Book Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Once a century one person is chosen for greatness. 

She is done being useless.  Better to fight-perhaps die- than to stand idly by.  Her friends won’t hesitate.  Neither will her enemies.  She is the chosen one, and her time has come. 

Book review:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a book that jumped out at me while I was browsing the teen new release section at my local library.  The title intrigued me.  The book cover was appealing with its fiery stone encased by brambles.

I immediately wanted to know why the book was named this way.  What is the fire?  How did the thorns come into play?

The book itself started a tad slow to me.  I was hoping for a “jump right into the action” sort of book so this one fell flat for me.  But its unique writing style kept me reading.

 

The story is about a sixteen year old girl that is chosen by God to serve in some unexplained way.  She is not thin, gorgeous or confident.  Instead, Elisa is an overweight wall flower; a second born princess that is thrust into a destiny that she both fears and dislikes.

Because of the Godstone that she bears in her navel, her life is in great danger.  After being forced into a marriage to the King of a larger realm, Elisa is treated like a child and asked to hide her marriage from the people.  Kidnapped by desert thieves, Elisa soon discovers that the truths she had grown up have been tainted.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns, although set in a fantastical setting, feels realistic.  Elisa’s fears are genuine, her rivals hatred and jealousy comes across well and the sorrow that she feels as death surrounds her will tug at your heart.

Overall, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, was an interesting read.  Certainly different from what is on the market today.

Rae Carson was not afraid to kill off major characters during this book.  A couple of which actually annoyed me.  I like authors that are gutsy enough to kill of characters but these deaths felt wrong to me.  Too sudden and too raw for my liking.  You expect a romantic thread to have at least one ounce of satisfaction but this book fell short in that area.

Another thing that frustrated me was how quickly the ending came.  There was a huge build up and then when the actual peak came it was rushed so quickly that I didn’t have time to comprehend what had happened.  What took chapters to build only took a couple paragraphs to complete.

 

For writing style I loved this book.  Rae Carson did an exceptional job of using several formats of writing styles that flowed beautifully. 

Star rating: 4 out of 5 for writing style and originality.  

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Book review: J.A. Konrath's Origin

Let me preface this by saying Horror is not my genre.  Apparently I should read between the lines when I download an ebook because J.A. Konrath's book gave me the creeps on several occasions.  Well done!  Now I have to sleep with my light on!

Origin is fascinating, disturbing and darn it I can't put it down!  Even though every part of me is screaming "This is not your genre.  You hate horror!" I can't stop reading it.  Which is truly annoying because with each scene Konrath amps up the tension.  Thank goodness my nails are painted cause otherwise they'd be gone!

A brief description of Origin:

A group of scientists unearth a being of unknown origin and is transported to a secret government lab for study.  After 100 years of study, the subject wakes up.  The question is...what is he?

Bub, named after Beelzebub, is a mystery to all.  Is he Satan?  A demon?  Or an alien to our planet?

He twists and turns the scientists, playing off their fears and emotions, as he tricks them into giving him everything he wants.  And then...everything goes terribly wrong.

Bodies reanimate, demons attack and the small group of scientists are racing against the ticking clock of a nuclear bomb, the governments solution to cleaning up any mistakes.

This fast paced, and vividly descriptive story definitely got my heart pumping. 

I give Origin a 5 our of 5 stars for being a perfect example on how to create tension and never let your readers go!

   

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Blood: Book Review

Blood

By: K.J. Wignall

First off…judging by the cover of this book, which I have to admit was rather enticing, I thought this story was going to take on an enticing twist.  Sadly, no.

Blood is K.J. Wignall’s first novel for young adults.  The storyline sounded interesting, the cover was appealing and it sounded like a good book all around.  But in fact it just felt blah to me. 

The story if is of a vampire who awakes from his slumber to torture himself once more for the existence that he never chose for himself, a half-life.  Oddly his target to feed from just happens to be a man who is playing his part in Will’s destiny, drawing back from over 700 years in his past.

There were a small smattering of encounters with spirits that left me confused.  I had to re-read them a couple times to finally understand how they fit into the grand scheme.  The writing style flowed well enough but the storyline fell flat for me.

So much that last night I stopped reading with only 10 pages left in the book…and I honestly didn’t care how the book ended.  Isn’t that sad?  I basically finished the book just because I wanted to be able to give a fair review, just in case it got better.

