Review: Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Ripple

Author: Mandy Hubbard
Pages:260
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Release Date: July  21st 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed from the library

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. The water calls to her, draws her in, forces her to sing her deadly song to unsuspecting victims. If she succumbs, she kills. If she doesn't, the pain is unbearable. To keep herself and those she cares about safe, she shuts herself off, refusing to make friends or fall in love-again. Because the last time she fell in love with a boy, he ended up dead. 
Then Lexi finds herself torn. Against her better judgement, she's opening up agian, falling in love with someone new when she knows she shouldn't. But when she's offered the chance to finally live a normal life, she learns that the price she must pay to be free or her curse is giving him up.

My Take:
Ever wonder what would happen if your family was cursed, for Lexi life for the last two years hasn't been easy. Every night Lexi must swim in order for the pain to go away every time she skips a day the next day just hurts more. This is whole curse thing happened when she turned 16 and since than she has had to find a way to swim. Lexi is a siren and in order to prevent herself from killing she must venture off and secure herself so that no one dies... again.

On her 16th birthday she had lead a boy who she was in love with into the ocean by the time she knew what she was doing she pulled him out of the ocean and tried to save him. After that day she has put herself as an outcast, she lost all communication with her click and tries to avoid at all costs getting close to someone again. Its now her senior year and with school just starting, Lexi can't help but wonder what life would be like if she was normal. When she starts opening up again and letting down all her defenses she allows to re-join her click and even open up to someone who was always there. Cole is an amazing friend who tries to get Lexi to open up more, and soon she lets him in. But with the threat of the ocean so close and the threat of killing again Lexi knows to keep her distance. Its not until she is offered an escape that she lets in a stranger who tells her the one thing she wishes to be and that is normal. If she is to fall in love than her curse will be lifted but he has to love her as well in order for the curse to lifted. Can love really conquer all or is Lexi in way over her head and should just stay away from any contact.

This was an a good story, I enjoyed the fact that Lexi was able to let someone else in. Love is the biggest emotion that we all take for granted and when she is offered a chance to fall she allows herself. Even though she is terrified she still is up there trying. I can't help but fall for Cole he was so precious, I can just see his smile and even though he was known to be a player he gave it up for Lexi. If thats not romantic than what is. Cole made me feel for him when he was hurting and made me smile when he was happy. Ripple pulled me in as if the ocean was there, the words on the pages were the song and I was lured into the story and it was amazing, it allowed me to feel triumphant when Lexi was up and it made me cry, I found myself having to stop reading because of the emotions I felt when reading Ripple. Mandy wrote a beautiful story she gave us all hope and of corse told us that love can be the ultimate sacrifice you just have to believe.

4/5- it moved me!!!!!!!!

Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Hunting Lila (Lila #1)

Author: Sarah Alderson
Pages:320
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Release Date: August  5th 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Alibris

Source: Borrowed

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them…

My Take:

Because of the death of her mother Lila as lived in London with her dad for 5 years, and every day she help but wonder what her brother Jack is doing and what is Alex doing, her brothers best friend and who she has a secret crush on since she can remember. Living with her father is lonely especially when he is off half the time, so when a burglary happens its the last straw for Lila, and so she goes to the one place she wants to be at alongside Alex and her brother. When she finally gets settled in she wonders what her brother is doing and where he works at. But when Jack starts asking the wrong questions Lila just stops, with Alex their everything is perfect because just being in the same room as him makes her heart jump even faster. Getting to know Alex again is awesome but when Lila wants to venture out on her own her brother immediately wants to ship her back faster than she can say no.

While at the base she sees that army life isn't so bad but when the threat starts to come after Lila, she immediately wants answers fast and what she gets isn't all rainbows and such its the last thing she saw coming. With the threat finally there Alex grabs ahold of Lila and takes off without any warning and the two venture north to try and put space between them, the unit and the threat. Because one of Lila's secrets is she can moves things and the main thing the unit wants are people like her so that they can understand them and than discard them. With time running and her life in jeopardy, Lila must trust the unit or trust the people who are just like her.

I fell for Alex just like Lila did, everything that boy said swoon worthy because he said it with determination. I was amazed how this felt like watching a movie the scenes would play out and immediately I saw the characters play it out. I even casted my own Alex which you guys will see soon if you want to that is. Lila is a cool character and reading about her felt so real, she was getting so much information and with everything I surprise she didn't just stop. Nope she kept on going I loved that about her she was strong and she didn't want to stop going. She was determined to find out the truth even if that truth even had me gasping. I guessed along the way what could happen but wow omg that ending took me by surprise. This was Abduction meets X-man: First Class, because of the things that went down I can so see this as a movie. I loved every part of it and I am so looking forward to the 2nd one out in August. This was an amazing read and I am so happy to have been able to get my hands on it because it totally made me look at moving things with the mind a whole lot more and wished that I could move things. Plus with Alex it was just an assentive enough to keep me reading past midnight.

