Review: Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Vesper (Deviants #1)

Author: Jeff Sampson
Pages:304
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Release Date: January 25th 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.


The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?


As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

My Take:

Imagine your life where during the day your normal but at night after 8 you change. After a classmate is shot down, Emily gets a phone call propelling her thoughts to the call at hand. After getting off of the window ledge Emily only thinks what was I about to do? Everyday after that she goes through changes at night, wanting to party and not really being the normal wanting to stay at home Emily. Its not until night time Emily puts it together with Day time Emily, kids are being targeted.

While reading I got the sense that something wasn't quite right. Who is Emily Webb and how can she change just like that. Getting well into the book I got my answer and oh boy was I wrong who knew this new way of describing becoming something more and the fact that a company could have been behind it. I wanted more but realizing that the story wasn't over was a relief. Because even though at the beginning you know Emily is in custody and saying her whole story you get the sense that the person addressing her isn't someone from the normal Fed. I hope to find more answers to the questions I already have and to get more along the way.

So if your in for a little mystery than Vesper is for you, plus its the type of book to have you gasping and saying 'She did what?' It was an enjoyable read that left wanting the next one asap.


5/5 Stars

Cover Lover!!!!

Comes out on January 24th 2012

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

The Pledge
Author: Kimberly Derting
Pages:320
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: November 15th 2011
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. 

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

My Take:

Charlie is a girl with a gift and doesn't understand how she knows every language out there, even ones she has never even heard before. No one has ever suspected that Charlie can understand until she slips up and acknowledges the person that is above her status a second longer than necessary. She is not only putting her life in danger her parents and sister know what she can do also and try as they might to hide her from the one person looking for her.... the queen. With the threat of an attack at any given time, Charlie knows and understands that lowering herself will prevent others in knowing her little secret. The queen on the other hand is searching every where because with every breath she takes can be her last, so she must find the girl she knows is out there.

When Charlie goes out dancing with her best friend Brooke, she meets a mysterious guy who talks in a weird and alluring language, which she never once heard before and yet understands every word uttered. One second to late the guy is intrigued and goes off tries to get to know Charlie a little bit better.

What I loved about this was the fact of the language barrier, I speak spanish myself and I love accents, so when I first heard about this I knew the concept would not only win my self interest but also leave with wanting and a need that only this story can give me. Kimberly delivers a 100% with this one because of the way I was able to see myself with Charlie telling her when she should look down and also when she would see Max. Don't get me started on how much he is every bit wonderful. Knowing that a threat can come about at any minute there were only a few things that had me gasping and of course being overjoyed that Charlie was every bit connected to Max. So if your looking for something with a romance and a little mystery than get your hands on this because this wont disappoint you at all I guarantee it.


5/5 Stars

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every Other Day
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Pages:352
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: December 27th 2011
Author Website
Available for Pre-Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.
And then every day in between . . . She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive...and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.  

My Take:

In Every Other Day, Kali is walking around trying to find the things that go bump in the night and than she kills it. She is not your typical teenager she has a secret and part of that secret is that every other day she is normal and the days she isn't she is a bit more than human. The want/need to kill is inside her and she is able to sense when the bad things show up, she feels its her duty to take out those things because that is who she is. Everything seemed to be okay until she finds a symbol on a classmate, but the day she sees it is when she is normal, even though she knows what danger she can get into by showing who or what she is. But with the life of an innocent put in danger Kali can not do anything, she has to try at least right.

Along the way we are introduced to others who try and see why Kali would put her own life in danger to save someone she only just met. With the clock ticking down, Kali needs to stay alive as a normal human can she survive or will evil prevail.

Jennifer gave me a new perspective on what kind of things go bump in the night and when you realize what is inside Kali its hard to go back to thinking that the paranormal can ever be normal again. Follow Kali as she unlocks the truth to the questions she didn't even know she needed to ask.


5/5 Stars

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Pages:401
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: October 18th 2011
Author Website
Available: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. 
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. 
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

My Take:

From the moment you pick this up you get this feeling like the journey has finally begun. Sean Kendrick has won 4 races prior to this race and Puck Connolly has never even raced. It wasn't about racing for these two it was about the journey that it took to get to the race. I loved being able to have booth view points because Sean is so different than Puck. Understanding these two was the best journey that I've ever taken.

Riding on a capall uisce is a journey itself, with talent to win its no doubt that last years champion shouldn't win. Never in any year has their been a girl to participate in a race that usually is the death of some of the racers. Puck knows what she faces and understands why she is racing if only men can be smarter and understand that not all would join freely.

While on this journey I've gained some insight on true bravery and also the meaning of any kind of racing. If the heart is in it than the rest will follow.This is the first horse story I've ever read and this legend is the stuff usually whispered around camp fires and it gave me that in order for a journey to take place you have to put in the effort to get their. Many thanks the author for this brilliant masterpiece and also for giving us the best bedtime story about the water horses.


5/5 stars

Review: Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning

Rock Hard (Sinners on Tour #2)
Author: Olivia Cunning
Pages:448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: April 1st 2011
Author Website
Available: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

 An ultimatum can break your heart....

Every night lead singer, Sed Lionheart whips thousands of women into a frenzy with his voice alone. But the stage is the only place Sed feels any passion since he lost Jessica...

If you’re not willing to break all the rules...

It shattered her heart, but law student Jessica broke off her engagement to Sed, determined to be successful on her own terms. But no other man can ever hold a candle to Sed...

Then a chance meeting and tortuously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they’re in danger of truly scandalous public exposure...

My Take:

When the guy your in love with tells you not to follow your dreams you do what some women do you pursue that dream. Jessica fell for Sed 2 years ago he can be sexy, kind, and he takes care of the people he loves. With time and distance Jessica seemed to be well living her dreams as a lawyer, and Sed well he was living his being the lead singer of Sinners. Until of course their paths crossed each other, because Jessica needed to make some cash she decides to work in Los Vegas and strips. Well Sed finds her and he just goes ballistic and grabbing whats his. One thing leads to another and well Jessica decides to go on tour with the band and Sed is so happy. I liked the fat that Sed opened up, you got to see his side of things and even you didn't understand why Jessica left after reading you understand but also you look at the way Sed saw things and realize he was only being caring in his weird way of showing it. Some ending I so can't wait to see what happens with the band members in the next book, because knowing these guys that bet had to have been huge.



 5/5 Stars

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages:421
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: August 23rd 2011
Author Website
Available: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

My Take:

May contain Spoilers-

The last we saw Sydney she was on her way home after what had happened at Moroi court, she helped Rose Hathaway and what did she get for it not a welcome home party thats for sure.  When your woken up in the middle of the night by your father you know something is up. It seems that because she ha helped a fugitive their was debate of whether to allow Sydney back in or send her to be reformed. The next thing Sydney knows is she is sent off to Palm Springs, California and attending a private school all because she told everyone she could handle it. Watching a princess shouldn't be hard especially if she comes with a body guard who is well capable of taking care of the fighting side of things. Along with the journey of course we see others from the Vampire Academy series and meet more characters, Adrian is by the far the one guy I've had my eyes since well forever and with his heart broken lets just say he tells it like it is no filter. With everything that was happening it seemed that Sydney had alot of things going on at once it was crazy to think that her job could ever get easier but she handled herself even when we the reader found out what her deal with Abe didn't see that coming at all Richelle opened our eyes to warriors who fought to protect a vampire race, with this we get a humans perspective and also get to be inside someone who has no link to someone else its just her and her thoughts. This journey is not over its has just begun and the next one should also be a non-stop thrill ride.

5/5 Stars

Next in the series:

Out June 19th 2012

Review: Torn by Erica O'Rourke

Torn
Author: Erica O'Rouke
Pages:336
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: June 28th 2011
Author Website | Blog
Available: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Everyone has secrets.
Even best friends.
Swirling black descends like ravens, large enough to block the glow of the streetlights. A dull roar starts like a train on the 'L', a far-away rumbling that grows louder as it pulls closer, until it's directly overhead and you feel it in your chest, except this doesn't pass you by. Verity, white-faced and eyes blazing, shouts through the din, "Run, Mo!"
Mo Fitzgerald knows about secrets. But when she witnesses her best friend's murder, she discovers Verity was hiding things she never could have guessed. To find the answers she needs and the vengeance she craves, Mo—quiet, ordinary, unmagical Mo—will have to enter a world of raw magic and shifting alliances. And she'll have to choose between two very different, equally dangerous guys—protective, duty-bound Colin and brash, mysterious Luc. One wants to save her, one wants to claim her. Which would you choose? 

My Take:
Torn in my opinion was the BOMB!!! I loved everything about it. Its about a girl named Mo who gets thrown into the world of magic. When she lost her best friend(Verity)  things start to change in her world of normal. Along the way she meets Luc who is dark and mysterious and introduces her to the world of the Arcs who have magic. She also meets someone who she would rather not be there but is, Colin is her bodyguard and was hired to protect Mo. With the cops after Verity's killer Mo wants answers but ends up getting more than she wanted. Who Mo ends up with is still up in the air even though I think I know who it is. Erica gave us all a piece of the beautiful cake that is the world of the Arks and hopefully us Flats will get more insight and more of the steaming romance that has brewed since Mo met... I love it when a book is so good and keeps you wanting more, Torn is leaving me wanting way more than I thought possible. I was speechless after that last page and I really didn't want to stop reading. So looking forward to Tangled.

5/5 Stars   

The Beautiful Cover for Book 2

Out January 31st!!!!!

Review: Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Fury
Author: Elizabeth Miles
Pages:352
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: August 30th 2011
Author Website | TheFurySeries.com
Available: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.

My Take:

Fury starts off with a girl Em who is one of the nice girls at school, and changes perspective to Chase who is the star quarterback who makes sure everything on him is perfect. Em has a major crush on Zach, but its a problem because Gabby-Em's best friend- is dating Zach. Where Chase meets the hottest girl ever, who messes with him he still finds it in his heart to forgive her. You meet Ali, Meg and Ty as the three cousins once in town many things start to happen. The Furies in Greek mythology is to bring havoc to those that have done wrong. So when Gabby is gone all Em can think of is how to spend time with Zach and Chase just can't seem to get that special girl out of his head. Just remember what goes around comes back around. Em and Chase need to realize that sorry is not enough. I'm looking forward to Envy and Eternity so excited. Everyone should think before you act because the furies could be after you.

 4/5 Stars

My Book Boyfriend (1): Ethan Lawson Wate

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. What is My Book Boyfriend you might ask.  Well it is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out the My Book Boyfriend Introduction Page over at Missie's blog The Unread Reader.

So for my book boyfriend I decided to go with someone who knew he wanted her the moment he saw her in his dreams.  Ethan Lawson Wate from Beautiful Creatures caught my attention when he had a dream about a girl.

Stats:

Hometown: Gatlin, South Carolina
Hair color: Shaggy brown hair
Interests: Basketball, eating Amma's pie & reading the books hidden under my bed (Catcher in the Rye, Heart of Darkness, Snow Crash, Ender's Game, Slaughterhouse-Five)
Goal in life: Escape from Gatlin.

"I was lost before I found her in my dreams, and she found me that day in the rain. I knew it seemed like I was always the one trying to save Lena, but the truth was she had saved me, and I wasn't ready for her to stop now."

"I never loved you any more than I do, right this second. And I'll never love you any less than I do, right this second."

"She looked up at me, and the whole world disappeared. Like there was just us, like there would always be just us, and we didn't need magic for that. It was sort of happy and sad, all at the same time. I couldn't be around her without feeling things, without feeling everything." 

From the moment I picked up Beautiful Creatures and met Ethan I knew I would adore him. The guy I see him as is Dylan O'brien who plays Stiles on Teen Wolf. For more info on Ethan check out his facebook page or castergirls.com. Dylan is so HOT I had to show you how HOT I think he is.