Tour: Shallow by Georgia Cates

Author: Georgia Cates
Title: Shallow
Publication: September 21, 2012
Rating: 4 out 5
Source: Blog Tour
Synopsis
Payton Archer's best friend, Claire, strives to be perfect in every way. Payton doesn't and this is her story.

Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the "The Strip" in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, adrenaline and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways. 

Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it...at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes aren't what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?

Thoughts: I'm not going to sit here and rehash what the story is about because the synopsis seems to do a very good job at that. I will say that I enjoyed reading this book. I'm so happy to see Claire and Jessie return in this one, they had such a wonderful and touching journey in the first book in this series but now it's time to see if Payton can find the type of love that she needs and wants. She desires a love similar what Claire has with Jessie and doubts that she can acquire it with Nick, who comes from the wrong side of town, social status and financial wealth. Her parents would most likely have a coronary.

I loved the dynamics between all the characters, it easy to experience how much they care for one another. The heat between Nick and Payton as they banter away with smart mouth comebacks is magnetic. I liked seeing them fall in love even though they try to fight it, but the more they pull away, the closer these two are drawn together. Can they survive a vindictive floozy and a hurtful family secret? My favorite character is Nick, there is just something beautiful about seeing a man be vulnerable and bare, especially one that's as tough as Nick. The writing is good and the story flows well. I would recommend this work to a much older teen audience, maybe 16 and up. Overall, good read.

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Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

A DYING LAND 

The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever. 

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her. 

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Thoughts: Yukiko endures many loses in her life. She travels on this fools quest with her father, who she seems to hate and believes him a coward for following the tyrant ruler Shogun's irrational wishes. There appears to be a strain on their relationship and her father bears a horrible secret that she doesn't know is the reason for his behavior. However in time, when she discovers the deception and lies surrounding the Shogun's rule, Yukiko will come to understand the true price of his loyalty and honor.

The writing is descriptively beautiful. The author has a poetic way of creating the scene and expressing the emotions of the characters. Yukiko strength is subtle in the beginning and I enjoyed watching her change into a warrior. My favorite character would have to be the storm tiger Buruu; he is intelligent, strong and fierce. I think what I loved most was the relationship between him and Yukiko, which makes the story so engaging. I also liked all the intricate details about the different clans and the Shima hierarchy. I found the dynamics of each entity intriguing, which gave fullness to the story. As I was reading this I thought about three particular series: Eon, Eragon and Harry Potter and I think others that have read these books will get why. However, this work stands to be an incredible series and I look forward to more.

Covers: Both are pretty cool and beautiful.

Author: Jay Kristoff

Title: Stormdancer

Publication: September 18, 2012

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Review: Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin

Author: Andy Gavin
Title: The Darkening Dream
Publication: January 10, 2012
Publisher: Mascherato Publishing
Rating: 4 out 5
Source: Author

The Darkening Dream is the chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand. 
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

Thoughts: Dark. The synopsis gives a good description of the book, so I will attempt to not rehash that but it's about vampires, religion and some witchcraft stuff goes on. I haven't read anything like this that I can recall and will say that this will be memorable for me. I will never forget reading this book. Gavin has done an amazing job of blending all these different aspects together to make for a compelling read. Some people may find this to be a bit gory in certain scenes. Let's just say my jaw dropped on several occasions from the grotesque nature of events that happened in this book. The writing is very detailed and gives a good visual idea of what in going on. The pace was a bit slow and it took me longer to read this than I would have liked...partly because I was freaked out (I'm a punk, you may like it). Okay, so the whole book is not scary but try it. The characters are interesting and the historical aspects are pretty cool. Sarah and her friends are brave to go chasing after a 900 year-old vampire or incredibly nuts. Overall, that ending was worth the read!

Cover: I love the cover! It's has a strange beauty to it.

