Midwinterblood, by Marcus Sedgwick

Author: Marcus Sedgwick
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Format: Hardcover; 272 pages
Series: N/A
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal
Avg. Rating: ★★★✩✩

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Seven stories of passion and love separated by centuries but mysteriously intertwined—this is a tale of horror and beauty, tenderness and sacrifice.

An archaeologist who unearths a mysterious artifact, an airman who finds himself far from home, a painter, a ghost, a vampire, and a Viking: the seven stories in this compelling novel all take place on the remote Scandinavian island of Blessed where a curiously powerful plant that resembles a dragon grows. What binds these stories together? What secrets lurk beneath the surface of this idyllic countryside? And what might be powerful enough to break the cycle of midwinterblood? From award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick comes a book about passion and preservation and ultimately an exploration of the bounds of love.

Midwinterblood is one of those books that you have to let stew in your head for a little while before actually judging - or, in my case, reviewing. As the description says, there are seven stories in this book. All of these stories revolve around two main characters - the same main characters - and what happens to them in each time period. The stories go from the future to the past in order to tell a more clearer account of the events that unfold during each life. 

Now, it sounds a little confusing.. but it's not all so bad. A perk to this book is that the same characters are used in each story, although who they are and who they are to one another changes from story to story. The overall feel and theme to Midwinterblood is a little tragic, as all stories are centered around the idea of love requiring some type of sacrifice. There is also a plot that intertwines each story to one another that really ties everything together, although the stories could actually be read separately.

This book has a great gothic feel to it and the island itself is ten shades of creepy. The writing was nothing short of fabulous and it definitely kept me reading from the beginning to the very end in one sitting. Books that are compiled of multiple short(er) stories are usually harder to grasp since they're like novellas - where you don't get as invested in the characters and you don't get as much background information as you think you need to really get into the stories. Since these stories are tied together, there was more that was fleshed out.

If I had to say anything "bad" about this book, I would say that there was still a little sparseness to the information you receive in the writing. I don't think it will deter anyone from the story, it just leaves the reader a little curious on a few points throughout the book.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. I think it's a wonderful read that deserves more recognition than it may receive, considering I haven't seen much about it on the internet. 

Rating: ★★★★✩
Source: Purchase

Marcus Sedgwick (b 1968) was born in Kent, England. Marcus is a British author and illustrator as well as a musician. He used to play for two bands namely playing the drums for Garrett and as the guitarist in an ABBA tribute group. He has published novels such as Floodland (winner of the Branford Boase Award in 2001) and The Dark Horse (shortlisted for The Guardian Children's Book Award 2002).

 Twitter | Website

A Shade Of Vampire, by Bella Forrest

Author: Bella Forrest
Publisher: Forrest Books
Release Date: December 14, 2012
Format: Paperback; 147 pages
Series: A Shade Of Vampire (Book One)
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires 
Avg. Rating: ★★★★✩

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On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. 

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine. An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. 

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince. 

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

Alright, I'll just come out with it: I love this book. I have read many books this year and many, many books over the past couple of years - and I can honestly say that it has been a long while since I have enjoyed a book THIS much.

First off, it's hard to believe that this book is actually a debut novel - although I guess it makes perfect sense with the author's background. But usually, even with a history like Bella Forrest has, you don't typically see such great writing until a few books down the line. Seeing as how I'm a stickler for writing most of the time, this was one of the things that made me happy.

All of the characters in this story defined themselves well through their actions throughout the story. Sofia was an instant hit for me. I liked that she was a strong character, but definitely had a little vulnerability to her that made her so human and easy to relate to. Derek was also a character that I loved from the very beginning. His actions stayed true to his character, and I love the way his attraction for Sophia shined through.The other characters were just as great. My heart bled a little when Ben showed back up in the story and you found out a little as to what he was going through when Sophia disappeared. Lucas was another character that popped off of the pages for me, but not in the best of ways. 

Being only 147 pages, this book reads very quickly. I think the winning factor to this book, for me, is the fact that this book gets straight to the action and the facts - there's not a ton of fluff that you have to weed through to get to the good stuff. The constant action made me flip feverishly through page after page until the very end. The only downside to that is knowing that I am completely finished with the novel and have to wait for the next book in the series to come out.. which I hope is very, very soon!

