Killer Frost - Jennifer Estep

Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

So I was so positive that there were going to be a dozen more Mythos Academy books.
And I was totally wrong.
Killer Frost is the last one.
But it ended well.
I'm not upset with Jennifer at all.
Sometimes I get very mad at authors for the way they finish books or series'.

Short synopsis:
After returning from another Mythos Academy campus, Gwen's group of friends knows the Reapers aren't just going to lay down and retreat.
Gwen spends the following weeks trying to continue to fulfill the mission that Nike gave her.
Collect certain artifacts that will help aid her and her friends final defeat of Loki.
Gwen's grandmother gets stuck in the middle of a new battle, and after a minor success they know that the final battle is nearing.
The spend only a day preparing the campus for the final battle.
Loki's army is stronger in numbers than Nike and Gwen's but finally Gwen realizes what she has to do to finally kill Loki once and for all.


I am sad that this series is over, but it only means there is now space in my brain for a new series!!

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Jennifer Estep - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Midnight Frost - Jennifer Estep

Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

I started reading the Mythos Academy a few years ago when the first book came out.
I fell in love with Gewn's gypsy gift and the premise of the stories.
Set in an almost current time when normal people have no idea that mythological creatures and powers are real and in practice currently.
Gwen has the gift of psychometry,  when she touches something or someone she gets flashes.
The flashes can be of where the object has been, who has touched it, the feeling or intentions of those people.
When she touches people she can see everything about them, past, present, feelings, intentions, ideas.
She tries not to touch people very often as she feels it is a breach of trust.
In previous books you meet Loki, the bad guy of the mythological world.
Gwen finds herself in charge of getting rid of him.
In each of these books, Loki has his minions - Reapers, try to do away with Gwen.

Short synopsis:
After the last debacle with Reapers, Gwen is just trying to take it easy.
This proves hard for her, as her boyfriend has made himself scarce.
A new Reaper attack leave a close friend on the edge of death.
Gwen and her friends must travel across the country to another Mythos Academy campus to retrieve a necessary plant to save their friend.
While on their mission they of course encounter more Reapers.

Each of these books is a step towards the defeat of Loki and I look forward to reading them through that major event.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Jennifer Estep - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi **Spoiler Alert**

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

I normally would never write anything that spoils a book, but this one series just blows me away.
I can't even figure out where to start.
These books would probably make my permanent shelf.
And if you read my Kindle vs. Printed book post you'll know that really doesn't happen.
(I am a huge supporter of the public library.)

Let me start with:

I without a doubt, no holds barred, hated Warren.
I couldn't figure out how Juliette missed shooting him in the chest when she had a chance.
Generally I fall in love with the characters first love right along side them.
I was Team Adam all day every day.
When she started loosing her head around Warren all I could say was 'get it together Juliette'.
I was having a legitimate hard time dealing with the secrets she was hiding.

Destroy Me, the novella from Warren's point of view did nothing for me.
I felt obligated to read it and couldn't wait to finish it.
I felt like it made my phone dirty. Blechh.
It didn't change my opinion of him for me,.

On Tahereh's website she has a FAQ page and one of them was I really like Warren, am I a bad person?
And while she says no, and obviously she knows best.
I knew I could never be real life friends with someone who liked Warren.
That's how strongly I felt about him.

And I guess you've noticed it's all in past tense.
I might not quite be in love with Warren now.
I have revised my opinion of him.
I am quite in love with Juliette's love of him.
Each of the books and mainly this one shed an enormous amount of light on why Warren is Warren.
I didn't think much of it was worthy of forgiveness, but Ignite Me was quite different.

I don't think I'm going to do a synopsis of this book.
I just want to talk about it. If I had a journal, this post is what I would have written about Ignite Me.

Juliette's 'adventure' with Warren starts in the beginning of course, but escalates in Unravel Me.
FiftyDirty-Two from Unravel Me is what I keep finding on the internet, in reference to the scene where her pants disappear.
I think it should be FiftyDirty-Five from Ignite Me.
There were a number of other things that changed my mind, but her discovery of her power to turn her gift off and her subsequent automatic realization that she could have anyone she wanted really affected me.
I had realized long before she did, that she may have been staying with Adam by 'default' as she puts it.
I wanted her to be happy and Warren's uncontrolled love and adoration of her was okay with me once she discovered she didn't have to be with him.
That chapter changed me. One line in particular.

"Seconds are merging into minutes and hearts are collapsing and hands are grasping and I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore, I don't know anything because nothing will ever be able to compare to this." Ignite Me, Tahereh Mafi p.318

The complete unbridled emotion that pours out of her when she's with Warren is so different from how she was with Adam, and I knew after that scene that Warren was okay.

