{Book Review} Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Title: Darkness Becomes Her
Series: Gods & Monsters #1
Author: Kelly Keaton
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 22, 2011

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Blurb:

A curse beyond her darkest fears.

Ari can't help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long-dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something is getting too close. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know what she's running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: She must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush, rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won't stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Why I Picked Darkness Becomes Her:

When I saw the cover of The Wicked Within, I knew I had to read it, so I researched a bit and found it was Kelly Keaton's final book in the Gods & Monsters Trilogy. Just so happened a bookstore I frequent had Darkness Becomes Her marked down to almost nothing, so I snagged it and finished reading it a few hours later. It's a pretty short read, perfect for a rainy day.

While the original cover does give the book a gothic feel, I much prefer then new covers, but I also prefer hardcover books, so... 

A Brief Summary:

Ari, only 17, graduated high school early and set off on a mission to learn more about the mother who gave her up for adoption. Ari has always been an outcast with her silver hair and teal eyes, but the last set of foster parents teach her about love, security, and protection, so when she leaves, she's prepared. At least in the beginning. Who knows on which side fortune lies when Ari finds the place her mom lived and died, of suicide. An asylum. She's given her mother's things and finds a letter that tells Ari little else than RUN.

The next part of the story excited me so much. I love all the lore around New Orleans. I've never had a chance to visit, but it's definitely on my bucket list. Something leads Ari to New 2, or New Orleans thirteen years after two hurricanes tore it to shreds. Now it no longer belongs to the Unites States, but the Novem. Yeah, that's a whole other story you'll just have to read about.

Crank, a young girl who delivers mail, brings Ari to her home in New 2 where Ari begins to notice she's not the only one a bit different. A small child with fangs who rarely talks, another boy who moves quickly and perhaps can read minds, another with odd eyes. They refer to themselves as douo, because they are different.

And now the story really begins, but there are spoilers I refuse to tell.

My Opinion:

The only thing holding me back from giving the book a full-out five stars is I ran into a couple of editing errors within the first couple of pages. Nothing major, and probably had I been further into the book, I wouldn't have noticed. My second complaint, the romance moved like whoa fast. I don't usually mind insta-love, but I need to feel the two characters are at least drawn toward each other before they're making out in public. Otherwise, well  done, Ms. Keaton.

Kelly Keaton's writing drew me into the book, it's visual and compelling. He characters are complex, each with their own set of problems, but working together to make sure they're all taken care of. Her world-building is amazing. I could picture the dilapidated houses in the Garden District and the reconstructed businesses in the French Quarter. She mixed old voodoo lore with Greek Mythology, creating a gothic, creepy tale.

Would I Recommend This Book:

Absolutely. If you're in the mood for something a little darker with creative lore and mythology, jump on Darkness Becomes Her.

{Review} Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Self-Published
June 11, 2011

Synopsis:


For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

As I seldom write scathing reviews, actually I have NEVER written a scathing review, the number of times I have ever given a book ONE SINGLE STAR should clear that one up right away. But...well, wow!

Kiera is so mind-numbingly nauseating that I wanted to demand every last penny I paid for this book back and claw my eyes out. The whole keeping two guys on a string for the entire book was insane and the fact that she promised them both, repetitively, that she "loved only them" made me gag every single time she said it. Honestly, I'm not sure I've ever met a more irritating, selfish, immature heroine...EVER! My 12 year old daughter acts more mature than Kiera did. I wish I were joking.

And while I could definitely see bad-boy potential for Kellan, anyone who screws over his friends to get the girl, then messes with their minds doesn't make my list of hotties to die for. Kiera says that Kellan runs hot and cold, no doubt he does, but I wouldn't take her word for anything.

But, possibly more than the characters' fatal flaws, the writing turned me off from the first page. As a novice writer, the theory of "show don't tell" has been beat into my ever-loving mind since the day I picked up a pen. I've loved some books that could have been much better written, but with Thoughtless every turn of the page I felt like I was being handed a synopsis, not a story. I might could have picked 5 sentences out of the entire book that "showed" me anything.

I had so much hope for the bad-boy rocker scenario as I do love me some bad boys, and I do love me some rockers. Not. This. Time.

I've heard there is hope for the other two books, but unless the writing matures as much as they say the heroine does, I'm not sure I can suffer through them.

I do apologize to anyone I may have offended. Most who know me understand that I'm not a hateful reviewer, and I'm not trying to be now. I just don't understand what the point of this book was, because to me, it wasn't the least bit entertaining and greatly infuriating. Giving girls this kind of rep isn't okay with me.

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{A Kristin A Review} Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Series: Delirium #1
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen (HarperCollins)
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Genre: YA Dystopian
Source: Library

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Blurb:

THEY SAY that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them. Until now.