Essentially, this book is a vampire romance with a whole lot of action in it. So, if you like any of those themes, then I'm sure you will absolutely LOVE this book. It's definitely one to add to your bookshelf and covet. 

Rating: ★★★★★
Source: Author


ABOUT BELLA:

I've been telling stories pretty much since I could talk. Instead of having my parents read me bed-time stories, I would prefer to share with them my own made up tales.

As I grew older, I developed a passion for the fantasy genre, but more specifically vampires.

I had my first idea for a novel when I was sixteen, and haven't really stopped since.

My debut novel, A Shade of Vampire, was released on December 14, 2012.
The book quickly became a Number 1 Christmas Bestseller in Vampire Romance, Paranormal and Fantasy on Amazon.

If you sign up for personal email updates from me here: www.forrestbooks.com ,
you'll be the first to hear about my new releases.

I'd also love to meet you on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashadeofvampire
Or Twitter: www.twitter.com/AShadeOfVampire

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE is available on Amazon:

USA, paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Shade-Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767

USA, eBook:
http://www.amazon.com/A-Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE

UK, paperback:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shade-Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767

UK, eBook:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE

Gates of Paradise, by Melissa de la Cruz

Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Format: Hardcover; 368 pages
Series: Blue Bloods (Book 7)
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Avg. Rating: ★★★★✩

Goodreads | Book Depository

Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time. The Dark Prince of Hell is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on winning the heavenly throne for good. This time he has his greatest angels by his side, Abbadon and Azrael—Jack and Mimi Force, as they are known in the Coven.

Or so he thinks. Even as Lucifer assigns Jack and Mimi the tasks of killing their true loves, the Force twins secretly vow to defeat the Dark Prince once and for all. But how far will Mimi and Jack go to conceal their real loyalties?

Meanwhile, former vampire Bliss Llewellyn has joined forces with Lawson, the greatest wolf of the underworld, to free his people from their imprisonment in Hell. As they struggle against impossible odds, an ancient message, woven into the very fabric of time, reveals just how much depends on the success of their mission.

Lucifer seeks the key to the Gate of Promise, and when Schuyler is taken captive and delivered straight to Hell, she must make an unthinkable choice—the same one the archangel Michael was forced to make during the Crisis in Rome. Will Schuyler find the strength to do what he could not?

The epic, heartbreaking Blue Bloods series comes to a close with this final novel about staggering courage, unbearable sacrifice, and the immortality of true love.

Admission: I have followed the Blue Bloods series from the very beginning. As much as I hate things that deal with fashion, money, socialites, etc.. I couldn't help but love this series. And this series has turned into something so much more than any of the things I have listed - and I freaking love it for that reason alone! But there's so much more. So, forgive me if I am a little biased when it comes to Blue Bloods. I think I can do a pretty fair review, though. ;)

This is the final book in the Blue Bloods series. While I'm sad to see it go, I have to say that I have enjoyed the ride. Compared to the last few books in the series, which dragged a little and come up a bit stale for me, Gates of Paradise was a breath of fresh air. Like all books in a series, it's nice to see some of your favorite characters reprise their roles in a story and see them grow. I've loved Schuyler from the very beginning and her journey has definitely had its ups and downs. However, I think the character that has truly shined for me in this particular book is Mimi - which is amazing considering how much I have hated her for a majority of the series. Her growth and own journey have both astounded me. She literally won me over without me even realizing it until the very end of the book, which I love because I never knew a character could be written so well.

I can't say much without the risk of spoilers, so I'll just keep this short and sweet by saying that this is an amazing book. The storyline is intricate and I loved watching everything come together at the very end. Literally any loose end or question that I could recall throughout the series was wrapped up with a nice little bow to where you were left with a filling of satisfaction instead of confusion.

If I had to pick out some flaws, I can think of two things that I didn't necessarily love about the novel. One, this book is DEFINITELY a part of a series.. and, in being so, you can't just pick up this book without any knowledge of the characters, series, and story/stories. If you try, you'll fail miserably - that's a promise. There were also some parts in the final chapters that felt a little rushed, as though the author was in a hurry to just wrap this series up and move on with her life. Though after seven books with the same characters in the same world, I think it's safe to say that it could be understandable. In all honesty, it's not THAT noticeable.. it's just something that kind of stood out to me while I was reading.

