Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1)

Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1) by C.C.Hunter –>5 of 5 stars

Well, I just finished this one and I have to say that I really liked it! I didn’t really know what to expect because I hadn’t heard anything about the series, but I thought it was a great beginning!
For the most part, Kylie Galen is an average teenage girl with average boy and best friend drama…that is, with the exception that she has night terrors and creepy ‘soldier boy’ stalker. This would all be ok if she hadn’t just come home to her father leaving her mother. She instantly blames her frigid mother and begs her father to take her with him. When he doesn’t consent, Kylie is left confused and hurt.
Without giving too much away all these issues lead Kylie to “acting out” and of course, she gets busted and sent to a summer camp for “troubled teens.” What Kylie doesn’t know is that the camp is really for kids that are also “paranormals.” 
So, up until the second half of this book, I had pretty much decided that it was a good book, but was only 4 star worthy because I kept finding Kylie to be a bit whiny and irritating. I mean, really, you see ghosts and have night terrors…why can’t you just accept you aren’t normal?? I felt like banging my head against the wall several times. I mean really, if I just found out that vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and fairies existed…in addition to the fact that I could see ghosts and all that jazz, I think I would just be a believer.
With that aside though, the romances between Kylie and Lucas and Derek more than made up for my minor irritations with Kylie. For being a YA, this is a pretty steamy read. And with some fairly graphic fantasy sequences. Granted, nothing naughty actually happens, but there are several references to Kylie’s breasts, what they are pressed up against and who she wants to touch them. lol. I know this sounds stupid to remark about, because I could care less, but some of my Teen parents would want to know. Whether I agree with them caring is one thing…just wanted a note on here that this is a definite PG 13 if not a bit more.

 The good news? Hunter does a great job of having Kylie say No to these guys and sex. She portrays her denial in realistic ways that is bound to help teen girls when they experience such situations. Plus, Kylie gets several good friends and an adult role model to back her up with these feelings and help her to be confident in her choices. So, that was cool. Also, to alleviate my irritation with Kylie’s character, Hunter did have Kylie reconcile her earlier more juvenile behavior (i.e her whiny-ness). Kylie does evolve as a friend and person throughout the book, and that is just something that many YA authors don’t have their main characters do. They are usually pretty transparent the whole way through.
So altogether, this was a great read. I read it super quick, and for me, that means that the writing was clear and flowed well. I’m not a fast reader, so if I get through things fast it’s because the plot is great and so is the writing. I’m not saying this is a super profound book or anything…just that it’s a fun, clever, and often humorous YA paranormal read. It’s refreshing and sexy and I can’t wait to read book 2.
P.S. – I’m on Team Lucas!! What do you guys think?? 😛
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The Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I’ll tell you what. I totally loved this book and was ready to go off on that until I read some of the criticisms of the book and that has totally distracted and irritated me. Like the one about Christianity…She says that Chadda twisted Bible characters and their stories and that readers of this book should be aware and not take what he writes as fact. Like, duh! Why would we?? It’s a fantasy book! I think we all know that liberties are taken with historical “facts.” And that’s if you can even consider the Bible and history like the Knights Templar facts. I use the word loosely. (Have I been struck by lightning yet? Nope.)

And then there was the one where she complains that Chadda’s charcter aren’t real. She says that a heroine who is miserable in her life, hates her father, and school because of what they think about her is unreal. It is?? Has this person even read any YA fiction before?? That is basically what it is all about!! AAARGGGG!

(sigh) I guess none of this is really important. The vast majority of people enjoyed this book just like I did. They decided that Chadda’s writing was done well, the plot was pretty good, and while the book may not be perfect–compared to many others, it’s a welcome relief. It just drives me nuts when a good books rating is brought down because of lame reviews. But that’s just one girls opinion! 😉 So, read it! It’s a good book!! (See other good reviews for plot points…I’m tired of typing after my ranting.)

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Matched, Ally Condie

Matched, by Ally Condie is set in the ‘not to distant’ future where all diseases, death, and all bad things have been eradicated from society. Of course, the payment for such luxeries is…your personal freedom, of course! So basically, we are following the story of Cassia, a 17 year old girl who has recently been ‘Matched’ with the boy that she will eventually marry. At the same time, Cassia is dealing with her Grandfather’s death and of the poem that he has secretly, and illegaly given to her. The poem is just the first act of dissonance that Cassia involves herself in. The rest of the book slowly, and methodically, uncovers a myriad of other small deviances that eventually lead Cassia to not only question her future relationship to her betrothed, but also her loyalty to ‘the society’…and therfore to all that she has ever known.

If it sounds like I wasn’t totally psyched about the book, its because I thought it was a slow read that lacked a certain amount of excitement that I think a successful YA series needs to have. Think of it as a more literary verion of Uglies by Westerfeld. It was good, that’s for sure. And I think the series has the potential to be great. But I would prepare yourself for a slow beginning. I’ll be interested to hear what teens think about it. Because honestly, I kind of think it was written more as a ‘clean read for adults.’ Rather than a truen Teen Romance/SCi Fi book. There were SOOOO many times when I was like…ok already….lets see some rebellion!! Even at the end, I didn’t really feel the passion I was hoping to feel from Cassia. (As opposed to what we felt for Katniss in The Hunger Games) In many ways, her character, like the entire book, really ended up falling flat for me. Although, like I said I do want to read the second one because i think it might be more interesting. It has to be, right?? The story has definitely been set up…so lets hope Condie goes somewhere with it. 🙂

The Body Finder…by Kimberly Derting

I loved this book! It was so nice to read a paranormal book that felt fresh and different from the regular old story of vampires love triangles. Our heroine, Violet, can sense the dead and the “imprints” that they leave on those that have killed them. Meanwhile, we keep get glimpses of the murderer and what’s going on in their minds, while also being thrilled with the romantic tension between Vi and her best friend, Jay. While the romance in this book adheres to the usual PG/PG 13 way that YA novels have, Derting finds a way to make Vi and Jay’s time together HOT! I can’t wait to read the next one (if there is one!! I hope so!!)