Now everything has changed. Now, I'd rather be infected
with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Yep, happened again. I've put off reading Delirium for this long because...oh hell, I don't really know, but yet again I've fallen deeply in love with another dystopian world. Lauren Oliver has created a frightful and fascinating world. One I've enjoyed losing myself in, and in the same breath, one I find utterly depressing. What is a world without love?

Amor deliria nervosa: [A disease that] affects your mind so that you cannot think clearly, or make rational decisions about your own well-being. - Page 3

I would venture to say this is a pretty accurate description of love. So powerful, so overwhelming, so all-encompassing that your mind is filled with flighty, selfless thoughts. Being near the one you love is all that matters. You obsess about your next encounter, the next time he winks at you, the slightest of flirtations, the next kiss. You catch yourself doodling his name in your notebook. Driving two miles out of the way just to drive by his house, hoping for a glimpse of just the top of his head. Silly, giggly, girly feelings. The quivering of your tummy, the flush in your cheeks. Bewitching and delectable, disquieting and dreadful.

When I began reading Delirium, I completely understood Ms. Oliver's premise. Love is so confound that it not only leaves you all warm and fuzzy, but crushed and out of control. A society that rids its citizens of love, also rids them of heartache. 

Brief Summary:

Lena is set to have the "procedure" done on her 18th birthday. After that day, she'll no longer miss her friends or family, she'll no longer be in danger of contracting the dreadful disease amor deliria nervosa. But before she undergoes the procedure, she'll be evaluated and scored. She'll be assigned a career path and paired based on her scores. Every decision, including the number of children she'll have, is made by the government, creating a happy and carefree society. EXCEPT--

Lena catches a glimpse of a handsome young man during her evaluation, which is rudely interrupted by a stampede of cattle. Yes, you read that right. Lena continues to have very brief run-ins with Alex throughout the next few weeks until he saves her. She'd only gone to the underground party to warn her friend, Hana, of the random, but nothing out of the ordinary, police raid when she's attacked by one of the police dogs. Alex rescues her and the disease creeps in. At this point, Lena begins to realize that everything she once believed to be an absolute truth, might be a lie - or at least tainted.

The Characters:

Lena is a unique heroine. In the beginning, I liked Hana, her best friend, much more. I like to think myself a risk taker, which unless we're talking a couple of tattoos and piercings I'm absolutely not, but Lena preferred the easy path. She did what she was supposed to without question, and maybe that's the part of her I disliked in the beginning. I think it's every citizen's responsibility to question the decision of their government, not simply sit back and let them dictate. However, she matured throughout the book and by the very last page, I was vastly invested in her future.

Alex isn't so much smoldering as he is perfect. Not angelical, but he makes Lena think and ask the right questions. He's her light, but not her only reason for acting. I didn't necessarily connect with Alex in this first installment, but I'm hoping for better chemistry in book two.

Hana is Lena's best friend. From the beginning, she pushed the bounds. She rebelled, listening to music the government didn't approve of and frequenting underground parties. She lived. I'm left wondering what her role will become...friend or spy.

Lena's mom is a subplot I can't wait to explore more. Enough said.

Conclusion:

The reason I'm not giving Delirium 5 stars is subjective. The paragraphs were long and filled with a little too much fluff for my taste. We didn't get into any real character interaction until the last part of the book, and I am character driven. Although I rented this book from the library, it will soon be purchased and find a nice little niche on my bookshelf.

As stated above, I think this is a unique and deeply profound premise. The effects of love affect each of us differently, and at times has us soaring in the skies, at other times we're plummeting from a cliff. 

I'd been previously warned of Lauren's horrific cliffhangers, so I'm a little relieved I've put this series off for so long. Now I can read start to finish without having to cry over the unknowns. 

Favorite Line:

You can build walls all the way to the sky and I will find a way to fly above them. You can try to pin me down with a hundred thousand arms, but I will find a way to resist.

{Book Review} Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Title: Kiss Crush Collide
Author: Christina Meredith
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
December 27, 2012

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Synopsis:

Kiss
What Leah did—only she really shouldn’t have—one hot night at a country club party.

Crush
What Leah has—only she really shouldn’t have—on the guy with the green eyes, the guy who is not her perfect boyfriend, the guy who does not fit in her picture-perfect life, the guy her sisters will only mock and her mother will never approve of. Not in a million years.

Collide
What happens when everything you always thought you wanted—having cool friends, being class valedictorian and homecoming queen—runs smack into everything it turns out you really do want.

Kiss. Crush. Collide.
For Leah and Porter, summer is only the beginning.

After reading, what seemed like, a ton of dark paranormal romance books, I needed something light and fun to read. Kiss Crush Collide was exactly that kind of book. It took me a little over 4 hours to finish and for the most part, I adored this novel. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit the spot I needed consoled. 