The ending was anticlimactic bordering pathetically boring.  No flare.  No thrill.  Nothing.  I get that this book is part of a trilogy (I think) but I for one will not be reading it.

For those of you who love Vampire books…who love Vampire romances…this is not a book for you.  The small hint of romance that is given is pretty much crushed by the fact that Eloise tastes like food to Will, and causes him pain when he kisses her.  Not real romantic there!

Overall…3 stars.  And I think that’s being generous. 

If you did enjoy blood the sequel Alchemy will be released in America in Fall 2012.

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Shatter Me Book Review

Shatter Me Review

I was recommended that I read Shatter Me and upon reading the book description I rushed straight to my library and put it on hold.  Then waited, rather impatiently I might add, for the book to finally arrive.  I could barely contain my excitement as I rushed home to begin devouring what I was sure would be a “life-changing” tale.

Wrong!

First off, let me preface this by stating that I love dystopian fantasy.  This is my kind of book.  With that being said…I was sorely disappointed with Shatter Me. 

The bits that I disliked:

·        The strike out sentences.  Really?  What was the point in that?

·        The repetitive wording.  Despite the main character’s claim to in fact, “not be insane” the repetition sure made her sound that way.

·        Sentence structure was a bit to get used to.  In places where there should have been punctuations for a pause or continuation of a sentence it was left blank.  My poor mind stuttered over numerous sentences because of that.

·        And lastly…it all felt a bit too X-men to me by the end of the book.  (I love X-Men.)

The bits I did like:

·        I did enjoy the plot line.  Huge potential.  But it certainly didn’t turn out the way I would have liked. 

·        The characters were constructed well enough to draw me in, but unfortunately they didn’t feel unforgettable.  I was really hoping for more.

·        The setting was intriguing.  No spoilers so I can’t go into further detail.

Overall I would rate Shatter Me as a three star.  By the end of the first 30 pages I was so close to giving up on the book completely.  But I stuck with it and accepted the writing style for what is way and did end up enjoying the story.  There will be a sequel at some point…just not sure if I’m going to read it.

BUT…this is simply my opinion, fellow readers and writers.  If you look on Goodreads, Shatter Me has been given a wide variety of reviews.  Read it for yourself and make your own decision.  I would love to hear what you thought.

Happy reading!

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Book Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Book Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

The sequel to Sophie Jordan’s Firelight did not disappoint.  The tales of forbidden love have always been a favorite of mine and the Firelight series has been a favorite of mine since the day I stumbled across it a year ago.

The idea of Draki, a dragon/human shape shifter was certainly a nice change from the norm.  Throw into the mix a destiny that  would force Jacinda into the arms of her people’s prince and a mother who will risk at nothing to save her daughter from being used to breed other fire breathing dragons and you get a very interesting turn of events.

Jacinda is forced to leave her people behind and hide out in the desert where her mother hopes her Draki will wither and die.  The hot dry temps nearly succeed until Jacinda meets Will, a Draki hunter and her lifelong enemy.

The forbidden love triangle progresses with thrilling events and skillful prose on the part of Sophie Jordan.  The end of Firelight is a huge cliff hanger and leaves you begging for more.  Enter Vanish.   

After a rare turn of events, Jacinda is forced to leave Will behind, with the doubt that he will even remember her.  Jacinda’s return to her people is filled with trouble as punishment after punishment is handed out.  Her life becomes not only miserable but complicated as her people’s prince, Cassian, reveals his feelings for Jacinda. 

She almost tricks herself into believing she can start over until Will walks right into the heart of her village.  Events race with furious speeds all the way until the end.  Another cliff hanger and more groans at the reality of having to wait for the next book to be released!

Love the writing, love the characters and love Sophie Jordan.  A must read for any teen looking for a good romantic story!

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Should you pay for a book review?

This is a question that I have asked myself quite a bit.  Should book bloggers/reviewers charge authors to review their books? 

My honest opinion…no.  But that’s just me.  I write for the same reason I read.  I love doing it!  It’s an escape and I know many of you feel the same way.

On my blog www.self-published-authors.blogspot.com I offer free book reviews to anyone who writes in genres that I enjoy.  The only charge is that you give me a free copy of your ebook.  Not bad eh?  I thought so!

