The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart by Lauren DeStefano

Title: The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 13th 2016
Source: ARC from the publisher. Thank you Bloomsbury!

Summary from Goodreads:

Lionel is a wild boy, who doesn’t much like to be around other people. He’d rather be a purring cat or a wolf stalking the woods.

Marybeth is a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be told to comb her hair or brush her teeth, and she’s kind to everyone at the orphanage . . . Lionel most of all.

Different though they are, Lionel and Marybeth are best friends in a world that has forgotten about them. So when a mysterious blue spirit possesses Marybeth—and starts to take control—they know they must stop it before the real Marybeth fades away forever.

Review

The Peculiar Night was a well written, attention-grabbing middle grade story. DeStefano weaves a delicate story about two young children and their peculiar encounter. The young friendship between the two characters is heart warming. I love that each character has such a different personality. I think it is important to show that young kids and friendships come in all forms and the bond between two friends can so strong.

Lionel is so different; I just want to hug him for being him. His unrelenting fight for Marybeth and her safety really makes the story. Even though he would rather be an animal then a human boy because of a troubled past he never loses faith in his friend.

The Peculiar Night, while a shorter book, really draws the reader into this journey of friendship, mystery, tragedy, and family. Readers of all ages can enjoy this book!

Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter

Title: Ghostly Echoes
Series: Jackaby #3
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: August 23rd 2016
Source: E-arc from the publisher.  Thank you Algonquin Young Readers! 

Summary from Goodreads:

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

Review

Ghostly Echoes is the third book in the Jackaby series and probably my favorite thus far. This main mystery in this book focused on characters we are introduced to in books one and two. Jenny is the ghost that currently resides in Jackaby’s house and her murder is the main focal point in Ghostly Echoes.

The previous two books introduced Jenny’s back story slightly but it was a nice change to have this book focus on a character the reader has already grown attached to as oppose to introducing new characters and plot lines. Compared to the first two books, Ghostly Echoes was more suspenseful and faster paced. Everything about the mystery had me flipping through the pages in one sitting, so much more was at stake. The reader also learns more about Jackaby’s past really developing him as a detective and overall more dynamic character. The underlying humor is still sprinkled through out, I enjoyed Jackaby’s eccentricities and Abigail’s spunk and dedication.

Ghostly Echoes is the perfect mix of mystery and the supernatural. As the story progresses it gets weirder and weirder, stranger characters appear and the stakes climb to life or death situations. This third installment of the Jackaby series will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more of the Sherlock-like world.

Beastly Bones by William Ritter

Title: Beastly Bones
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: September 22nd 2015
Source:ARC from BEA 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

“I’ve found very little about private detective R. F. Jackaby to be standard in the time I’ve known him. Working as his assistant tends to call for a somewhat flexible relationship with reality.”

In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer R. F. Jackaby are called upon to investigate the supernatural.

First, a vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens, and a day later, their owner is found murdered with a single mysterious puncture wound. Then in nearby Gad’s Valley, now home to the exiled New Fiddleham police detective Charlie Cane, dinosaur bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind. Charlie calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

Review

Fans of Jackaby will not be disappointed, Beastly Bones brings new adventures, eccentric characters, crazy phenomena, and witty conversation.    Jackaby's wild and unfiltered personality shines through the whole book.  His lack of social awareness and overall lack of politeness had me laughing out loud.  His eccentric personality is perfectly complimented by Ms. Rook's over thinking but strong personality. The character dynamics are one of my favorite aspects of the story.

The mystery afoot is a magical and supernatural one as expected and had me surprised until the very end.  The plot was full of action and adventure, never really slowing down in this quick read. There are a good number of characters introduced in this book, so make sure to pay attention, I did have to flip back a couple of times to ensure I had my characters straight.  Charlie, a character from book 1, does make a great addition to the cast of characters and I hope to see more from him in the future.  (Hopefully there is a book 3!) The reader even gets just a hint of romance!

Similar to Jackaby, Beastly Bones has a serious Sherlock feel to it but nonetheless is a fantastic read! It is a light-hearted fun mystery suitable for anyone wanting to laugh out loud while joining a detective and his assistance take on the unimaginable.