I am unhappy that there aren't any more books.
Her complete empowerment, and decision to lead blew my mind.
I would love to know how she handles the rest of Anderson's henchmen.
How they replenish Earth's depleted resources.
If Adam and Alia fall in love.

This is a gigantic post and I know I didn't even express the entirety of the way this book made makes me feel.
Still. Three days later, I've just been basking in all of it's glory.
Rereading that chapter over and over.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Tahereh Mafi - author website

Read A-likes:

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth

Read on.
Jessica.

Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Can we talk about Tahereh Mafi's writing skills again!?!? Please???
She unravels me! She has an undeniable way with words.
I can't even handle it sometimes.
These books are off the map.
I'm waiting on the second novella to come in, I put it on hold, and I'm getting impatient.
I ended picking up Unravel Me in print form while I was at the library visiting my friend this week.
I knew I was going to be ready to read it sooner than it would be available to download off hold.
I read it the other night, instead of going to bed when I should have.
I was exhausted all the next day, but it was worth it.

Short synopsis:
Juliette and Adam have been at Omega Point for a few weeks now, but Juliette isn't settling in very well.
She's convinced everyone hates her because they're scared of her.
She is supposed to be fine tuning her gift but doesn't understand how.
She and Adam are having a hard time finding time to spend together.
And their brand new world is about to fall apart.

Adam's gift is being fine tuned and its taking its toll on their relationship. 

Juliette comes into her own gift.

But a war is coming.

And it brings back to Omega Point an unwanted visitor. 

I can't say enough how much I love these books. 

There aren't really words. 

I cant wait to finish the series so I can talk a little more about particular characters.

I don't want to pass final judgement until I've learned all I can about them.

When I Googled for the book cover, I was not surprised to see a large number of people that may be as obsessed about this trilogy and this amazing writer as I am.
Much of what I found actually is about the character that I mentioned above, and when I write about them I'll let you know what Google thinks of them too.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Tahereh Mafi - author website

Read A-likes:

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth

Read on.
Jessica.

The One - Kiera Cass

The One by Kiera Cass

As I said in the previous post, I starting reading this before I wrote about The Elite... Bad Idea!
I think I got this though.

Short synopsis:
With the selection down to four and on the coattails of her disastrous presentation, America is trying to win back the hearts of the country and of Prince Maxon and his father.
With a few more rebel attacks under her belt, she and Maxon aim to figure out a way to appease some of them.
After a covert operation goes wrong, they are forced to change directions.
America manages to come up with her own plan to execute using her status and an assignmment as an Elite.
After a successful plan execution, America gets devastating news.
She returns home for a few days, and upon her return to the palace makes a decision that will change her life.
Within moments, America's actions turn this decision 180 degrees.
The following day rebels turn the tables once more.

This book in the trilogy absolutely has the most action, the most emotion and the most loss.
But I feel like all of that is wiped away in the fast few pages.
I am excited about the next installment The Heir coming out in May.
But am very dissapointed in the fact that it jumps ten plus years into the future.
I get so invested in a plot line, charcters, a country, even though it's all fiction, I want to know exactly what will happen and how.
I'd even love to see before some books, for instance in the series between present day and the selection, how did we get there.

I have put in a request for the next novella at the library, we'll have to see if they purchase it.
The Heir and the fancy collection book are also requested to be ordered! Woohoo!

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Kiera Cass - author website

Read A-likes:

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth
Shatter Me Trilogy - Taherah Mafi

Read on.
Jessica.

The Elite - Kiera Cass

The Elite by Kiera Cass





I did a horrible horrible thing.
I read the Elite, and then because I didn't have to go to work today and I was too lazy to get up and write this post this morning, I read The One this morning.
And now I'm not completely sure where one ends and the other begins.
I shall try, but really you should read them all so it doesn't much matter.

Short synopsis:
The Elite is what the last six or so girls is known as.
Each of the girls that has made it this far have some sort of real connection with Prince Maxon.
In case I didn't mention it in The selections review, there are rebels!
There always are in any good dystopian novel.
The government is never better than it was.
The rebels have already attacked numerous times during the selection and with only the Elite there it's no different.
Throughout this book you learn not what their end goal is but a little more about who the rebels are.
You find out the consequences of actions that you don't expect to happen to the people they do.
And I suggest you have The One handy when you're nearing the end of The Elite.
The last chapter is a gut wrencher and you won't want to wait to start the final book.