Overall, I completely loved this book. If you've been a follower of the series, I have no doubt that you will love this book as well. If you haven't followed this series.. I'd say you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking it out. Pick up this book, along with the others in the series. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Rating: ★★★★★
Source: Purchase

Melissa de la Cruz grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

Melissa is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Facebook | Twitter | Website 

Early Review: Haven, by Kristi Cook

Haven
Kristi Cook
Hardcover, 416 pages
Simon Pulse
February 22, 2011

One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

I have to say that I did enjoy this read. There were parts where it reminded me of some other popular paranormal book(s) that I won't name, but if you read it and you've read the other(s) – I'm sure you can distinguish from there. However, this didn't deter from the read at any point because, let's be honest, you're always going to be able to find similarities between books.

Haven was a fairly quick read for me. I don't think that it was so much page volume as much as that the story did draw me in. Violet is a wonderful protagonist that was very easy to relate to and actually like – which is a gift in itself. There are so many stories where the main character is whiny, spoiled and just not likable … I'm glad that's not the case with this one because it makes the story that much harder to read. AND, another bonus – her friends were just as likable. I think this is the first read I've read this year where I haven't had some kind of “bad friend” complaint about the secondary characters. Definite kudos there. The love interest was just as swoon-worthy as you can imagine, though I think the chemistry could have been shown a little more to make the romance more believable. I need reasons to believe that an attraction is there, I don't just like being told that it's there and just accept it.

The plot and storyline were great. Kristi did a good job of putting cliches together in her own original story and I definitely respect her for that. Her writing was clear, smooth, and overall just easy to read. There was just enough description and action to make it a wonderful read. The climax, I think, was the shortcoming of the book. I would have liked a little more action in that part of the story, but it was enough to quench. After reading Haven, I was left with some questions. I don't know if the author meant to do that or if it was something that was just skipped over, but the questions I have aren't anything that I'll lose sleep over – just common curiosity.

Overall, Haven was a good read that will grab your attention and keep you turning the pages. The plot's good and the characters are even better. I'd recommend this for any of my paranormal romance lovers that like young adult novels.

Source: E-galley, Publisher

Avg. Rating: 4.0

Review: The Radleys, by Matt Haig

The Radleys
Matt Haig
Hardcover, 384
Free Press
(Imprint of Simon & Schuster)
December 28, 2010

Just about everyone knows a family like the Radleys. Many of us grew up next door to one. They are a modern family, averagely content, averagely dysfunctional, living in a staid and quiet suburban English town. Peter is an overworked doctor whose wife, Helen, has become increasingly remote and uncommunicative. Rowan, their teenage son, is being bullied at school, and their anemic daughter, Clara, has recently become a vegan. They are typical, that is, save for one devastating exception: Peter and Helen are vampires and have—for seventeen years—been abstaining by choice from a life of chasing blood in the hope that their children could live normal lives.

One night, Clara finds herself driven to commit a shocking—and disturbingly satisfying—act of violence, and her parents are forced to explain their history of shadows and lies. A police investigation is launched that uncovers a richness of vampire history heretofore unknown to the general public. And when the malevolent and alluring Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives to throw the police off Clara’s trail, he winds up throwing the whole house into temptation and turmoil and unleashing a host of dark secrets that threaten the Radleys’ marriage.

The Radleys is a moving, thrilling, and radiant domestic novel that explores with daring the lengths a parent will go to protect a child, what it costs you to deny your identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting, iridescent bonds of family love. Read it and ask what we grow into when we grow up, and what we gain—and lose—when we deny our appetites.

Vampire novels and I have had an on-again, off-again relationship here lately. I mean, I love vampire novels, but not a lot of them are living up to what I would consider a good vampire novel. Thankfully, that's not the case with The Radleys.

I think the thing that caught me off-guard was that the Radleys did seem like a typical British family at first. Clara and Rowan definitely are under assumption that they are, until Clara tries to take a bite of her classmate. I loved both of the children, though I think my heart ached for Rowan more, who is constantly bullied and has an undeniable crush on his sister's best friend. For me though, I think my absolute favorite characters have to be the parents, Peter and Helen. They go through some turmoil in the book but try to cover it up for the children - as any parents would do - but it soon takes its own toll. And Will? He comes in to help, but things just seem to go from bad to worse.