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Title:Salt & Storm
Author: Kendall Kulper
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date:September 23rd 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 398 pages
Source: BEA 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
You don't know what you must give up to become a witch.

Avery Roe wants only to claim her birthright as the witch of Prince Island and to make the charms that have kept the island's sailors safe at sea for generations, but instead she is held prisoner by her mother in a magic-free life of proper manners and respectability.

Avery thinks escape is just a matter of time, but when she has a harrowing nightmare, she can see what it means: She will be killed. She will be murdered. And she's never been wrong before.

Desperate to change her future, Avery finds a surprising ally in Tane—a tattooed harpoon boy with magic of his own, who moves her in ways she never expected. But as time runs out to unlock her magic and save herself, Avery discovers that becoming a witch requires unimaginable sacrifice.

Avery walks the knife's edge between choice and destiny in Kendall Kulper's sweeping debut: the story of one girl's fight to survive the rising storm of first love and family secrets.

Review

Salt & Storm sweeps you into the old world of the American Northeast where whaling was a way of life, as were witches.  Avery Roe is destined to become a witch just like every other woman in her family. She is destined to protect the sailors and whale hunters. She has her future planned out, that is until her mother traps her.

The book starts off quite strong, introducing the way of life for the townspeople and how the witches play a role in their safety.  The setting and mood are very well done, I felt immediately drawn into this old New England way of life and wanted to know more about the Roe witches.  The reader is also quickly introduced to the love interest in the story, a nice bonus was that it was not a love triangle, instead it was a powerful relationship that development into a strong first love.

The plot pacing was great for the first half of the story but as time progressed it seemed to lose steam. Parts started to drag and with a potential ending disclosed in the beginning (and in the synopsis) it was easy to start to lose interest and guess at how Avery's destiny was going to play out.

Overall, I am not the biggest fan of the ending or the other relationships within the book.  The secondary characters are hardly developed and do not play large roles at all.  Salt & Storm had high potential and lived up to it in parts but not everywhere.  I recommend it with some hesitation,.

Jackaby by William Ritter

Title:Jackaby
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date:September 16th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 304 pages
Source: BEA 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion--and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Review

I love Sherlock Holmes (especially the BBC show!) and have tried to get into Doctor Who but have had little success there.  I was hoping that Jackaby was going to be a mix of the two with a dark and haunted New England setting and I am here to report that it was in fact an absolute mix of both Sherlock and Doctor Who. Unfortunately, I was TOO much like Sherlock and Doctor Who for me.  I felt that Jackaby lacked some originality.

The story had the same feeling as every Sherlock Holmes movie, and especially the BBC version: a witty sarcastic main character who has unusual detective practices and generally seems crazy.  The Doctor Who comparison was seen in regards to the main female lead, Miss Rook; she was like Doctor Who's Companion. So take both of those main characters and throw in some mystery, wild paranormal/supernatural pieces and you get Jackaby.

Once I got past those very close similarities, I was able to enjoy the story more.  It was a nice standalone detective mystery with a fast paced plot.  The characters were easy to like; Jackaby is full of wit while on the other hand Miss Rook is full of surprises, being an independent female during an era where it is not socially acceptable.  Once of my favorite aspects of the story was the lack of romance, it was so nice to fully dive into the mystery without having an romance squeezed into the short book.

All in all, Jackaby was a quick enjoyable read, full of creatures, ghosts, banshees, and more.  As long as the reader knows that the story lacks some originality and is super similar to Sherlock, the book is a fast paced and enjoyable read.  

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Title: Alice in Zombieland
Series: The White Rabbit Chronicles #1
Author: Gena Showalter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Pages: 404
Source: Audiobook, Library

Summary from Goodreads:
She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Review

Ok, so this book was far-fetched, and a little ludicrous. It even suffered from some of the typical YA tropes, but it was undeniably fun. And I am so not a zombie person.