Why am I writing about this?  Because this subject has been broached a couple times recently.  Self published authors fight tooth and nail to get their name and books out there.  It’s rough…especially when sales are slow and editor/book cover costs keep rising.  How are we to earn a living to help support our families when we have to pay for book reviews too?

That is why I offer free book reviews.  Because it’s the right thing to do to help my fellow authors.  I’m always in need of someone willing to give me a fair review just as so many others are.  To charge just seems wrong to me…but that is for each person to decide.  Is it worth $200 dollars to get a single book review that may or may not go in your favor? 

You decide.

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Goodreads review of Forbidden

Roseline Enescue is just a 17-year-olg girl in Romania in 1689, when her father orders her to marry the wealthy Vladimir Enescue, brother to the equally wealthy and equally sadistic Lucien Enescue. Lured in by their wealth her father can't deny giving Roseline's hand, but he comes to regret it as he, along with all guests at the wedding are killed by the two monsters of brothers. Not even her little sister, Adela, isn't spared by their homicidal rampage and Roseline, having seen everyone she loves murdered in front of her eyes, has no choice but to comply to Vladimir's wishes, but not before she is killed and turned into a vampire like them.

This actually is the opening scene of the book and it is fast and exciting, really urging you to bond with the heroine in her struggle to save her loved ones and herself, alas you already know, just like she does, that there's no chance of that.
Then over 300 years later, Roseline, sees a way out, a chance to escape and she seizes it, knowing that if she fails to get away, she will suffer Vladimir's wrath once again, because she has tried this before, but it has never worked. Still, she gives it her whole and eventually she finds herself in the United States, posing as a 17-year-old girl (because that's the age she looks), going to a somewhat exclusive school, trying to go undetected, never attracting attention to herself. During her time there, though, she is befriended by the eccentric Sadie and her brother William, knowing very well that with her being Immortal, her looks are by default mesmerizing to humans causing them to be attracted to her. Consequently, she doesn't go as undetected as she would like to, but she tries. She is buried in some kind of comforting routine till Gabriel, the school's star student and athlete and most sought-out boyfriend is smitten by her, and an exchange student from Romania, Nicolae, comes to stay with Sadie and William. Nicolae keeps staring at her and it's not long before he reveals to Rose that he knows who she is and what she is, and that he is there to check up on her. Rose doesn't know in what capacity, but she is afraid that Vladimir knows where she is and Gabriel chasing after her all the time doesn't help one bit.

Now, it sounds a little cliche or rather like something that's been described before, but the story finds ways to be original and refreshing. I really liked that the book started the way it did, because it was fast and it immediately drew you in and made your heart beat a little faster. It was told in a smart way in the sense that in the first chapter, you already know why Roseline was running, who and what she was and why it was instrumental that she get away, making you feel like you already knew her and really ready to become invested in the actual story to start in the following chapter. Actually, the majority of the book's most important characters was really introduced in the first chapter, although Sadie, William, Gabriel and Nicolae were introduced later on.

The characters were quite diverse without coming off as caricatures, which was really good. Even Sadie, with her continuously changing wardrobe and make-up going through punk, goth, bad girl and Christian phases didn't come across as fake, while all characters were not good or bad, black or white. There were shades of gray which is the way it seems to me in real life.
It is important that the characters seem real and plausible without being too saccharine or "perfect". Rose isn't perfect either. She has been through a lot, but she is not a little lamb, nor is she a hyena (as a vampire). She is a person with her faults and shortcomings, never, however giving up the attempt to become a better person. Gabriel isn't a jock or a perfect guy either. The characters get mad, yell, lose their patience, laugh, fall in love and act crazy just like they would in real life and that's the best aspect of the book.

The writing is not exactly factual, nor overly decorative. I think it's a nice balance between the two and it makes reading the book quite entertaining. I also liked the fact that even though there is an aspect of insta-love between Rose and Gabriel, it is not pursued in a rushed way and Roseline doesn't trip all over herself in order to avoid or chase the charming human boy. Throughout the chapters it feels like Rose really lives her life in a normal way not changing dramatically just because of Gabriel (although why she run away towards the end I'll never understand). Gabriel is more smitten than she appears to be and faster than her, but he is a teenage boy so hormones and their "bond" can quite explain that.
I have to admit that I didn't see a few twists around the end coming and it was a welcome surprise as for the most part of the book we didn't see or hear from Lucien and Vladimir again, letting us enjoy Rose's new life but also making us wonder what was going to happen.