5/5 STARS because it was that good!!!!!!!!!

Review: Invincible by Sherrliyn Kenyon

Invincible (Chronicles of Nick)

Author: Sherrliyn Kenyon
Pages:420
Publisher: St. Martin Griffin
Release Date: March 22nd 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed

Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse... 
Nick Gautier’s day just keeps getting better and better. Yeah, he survived the zombie attacks, only to wake up and find himself enslaved to a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul. 
His new principal thinks he’s even more of a hoodlum than the last one, his coach is trying to recruit him to things he can’t even mention and the girl he’s not seeing, but is, has secrets that terrify him. 
But more than that, he’s being groomed by the darkest of powers and if he doesn’t learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them...

My Take:

What the worst that can happen after you take down some zombies that tried to make you their next meal, easy you prey for your life. For Nick getting used to his powers is hard, he doesn't know who to trust and when the most popular girl at school is now noticing him it throws him. Why would Nick get all this attention today and not the day before, simple he is now on the football team. With his being fired from her job and Nick getting a handle on being noticed its a lot to take in especially when his mom's new place has all kinds of weird patrons working there as well. With his ability he is able to see past the human shell and see what the person is. Nothing is scarier than finding out your boss also has powers and fangs right? Wrong!!!! This is just one week in Nick's shoes and already his life is getting more and more complicated especially when his coach starts blackmailing him as well. Going never felt so dreadful and with the threat of being suspended or worse sent to jail, Nick must master his powers and get a hold on what his life is because when the pushing gets tough who do you trust to help you push right back.

Being inside young Nick's head was awesome because reading all of those Dark-Hunter novels pretty much told me Nick's young life wasn't at all easy. So with the threat of the school and his team mates Nick does what he knows best he tries to save the day. Even though everyone thinks he could end the world nobody thinks that with time and some control Nick can come out and be the savior of the world and not the destroyer. I have my fate in him, I fell like I on this roller coaster ride with him and since I believe in him the ending result won't be the one ending everyone thinks is coming. Plus the 3rd book comes out soon and with 2012 just starting who knows what can happen in either universe.

5/5 stars 

Review: Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Witch Eyes

Author: Scott Tracey
Pages:332
Publisher: Flux
Release Date: September 8th 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain. 
After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son. 
To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

My Take:

What if the life you were living was a lie and the one person you trusted the most ends up being the one to start that lie. For Braden life wasn't always easy, being home schooled can do that to someone. Even though he had these special eyes didn't mean he never wished to attend a normal and school and have a normal life. Being a witch is one thing but being the one thing everyone wants is another. When Braden sees a possible future in which threatens the likelihood of his uncle he does the one thing he never thought he would do, he left and took off to the place that was calling him.

When he finally arrives at Belle Dam he can't help but wonder why there were so many strangers warning him about the people there. He mets up with Trey the moment he gets there and its like the guy is following him, he is every where Braden is. Even though Braden likes the attention he has these feelings for the guy one minute he wants to gut him the next he wants to kiss him. With Trey's help he is able to uncover the past that will help him understand his destiny.

I enjoyed this one because it kept me smiling, and left me wanting more. I loved how even though he was a stranger there were those willing to help him out, Jade was a cool character that intrigued me the moment Braden saw her. Also thought the whole town feud was a bit much but hey a what's Romeo and Juliet story without some hate from the both families. I really enjoyed the fact that Braden was able to interact with his dad and even though he knows nothing about him he still is learning to accept him. This was really amazing and it didn't bother me at all, love is love in any shape or form.

5/5 stars

Review: Linger by Kodilynn Calhoun

Linger

Author: Kodilynn Calhoun 
Pages:18
Publisher: SmashWords
Release Date: October 29th 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Purchased 

When a Taker takes her best friend’s soul, 16-year-old Evee refuses to let Jaeger become just another Void. She wants to help him, but she has no idea how. After an accident gives her a concussion, she starts hearing voices in her head-–well, one voice, loud, clear, and overly peppy and it belongs to Jaeger’s little sister. And Mercy has a plan to get his soul back, once and for all...as long as they can outwit the Taker hunting them first.