This novel is described as a 'domestic drama' and has been compared to American Beauty. While I agree to both accounts, I think that this novel stands out entirely on its own in a unique way (the vampire tidbit being a big part) and even though it is a dark tale, it has it's own tongue-in-cheek moments that will relieve some of the tension of the novel. There is also talk that it's being re-marketed as a Young Adult book which it can pass for, but it's a more mature YA book.

The Radleys is a well-written, wonderfully original story that almost everyone in the family can enjoy for one aspect or another. This novel had me from the start and didn't let go until the very end. Although it wraps up nicely at the end, I would love to see a sequel now that the secret is out for all of the Radleys.

Source: Publisher & Free Press Blog Tours

Avg. Rating: 3.5

Review: Infinite Days, by Rebecca Maizel

Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1)
Rebecca Maizel
Paperback, 310 pages
St. Martin's Griffin
August 3, 2010
isbn: 0312649916
isbn13: 9780312649913

Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?

Ahh, back to my wonderful vampire stories! … Sort of. This time around with Infinite Days, it’s a vampire-turned-human story in which we follow the main character, Lenah, as she breathes her first breath as a sixteen-year-old human in the 21st century. After her awakening, Lenah learns that Rhode (her vampire lover/soul mate) had to sacrifice himself in order for her to have her one wish granted - to be human again after 500+ years of reigning terror as a vicious vampire queen. Left on her own, Lenah must learn how to blend into her new school in America, Wickham. Not only does she have to teach herself how to be human again, but she also has to worry about her old coven coming to find her.

I really loved this story. I thought it was a new take on the cliché teen vampire story. I did have to do a double take on how Lenah learned things so quickly - but, it’s not as if her mind has been completely erased, it’s more like learning to adapt from old ways to new ones. The romance between Lenah and Justin was fun to watch from the beginning encounter to the time that they actually ended up getting together. I kind of felt a little stab in my heart for Rhode, though. It just seemed like Lenah never really loved him the way that he loved her. He sacrificed a lot for her, and I don’t feel like he was treated fairly. But, that’s just one girl’s opinion.

My heart also ached for Tony. I thought he was a wonderful best friend, but I don’t think he would have made a good love interest for Lenah - even though he did confess he was in love with her. I’m glad there was a resolution between them soon after the awkwardness, though they didn’t get much time after to explore their friendship more. Even the other characters, particularly the Three-Piece, I didn’t find annoying at all - which was surprising, considering I thought I would at the beginning.

The writing was great - even the parts where it skipped from present to past and back again, it was easy to switch with the story and keep up. I loved all of the character interactions. I think my favorite parts were the flashbacks … and I’m pretty sure I’d be happy with just a book about Lenah as a vampire and her many adventures. I read the book in one sitting and was pretty satisfied with the ending. I did have a OMG-I-knew-something-like-that-was-going-to-happen moment and that moment made me happy.

The preview of the second book at the end of this novel was also the perfect little teaser to keep you longing for more. I can’t wait for the next book!

Source: SFBR

Avg Rating: 4.0

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Review: Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight (Twilight Saga #1)
by Stephenie Meyer
Paperback, 498 pages
Little, Brown and Company
Published September 6, 2006
ISBN: 0316015849  
ISBN13: 9780316015844

Rating:

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

Side note: This is a re-read. I read this book for the first time three years ago.

So, here's what I think of Twilight. Is it the best writing I've ever read in literature? No. What it is is a young adult novel meant to evoke the emotions that we feel when we first fall in love as a teenager. Does it accomplish this? Yes, I think so.

The story is told from the point of view of Bella Swan. By now, most of us know the story: shy girl moves to small town and meets our brooding hero, Edward Cullen. Even though he seems completely uninterested in everything, he saves Bella's life. Bella knows there's something different about Edward, so curiosity gets the best of her. She confronts Edward and Edward is honest with her. He warns her to stay away, but like any girl - when we're told not to do something, we have to do it. Edward and Bella are caught up in a whirlwind romance that's not only completely dreamy, but also completely dangerous.

I absolutely love this book. To be completely honest, it's the reason why I got into reading again. It also got my husband reading. If something is interesting enough to get my husband to read it, then it's pretty impressive in my book! The first book is more about introductions and details, so we don't really get into the conflict or action until the last quarter of the book. Up until that point is just as interesting, as it deals with new love and the discoveries that come with it.

