Review: The Guestbook by Andrea Hurst

Adult Contemporary Romance

This book weaves together the heart of Nicholas Sparks, the romance of Nora Roberts, and the charm of Debbie Macomber.

Fleeing her picture-perfect marriage among the privileged set of Brentwood and the wreckage of a failed marriage, Lily Parkins decides to move to the only place that still holds happy memories, her grandmother’s old farmhouse. The lush and majestic setting of the Pacific Northwest calls to her and offers a place of refuge and perhaps renewal. Her grandmother has passed away, leaving the Madrona Island Bed & Breakfast Inn to Lily.

Left with only an old guestbook as her guide–a curious book full of letters, recipes, and glimpses into her family history–Lily is determined to embrace her newfound independence and recreate herself, one page at a time. With the help of the quirky island residents she has befriended, she slowly finds the strength to seek out happiness on her own terms. But as soon as she has sworn off men and is standing on her own two feet, Lily meets Ian, the alluring artist who lives next door, and her new life is suddenly thrown off course. The last thing she wants to do right now is to open her heart to another man.

Ultimately, Lily must decide if it’s worth giving up her soul for security or risking everything to follow her heart.

The Guestbook is the first book in the Madrona Island Trilogy

This book was provided from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

Lily couldn't believe that her seemingly perfect life had crashed down around her. Finding out about Brad's infidelity had crushed her in some ways, but strangely enough had freed her in others. Lily finally had the courage she needed to walk out and find herself. Amazingly enough she has been left an inheritance of her grandmother's home in upstate Washington.
Life in Madrona is far from her lavish life in California. Lily struggles to remember who she is outside of being a man's possession. Her story will prove that love knows no timetable, and sometimes you never really know what you are missing.
I loved the concept of this story. Lily's struggle regain her life is beautifully written. The strength needed to find herself and start again is so true to life. Each of the characters in this little town are so thoughtful and amazing, and leaves you with a "down home" kind of feeling. Lily and Ian's relationship was also done very tastefully. After a controlling relationship it is so hard for a woman to open herself up to romantic feelings again. The plot was very well paced with a bit of suspense and mystery. I did like the fact that everything didn't always go in Lily's favor, yet she kept at it. It is also an easy read which does pull at the readers attention as well as their heart. Editing was very well done. No obvious grammatical or spelling errors to distract the reader. If I had one gripe it would be I felt the incident with her father was foreshadowed to be a big deal, but it was over in a page. I would have like to have seen more of a confrontation, and one where she fought it out. That would have been an epic add to an otherwise amazing story.
This is an adult contemporary romance suitable for mature audiences. I do list this as a recommended read. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that this is the first book of three in the Madrona series. You can't help but fall in love with this quaint little town. Happy reading!!!!

About Andrea Hurst 

When not visiting local farmer’s markets or indulging her love for chocolate, Andrea Hurst is an author and literary agent. Her passion for books drives her to find and write stories that take readers on a journey to another place and leave them with an unforgettable impression. She is a developmental editor for publishers and authors, an instructor in creative writing at the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, and a webinar presenter for Writers Digest. She lives with her dachshunds in the Pacific Northwest, on an island much like the fictional Madrona, with all of its natural beauty and small town charm. Her published books include The Lazy Dog’s Guide to Enlightenment and Everybody’s Natural Food Cookbook, and she co-authored A Book of Miracles. To learn more about Andrea and her books, visit www.AndreaHurst-author.com or www.andreahurst.com.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Guestbook-ebook/dp/B008VUR7ES/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1353037236&sr=1-1&keywords=the+guestbook+kindle+edition

Review: Uncharted by Chris Almeida and Cecilia Aubrey (Countermeasure:Bytes of Life #1)

Adult

In the prequel to COUNTERMEASURE, love is the utmost cardinal emotion and shines brightly as Conor and Maeve Brennan struggle with a life changing decision. In this glimpse into the hearts of the Brennans, you will see the strength of a love unlike any other—a love that transcends right and wrong. A love that remains unchallenged to this day.

