Review: Waterfall (River of Time Series #1) by Lisa T. Bergren

Title:  Waterfall (River of Time Series #1)
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Amazon Vine
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one.

Remaining means giving up all she’s known and loved…

and leaving means forfeiting what she’s come to know…and love itself.

          Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds… until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

            And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

 

 

My Wicked Thoughts....

I have to say that this book was surprisingly fun to read.  It combines two of my faves...paranormal (in the way of time travel) and historical fiction!  Gabriella is a likable character with determined will to things as she sees fit..and you know that always gets people into trouble!  The book starts off in present day when Gabi and her sister wander into a forbidden archeological dig site and find hand prints in the wall...when both sisters press their hands there...the world changes..big-time - to the degree of 700 years.  When Gabi comes to her senses she is in the same site, alone...and in the middle of battle!  She is saved by Marcello, the 2nd son of the Lord of Castello Forelli.

Their attraction in undeniable but doesn't come at the best time, since he has been betrothed since birth to Lady Rossi, who of course is a jealous shrew.  So they deny it for as long as they can...all the while constantly in search of Gabi's sister...who didn't come thru the portal when she did.  Marcello is in the dark as far as the time travel situation, he just believes she has been separated from her sister and mother and is determined to help her find them.

I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was a little too convenient that Gabi knew how to do so many things out the norm...like how to use a sword, speaking Italian and some Latin and some of the plot was fairly predictable.  That aside, I enjoyed the book and finished it fairly quickly.  It is YA and honestly a little "cleaner" than average, but that doesn't take away from the story and the drama.  The characters are well developed and engaging, you really want to know how things work out in the end.  The ending is a bit open with lots of loose ends.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Cascade, due out in June 2011.

Review: The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1)
Author: Amanda Stevens
Release Date: April 19, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
Reading Level: Adult
My Copy: Net Galley
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Goodreads.com):

My name is Amelia Gray. I’m a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I’ve always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman’s brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I’ve been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims— lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I’ve vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

My quick wicked thoughts...In one word...spooky!  This book was a surprisingly haunted tale that kept me up late at night!

Why I was tempted to read this...I liked the blurb and thought I would give it a shot.

Cover thoughts...Spooky, just like the book!

Romance meter...There is some definite attraction between Amelia and Devlin but it was on the side of everything that was happening around them.  It was enough to keep you interested and wondering but didn't overpower the story and make the book about relationships and sex.

Characters and plot...Amelia learned from a young age that she could see ghosts and her father told her the rules associated with that to keep her safe...

Never acknowledge the dead
Never stray far from hallowed ground
Never associate with those who are haunted
Never, ever tempt fate

My father's rules. I've never broken them...until now
When she meets Devlin he is followed around by two ghosts and she know she should avoid him like the plague but feels so drawn to him that she has trouble following that rule.  When bodies start turning up in a graveyard that she is restoring, they are thrown together trying to piece together motives and suspects.  This book is spooky, the eerie ghosts popping up and then things they do keeps the hair on the back of your neck standing at attention.  I have found very few books that actually spook me but this was one of them.  The characters are well written and engaging and I found myself immersed in this book and I didn't want to quit reading.  If you are a fan of spooky stories, pick this book up!

The ending...is left wide open for the next book.  There are a lot of loose strings that I want to know what is going on with...but I guess I will have to wait until I get the next book! Here is the timeline:

The Graveyard Queen Series:
Prequel: The Abandoned (April 2011)
Book I: The Restorer (May 2011)
Book II: The Kingdom (November 2011)
Book III: The Prophet (May 2012)

Review: Die for Me by Amy Plum

Title: Die for Me
Author: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 1, 2011
Hardcover: 352 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: NetGalley
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb from Amazon.com:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

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

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

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel. 

My quick wicked thoughts...I DEVOURED this book, the romance and action kept me enthralled until the end.

Why I was tempted to read this...I read the blurb and thought it was a book I would enjoy and I was right on this one!

Cover thoughts...There have been two covers floating around, and the one posted on my review is my favorite...dark and romantic with amazing colors.

Romance meter...the romance was definitely there and picked up quickly only to break your heart near the middle of the book....but no worries my fellow romance lovers, everyone comes to their senses and things get to be as they should be.