I found the characters to be fleshed out well. Bella is our main character. She's flawed, but most of her decisions are based on helping others out, which is admirable. Edward is a great love interest. He's very gentlemanly, yet he does things that do remind us that he's more than just human - he is a predator. I know people say he's possessive. Well, yes. Not only is he a boy in love, but he is a vampire. Vampires are essentially selfish in nature and territorial of things that they claim as their own. I don't think it's creepy, it's simple part of his human and vampire nature. Our antagonist James is simply perfect. He's like the vampires we're used to hearing about - he's strong, fast, and thinks of humans as food and nothing more. 

Like all books, there are the lovers and the haters. I'm a lover, so I can't give this book enough praises. It's a nice young adult book with a paranormal edge to it. If you're looking for a fast read though, you might want to look elsewhere. This book is almost 500 pages and does tend to get very descriptive.

Review: Revelations, by Melissa de la Cruz

(This is my last Blue Bloods book review for my re-read. I think I might do the Twilight Saga next!)

Revelations (Blue Bloods #3)
by Melissa de la Cruz
Hardcover, 256 pages
Hyperion
Published October 28, 2008
ISBN: 1423102282  
ISBN13: 9781423102281

 Rating:  

Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City's wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous... they're undead. 

Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question--is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire's secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

Things aren't really looking up for Schuyler much in the book - Charles Force now has custody of her and she lives with the Force family, including Mimi and Jack of course. After saving Mimi in Italy, Mimi still treats Schuyler like crap and Jack is now ignoring her ... or so we think. Oh, and the Silver Bloods are starting to show their ugly faces now. Could it get any worse? By the end of the book, there's one answer: yes, it could get worse. And it does.

Even though I love the Blue Bloods series, I had a very hot-cold relationship with this book. There's not much that goes on. Schuyler is treated like crap a lot and you really feel bad for her - but, then she'll go and do something stupid and you'll be mad at her ... until something happens to her again. Mimi is the same as always, but she's good at being bad, which is something you have to give her credit for. Oliver, on top of being in love with Schuyler, is now also her consort. Honestly, you have to feel sorry for him. He's desperately in love with her and goes out of his way to do anything for her that she may possibly need ... yet, he's left in the dark about a lot of things and his love is obviously unrequited. Jack is hot and cold. Yet, like any boy that's bad for you, you find yourself making excuses for him just as much as Schuyler does! I have to say I think my favorite character in this series so far is Bliss, as well as feeling for her. She's got a lot going on and she has to endure it all on her own.

Plot-wise, the story didn't do much. Besides trying to figure out a solution for the Silver Bloods, there's just more fancy parties, eating, spending money, etc. Honestly, to feel threatened ... the Blue Bloods are surely not doing much about it. However, like every Blue Bloods novel, the story picks up at the end. The last 50 pages or so will have you on the edge of your seat and what happens at the end will have you dumb-struck.

In all, it's a fast little read that messes with your emotions a little too much for my liking. However, like everything that's bad for you, I always end up coming back for more. Blue Bloods is definitely a guilty pleasure for me.

Review of the Series: Blue Bloods  |  Masquerade  |   Revelations  |  The Van Alen Legacy

Review: Uninvited, by Amanda Marrone

Title: Uninvited
Author: Amanda Marrone
Pages: 224
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 23, 2007

Genre: Young Adult
Keywords/Themes: drugs, high school, paranormal, vampires

When rejection comes back to bite you...

Jordan's life sucks. Her boyfriend, Michael, dumped her, slept his way through half the student body, and then killed himself. But now, somehow, he appears at her window every night, begging her to let him in.

Jordan can't understand why he wants her, but she feels her resistance wearing down. After all, her life -- once a broken record of boring parties, meaningless hookups, and friends she couldn't relate to -- now consists of her drinking alone in her room as she waits for the sun to go down.

Michael needs to be invited in before he can enter. All Jordan has to do is say the words....

Review: It's actually been a while since I've read this, so bear with me if I'm a little too vague in this review. I know most of the key points and I know how I feel about the book -- but re-writing the synopsis here just made me question something I read. Without being too spoiler-ish, isn't the "Jordan's boyfriend dumper her" part wrong? I mean, I thought that she dumped him, which was one of the reasons why he did certain things. It's not going to ruin the book, or the review, but it's something I'm questioning right now. I'll have to go back and check my point at another time.