I also read the second novella, but will be reviewing them in a few days.

I was wrong about the date for the next book, The Heir comes out in May!
The additional novella comes out in October with all the extra stuff.
October.....I can't wait!!!!

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Kiera Cass - author website

Read A-likes:

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth
Shatter Me Trilogy - Taherah Mafi
Legend - Marie Lu

Read on.
Jessica.

The Selection - Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

When I found Shatter Me I also found this book.
Except the ebook wasn't available so I put it on hold.
And I was impatient!! The summary had me hooked!
Cue a few days later I'm headed on a two and half hour drive to see my boyfriend for NYE.
The idea of an audio book popped in my head.
I am previously not a fan.
I was accidentally put on hold for the audio (CD's ughhh. hahaha.) version of The Hunger Games, I started them that way until the book came in and I promptly started over.
I have a hard time concentrating on an audio book, I think faster than anyone can speak.
I tend to get sidetracked and sometimes even bored, I also love to reread passages.

I decided an audio book was worth a try for the drive, and even though I didn't like it.
I will absolutely do it again for every trip back to school from now on.
This book made me a better driver!!!
I get bored and tired driving (I make the exact same 2.5 hour trip sometimes 6 or 8 times a month) and I turn to my phone to keep me engaged (you'll think less of me if I crash because I was on my phone, but I'll feel better about myself because it wasn't because I fell asleep at the wheel)
But this book being on kept me off my phone, (I couldn't even concentrate on a simple text I was so engaged) and kept my eyes on the road!!!
Audio book for the win!

There are absolutely some major and I mean MAJOR drawbacks to an audio book.
Which I wont be able to overlook toooo often.
A major one in my book is there is no obvious distinction in a audio book when an author leaves half a page blank or leaves a line in between two paragraphs to show distinction between scenes.
To be quite honest I swear the reader only mentioned half the chapter numbers. I was forever getting lost and having to just go with it to figure it out.
One of the other things that I find annoying about audios is that you can't always tell what someone is saying.
For example the male lead in this books name is Maxon but I was hearing Maxin and it may not matter but I had no idea how it was spelled and it bothered me.
There was also a girl named Kriss in the book which is pretty and maybe feminine and lends itself to certain picture in my head.
But it what pronounced just like regular old Chris and I was thrown off at first and then thought ughh every time I hear it (many of the names in this book could be considered exotic and Kriss might be but Chris is not, I couldn't figure out why her name didn't fit in).
Because a human reads the book and not a computer there are also regular words that aren't pronounced the way I'm used to hearing and I would get annoyed.
I am a very visual person, and as a general rule when I read a movie is playing in my head, the reader voices for characters and dramatizations totally threw off my mental movie.

Aside from all the things I didn't like about it being an audio book I loved the actual book itself.
The summary says it takes place in a dystopian world.
(that's a link to the Wikipedia definition page)
If that's what it means then I officially have a name for the sub-genre of books that I like.
It's just like Shatter Me in that aspect. Post new governmental takeover.

Short synopsis:
The Selection takes place post/during the fourth world war. I know right?!?!?! EEECK!!!
The country is no longer the USA and no longer a democracy. The calendar is different.
Lots of things are different, the most glaring is the return of casts and the cast system.
They use a cast system that is numbered one through eight and you are your number.
Each number has a list of professions it can pursue and there are no other options.
There is a royal family, a King and Queen, with princes and princesses (the current family only has a prince).
The Selection is a lottery used to provide a wives for the princes of the country.
The lottery produces 35 ladies for the Prince to weed down to one.
America Singer is begrudgingly part of the selection.
As a five her family could use the money that the selection guarantees her but she isn't interested in becoming the princess, because after all, she has a boyfriend.
She is convinced to enter because she knows there is no way she would get chosen.
Miraculously she gets chosen and her life changes over night.
^ Those are the crappiest four lines I've ever written, but what else can I say.

A huge part of the excitement of this book is figuring out some of what I've already told you, about the country and the casts, how the selection works.
This book is fantastic and don't let a less than stellar description of it deter you.
There are rebels, and love, makeovers, and new clothes, there are friendships, and girls with motives, a made up history lesson, a Prince, and 35 girls from which he must choose only one to marry.

There are also four more books, two in the trilogy and two novellas, one between each main book.
I have read the first novella and started the second book.
I will review the novellas together at the end.

In looking up the authors website I found out that there is another novella and a fourth book!!! (that's seven books total)
(It's funny the author is actually how I picture America in my head, when in reality, she probably looks more like me, red curly hair and blue eyes, mine aren't really blue but people insist that they are. I think I must be thinking of America Ferrera.)
So it's not technically a trilogy anymore.
In March a book will be released with all three novellas, a few extra scenes from another point of view, and some other bonus features.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Kiera Cass - author website

Read A-likes:

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth
Shatter Me Trilogy - Taherah Mafi

Read on.
Jessica.

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I decided on a whim last night to check out an e-book and read.
And holy cow, it felt so good.
I am going to try so hard for the new year to keep reading, and to keep writing about them.
Reading is one of the things I miss most about life before being a full time college student with four demanding jobs. (My part time college student work study job afforded me more than enough time to read.)

This book is a trilogy, with two short novellas that take place in between each of the main books.

That being said. This book. THIS. BOOK. OMG. Oh my lordy. Tahereh Mafi is amazing.
There are no words for Tahereh Mafi's genius with a pen probably with a keyboard.
I am insanely moved by the imagery that her words provoke.
At some points the way the words flowed were just too much and I had to skim. The intense feeling that her diction induces is unbelievable.
I cannot wait to start reading the next book when I'm done writing this.
This book was so action packed that I didn't want to get caught up in the next one and jumble them up.
This book like many of my favorites takes place in the future, we have decimated the planet, (similarly to the condition of the Earth in The Hunger Games books.)
And a new governing body has taken over all aspects of everyday life, if there is something or someone that will benefit them, they acquire it.

Short synopsis:

Juliette Ferrars has a gift curse. Her touch is fatal.
The Reestablishment has been keeping her prisoner for over a year.
Until one day they give her a cellmate.
And her cellmate turns out to be.... I don't think I can ruin this for you.
I am having a hard time rewriting something that is just so perfectly written.

You really need to read this book, it is about power, perseverance, finding yourself, trust, loyalty, standing strong for what you believe in, believing in yourself, and so much more.
Everything that makes up incredible stories.
I hate writing what happens at the ends of books because while I don't have any issues with spoilers (at least in books and movies. But don't even think about telling what you're getting me for Christmas or my birthday), I understand that many people can't find the thrill in reading if they already know what's going to happen. To me it just makes me turn the pages faster, I just can't wait to get to the part someone told me about.



Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Tahereh Mafi - author website

Read A-likes:

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth
(It seems cheesy to say, but I think if it's not already this series is the next THG/Divergent. Our society just seems to love those books about what it'll be like when we've used up all the natural resources. I'll be asking Darrell about the popularity of this series.)

Read on.
Jessica.

My New Normal - Sara Michelle

My New Normal by Sara Michelle


Part two!!!
I was able to finally get the next three books in this series.
Hopefully Sara keeps writing these.
The last one so far has left open the possibility for more books.

These three were just like the first two.
Super gigantic print.
Super fast reads.

Book 3: The Others

Short synopsis:

Jason proves himself to be as creepy as they thought. After Ryan kicks him out of the shelter he and Cecilia fight. They make up fairly quickly but Ryan tells Ceilia that he and the other guys really think they need to go out to find more supplies. Cecilia isn't happy about this but a knock on the shelter door puts those thoughts on hold.

Book 4:

Short synopsis:

That knock on the door was Dr. Jenkins. A geological anomalies scientist who worked with a group that had known something like the earthquake would happen, just not when. Ryan and the other original guys decide that now with more people in the shelter they really need to go find more supplies. This book is written from Ryan's point of view. Another one was too, but this one is a much bigger deal. Ryan and two of the other guys go off in search of supplies and Ryan meets Jesska. Jesska shows Ryan the Hummer she found and the warehouse where she's been getting supplies. At the warehouse they meet Jason.

Book 5:

Short synopsis:

The encounter with Jason leaves Ryan and Jesska shaken. They gather supplies into the Hummer and set off to get back to the snow shelter. Meanwhile the other boys have gotten back to the snow shelter days ago. Cecilia is worried because Ryan didn't come back with the others, but when he and Jesska show up her fears are put aside. After emptying the Hummer they enjoy a huge feast, but the following day, things change. Amazingly enough  Sergeant Myles and a Red Cross emergency team show up and prove that it's not just the nine of them that made it out alive. They pack their stuff into trucks and head off to a survivor camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I cannot wait to see what happens next in this series. I love these books.

Read on.
Jessica.

Wherever You Go - Heather Davis

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

 

This was a typical for me tragedy.
But it wasn't just tragedy.
It was about figuring yourself out, and knowing that it's okay to move on, and knowing that sometimes you have to do things that make you happy.

Short synopsis:

Holly Mullen lost her boyfriend in a car accident last fall.
She takes care of her little sister because he mom has to work two jobs.
And now her grandfather has to move in with them because his Alzheimer's is getting bad.
Holly makes sure everything in her life is perfect, but rarely does anything for herself.
Jason, her boyfriend Rob's best friend, realizes that Holly needs someone other than family in her life and starts helping her with her grandfather and sister.
Eventually Holly allows herself to feel something for someone other than Rob.
Rob hasn't crossed to the other side yet.
He can't been seen or heard or touched, no one knows he's still here, except Holly's grandfather.
Through him Rob is able to come to terms with his own death, with Holly's new boyfriend, and even with leaving Holly all together.

I loved this book. I think it was perfect.
It hit on a couple hard topics but did it gracefully, and with purpose.
There were many things hinted at in the book that you figure out in the end, but seeing the end result, before knowing the cause helps put consequences into perspective.
I also liked the way that Heather Davis portrays Alzheimer's.
My grandmother had Dementia, a form of it, and while every one's disease progresses differently, I often am disappointed at how authors make it seem like there are these extended periods of absolute perfect normalcy, when in my experience, that just doesn't happen.
It's not a game, something you twist to fit your story plot.
I think Heather's personal experience shows that she realizes this.
Holly's grandfather has 'good days' and 'bad days' and when Rob is visiting he has a hard time focusing on the present.
This is much closer to every real life patient I've come across.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Heather Davis - author website

Read A-Like:
I feel like I've read something similar, but can't put my finger on it at the moment.
If I can figure it out, I will update this!!

Read on.
Jessica.

Bystander - James Preller

Bystander by James Preller

 

I picked this one out because of Before You Go. I really liked James Preller's style and that story so I thought, 'read all the James Preller books!'

This one though didn't hit me as hard. 

It is about a very tough and prevalent subject matter. Bullying. 

But I didn't like the main characters reasoning and decision making. 

Preller did do something that I love. 

And that is tying landmarks and places between stories. 

In Before You Go Jude works at Jones Beach Concessions and there are a whole bunch of locations, West End Two and Pier Six. 

Preller talks about the company and those locations in Bystander  

Short synopsis

Eric Hayes is starting a new life with his mom on Long Island.
He's starting a new middle school right smack in the middle.
Being the new seventh grader is hard. The groups and cliques have already formed.
But Griffin Connelly seems to want to be Eric's friend.
Eric quickly realizes Griffin and his friends are bullies.
After a school assembly about bullying, Eric also realizes that he while he isn't a bully, being friends with Griffin and Co. means he is a bystander.
Eric isn't sure how he feels about this, but finds out the hard way, that bullies retaliate.

I honestly didn't like this book, and it's taken me weeks to finish this post.
I can't pinpoint the reason anymore than just Eric's judgement and decision making.
I dreaded the ending, and while it turned out alright, I didn't feel the lesson was strong enough for a YA novel.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
James Preller - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Exposed - Kimberly Marcus

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

 

 

 

This book is a good example of how sometimes I don't read or pay attention of the names of the books I've read. 

I had this book on my e-library wish list for a good while and never even realized that I had already read it.

The description isn't very informative. And I feel doesn't say much to jog your memory.

I really liked this book, both times I read it.

But I don't care for the format, this book is written in a series of poems, and I feel that it takes away from the story. 

The main character is a photographer and I feel that the poems imply that she is a poet.

Short synopsis:

Liz Grayson is Photogirl, and her forever-best friend is Kate, the Mistress of Modern Dance.
At their monthly slumber party they argue, Liz goes upstairs, and Kate leaves early.
It isn't until a few days later that Liz finds out why Kate left early.
She says Liz's brother Mike raped her.
Mike says it was just sex.
Kate presses charges, and everything that was solid in Liz's world turns upside down.
In the months leading up to the trial, Liz has a hard time with everything, she feels out of place and uncertain.

You will have to find out the results of the trial for yourself. And decide for yourself if it was the right decision.

This book touches on a tough topic, rape, and while it does it in a graceful way, it's not all that in depth.
It talks more about how Liz deals with it, and her conflicting feelings.
I really liked it both times I read it, and definitely think it's worth a read even though the poetry isn't my favorite part.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Kimberly Marcus - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Dead To You - Lisa McMann

Dead To You by Lisa McMann

I read this book a while back, in March I think.
And then it got lost somewhere in a pile.
I found it this morning and flipped through it to remind myself of what it was.

And this is one that I really, really liked.
It's almost a mind eff book, but there's a little piece of you that knows what's going to happen even if you don't want to it to, or even want to admit that it's possible.

I feel like I remember typing out Lisa McMann's name, but I don't think I have.
I think this might be one of the ones I tried to start writing about, had formatting issues, got frustrated, deleted and forgot about it.
But I think I've found a way around my formatting issues, so we shouldn't forget anymore.

Short synopsis:

Ethan De Wilde was abducted when he was seven, and now at sixteen he's finally found his way back home.
After living with Ellen for most of his life, and being homeless for the last few years, coming back to his family is a huge transition, for him and his family.
But mostly for his little brother Blake.
Ethan is having a hard time remembering anything at all from his first seven years of life, and Blake catches on quickly.
Ethan's anxiety attacks don't help either.
Blake's tactics for debunking Ethan's identity continue to tear their family apart when the unthinkable happens.
And. You have to read it to find out!

This was another one of those books that I picked because of the tragedy.
Although I think everyone is drawn to those what happened during the abduction books, or life after coming home books.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Lisa McMann - author website

Read A-like:

Girl, Stolen - April Henry  (This is a 'during the abduction' book)
 

Read on.
Jessica.

Small Persons With Wings - Ellen Booraem

Small Persons With Wings (They Hate To Be Called Fairies) by Ellen Booraem




I pulled this myself yesterday, (Darrell was out,) and ended up reading it yesterday as well.
I was kind of intrigued by the jacket description, but wasn't expecting too much.
About midway through I was a little nervous that the book wasn't going to have a conflict, but I was wrong, it was just a lot further into the book than most.

Short synopsis:

Mellie Turpin used to have a fairy small person with wings living in her bedroom, she proclaimed this to her kindergarten class, but when she tried to bring him in, he disappeared. For years she has never been able to live it down but gets her chance when her family moves away. But of course having a small person with wings isn't just a coincidence, its her families birthright. So moving only makes her small person with wings problem worse. They want their magic back from the Turpin family, but of course one small person with wings wants the power all to themselves.

This was a cute take on fairies. I had a hard time following the magic and what made it work and where it was from.
But sometimes I have a tendency to skip over or skim sections without realizing, and then it's too much trouble to reread because I'm not sure what I missed.
Other than that, which is my own fault, I really liked it.
The throw you for a loop part at the end wasn't too drastic, and it played out nicely.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Ellen Booraem - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Fall Of Night - Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

This is book 14 of a series I started 2 summers ago.

I had read the Twilight books, and wanted more vampire books,

so I searched for vamp books on the e-library consortium and came up with this series.

I will be adding a page up top for series' that I really like, and keep up with.

This will definitely be on the top of the list.

This is one of my favorite series, and I can't wait for each new book to come out.

I don't want to give too much of the backstory away because I do want to write about the rest of the books that come before this.

 

Fall of Night

 

 

Short synopsis:

 

Claire Danvers is finally on her way to MIT.

She leaves everything she's known for the last two years, and tries to make it on her own.

But leaving Morganville isn't what she thinks it will be, they may have made nice with the vamps in Morganville, but Claire doesn't realize that there are vamps other places.

And while they aren't directly under Amelie's thumb, she still has eyes on every vamp 'alive'.

The vamps outside of Morganville are going to put everybody in Morganville in jeporady.

 

I love every single book in this series, and am always stoked to get the next book when it comes out.

The series doesn't drag on and repeat itself, there are legitimate new obstacles, and villians in each new book, and Rachel Caine also extends some villians and obstacles through more than one book, which helps keep the series alive.

 

I will deffinately be doing a write up on each of the books in this series. So look for that in the coming months. (13 will take me some time.)

 

Credit:

Amazon - in case you're into buying

Morganville Vampires - series website

Rachel Caine - author website

 

Read on.

Jessica.

My New Normal - Sara Michelle

My New Normal, Series by Sara Michelle

This is a two part post.
I started this series and had planned to wait to post about the first two.
But. I have no idea when I'll be able to get my hands on the third,fourth, and fifth books.
And I also don't know how many more past five she is going to write.
Sara Michelle is a teen author, I'm all about kids getting big breaks in life.
I think it's super cool that she's still in school.

These books are kinda cool. The print in them is gigantic, so they don't take that long to read, plus they are super tiny to begin with. I read them each in about 15 minutes.
They are of course about tragedy. Were you surprised???
So, without further ado....

 

 

Book 1: The Aftermath

 

Short synopsis:
 

Cecilia and Ryan are two of only a handful of apocalypse survivors.  After a ginormous earthquake they are alone in an a world of unknowns. Set in what was previously Denver, they brave the elements of late December, to find food, water, and shelter.



Book 2: The Inside

 

Short synopsis:

 

After Cecilia and Ryan find the Denver Snow Shelter, they make themselves as comfortable as they can given the circumstances. A few days after finding shelter, a stranger, Jason shows up demanding to know why they kept the place a secret and when they were going to let other know about it. Jason goes out, finds five other survivors and brings them back. But Cecilia is getting sick, and Jason is a little too creepy for everybody's liking.

 

 

These books break off suddenly with a very suspenseful last sentence, so you are hanging on at the end of each waiting to start the next one.  Hopefully the third book takes after the second book and isn't as foreboding as the last sentence implies it will be. I can't wait to read the next three and however many more she is able to write.

 

Credit:

Amazon - in case you're into buying

Author has no website

 

Read on.

Jessica.



Before You Go - James Preller

Before You Go by James Preller





I finished this back in March but didn't have time to write about it because of school.
I checked this out way back then, but I don't remember if I pulled it or if Darrell recommended it.

I must be magnetically attracted to books about tragedy, so of course this one is tragic as well. And so are the next two. It must be a disease.

This one has no happy ending, unfortunately. But it is a good book nonetheless. I read this over a month ago, and while I don't rememeber all the details, I remember I don't really want to reread the tragedy. So my synopsis might be a little dry.

Short synopsis:

Jude starts his summer with a new not so glamerous job, but is dertermined to make new friends, and hopefully continue to put his past behind him. Eight??? (I can't remember exactly how many) years before he lost his little sister to a tragic accident. Since then his barely kept together family, has been trying not to fall apart. It's an event that continually haunts Jude, so he hopes that this summer will liven up his life a litte bit. He meets a girl, and hopes that maybe his luck and his life are finally looking up. (Of course this can't be accurate, I don't read happily ever after books!!!) Then tragically, you have to read the book. Because I haven't given any endings away yet, I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
James Preller - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Blink Once - Cylin Busby

Blink Once by Cylin Busby

 

First book of March!!!
Woohoo!
I can't believe I managed to read two books in one week.

We had a snow day Wednesday, so I took advantage of that downtime to knock one off the pile.
I realllllllyyyyyy enjoyed this book.
This was one I pulled myself.
My book choosing strategy is probably not politically correct, I look at the spines, and when the spine design and font grab my attention, I pull the book and read the jacket. I base all my personal selections based on jacket summaries.

I don't read reviews that say "Great story, another fantastic blahhh blahhh blahhh" -New York Times.
What does that even mean?????
I wanna know what the dang book is about.

So back to this story, it's another mind efff like The Raft by S. A. Bodeen.
And I didn't even realize it!!! I was so disappointed in my self.

I have this tendency to pick out books about amputees, paralysis, coma and cancer patients. I'm such a sucker for a heart warming story. And I'm way past sold if it's a love story.
And this one just happened to be a paralyzed coma patient, I know right?? Such a sucker.

Short synopsis:

West wakes up from a dirt bike accident to a pretty dark haired girl named Olivia telling him he is paralyzed. With her help, he figures out how to communicate with her and his surroundings. During his stay, he falls in love with Olivia. Before he transfers hospitals to have surgery, he promises to come back for her. And here comes the mind eff, but I can't give anymore away. Because anything else I say will give away what happens, and I can't have that.
You must read this book.
It's an amazing show of love, dedication, healing, strength, trust and perseverance.

This book and West are so easy to fall in love with. I highly recommend it, and I think it's a fantastic motivational book, you know RahRahRah! you can overcome any obstacle, but in an endearing way.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Cylin Busby - author website

Read on.
Jessica.

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls - Mary Downing Hahn

 

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn

I finished this a few days ago, and have been formulating a 'review' in my head since then.

 

This book is insanely intense and very close to home.

Mary Downing Hahn was born and raised in Maryland, within two hours of where I was.

Every place she talks about in the book is something I recognize. That in of itself is kindaaaaa freaky if you ask me.

Darrell actually asked me to read this for him to get feedback for his summer reading program.

When I saw him last, I was only a portion of the way through, but we already had tons to discuss.

This book is based on a series of true events that Downing Hahn experienced and then added some fiction into.

 

I started reading at night and got freaked out by the first chapter, I thought it was going to be a horror/ghost novel, but it's not. As I kept reading I noticed the Maryland references, mainly Ocean City. I actually flipped the book upside down and shook it. Like that would explain why OC was in the book I was reading. :)

 

Short synopsis:

 

July 1956, two girls were killed in a park in broad daylight while walking to school on their last day for the year. Nora, the main character and one of three narrators deals with the deaths, (the two girls were good friends with her best friend) her wavering faith, and coming of age as a good girl.

The second narrator is Buddy, who is accused of killing the girls, his chapters are not as prevalent and are angst filled. The last narrator is the actual killer. And he's creepy as hell. I did not enjoy reading his chapters. I think I would've preferred to not know his opinion, but it does add a lot to the story, it fills in a lot of gaps. That being said, it is not a clean ending by any means.

 

This would have been an easy read had I not been so busy with school and being sick. Although it would've been quicker and easier, it would not have been any less intense.

This is one that gave me chills more than a few times.

I want everyone in Maryland to read this, mainly because it is so rare for us Marylanders to read a book that takes place in our own state.

 

Darrell and I did some research on the actual murders, and even found a few articles from the Baltimore Sun.

In her author's note Downing Hahn explains her connection to the murders, but reading the actual articles, was bone chilling.

What she wrote in the book, actually happened.

 

I keep thinking of more I want to say.....

This book uses these deaths to deal with very real religious issues, thing's that I think kids are still going through today. I think that there are a great number of girls especially that will read this in the next ten or so years and figure out that it's okay to question, to wonder, and to stray, because ultimately, it's your life, not your parents, and you must deal with your own feelings and beliefs.

 

Credit:

Amazon - in case you're into buying

Mary Downing Hahn - author website, that is very outdated

 

Read on.

Jessica.

 

Janie Face to Face - Caroline B. Cooney

Janie Face to Face by Caroline B. Cooney

I just finished this this past week. It might be the only book I read in February. School sucks!!!
I'll make up the 18 books I haven't read yet this summer, don't you worry.

So I have to introduce this book big time!
This is book five in a series that was born the same year I was.
I read them in middle school.

I'm not real sure where to start....

The Face on the Milk Carton, 1990
Janie Johnson, sees her three year old self on a milk carton while eating lunch.
Her real name is Jennie Spring.
She was kidnapped from a mall.
This first book is anxiety ridden, and abrupt.
It chronicles Janie as she finds out, researches, freaks out, double checks, and then confronts her parents about the kidnapping.
There is a logical explination.
(and also there is Reeve, the boy next door.)
The end.

Whatever Happened to Janie?, 1993
Janie/Jennie is forced to go live with her biological parents.
I do not remember as much from this book.
She isn't happy with the Spring's and decides that she has the right to move back with her adoptive parents.
There was never supposed to be a second Janie book.
This book answers much of Caroline B. Cooney's fan mail.

The Voice on the Radio, 1996
The kidnapping is old news.
Janie/Jennie's life is settling back down.
Reeve, the boy next door, is away at college.
And he has a job at the campus radio station.
He is supposed to talk inbetween songs, but he doesn't know what to say.
So he tells the only story he knows. Janie's. And Janie finds out.
He made me mad. I hated him for hurting Janie. (I get pretty caught up sometimes.)
I don't remember ever finishing this one.
There was never supposed to be a third book either. (Do you see a pattern??)

What Janie Found, 2000
Janie/Jennie is living life as best she can.
She decides to speak to Reeve again.
And then her Conneticut father has a stroke.
This leaves Janie to help her mother with the family finances.
As she get their affairs in order, she finds some information that only her and two other people know about.
I don't remember much about this book either, but it's anxiety ridden again. (This poor girl needs some meds)
There wasn't supposed to be a fourth book. (Forrealllll, it says that in the back of the fifth book)

Drum Roll Please!!!!!


Janie Face to Face, 2013
There are two sides to every story.
Janie/Jennie is away at college in New York.
She doesn't use social media. She's had enough media to last her a lifetime.
Her friends do.
Her kidnapper does.
I can't give anything else away. It hasn't even been out on the shelves for a month.

I reallllllly reallly liked it. Especially considering the other three after TFOTMC didn't really do a whole lot for me. I even tried to reread them all before Face to Face came out. Janie was making me anxious. :) It's the perfect ending for the fifth book that wasn't supposed to be written.
If you read it make sure you read the aithors note in the back, she kind of explains why there ended up beng five.

There is also a short story. I will be reading that, as soon as I remember to look for it on the eLibrary.

Credit:
Amazon - in case you're into buying
Caroline B. Cooney - author website

Read A-likes:
What Janie Saw - Caroline B. Cooney (short digital novella)
1-800-WHERE-R-YOU Series - Meg Cabot

Read on.
Jessica.