Characters and plot...Kate is a totally likable character and her sister plays a major role in the book also...and while she is more shallow than Kate, you know she has a good heart.  Paris is everything I wanted it to be in this book, having never had the opportunity to visit...in my head it is quaint and romantic with a little bit of danger on the side.  Vincent, the love interest, is of course to die for in the looks department...but had a unique ability in being a revenant.  The idea of people out there trying to save humans because they are compelled to do so is a unique one and I really enjoyed delving into that world.  The author covers a lot of issues involved in that "profession" to make it seem logical.  I had a hard time putting this book down, it was just what I was looking for this week!

The ending...It wrapped up nicely with a few loose strings that will make you desire to read the next in the series...just no major cliffhanger that makes you want to beat your head against the wall...thank goodness ha ha.

Review: Starcrossed ARC by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Hardcover: 496 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: NetGalley
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart. 

 My quick wicked thoughts...Beautifully written, magical, mythology-packed, forbidden romance!

Why I was tempted to read this...The cover really caught my eye and the premise sounded great.

Cover thoughts...Amazing...I didn't actually see this scene in the book but it captures the mythological element of the book.

Romance meter...Forbidden and then determined...and then forbidden even more! There was a lot of spark between Helen and Lucas.

Characters and plot...Helen grows as a character as she learns more about her heritage and discovers her powers.  Her sidekick, Claire, is just and awesome best friend, I really enjoyed their interaction.  Lucas is of course swoon-worthy but a good guy that is incredibly likeable.  All the characters mesh thru the twists and turns of the plot and keeps the book interesting.  Loved the Greek mythology.



Can't wait for the 2nd in the series!

Review: Wither ARC by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Hardcover: 368 pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
My Copy: Book it Forward Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb from Book it Forward Tours:

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden’s genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden’s eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

My quick wicked thoughts...A novel that makes you believe that you have the ability to change your situation even in the most dire of circumstances.  It is a great start to the trilogy.

Why I was tempted to read this...Well the cover caught my attention initially and by the time I got it, I don't think i remembered what it was about...and I was pretty far off from what I was thinking in my mind..but that's not a bad thing.

Cover thoughts...It's amazing...makes sense in the story line once you get into the book.

Romance meter...Oh the forbidden love is present but refreshingly not really a love triangle since Rhine never really wanted to be with Linden.  I ended up liking Linden more than I originally thought I would.

Characters and plot...Rhine is a strong character with a love of family that is going along with things she cannot change until she gets a chance to change them.  This is not a light and fun read...it is gritty and heartbreaking.  The characters change and grow in this book and ones you thought you were sure about end up not quite being what you thought...and this keeps you interested and flipping pages.  Rhine is trying to figure a way about before she runs out of time and also figure out what is going on down the basement that Linden's father is always working on. 

The ending...The ending was good...with some closure on certain things but many other things unanswered so I really look forward to the next book in the series.

Review: The Iron Queen ARC by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Queen
Author:  Julie Kagawa
Releases: February 1, 2011
Paperback: 368 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: NetGalley.com
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked stars

Blurb (from Netgalley.com):

In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be seventeen.

Although, technically, I won’t actually be turning seventeen. I’ve been in the Nevernever too long. When you’re in Faery, you don’t age. So while a year has passed in the real world, agewise I’m probably only a few days older than when I went in.

In real life, I’ve changed so much I don’t even recognize myself.

 

MY NAME IS MEGHAN CHASE.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who’s sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I’m not sure anyone can survive it.

THIS TIME,

THERE WILL BE NO TURNING BACK. 

My quick wicked thoughts...Another awesomely written and developed book by Julie Kagawa, it does not disappoint!

Why I was tempted to read this...I loved The Iron King and the Iron Daughter, so this was a given.

Cover thoughts...It is fabulous like all the Iron Fey covers

Romance meter...Awww...there is some major Ash and Meghan interaction in this one! I have always been Team Ash so I loved that and loved getting to know more about him and Meghan as their characters grew in this book.

Characters and plot...I thought the characters grew a lot in this book...you see Meghan growing and maturing...and taking on a LOT of responsibility. You see Ash's obvious love for her.  You get to see lots of Grim, how awesome is that?  Puck comes back into the story and I wondered how he would relate to the Ash/Meghan couple, but circumstances push the 3 of them together for quite a journey.  This book had it all...love, suspense, action, fighting, fey magic and an ending that will make you wish you had the next book in the series to pick up immediately!

The ending...The ending opened up for the next book perfectly...I can't wait to read it.  It seems so hopeless for everyone but I know the author will not leave us hanging...I hope!

