Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia Reyes lives in a Society where every choice is made for her: what to eat, what to wear, where to play and work, when to die.  On her 17th birthday, Cassia is also told who she'll marry: she's been Matched with her best friend Xander Carrow.  Cassia's excitement over being Matched with Xander is short-lived, though, when Ky Markham's face flashes on the screen.  Ky's face is only there for a moment, but it's long enough for Cassia to wonder if he could be the one.  The Society tells Cassia that it's simply a rare glitch that caused Ky's face to show, that she should focus on her life with Xander.  But Cassia can't get Ky off her mind, and the more time the two spend together, the harder Cassia falls.  She also begins to question the rightness of the Society in mapping out her life for her.  Ky opens Cassia's eyes to an entirely different way of life, and the Society is not happy.

I'll admit that it took me a little while to really get into Matched.  Not having the time to read more than a few pages at a time didn't help, I'm sure, but the pace of the story was just very slow starting out.  We follow Cassia as she prepares for her Match Banquet, and the details of her world are revealed ever so slowly.  It's not until the middle of the book that things actually pick up, but by that time so much had been revealed about the way the Society dictates every aspect of its citizen's lives that I was hooked.

Cassia's uncertainty about which path to choose was believable.  On one hand she had her perfect life; her Match with Xander; everything she's ever known.  On the other, she had Ky; her grandfather's illegal poem telling her to "rage against the dying of the light" and to "not go gentle"; the sense that things aren't what they seem.  Cassia doesn't want to make trouble for herself or her family.  Which path is the right one?

Matched kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was a very intriguing read, one that made me think.  I wouldn't want to live in Cassia's world, that's for sure, but knowing I had someone like Ky to curl up to would make the fight worth it.

Can't wait to read the second book!

4/5

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I'm going to warn you right now that this review will contain SPOILERS.  I just can't write a review without referring to things that have happened throughout the series, and I'll also include spoilers from Last Sacrifice itself.

You've been warned.  Read no further, unless you don't mind spoilers.

In Spirit Bound, Rose and Lissa brought Dimitri back to life, after he was turned into a Strigoi in Shadow Kiss.  Being a dhampir again wasn't easy for Dimitri, though, and he found himself dealing with a lot of depression and guilt for the lives he'd taken as a Strigoi.  He also told Rose that he didn't love her anymore, that he couldn't love anyone again.  Rose, heartbroken, decided to give things with Adrian a chance.  At the end of Spirit Bound, Rose was arrested for murdering Queen Tatiana.

Last Sacrifice picks up where Spirit Bound left off, with Rose in prison.  Her father and friends plan and execute a daring break-out.  Shocking as it is - Rose had no clue a jailbreak was in the planning, as Lissa had blocked Rose from her mind - Rose is most shocked to see that Adrian and Dimitri have worked together to break her out.  Oh, I loved it, but I was so torn!  Those two men are both awesome in their own ways, and while I knew Rose and Dimitri were meant to be, a small part of me wished that Adrian would win the girl.  Still, I'm Team Dimitri and have been from the beginning.

Most of the book follows Rose as she, Dimitri and Sydney the Alchemist hide from the Moroi authorities, in the hopes that Rose's trial can be stalled, giving them enough time to discover who really murdered the queen.  They also hope to find Lissa's half-sibling because another Dragomir guarantees that Lissa will be in the running to become the new Moroi monarch.

After the amazingness of Spirit Bound, I had such high expectations that Last Sacrifice would be just as good, if not better.  I was a bit disappointed.  First of all, the book was far too long.  Almost 600 pages, with most of that spent with Rose in random small towns, hiding out.  The first chapters were amazing, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.  Then the action slowed and strange new characters - the Keepers - were introduced.  I didn't like those chapters at all.  Snore.  The rest of the book seemed kind of slow after that.

I had no inkling at all that the killer would be Tasha!  Poor Christian.  I guess it makes sense, since Tasha wanted Dimitri to be her guardian - and more.  While I'm sad for Christian, I'm happy that Adrian's mom wasn't the killer because I think that would have destroyed Adrian, especially after what he'd gone through with Rose.  His ending was completely heartbreaking, and after he yelled at Rose and then wasn't heard from again, I thought "Is that really it?"  I wanted more closure with the Adrian story, but I have a hunch that things were left that way because Adrian is going to be the main character in Mead's VA spinoff series.  His story is definitely NOT over.  Richelle Mead says in her Acknowledgements page that she "[hopes] you'll continue to enjoy the many Moroi and dhampir adventures to come."  Here's hoping I'll get Adrian's story, and that Rose and Dimitri will make appearances. 

As sad as I was for Adrian, I was ecstatic that Dimitri (aka "a certain smoldering dhampir", according to my sister Kira) finally declared his love for Rose and that they got their happily ever after!  They belong together, no question.  And I'm glad that the bond between Lissa and Rose was broken when Rose almost died protecting Lissa from Tasha's bullets.  I'm hoping that Rose will have a more 'normal' life now that she doesn't have to feel everything Lissa's feeling, and she no longer has to take the darkness and insanity from Lissa.

As to who Lissa's half-sibling is, I had no clue it would be Jill.  Maybe I should have seen it coming, but I didn't.  I hope that Lissa is nice to Jill, and that the two of them end up having a great relationship.  It's not Jill's fault that she's the illegitimate child of Eric Dragomir, after all.

I'm glad that Christian and Lissa ended up together, and that Lissa was elected queen.

Overall, I found Last Sacrifice a satisfying conclusion to the Vampire Academy series, but it wasn't as good as Spirit Bound.  And there wasn't enough Rose and Dimitri love.  Can't win 'em all, though.

I'm torn between 4 and 4.5 stars, but I'll go with 4 because the more I think about this book (I finished it last night), the more I wish it would have been better.

4/5

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

After an unsuccessful mission in Siberia, Rose returns to St. Vladimir's Academy and is reunited with Lissa.  Rose aces her guardian trials and the girls graduate, both ready to move on and see what life has to offer.  Rose hasn't forgotten about Dimitri, though.  She knows he's out there somewhere, waiting for her.  She hasn't forgotten her mission, either, and won't give up hope that she can somehow save Dimitri.