Audio Review: About Average by Andrew Clements

Author: Andrew Clements
Narrated by: Celia Keenan-Bolger
Title: About Average
Publisher: Simon and Schuster 
Format:Unabridged Audio CD
Length: 2 hrs:9 mins
Publication: July 2012
Source: Publisher via Audiobookjukebox
Rating: 4 out 5
Audible

Jordan Johnston is average. Not short, not tall. Not plump, not slim. Not blond, not brunette. Not gifted, not flunking out. Even her shoe size is average. She’s ordinary for her school, for her town, for even the whole wide world, it seems.
But everyone else? They’re remarkable. She sees evidence everywhere - on TV, in movies and magazines, and even in the email blasts that fill her inbox. Tremendously talented. Stunningly beautiful. Wildly gifted. And some of them are practically her age!
Jordan feels doomed to a life of wallowing in the vast, soggy middle. So she makes a goal: By the end of the year, she will discover her great talent. By the end of the year, she will no longer be average. She will find a way to become extraordinary, and everyone will know about it!

Thoughts: The cutest book about accepting who you are as an individual. Jordan sees herself as middle ground, not the best but certainly not the worst. She hopes to be more than average but exceptional but it's hard when even her parents see her accomplishments in school as average. Jordan has a wonderful voice and a humorous perspective on life. She at that stage where she trying to find her place in the world. Jordan is a real character, it is easy to visualize someone feeling what she feels. What's great about her is her determination to be more than average. She makes this list of things she good, okay and not so good at that somehow the mean girl in school gets a hold of and reads aloud, which turns Jordan happy disposition sour. Everyone  is baffled by her cloudy mood as she is normally the sweetest girl. In the end things will be right again for Jordan and she will realize that being average is  just extraordinary.

The narrator does a great job of giving richness and life to Jordan. Which made for two hours of innocent delight. Bolger uses her voice in a way that provides distinction in the gender and age of the characters with the tone of her voice. The sound quality is clear enough without the need to adjust the volume in my car. The reading pace is balanced not too slow or too fast. I think Bolger is perfectly matched for this text as her ability to tap into Jordan personality and give a unique sound is fantastic. The audience that this is geared towards will like her reading this one because she breathes character into this production, which takes talent as not many people can do this and hold the listeners attention. For me personally, she keep me focused on the book or in other words, it wasn't boring. I finished this rather quickly and when it came towards the end, I sat in the car to finish it. Good listen!

Arc Review: Rift by Andrea Cremer

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

This is going to be a good series; I think I like this one even more than the Nightshade series, maybe. Ember longs to be from under her father's watchful eye and hopes to have a life of her own choosing. She has no desire to be a wife to some rich aristocrat just to carry on the family name and wealth. It just so happens that when her mother was giving birth to her, things weren't going so well and they both almost died. Conatus agrees to save her in exchange for the daughter she bears, Ember. On the day she is supposed to leave her father tries everything to put a dent in her departure but no matter how hard he tries Ember is destined and determined to leave. Barrow, a member of the Guard at Conatus sent to retrieve her, proves to be a force that won't budge to the whims of her father via a very visually gruesome fight scene. Once Ember arrives she must go through at test to prove that she is on the right path, and this will truly decide her place in Conatus. However, her father is still persistent about her not being there, goodness this man is stubborn! 

The romance between Ember and Barrow is just right not too much, too soon but just enough heat to make it swoon-worthy. Alistair, her best friend from home is also a member of the Guard and he longs to be with Ember. The sparks fly when he sees that she is interested in Barrow. Ember she is strong, stubborn and fierce. She is a natural fighter with spirit and not one of those wimpy female leads but she is proactive. Alistair is a spineless weasel. Barrow is a fantastic fighter with a subtle strength to him. I like that he is more level minded and careful with Ember whereas Alistair is more aggressive, sneaky and single-minded. Though this book is not entirely about the romance but about the darkness that is infiltrating itself into the very hearts of the Guard own warriors.  

