s a fire breather and the first draki with this gift in a very long time. After being forced by her mother to leave the only home and society she’s ever known, she’s thrust into the human world and forced to try to be something she’s not, a normal human girl. This is where she runs into Will, though not their first meeting. Will is from a family of hunters, human beings that do what their name implies, hunt. They capture drakis and use them (or their body parts!) for their own personal gain. Will, though, isn’t like his family. He has a warm heart and he shares a deep connection with Jacinda. For Jacinda, he’s the only thing keeping her from losing who she really is. The question is … is love enough to break every rule, to go against everything they’ve ever known?”

“Vanish” continues RIGHT where “Firelight” left off. It’s almost as if Ms. Jordan just sawed the books in two at that point. So you might want to pick up “Firelight” and re-read it before jumping back in. Otherwise, it’ll be a bit of a bumpy start. “Vanish” focuses more on the draki culture and the love triangle that had started to form in “Firelight” between Jacinda, Will and Cassian, the young draki she was supposed to mate. After returning home, Jacinda and her family have to face the consequences of their actions out in the human world. Jacinda knows it’d be better for everyone if she’d just let her love for Will go, but can she?

This is a solid sequel. While not very much happens action-wise, we learn a lot more about the life Jacinda knew before her mother uprooted her. We also get to know sister and Cassian better and oh boy is Cassian dreamy. *sigh* The action finally kicks it up a notch at the end and we’re left with a doozy of a cliffhanger. GAH!?!? Why isn’t book 3 out yet?! Anyways, a lot of the mysteries posed in book 1 go unanswered in book 2, so if you’re looking for answers, you’ll just have to keep waiting patiently. Or you know, in my case, not so patiently. Poor Jacinda has some major decisions to face and a long road ahead of her. I’m so excited to see how it all plays out.

“Vanish” by Sophie Jordan is published by HarperTeen who sent me an ARC to review. The first book the series, “Firelight” is already on the shelves. “Vanish” will be released on September 6th.

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young’s “A Need So Beautiful” is a classic tale of good vs. evil and duty vs. personal desires. The plot is a bit formulaic, but it’s a formula that works and is well used by Ms. Young. Her writing is engrossing and it brings you in and doesn’t let you go. I read “A Need So Beautiful” in less than 24 hours... I just couldn’t stop. I cared so much for the characters and needed to find out what happened to them in the end.

Charlotte tries as hard as she can to lead an ordinary life, but fate has other ideas. She keeps getting these impulses to help strangers. She’ll be minding her own business, spending time with her sexy motorcycle ridin’ boyfriend and wham! She’s hit with an overwhelming urge to help someone specific who needs her help. They could be across town or in the building nearby. The need guides her to wherever she is needed. She has kept this urge a secret from her loved ones (her best friend just thinks she’s psychic), but it’s starting to consume her life and now her body. She finds out that she is part of a bigger plan and that her existence on earth is limited. However, when an eerie woman offers her an opportunity to stay with the boy and family she loves, will she choose to stay with the people she loves even if she may turn into a monster? Will she embrace her destiny and be the light the world needs?

This book is paranormal light. Despite being about angels and good vs. evil, it really has a contemporary feel to it. In fact, Suzanne Young talked about that a little bit in our Authors are ROCKSTARS! interview. She wrote it first as a contemporary, then laced in the paranormal elements. I think it would be a great book to recommend to people who aren’t really into paranormal romance, but are interested in trying it out. Ms. Young does a great job avoiding any major religious affiliation with the angels, so for those that are religiously squeamish, do not avoid this book based on that fear. The relationship between Harlin and Charlotte is so sweet as is her friendship with Sarah. You really connect with Charlotte and feel her pain at helping out so many strangers while not being able to aid those dearest to her.

This is truly the first published angel book I have read that I’ve enjoyed. Have a tissue box ready though folks. Ms. Young really makes you care for these characters and with the decision Charlotte has to make, a happy ending is just not in the cards for Charlotte.

“A Need So Beautiful” was published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) in June of this year. I purchased this book. Be sure to go listen to the podcast with Suzanne Young, Cindy Pon, Nova Ren Suma and Holly Goldberg Sloan over at AuthorsareROCKSTARS.com.