Leah was raised in a "perfect" family: a perfect mother, a rich father, and two perfect older sisters. Both sisters were class valedictorians, they dated perfect boys until it was time to move away to college, they didn't work. They behaved as only the rich and wealthy should. Leah was set to follow in her sisters footsteps. She was a shoe-in for class valedictorian and she dates Shane - sports god. However, the one thing Leah refuses to let go of is swimming. Even though her parents will not allow her to swim on the school team, they do allow her hold a summer job as a lifeguard at the local pool.

Leah is unhappy with her lot in life so when fate places Porter in her path one night, what else could she do except accept a ride in his borrowed car and feel alive for the first time in her life. Porter, local bad boy, knows little about Leah and she knows even less about him. He is her perfect escape from the pressures of being a "Johnson." And the more intense the secrets get at the Johnson household, the more Leah will seek out Porter.

So while I enjoyed this story, one thing bugged me above all else. I could not feel a connection to any of the characters. They seemed so two-dimensional. For me to fall head-over-heals for a book, I need to walk in the characters shoes...at least for a minute or two. Sadly, in the case of Kiss Crush Collide, I wasn't pulled into the story...at all. The writing held my attention and I made my way through the novel in two sittings, so I'm giving it 3 Stars but my first instinct is 2 Stars.

{Author Interview} Natasha Slight - Guardians of the Grimoire

Kristin:  Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you live?

I was born and raised in Montreal, where I still live with my husband and two daughters. I’ve moved around a lot, but I always come back to Montreal. The people here are very warm and friendly; just don’t get in their way on the road!

Kristin:  What is the name of the book you are currently promoting and would you like to tell us a little about it?

Guardians of the Grimoire, book one in the Grimoire series, is my debut novel. Although, written for Young Adults, the book has also been well received by adults. It is a Fantasy Adventure packed with action from beginning to end. The concept of the book is based on the idea of multiverses (parallel universes).

Kaël, an evil god, seeks to gain access to the Grimoire. If he succeeds, he can control the four universes. Desperate, the Spirit Mother hides the book on Earth where a goddess and three young girls will help. Kerani, Tiluvia, and Cesca must race to Gaïa's island, while attempting to control their newfound magic. Will the girls reach Gaïa in time? Or will Kaël succeed in finding the Grimoire?

Kristin:  Where did you come up for the idea for your book?

Well, actually the idea just popped into my head one day. There’s really no other way to describe it. It was like a movie playing in my head. The longer I sat, thinking about it, the more detailed it became. Before I knew it, I was frantically writing everything down. It took me a few days, where I was completely immersed in the storyline. I still have the very first draft and I shake my head every time I look at it, wondering how I came up with it.

Kristin:  Tell us a little about your main character(s).

I have three main characters, all female, which is rare in high-fantasy books. I find this genre very male oriented and I wanted to do something different. I like to think ‘out of the box’, so this was right up my alley.

Kerani: The leader of the group, she is a feisty, strong-willed, sword-wielding princess. She doesn’t take no for an answer and is not afraid to fight.

Tiluvia: Quirky, funny, and always smiling, she’s my comic relief in the book. She is also very sensitive to the moods of others around her. She is the shoulder to cry on and the pillar of the group.

Cesca: She is my brooding dark beauty who is also very shy and quiet. Plagued by inner turmoil, Cesca is someone who has to find and accept herself for who she is. The question is will she succeed?

Kristin:  Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

I love all three equally...hmm, this sounds like what a parent would say to their children. LOL But it’s true!

Kristin:  Do you feel like you put parts of yourself in your characters?

Oh my goodness, yes. The first time I was asked this question, I came to realize that each character embodies a quality from my own personality. For me it felt like the girls’ personalities just naturally evolved, but in hindsight, I see where they evolved from. Today, I can understand when they say an author’s book contains his or her soul in it.

Kristin:  Will there be a sequel or do you have another project in the works?

After I finish writing this trilogy, I have a novella I’d like to write, followed by another trilogy. I don’t know why, but writing trilogies just seems to come naturally to me. I feel very comfortable with it. This is all in the Young Adult category. Afterwards, I’d like to branch out and write a series for adults, which I’ve already begun to plan. My mind is just bursting with ideas!

Kristin:  How long did the entire process from writing your current work to getting it published take?

It took me 2 years and 3 months. I still remember the date I began to write: October 8th, 2009. My official coming out was December 1st, 2011. I would work all day, often times 7 days a week and into the wee hours of the morning. I went through a lot of edits, but I can’t tell you how many, because I lost count after fifty! Since I am self-published this also includes all the social networking I had to set up, the research into indie publishing vs traditional publishing, not to mention all the research I did for my book. It was a major learning curve and one heck of a roller coaster ride.

Kristin:  Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Everywhere! From books, movies, music, life events, and even dreams.

Kristin:  Do you have any “rituals” when you write?