On the other hand, there were some aspects of book that left me wanting a little.
For the most part we did get to see what Immortals were. They were more than humans. Stronger, faster, prettier and intellectually superior in certain ways as they lived history and did not just read about it.
I quite enjoyed the twist in the lore, where what we consider Vampires are just Immortals that have been addicted to the taste of blood. They don't need the blood to survive, they can live off human food, but they need blood to heal, as blood is a life giver, and if they consume it too much, it becomes like a drug clouding their judgment and affecting them physically and psychologically, turning them blood-thirsty and eventually sadistic monsters (like it happened with Lucien and Vladimir). Blood is like cocaine for vamps, then, but they do have a choice which is a nice difference from the usual lore that Vampires always feel the thirst.
However, I feel like it could have been explained a little more and in greater detail so the whole thing could have been made distinct and invested upon so that in the future books we could see how the whole addiction process happens and how easy it is for a vamp to go to "rehab". XD
I'd love to have seen that in relation to Rose, as I'm sure that Vladimir must have tried to get her addicted.

Another thing is that I felt that Nicolae's presence could have been explored more. In the beginning he comes across as a geeky, nerdy kid who had no sense of how life and people in America were and he recognized Roseline from Romania fearing her, but later on he is a hunter incognito and some of his actions don't sit right. At first it feels like he is afraid of Rose and he is determined not to bother her or come into contact with her, but a chapter later he stares at her intently even menacingly and warns her that he will be there if she decides to hurt anyone. So if he wanted to stay under the radar why come out to Roseline and if he was going to do that anyways, why act scared in the beginning? Maybe he wanted to draw his own conclusions about Rose and if she was evil, but it just felt awkward to me. I liked Nicolae's reactions to Sadie, though, and I think I will enjoy them if they are a couple in the next book. ;)

Then the last one is a stupid thing to notice really, but I couldn't help wondering. Roseline as an Immortal (Vampire) feels happier when it is cold, because her body temperature is higher than that of a human, yet when she touches Gabriel she feels his great body warmth and heat, which doesn't make sense if he is human or even if he is half-vampire. (Unless it was psychological, though it was mentioned a couple times) Then again there is some prophecy and some things left for the next book so I might have to wait for this to make sense!!! And, god, do I want to read the next! :)


To sum up, I think "Forbidden" was an entertaining read filled with excitement, mystery, (why yes) passion and enjoyable characters you felt for, causing it to be one of the books I'd read again, but it would rate even higher if some of the story's (evidently) distinct vampiric lore was explored and introduced more properly and extensively. Its lovable characters and plot make up for some inconsistencies and questions.

Anyone who enjoys books with vampires and romance will definitely enjoy this one.

P.S.: Thanks to the writer for letting me review the book.



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Forbidden Book Review

Book Review

by

Robert Luis Rabello

Title of Book:  Forbidden (The Arotas Trilogy) 

Author:  Amy Miles

Genre:  Young Adult Fiction / Urban Fantasy

E-book, or print book:  E-book

Overview:  Rosaline Enescue escapes from the frightening brutality of her husband in Romania by running away to the United States.  She begins a new life as a high school student, but meets a young man named Gabriel, to whom she finds herself irresistibly attracted.  How can this be?  Where did her self-control go?  How can a mere human so captivate her attention?  The answers trace back to her homeland and the life she left behind. 

Cover / Graphics / Maps :  The cover is simple, evocative and looks professionally laid-out.  The orange rose has significance to the story and is allegorical of the main character.

Interior Formatting:  I read the Kindle version.  There were no glaring format issues.  The font was large enough to be legible, but small enough to permit speed reading without adjustment.

Readability:  Sample paragraphs averaged a readability index of 5.8, which is appropriate for the target audience and most readers of this genre.  I had no difficulty with any of the vocabulary or sentence structures in this novel.

Names:  All of the names were easily pronounced and accessible.  Since the story takes place in a modern context, place names are recognizable.