Review: Immortal Beloved ARC by Cate Tiernan

Title: Immortal Beloved
Author: Cate Tiernan
Hardcover: 416 pages
Published: Sept 7, 2010
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Around the World Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy. 

My quick wicked thoughts...An exciting start to a new trilogy, with engaging immortal characters but leaving many unanswered questions.

Why I was tempted to read this...I hadn't heard about it before it was offered on the ARC tour but the blurb reeled me in.

Cover thoughts...it's pretty cool, I like the use of swirling colors

Romance meter...not a ton of action but a lot of build up and I suspect that the future two books will make the build up all worth it!  They are both fighting an attraction that neither think they want.

Characters and plot...I have to say, I really enjoyed this book.  It kept my interest with Nastasya developing as a person from the spoiled, careless girl into someone that wants live...really live, rather than just exist.  The mystery of her connection with Rayn is told thru flashbacks to the past in the form of visions that she has.  Nastasya has always been uncomfortable with magic and discovers she has unusual talents for it when she opens herself up to the possibility.  There are a couple of different plots going on in this books, one of which is resolved at the end of the book...but the others are left for future books, which makes me that much more excited to read them!  Nastasya at the end of the book is 180 degrees from the character at the start, she grows, learns, deals with the past, accepts truths and learns to forgive.  That's a lot to cover in a book and this author does a fantastic job of it.

The ending...was short, sweet, and somewhat abrupt...solving one problem but leaving others open.  According to the author's blog, she working on book #2, currently titled Everlasting Darkness.  I didn't see a release date, but I am ready!

Release info...this doesn't officially release until Sept 7th but Amazon.com is already selling it and I heard it is B&N stores too...so go out and get a copy! 

Review: Nevermore ARC by Kelly Creagh

Title: Nevermore
Author: Kelly Creagh
Hardcover: 560 pages
Reading Level: YA
Published: August 31, 2010
My Copy: Star Book Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb from Amazon.com:

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-- from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it. 

My quick wicked thoughts...Dark, mysterious, edgy romance set that shows you everything isn't how it first seemed.

Why I was tempted to read this...reading the blurb made if sound like a fresh take on a YA paranormal romance, who wouldn't love reading about Edgar Allan Poe!

Cover thoughts...love it...gave me a clear vision of the two main characters.

Romance meter...lots of sizzling sparks between Isobel and Varen, I hope to see even more in the 2nd book.

Characters and plot...Isobel's world changes in the blink of an eye when she is paired with goth boy Varen for an assignment. She must get a good grade on this project to stay on the cheerleading team.  Isobel starts breaking all the rules with her parents and her friends to start spending time with Varen on this project.  Varen is mysterious and dark and has an obsession with Edgar Allan Poe.  As they start hanging out more, strange things start happening to Isobel and her life as she knows it changes...and when she goes to a party with Varen, things change in ways she couldn't even guess.  

I have to say I loved this book, I loved the dynamic between Isobel and Varen...and all his secrets.  I love the way the author weaved in Poe's writings into the story and created a new world for the characters to exist in. If I have to say one thing negative, it would be that the climax of the plot was so long...this is a long book at 560 pages and about the last 1/4 of it was the plot climax.  You cannot say that things came together too quickly in the end for this book LOL  I was getting impatient to get to the end and find out what was happening with Varen.  This is actually one of those books that has so much depth that you could read it again and probably find things you missed the first time thru.  I will definitely purchase this one for my shelf.

The ending...the ending leaves things totally up in the air for the next book.  There is so much left to happen that I really cannot wait to read it! The ending did break my heart a bit, but I just know things will be fixed in the sequel which according the the author's website, she is working on.  

Review: Shadow Hills ARC by Anastasia Hopcus

Title: Shadow Hills
Author: Anastasia Hopcus
Hardcover: 400 pages
Published: July 2010
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Book it Forward ARC Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA -- a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach -- the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after -- seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills. 

My quick wicked thoughts...A unique and enthralling spooky romance that will keep you hooked until the end.

Why I was tempted to read this...I had read a few reviews and just the blurb about it made it sound different and fun.

Cover thoughts...It's okay...it doesn't blow me away.

Romance meter...heck yes! The intense attraction between Phe and Zach is just perfectly written.  As much as they try to deny it, they have some major sparks going on!