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Warning: Very minor spoiler

“Sweet Venom” is the story of three young women who find out they are the descendants of Medusa. They’re charged with protecting the world from mythological monsters who like to sneak out from their cage and wreak havoc on the world. The three girls have very different upbringings, but after Grace, the sweetest of the three, moves to San Francisco, their lives will come together and never be the same again. They must put their differences aside if they are going to save themselves and the world from ruin.

Well, I miss my bullet points, so today I’m kickin’ it old school and going to bullet point this baby. Here goes.

Three gorgons and a bag of chips (aka I’m being silly so I can’t just say “the good”):

• I really like the idea of this book. As those of you who read my blog regularly know, I’ve been digging this whole Greek vibe that’s been out there lately. Medusa is mega cool and I love seeing myths creatively reworked.
• I like Grace and her family. She’s so sweet, but under that marshmallowy exterior is one kick-butt young woman. I am really looking forward to seeing more of that side of her in the next book. I also liked the relationship she had with her brother Thane. I hope we get to find out more behind his mysterious behavior next time.
• I like rotating between the girls’ different perspectives. Sure, it was confusing at times (I get the name alliteration, but it does make it confusing for the readers), but it was fun.

Things that turned my heart to stone:

• The plot feels shortchanged. I know I’m not a writer and that it is an art form, but I really don’t enjoy books that are just priming readers to buy into a whole series. I enjoy having a beginning, middle and end. We spent so much time getting to know two of the three girls, meet the third, and then quite literally BOOM, that’s it! All I got was a bunch of a lose ends and no real climax.
• Action, what action? Romance, what romance? Sure there are a few monster fights and cute boys, but they didn’t get a lot of page time. This relates to point number one... due to this being mostly backstory and character development, we miss out on potential action. I’m sure we’ll get to see more romance & action in the next book, but you’re just going to have to wait, readers.

Overall, I’m feeling pretty “meh”. It read more like a contemporary about three very different girls than the Greek based monster fighting girl power I was hoping it would be. I will probably read book two, but if it is more of the same, I’ll be done with this series. I want to know what happens to the girls now that they’ve come together and find out some more information about the mysteries surrounding them. Ms. Childs did a great job at creating three very distinctly teenage heroines and I think it’ll be interesting to see how their personalities mesh over time. I have a feeling that Ms. Childs is going to kick it up a notch in book two and I’m looking forward to it.

I received an ARC from the publisher to review. "Sweet Venom" is scheduled to be released on September 6th. It is published by Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins).

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

If you like books about demons and ghosts, then look no further. Gretchen McNeil’s debut novel “Possess” has all that and more - a sassy heroine, sweet love interest, and creepy bad guys. It isn’t nightmare inducing, but it’s definitely a thrilling ride.

Bridget is a 15 year old girl who just wants to be left alone after her father’s mysterious murder. Unfortunately, that just isn’t in the cards for Bridget Liu. She found out after her father’s death that she can hear the voices of demons and banish them! This makes her a hot commodity to a local priest who trains her to be an exorcist in her free time. On top of this new “career”, she’s dealing with her grieving family, her crazy friends (including her friend Peter who is obsessed with her), and the police sergeant’s son who just won’t take a hint. Her life may not be normal, but it gets even weirder after she receives a message from a bizarre demon warning her that not all is what it appears. Now she’s not sure who she can trust and if her father’s murderer is actually the guy they have locked up in a mental institution. He may be on the loose and Bridget may be his next target.

“Possess” was a QUICK read for me. It was just too exciting to put down! Ms. McNeil did a fabulous job at gradually increasing the pacing to the point where you just can’t stop even if you are tired and you have to be up in 3 hours. (True story!) I had to find out what happened to Bridget! I’m not usually a fan of ghost stories (I scare easily), but this was fabulous. I love Bridget. She’s the right amount of sassy/kick-butt without being a stereotype. She’s vulnerable and afraid to put her heart out there. Matt, the police sergeant’s son, is absolutely adorable and I loved their interactions. So fun! I really became attached to these characters which made the plot even more exhilarating. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good story about becoming comfortable with who you are and finding your inner strength. Bridget has a lot on her plate in “Possess” and she sorts through it all in order to protect the people she loves.