Hero / Heroine:  Rosaline Enescue is a bit of an enigma.  Given the terrible ordeal described in the prologue to this story, it's reasonable to expect a degree of hardness and an aloof attitude from this character.  In general, people like their protagonists to be strong, and Rosaline certainly projects inner strength and mental toughness.  She's described by other characters as kind and loving, but she acts more like a streetwise and vigorous force to be reckoned with, rather than a sweet, gentle female.  The descriptions that characterized her as the latter grated against the former.

I'd expected Gabriel Marsten to be a dumb jock, mindlessly interested in conquering opponents on the football field and girls in the social arena.  But he evolves as the story progresses, from the inaccurate caricature of an athlete into a decent, intelligent and caring young man.  He becomes the type of boy that a father would be proud to call his son, only to transform further into something ELSE, entirely.  It's both fascinating and disturbing to experience.  Amy Miles has done a terrific job of defying expectations with this character.

Supporting Characters: Sadie and William Hughes are siblings who live next door to Gabriel Marsten.  They maintain an annoyed, teenaged tolerance for one another throughout the book, though the role that William plays in the story is less significant than that of his sister.  Sadie befriends Rosaline, though the two appear to have very little in common.  Nicolae, a mysterious exchange student, transforms from a creepy kid into something very different as the story progresses.  I felt that a little platforming of his capabilities early in the story would have made for a smoother character arc near the end.

Villains:  Rosaline's husband, Vladimir, occupies a menacing role that exists mostly on the periphery of the story, except for the very beginning and the very end.  A lot of the conflict in this book is internal, with Rosaline, herself.  The reader is effectively kept in suspense about the danger of her powers throughout the story.  This is something that Amy Miles has done very well.

In addition, flat characters, like Claire Scofield--Gabriel's girlfriend--and Oliver--Gabriel's jock friend--serve as antagonists and provide the occasional comic relief.  There's a scene involving Claire using Gabriel's leg as an erotic dancing prop that had me laughing.

Plausibility of Storyline:  There's a degree of suspending disbelief that every fantasy story must be given.  That's certainly true of this one, but there were scenes and behaviors, such as Rosaline's frequent disappearances, which did little to advance the plot and probably could have been cut or modified without impacting the overall story.  High school students making travel arrangements and departing the country without parental approval raised my brows too, but this IS a story for young readers, and that audience would likely be unfazed by that detail.

Reviewer's Response:  Amy Miles has written a vampire story that defies convention in many ways.  Though I am not in the target market for this genre, the story retained my interest  throughout, and I actually found myself enjoying the characters, particularly Rosaline and Gabriel, as they evolved.  One of the strengths of the independent author movement is that it permits stories that depart from main stream, commercial themes and plot lines to be heard.  I believe this story is a refreshing example of that  trend.  For young adult  readers, in particular, this is likely to be a very enjoyable story.

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Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

For those of you that have just found me or are wanting to get a sense of who I am as a writer and avid reader, there is one thing you need to know.  I LOVE FANTASY!

Give me vampires (in moderation), werewolves, shapshifters, angels, trolls, you name it I'm probably gonna love it.

My newest love affair began a year ago when Andrea Cremer, first time novelest, released Nightshade.  It provided a wealth of rich characters, a love triangle (which I'm a huge fan of) and a unique perspective into the lifes of shapeshifting guardians.  Totally my kind of book.

Well...after I raced through James Dashner's, The Death Cure, I leaped straight into Wolfsbane, Andrea's sequel to Nightshade.

First off...if I have to be honest...I got a tiny bit bored in the beginning.  The duty of explaining the intricate details of the book was a bit to wade through, but smack dab in the middle of the book it took off and I stay up till 2am to finish it. 

Loved the action, the pace, the surprisingly appealing new characters and the groan at the end when Andrea left it wide open for the third book.  Don't you just hate it when authors do that?  Haha. 

I even found a couple typos.  Darn it but I love it when that happens.  It makes it so much harder for people to bash self published authors when traditional presses make mistakes too!  We're human people.  Get over it!  Haha!
So...if you are looking for a good read, I highly recommend picking up Nightshade and Wolfsbane. 

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Are you promoting your book?

The work of a self published author is never done.  Press releases, interview, blog posts, book signings, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Just publishing your book isn’t enough.  There are over a million books on Amazon Kindle right now.  What do you think the chances are of people stumbling across yours?