Characters and plot...I really loved the characters in this book.  Phe was interesting and engaging, she is a girl who isnt afraid to go out there and get what she wants!  Zach of course is the unobtainable hot guy that just a nice guy too.  I didn't want to kick him upside the head like I do a lot of guys ha ha.  The mystery of the dreams with town secrets are mixed together perfectly to keep you flipping pages until the end.  As Phe starts to realize that she might be tied into this town and it's future, she is also determining she might have powers she didn't know about.

The ending...it was very satisfying but there are still some unanswered questions.  Can't find much on news of a sequel but her blog does say she is working on it, yay!!

The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) ARC by Cassandra Clare

Title: The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Published: August 31, 2010
Hardcover: 496 pages
Reading Level: YA
My copy: Book It Forward Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all. 

My quick wicked thoughts...A wonderfully crafted new series from the author of the Mortal Instruments series taking place in Victorian era England. 

 

Why I was tempted to read this..I loved the MI series and this looked deliciously steampunk-ish

Cover thoughts..It's pretty awesome, gives you a view of the Clockwork Angel and of Will.

Romance Meter..Definitely some sparks between Tessa and Will...with some definite interest from James.  James (or Jem as he prefers) is just a sweet guy with a devastating secret, Will is sweet one moment and rude and nasty the next, you don't know what you are going to get with him, but the attraction is undeniable.

Character and Plot...Oh this book was all that I was hoping for, plus some.  I loved the MI series, but honestly...I couldn't remember much about it when I started reading this book (too many books in between I think lol).  That did not take away from this book at all, which new characters (and a few old ones) the story is original and captivating.  Set in Victorian England in a steampunk-ish era, Tessa comes from the US to live with her brother after her aunt dies.  She is swiped up by the Dark Sisters and held captivate to learn her abilites of shape shifting, that she had no idea she had. This isn't your animal/werewolf shape shifting either, she can take an item that belonged to a person, and change into that person with voice and memories...and the person can be still living or not.  This makes Tessa a value commodity and the Dark Sisters are going to marry her off to The Magister.  In the nick of time, Tessa is saved by the Shadowhunters and taken into their world to learn the truth of her abilities, friends, and family.  This book is almost 500 pages but it flew by, I had trouble putting it down. I loved that Magnus Bane came back for this book, I just absolutely loved him in the MI series....once I finally started remember what happened in that series.  It isn't necessary to have read the MI series to read this once with its cast of new main characters...but you should read them anyway if you haven't. 

The Ending..Ahhh..the ending...perfect in some ways...but leaves you hanging enough you are anxiously waiting for Book 2, The Clockwork Prince, due out in 2011.

Infinite Days ARC by Rebecca Maizel

Title: Infinite Days
Author: Rebecca Maizel
Paperback: 336 pages
Publish date: August 3, 2010
Reading Level: YA
My copy: Book it Forward Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

 Blurb from amazon.com:

"Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you...no one."

Those were some of Rhode's last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn't Rhode.

But Justin was...daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.

I never expected to be sixteen again...then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...

My quick wicked thoughts...a fresh and exciting view of vampires, friends and choices in life...and regrets.

Why I was tempted to read this...it sounded romantic and vampire-ish, what's not to love?

Cover thoughts...loved it..makes more sense when you read the book, ha ha

Romance Meter...oh yeah...there are long-time loves that would give their life for you and fresh new romances to keep you interested.

Character and Plot...I really loved this book!  This isn't your average sweet vampire book...no these vampires are brutal and ruthless...and Lenah only wants her humanity back.  When Rhode gives up his life for her, Lenah gets to experience things like emotion, rain, touch, taste, and sun...all things that were void from her long life as a ruthless vampire queen.  The book starts at current day but flips back to the past often to give you needed background information and let you get a true sense of Lenah's life as a vampire and her coven.  When she meets Justin she knows he is different and he feels the same connection about her.  But all is not fine in Lenah's new world...when she doesn't awaken back to her vampire life like she is supposed to, her coven comes looking for her, and they are willing to take out anyone in their way.  This book kept me at the edge of my seat and flipping pages.  The plot wraps around and doesn't let you go and at the end...you sit there and look back over the ride this book just took you and go WOW....there better be a sequel LOL

The Ending...the ending..OH the ending...things happen at toward the end of the book so you think you know how it will end but there are still surprises...and cliffhangers...and there better be a sequel!  I checked the author's blog but I didn't see a date or title.  It cannot end this way, Ms. Maizel!! LOL

Review: The Emerald Talisman ARC by Brenda Pandos

Title: The Emerald Talisman
Author: Brenda Pandos
Paperback: 282 pages
Published: March 24, 2010
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Around the World Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb from Amazon.com:

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves. 

My quick wicked thoughts...a refreshing new take on vampires and vampire slayers.

Why I was tempted to read this...Well the blurb reeled me in, always looking for a new vampire book!

Cover thoughts...it's pretty cool, not exactly how I imagined the necklace in my mind tho.

Romance Meter...Well of course!  Julia and Nicholas hit is off right from the beginning and the romance started bubbling.

Character and Plot...Julia has a talent, she is an empath meaning she can feel others emotions.  When a risky walk home after her car breaks down leads her to meeting Nicholas and him saving her from some "thing" in the woods, she starts asking more questions to find out what she is actually up against.  This story rocks along very easily and is pretty hard to put down, the plot flows nicely and the characters are engaging.  PLUS you have evil vampire vs good, you know that is always fun!

The Ending...The ending was good...left me wanting more and dying to know questions that were left unanswered, hopefully there will be a sequel in the works!

Review: Deception (A Haunting Emma Novel) by Lee Nichols

Title: Deception
Author: Lee Nichols
Hardcover: 336 pages
Reading Level: YA
Published: June 2010
My Copy: Around the World Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb from Amazon.com:

When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life. 

My quick wicked thoughts...A fast-paced, enthralling, gothic ghost story with awesome characters.

Why I was tempted to read this...I had read a few glowing reviews on it and immediately added it to my wish list.

Cover thoughts...It's pretty spooky and gothic, I like it!

Romance Meter...the romance was suspenseful because you just didn't know who to trust and who was telling the truth.  I would give it a 4 out of 5.

Character and Plot...Emma was a completely likable character that handles a lot of responsibility and drama.  She takes up the reins when her parents leave her unexpectedly, the adult that is supposed to watch her resigns, and she is left to her own devices managing their antique store, unable to get in touch with anyone.  When she gets in trouble and Bennett rushes in from nowhere and saves her, she's off to another part of the country with a new school and living in a museum.   Her only contact is Bennett and he is often MIA so she does a lot of fact finding on her own when she figures out she is a Ghostkeeper.  The characters are engaging and the plot is dynamic and keeps swiftly moving from one thing to another.  I inhaled this book and didn't want to put it down.

The Ending...A perfectly executed cliffhanger that will have you eagerly waiting the next book in the trilogy!  Who to trust?? Who to trust??
 

Sequel...yes of course! Word is Betrayal will be out sometime early next year...not sure I can wait!!

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Hardcover 336 pages
Published: March 2, 2010
Reading Level: YA
My copy: Book it Forward Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Amazon.com:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her. 

My quick wicked thoughts...A fun and drama-filled read about witches, spells, school and of course...a forbidden cute warlock.

Why I was tempted to read this...Well I have been wanting to read it for a long time, I knew this kind of book was right down my alley, and I was not disappointed!

Cover thoughts...Well my ARC was just plain and white but I really love both the US and UK versions of the cover!

Romance Meter...Oh  yeah...definite chemistry between Sophie and Archer.  While they didn't get to explore that spark much because Archer was dating the queen bee of the witches (with a B), there were moments together where it was undeniable. So I would say a 3.5 out of 5...but I think the 2nd book will heat up the romance factor some!

Character and Plot...Our main character, Sophie, is a witch that unfortunately hasn't had formal training since she lives with her human mother and her warlock father has been absent her whole life...this leads to a lot of trouble which gets Sophie sent to Hex Hall for school.  There she makes friends with her outcast roommate (the only vampire student) and makes enemies of the clique of beautiful witches.  She also starts a love/hate relationship with Archer, a cute warlock.  When member of this clique start getting hurt in the same way that a witch died in last year, all fingers point to Sophie's vampire roommate.  Sophie refuses to believe this and goes on her own mission to find the truth.  In the meantime, a ghost from her family line shows up to help Sophie out in magic. The plot was fast moving and action packed, it kept me interested and flipping pages until the end.

The Ending...The ending was not so predictable, the author shook up some things and people that you thought were one way, were actually another...or so you think at this point. Is that vague enough? ha ha  There is plenty of room for changing stuff around for sequel.

Sequel...YES according to the author's blog.  It is titled Demonglass and scheduled for release in March 2011.  Can't wait to read it!  And as an added tidbit...Demonglass was actually the name for Hex Hall before it was published but they chose to go a less "dark" direction with the 1st book.