I don't really see the connection to Alice in Wonderland, at all. And the whole spirit zombie thing was a little weird. So was the out of body fighting with all of the rules that governed it. In fact there were a lot of rules and truths that just got progressively harder to believe as things got "explained". Like I said, the story was a little out there. And I'm not sure how I feel about that.

But it was exciting and boy, did it make me laugh. There pacing was spot on, with a good bit of action throughout. And not only did Ali's best friend Kat provide a steady dose of entertainment but Ali's grandparents were hysterical too! I snort-laughed when her grandmother said 'douche-purse' and when they were grilling the boys Ali took home. There were many moments throughout this book that made me laugh or smile, which is always a plus.

And I finally met the famed Cole Holland!  Although he is not really my type - a little too jerk-y for my tastes - I was swooning for him! Ali was swooning so hard that I really couldn't help myself. Every time I read about his tattooed, muscled chest and gorgeous violet eyes, my breath caught a little. And there were some steam-y moments between them. I do think he will grow on me, but don't worry Betty, he is all yours!

So while this book isn't perfect for me, I did enjoy it and I am glad I read it. If you are a zombie person and don't mind books that are a little wild, I'd recommend this one. If you enjoy an exciting story with a good helping of humor, I recommend this one. And if you like brooding men who happen to be gorgeous, I recommend this one!

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #1
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date:May 8th 2012
Pages: Paperback, 2nd Edition, 335 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Review

I have been very hesitant to read start the Lux series because I have heard such great things I was nervous about the books being over-hyped. I am happy to report that  Obsidian was a fantastic alien book, I look forward to finishing the series. I have a couple reservations but the main reason I did not give the book a full 5 stars was that a couple of parts were a bit predictable. 

My 5 favorite things about Obsidian

1. Katy is a book blogger.  I had no idea that Katy, the main character, was a book blogger so when I read that she was checking her blog comments and writing her Waiting on Wednesday posts I ended up grinning from ear to ear.  This is the first book that I have read that has a book blogger.  Later in the book she is super excited because she got ARCs in the mail!  I thought it was kind of a cool shout out to bloggers :)

" I'd rather read a book and stalk my blog comments"

Oh. Dear. Baby.  Jesus. How did he find it?  Wait.  More importantly was the fact that he had found it. Was my blog now Googleable?  That was awesomesauce with an extra heaping of sauce.

2. Bad boy Alien Daemon. Daemon is up there on the list of hot bad boys and man o man is he hot one second and cold the next.  He is arrogant, protective, sweet, and a jerk all in the same chapter!

" You look like you got more of a bath than the car.  I never thought washing a car would be so hard, but after watching you for the last fifteen minutes, I'm convinced it should be an Olympic sport."

3. Good Aliens vs Evil Aliens.  With everything else going on in the story there was still room for a couple crazy battle scenes between the good aliens and the bad aliens.  The battle scenes had plenty of unexpected surprises.  

4. Crazy sexual tension.  The sexual tension between Daemon and Katy if maxed out! Armentrout writing just brings you into the story so you can feel the frustration Katy feels towards Daemon all while waiting them to finally just kiss. 

 Grinning, he backed down the steps.  "I'll see you at noon, Kitten."

"I hate you," I hissed.

" The feeling's mutual." He glanced over his shoulder, "Twenty bucks says you wear a one-piece swimsuit."

He was insufferable.

5. Well developed relationships and characters.  Both Katy and Daemon are well developed, their characters have history and reasons for acting they way they do.  Not only are the both of them great,the friendship between Katy and Dee is sincere. The distant but loving relationship between Katy and her mother is also a nice addition to the book.    

Bottom Line

  If you want sexual tension, aliens, a bad boy, and an overall good versus evil book that is fast paced and well written than I highly recommend Obsidian.  If aliens are not your thing at all, I might avoid this one but you are missing out on a pretty great book.  

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Title: The Vanishing Season
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 256
Source: ALA MW

Summary from Goodreads:
Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.

The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.

I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.

All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.

Review

I found The Vanishing Season to have a certain dream-like quality to it. The story is a delicate one and didn't feel quite grounded in reality. The characters had a storybook way to them - a little young and a lot peculiar. That, and Jodi Lynn Anderson's writing was beautiful, seamless and floating, and wistful too. I feel like this will either work for readers or it won't. For me, I found that I liked this.

I can understand the criticism though too. The synopsis is deceiving. The perspective from which it is told is a small part of the story you will read. An important part, especially as the end nears, but small nonetheless.I wish it had been given more prominence because I loved this part of the story. On the surface, this book is really about a young girl who moved from the big city to the small town of Door County. She's adjusting to her new life and growing closer to her two neighbors, the fragile, childlike Pauline, and the quiet, steady Liam. Meanwhile, young girls are being murdered in a mysterious way and the people of Door County grow more fearful and distant by the day. But this isn't really a mystery, or a horror story. Actually, in reflection, the vanishing girls have very little to do with the story at all except to contribute to the mood.

The Vanishing Season is no Tiger Lily but it had its moments and its good qualities. It wasn't always so engaging but it had me curious and I read it easily. But sadly, I don't think it lived up to its promise. That said, I think this one may be better suited for a younger audience or fans of simple seeming stories with an understated elegance to them.

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Eternity Cure
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Pages: 434
Source: Audible, Audiobook

Summary from Goodreads:
In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

Review

Oh my god, this sequel was amazing!!

Just days ago I posted my review of The Immortal Rules and was sad to say that I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped to be. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. But this book. THIS BOOK. This book impressed me. This book I loved.

The Eternity Cure was so much more than The Immortal Rules in so many ways. Most noticeably, the plot moved at a much faster pace and the stakes were MUCH higher. There was never a dull moment in this book. In fact, I was almost in a constant state of nervous excitement. And although that ending left me sobbing and speechless, I have to say that the events in this book were perfectly orchestrated for maximum feels. So so good.

And I feel like the characters really grew into themselves. Allie was challenged a hell of a lot more, both physically and emotionally. She had to make a lot of really difficult decisions and I think that made her strong and compassionate personality come through even more so. And Zeke. *sigh*. I was not swooning Zeke in The Immortal Rules but I am swooning Zeke now. Hard. He was so much more badass this time around but still managed to keep that sweet way of his. And I never thought I'd say this, but Jackal grew on me. I might even care about him a little which makes me feel weird. His commentary was much appreciated. As for Sarren, he might just be the creepiest villain I have ever had the non-pleasure of reading about EVER. My god this guy gave me the chills and will in all likelihood give me nightmares as well. And Kanin was Kanin. He turned into this fatherly figure in my eyes. Rock solid.

Let's just say I now understand what all the fuss is about. This book pulled me in, made my care for these characters, and left me dying to pick up The Forever Song (although to be honest I am a little scared to). It was expertly written and feel-inducing. I am still in awe.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 485
Source: Audible, Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness….

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.

Review

I don't have all the much to say about The Immortal Rules. It didn't impress me as much as I had hoped - there are a lot of fans of this series - but I still enjoyed the story.

The beginning was really strong. I loved that Allie turned into a vampire and thought it made for an interesting twist. Since I have a problem with reading synopses, I forgot this little fact and was pleasantly surprised. I was really into it when Kanin was training her and her internal struggle over becoming this thing that she hated was believable. I liked Allie.

It was when Allie and Kanin separated and Allie joined the group of humans that things started to slow for me. I don't know if it's just me, but I almost always get bored when the characters are traveling, searching, whatever you want to call it. Allie's predicament of having to hide the fact that she was a vampire made for some interesting moments but ultimately my attention wavered. It didn't help that I wasn't swooning over Zeke. The budding romance was just ok for me but I don't know if that was because of my lack of interest in the pilgrimage.

But towards the end things started to pick back up and the book pulled me back in. There was a lot of action and Allie got to be badass on more than one occasion, which I always love. I mean, she's a vampire, let's have fun with that! And we get a lot of helpful background information like how rabids came to be and who the important players are. The book definitely ended on a strong note.