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If you have a book that isn’t getting the notice that you think it deserves, please check out my blog www.self-published-authors.blogspot.com

I offer free author interviews, free book reviews and a growing list of writer’s resources. 

Book Review: Danielle Bannister

Pulled by Danielle Bannister

If you love books about soul mates and love overcoming all obstacles then I highly recommend reading Pulled.  The imagery is fantastic, the characters so real you begin rooting for them from page 1.  I downloaded Danielle’s book last night and finished it in less than 24 hours, which is really saying something for a busy mom. 

Pulled is Danielle Bannister’s debut novel, and a darn good one at that.  Thanks so much Danielle.  Let me know when your sequel is ready!  I’ll be waiting.

Book Description:

Pulled is a love story of Twin Flames connecting. When college freshman, Naya walks into her first acting class two years after the freakish death of her parents, she becomes consumed by a mysterious pull coming from a facially scarred classmate named Etash. When he is cast as the Romeo to her Juliet, sparks fly. These star crossed lovers discover that fate has other plans for them. This is not the first time they have been 'pulled' together, nor will it be their last.

Pulled is available through Amazon.  Ebook price is only $1.49 

http://www.amazon.com/Pulled-ebook/dp/B005MY4SXO

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Your opinion matters

As a soon to be published author I'm excited and terrified of the reviews my book will receive.  I'm sure this is normal with all writers.  A book is like your baby.  You labor over it, help it walk on unsteady feet and then let go and hope it takes off running.  But what if it crashes and burns?  Oh the fears and doubts we writers experience.

My new book, Defiance Rising, is my baby.  I've spent the past 2 years writing and re-writing.  Cutting, pasting and hacking at my chapters.  My book has changed more times that I care to think about...but each time it's gotten a little better.  The ups soar higher.  The downs are more dramatic.  My characters are more well rounded...I hope!

But after 2 years of laboring over my book...is it enough? Will people love my characters as much as I do?  Will they reach the ending and beg for more? 

My Defiance Rising book is the first of three.  I'm 3/4 through the second book and I've begun writing the 3rd.  It's so exciting for me as a writer to see the progression of my characters.  To see them stumble and fall, to get back up and press on.  I've fallen in love with them and I so desperately want my readers to feel the same way.

Reader reviews are the lifeblood of writers.  Their opinions are the only ones that count because they're the ones keeping you going.  I told my husband the other night that if only one person, that I don't know, says they enjoyed my book then it will all be worth it.  Soon I'll get to see if I was right.

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Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight just might be the next big thing since Twilight.  It's getting rave reviews...but I didn't know any of that when I picked it up off the shelf two months ago.  Nor did I have any clue who the author was.  But now I do and I LOVE her!

Sophie Jordan is also Sharie Kohler who writes Historical Romance as well as paranormal books.  I fell in love with her through Firelight but she already has a well established career long before Firelight hit the stores.

Firelight is a young adult paranormal series about a teenage girl, Jacinda, who is more than human.  She's a draki, a descendant of dragons.  But she's different than the rest of her pride...she's a fire breather.  Her pride wants her to mate, to produce more fire breathers but Jacinda wants control of her own life.

She goes on the run with her family into the human world.  Although she can transform into a human state she is most comfortable in her draki skin.  Forced to live in a dry desert, she slowly begins to lose her draki self...until she stumbles across Will, a draki hunter who saved her life in the beginning of the book.

Jacinda will struggle not only with blending into the human world, dealing with the lingering effects of her pride but mostly with the growing love that she has for the man whom she should be hiding from.  Firelight is a great book!  Beautifully written, fantastic imagery and downright thrilling!  I can't wait for the second book to be released.

As a side note...because of my love of Sophie's writing I went on a quest to read all of her books.  In doing so I jumped genres over into the historical romance.  Now I'm a hopeless romantic and love to read about couples falling in love, but I gotta admit there were a few scenes that made me blush!  But her intimate scenes aside I have to admit that Sophie Jordan has got to be one of my favorite authors to read. 

If you need help learning how to "show" a scene instead of telling it...pick up one of her books!  She's fantastic.  I've grown as a writer just in reading her work!  A must read!