Yes, I do. The first draft of a book is always written by hand. I begin writing in my dining room, because the table gives me space to spread the sheets out in front of me. Once that’s done, then I hibernate in my office rewriting, editing, working with my editor and proofreader until the book is ready to be published...and that can be months! 

Kristin:  If you couldn’t be an author, but anything else…what would you be?

Oh, that’s easy, I’d own a restaurant. My other passion in life is cooking. I’m not afraid to taste new things and I’m always putting my own twist on recipes. 

Kristin:  Independently published, commercially published, or self-published?
I am presently self-published.

Kristin:  Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

I have three tips.
1) Read A LOT. By doing this, it will help to develop your own writer’s voice. You’ll discover what genre you like to write in and maybe even what language. I’m bilingual in both French and English, having grown up with both languages, but don’t ask me to write in French! I much prefer to write in English.
2) Write A LOT. Like the expression says, “Practice makes perfect.”
3) Write about something that truly inspires you. If you feel very strong about your idea, and it captures you entirely, then write about it.
4) Most importantly, DON’T GIVE UP.

Kristin:  When did reading and writing become important you?

I’ve read my whole life, so books have always been very important to me, but writing became important when I allowed myself to try my hand at it. I didn’t reject the idea. Writing is now a passion for me. I don’t see myself doing anything else in life.

Fun Stuff

Kristin:  The apocalypse is coming…what do you do?

Make sure my latest project is backed up on my USB key. You never know if you’ll survive!

Kristin:  What 5 things are within your reach right now? No cheating?

My cup of tea, pens and pencils, Webster’s dictionary, a camera, and of course my book.

Kristin:  Favorite Food?

Everything that is in the ocean. I melt for seafood, especially lobster.

Kristin: Favorite Movie?

Ratatouille! Not only is it about cooking, but it’s in Paris. *sigh* I’ve been there once, and I think I left my heart at the top of the Eiffel Tower. No choice, but to go back and get it.

Kristin:  Favorite TV show?

Lie To Me.

Kristin: Favorite Song?

La Mer by Charles Trenet

Kristin:  Favorite singer or band?

Adèle

Kristin:  One food you would never try?

I’m someone who is always willing to try new things, and I like to watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern (one day I’ll get to see what a cricket tastes like), but one thing I would never, never, never want to try are Coconut Grubs. *shudders* I close my eyes when I see them on TV. I would love to post a picture here for you, but I can’t bring myself to Google search for an image. Eew! Eew! Eew!

Kristin: Health nut or junk food junkie?

Can I be both? LOL I’m usually the health-wise type, after all, I do have two kids, but sometimes momma just wants her chips. I’ll only eat chips if the bag is freshly opened, afterwards, they don’t taste as good, and in my house the bag can stay there for over a week. I put mine in the freezer; they’re better cold, especially when it’s a brand new unopened bag! Crazy, I know.

Kristin: The most exotic food you have ever eaten?

Turtle, while I was in the Cayman Islands. They slather it in sauce and it’s really good. Psst, by the way, the sauce is there to hide the fact that the meat is green.

Kristin:  Day on the beach or snow skiing down a mountain?

Day on the beach all the way! I hate the cold and snow and I don’t ski. Imagine, I live in Montreal with minus 40 degrees in winter. Brrrr.

Kristin:  If you could move anywhere on this Earth, where would it be?

The South of France and it’s not IF, it’s WHEN. I seriously plan on moving there one day. No snow and the beach is close by.

Kristin: Two books you think everyone should read. (Yes, you can and should include yours.)

Well, if you’re reading this then you’re already aware of my book, but if you’re into symbolism, I strongly suggest anything written by Dan Brown. My favorite is The Lost Symbol. If you like high-fantasy, then I suggest The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Kristin:  Places my readers can stalk you?

Website │ Twitter  │ Goodreads │Amazon │Barnes and Noble  │Smashwords  Author Facebook │ Grimoire Series Facebook

Thank you for taking this time to let us get to know you. We have enjoyed having you today. I hope you have enjoyed yourself and will stop by to see us again soon.

{Book Review} Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Series: Divergent #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books: HarperCollins
May 3, 2011

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Synopsis:


In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her. (From Veronica Roth's Website)

I really don't know why I put off reading Divergent for so long. It has everything I love (or hate) in real life: politics, idealism, segregation, cliques, etc. Actually, love and hate aren't the words I'm looking for...intrigue is a better description. I like to believe I am an open-minded person, and I believe most of my close friends would describe me in this manner. Of course, we all have our faults...don't we?

I love the cleverness of Veronica's world-building. She takes positive traits and begins to prove how only possessing one of these attributes and degrading the rest make for an unstable environment.

Divergent begins just before the aptitude testing that all 16 year olds must take to tell which faction a person's innate beliefs and personality will be most beneficial. Beatrice and Caleb, her brother, are both taking the test. They have been raised Abnegation and taught to put other peoples well-being before their own. Beatrice finds this train of thought more difficult than her brother and worries what her simulation test will show. Turns out, she is right to be worried.