Source: Free purchase from Amazon

My Review

I read this prequel to prepare for my audio book read of Countermeasure. It's pretty much a snippet of how Maeve and Conner felt for each other during their marriage. They were married and in love for 20 some odd years and have a son they adore. For some unknown reason, they must pick up and leave without telling anyone where they are going. Countermeasure is the next journey where Trevor looking reasons why his parents disappeared.

I liked the story but I didn't love it. I get that they are in love and they have some kinda hot chemistry even after so many years of marriage. I just don't feel the love. I feel like the story could have been a bit longer, going into more depth of their lives and time together as well as their relationship with Trevor. It is also left unsaid of why they left but I'm guessing that will give away too much of Countermeasures mystery/thriller appeal. I still look forward to reading the first book in the series.

http://www.amazon.com/Uncharted-Countermeasure-Bytes-Life-ebook/dp/B00A2DWGU2/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360692253&sr=1-4&keywords=uncharted 

 http://countermeasureseries.com/

NOTE:
UNCHARTED is a free read available from Amazon, Apple iTunes, Kobo, B&N, Smashwords, Diesel, ARe and other channels. It is the first Byte of Life.
Countermeasure: Bytes of Life is a tie-in series to the Countermeasure Series novels. This new series of shorts gives the readers glimpses into the day-to-day life of the Countermeasure characters. Although the shorts are standalone stories, they are character-driven, NOT plot-driven. Please be advised that ALL shorts in this series contain EROTIC content. They are NOT recommended for younger audience. Some of the events that take place in the short stories might be referenced in the novels and vice-versa.

It is strongly advised that you read the novels and shorts in chronological order.
The reading order is:

0 - Uncharted (Short Story - Published)
1 - Countermeasure (Novel - Published)
1a - Ecstasy by the Sea (Short Story - Published)
1b - Cuffed at Midnight (Short Story - Published)
1c - Passion at Dawn (Short Story - Published)
2 - To Russia With Love (Novel - Published)
2a - Blindsided (Short Story - Published)
2b - Lost to Rapture (Short Story - TBA)
2c - Bound by Love (Short Story - TBA)
3 - Alternate Connection (Novel - Spring 2013)
3a - London by Moonlight (Short Story - TBA)
4 - Locked and Reloaded (Novel - TBA)(less)

Review: Unforgivable by James Fuller

Fantasy/Horror Novella

Rising from the ashes of his home in Ever-Dale, Jamus Willms carves a brutal path of vengeance through the lands powerful nobility. His quest for justice seems to defy even death, as hatred fuels his journey - to the ruthless Lord that took everything from him as a simple reminder of the status quo. With the fires of that fateful night still burning in his mind, each step that takes him closer to reclaiming his daughter from the clutches of a psychopath blurs the line between man and monster - Jamus struggles to keep the flames that had disfigured his flesh from twisting his very soul forever.

Source: Reviewer Purchase

My Review

What a great story! As you can tell from the blurb, Jamus sets outs to avenge the deaths of his family and save his daughter from the perverted Lord Carter. I will warn you that it is a bit gruesome. I'm all for guts and gore but this book still got to me. A few words of advice on reading this book: 1) don't read this book in public, ie. the train. People tend to look at you funny when you're wincing while reading. 2) this book has one scene that is hard to swallow and just happens to be towards the beginning. I'll admit, I was close to bawling my eyes out on the train. Can you say embarrassing? Yeah... Anywho... Unforgivable is a heart wrenching, action packed journey of what a father is willing to do for the safety of his daughter. If you are looking for a happy ending, you wont find it here. I definitely recommend this book. 

Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother's house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Source: Borrowed audio book from the public library

My Review

Haven Moore has always had visions of a life where she was named Constance, who was in love with a boy named Ethan. Her grandmother has everyone convinced that Haven is crazy and makes her see Doctor Tidmore ( not sure of the spelling since it was an audio book) who also happens to be the preacher at her church. Haven is so sure that this previous life is very real and that Ethan may be in New York. With some new information from her late father, Haven finally has the push she needs to find some answers. She meets Iain Morrow and her world is turned upside down. 