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The Limit by Kristen Landon

The Limit was a book that made me stop and think...always something I'm looking for in a good read.  The story line is based on a thirteen year old boy named Matt who is forced to go to a work camp to work off his parent's out of control spending.  In a world where the government creates a spending limit for each family, over spending runs rampant.  The penalty?  Send your oldest child to work off your debt while the parent's keep right on spending.

Matt soon discovers that his work camp isn't all it's cracked up to be when kids on his floor begin to suffer from terrible headaches.  He goes on the hunt for the real purpose behind his work camp, finding out that sometimes things are not always as they were created to be.

In my opinion The Limit is well worth the read...especially for kids in that age bracket.  As a 20's mom I was still able to enjoy it, even though the slang terms are a bit new to me.  I guess I'm getting older!

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The Maze Runner and Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials are a must read in my book. If you love sci-fi, government conspiracies and the challenge of trying to "figure it out" then these books are for you.  I read The Maze Runner back in 2009 when it was first released and instantly fell in love with its uniqueness.  I had hoped that The Scorch Trials would be good but it far exceeded my expectations!

The book begins with a teen boy who awakens to find himself in a large glade with dozens of boys staring down at him.  The boy, Thomas, has no memory of how got to the glade or even who he is past his own name.  Despite his uneasiness with his new surroundings he quickly discovers that the glade is not a safe place to live.  The glade is surrounded by large stone walls with doors that lead out into a maze.  Each night the doors close to keep out the grievers...hideous monsters that attack anyone that dares spend the night in the maze.

As Thomas adjusts to the strange life in the glade he begins to realize that he knows the maze...it's familiar to him.  Conflicts arise as a new arrival brings about drastic changes, forcing the gladers to make some hard decisions.  This book is action packed!  I loved it from start to finish.  The ending definitely leaves you begging for more.

The sequel The Scorch Trials expands on the government conspiracy theory.  Thomas and the survivors of the maze trials are forced out into the real world to deal with the survivors of the Flare, the name given to the madness that attacked people after solar flares messed with their minds.  Crazy obstacles stand in their way as they fight to survive, including black goo that practically eats your head right off, an insane lightnight storm and a whole city full of crazies!  Action packed with a small smattering of romantic issues as well as more thought provoking mysteries to unravel.  A must read!

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The final book in the series, The Death Cure, is set to be released in 2011 and I will definitely be waiting for this one to arrive! 

Crave by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz

Crave is your typical vampire story told with a twist.  I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It was another one that I started early in the morning at the gym...worked out 30 minutes longer than I had planned because I was enjoying it so much.  Last night I decided to lounge in a bubble bath and then moved on to my comfy bed to finish off the book.

Crave is a young adult romantic fantasy about the life of a high school girl whose only dream has been to be normal.  She can't run, can't dance and can't go to parties because a rare blood disease leaves her too weak to enjoy life.  But when her step-father starts Shay on new treatments she finds that she is getting much more than a new burst of energy...she's living the life of handsome vampire named Gabriel.

The plot doesn't really keep you guessing but it's still an enjoyable ride as Shay discovers Gabriel locked away in her step-father's lab.  They go on the run and despite knowing that Gabriel is dangerous she chooses to remain by his side as he regains his strength.  The ending is predictable...although I must say I was disappointed with how abrupt the ending was. 

All in all a good read.  Well written.  Sure it's another vampire book...but at least this one made me think.  I do hope there will be a second book because I wasn't satisfied with this ending.  I wanted to know more.

Guess that's a good thing!

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Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

For those of you who might be a little tired of reading about vampires and werewolves...I have to say that you need to read one more.  Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is well worth the few hours of lost sleep!  I picked this book up around 9am and by 2am that next morning I had finished it...while somehow maintaining my other motherly duties!

Nightshade is a young adult romantic fantasy that revolves around the love triangle of Calla Tor, Ren Laroche and Shay Doren.  Calla is the alpha wolf of the nightshade clan and is destined to be the mate of Ren who is the alpha male of her rival clan.  Calla struggles throughout the book to accept her relationship with Ren...especially when a human, Shay, steps in to mess everything up.  As Calla begins to step beyond the boundaries set by the elders she begins to see that the history passed down to her people wasn't as accurate as had been assumed. 

This book has a nice mixture of suspense, action and a smattering of romance.  I found it to be an easy read, enjoyable and left me wanting more.  The second book Wolfsbane will be released in July 2011 and I will be waiting for its arrival!


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