So, back to the review. There were two main points that caught my attention with this book from the very beginning. The first was the cover. It was gorgeous. Not too flashy, but not too plain either. The second was the synopsis. As a loyal vampire lover for over the past 13 years or so, the synopsis made me squee like a little school girl. Honestly, this sounded exactly like the old school vampire stories that first sucked me in. The whole rule of having to be invited in, the stalker-ish behavior, the darkness ... it's great. Don't get me wrong, I'm obsessive about my Twilight books too, but this is getting back to how vampires used to be.

Sadly to say, the book didn't quite live up to my own self-imposed hype. Maybe no book will because I put too much enthusiasm into things before actually starting them. I did like the book, though. I'd recommend to fellow vampire-lovers. It's just not the highest on my ranks.

Jordan was a decent character. I think she was fleshed out decently. Michael seemed to stay in his own little character bubble and you thought you knew him, until he popped that bubble close to the end. Jordan's other friends ... well, they were around ever so often, but not enough to get a good grip on who they were. You got a bit of a back story on Jordan's best friend, but it still wasn't enough, in my opinion, to relate to her as a character.

And the whole vampire story line? Yeah, not so much there. You don't get a good grip on the vampire world - other than they come out at night and they have to be invited in. There wasn't good world building at all. Besides Jordan's room, I couldn't necessarily picture anything else in my head except for maybe their location at the end of the book.

What I DID like about this book was that Jordan was a real character. She had a lot of problems and she coped with her problems with alcohol, drugs, and sex with different guys. It's not the best solution, but you could see that she was human and could relate to her - or at least empathize. The vampire thing seemed to be more of like a loose metaphor for the effect of the drugs and reckless behavior on her life.

If you're looking for a wonderful vampire read, you may want to look elsewhere. If you're looking for a book on teenagers, angst, social anxiety, addictions, and relationships gone wrong ... this will probably suit you better.

Rating: ½ - The story was more telling than showing, most of the characters were flat, and it didn't hold my attention as well as I would have like. However, aside from all the things that I wasn't too happy about, I did enjoy this take on a young adult paranormal(ish) story. It was a good idea, but I think the author held back a little too much on it. In the words of Heidi Klum on Project Runway: "It's too safe."

Other Books By Author: Revealers, which I haven't read but came out after Uninvited. She also published another YA book called Devoured in 2009 which I do want to read, as well as a middle grade series, Magic Repair Shop, that's being published this year.

Source: Purchase

Review: The Van Alen Legacy, by Melissa De La Cruz

Title: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, Book 4)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Pages: 369
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion
Release Date: October 1, 2009

Genre: Young Adult
Keywords/Themes: angels, blood war, mythology, true love, vampires.

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

Additional Info: Never read the Blue Blood series? A little hesitant? Why not check out the first chapter of The Van Alen Legacy » here. «

My Review: Typically, when a new series comes out ... I tend to wait for more than one book to come out. This was an exception. I heard so many good things about it, I had to get the first as soon as it came out -- and I've been patiently waiting for each book after to be published. The Van Alen Legacy has proven to be definitely worth the wait.

Sometimes, when people mix different paranormal creatures - this case being fallen angels and vampires - I cringe. It was the opposite with these books, I actually love the mythology that de la Cruz created in her Blue Bloods world. It's absolutely delightful!

The secrets of Schuyler Van Alen and the other Blue Bloods of Manhattan are slowly but surely being revealed, as well as how Jack truly feels about Schuyler. I must say, Jack Force was starting to become a lost cause for me. I don't know why, I just didn't think he'd prove to be nothing other than what Mimi described him as. In the latest installment, he proves me wrong. If he was a real person, I'd humbly apologize to him.

The story is divided between three alternate points of view: Schuyler, Mimi Force, and Bliss Llewedlyn. Honestly, I know some people think that alternating the POV can get confusing ... but, I don't think Melissa could have told the story any other way because there's so much going on in the story, and it's not all happening in the same place. Plus, it adds to the drama to be able to read what Mimi's fighting with her new love interest, and how it feels for Bliss to be possessed.

New relationships are formed and destroyed, old relationships are rekindled and/or broken, bonds are being tested, angels are breaking codes, the world is going to Hell in a hand basket and it seems as though Schuyler and her family are the only ones that know how to keep that from happening.