I'm curious to see where this story is going so I've already started The Eternity Cure (so far so good!). I definitely think this series has promise and would recommend it to fans of paranormal/vampire fiction.

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Rebel Belle
Series: Rebel Belle #1
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Pages: 345
Source: YA Book Exchange

Summary from Goodreads:
Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

This book is all kinds of awesome.

Harper Price is this super preppy, super happy, super well behaved girl. And being the perfect Southern Belle means everything to her. So imagine when she is suddenly gifted with superpowers and tasked with protecting her arch nemesis. First, she thinks she must be crazy. Then, when she realizes she is not, she is totally psyched over the fact that she is a superhero with some noble purpose. Until she finds out that her noble purpose is to protect David Stark, the very boy she's been competing with her whole life.

I adore Harper and I got such a kick out of her. She's extremely good-natured, well-intentioned and just all around likable. But she had no clue what was going on, so watching her figure it out along the way, all the while trying to keep up appearances, was the most entertaining thing ever. Some of the situations she found herself in and the way she charmed her way out of them - so great. I was laughing or smiling through most of this book. She was hilarious in a totally unassuming and unintentional way.

And the dynamic between Harper and David only added to the fun - the bickering, the witty banter, the growing feels between the two of them. They were so different in some ways, and yet so similar in others. And they had such history. It just worked and I loved it. It was the perfect progression of a relationship, with just enough insecurity and promise.

All in all, I am completely smitten with this book. I loved the Southern charm. I loved the excitement. The humor. The characters. Everything, really. It is a total feel-good book. AND HOLY COW THAT ENDING. Guys, my mouth was hanging open for like the last 30 pages. If I know anything, it is that the next book is going to be crazy (in a very fabulous, whycan'tihavebooktwoalready kind of way.) I can. not. wait.

Rebel Belle is not my first Rachel Hawkins book, but it is by far my favorite. I HIGHLY recommend this one. In fact, I push it on all of you. Now go read it (please) :)

ARC-REVIEW: Unbreakable (The Legion #1) by Kami Garcia

Title: Unbreakable
Series: The Legion #1
Author: Kami Garcia
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 1st 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 320 pages
Source: ARC from BEA

Summary from Goodreads:
Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.

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• Unbreakable was a pretty fast read, there is a whole lot going on.  The chapters were suspenseful and full of action.  
• Legion.  The entire premise was interesting and enjoyable.  As mentioned above, you can see the parallels to the Da Vinci Code like plot.  While I did enjoy the similarities I felt it was still lacking in development.  

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• Unbreakable was a little bit out there.  I can accept supernatural books and even would consider it one of my favorite genres but I like it to be well done.  The execution of the plot was weak and I felt like the supernatural elements lacked substance.    
• The romance felt forced and unnecessary.  
• Lastly, I felt that the story line was rather forced.  The drama/main focus in the story was a stretch.  Now I am not a huge mythology person so it may in fact be following the actual myth but Awaken just seemed to be a book there to simply end the character's story.  
• The characters had a young and sometimes immature voice that I just could not overlook.  It just dragged my opinion of them down and made it hard to truly root for the characters. 

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Unbreakable was a blend of crazy spirit/ghost hunters and secret societies. Parts reminded me of Tomb Raider.  The whole idea is definitely intriguing but I felt the characters were mediocre and the romance and supernatural aspects were lacking.
  

REVIEW: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Naturals

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: November 5, 2013

Pages: 304, Hardcover
Source: Audiobook, Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

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• This is totally teen Criminal Minds with a paranormal twist. And I LOVE Criminal Minds. I can't get enough crime-story-type books and I especially enjoy the darker ones that dig into the mind of serial killers. As appalling as some of these stories are (and how paranoid I've become since watching/reading them) I find them fascinating. 


• I loved the gifts that the Naturals possessed - I always enjoy stories involving abilities. I think it was interesting to see how the Naturals used their gifts to solve cases and I particularly enjoyed how their gifts shaped their interactions with each other. Imagine not being able to lie or hide your emotions - yikes! 


• I loved the cat and mouse game going on. This is another book that provides the killers POV throughout the story and you all know I love getting the bad guys POV. 