After the test, comes the Choosing Ceremony. Each initiate now knows their test result and must choose which faction they wish to join. Yes, there is still a minute amount of free will involved...initiates may go against their test results and choose a different faction - though few do. The chosen factions will forever become their new homes, given they pass the initiation process.

"Faction before blood" is a way of life in and around the factions. Even more so for the Dauntless - the faction that places bravery above all else. The faction that protects the borders. The faction you want on your side in a time of war...which is coming sooner than anyone thought.

I don't want to go into any more details about the story itself. So many things happen on "Tris's" journey from Abnegation to Dauntless. Her transformation is one of self-discovery, strength, bravery, and, ultimately, doing what is inherently right...always. Tris is one of the strongest heroines I've had the pleasure of reading about in quite some time. Her growth throughout a single book is phenomenal, especially with the obstacles she faces both day and night. I'm amazed by the feats she conquered in one novel, I cannot imagine what fate lies for her in Insurgent.

Oh, and I haven't even mentioned Four. Simply amazing, but you see...he is someone you cannot discuss in detail without giving away vital secrets. BUT...his and Tris's relationship grows at a steady and realistic pace. He's strong, brilliant, sincere, and broken. Kindness is hidden deep inside him and trust...well, good luck Tris.

During the next week, I'm going to do several Divergent based posts. Something a little different. So keep a close lookout...especially Sunday. I'm thinking there may be a giveaway. Hmmm....what do y'all think?

Have your read Divergent? What did you think? Are you looking forward to Insurgent (which releases May 1, 2012 - AKA: My birthday)?

{Giveaway and Book Tour} Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P Waldrop

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Welcome to the Ties to the Blood Moon Virtual Book Tour hosted by Bree @ The Magic Attic. Today, I have the privilege of showing you the first excerpt from the first installment of Robin P Waldrop's enticing tale about mythical creatures and ancient lore. 

Excerpt - Prologue

Aunt Bev kept telling me it wasn’t my fault. But, if I had waited one more day before leaving to spend spring break with her in Alaska, I would have been home to pull my mother from the burning house. I knew my aunt meant well, but it hadn’t helped with my dreams for the past two weeks. Or should I say, nightmares?

As soon as I lay down and closed my eyes, the same scene filled my mind over and over again. Almost like a memory. I was in the woods just outside my house and helplessly watched a huge ferocious dog-like creature circling my house while it burned. At first glance the animal appeared to be red, but as I continued to stare, the color of his fur shifted like dancing flames. My home was on fire and I looked helplessly on, listening to my mother’s screams coming from somewhere inside. I knew I had to save her, but I was afraid.

“Mom,” I screamed, and started to rush for the house when the beast noticed me and snarled. I froze, unable to move. His yellow eyes glowed as if they reflected the fire behind him and I saw his blood-stained fangs.

I quickly ran away from the house. Away from saving my mother from the hungry flames that consumed her. I glanced to either side as I ran and saw the faint reddish glow of several other dogs through the trees. They had joined the first dog in the pursuit of his prey.

My lungs burned as the woods ignited behind the dogs, forcing me to run faster or be consumed by the same fire that claimed my mother’s life. I skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff and spun around to face the pack of wild beasts as one by one they emerged from the burning trees and approached me. They appeared to be almost smiling.

I had two choices—each of them a death sentence. I chose the latter and leaped from the cliff. The dogs peered over the edge as I fell away from them. They seemed disappointed with my choice. As they moved away out of sight I looked below and saw the ground rushing up at me.

Right before impact I woke up and realized I was still falling. I hit the hardwood floor beside my bed and cried out.

That's enough to make you want to read the book...right? Well, were not done yet...check out this awesome book trailer and then enter for a chance to win an ebook of Ties to the Blood Moon.

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Teaser Tuesday - Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted byMizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Title: Dearly, Departed
Series: Gone With the Respiration #1
Author: Lia Habel
Publisher: Del Ray, Imprint of Random House Publishing Group

Synopsis:

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

My Teaser: Within my body another battle raged. I ignored it - the sharpness of my senses, the prickling of my skin. I kept my hands to myself.

***I rented this one from the library because I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, looks like I'm gonna have to buy it after all. 

{Review} If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Title: If I Die
Series: Soul Screamers #5
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
September 27, 2011
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Synopsis:

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Ah, If I Die, happens to be my favorite book of the Soul Screamer Series. If I were to die now, I could honestly say that I died after reading the absolute best book of the Soul Screamer Series to date. That being said...I am overjoyed that there is another book coming out in June. I am not sure When I Wake can top If I Die...ever, but we shall see.