The Van Alen Legacy ended on a very happy and promising resolution, and I hope that the happiness continues into the next. I'm extremely eager to find out what happens in the next installment!

Rating: - I rarely give out a five rating because I seem to find flaws in everything I read, no matter how incredible the story is. Can't do it with this one - it's simply too good to give it anything other than a perfect score.

Other Books By Author: Melissa de la Cruz has close to 40 published works including the Blue Bloods series, The Au Pairs series, The Ashleys, and many other works. To see a complete list of her works, please visit melissa-delacruz.com

Source: Gift

Review of the Series: Blue Bloods | Masquerade | Revelations | The Van Alen Legacy

Review: Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side, by Beth Fantaskey

Title: Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Pages: 384
Publisher: Harcourt
Release Date: February 01, 2009

Genre: Young Adult :: Paranormal Romance
Themes: love, arranged marriage, vampires, high school, feuding families

Synopsis: (From GoodReads) The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Additional Information: Read an excerpt of Chapter 1 here. AFTER you read the story, if you feel like reading more on Jessica and Lucius, then click here. You do NOT want to go to that link before you read the book, unless you want the story kind of spoiled. You've been warned. ;)


My Review: Jessica Packwood is waiting on the bus for school when she spots him - the mysterious stranger leaning up against a tree with a long, black coat on. The part that bothered her? He was staring at her. Avoiding contact with him by climbing into the school bus, Jessica heads for school with more questions about the stranger - like how he knew her name from her past that no one knew about. Her crazy encounters don't stop there. Suddenly, this guy is everywhere in her life - from being in her class, to talking to her mom, to being invited to her house for supper! How could things get any worse? Finding out that Lucius, the stranger, believes that she is a vampire princess and she has been decreed as his fiance since birth to save their rival clans from war. Oh, and he's a vampire too, obviously. Convinced that the guy is off of his rocker, Jessica goes out of her way to try to avoid him - only to have her own parents turn on her and make her be courteous to him, in and out of school. Throughout the story, Lucius tries to court Jessica, but finds it completely impossible - especially with a farmhand courting her as well and Jessica accepting his advances. Realizing that Jessica was not raised to handle her vampire life, Lucius begins to distance himself from Jessica - only to have Jessica start accepting her heritage. During this time, Lucius figures out some dark secrets of his own family and decides to break their contract of marriage in order to save Jessica's own life. However, he puts his own life in jeopardy. The ball is in Jessica's court - does she continue to live out her normal life, or does she embrace her fate ... even if there is a chance she has lost her vampire fiance?

This story ... was pretty awesome. There are so many cliches in this story ... yet their are also so many original twists to the story, it makes my head spin to keep up with the two. What I love about this story is that you can really see the character development happen right before your eyes with the two main characters, as well as a few others. Jessica actually develops feelings for Lucius over the course of the story, she doesn't just automatically fall in love with him as soon as she sees him or as soon as he shows chivalry. Lucius is hard at first, set on bringing Jessica back to marry her as part of his duty - but her ways charms him into actually feeling something for her. Both characters I find very endearing. The story is told from Jessica's point of view (in 1st person pov), but you get breaks and a peek in Lucius' mind through his letters to his uncle scattered throughout the book. The story was wrapped up really well and everything just seemed to flow seamlessly. My favorite part? Lucius' banter. He reminded me a lot of Stewie Griffin - and that's a very good thing!

Rating: - For the reasons above - especially Lucius and his dialogue - I have decided that this book is definitely worth five stars. I would read this book over and over because it's absolutely adorable. I mean, the whole self-sacrifice on both of the characters' parts was extremely gutsy and the story is completely believable - not everything is black and white, not everything is all peaches and cream. However, in the end, what needed to happen actually happened and it pulled together nicely. As far as I know, this is a stand alone story - but the world and story is so elaborate that more could be written about it.

Summary: This story is a wonderful paranormal romance with a back history attached to it. Anyone that loves witty vampires and true love and sacrifice with love this book.

Source of Book: Purchase.

Other Books By Author: Beth has another book coming out that is not related to this story called Jekel Loves Hyde.

Review: Evernight, by Claudia Gray

Title: Evernight (Book #1, Evernight series)
Author: Claudia Gray
Pages: 352
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 01, 2008

Genre: Young Adult
Themes: boarding school, forbidden love, paranormal, vampires

Synopsis: (From GoodReads) Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Additional Information: A sneak peek of the Evernight prologue can be read here.