• The mystery. I didn't exactly see that ending coming. Really, this book was so fast-paced that I didn't have time to predict anything. I liked how the case was solved but some parts of the story are still left open for later. I imagine there will be more books. 

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• I believe in coincidences but this book relied on them and when things are too improbable it bugs me. That's all I can say without giving anything away. 


• The love triangle. Cassie was all over the place. It felt like all it took was for a boy to look at her for her to develop feelings for him. I wasn't convinced why she liked either boy. The whole romance aspect just felt like a plot extra. 


• I wish the Naturals had the chance to actually solve cases as a team. This was mostly about Cassie learning the ropes, stumbling upon a case, and figuring it out in time for the big ending ( with the aid of her two gentlemen). We didn't really get to see the unit work together. 

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This book was a ton of fun. Despite the romance and the unlikelihood of things, I really enjoyed it. It was a compelling crime story, with a nice touch of paranormal and drama. 

REVIEW: World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee

Title: World After

Author: Susan Ee

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: November 19, 2013

Pages: 315, Paperback
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

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• WHERE DO I START?! How about with Penryn?  Kickass, loyal, capable Penryn. She ROCKS. I didn't mind being in her head at all. She was practical, smart, independent... 


• It's only natural to mention Raffe now. Oh, Raffe. *sigh*. If you keep kicking all the bad guys asses and being sweet on Penryn, I might never be satisfied loving a a mere human again. Stoppit, dammit. 


• But this book is not a romance! Penryn and Raffe have a few tender moments together but they are mostly apart. Oh but when they are together... *swoon*


• THIS BOOK. Describing this book as dark wouldn't be enough because that word is thrown around so casually BUT THIS BOOK IS DARK. It is scary as all hell, and gruesome and violent, and crazy and just all kinds of DARK things. Those scorpion monster things WILL HAUNT ME. Sadly, Paige will haunt me too. *shudders*


• I have to mention Pooky Bear (the archangel sword). I feel like this sword was a character in a way. I love what Susan Ee did with it and the conversation between Raffe and Penryn over the name made me laugh out loud. 

• So you want to hear about plot and pacing and development and what not, don't you? Well that was also SPOT ON Seriously, this book is just one fast-paced, insane ride of awesomesauce. If you haven't started reading this series yet than WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR.

• WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION THE ENDING. It was EPICCCCCC. 

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So if you couldn't decipher my fangirling (I don't blame you), it would be simplest to say that I liked everything and disliked nothing. This is such a well written, exciting book/series that I recommend it highly. I love Angelfall, I loved World After, and I cannot wait to read whatever comes next. 

REVIEW: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Title: School Spirits

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Pages: 297, Hardcover
Source: Audiobook, Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? 

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• This book kept me guessing. I didn't figure out the culprit and it wasn't for a lack of trying. Even though some of my guesses had some substance, I was more wrong than I was right. So as far as mystery goes, I guess it was pretty good. 


• Izzy's lack of normal teenage experiences and inability to easily fit in made for some pretty entertaining moments. My favorite was when she dislocated a popular boys shoulder with a dodgeball throw. Not sure how realistic that is but it was comical. 


• You can always count on Rachel Hawkins to deliver a light, funny, and entertaining read. The appeal of the Hex Hall series carries over to School Spirits. The world is compelling, the Brannicks are badass BUT... 

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• All of it fell flat. I don't really know what happened - the promise was there but... I wasn't totally buying what Hawkins was selling. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for something on the juvenile side but I finished this book just thinking "meh". 


• I didn't love any of the characters. Even Izzy herself. And I found Dex's character to be somwhat unbelievable. But he's got a lot of fans so excuse me while I run from the death glares you are probably shooting me through the computer. 

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So here is the harsh truth. I found School Spirits to be a less-funny, less-interesting less-convincing version of the original series. It troubles me to say that because I still consider myself a Rachel Hawkins fan but *shrugs*. From the reviews I have seen, I seem to be the black sheep, SO I advise other Hawkins fans to take what I say with a grain of salt.