The writing is good and the plot is steadily paced. The narrative seems to follow the perspectives of Ember and Eira. Ember is trying to show that she is capable of being a valuable member at Conatus and Eira is not entirely satisfied with her position in the Circle, she longs for something more. It is interesting to see what lead to the events in Nightshade. Mostly, what works for me is the characters mainly Ember and Barrow, the scenes with them are my favorites. I recommend this to the readers of fantasy fiction and those that also like the Nightshade series.

*Received this book from Around the World Arc Tours*

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Author: Aimee Carter
Title: Goddess Interrupted
Publication: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
Audience:Young Adult
Rating: 4 out 5
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
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KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE’LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of

Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one

person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Emotional: It is interesting to finally meet the girl that broke Henry's heart. Persephone is beautiful but stuck on herself, though she does have a moment when she shows she can be compassionate, if she chooses to be. Kate is so sad and cries much of the book, which broke my heart. She wants Henry to show that he loves her for who she is and not what she represents, which is the replacement for Persephone. He of course being unable to express himself only makes matters worse and may just lose Kate forever in the process. She feels like she really had no choice that she was made only so Henry would not fade. But what she doesn't realize is that she does have a choice and she doesn't have to commit herself to this life. Yet, her heart wants Henry and he needs to get with the program and show this girl some love. Now, on the night that she is to become his Queen, she has her doubts and questions her decision but just as she is about to give her answer, the ceremony is stopped when a strange force attempts to kill Kate. Everyone knows who is responsible, except her and they all rush to stop it before it's too late. Not wanting to stand by as everyone she loves risks their lives to save humanity; she decides to take matters into her own hands to get back the man she loves. This book has more emotional turmoil between Kate and Henry than anything else because they are both too stubborn to see what's right there. In addition to this, the conflict between the Titan, and Calliope, who is still bitter about her punishment and decides to get majorly devious to get what she desires. The writing invokes sympathy for Kate, who still is unsure where she fits in her new world and this is mostly what I felt while reading this, her sadness.Kate just can't catch a break, there is always some problem getting the way of her relationship with Henry.The ending is shocking and I look forward to see how that is going to work out. Overall, a good read about honesty, trust, love, hate and betrayal. 

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St.Claire

When plain and unpopular Annie Nutter gets zapped by one of her dad's whacked-out inventions, she lands in a parallel universe where her life becomes picture-perfect. Now she's Ayla Monroe, daughter of the same mother but a different father—and she's the gorgeous, rich queen bee of her high school.  
In this universe, Ayla lives in glitzy Miami instead of dreary Pittsburgh and has beaucoup bucks, courtesy of her billionaire—if usually absent—father. Her friends hit the clubs, party backstage at concerts, and take risks that are exhilirating . . . and illegal. Here she's got a date to lose her V-card with the hottest guy she's ever seen. But on the inside, Ayla is still Annie.
So when she's offered the chance to leave the dream life and head home to Pittsburgh, will she take it? The choice isn't as simple as you think.

Thoughts: It's simple:  Money does not equal happiness. Or as Biggie Smalls would put it "mo money, mo problems". This story is like Freaky Friday meets Mean Girls. Annie Nutter is such an innocent, sweet character that gets caught in the what ifs of her mother, who is dissatisfied with her life and wonders what could've been if she married Jim Monroe. After her mother storms off in anger at another one of father's inventions, Annie finds herself without a computer that works, since he took some parts for his invention.  In a spark of genius she somehow plugs her phone into it but a freak lightning storm finds Annie in another life and in the "picture perfect" body of Ayla Monroe. Thinking she is in some bizarre dream, she decides to make the most of it yet as the day goes on things start feeling too real. Now, at the top of the food chain, no longer nobody Nutter, she at first embraces her new lifestyle and persona. However, no matter how hard she tries to be this girl, her true nature comes through and she comes to detest Ayla Monroe and the rules of the social hierarchy of Crap Academy. Ayla has the life that Annie always wanted, the body, hot boyfriend and the worship or is it really fear from her peers. Annie must decide if its truly worth it to conform for popularity or rebel for herself. This story is about her struggle with her desire to be popular and her heart. How can she be Ayla without compromising what makes her Annie? 