My Review: The first chapter starts off with Bianca packing up a bag and planning to run away. Well, not so much run away ... but get away for a while to prove a point to her parents - she really doesn't want to attend Evernight. She's haunted by a dream that she has and that makes her literally start running from the school wants she sneaks out. During her run, she notices the figure of a man that starts running after her. Eventually, she is tackled and you are introduced to Lucas - who thought she was running from someone. They have a nice conversation and return back to school. From then until she meets him again, Bianca is pretty much obsessed with seeing Lucas again. She's the shy, quiet type that doesn't seem to know how to make friends, which makes her dependence on Lucas that much stronger. Bianca does eventually meet and make friends which includes Balthazar, who shows interest in Bianca. Bianca and Lucas eventually confess their feelings to one another, and then get in a fight on their first date away from Evernight. This leads into Balthazar taking Bianca to the Autumn Ball - where, for the first time, she feels like a part of the school. This leads into her thinking about Lucas and his unwillingness to fit it, which becomes too much for her and she asks to go outside with Balthazar. There, she tells him about her attraction to Lucas and Balthazar tells her they will remain friends. Enter Lucas, along with a twist that pretty much turns everything upside down for the reader. From here, I can't tell you much without some spoilers. However, I will say that you learn that Bianca fits more into the school than she admits, and her relationship with Lucas gets a lot more complicated as you continue to read on. Lucas also has a secret that is revealed later on that divides them even more. Well, for a little bit, anyways. ;)

I must say, I started reading this book with little hope because I wasn't all that impressed with the cover. Sure it's shiny and colorful, which is what attracted me to it, but after reading the book ... I honestly feel as though a cover like the one on Fallen might actually fit better. The prologue to the story doesn't give you a good start for the story, however it is an excerpt that is further along into the story - so it keeps you interested and wanting to read more. Your reading the story from Bianca's point of view, which is limited in some ways, but it's elaborate enough to let you know pretty much everything that is going on. The twist around chapter eight or so lets you know that Bianca knew something that wasn't told until then, but it did have that "OMG"-factor that made it worth it. The characters ... I loved them. They weren't too over-the-top, nor were they too vague. The only flaw I found was the whole neediness Bianca had for Lucas through about half of the book, but it did dwindle through the rest ... so, I'm chalking that one up to jitters of a new school. I also have a fond place in my heart for Balthazar, who is very mature and dependable throughout the whole book. The plot was decent and sets the series up well. The ending was very heart-warming and, again, set up for the next book. I don't think I can do this book justice with this review. I honestly can't believe that it's been out since 2008 and I have just now heard about it!

Rating: - In my heart of hearts, I have to give this book five stars. I know the book is cliche; yes it's another book about vampires and the forbidden teen love, yadda yadda yadda. The first 100 or so pages, while not really filled with any type of action and it's pretty predictable what type of school they're in, sets up the story well. Once the first big secret is out, you'll look back and think, "Why didn't I notice this?!" Maybe it should have been very obvious to me, but it wasn't ... and I absolutely love things that catch me off guard. After that, you have action, you get more background history, and you have a light read that keeps you reading until the very end. Ultimately, what made me give this book 5 stars is the one point in my rating system that was necessary for a 5 star book - after I was done, I immediately picked up my phone and sent my BFF a text to tell her she needs the book.

I told everyone from the beginning that I wasn't going to go into a book with comparisons to others, and hopefully I'm proving that with this first review. While I could have compared this to several books, I refuse to. It needs to be judged by what it is ... a book by a relatively new author that deserves a clean slate to start from.

Summary: This book is ultimately about a girl beginning a new school and finding that one true love that she knows she shouldn't love, but she cannot deny their attraction for one another. The story follows their struggles, along with revealing their true selves and what makes their love so forbidden.

Target Audience: People who love reading paranormal romances on a young adult level. If you like vampires and romance, you'll love this book.

Source of Book: This book was given to me as a Christmas gift.

Other Books By Author: Stargazer (Book #2 of Evernight series) is also available for purchase. As soon as I get through some other promised reviews, then I can promise that it will be added to my list as well. Claudia Gray also has a story in the Immortal: Love Stories With Bite and Vacations From Hell anthologies.