So, one last comment…. Cluadia Gray, author of the Evernight Series states,
“You’ll be drawn in by the love story—and kept up all night by the suspense.” And I think that is the perfect statement for this book.

<a href=”View” _mce_href=”http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2285690-melissa-wehunt”>View”>http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2285690-melissa-wehunt”>View all my reviews</a>

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1)

Well, I pretty much skimmed through the last half of the book. And it’s not that I didn’t like the book, cause I did give it 4 stars, its just that I was impatiant to start other books and this one just didn’t grab me enough. The reason why I rated it so high though, is because I want to read the next in the series. It’s one of those series where you want to know what happens next, but don’t necessarily want to invest in reading every word. So, take that as you will. 😉

Review: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King is one of the best YA books I have read in a while. Of course, take into consideration that I’m an adult, and this book is very much written for more mature teens…so maybe that’s why.

First of all, I love the format of the book. We are following two stories simultaneously (Emer and Saffron), while also getting a glimpse into the many lives that Emer spent as dogs. I know this sounds crazy, but I don’t want to give too much away, so just trust me when I say that it will make sense when you read it. 😀 Also, about halfway throught he book we are introduced to the story of a few other male characters…it takes a while for their plot line to cross Emer/Saffrons, but when it does, its pretty cool and really ties the story together bringing it to a very neat end.

Second, the writing is very good. Generally, I’m not much of a fan of pirates and historical stuff in general. This story though, is very endearing and does a great job of painting the historical backdrop, but not getting to caught up in the details. Instead, we are mainly focused on Emer during these times and the problems that she is encountering. The way King has written it, any teenage (or adult who’s willing to remember) girl (or boy) can relate and empathize.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good adventure read, who also enjoys strong female characters. The only warning I would leave you with, is that there is a good amount of sexuality addressed in this book. It is by no means graphic, but the main character does find herself struggling with losing her virginity and then later having sex regularly with her lover. Also, there is one character who struggles with his “potential” homosexuality. That being said, I don’t think that a parent should dissuade their teen from reading this book. I think we should give credit to teens for knowing more about life that we like to admit, and allow them to make the decision of whether or not they are comfortable reading such material.

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It’s been a while…

Wow…its been a while since I’ve posted here. Talk about being AWOL. Not that anyone really even reads this thing. Actually, the little stat thing does say that people check it out every once in a while.

So what’s up? What’s new? Did you guys know that I’m an official librarian now?? I know, can you believe it? Complete w/ ordering priviledges and everything! lol. So lately I’ve been working on re-orders. So today I did replacements of Holly Black books. Anyone ever read? Well, I’ve only read one…the first in the Modern Faerie Series…Tithe.

Good book. Good read. Ok, well I got lots of stuff to catch up on my LibraryThing. ttys

P.S

Did you see on my Twitter roll that Melissa Marr totally talked to me yesterday!! Woot! I was super duper excited. She has a sequel to Wicked Lovely coming out soon…can’t wait!!  Check it out!!! 

http://www.melissa-marr.com/melissa_marr/melissa_marr_news.php

So many books, not so much time…

Good afternoon to those of you who actually look at this thing every once and a while! As the title to this post insinuates, there is sooo much to talk about today. Nothing of importance, and probably not even that entertaining, but this is a diary of sorts…so, considering that this is my brain we are documenting…you should have known better. Really. 😉

I was going to rant about Harlequin titles again…about how much the “Mommy Series'” or whatever they are called creep me out. I mean, isn’t the whole point of the romance novel the hot steamy guys?? Why throw a bunch of cherubic looking kids on the cover? I mean, really.

So then I thought, instead of complaining about titles…maybe I should just post the drool worthy ones…So here are a few examples of the hot boys that distract me from my library duties and whatever my coworkers are blathering on about. lol. jk. They’re awesome. But really…I am easily distracted. I have been known to fan myself!!  This Texas Blaze was one from the other day…it just so happened that I walked by and saw it on display…so I couldn’t leave it out.

This next one, Beauty and the Badge (yes, for real) was another yummy one. Plus it gets points for having a creative title. I like anything that takes innocent Disney movies and turns them into porn. 😀

Ok, but for reals…I did find a book today that I thought was interesting…It’s by Kelly Gay and its called Better Part of Darkness. Anyways….just thought I’d mention that. Ok. See everyone later!!

Titles of the Day

Hi everyone…So today the coworkers and I came up with a few really good titles to ramble on about.

First, for my Harlequin Horrors  segment…

Ok, so again I wish I had stumbled across this gem…but NO…it was my boss’s find. 😦  So the title is Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded by Abby Green. So Abby got hosed on her turn on the title-0-meter…I mean, these are supposed to be romance titles right? This sounds like it might be a cult story. lol. One of our co-workers was like, umm…there is a name for that…and it’s illegal. lol. Anyways…we thought it was hilarious.

The next title, as you can see, is The Geek’s Guide to World Domination by Garth Sundem. I really have no idea what this book is about. I didn’t even leaf through it…I just found it on a cart and snatched it up for a display based solely on its title. Who says you can’t judge a book by its cover?? My favorate part is the subtitle…. be afraid, beautiful  people…. Be very afraid indeed. In case anyone is curious, I put it on this ‘wellbeing’ display. lol. I know that has like, no relation whatsoever, but I couldn’t help it. I can’t wait to get to work tomorrow and see if its gone.  I guess you could argue its mental wellbeing or something. Like, the title makes you laugh so its theraputic or something…