Have you ever read a series where you thought you knew what you wanted to happen, only to realize your heart wanted the complete opposite? That is exactly how I felt about this book. I can tell you this because I haven't reviewed the others...so you don't know what I'm talking about. LOL.

So, what to tell that won't spoil everything. As you know from the blurb...Kaylee finds out her life is nearing the end and so many things are left undone. Kaylee, Emma, and Sabine (yes, her) will have time for just one last mission before Kaylee's time runs out. Kaylee makes it one of her dying wishes to save her classmates from the evil that is Mr. Beck. Not only is she doing something good for humanity but she is keeping her mind busy, focused on anything but her death.

Nash spends his time vying for Kaylee's love and attention that seems to be divided between him and his brother. Kaylee commits to give Nash the thing he has always wanted before she dies...oddly though, a certain Reaper keeps showing up just in the nick of time. I have always enjoyed the tension between Tod and Nash. This book takes it to a whole new level. We learn things about Tod's death that Nash doesn't even know. We see Tod make decisions that may cost him greatly.

Kaylee makes a deal with a nightmare that I never saw coming. If Nash is the epitome of selfish then Kaylee is the epitome of selflessness. Okay, maybe Nash isn't always selfish. He has been trying really hard to gain Kaylee's trust and doing a pretty good job of it...but if you have read this series, you know what I am talking about.

I loved Kaylee's I-don't-give-a-darn-attitude-about-anything-other-than-getting-rid-of-the-demon-sucking-the-souls-out-of-high-school-girls attitude. Homework? Um...no. Closing the door to her bedroom when Nash is there? Um...hell no. Curfew? WTH? But...she actually went to school and that is more than I would have done.

A spine-tingling, heart-pounding, tear-jerking, and fury-evoking read. Never under-estimate Rachel Vincent's power to twist the plot, pull the strings, and throw the curve balls like no other. Her characters are multidimensional and have their share of adversities. In If I Die, some characters rise to the challenge and others fall from grace but through it all, they have each other...for better or worse. So many things take place in this installment, making it difficult to stop reading.

Be sure to check out Rachel's blog to see the cover of When I Wake. It is beautiful. Also, Rachel has some really great discussions on her blog. From cliffhangers to love triangles and so much more. Also, if you look around...you will find interview questions with both Tod and Nash.

One last thing because I like to do my part for charity and St. Jude's is one of my favorite charities because they never turn a child away. Go to Barnes and Noble ($1.29) or Amazon ($1.79) and download Never to Sleep a Soul Screamers Novella. Rachel is donating her royalties from this novella to St. Judes. You can read more about it HERE.

{Review} Lola and the Boy Next Door

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton Books (Penguin Group USA)
Release Date: September 29, 2011

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Synopsis:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Oh, this is one of my favorite books ever written. Seriously. Lola and the Boy Next Door is a contemporary YA book that had me doubling over laughing, squeeing on the edge of my chair, and most of all...wanting things to be alright for Cricket and Lola. If any two people deserve happiness, it is them.

Lola has been through hell and back. Her mother got pregnant young and decided to let her brother adopt Lola, knowing that he could provide a more stable home life than she ever could. However, Lola's mom still shows up at some of the most inopportune times, bringing sorrow and disarray into Lola's otherwise perfect life. Lola dresses in costume. That is who she is. When her boyfriend tells her that she is a liar, changing her appearance everyday, never letting anyone see the "real" Lola, she knows that relationship is headed downhill. And...to add insult to injury, the Bell twins have moved back in next door.

Calliope is a figure skater, headed for the Olympics. Cricket's life has always been overshadowed by his sister's life as a star. Moving each time she decides to drop one coach for another, being home-schooled, never having friends. He left his life in San Fransisco years ago. Now he's home and hoping to reclaim that life. If only things were ever that easy. Cricket is going to have to work for Lola's trust, much less her love. Between him and Calliope, Lola had her heart ripped out and shredded into pieces.  Cricket might have a chance if he was only making up for his mistakes, but he also has to make amends for what damage his sister caused all those years ago.

Cricket meets a little known character, St. Clair, at Berkley. They become quick friends...as everyone does with St. Clair. This works to Cricket's advantage since Anna is Lola's manager at the movie theater. I love that Stephanie included St. Clair and Anna in Lola and the Boy Next Door. They made a perfect avenue for Cricket to get closer to Lola. And who can resist St. Clair.

Honestly, Cricket is one of my favorite characters ever. He is full of energy and shines like the sun. You just can't help but love him. Again, he is one of Stephanie's perfectly flawed characters. Cricket is weird in his own right, the crazy inventor type. Wild hair, a flair for the flamboyant, and good at everything he does - even though he can't see it. He's a bit insecure about himself...both because of past mistakes and a questionable heritage. He puts himself out there in ways that will cause him pain but he knows what he wants and if he is patient, perhaps he will get it.