The Eternal One's was a crazy whirlwind and will keep you guessing from beginning to end. You don't know who to trust and who to hate. Haven is so strong and doesn't back down from a challenge. I'm so glad that she goes with her gut and questions things instead of being one of those girls that believes the dude with ever fiber of her being. This made her character extremely believable. Her best friend Beau is awesome and is usually the voice of reason. I likes Iain's character but I wish there was more of him in the book. The book was full of action, suspense and romance that kept me so enthralled that I was bummed whenever I had to press pause. I was midway through when I found out that this was part of a series. I'm very excited with this news. That ending was phenomenal and I will definitely be reading the next one. I'm hoping the next one will be just as exhilarating as this one, if not more. 

Review: Good Ghost Gone Bad by Janiera Eldridge

Horror
*This book is not a YA read. It's an 18+ only novella that features sex, strong language and strong violence

Brianna Moreno was an average 22-year-old women who loved shopping, hanging out with her friends and making more career plans....until the night she was brutally and unexpectedly murdered.

Now she finds herself trapped in the ghost world while residing on earth. The problem is, her killer can see all of his ghostly victims and enjoys taunting them as much as he does killing them.Brianna soon finds out that her killer has horrible new plans concerning her family.

Brianna meets up with a few of her killer's past victims to hatch a plan so terrifying, the entire town will never be the same again.
Brianna is a good ghost gone bad; the good girl side is gone forever!

Source: Received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review. 

My Review

Brianna is a young woman that is murdered by a serial killer named Brian. Her spirit does not pass on and she is left to roam the earth as a ghost. She soon finds out that the man that killed her plans to come after her sister next. With the help of Brian's other victims, Brianna will learn some new tricks to kill the man that caused her such pain. >

Let me start off by telling you how I came to review this novella. I posted on my page that I was looking for a book that would scare the crap out of me. One of my readers suggested this one and the author offered to send it to me in exchange for a review. I'm glad she reached out because Good Ghost Gone Bad gave me NIGHTMARES. No lie! I had 2 nightmares this week about being murdered. So not cool!

What I liked: Brianna is a very strong person and she does what she sets out to do. There's a hot ghost guy thrown into the mix and it adds a slight bit of heat to the story. Not much, but it was done right. This book scared the mess out of me. I love my horror books to be somewhat gore-y and Janiera delivered that. You should have seen that look on my face while reading the end of the book. It was truly horrifying. 

What I didn't like: The story was predictable but it didn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I would have wished for a bigger twist and maybe make it a little longer. I don't ever rate a book based on grammatical errors and it could benefit from a look over by an editor. 

I would definitely recommend this book if your are looking for a quick horror read.

Janiera's Blog

https://twitter.com/lazenbeauty

https://www.facebook.com/janiera.eldridge.1

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

AMY has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her.
He wants to protect her -
and more if she'll let him

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies?
A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide..

Source: Reviewer borrowed book from the library

My Review

WOAH, WOW, and HOLY SH**!!! This was my second try with an audio book. I'm like a 3 year old when it comes to attention span. I am seriously blown away with this story. This is a sci-fi/dystopian novel about a girl named Amy. She and her parents are being frozen for a journey to a new planet. She's leaving behind every thing she knew to go. The chapters rotate between her point of view and Elder, an inhabitant of the ship taking them to the new planet. She has been consciously dreaming while being frozen and thinking of what is to come. Elder, the future leader of the ship, is unaware of the cryogenic-ally frozen people that are on an unknown part of the ship. Moving forward...Amy is unexpectedly awakened. Things aren't what they seem on Godspeed and Amy and Elder will not stop until they find the truth.

Just when you think you have the story figured out, there is a new twist thrown into the mix. I will admit that I had my suspicions from the get go. I was right but the way the story went made me have my doubts. Oh man, the revelations will have your head spinning. This book is full of intrigue, mystery and even a wild goose chase! Sci-fi is not usually my cup of tea but I think I'm having a change of heart. The last few sci-fi's  I have read were fantastic. I am definitely interested in reading the rest of this series. I can't believe it took me so long to read it. I feel like slapping myself silly. If you haven't read it, you definitely should check it out.