My Take:

This was a quick short story, Evee has to figure out how to save her friend's life, Jaeger's soul was taken by a Taker, which is a fay type of being that takes what they want when they want. Evee only has a short window of opportunity to get his soul back from the Taker. When she gets into an accident Evee also gets a little voice inside her head and the voice belongs to Jaeger's sister Mercy, and with her help Evee knows which Taker to get too. But because of Mercy inside she is a walking beckon for the Taker to know where Evee will be. With some help from Jaeger she has to not only get his soul back but also find away to help his little sister as well. With time winding down and Jaeger getting weaker Evee will stop at nothing to help get her best friend back to her in one piece.


I liked this a lot because it was so short I wanted more but felt that it ended like a prequel. I hope the story isn't over because it was that exciting. So check it out if your interested in a quick and fact read. This will blow your mind and wish for more along the way.

5/5 stars

Review: Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Gifted #1)

Author: Marilyn Kaye
Pages:222
Publisher: Kingfisher Books Ltd
Release Date: February 2nd 2009
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed

Thirteen year old Queen-of-mean Amanda Beeson, wakes up one morning in the wrong body. She's become lonely, unfashionable Tracey Devon - one of Amanda's targets for bullying. Amanda discovers that Tracey, ignored at home and at school, has the ability to turn invisible. Amanda sets out to rescue her one-time victim from obscurity - as well as rescuing herself from Tracey's life!

My Take:

Ever wonder if you can see what the other person is seeing, well for Amanda that is no walk in park. She is gifted and with the gift she has know idea how to prevent all she knows is that when she feels sorry for people she sees what they see. It can highly annoying because Amanda never shows her vulnerable side, always showing off her new things and always picking on Tracey who takes all of it. But when Amanda by accident feels sorry for Tracey well the next day Amanda isn't Amanda anymore, she is Tracey. Amanda wants out but how do you come out of someone when you don't even understand the gift in the first place.

Everyday night she hopes to wake up as Amanda and every morning she is Tracey, so pretending to be someone who everyone picks on is kinda hard even when the taunts are coming from herself. Being picked on by yourself has to be tough what Amanda doesn't get is that any word can be hurtful. The one thing Amanda must do is try to figure out a way out and since she has control over Tracey body why not change Tracey. Living in a house with parents who all but forgotten Tracey is tough but when she volunteers to babysit she is finally getting Tracey some recognition in her house and at school.

What Amanda never realized was that the school had a special class set up for the gifted. It taught the kids to not use their gift in front of people and not to warn those when the person is in danger. Because if it ever got out that the kids have powers well any one person can try and manipulate the situation and try using those powers themselves. I really enjoyed this because it allowed a person who did the bullying to see her damage and also allowed Amanda to get to know Tracey even though she wasn't there she knew some part of Tracey knew what was happening. So with powers like these why not start a click or something right.

5/5 stars

Review: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Retribution (Dark-Hunter #20)

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon 
Pages:420
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: August 22nd 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.  Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief—Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster…Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

My Take:

Like any other Dark-Hunter book we got another threat which was interesting in this one. Ever imagine someone really linked to someone through all their lives, well in this one we have a cowboy, William Jessup Brody, the legend has it that he kills with pleasure, never holding back anything. Because of his actions he got himself shot in the back by his best friend because of greed, brought back for vengeance he swore to bring down the one to kill him. He now has an oath to protect humans from what goes on in the night. Abigail is hellbent o killing the one who destroyed her life, Jessup Brady. She has gained the knowledge of who this man is and has another weapon at her disposal. With 2 dark-hunter kills behind her she knows she can finally put to rest her oath to her parents and finally kill the man responsible for making her orphaned. Living alongside Apollites she knows that Dark-hunters are evil and will destroy any human it can get, she has to protect her people from any threat its just a bonus that Jessup is a Dark-hunter.

It was kinda funny seeing Abigail's reasons for wanting to kill Jess, because as a fan of the series I know what she thinks is all bull she was raised by the ones who do the killings and takings of innocents. So when she has a chance to finally kill Jess she ends up being knocked out and Jess takes her to his house. Jess couldn't believe his eyes he thought after that one night she was dead but there she was and blaming him for her parents deaths, he knew she had it wrong if only he can get through her stubbornness. I fell in love with the idea of always finding that one person who is forever linked to you. The fighting was action packed and of course the love story was beautiful.

I also loved this ending it wasn't like the others at all and it actually brought a smile to my face. I also loved the added extra at the end with Ash, he is by far the sexiest Dark-Hunter of all and Simi was also present. For any fans or first timers this was an amazing read so looking forward to the next one out in August.