For me the best part is when she meets Charlie, they have to partner up for an English quiz and that's when he gets a glimpse that Ayla is more than he realizes. Then one night he becomes her savior after she is left to her own devices to get home, after a tryst gone bad with her boyfriend Ryder. It is emotionally, written beautifully and I found myself cheering for Annie to break the mold and go with what she feels for Charlie, regardless of how unpopular that choice may be. Charlie is smart, cute, caring and the right boy for her. He likes who she is on the inside and he may be her only hope to getting back home....that is if she still wants to go back. There so much going on this story as it has much more depth than what it seems at first. It's not just about how the other side lives but who they are in their hearts and how they choose to treat people. It is about not being afraid to be an individual in world of sharks. That said, I recommend this book to anyone that's looking for a reminder that the key to happiness in not what exists in the material world but what exists inside. Love.

Author: Roxanne St.Claire
Title: Don't You Wish
Publication: July 10,2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368
Audience:Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4 out 5
Source:Publisher via Netgalley
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Amazon | BN | Book Depository

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Title:Lies Beneath
Publication: June 12,2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Audience:Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out 5
Source:Publisher via Netgalley
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Amazon | BN | Book Depository

"Human beings were the happy, shiny lures that caught our attention. They had what we craved: Optimism. Excitement. Joy. Any positive emotion could whip us into a frenzy, compel us to charge, to grab, to absorb the joy from their hearts into our own."

My Thoughts: This is so not the little mermaid but it is sweet and deadly. Jealous merpeople with killer instincts that feed off human emotions is fantastic. Though, I still like the nice mermaid stories,this a refreshing twist to the lore. Calder White is swoon worthy and although he is a killer, just couldn't help connecting with him and wanting him to be able to gain his freedom. He is different from his sisters as he was made rather than born a mermaid like his sisters. I was disturbed by one sister's unnatural attachment to Calder, even though they are not blood related, still gross. Now, the plot begins with his family seeking revenge for the death of their mother after Tom Hancock refused to keep his promise. His unsuspecting son Jason is responsible for paying that debt. The sisters come up with a plan to have Calder woo one of Hancock's daughters in an effort to lure their father to the water, but they never expected Calder to fall for Lily Hancock. He begins to question everything and realizes that the path to justice is not as clear as it seems. What starts out as deception to kill may be the one thing that can save Calder from the life he detests.The pace of this story moved at a steady pace and it was good to see the chemistry between Lily and Calder unfold gradually. The characters are fleshed out pretty well. The ending wasn't what I was expecting at all and I anxiously await the next book to see how things will turn out. So, good read about about family, love, sacrifice and truth. 

Review: The Sounding by Carrie Salo

Title: The Sounding
Author: Carrie Salo
Publication: September 23, 2011
Publisher: 23 House
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Friend
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Amazon
Synopsis:

In the Book of Revelation, a man named John has a prophetic dream. He dreams of the final prophecies that will come to pass – and the seven archangels that guard them. Each angel waits to sound their trumpet at God’s appointed time, preparing humanity to fight and win the final battle.

2,000 years later, Father Chris Mognahan is a member of the Hetairia Melchizedek, a secret society within the Catholic Church that studies Biblical omens. The society asks Chris to investigate an unusually grotesque crime – a murder on a college campus where the killer's hand literally burned off the victim's face.While the killing seems isolated at first, the society ties the murder to the final Biblical prophecy and a terrifying omen that the order of the prophecies is about to be disrupted. The final battle is coming too soon – long before humanity is prepared to win it.