Of the five Vampire Academy books I've read, Spirit Bound is my favorite.  (It also has the best cover of the series.)  All the regulars are back for some non-stop, kick-butt action.  Rose has moved on and is now in a relationship with Adrian, though she's still not over Dimitri.  The fact that Adrian knows of the feelings his "little dhampir" still has for Dimitri and loves her anyway really makes me like him that much more.  He just keeps growing on me.  Lissa really matured in this book, and proved what an asset she can be.  And Dimitri... oh, I do love him.

I feel like I can't say much about this book without giving too much away!  It's so hard to write a non-spoilerish review, so I'm just going to say that I LOVED this book, just as much as the first time I read it.  I can't wait to start Last Sacrifice.

5/5

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

The deadly Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's claimed the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians.  Dimitri was captured, and now Rose is determined to find him and 'save' him, even though it means she must abandon Lissa.  Though she swore to protect Lissa at any cost, Rose knows that she must follow her heart and fulfill the promise she made Dimitri all those months ago.  Thinking that Dimitri will be in his homeland, Rose travels across Siberia in search of the man she loves.  She meets Dimitri's family, and also a mysterious businessman named Abe, whose role in Rose's life is bigger than she ever expected.

Back at St. Vlad's, Lissa is depressed without Rose, but the new headmaster's daughter, Avery, cheers her up with drinking and partying.  Christian doesn't approve, and even Adrian isn't sure what to think of the change.  Rose still occasionally uses her bond to visit Lissa, and doesn't like the new Lissa she's seeing.  Something is just not right.

I remember thinking during my first read of Blood Promise just how boring and drawn-out most of it was.  The second time around was even worse.  All the time Rose spends in Siberia is a complete snooze-fest.  New characters were introduced in both storylines (Rose and Lissa's), but I can't say I even cared about a single one of them.  With the exception of Sydney the Alchemist and Abe, the new characters played no important part in furthering the story.  I felt like the regular characters didn't have enough of a presence in this book, and I missed them.  And what's with all the random Rose and Dimitri flashbacks?  They added nothing to the story.

The last few chapters were the saving grace of the book.  Rose failed in her attempt to save Dimitri, and now he's after her.  But Rose may have a way to really bring Dimitri back.

My original rating was a 4, but if I were to rate the re-read, I'd give it a 3.5 at most.  I think Blood Promise is the weakest book in the series.

4/5

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

With graduation just around the corner, Rose and the other novices begin their field training, and Rose is assigned as Christian's guardian.  Ever since her first Strigoi kills, she has been seeing the ghost of her friend Mason, as well as dark shadows that creep across her vision.  The ghosts are making it almost impossible for her to concentrate on the tasks at hand.  Adrian tells her that aura is always tinged with black, that he can see her taking the darkness away from Lissa and into herself.  Will Rose survive the madness that threatens to overtake her?  And who can she trust with the secrets she's been keeping?  She longs to tell Lissa about her love for Dimitri, but feels that Lissa has enough to worry about already.  And as much as she wants to tell Dimitri about the ghosts she's been seeing, she fears he won't believe her.  When the Strigoi attack the campus of St. Vladimir's, everything as Rose knows it changes.

This book had a twist that blew me away the first time I read it.  It wasn't as exciting a read this time around (really, I've found that none of the three I've now reread have been), but that's because I already know what's going to happen.  The element of surprise has been taken away.  I still really enjoyed it, though.  The last few chapters, especially, were awesome and I remember thinking that I couldn't wait to delve into the fourth book to see what would happen to one of my favorite characters.

In Shadow Kiss, Dimitri and Rose take their relationship to a new level.  I love that they finally made plans for a future together (yay!), and I'm glad that Rose thought about what her life will really be like as Lissa's guardian.  I still have quite a crush on Dimitri, of course, but I also really like Adrian.  Everyone, Rose included, thinks he just wants to have "fun" with Rose, but he really does love her, and his actions at the end of the book make that clear.  What's also clear is that Rose will ever only have eyes for Dimitri.  And now she has to do something she never dreamed possible...

I'll go with my original rating, just as I did with the other books.

4.5/5

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Winter break from St. Vladimir's Academy is supposed to be fun, but with Strigoi attacks on the rise, even a ski holiday at a luxury cabin isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Especially when Rose's mother unexpectedly shows up to provide extra guardian protection.  Rose and her mother have never gotten along, and their relationship is still strained.  As is Rose's relationship with Dimitri.  He's been asked to become guardian to Christian's aunt Tasha, and Rose is sure he'll take the position.  She's jealous of Dimitri and Tasha's friendly bantering, but knows that Dimitri will have a good life with Tasha.  She just wants him to be happy, and thinking that Dimitri will go on to be happy without her, Rose decides to try a relationship with her friend Mason, who has a serious crush on her.  The alluring and mysterious Adrian Ivashkov also piques Rose's interest.  But Rose can't get Dimitri off her mind.

Feeling rejected by Rose, Mason gathers his friend Eddie and mean-girl Mia, and the trio sneaks off campus to hunt down a rumored Strigoi colony in Spokane.  Rose is the only person who knows where they may be, and she and Christian follow them.  They are in way over their heads, though, and their lives are all in peril.  The enemy this time around is much more dangerous than Viktor Dashkov.

Frostbite was a better read than Vampire Academy, with much more action.  Rose has matured a little bit in this second book, but her temper can still get the best of her.  I love the romantic build-up between Rose and Dimitri, and while a part of me knows how wrong it is for them to be together (he's 24 and she's 17, after all), a bigger part of me can't help but cheer them on.  Like any good mentor, Dimitri tries really hard to keep his emotions in check, but Rose is so passionate that she sometimes breaks through his cool veneer.  (I love when that happens!)  She still has a long way to go, but the last few chapters of Frostbite show that she's clearly on her way toward becoming an amazing guardian.

4/5

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Is that a cheesy book cover, or what?

I first read the VA books over the summer, thinking that all five had been published and I could just read them all in a row, not having to wait for new books to be released.  Well, after finishing the fifth book, I discovered that a sixth book was set to be released.  So, I've been waiting since July to get my hands on book 6, Last Sacrifice, which was released today.  I ordered it from Amazon, so I'll probably have it in my hands tomorrow or Thursday, but before I read it, I'm rereading the others in the series so that I can jump right into Last Sacrifice.  And since I never reviewed the VA books when I read them the first time around (I was on a blog hiatus), I decided to review them as I reread them.  (Mostly for you, Kira, since you were so disappointed that I hadn't reviewed them.)

Vampire Academy revolves around dhampir Rose Hathaway, who is a bodyguard to Moroi princess Lissa Dragomir.  They'd run away from St. Vladimir's Academy, but have been captured and returned.  Now Lissa continues her schooling and Rose is back to guardian training.  Guardians are protectors of the Moroi, the good vampires, and mostly guard them from Strigoi - evil and highly dangerous vampires.  Rose is in training to hopefully become Lissa's guardian.  She takes her lessons from Dimitri Belikov, who's known as a "god" on campus.  Rose enjoys her time with Dimitri, and soon her feelings turn into more than just admiration for the skills he can teach her.  She falls in love with Dimitri, but knows that she must push those feelings aside and concentrate on protecting Lissa, for she and Lissa share a special bond and no one can protect Lissa like Rose can.

I feel the same way I did when I first read Vampire Academy: it started out a bit slowly, but the action grew and by the time the book ended I was ready for more.  Like Rose, I fell in love with Dimitri, and I can't wait to read more about him in the upcoming books.  Yes, I've read the other books before, but I'm giddy and excited all over again.  The scenes with Dimitri are hot.

I did find all the foreshadowing interesting this time around.  I already know the story, so it was fun to pick up on all the little details I'd missed before or not known to pay attention to, like all the talk about St. Vladimir's "spirit".

3.5/5

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

Adelaide Proctor, a teacher, quits her job to follow Henry Belcher to Fort Worth, Texas.  She is surprised to discover that the man who's been courting her is married and has a child.  Humiliated and eager to leave her fairy-tale daydreams behind her, Adelaide interviews to be a governess to the daughter of a sheep rancher.

Gideon Westcott left a privileged life behind in England to make a life of his own in the American West.  On the ship to America, he becomes a father overnight, promising the dying mother of young Isabella that he'll care for Isabella and protect her from the uncle who wants her inheritance.

As Adelaide and Gideon work together to care for Isabella, they find themselves experiencing feelings they didn't think possible.  But they may never get their happily ever after, not if Reginald Petchey, Isabella's uncle, has anything to do with it.  He'll stop at nothing - not even murder is beneath him - to get his hands on Isabella's fortune.

Head in the Clouds is a cute story, with very likeable characters in Adelaide, Gideon, and Bella.  Adelaide is spunky and knows how to stick up for herself and for those she loves.  Gideon is the dreamy Englishman that any woman would be crazy not to fall in love with.  But he's also willing to do whatever it takes to protect his daughter, and determined to do what is right.  Being a Christian romance novel, the characters had strong affinities for God, and tried to put His will above their own wants.

I enjoyed this book.  It had a good message, and the romance was sweet.

My rating: 3.5/5

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

When Isobel Lanley and Varen Nethers are paired for an English project, neither is very happy.  They are total opposites: Isobel a popular cheerleader, Varen a goth loner.  At first, Isobel wants nothing to do with Varen.  She grudgingly agrees to meet up with him to discuss the project and comes to the realization that he's not what he seems.  Isobel's football-playing boyfriend and her friends turn their backs on Isobel, which hurts at first.  But the more time she spends with Varen, the less she cares what her so-called 'friends' think.

While working on the project, about Edgar Allan Poe, Isobel comes across strange writings in Varen's notebook.  Soon after, she begins seeing scary creatures and discovers that Varen's writings have trapped him in a dreamworld of his own creation.  Only Isobel can save Varen and prevent the creatures from taking over the real world.

I'm not a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, but I think a series based on his writings is a cool idea.  I admit that I only skimmed the poems that were included in the book, because Poe's works aren't what interested me about the story.  I was more interested in the connection between Isobel and Varen.  (Did you know that Varen is an anagram for 'raven'?)  Usually, goth boys don't interest me in the least, but there was something about Varen that pulled me in.  He's a very deep and unique character, and he keeps many things hidden.  And Isobel isn't your ordinary cheerleader.  There's a real depth to her, as well.  I love that the relationship between Varen and Isobel wasn't rushed.  It developed slowly, like any real relationship does.

I hated the way Isobel's friends treated her, and Varen.  I really couldn't believe that they would be so cruel to her simply because she was hanging out with Varen.  I'm glad she dumped her possessive boyfriend and defended Varen.  Her actions were very admirable.  Not many high school cheerleaders would befriend and stand up for a goth kid the way Isobel did.

I have an admission to make:  I skimmed the last third of the book because it was so drawn-out and all the details about the dream realm bored me.  The funny thing is, though, that after finishing the book, I wanted to get my hands on book 2 right away.  I may not care about all the details of Varen's dream world, but I want to know how Isobel is going to rescue him.  Varen as a character fascinates me, and I'm looking forward to learning more about him.

Overall, I think the book was a bit too long (over 500 pages), but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

My rating: 3.5/5

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

At eight years of age, Evie discovers that she has a special gift... she sees through the glamours of paranormals.  With no family of her own, Evie is taken in by the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA), a group charged with tracking and containing paranormal beings.  Eight years later, Evie has become somewhat bored with the usual "bag and tag" at work, but while she knows her gift is indispensable to the IPCA, she longs for a normal teenage life.  When Evie's superior, Raquel, is attacked by a shape-shifting -- and extremely cute -- teenage boy named Lend, Evie finds herself strangely drawn to him.  Lend is drawn to Evie, too, and wonders if she may be the person at the center of a dark faerie prophecy.  As Lend and Evie form a friendship, paranormals begin dying and Reth, a faerie obsessed with Evie, gives odd clues that may lead Evie to discover who she really is.

Prior to reading Paranormalcy, I'd read nothing but glowing reviews about the book.  Maybe the high praise is to blame for my less-than-stellar reaction to Evie's story.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it.  I just didn't love it.  Evie is a fun, spunky, likable character (although I never could understand her fascination with lockers, of all things), and Lend is the kind of guy teenage girls dream about.  I think the whole idea behind Paranormalcy and the IPCA is intriguing, and the story held my interest throughout.  I really had no clue where the story was going, but even so, in the end, it took a completely different turn than I had expected and I felt like things weren't quite as fleshed out as they could have been.  And what's up with Reth?  He remains a big mystery to me, even after all the interaction he and Evie had.

While I didn't love it, I still found Paranormalcy to be an entertaining read.  I'll definitely read the second book, Supernaturally.  I'm eager to know Reth better, and to see where life leads Evie and Lend.

My rating: 3.5/5

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Just when Nora thought things couldn't get any better, she tells her guardian angel boyfriend, Patch, that she loves him and he runs off without replying.  The next day at school, Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar, tells Nora that she spotted Patch staring into her window the night before.  Nora confronts Patch, who tells her that his business with Marcie doesn't concern her.  He also tells her that the archangels are keeping a close eye on them, waiting for any excuse to get rid of Patch.  Patch knows that his relationship with Nora may be cause enough for the archangels to send him to hell.  Nora, thinking she's doing what is best for the both of them, breaks up with Patch and tells him she doesn't want him to be her guardian angel anymore.  Patch runs straight into Marcie Millar's arms.  To numb the hurt, Nora begins spending time with Scott Parnell, a childhood friend who has moved back to town.  But she can't keep her mind off Patch, even though she thinks he's hiding something from her.  If things with Patch and Scott weren't complicated enough, Nora begins seeing her dead father around town.  She becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him, to the point of putting her own life in danger.

I loved Hush, Hush, and I was so excited to read Crescendo.  Unfortunately, Crescendo fell a bit short for me.  It wasn't as compelling as HH, and there definitely wasn't enough Patch to satisfy me.  Nora annoyed me to no end, and I couldn't believe she willingly chose to place herself in some of the situations she did.  She seemed so pigheaded, thinking her way was always the right way.  And I could have slapped her for breaking up with Patch, who is, by far, my favorite character in the series.  I wish Nora would have really thought things through, instead of making decisions on the spur-of-the-moment.  If she'd taken a step back, she would have realized that Patch always had her best interests at heart.  I love that he never gave up on her.  (I have such a huuuuge crush on him right now!  Even more so than before.)

Scott landed at both spectrums with me... sometimes I thought he was okay, sometimes I hated him.  And Marcie was as evil and skanky as ever.  I had the "bad guy" figured out, but the ending totally threw me for a loop.  Happily ever after seems to be eluding Patch and Nora yet again.

Overall, I enjoyed Crescendo, and I look forward to reading Tempest.  Wish I didn't have to wait a year, though!

My rating: 3.5/5

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Teresa Agnes.  Group A, Subject A1.  The Betrayer.

Minho: Property of WICKED. Group A, Subject A7. The Leader.

Newt: Property of WICKED. Group A, Subject A5. The Glue.

Thomas: Property of WICKED. Group A, Subject A2. To be killed by Group B.

Aris: Property of WICKED. Group B, Subject B1. The Partner.

Thomas and the Gladers thought they were safe after escaping the Maze, but they now find themselves faced with another seemingly impossible trial in this sequel to The Maze Runner.  They awake one morning to find Teresa missing, and mysterious tattoos on their necks.  A rat-faced man appears to tell them they have to cross the Scorch, an area that has been completely burned out due to sun flares.  The obstacles they'll face - the unbearable heat; the wicked lightning storms; the Cranks, people covered in pus-filled wounds who have been infected with a horrible disease called the Flare - will be challenging.  The Gladers are told that they, too, have been infected with the Flare, but that they will receive a cure if they make it to a place called the Safe Haven in two weeks' time.  They are told that everything they've been through is part of the Trials and serves a purpose, and are surprised to discover the existence of a second group who also escaped a maze.  But Thomas has had enough.  He doesn't want to be at the mercy of WICKED anymore, and the one person he thought he could trust the most has turned on him.

I thought The Scorch Trials was even better than The Maze Runner, which is high praise coming from me because I thought The Maze Runner was a great book.  I felt like I was on a roller coaster the entire time, there were so many ups and downs and twists and turns.  I tried to imagine myself in Thomas' shoes, but just couldn't do it.  I enjoy seeing the action through his eyes, though, and I respect and like him as a character.  I am dying to know what Thomas' role will be in the next book, and whether WICKED is really good.  And just what the trials will do to save humanity. I don't want to say much else, so you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens.  (I highly recommend reading The Maze Runner first, though.)

I loved this book, and I am left wanting more.  Can't wait to read The Death Cure.

My rating: 4.5/5

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

A year has passed since the Silver Blood attack in Rio, and Schuyler Van Alen and her best friend/human conduit, Oliver Hazard-Perry, have been on the run.  They're hiding from the Conclave; the Blue Blood leaders think Schuyler is responsible for her grandfather's death.  Schuyler made her choice in the last book, forsaking Jack Force and running away with Oliver.  But an unexpected obstacle in Paris throws Schuyler and Jack together, leaving Schuyler aching to be in Jack's arms, and wondering if she made the right choice.  Meanwhile, Mimi Force has joined Kingsley Martin and the other Venators in the search for the Watcher, and Bliss has spent the last year of her life possessed by the Visitor.  As the Silver Bloods gain power, Schuyler learns that it's her legacy to defeat them.

I have been pleasantly surprised by this series, and each book leaves me wanting more.  This fourth installment was full of action and yearning, and I loved it.  The chapters alternate between three narrators - Schuyler, Bliss, and Mimi - and I really enjoyed seeing events through their eyes.  I'll admit that the Bliss chapters were slow at first, but they picked up around the middle of the book, when Bliss became more like her old self.  After centuries spent believing she is destined to be with Jack, Mimi - who has matured over the last year - begins having feelings for Kingsley.  The Mimi and Kingsley flirtation was fun to read about, and the longing between Schuyler and Jack was palpable.

The Van Alen Legacy was an exciting and entertaining read.  I can't wait to get my hands on the fifth book, Misguided Angel, when it comes in at the library!

My rating: 4/5

Torment by Lauren Kate

In this second book of the Fallen series, Luce finds herself uprooted from Sword & Cross, only to be dumped at Shoreline, a school in California for Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.  Daniel thinks Shoreline will be a good place for Luce to hide out, while he, Cam, and the other angels and demons hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who are after Luce.

Luce resents Daniel's interference in her life.  She loves him deeply - how can she not, when he's all she's ever known, throughout every life she's ever lived? - but wonders if maybe her life wouldn't be so screwed up if she'd fallen in love with someone else.  Maybe someone dependable, like Miles, who is so charming... and normal.  As Luce learns what the shadows are and how to manipulate them, she realizes that Daniel hasn't been very forthcoming; he's hiding something, and she's losing her faith in him.

So many people have said that they've liked Torment more than Fallen, but I found my enjoyment of them about the same:  slow to start out, too drawn-out in the middle, with a really good ending that leaves me hanging and wanting more.  I was so bored as I was reading Torment that I almost gave up a couple of times.  I just wanted something to happen.  As with Fallen, I felt that there was too much buildup.  But once I got to the last 70 pages, I couldn't stop reading.  And, once again, I'm hooked.  I want more, and I have to wait until next summer for Passion to be released.  I hope it's not as drawn-out as Fallen and Torment were, but I have a feeling it will be.

My rating: 3.5/5

Shadowland by Alyson Noël

In this third installment of The Immortals series, Ever and Damen search for an antidote to the antidote (yeah, you read that right) Damen was given in Blue Moon.  Roman tricked Ever when she was saving Damen's life, and now Ever and Damen are forbidden from ever touching.

I waited a long time for something to happen in this book, but not much did until the last 100 pages.  Damen took in the twins, Romy and Rayne.  He and Ever became pseudo-parents to them, putting a bit of strain on their relationship.  Damen told Ever about the Shadowland, where immortal souls go if an Immortal dies.  Ever got a job at Mystics and Moonbeams, the shop she'd gone to for her needs in the last book.  She met the owner's grandson, Jude, and began having feelings for him that she couldn't explain.  Damen "showed" Ever that she'd had relationships with Jude in her past lives.  In the end, Ever was forced to choose between getting the antidote for Damen or saving her best friend, Haven, who fell under Roman's spell and was on the brink of death.

I had to fight boredom at times, but in the end I'm glad I finished the book.  I wasn't sure I'd want to read the fourth book, but I most likely will now so I can see where the story goes from here.  Will Damen and Ever really end up together, or is Ever destined to be with Jude?  Seeing that there are three more books in the series is a bit depressing, though!  (I wish there were more standalone books and not so many series written these days.)

My rating: 3/5

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight revolves around 16-year-old draki, Jacinda; Cassian, the draki prince who wants Jacinda for his princess; and 18-year-old Will, a draki hunter who feels an intense connection to Jacinda.  The draki have descended from dragons, and can blend into the real world by taking human form...something no one but the drakis knows.  Jacinda is the only fire-breathing draki, and has been marked as special.  Out for a forbidden flight one morning, Jacinda is almost captured.  It's Will that saves her, and from that moment she feels drawn to him, and he to her.  Jacinda and her family - her mother and twin sister, Tamra - flee their pride in the dead of night to escape the consequences, and end up in a desert town where the elements take their toll on Jacinda - she begins to lose her inner draki.  If her draki dies, Jacinda will be forced to stay human forever.  She'll do whatever it takes to prevent that, even if it means getting closer to her enemy.  Will makes her feel alive.

The mythology behind the draki is unique.  I like that, even though Firelight is incredibly similar to Twilight (some scenes in the book seemed almost identical to Twilight, only with draki and hunters instead of vampires and a human girl), it has it's own feel; the draki mythology is just not something I've read about before.  The way the author described the draki world made me feel as though I was a part of it, though I admit that I still can't really picture what an actual draki looks like.

I think it's great that Jacinda was willing to do whatever it took to maintain her sense of self, even though her mother and sister wanted her to give up the draki.  Being a draki was all she'd ever known, and for her mother to ask her to give that up didn't sit right with me.  I know that her mother was trying to protect her from the life the draki king had chosen for her, but she was also asking Jacinda to stop being herself.

I loved Will.  By the end, a small part of me liked Cassian, too.  I fully support Jacinda ending up with Will, though, and I'm eager to see how everything plays out when the second book is released next year.

My rating: 4/5

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Though Haven Moore has lived in Snope City, Tennessee her entire life, she continues to have visions of a former life in New York City, when she was known as Constance Whitman.  She recalls being desperately in love with a young man named Ethan Evans, and relives dying in a fire over and over again.  Her visions have led her grandmother to believe that Haven is possessed by a demon, and Haven is virtually held prisoner in her grandmother's home.  When Haven sees footage of playboy Iain Morrow on TV, she suspects that he may be the Ethan of her dreams.  She flees to New York and runs into the infamous Iain.  She feels an instant connection to him.  Being with Iain again is amazing, but Haven can't help but wonder if the rumors about him murdering a rock star are true.  And if Iain really did murder a rock star, could he have murdered her in their previous life, back when he was Ethan and she was Constance?  She hopes the Ouroboros Society, a mysterious group dedicated to helping people discover their former lives, can help her before it's too late and her life cycle begins all over again.

I think the premise of The Eternal Ones is fascinating (I love the tagline What if love refused to die?) but I found myself bored for a lot of the book.  The story of Ethan/Iain and Constance/Haven was much too drawn out, and by the time I got to the meat of the story I found that I just didn't care anymore.  The characters themselves were interesting - especially Iain, and Haven's best friend, Beau (the resident homosexual character) - but it took too long for anything to happen.  Some of the characters - namely Haven's grandmother and the priest, Dr. Tidmore - were just plain sinister, and I don't believe that anyone would act the way they did towards Haven and her visions.  The mysterious 'gray men' who followed Haven around were creepy, too.  Mostly, though, Haven drove me crazy.  She was entirely too naive and gullible, believing just about everything she was told; she loved Iain one moment, only to turn around and distrust him the next moment.  Ugh.  As much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn't.

My rating: 2.5/5

My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent

My Soul To Take is this month's read for my church book group.  A couple of the women in my group had read it before it was suggested a couple of months ago, and their enthusiastic responses about the book were all it took for me to want to read it.  Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as they had, and from the Goodreads reviews of other women in my book group, it appears that we have the full spectrum of opinions about the book this month.  Some loved it, some thought it was okay, and some just plain liked it.  I fall in the latter group.

Starting out, I had a difficult time getting into the book because I just didn't have much time to read, and I didn't find what I was reading all that interesting.  I read the first 50 or so pages over a span of 3 days, and had to reread pages to remember what was happening.  The story itself is intriguing:  16-year-old Kaylee Cavanaugh senses when people around her are going to die.  When the premonitions of death overcome her, she begins uncontrollably screaming at the top of her lungs.  Kaylee doesn't know why she senses death, and she's afraid to tell her aunt and uncle about it because they had her committed to the psych ward of the local hospital the last time she screamed like that.  When three teenage girls suddenly drop dead on three different days, with two of the deaths 'predicted' by Kaylee, Kaylee knows something is amiss.  She overhears her aunt and uncle talking about her, and realizes they're keeping secrets - they know why she screams.  With the help of hottie Nash Hudson - who curiously seems to know so much about her experiences - Kaylee learns the reasons why she has the screaming attacks, as well as the history behind them.

I enjoyed My Soul To Take, but it obviously wasn't a book I couldn't put down.  I truly liked the characters (there wasn't a single character I had a problem with, which is unusual), and the mythology behind the story is really interesting, but it took me a long time to get into the book.  I admit, though, that the last 35 pages left me intrigued enough to possibly want to continue with Kaylee's story.

My rating: 3.5/5 (and the extra .5 is because of the ending!)

P.S. There is a prequel novella to My Soul To Take, called My Soul To Lose.  I haven't read it yet, but I found it online, and I will most likely read it, if only to get a bit more backstory on Kaylee.

My Soul To Take is #1 in the Soul Screamers series.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Three angels--Bethany; her brother, the archangel Gabriel; and sister, Ivy--are sent to earth to fight the dark forces that are taking over.  Their mission is an important one, and keeping their secret proves too difficult for Bethany, who falls in love with human Xavier Woods and discloses everything.  Gabriel and Ivy fear Xavier will be unable to keep their divinity quiet, but Xavier proves his value when the Agents of Darkness invade their little town.

I really, really wanted to love this book.  And I actually did love the first half, but the second half left me with such feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction that any good feelings I had about the first half were overpowered.

Bethany drove me crazy.  A lot of reviews I've read have compared her to Bella Swan from Twilight, only worse.  Bella has never bothered me, actually, but Bethany's helplessness and feebleness really rubbed me the wrong way.  It seemed that all she was capable of was worshipping and swooning over Xavier.  Pages and pages were spent with Bethany remarking on how perfect and handsome Xavier was, and how she knew she'd be safe with him around.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bethany an ANGEL?  And wouldn't she'd be more than capable of defending herself should the need arise?  Apparently not.

Okay, I have to get something off my chest.  Stupid as it is, I can't even tell you how much it bothered me when everyone started referring to Bethany as "Beth."  Honestly, I don't know why it bothered me, and in the scope of things, it doesn't really matter that her name was shortened.  But every time I read it, a little shudder escaped me.  Thanks for letting me get that out.

So, where was I?  Oh, yes.  Let me move on to religion.  The religious overtones in Halo bothered me somewhat.  It is clearly evident that the angels are Catholic, which I'm not.  I wish the author had tried harder to keep the religious themes more impartial.  She's free to express her opinions (it is her book, after all), but I just felt uncomfortable at times.

I was also disturbed by Bethany's human shortcomings.  I know she's a relatively 'young' angel, but partying and lying naked in bed with a boyfriend don't seem like very heavenly/angelic things to be doing.  I felt like she should have tried harder to stay true to who she was.  I think too much time was spent on the love story.  I also thought the villain was introduced much too late in the story.

I did love the lushly-detailed world that Adornetto described.  The first half of the book was so well-written, so rich in description.  And the cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Halo started out as a promising read, but it left me disappointed.

My rating: 2.5/5

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Sixteen-year-old Violet Ambrose has a secret...she can sense echoes of dead people.  When she was 8, she discovered her first dead body buried in the woods near her home.  Besides the echoes of the dead, Violet can sense the imprints that are left on the killers.  Living with her "power" is difficult enough, but Violet is also struggling with new romantic feelings for her best friend, Jay.  When teenage girls begin disappearing with an alarming frequency, Violet decides to use her powers to find the killer.  She may be the only person who can stop him.  But finding him may come at a high price--the loss of her own life.

This book has such an interesting premise, and I was immediately drawn in to Violet's world.  The descriptions of how she sensed the echoes of the dead were rich, and I felt like I could sense the echoes myself.  Likewise, the chapters written in the killer's voice were deliciously creepy.  The mystery of who killed the girls seemed a bit too drawn out, but I didn't figure out who the killer was...and I like that I didn't figure it out.  It's no fun to read a book already knowing who the killer is.

My favorite part of the book was when Jay and Violet finally admitted their feelings to each other.  Jay seemed like a perfect guy, and I love that he and Violet were best friends from the age of six.  They were so adorable together.  Even so, I felt like too much of the story focused on their relationship.

While I ended up not loving the book, I did like it quite a bit.

My rating: 3.5/5

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood)'s life has been anything but ordinary.  The shopaholic wooed the debonair Luke Brandon, Finance PR Extraordinaire, while devising a way to throw a certain bank manager named Derek Smeath off her track.  Then she moved to Manhattan, became host of a financial segment on a popular TV show (even though she can't handle her own finances), and shopped some more.  Then there was the fiasco of the two-weddings-on-the-same-day, one in NYC and one in England.  And of course, more shopping.  After a fairy-tale honeymoon, Becky arrived home to discover that she has a half-sister she never knew about, a sister who hates to shop!  Let's see... what else?  Becky got pregnant, scored a celebrity OB, and then hired a P.I. to follow said celebrity OB and her own husband, Luke, because she swore they were having an affair.  (All links are to my reviews of the other Shopaholic books.)

Now Becky and Luke are parents!  Mini Shopaholic takes place two years after Shopaholic and Baby left off.  'Mini Shopaholic' herself, Minnie Brandon, is now a rambunctious two-year-old, and Luke and Becky are at wits' end; they don't know what to do with little Minnie, who wreaks havoc wherever she goes.  Becky's mum is willing to help with Minnie--she's been doing it for the two years Becky and Luke have been living in her house anyway--but Becky and Luke decide to hire an "Ultimate Nanny" instead.  (After all, it'd be great if Minnie could learn Mandarin!)  Becky is less than forthcoming about Minnie's behavior, though, and said Ultimate Nanny begs off after a few hours in Minnie's presence.  Can anything go right?  Not only has their fifth try at buying a home fallen through, but there's a huge financial crisis in England because one of the major banks failed.  Luke is putting in so much extra time at work that Becky decides to throw him a surprise party for his birthday.  Of course, she has trouble staying on budget, so she accepts help from an unlikely source...Luke's birth mother, Elinor, whom Luke isn't speaking to at the moment.  As with any book featuring Becky Brandon, chaos ensues, lies are told, and shopping is done.

I was super excited to get my hands on this book.  I really enjoyed the first five Shopaholic books.  Becky makes me laugh.  She gets into so much trouble, and of course her scrapes are all a bit unbelievable and outrageous, but she's just such an amusing character to spend time with (even when I want to pull my hair out and shout at her that she better not buy that dress/purse/scarf/pair of shoes, no matter the sale price.)  Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this latest book as much as I'd hoped to.  Sure, I still liked it and Becky still made me laugh (though not as much as in the other books), but I'm left feeling slightly disappointed.

3.5/5

Mini Shopaholic is #6 in the Shopaholic series.

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

It's difficult to review this series without giving anything away!  This is what the synopsis from the front cover of the book says:

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

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

The title of this book really fits.  (In fact, I think Ms. de la Cruz has done an excellent job in choosing titles for the other books in the series, as well.)  The 'revelations' in this third book were totally unexpected.  I thought I had some things figured out, but I was completely wrong.  After a slow start with this book, things really picked up.  The twists and turns make reading this series a lot of fun.  They're not the greatest books ever written, but I enjoy reading them.  Revelations has definitely left me wanting more, and I can't wait to see what happens with Bliss, Schuyler, Jack, Mimi, and Oliver in the next book!

My rating: 4/5

Revelations is #3 in the Blue Bloods series.

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

Schuyler Van Alen has discovered her Blue Blood legacy and must now come to terms with her powers.  Hoping to unearth the identity of the Silver Blood who is killing young Blue Bloods, Schuyler and her best friend, Oliver, travel to Venice in search of Schuyler's long-lost grandfather.  Back in NYC, preparations are underway for the Four Hundred Ball.  At the ball, a mysterious new Blue Blood appears.  He's hot and sexy and flirts with Mimi, Bliss, and Schuyler.  Does he have ulterior motives?  And what does his appearance mean for Schuyler...and Jack?

I had a great time reading Masquerade.  I loved every minute, and didn't want it to end.  My questions about Mimi and Jack's bond were answered, and I liked that Schuyler finally had her eyes opened to Oliver's true feelings for her.  Nothing wrong with a love triangle, right?  I'm rooting for Jack, but I like Oliver so much.  (And how crazy is it that even though I loathe Mimi and really want Jack and Schuyler to be together, there's a part of me that feels sorry for Mimi because she loves Jack so much.  And he loves Mimi just as fully, but he can't fight his connection with Schuyler.  The whole thing is completely messed up, yet it works.)  The New Guy, Kingsley, is mysterious and creepy.  And that ending...did NOT see that coming!

I am SO looking forward to the next book.  Good thing I have it waiting right here!

My rating: 4/5

Masquerade is #2 in the Blue Bloods series.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Safe Haven is the 92nd book I've read this year.  Out of curiosity, I decided to check my stats from last year to see where I was at the end of September 2009.  Funnily enough, at the end of last September, I'd also made it through 92 books, with The Last Song, another Nicholas Sparks book, listed as my 92nd read.  (I actually wrote this review a couple of days ago, but didn't post it until tonight.  I managed to get a 93rd book in today.  Review coming up.)

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Safe Haven dealt with a very difficult subject matter and was quite difficult to read at times.  I wanted to like it more than I did, because I've really enjoyed the last two or three Nicholas Sparks books that have been released.  This one was good, but I wasn't as emotionally involved as I usually am.  I didn't even cry, which is surprising because Nicholas Sparks books are (almost always) guaranteed tearjerkers.  I did like the characters, though (Sparks' development of Kevin was incredible), and the small-town feel of the book.

By the way, I had "Jo" figured out from the very beginning.

My rating: 3.5/5

Top 10 Literary Crushes, Vol. 3

So my sister, Beth, and I were talking last week and she said I should update my literary crush list again.  The last time I updated my list was almost exactly one year ago, when it looked like this:

1. Edward Cullen, the Twilight saga
2. Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (Have I already mentioned that I adore him? I have?)
3. Prince Po, Graceling by Kristin Cashore (just thinking about his gold and silver eyes makes me melt!)
4. Max Pesaro, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason
5. Miach of Neroche, The Nine Kingdoms series by Lynn Kurland
6. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
7. Rhys de Piaget and Robin de Piaget (or any de Piaget male for that matter!), Lynn Kurland books
8. Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables
9. Joshua Steed, The Work and the Glory series by Gerald N. Lund
10. Luke Brandon, Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella

Not a bad list, but I definitely have some different names to add this year.  I'm always thrilled when an author can make me fall for one of his/her characters!
 
So, without further ado, I introduce to you my "Ten Literary Characters I Would Totally Make Out With If I Were Single and They Were Real But I'm Not, Single I Mean; I Am Real -- But I'm Also Happily Married and Want To Stay That Way, So Maybe We Should Forget This..."  (volume 3)

1. Edward Cullen...always and forever
2. Peeta Mellark...let me clarify and say I prefer the Peeta from The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. He was so different in Mockingjay.  That said, I still adore him.
3. Max Pesaro...I will always love you, Max!
4. Dimitri Belikov, the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead...mmm, mmm good!  Can't wait for Last Sacrifice!
5. Valek, the Study series by Maria V. Snyder...love him!
6. Prince Po...gold and silver eyes.  Need I say more?
7. Prince Brigan, Fire by Kristin Cashore...both Po and Brigan are to-die-for.  Or to-sigh-for ;)
8. Miach of Neroche or any de Piaget male...such gentlemen, but so brave and studly at the same time.
9. Fitzwilliam Darcy...of course he's still on the list
10. Patch Cipriano, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick...bad boy fallen angel=hot!
 
Wow, it was much more difficult to narrow it down to 10 than I thought it would be!  Poor Mr. Darcy just keeps falling further and further down the list.  Sorry, Darcy.  I still love you.
 
Your turn, Beth. ;)
 
If you want to review my list from 2007, click here.

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

Since reading Twilight, I've come to love YA vampire stories.  While some are definitely better than others, I found myself really enjoying Blue Bloods.  While I didn't enjoy it as much as Twilight, it was still an entertaining read.  Besides all the fashion designer name-dropping, I think what most bothered me about this book was the way Schuyler and Jack Force went from I-barely-know-you to I-love-you-and-can't-live-without-you in a nanosecond.  (The same thing bothered me with Bella and Edward in the Twilight movie.  Ugh.)  Still, I find Jack captivating.  Mimi, on the other hand, drove me nuts (in a good way!), and I think there is something ominous about her.  Her relationship with Jack, her twin brother, is very strange, and I hope the next book delves further into the Force family history and expounds on the twins' relationship more fully.

I think it's interesting that the Blue Bloods are reincarnated over and over throughout eternity, and I found it fascinating that Jack thought Schuyler was the woman from his "dreams" when really it was her mother.  Can't wait to see how that all plays out!  I'm eager to read Masquerade and continue the story.  Just as soon as I read The Joy Luck Club for my family book club.
 
My rating: 3.5/5
 
Blue Bloods is #1 in the Blue Bloods series.

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

I've read all over the internet that Janette Rallison books are cute, fun reads, so when I saw a couple of them on the shelf at the library I snagged them.  Just One Wish follows seventeen-year-old Annika Truman on an adventure of a lifetime.  Knowing how much her six-year-old brother, Jeremy, who has cancer, wants a Teen Robin Hood action figure, Annika braves the crowds at Toys R Us on Black Friday to get her hands on one.  Satisfied that she's gotten Jeremy the one thing he wanted (after all, the Teen Robin Hood figure is all he's talked about for months), she tells him that she has a genie who will grant him wishes.  She's already used the first wish, but wants Jeremy to use the remaining two wishes, as long as the third wish is that his upcoming surgery goes well. When he wishes to meet Teen Robin Hood himself, Annika doesn't know what to do.  Not wanting to let Jeremy down before his big surgery, Annika leaves her home in Henderson, Nevada (outside Las Vegas) and sets out for Hollywood.  She has one objective in mind: to track down Steve Raleigh, the actor who plays Teen Robin Hood, and bring him home to meet Jeremy.

Annika's whole adventure is totally implausible, but so much fun to read about.  What teenage girl wouldn't love to roam around Hollywood and meet Teen Robin Hood?  Forget the fact that Annika's only seventeen, and that she somehow manages to finagle her way onto a TV set and convince Steve Raleigh (squeal!) to drive home with her, and enjoy the story for what it is.  Because it's pure fun.  I'm a veritable "cougar" at 30, but I wouldn't mind meeting Mr Teen Robin Hood myself. ;)

My rating: 3.5/5

Blue Moon by Alyson Noël

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

While Evermore introduced the characters and outlined Ever and Damen's story to a certain extent, Blue Moon filled in the missing blanks.  I more fully understood just what Summerland is, what the mysterious red elixir is that Damen is always drinking, and how the Immortals and "rogue" Immortals came to be, as well as other questions that I felt weren't answered in the first book.  Usually, I hate getting bogged down in details, but I thought the details made this second installment so much more interesting than the first.  I admit to rolling my eyes when Ever was able to get her hands on all those crazy minerals and ingredients, though: A quartz crystal bowl that's been turned to the seventh chakra; a red silk pouch embroidered by Tibetan monks; herbs planted during the new moon and tended by blind nuns in India... Come on.  All that aside, the story was better, the characters were more entertaining, and, surprisingly enough, I'm actually looking forward to continuing with this series.  (I still can't get over Ever's name, though.  Ever Bloom.  Good grief.)

My rating: 4/5

Blue Moon is #2 in The Immortals series.

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

A friend of mine read I Now Pronounce You Someone Else earlier in the week, and it sounded so cute and her review was so good that I asked if I could borrow it.  I'd been in kind of a "blah" reading mood, where nothing I picked up interested me, and a fun fluff read like this seemed just the perfect thing to pull me out of my funk.

Bronwen Oliver, the protagonist of I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, swears she isn't her mother's child.  How can she be, when her hair is brown and she hates ketchup?  She must have been switched at birth.  Yes, that's it.  And now she's determined to find her Real Family.

Jared Sondervan is an old friend of Bronwen's brother, and when they meet again the summer before Bronwen's senior year of high school, it's love at first sight for both of them.  Jared may be starting his final year of college in the fall, but he's everything Bronwen's ever wanted, and his family is everything she hoped her Real Family could be.  When Jared proposes to Bronwen on her 18th birthday, she's thrilled.  Her dream of a perfect family is coming true.  Wedding plans soon overwhelm her, but Bronwen knows what she wants.  At least she thinks she does.  Before Bronwen can determine what she really wants, she needs to determine who she is.

This book was utterly charming and delightful.  I loved the characters (especially Bronwen, Jared, and Bronwen's stepdad, Whitt) and I loved the chemistry between Bronwen and Jared.  I swooned each time Jared told Bronwen to dream of him.  As wonderful and perfect as their relationship seemed, I was pleased that Bronwen took a step back to truly consider her future, even if it meant hurting Jared.  It was important for her to know who she was before committing to such a life-changing event.  I wasn't sure whether the ending of the book would live up to the expectations I had while reading it, but it did...and, boy, was I happy!  A very fun read.

My rating: 4.25/5

Evermore by Alyson Noël

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

A friend of mine is reading this book, and she says she's having a hard time getting into it, that it seems too much like Twilight.  I had similar thoughts while reading Evermore.  It was very Twilightish, but different enough that the similarities didn't bother me.  What did bother me was Ever's friend Haven.  I couldn't stand her.  I liked both Ever and Damen, and Ever's friend, Miles, and while the story was interesting enough at first to keep me reading, by the end I was ready to be done.  The whole plotline with Ever's sister Riley didn't really pull me in; Drina, Damen's mysterious redheaded lady friend, drove me nuts; "Summerland" made me laugh. I did appreciate that Ever had a big choice to make at the end, and I'm glad she took time to think about it, but now that she's chosen to be with/like Damen, I don't know that I really care to continue with her story.  There are at least 4 more books in this series--I picked the second one, Blue Moon, up from the library today--but if I can't get into the second one, I'm not going to bother reading the rest of them.

3/5

Evermore is #1 in The Immortals series.