5/5 stars

Review: Cat Calls by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Cat Calls

Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Pages:18
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: December 22nd 2010
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Purchased 

Tiffany's grandma sees something wild in her future -- but is Tiffany prepared for the powerful shape it will take? CAT CALLS is a short story by New York Times Bestseller Cynthia Leitich Smith -- set in the same dark universe as her novels Tantalize, Eternal, and Blessed.

My Take:

 Another short story totally worth the DL it had me wondering about Tiffany and why her grandmother said she was ready. Tiffany has a gift she can see basically feel when someone is okay or while doing readings can pick up names that are related to the person being read. She doesn't think she has the gift and she has no clue as to why her grandmother thinks she can do the readings. Tiffany was shipped off to stay with her grandmother because her mother had called it quality time but to Tiffany it was so that the boys wouldn't come around all summer.

This was actually a nice short story she has no clue who she is and so spending time with her grandmother may help her discover who she really is. I enjoyed the fact that she is a little sceptic but when she knows what to say to help out she discovers that reading cards isn't all quite like she had hoped it would be.

Its worth the free download and if your in for another secret than by the end the surprise is the one thing to have up all night thinking if she is ready for her her future.

5/5 stars

Review: Haunted Love by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Haunted Love

Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Pages:18
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: December 13th 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Purchased 

Spirit, Texas, is a town of secrets, and as the new owner of the local haunted movie theater, Cody Stryker is juggling more than his fair share. When a mysterious new girl comes to town and runs afoul of the ghost that lives in his theater, Cody's caught in the middle and needs to figure out exactly who he can trust. HAUNTED LOVE is a short story by New York Times Bestseller Cynthia Leitich Smith -- set in the same dark universe as her novels TANTALIZE, ETERNAL, and BLESSED. This story includes a sneak preview of Cynthia Leitich Smith's latest novel, DIABOLICAL, which unites characters from the previous three novels in the Tantalize Series along with a fascinating cast of all-new characters for a suspenseful, action-packed clash between the forces of heaven and hell.

My Take:

This is what I needed, even though I wanted more from this I knew it ended well. Its a short story about a young man trying to reopen a movie theater that he was able to purchase, its his fresh start and even though its a small town he knows his past is behind him. But when things don't add up and the new girl he hired is being threatened he either has to choose to leave the theater opened or leave it closed. 

What I loved about this was that I didn't expect Cody to be what he is and of course the rest had me awing the whole time. I am in love with this little gift of heaven and I can't wait to see and hope for more from Cynthia because when an author can write such a lovely short story her big ones always shine the brightest.

This was a total score and if you want some awe dropping moments as well than click and download the free short story and you won't be sorry you did.

5/5 stars

Review: The Demon In Me by Michelle Rowen

The Demon In Me (Living in Eden #1)

Author: Michelle Rowen
Pages:326
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 4th 2010
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Borrowed 

After her hunky police detective partner guns down a serial killer in front of her, "psychic consultant" Eden Riley realizes that she's no longer alone. A voice in her head introduces himself as Darrak. He's a demon. But not in a bad way. He was cursed 300 years ago and he wants to find a way to break free. Eden's psychic energy helps him take form during daylight, and she's going to have to learn to live with this sexy demon...like it or not.

My Take:


When you can sense things others around you can't why not use that gift for something good. Eden did just that she worked at a place that allowed to sense when things would come or what that person wanted to hear. She was a psychic who didn't believe in what she practiced. When she finally is able to help the police she is told to see if she can find a killer and she does just that she sensed him near and boom he appeared. It wasn't until than that she was grateful for peace and quite. Because one thing to another and boom goes the dynamite she was possessed by a demon. Because of her keen sense the demon is able to take on a human face and be able to be outside of her during the day, at night he goes back inside her head, yup not cool for Eden at least. Darrak is hot but for Eden he is just a thing that is only making her job alot harder. Think about it during the night you see a person arguing you think they are talking on a phone well Eden didn't think about what she may look to others and goes on yelling or even threatening Darrak who is well hilarious and only looking out for her best interests. Its not till it comes time to take Darrak out that Eden realizes how life was different without Darrak but also it was more thrilling with him there. Plus because of her demonic possession she is now the go to girl for paranormal beings and when business is not so blooming every client coming is great for business. 


I loved the back and forth between Eden and Darrak plus his description is still embedded in my mined and the things he says wow if I can jump into a book I would just so I can be possessed by Darrak. What I enjoyed also was that even though Eden couldn't wait for him to leave she was also relying on him being there for her and also protecting her back when she was well distracted. What was interesting that totally through me though was the ending because I wasn't expecting that at all and if you want to know you need to get your hands on this book it will change you it did me. I love Darrak, if only he can manifest now onto the next one yay!!!!

5/5 stars