Review: The Domino Effect by Andrew Cotto

Young Adult-Coming of Age

The Domino Effect is the story of Danny Rorro, a charismatic kid from Queens poisoned by the past. A series of painful defeats have left him scarred and isolated from his neighborhood, his parents, and, most significantly, the benevolent ways of his childhood when he was known as “Domino.” With great insight, imagery and wit, Danny recalls his past in Queens and his coming-of-age at Hamden Academy. This fast paced and powerful story is rich with conflict, humor, tenderness and music—just like life, especially when coming-of-age.

Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

 My Review

This story takes place in the 90's. Danny's childhood wasn't all fun and games. His father always taught Danny to be the bigger person when it comes to acceptance. Danny, aka Domino, was dealt a bad hand when he tried to include the new arrivals at his school. He lived in a predominately Italian neighborhood and there was an influx of Spanish families moving in. The neighborhood wasn't as accepting of the new kids and caused some problems with Danny that lead to his downward spiral. His parents think it wise to move from the neighbor and start fresh elsewhere. Fast-forward two years... Danny starts school at a boarding school in New Jersey. (WOOOO JERSEY!!) Sorry, had to show my Jersey pride there. During his time at Hamden, Danny will have his heart broken, fall in love and come into his own skin.

I was really surprised with this book. Danny's behavior was childish and he seemed a bit stubborn. But then I remembered what it was like to be a teenager. Danny really transforms himself by the end of the book. It was incredibly moving and downright hilarious at times. It really made me feel like I knew Danny. It all makes perfect sense in the end and the cover is a nice touch. I always enjoy when the cover has something to do with the book. This is definitely a great read for teens but I'm not sure how relatable it would be to them. Again, I grew up in the 90's so this felt like home to me. Definitely recommend.

Review: Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Young Adult Fantasy

Darkness never dies. Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

My Review

Five stars does not even touch how amazing this book is...WOW...Leigh Bardugo has created an breath-taking, phenomenal world...As you are reading you feel as though you are living every moment with the characters. Alina is such a strong heroine. Her drive to fight the Darkling and save Ravka makes me want to fight with her and she deals with so many emotions along the way. Several new characters are introduced as well as the return of some of my favorites and I loved every one of them. I wont give away too much since this book does not release until June but I wanted readers to know that Leigh Bardugo does NOT disappoint with this sequel. Usually it is hard to love a sequel more than the first but with this one YOU DO!! You learn so much more about each character and there is non-stop action. The Darkling is as "dark" as ever and it just made the story more momentous. So needless to say...I COMPLETELY LOVED this book and cannot wait to read the conclusion. Alina & Mal are some of my most favorite characters ever written. Well done, Leigh Bardugo....Well done....

You can Pre-Order Siege & Storm here:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indigo

Her debut novel, Shadow & Bone (Holt Children's/Macmillan) is now a New York Times Best Seller.  Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she hides out in Hollywood and indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist L.B. Benson.

You can contact Leigh Bardugo here:

Twitter * Web Site * Facebook

Review: Our Blissful Bayou Beginnings by Danielle Peterson

Paranormal Murder Mystery/Romance
 

The Duck And The Doe is the tale of two immortal beings whose eternal love has soured a bit in the last two centuries. Written as memoir by the "hero," this novella is a musing on both what love is and how much America has changed since the early 19th century. The first volume deals with both the supernatural and the racism of the old American south. Told with humor and passion (and the occasional rant) the story of these strong characters, including a wealthy young lawyer and a clever courtsean, will change your idea of what "love forever'' really means
 

My Review
This book was provided from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

Remi enganges the reader in the story of his 200+ plus years right from the start. Long before it was acceptable to date out of his ra,e, he fell in love with a striking mulatto woman. A woman who would eventually be the demise of his mortal existence.

This is the story of how his life with Ma Bichette and how they turned into immortal beings. How love can grow and die over lifetimes, knowing you are eternally tied to one another. It is a new concept on immortality, a sort of cross between vampires and zombies.

First of all I loved the French infused language used by the author. Remi gives us insight into his character through his ramblings but I didn't find out as much about ma bichette as I wanted to know. This is a quick and interesting read,however. It is worth the money. On the downside, there is some editing and grammatical errors which could use some polishing. The cliffy ending leaves the reader wanting to read part two, regardless. Solid novel.

Amazon 

Smashwords 

http://wordswithdani.com/ 

Facebook page 

 http://www.facebook.com/wordswithdani  

Twitter

 @wordswithdani 

Goodreads

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14087452-our-blissful-bayou-beginnings

Review: Becoming Jolie by Monique O'Connor James

YA Paranormal Romance

Jolie Bourque is trying to finish her thesis and get on with her life. She wanders into Folette, Louisiana, a place plagued by ghost sightings, convinced the residents are all crazy. No one wants to help her, no one except, Hutch Landry and his brother, Tucker. 
Will she find the monster that is preying on the town's children? Can she stay sane surrounded by madness? What are her ties to the small town? How will she choose between the brothers?
This is the nightmare that is her life and all just a part of Becoming Jolie.

Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

My Review

Becoming Jolie was a decent read! I really fell in love with the story line and the plot. But the story just did not quite flow with me completely. It seems as though Jolie is in a the town of Folette for her thesis paper that she has to finish and it has something to do with ghost. Well the people there are seeing ghosts but no one from the outside wants to help the town's people. I would have liked more back story with the towns people. If Jolie was doing her thesis paper, then I believed she should have come across as the type who would stop at nothing to get answers. But it seemed that just because the town did not open up she just stopped pursuing the answers, and hardly did any research. I take it this book was suppose to be about ghost sightings, but I felt as though there was not a lot of mentions about them. I can say maybe a handful of times were the ghosts mentioned in my thoughts.

I also would have liked to have her characters develop a bit more as they had great potential to be more. I found the scene with the officer and Tucker to be surreal. Why did Frog not go after Tucker?
It did seem at times that the story was rushed instead of adding a few more details here and there. I did enjoy how it came to light that she was from the town, and her back story. You get that towards the end of the book. I thought that was a nice little twist into the book. There were some surprises that you may or not may see coming.

Buy:

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Jolie-ebook/dp/B009DHBW26/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358742501&sr=1-1&keywords=becoming+jolie

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/becoming-jolie-monique-james/1112105020?ean=9781480107090

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15713566-becoming-jolie

Review: In My Dreams by Cameo Renae

YA Paranormal Romance

It was happening again. The dreams. The nightmares. It was something that seventeen year-old Elizabeth Hayes thought she d outgrown; dreams that would come true; detailed premonitions of how people would die. This time she dreams about her boyfriend, Michael Young, and soon discovers that he has been found... dead.
He has not crossed over because he was murdered, and now the murderer is after Lizzy. His spirit won't rest until she is safe. As a newbie spirit, the easiest way for him to make contact is through Lizzy's dreams. When she dreams, it's as if he hasn't died. Lizzy must learn to pull on her inner strength to survive horrifying events, and is faced with a most difficult decision. Would she risk her life to save her best friend and the very person responsible for Michael's death?
Meanwhile, Michael learns everything he can about his supernatural gifts to help. But will it be enough to save her?

Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

 My Review

I am at a complete loss for words right now. This book had me all torn up. My heart is in pieces on the floor right now. It was a good ending but how can I be happy about it?! I've never read a book that had me crying for at least 60% of the book. I am still crying. This book will keep you hooked from beginning to end. A beautiful, thrilling mystery that will keep you guessing. I kept waiting for the big twist to come. It was is the later part of the book but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I was so upset for Lizzy with her loss of Michael. When she began to see him again in her dreams, I was elated. Their love for each other was so powerful. They would do anything for each other. Lizzy finds out that her life is in danger. Michael's murdered knows who she is and will come for her. Lizzy's strength throughout the book is amazing and Michael will help her in any way he can.

I love how the ending leaves it open to have a sequel. I don't know if that is in the works but I would definitely love to read it. My heart is still breaking after writing this review. When the author said "it may make you cry," I thought she was joking. I was thinking "yeah, okay, that's what all the authors say about their work." Ya know, since that's their baby and all. I will definitely be reading her other book soon. I'm going to go back to crying while eating this popcorn now. I think I'm too heartbroken to read another book tonight. I definitely recommend this book to anyone. It's YA but definitely a good read for adults. I told my nurse yesterday that she needed to read it. She asked me what I was reading that had me so entranced.

Review: Independence by Shelly Crane

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

In the fourth and final installment, Maggie and Caleb must tie up all the loose ends of their lives and make a way to be together completely on their own. With everything that happened with Bish and Maggie's father, she's almost reluctant to move on and move out. And now she must figure out all of this...stuff...with Haddock. But of course, nothing can stay simple for the Jacobsons. Enemies who were thought to be dissolved have decided to not go down so easily. And old flames come calling for more than just Maggie. Caleb is torn between leading his family and personal wants. Maggie is torn between Caleb and being the leader of their people. But neither will let what they need most to be pushed to the wayside. They are determined to make it all work, design a plan toward destiny, and make everything right again for themselves and their family.

And then there's a wedding...

Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

My Review

I cannot believe that I'm getting choked up over a book right now. I have to explain it to you because this is so emotional for me. I only started reading a year and a half ago. Significance, the first book in the series, was my first indie and I fell in love with the series. I love the characters and I will really miss Maggie and Caleb. I can barely type this right now because my eyes are blurred from tears. I'll admit, I procrastinated while reading this book. It's so bittersweet and I didn't wan't it to end. I wanted to savor every second of Caleb and Maggie that I could. I felt like I knew these characters. Shelly created a fantastic world with the race of the Aces. 

This is only my second time completing a series. I've avoided finishing the last book in a few series because of this very reason. But they aren't as close to my heart as this series. GAH I'm such a baby. STOP CRYING, REN!! You're being ridiculous. It started out with a BANG! I kept thinking "Oh hells to the no, Shelly did not just do that." Everything is right in the world again. Yes, this book lived up to my expectations and the only reason I rated it 4 1/2 stars instead of 5 was because of the predictability. I can't tell you why since it's a huge part of the story. Shelly Crane always delivers a happily ever after. Thank God because I would have been an emotional wreck...more than I already am.  I can't tell you how highly I recommend this series. You will fall in love!  OMG I can't believe it's over. I need a tub of chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream. Oh, and how could I forget?! Caleb and Maggie FINALLY get married!! So cute! I can't wait for everyone to read this series!

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Young Adult Contemporary
 

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Source: Reviewer purchased book

My Review

This book was a hard pill to swallow. It was beautifully haunting and I couldn't stop turning the pages. It started off with my need to know what was so bad that Hannah felt the need to take her life. It couldn't be that bad, right? Wrong. This book goes to show you that everyone's actions have a reaction, especially in Hannah's case. She records her reasons for taking her life along with the names of the people who contributed to that decision. I almost forgot how teenager's operate. High school can be a cruel world for some and it will chew you up and spit you out.

Clay is the next person to get the tapes and he doesn't believe he had any part in Hannah's demise. Of course I'm not going to tell you whether or not that is true. You will have to read this compelling mystery for yourself. I really had a hard time finishing it because of the recent death of a good friend. Death is not something I'm comfortable with. No one is really comfortable with it but reading it is a different story. It brings up so many emotions. This book left me heartbroken and enlightened, if that's at all possible. I would definitely recommend this book to older teens and adults.

Review: The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Young Adult Paranormal

Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.
Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

My Review

WOW...Where do I start with this one?  I have been told over and over I needed to read it but for some reason it just continued to sit on my shelf....hmm..BIG mistake. I began this book on the 2nd to last day of the year and finished it on January 1. So this book will go in my FAVORITES for 2012 & 2013!!!!I LOVED this book from the first pages. If you loved The Hunger Games and also love vampires then this is a MUST read. It is such a totally different book than anything I have ever read. I usually like to read books from a female point of view but I adapted to Gene so quickly it was really effortless. His character has such a deep will to survive and you cant help but "root" for him. I love the twists and turns in the story as well. I wont give anything away but I can say that at one point I was shocked...I did NOT see a character appearing that I should have from the get go! WOW! The book is written as if vampires are the leaders of the world and "hepers" also known as humans are the prey. There are very few hepers in existence and those that are are placed into a "Hunt" once every ten or so years to engage the vampire population and raise popularity for their Ruler. I loved the hepers instantly and began to root for them as well as Gene....All I can say is that you MUST read this for yourself. I turned pages well into the night...I literally could not put it down...ACTION PACKED but some parts do get a little squeamish...I mean we are dealing with VAMPIRES here!! ALL in all 5 stars for this one! and I literally cannot wait till January 31st when The Prey comes out!!!! 

                                              

                                                              

Review: Men of the Cave by Marisette Burgess

Young Adult Fantasy 
Symbol of Hope #1

Raised by unorthodox parents, Kasey Reese has always struggled to be invisible, to not be noticed, to avoid conflict. Running from a broken relationship, Kasey flees to Spain on a scholarship, to restore the comfort she finds in anonymity. Destiny, however, has other plans for her - a life threatening, life-altering journey into the supernatural when she meets the men of the cave

Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

My Review

Kasey is off to Spain for two semesters of college. That should be just enough distance to put between her and her ex. A fresh start and finally a chance to escape her freakishly odd parents and for once br in charge of her own life. Once arriving in Spain, she is immediately drawn to Dion. His speech and mannerisms remind her of an ancient time not that of today. What she doesn't understand is it is no mistake that Kasey has ended up in this area in Spain at this very time. I have to say that I loved Kasey's entire adventure. While it is a work of fiction, it is infused with stories of ancient Greece and the history of the Greek Gods. I for one am a huge fan of the stories of these guys and ladies so this story had high appeal to me. The characters in this novel are very well developed. You can picture each one in your head as you go along. I fell in love with them and their story, especially the five (actually 7) men of the cave. The plot itself is extremely fast paced. It is one of those novels that you dit down and read in one session. So be prepared when you start it. Editing was also very well done. No typos or grammatical errors seen while reading. As this is the first of the series, the author laid the framework here as to where she is going with this story. I am actually anxious to see how Kasey's prophesy plays out. Bringing Pandora in and changing the spin on her box was an amazing idea!!! I do list this as a recommended read. It is a great concept and story.

Review: Love and Relativity by Rachael Wade

This is a stand-alone title but coordinates with The Preservation Series:
Preservation (Book One, Available Now)
Reservation (Book Two, Coming 2013)
Book Three TBA

New Adult Romance

Love, life, and happily ever after? It’s all relative.

Marine biology student Emma Pierce lives in paradise—geographically speaking, anyway. Stranded on Sanibel Island, Florida, she works at a nursing home by day and spends her nights dodging the island's infamous bad boy, Jackson Taylor, at her favorite karaoke bar. Trying to heal from the loss of her sister and a failed relationship she rerouted her life for, she's ready to graduate and finally leave Florida behind.

When a run-in with Jackson and his rowdy crew goes sour at the bar one night, sparks fly and irreversible damage is done. It’s no secret that Jackson loves to get underneath her skin, but this time he's gone too far. Now all he wants is to earn her forgiveness before she's gone for good, but their ideas of closure—and the future—are enough to keep them worlds apart

Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

My Review

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited when I first heard about this book and couldn't wait to read it. I read Preservation by her and I absolutely loved it. This book was just WOW. I can't even function right now. I would have finished it last night but these things called responsibilities got in the way. I won't go into giving you a synopsis of the book since the blurb gives you a pretty good gist of it.

Only Rachael can make me love, then hate, the love Jackson again. There was a point where I wish I could have jumped onto the paged and punched him myself. Oh, but she made everything all better for me. It go to to point where I was thinking it wasn't going to be a happy ever after. I would have jumped on a plane and strangled her. I was heartbroken for the last 10%. Jackson was very protective of Emma. Mix that protectiveness with holy HOT DAMN of a man and you have Jackson. Goddamn I want his babies.

I really loved Preservation but this one blew that one out of the water...if that's even possible. I also love the way Rachael writes her female leads. They aren't annoying and I love their sass. She also threw in a few JLA references, which I loved. I recommend Preservation all the time and now I'll be pimping out Love and Relativity like it's my job! Read this book RIGHT NOW!!