TGIF #14 - Spooktacular Reads

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!  In this weekly feature, Ginger poses a question to her followers and then asks everyone to link up at the end of the post, sharing their responses.

This Friday's Question:

Spooktacular Reads: Which books do you consider festive Halloween reads? Which stories have chilled you to the bone?

Hmmm...I don't read many ghost stories or scary stories period these days, but I read Anna Dressed in Blood earlier this year, and it actually, really, honestly gave me nightmares.  I don't think I've ever read a ghost story that truly gave me the chills...until Anna that is.  In real life, I totally believe in ghosts and the supernatural.  But when it comes to reading, it takes a lot to convince me a ghost is really scary.  So, I was very surprised when I read Anna...and I've been recommending it to everyone ever since, including you.  Check out my review if you don't believe me.

But before discovering Anna, I used to read Goosebumps and The Haunting of Cabin 13.  Yes, these are meant for a younger reader, but I loved them way back when, and I still get a kick out of them now. 

I'm not much for haunted houses and such these days...it's more about trick-or-treating with the kiddo and carving pumpkins now.  But I still love a good scary story.  Too bad they're so hard to come by, at least for me.  Got any you'd like to recommend?  I'm talking give-you-nightmares, sleep-with-the-lights-on, what-was-that-noise kind of scary.  Yeah, got any of those?

I do, however, have The Name of the Star up next on my TBR pile.  I've heard great things and can't wait to start it!

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Labels: anna dressed in blood, shades of london, spooky reads, tgif

Review: Crave by Melissa Darnell

Title:  Crave
Author:  Melissa Darnell
Series:  The Clann
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Publication Date:  October 25, 2011
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:


Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.


For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Review:

Alas, a book with not one but two paranormal elements I just can’t seem to get enough of. I’ll admit it. I was hooked on this book. There’s just something about witches and vampires that does that to me, no matter how much I fight it. But when a book is well-written and has great main AND secondary characters to boot, well, why fight it? And the best part? It’s set in TEXAS!!!
 
Savannah and Tristan’s stories, though told from alternating points of view, seem destined to remain intertwined, no matter how much they or their families try to stop it. Savannah is the scourge of the earth as far as The Clann is concerned, and Sav’s family is happy to remain ostracized if it means keeping Savannah safe from The Clann and others who would seek to harm her. But nothing is ever that simple.

Savannah is going through some serious changes, and people are starting to react differently to her. Boys suddenly seem entranced when in her presence, Tristan included. But Tristan’s feelings stem from something else. However, he made a promise to The Clann and his family, so he keeps his distance. And, naturally, soccer-playing hottie Greg swoops in and sweeps Savannah off her feet.

Tristan is the hawt boy we’re supposed to lust after, and he doesn’t disappoint. But I like that his character had some depth to him, as well. And although Savannah is naïve and pretty much resigns herself to being everyone’s doormat, she still surprised me by dating Greg. She gave him a shot, even though her heart really belonged to Tristan. How very un-Bella of her to take a chance at happiness with a normal, nice guy instead of waiting for Tristan to return her feelings. But promises be damned! What kind of story would this be if the star-crossed lovers didn’t stoke the embers of their burning love and risk both their lives in the process?

Awesome story? Check. Fabulous characters? Check. Forbidden romance? Check. Yep…this book has the makings for a great series, and it will leave you CRAVE-ing more. See what I did there? :D

I received a copy of this book for review from Netgalley.

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Labels: book trailers, reviews, the clann

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title:  Every Other Day
Author:  Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series:  n/a (yet!)
Publisher:  EgmontUSA
Publication Date:  December 27, 2011
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:

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.

Review:

I hadn’t read anything else by this author prior to reading Every Other Day, but I’ve been told that her Raised by Wolves series is definitely one to pick up. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book and will be adding all of her other works to my TBR list momentarily.

This story was far from predictable, and that’s one of the best compliments I can give a novel. I consider myself a pretty perceptive reader, and it’s usually pretty difficult to catch me off guard. But this story succeeds where many others have failed. The entire time I was reading, I kept wondering what was going to happen next, and I kept finding myself surprised.

The characters in this story were a lot of fun, too. Some of them are absolute mysteries and others ground the story and make it relatable. Kali is the protagonist you yearn for. She’s not whiny and pathetic and waiting for things to happen. In fact, she’s the complete opposite. Kali is in your face, taking charge and kicking butt…crazy, scary demon butt, but that’s even better, right? And then there’s Bethany, the cheerleader that Kali risks her own life for. She proves to be more than meets the eye, as well. But I can’t forget to mention Zev. He’s the biggest mystery of them all, and for most of the book, he’s just this detached voice in Kali’s head.

Every Other Day was everything I expected and more. It kept me entertained, and I found myself reading far past my bedtime just to see where Kali’s story would take me. There was no insane cliffhanger at the end, which I really appreciate, but the author left the story open-ended, so I’m very much hoping there will be a follow-up to this amazing story.

I received a copy of this book for review from Netgalley.

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Labels: reviews

Review: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Title:  If I Die
Author:  Rachel Vincent
Series:  Soul Screamers
Publisher:  Harlequin
Publication Date:  September 27, 2011
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:

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

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

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

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

Anything.

Review:

Hands down, this is my favorite book in the series. (So far.) Sometimes, I'm amazed at how an author can continue a storyline for more than a few books, but Rachel Vincent handles this fifth book with grace and ingenuity. The characters and the way she writes leave me hoping this series NEVER ends.

If the synopsis is to be believed, Kaylee's going to die. But rather than dwell on this, what does Kaylee do? Why, she makes it her mission to save the girls at school from the incubus who has secured himself a position as a new teacher at her school, of course. Kaylee isn't going to take this death-thing lying down, after all.

However, Kaylee doesn't always make the wisest decisions. She's got a bucket list, and Nash is on it. Things between Kaylee and Nash still haven't returned to the way they were before they encountered the demon breath in My Soul to Keep, but they're getting closer. Maybe too close? Insert one dead brother and one pi$$ed off, obsessed mara, and you've got yourself a catastrophe in the making.

I'm #TeamTod. I've said this before, I know. But his character really shines in this book. So much so that even if you didn't really like him before, you'll probably end up loving him when you've finished reading If I Die. Whereas Nash is focused on Kaylee's final days, Tod is struggling to find a way to save her. By the end of the book, I was kind of over Nash, especially after that last confrontation and knowing how easily he uses his addiction as a crutch.

Rachel Vincent has created an intensely unique world with her bean sidhes (banshees), reapers, maras, demons and let us not for get the incubi. Even more astounding is the mythology behind this world and how it makes her characters so distinctive to her story. This author's writing is fabulous, and I look forward to reading her other series (plural) very soon!

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Labels: reviews, soul screamers, tx authors

TGIF #13 - Book Blogs That Make You Smile

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!  In this weekly feature, Ginger poses a question to her followers and then asks everyone to link up at the end of the post, sharing their responses.

This Friday's Question:

Book Blogs That Make You Smile: Pick 5 book blogs you visit often & think others should, too.

Yay, this week's question is easy peasy!  Well, narrowing it down to just five isn't because there are a lot of blogs I frequent.  But here are my favorites:

1.  A Belle's Tales - Michele is my book soulmate.  I don't think I've ever met anyone who reads all the same books AND actually agrees with me on them.  Her blog is newish, but we've been friends for awhile, having discovered our mutual love of Four and all things Divergent earlier this year on Twitter.  Chele is a super-sweet Southern gal, and her blog could use some love.  I promise she'll love you right back.  :D

2.  Alice Marvels - This is the blog that started it all for me.  I used to just walk into the bookstore and hope something struck my fancy.  And then I saw a FB ad for this book blog, and my world was forever changed.  I blame Alice for my ridiculous TBR pile.  And for introducing me to so many great books and authors.

3.  The Mimosa Stimulus - Jenny's reviews are always spot-on.  She's always respectful and intelligent in her reviews, and I usually find that they make me anticipate reading a novel even more.  I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary novels, but her appraisal of these books has caused me to fall for the writing style of an author or two.

4.  Gone With the Words - Jess is a fellow audiobook lover.  Also, she has an awesome blog, and she reads the BEST books.  She's also great at interacting with her readership.  Jess's reviews are funny and entertaining, and she freely admits that her love of reading was re-ignited by Twilight.





5.  Cari's Book Blog - Cari's blog is not one of my favorites just because I won a boat-load of ARCs from her recently, thought that part is true.  Cari is a fellow Texas gal like myself, and she's been super friendly from the get-go.  Her blog is gorgeous and makes me jealous every time I see it, which is pretty much daily.  :0)  Oh, yeah...and she provides GREAT reviews.  And if you didn't pick up on it earlier, she has the most AWESOME giveaways!



I <3 all these ladies and their blogs from the very bottom of my lil blogger ♥.

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Labels: book bloggers, tgif