Stephanie Perkins is a master at creating beautifully weaved love stories. Love stories that make your heart ache with desire. You cannot not pull for these characters. Nothing about them is perfect and nothing comes easy. That's life, right? But Stephanie's stories flow at a perfect pace, never giving you that break you need to put the book down. I read bot Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door in one sitting. Well, one sitting each. Each time I thought about putting one down...I felt my heart break, needing to know how things would end. Because Stephanie makes her characters work for their happy endings, the chemistry and tension are always palpable on the pages.

It wasn't until these books were recommended to me by some fellow bloggers that I started reading an YA Contemporary...now I seek these books out. 

One last thing, I want to say thank you to Stephanie for including a bit about alternative lifestyles in this book. I have family who belong to the LGBT community and it is important to me that their lives are acknowledged in a positive and loving way. I'm not sure it could have been done any better than Stephanie did it.

Top 10 Characters of 2011

Today's topic: Top 10 Characters of 2011. Since I did Book Boyfriends yesterday, I think I will do all heroines (except one) today.

Today, I am going to do a quick post...the last three have taken me several hours to put together and I am just not in the mood for that tonight. Sorry!

So...these are in no particular order...well, except Alex, cause tonight is a super important night. She's going up against Katniss in the Heroine Tourney over at YA Sisterhood. Be sure to go vote...also, Jennifer L. Armentrout (author of Half-Blood) is having a live VLOG at 11:00 PM EST. Stay tuned.

Vote for Alex HERE!

1. Alex from Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Alex is phenomenal.  She has so much anger and so much life. Things get taken from her that should never be taken. She struggles through her difficulties with her head held high. She fights for what she believes is right...always. Alex has had to learn to keep her mouth shut at times but mostly, she says what she believes. She kicks daimon butt. She fights for change. She is complete awesomeness.

2. Katy from Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Not only did she lose her dad to cancer and have to move to another state that's not Florida but she also has to deal with Daemon...her nasty but hot next door neighbor...and she saves his life. 

3. Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. She lives through the embarrassment of heart-break and moves on. She dresses in costumes. She designs fantastical fashions. She falls in love again and lives through the heart-ache...again. She falls into a deep depression. Realizes who she truly loves. Pulls it together before she jumps into another relationship. She loves her family and friends. She is flawed and perfect at the same time.

4. Helen from Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. She is forced to deal with a fate she can't escape. She is strong, fierce, and loyal. She learns to love instead of hate.

5. MacKayla Lane from the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. I love her so much. She grows from a young girl into a beautiful and strong woman who knows what she wants. She's tough, sassy, and funny. 

6. Calla from Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer. A werewolf with an attitude and priorities. She is fighting against a system that is wrong. Her group has been lead to believe things that might not be as true as she once thought. She refuses to lie down and give up. She fights for the underdog. Relentlessly.

7. Anna from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Anna gets shipped to another country for her senior year of high school. She is alone but makes friends fast. She knows what she wants...no matter what, and she goes after it.

8. Archer from Hushed by Kelley York. Yes, I know...he killed people for love. Ridiculous, right? And he's not a heroine but I love him all the same. I like Archer because he progressed so much during the book. He acknowledged his mistakes and bettered himself. 

9. Clary from City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. Do I need to explain? Really? She's pure awesomeness. That's it, that's all.

10. Tessa from Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. Again...do I need to explain?

Ugh...I just can't think of any more. I'm sure I forgot someone...when I figure out who, I will add them. LOL!

Don't forget to vote for Alex. I will put the link here when it is up.

Top 10 Book Boyfriends of 2011

Oh, today's topic is one of my favorite topics. Book Boyfriends. There are so many great catches in books these days. I often wish they made guys like these in real life. Links will take you to my reviews of books mentioned. Those without links haven't been reviewed yet but will be soon.

Jericho Barrons - Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. No, these books are not YA but I am completely and irrevocably in love with this mysterious man. Hot, sexy, full of secrets, dark, and well...a little bit scarey.

He grabbed a fistful of my T-shirt, and dragged me up against him until our noses touched. "I'll bring it on, Ms. Lane. But remember you asked for it. So don't even think about trying to tap out on the mat and quit the fight."...He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine. - Bloodfever

Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins is my newest Book Boyfriend. I just finished this book last night and I absolutely loved Cricket...more than St. Clair...but not much more. Cricket is just so...everything. Mostly though...he is unique, quirky, genuine, nice, and perfect for Lola.

Cricket Bell had always been...nice. And he was cute, and he was intelligent, and he was older, and it was only natural that I would develop feelings for him. But the day everything fell into place was the same day I discovered that he'd become interested in his appearance. Not in an egotistical way. Simply in a "maybe baggy shorts and giant sneakers aren't the most attractive look for a guy like me" way. - Lola and The Boy Next Door

Zachary Moore from The Shade Series by Jeri Smith-Ready is complete awesomeness. I know most people love Logan, and I do too, but I have chosen sides...I think Zachary is the one for Aura. Besides the fact that he's not dead, Zachary really loves Aura...enough to go to hell and back for her. And...he wears a kilt! How sexy is that?