Gretchen McNeil’s debut novel “Possess” is the perfect summer read. It’s fun and exciting. It’s not overly gory/frightening, but will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next. Gretchen McNeil is a writer to watch, folks. I know I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

"Possess" by Gretchen McNeil is published by Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) and will be released on August 23rd. I received an ARC from the publisher for honest review. Gretchen will actually be our featured guest next month on the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast so be sure to head on over and follow so you don't miss it!

Note: Sorry for the delay in reviews, guys! I’ve been in “post visiting family” recovery mode!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

I feel weird writing this for my occasional “oldie, but a goodie” section since it was just released in the fall of 2010. Why not? We’ll just call it “a (not so) oldie, but a (very) goodie”, okay? Before I get into my summary and then the review, let me warn you that it’s best to have a pretty clear calendar for the day when you sit down to read this book. It will suck you in and not let you go until it is done. :)

This is a tale of love, a love that is powerful and consuming. Will and Jacinda are a modern day Romeo & Juliet. Jacinda is a draki, a race descended from dragons and hunted for their skills and healing properties. She grew up in a sheltered society where she was treasured for her innate draki gift, she’s a fire breather and the first draki with this gift in a very long time. After being forced by her mother to leave the only home and society she’s ever known, she’s thrust into the human world and forced to try to be something she’s not, a normal human girl. This is where she runs into Will, though not their first meeting. Will is from a family of hunters, human beings that do what their name implies, hunt. They capture drakis and use them (or their body parts!) for their own personal gain. Will, though, isn’t like his family. He has a warm heart and he shares a deep connection with Jacinda. For Jacinda, he’s the only thing keeping her from losing who she really is. The question is … is love enough to break every rule, to go against everything they’ve ever known?

If you are a fan of young adult paranormal romance, then you should check this book out today. It’s not as action-heavy as some of the others out there, but there are still some intense sequences for my fellow action junkies out there. The romance though is beautiful and Jacinda’s journey of self-discovery is something every teen goes through, draki or mortal. We all have different sides to ourselves and are sometimes forced to choose between them. The draki lore is really interesting and obviously well thought out. I am really looking forward to learning more as soon as the other books in this series are released. If you’re looking for a romance that is full of fiery passion (wah wah wah), look no further. You’ll find it in “Firelight”.

Firelight is published by HarperCollins and is available now at a bookstore near you. The sequel, Vanish, will be released in September of this year. I’ll be reviewing it here, so stay tuned.

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

E's Pick of the Week is a classic! It's "Harry the Dirty Dog" by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham. This is the tale of a little dog who wants nothing more than to get dirty and play. He leaves his family home to do so, but realizes in the end, that he misses his family. They're even worth enduring a bath! This book is a bit longer, but my little guy still sits through it and loves every minute. The illustrations are fantastic and incredibly detailed. E loves exploring the backgrounds of each page to find items that he recognizes. His favorite page is the one with the coal chute. This book is great to read anytime of the day, but makes a nice addition to a night time routine due to it's soothing rhythm and ending on the note of sleeping. We read it before naps and in the evening everyday.

"Harry the Dirty Dog" is published by HarperCollins and is available in a variety of formats (we have the board book!). Go pick up a copy at your local bookstore today. :)

E's Pick of the Week - Happy Easter, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond

Okay, I swear that I do NOT choose these books. I just write every week about what book my son is currently obsessed with. It just happens that this week's obsession is seasonally appropriate. He got "Happy Easter, Mouse!" by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond this week as a present from my sister. He loooooves this book. He is just starting to learn all his colors and this book talks about eggs in all his favorite ones. There are purple eggs and "ga-reeeeeeen" eggs. What more can you ask for? The illustrations are adorable. It's cute, simple (so perfect for my younger toddler), and a quick read. I love that it is in board book form. He loves his other "If you give..." books, but they are not board books so he isn't allowed to play with them.

So, if you're looking for a last minute Easter Bunny gift, check out this book. I am sure your little one will love it as much as mine does.

"Happy Easter, Mouse" is published by Balzer+Bray (an imprint of HarperCollins). You can find this book in board book form at your local bookstore or online.