Suddenly, Chris finds himself fighting against time and hell to keep the prophecies in order and stop an early Armageddon. He is joined by a band of unlikely allies, and together they find themselves in Rome above the Vatican Necropolis – the city of the dead – where the future is revealed to them in ancient texts.
They are not alone, however; an evil as old as time itself hunts them. As they travel across continents on their mission, the demonic force follows relentlessly, waiting in every shadowed corner, and every dark place.
As Armageddon descends, Father Chris finds that his only hope lies in a young woman within the group who has a secret gift – and their belief that God Himself may have sent her to keep the final angelic trumpet from sounding out the early end of the Earth.


Review:It took some time for me to get through this book as the author had the tendency to go into great detail of biblical and architectural background aspects. It is for the most part relevant to the story, however for me it was distracting and drawn out sometimes. Now, what I love about this book was the story itself. The action, intrigue and mystery make this an absolutely fantastic story. Elise, the reincarnate of the angel Remiel, struggles with her acceptance of who she is and what that means for her purpose in the world. She has to re-learn and understand some things as far as religion is concerned but once she makes the connection,she realizes where she stands with secret society and what they expect her to do. In addition to all this new information, Elise has an attraction towards Father Chris that neither can act upon because of his vows, though temptation is a test in itself. Even though, he is a priest, I wanted them to be together because I was able to feel the connection between them. The interactions between them were so sweet. Elise is easy to relate to , she is young, uncertain and just wants to live a normal life, yet no matter how she tries, her destiny just won't let her be. Especially, the dark evil that is hunting her down to stop her from saving the world from its early apocalyptic demise. What she discovers is that evil lurks in many places and is much closer, deadly and sinister than she could ever have imagined. Sometimes, you have to be careful, who you put your trust in. This book is really good, the semi-romance, action and mystery all make it worthwhile.

Review: Magic of the Moonlight by Ellen Schreiber

Author: Ellen Schreiber
Title: Magic of the Moonlight
Series:  Full Moon#2
Publication: April 19,2011
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books
Genre:YA paranormal
Pages: 240 pp.
Audience: 14 and up
Rating: 4 out of 5
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"Beware of a bite under a full moon…
it will complicate your love life."

Review: This is the second book and I believe I like this series a bit more than the Vampire Kisses series. Maybe because it's not all goth and vampires. I'm slightly burned out on vamps. This story reminds me of the West Side Story, as the main character falls for a guy from the other side of the tracks, and that's frowned upon by her peers. It's hard not to fall for a guy that saves your life though, only to have that moment change his life forever. Celeste must hide how she feels for Brandon from her friends as she feels it will only make the teasing worse for him as it already is. In addition to that her ex-boyfriend Nash knows Brandon's secret and threatens to tell everyone he is a wolf, if she doesn't pretend they are trying to work on their relationship. He is such a pighead, he feels that he is doing this out of concern for her as a friend but there is tons of jealousy motivating him too. Celeste understands Nash's motives but it's too little too late for him to start being the boyfriend she always wanted when Brandon is that now. Though her heart belongs to another Nash is not going out without a fight and things get very interesting between these two alpha males. Celeste has her work cut out for her, from helping Brandon find a cure so he can be normal again, if that is what he really wants. Is she even certain that she herself  wants the boy or the wolf?In addition to all this, she has to balance out time with her best friends, who want things to remain the same. But sometimes, change is hard to stop, and Celeste is in for a big one.

Review: Preloved by Shirley Marr

If you had a second chance at love, would you do it all over again?

Amy has enough to deal with for one lifetime. A superstitious Chinese mother. A best friend whose mood changes as dramatically as her hair colour. A reputation for being strange. The last thing she needs is to be haunted by someone only she can see.

Logan is a ghost from the Eighties. He could be dangerous. He's certainly annoying.

He might also be Amy's dream boy.

Favorite Quote:

"Amy, remember that if you get lost in a forest and the ghosts trick you into thinking every direction looks the same-take your undies off, put them over your head and spin around in a circle. Then your path will be clear."

Review:For all her mother's constant warning and superstitions about attracting ghosts, Amy should have thought twice about putting on the necklace that she found. Amy is just content to be a bystander and blend in to her surroundings rather than stand out. True, she may not be popular and is considered the sidekick to her best friend Rebecca Starling but she has a good heart. Amy and Rebecca are completely opposite of each, Rebecca is more self-absorbed and ditzy whereas Amy is more observant of her surroundings but she is unsure of herself. Then enters the ghostly Logan, who makes her see how great she is, though I think it is sort of crazy that she falls for a ghost, how in the world would that work? Well, Logan is not interested in Amy but her bestie Rebecca, whom he believes to be someone from his past. Poor Amy is being haunted, has a mother that constantly tells her crazy warnings about ghosts and she has to compete with Rebecca for the love of a ghost. Not only that everyone is thinking she's gone loony as she is adamant that Logan is there and she is trying to help him and herself understand the connection that they feel towards each other. What she finds out is more than she expected.The plot was good, and I liked how the story unfolded as well as how the pace remained steady, which made this a quick read for me. The characters are great, though my favorite is Amy's mom, who says some truly off the wall things, but they were funny.I would say this story is about family and friendship. Interesting read, I think it is cute.

Author: Shirley Marr 

Title: Preloved

Publisher: Black Dog Books

Publication: April 1, 2012

Audience: 14 and up

Genre: Paranormal Contemporary

Source: Blog Tour with theReadventurer

Rating:4 out 5

Where to Buy: Fishpond

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Review: Pawn of Mine by Tabitha Vale

Title: Pawn of Mine

Author: Tabitha Vale

Genre: YA/ Urban Fantasy

Publish Date: April 9, 2012

Publisher: Amazon

Formats: Ebook & Paperback

Source: Author

Rating: 4 out 5

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Summary

The world never ended in fire and ice. The people were consumed by it and now they control the elements. The Fires have harnessed the power down to an art, while the Waters cower in fear of their abilities and remain weak and hopeless. Seventeen year-old Sage Sinclair hopes to dispel the weakness of her Water people, and she knows that if she doesn’t do anything, no one will. When she discovers something special about herself, she seeks the Humble Narcissist Ruler Agni in the great city, Saint Firefly. Once she gains his seal of approval, she’s admitted into Erra Academy where she secretly sparks a revolution among her ennui peers—a revolution to fight back against the Fires. She has every hope in her movement, just as long as her feelings for a handsome and frivolous Saffron Larkspur don’t get in the way—that, and Agni’s sudden fascination with her.

Review: Action-packed sequences and a heroine that can handle her own this is a great read about courage, sacrifice and love. Sage is a tough cookie who is passionate about the cause she has set for herself and nothing is going to interfere with that goal of showing the world that the Waters can be just as powerful as the Fires, who are in control of everything.She hopes to restore the balance that they once had when the Ancients lived, and not even the cute boys that seem to be flocking her can change that, though it seems she is drawn to Saffron in particular. He is charismatic and honest in a way that is convenient for him. He is a cake and eat it too guy, he would rather not label himself as spoken for in order to have the ability to pursue his options yet, in spite of all this Sage is still attracted to him. Zane is my favorite fella and I love how he grows throughout this story and the fact that Sage is oblivious to how much he is willing to do for her is crazy. The last guy is Hazel and he is absolutely gorgeous, dark and brooding but not exactly sure what his deal is other than he tries to kill Sage a couple of times, and he is not the only one that has it out to stop her. Now, the fellas are only a portion of this story, and they each play important roles in the efforts to overthrow the conceited, selfish and insane leader Agni, who is a Fire. There are several secrets and twists that transpire with lots of cool visual fight scenes. This is a good beginning to an intriguing series, that as I was reading reminded me of several other fantastic reads such as the Last Airbender, Harry Potter and a tiny bit of the Hunger Games.