The short tuxedo jacket covered none of his kilt, whose background color picked up the dark forest green of his vest and eyes – or at least the color of his eyes as I remembered them. Not that I ever thought about that. - Shift






Aiden St. Delphi from The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout makes me want to dive straight into the book and perhaps put myself in danger so he can come save me. Anyone else feel this way. Or...possibly, I should have him as my personal trainer. To bad I'm not training to kill daimons.

In front of me, he walked right through the flames, looking every bit like a daimon hunter should. The fire did not singe his pants nor dirty his shirt. Not a single dark hair was touched by the blaze. Those cool, storm-cloud-colored eyes fixed on me.

It was him--Aiden St. Delphi. - Half-Blood

Daemon, the not-so-typical boy next door, is snide, rude, hateful, demeaning, belittling, sarcastic, and fiercely charming. Katy should have probably tried to kill him at times or just let the Arum have him but I am so glad she didn't. I mean, the book cover alone is enough to make me want him. His cocky protectiveness and bad boy facade just seals the deal. Yes, I am one of those girls who loves a bad boy.

His stomach was ripped. Perfect. Totally touchable. Not the kind of stomach I expected on a seventeen-year-old boy, which is how old I suspected he was, but yeah, I wasn't complaining. I also wasn't talking. And I was staring.

My gaze finally traveling north again, I noted thick, sooty lashes fanning the tips of his cheeks and hiding the color of his eyes as he looked down at me. - Obsidian

Ren Laroche...oh man, how I do love me some Ren. I get a lot of flack over this one because I prefer him over Shay. I just think Shay seems a little too desperate and whiny. Ren, again, is sexy, brooding, a little bit bad, but extremely loyal to Calla. I am so relieved that Bloodrose comes out next week so I know what happens. I have been dying to know how everything ends...

"The way you move is incredible." Ren drew me back to press against him. His fingers slid down to the curve of my hips, rocking our bodies in rhythm with the heavy bass. The sensation of being molded against the hard narrow line of his hips threatened to overwhelm me. We were hidden in the mass of the the people, right? The Keepers couldn't see? - Nightshade

Patch will always be one of my book boyfriends. I am excited that I will get to count him again next year since there is going to be a fourth book. Yippee! Again, dark and broken, but oh so sexy. Silence is probably my favorite book of the Hush Hush Series so far. He has tried to do what he thinks is best for Nora but they just cannot be apart. As hard as he tries, Patch simply cannot deny her anything.

His black eyes sliced into me, and the corners of his mouth tilted up. My heart fumbled a beat and in that pause, a feeling of gloomy darkness seemed to slide like a shadow over me. It vanished in an instant, but I was still staring at  him. His smile wasn't friendly. It was a smile that spelled trouble. With a promise. - Hush Hush

I mentioned St. Clair earlier in this post, and even though I love Cricket, I still adore St. Clair. I loved his charisma. I seriously doubt that this guy has ever been disliked by anyone. Everyone knows someone like Etienne St. Clair. I think I liked his imperfections the best, they made him real. Scared of heights, not wanting to be alone, dealing with a crazed family life...we've all been there in one way or another.

The first thing I notice is his hair - it's the first thing I notice about everyone. It's dark brown and messy and somehow both long and short at the exact same time. I think of the Beatles, since I've just seen them in Meredith's room. It's artist hair. Musician hair. I-pretend-I-don't-care-but-I-really-do hair. - Anna and the French Kiss

Adrian Ivashkov from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Series, is one of those guys I rooted for but he lost. I am hoping he has better luck in the new series, Bloodlines. He really does deserve it.

The speaker was a Moroi guy, a little older than me, with dark brown hair that had undoubtedly been painstakingly styled to look messy. Unlike Keith's ridiculously over-gelled attempts, this guy had actually done it in a way that looked good. Like all Moroi, he was pale and had a tall, lean build. Emerald green eyes studied us from a face that could have been sculpted by one of the classical artists I so admired. - Bloodlines





And last, but not least...the illusive Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Noah is a boy with secrets but he is far from the typical dark and brooding types I usually like...in fact, he actually attempts to keep Mara out of trouble. I see that this may prove difficult for him, now and in the future.

His general state of disarray was almost enough to distract me from his face. The boy - if he could be called that, looking like he belonged in college, not high school...

His strong jaw and chin were slightly scruffy, as though he handn't shaved in days, and his eyes looked gray in the shade. Strands of his dark chestnut hair stuck out every which way. Bedroom hair. He could be considered pale in comparison to everyone else I'd observed in Florida thus far, which is to say he wasn't orange. - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer