Review: The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

Title:  The Mephisto Covenant (Mephisto Covenant #1)
Author:  Trinity Faegen
Pages:  434
Genre:  Paranormal Young Adult Literature
Publisher:  Egmont USA
Obtained:  Library
Summary:  Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger--she is an Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx's biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant--God's promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he's finally found the girl he's been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx always looming, Jax knows he has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

The Dish:  Sasha has a lot being thrown at her all at once.  Within a single day, she's confronted the leader of a supposed cult to find out about her father's murder, stoned by members of said cult, rescued by a young man dressed in black, and had her memories erased of anything about said man.  When she gets home after all of this has happened, she learns her mother is being departed to Russia for being suspected as a spy, and Sasha is going to live with the uncle and aunt she never knew about.  May I take a break from the Tilt-O-Whirl of events, please?

With everything that's being hurled at Sasha, I'm surprised she's still standing and able to take in everything.  I admire that aspect about her as a character, but there were some issues I had with her behavior, too.  Yes, I realize it might have been due to her proximity to Jax, but to see her constantly stating, "No, I have to stay away from him," and then turn right around to run to the one she thought was "not right" was driving me up the wall.  It felt like I was at Wimbledon watching Sasha going from one side of the court to the next. 

Other than being a Son of Hell, Jax didn't seem like that bad of a guy.  What he does is ultimately for the greater good even though it means no redemption for the Lost Souls from humans who pledged themselves to Eryx.  And when it came to Sasha, it appeared as though he did everything in his power to help her, which really speaks of his character and the fact that he does want redemption from God.  It was nice to also be introduced to his five brothers as I believe each of them will be a focus for the next books in The Mephisto Covenant series. 

What was rather disheartening was how quickly certain people seemed to give up and follow Eryx.  Were they that desperate enough to give up their souls?  I won't go into greater detail because I don't want to spoil the story, but it was something that gave more despair to the story sometimes even more than what Sasha had to endure. 

Trinity Faegen has told a story that revolves around the fight between good and evil and given it a new twist.  I was impressed with how Faegen chose to handle the religious aspect of the story, and I'm already curious to see what she has in store for the next book, The Mephisto Kiss. 

Book 6

Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Title:  The Girl of Fire and Thorns
(Fire and Thorns #1)
Author:  Rae Carson
Pages:  424
Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Obtained:  Library
Summary:  Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king--a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.

Most of the chosen do.

The Dish:  Princess Lucero-Elisa does not believe she is the one who should bear the Godstone, the gift bestowed upon God's chosen once every one hundred years.  She's not good with royal politics, she's not graceful or lithe, and she's terrified of horses (her only true flaw in my opinion).  While she believes her elder sister would be a more suitable bearer of the Godstone as well as a more suitable match for King Alejandro of her country's ally, it is Elisa who is led down the aisle in a marriage that any self-doubting sixteen-year-old girl would hesitate to enter.

These reasons are why she is one of the most amazing fantasy heroines.  Elisa knows her flaws, or at least what she thinks of as flaws, and she doubts herself constantly throughout the story, but she keeps moving forward despite having these reservations about herself.  One could say this is due to those around her that offer support and belief in her, but it is also Elisa's own determination to rise to the task of bearing the Godstone that makes her such a remarkable heroine.

Rae Carson created and brought to life amazing and life-like supporting characters, and I say "supporting" both in the casting sense and in what they do to help Elisa find her path to grow.  Starting with Ximena and Aneaxi, Elisa's nurse and lady-in-waiting, they have been there for the princess ever since she was a baby.  Then, there is the stoic Hector, King Alejandro's man-at-arms, who proved to be a great councilor to Elisa sometimes without even speaking.  The desert escorts were by far some of the most earnest characters from the unreadable Cosme to her brother, Humberto, who became devoted to Elisa.  The two that I'm awaiting to learn more about are Ximena and Hector, both of which give me the impression that there is far more to their story than we've heard thus far.

While The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a rather lengthy book, the story didn't feel as such.  Between the transitions for Elisa going from one realm to another, the pace was energetic, and I certainly felt the energy flowing from the pages.  Carson's writing has an amazing use of description without going into a tangent, and this makes the reader aware of Elisa's ability to notice the details that are often missed.

Those who are destined for greatness will not often find it while in the comforts of the familiar.  No one knows that more than Lucero-Elisa, bearer of the Godstone and hope for her people.  I can't wait to read the continuation of Elisa's story, so look for The Crown of Embers on September 18th!

Book 5

Texas YA Author Love Giveaway Winner Announced!

Since the annual Texas Library Association conference is just around the corner, I'm hosting a giveaway to show all of our Texas YA authors just how much their readers love them.  You can win TWO paranormal books of your choice from the list of titles below. 

Congratulations to Natasha! 

She has chosen Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter and Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey as her prizes.

Review: Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Title:  Oh. My. Gods.
Author:  Tera Lynn Childs
Pages:  264
Genre:  Young Adult Mythology
Publisher:  Speak (Penguin Group)
Summary:  All Phoebe Castro has to do is keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season and her dream of attending USC with her friends on a track scholarship is a reality. So it's a complete shock when her mom announces that she's marrying a near-stranger and moving them to Greece. Before Phoebe knows it, she's stuck on a secret island in the Aegean and attending the superexclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students--they're descendants of the Greek gods, superpowers included. If regular high school wasn't bad enough, this is mortal misery. Phoebe's only chance of reclaiming her old life lies in securing that scholarship. But managing that may be an ungodly challenge, considering she's got a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy--what a god!--in her way...

The Quick Dish:  This was a really cute read, and I enjoyed hearing Phoebe's story.  The idea of having descendants of the Greek gods living among us may not be a new concept, but when it's done right I welcome any and all stories like it.  The characters were just so "high school" and I couldn't help laughing consistently as I read.  Phoebe was a character that I hoped would grow while on Serfopoula, and while she did develop some, it is definitely clear that she has even more growing to do.  As for story, it was the "hero's journey" about finding yourself in a more contemporary setting without necessarily having to slay monsters.

One thing I was thrown off by was the initial action that brought Phoebe to Serfopoula, the fact of her mother falling in love with Damien and marrying him within a matter of a week or so.  I've heard of "love at first sight," but I wondered if maybe Cupid had something to do with that.  Truth be told, Phoebe and Griffin's relationship had more development, and this gave a rather impetuous impression to see her mother making a rash decision.  However, since it wasn't explained in the story, I guess the reader will never know for sure beyond that they just "fell in love and wanted to get married."

Overall, if you enjoy Greek mythology in a contemporary setting along with hilarious characters, Oh. My. Gods. is right up your alley.

Book 2                                  Book 1

Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Title:  Shattered Souls
Author:  Mary Lindsey
Pages:  326
Genre:  Paranormal Young Adult
Publisher:  Philomel Books
Summary:  A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger. Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries. Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

The Dish:  There are only two words I can use to describe Mary Lindsey's debut... completely amazing.  It's always exciting when an author hits the mark the first time with story, characters, and pacing, and Mary Lindsey definitely hit it dead-on.

The story was a concept that hasn't been explored as much as others, and it was refreshing to read such a unique story involving reincarnation.  Lenzi is simply an amazing girl, and I adored her right from the beginning of the book to the very last page.  She really became more than what she originally thought she was capable of in the first chapters while still trying to overcome her persistent doubts.  It was both fascinating and frustrating watching how Alden's attempts to help her overcome the doubts sometimes caused even more doubts, but that is the mind of a teenage girl, even one who has apparently lived many different lives through the centuries.

There were times that I wondered what was going through Lenzi's head when she made decisions that placed herself in danger, but that added to the realism of her character.  She is a teenager, and teenagers don't always make the best of decisions (trust me, I remember being a teen and making bad decisions, too). Given the traits of her past self, that Alden and others like them knew as Rose, which were gradually revealed to Lenzi as well as the reader, her decisions did make sense.  When it came to Alden, I thought she did ultimately make the right decisions.  Oh, Alden... a swoon-worthy boy if ever I did see one, though sometimes he did take his orders a bit too seriously.  It's no wonder that Lenzi became so frustrated with him, but in the end he also made the right decisions for her.

With the story really being about Lenzi coming to know who she is by learning who she was, the pacing had the pages turning at a consistent rate.  It always astounds me how authors find the balance that keeps baiting the reader to keep moving on to read even more.  There were some areas of the story that were left open to a possible sequel, however I'm not sure if one will happen.  Even without a second book, I am impressed and delighted to have found such a wonderful author and storyteller in Mary Lindsey.  I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Bottom line: You must read this book.  If you are a Texas YA blogger, then you MUST read this book.

Book 1

Shattered Souls Book Signing

I had the opportunity to attend not one but two book signings for Shattered Souls, debut Young Adult novel by Mary Lindsey.  At the first signing at Blue Willow Books in Houston, where I was able to meet some awesome local bloggers: Christin of Portrait of a Book, Amy of Word Lust, Kristin of Kristin Creative, and Michelle of Windowpane Memoirs, I was shopping for my blogging Secret Santa and I also didn't have my camera.  Soooo, I thought it only fair to attend a second book signing today at Katy Budget Books.  Plus, a friend from the library asked if I could get her a copy, too, so how could I not?  

(Note: This post is very photo-centic just to warn those with slow browsers.)

Above is the display and signing table with many copies of Mary's beautiful books.  And they really are beautiful once you get a look at the cover as shown below with my own copy along with a bookmark.  ^_^

(Gorgeous, right?)

Here's an up-close-and-personal picture of the books and the bookmarks are below.

While we were waiting on a very special guest (Mary's dear mom-in-law), she offered everyone fresh baked cookies.  She was very insistent on everyone having a nice snack...

So insistent that she had some professional advertisers model with the cookies.  Let me tell you these girls knew how to sell.  I should know since I sampled two cookies... then again, I did skip lunch.

After her special guest arrived, Mary went on to explain how the cover of Shattered Souls was selected.  I had no idea how lengthy a process it could be, and it was definitely enlightening for all the writers in the crowd.  But the final result was just beautiful, so it's definitely worth it in the end.

The one feature about the cover that did remain present from the original cover design to the final design was a gorgeous origami rose.  When you look at the cover in its entirety, you'll see the rose on the back cover right where Mary's pointing.

Here's a closer picture of the rose, and I'm just amazed at the intricacy.

Mary then showed her second revision of Shattered Souls after receiving it back along with a 15-page letter from the editor.  15 pages... wow, that's just incredible.

All the notes were color-coded with three different tabs: Red tabs were where an entirely new scene needed to be added, Yellow tabs were liked but needed to be rewritten or moved, and Blue tabs were liked but might have needed to be moved.  Needless to say, the writing process is an intense and ever-editing one.

Following some questions, Mary went into signing the books.  While there was a smaller crowd at this signing than was at Blue Willow Books (that was the FIRST signing following the release date), it allowed Mary to have more time to visit with her readers.  I even had the chance to visit with her family who was right there with her at both signings.   

I regret not getting a shot of the whole family, but here's a nice one of her daughter, Hannah.  When your teenagers attend your book signings, you know there's a lot of family dedication and support.

Mary was just awesome while we were chatting (and even after I was insistent that she read a bit from Shattered Souls).  She is definitely a wonderful person as well as an author, and I'm going to make sure we get Shattered Souls for my library.  Thanks, Mary, for bringing a great new YA novel to the industry!  

Now, everyone, go check it out!

Find Shattered Souls at:

Independent Bookstores

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Book Depository

Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Title:  Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Authors:  Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary
Pages:  260
Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf
Summary:  I've left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook version? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

The Dish:  We're all looking for that "someone" aren't we?  That "special someone" that we can completely open ourselves to without fear, without masks, without regret.  What if you decided to take a chance on someone that you had never met but only knew through the writings found in a notebook placed in a bookstore?  That's just what Dash decides to do and thus "meets" Lily and so begins the exchange of dares placed within the pages of a red notebook.

It was a little hard getting to know Dash in the first couple of chapters simply because of his slightly cynical nature while Lily was an adorable gem of a girl.  However, after more of their backgrounds are revealed, I definitely saw myself falling for Dash, or at least wanting to hear more of his story.  And for him to just take a risk like this on a whim, that really shows how much he wants to believe that life is more than just the cynicism he has felt.  He definitely has a good heart, and it shows in the company he keeps, particularly in one John Boomer known by his friends as just "Boomer."  This friend of Dash's while rather energetic is a definite example of the pure goodness one can find if they only look hard enough.  And it is his association with Dash that really helps Lily to see more of the boy behind the words.

Lily had quite a bit of growing up to do in order to find "herself" especially since she's been sheltered by her parents and grandfather for so long.  I can definitely relate to her situation, though she wasn't sheltered from the things I was.  Having an older brother like Langston was a definite blessing even if he became a bit dramatic at times, but he was there for her when she needed him.  And without his involvement, Lily would not have even taken such a risk with getting to know and meeting Dash.  I was surprised at some of her actions as the story progressed, but this was part of her growth process.  Sometimes, one has to be ankle deep in sludge before they realize their real potential and who they truly are, and I know Lily learned that lesson well.

Meeting Dash's friends and Lily's family through the tasks of giving the notebook to whomever needed it was a sheer delight.  Out of all the side characters, my two favorites were probably Mrs. Basil E (Lily's great-aunt Ida) and Boomer.  Their interactions with both Dash and Lily were intriguing, enlightening, and hilarious, thus helping to move the story, as well as Dash and Lily's relationship, forward.  I was a little concerned when an ex-girlfriend came back into the picture and thought this would create more conflict, but she was surprising with the advice she offered to Dash.  Levithan really created a different story for Dash in that regard, and I was happy with his choice.

Overall, this was a wonderful and light read, and given the season of the story is nearing now, I would recommend it as a holiday book.  This is one book readers will definitely want in their personal library.

Review: Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

Title:  Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories
Editors:  Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones
Genre:  Young Adult Literature
Pages:  352
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Summary:  You are not alone. Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the "funny guy" into the best defense against the bullies in his class. Today's top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying--as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators--in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

The Dish:  I have been awaiting the release of this book ever since I first heard about it.  Now that I have read through my own copy... how to begin my review. *inhales and exhales* We've all been there in some form or fashion whether we are the bullied, the bully, or the bystanders.  I can sum the whole situation up into 2 words: bullying sucks.  Personally, the only times I can recall was when I was bullied, though there might have been a time when I was the bully.  It's hard to forget the feelings you experience at that time even now 15 years after the fact.  But in all honesty, I think Dear Bully is a wake-up call, one that is sorely needed in this world.

Now, some readers might dread having those feelings dredged back up from the tiny recesses of their minds that they've shoved those painful memories inside.  And I've already seen reviews criticizing the book for that fact or that those who really need to read it won't.  Even if most of the bullies don't read it (and they really don't know what they're missing out on), as long as it speaks to just one child, one teenager, one adult, I do believe it would make a difference.  To read about authors bearing their souls, revealing those painful memories that they have had to carry makes them all the more real to me rather than just names of people whose work I love reading.  That makes them almost more real in my eyes than seeing them at a library conference or a book signing.  Because they have been there just as I have been there and just as most of us have been there.

There are so many great letters, stories, and poems within Dear Bully, but one of the stories I find the most memorable is the one by Cecil Castellucci called "They Made Me Do It and I'm Sorry."  I think it stuck with me most because I love graphic novels, and that was how Castellucci chose to tell her story with illustrations by Lise Bernier.  What really struck me about this story was how within a group of six friends, five would choose to "freeze out" one for a time.  And once that one was let back into the group, the others would behave as if nothing had happened... before freezing out another.  Watching how friends could do this to one another is baffling to say the least, but the illustrations really hammer the situation home.

I think my only complaint about Dear Bully is why there haven't been more books of its kind before.  The bullying situation is nothing new.  It happened when I was a kid, it happened when my parents were kids, and it will most likely keep happening until someone chooses to stand up and say, "Stop. It's not okay to do this."  The logical part of me knows it won't happen overnight, but the bullying will continue if we don't keep bringing it up.  I will definitely recommend this to any parent, teacher, and librarian because it needs to be read.  The stories need to be heard.

TGIF Follow Friday (3)

TGIF is a weekly feature created and hosted byGReads! that re-caps the week’s posts and has different question each week.

This Friday's Question:

Gateway Books: Which particular books opened you up to a new genre?

For a long time during college and grad school, it seemed as though most of what I read was graphic novels and manga. While these are great books unto themselves, I missed being able to just sit down and read a book. College will definitely burn you out on reading, let me tell you.  I think it was actually three books (given to me by the same person) that opened me up to Young Adult Literature.  

First was Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study, which rekindled my love of fantasy books. In addition, I think that might have influenced my desire to bake, thanks to all the cinnamon swirl references. Then, there was Annette Curtis Klause's Blood and Chocolate, an amazing werewolf love story that really helped me delve more into the werewolf novels. After that was Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, and I was blown away by this particular genre. So I have to say thank you to Karen of Books Beside My Bed for getting me to branch out into YA through these novels. ^_^

Special Side Dish: Speaking of YA books, check out Marla's Bump in the Night Giveaway going on now at Starting the Next Chapter!

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title:  The Goddess Test
Author:  Aimee Carter
Genre:  Young Adult
Pages:  293
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Summary:  It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying.  Her last wish?  To move back to her childhood home.  So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.  Then she meets Henry.  Dark.  Tortured.  And mesmerizing.  He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.  Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead.  Now saving her mother seems crazily possible.  If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.  If she fails...

The Dish:  My name is DJL, I am a Greek mythology geek... and I enjoyed The Goddess Test.  Now, I've seen quite a few negative opinions regarding this take on the Greek gods.  While I believe every reader is entitled to their opinion I also think those who criticize Carter are missing out on the story.  There is a level of artistic licence that some authors choose to take when writing books that involve mythology, supernatural beings, etc.  Carter chose to portray Zeus, Hades, Demeter, et al in a manner that would typically be considered "out of character."  But I don't believe it was a bad portrayal, just different and at the same time rather enjoyable.

Overall, I enjoyed the story Carter chose to tell using her representations of the Greek deities.  The characters were interesting and for the most part likable, though there were a few brow-raising moments while reading.  I understand Kate was most likely in a vulnerable state due to her mother's condition, but to suddenly call the girl who tried to abandon you stranded in the dark of night your best friend?  That's a bit of a stretch in the believeability department.

Henry was sometimes a confusing character being distant during one part of the story and then showing more care and concern for Kate's safety.  But it didn't feel consistent.  It was as though he kept flip-flopping around.  I'm unsure if this was due to the deity he was representing in the story or just showing a mood-changing male lead character.  It was sometimes difficult to tell whether he was supposed to be an emotional male character or showing the multiple sides of the god of the Underworld.  In spite of this confuzzling demeanor of his, I did like Henry, and I hope to get to know him more in Goddess Interrupted.

Despite my frustrations with Henry and my slight disbelief in some of Kate's actions, I did like The Goddess Test.  This is not the myth of "Hades and Persephone," not even a different rendition of the famous myth.  So I think if readers keep that in mind while also keeping an open mind about the unique portrayal of such famous Greek deities (as well as how the test "relates" to them, though I won't spoil it for other readers), I believe they will enjoy the overall story.

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where bloggers post about all the books they have received whether in the mail, if we purchased it, or checked out from our local library.  ^_^ 


From Book Depository: 

Unraveled by Gena Showalter

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

From my Library:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

(I'm so excited about Wonderstruck, I just had to read this one!)

From Barnes & Noble (Free ebook):

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

(Thanks to Book Sake for sharing the great news!)

From Half-Price Books:

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

What did you get in your mailbox this week? ^_^

Review: Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Title:  Rival
Author:  Sara Bennett Wealer
Summary:  Brooke "I don't like Kathryn Pease. I could pretend everything's fine between us. I could be nice to her face, then trash her behind her back. But I think it's better to be honest. I don't like Kathryn, and I'm not afraid to admit it."  Kathryn "I saw a commercial where singers used their voices to shatter glass, but the whole thing is pretty much a myth. The human voice isn't that strong. Human hatred is. Anybody who doubts that should feel the hate waves coming off of Brooke Dempsey. But I don't shatter; I'm not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren't on the outside."

Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends...until the night when Brooke ruthlessly turned on Kathryn in front of everyone. Suddenly Kathryn was an outcast and Brooke was Queen B. Now, as they prepare to face off one last time, each girl must come to terms with the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.

The Dish:  There were definitely two reasons I had in mind when I chose to pick up Rival; the cover is absolutely gorgeous and the summary brought back a lot of memories.  Fortunately, my times in high school choir were some of the best times I had, and though my best friend and I were competitive, it was definitely not to the extent of Brooke and Kathryn.  I had to know what would turn two girls against each other in such a way when both shared such a love of music and performing.  What I got from the story was much deeper than a music competition between two former best friends turned heated rivals.

Kathryn and Brooke couldn't be more opposite when it comes to their lives.  Kathryn has been more of a wallflower within their high school, active while at the same time not within the spotlight.  She focuses on her schoolwork and music in order to help ease the financial burdens placed on her family.  On the other hand, Brooke has always been within the limelight at high school, mostly due to her older brothers' presence.  But there is an authority that resonates from her that has the entire school in awe of her, though not for what she is most proud of, namely music.  If not for music and then a slumber party during their junior year, it's doubtful that their paths would have really crossed, leading to their friendship.

It is when that friendship extends to Brooke's long-time best friend, Chloe, that things begin to weaken due to Kathryn's acceptance into the "A-list" circle and not spending as much time with just Brooke.  As Chloe seems to monopolize more of Kathryn's time, Brooke begins to question her relationship with Kathryn.  Their strained friendship ultimately culminates in Kathryn doing "something very bad" to Brooke which then leads to a punch in the face in front of the entire A-list at school.  And with that punch, Brooke has sent Kathryn back to the outskirts of the student body.

Now, here is where readers might start complaining about how both girls did fairly rotten things to each other, but you have to remember, these are teenage girls.  They do stupid things because they are teenagers and they don't know how to handle certain actions, slights, or behaviors.  Who didn't want to belong with the "A-list," the popular crowd in high school?  Kathryn was just one of those few that wanted to belong, and when she got the chance she did what she could to stay there.  Brooke could have explained her feelings to Kathryn about a lot of things or at least tried to be more open, but she chose to go the silent route until it built up so much she exploded.  I'm not trying to condone Kathryn's actions or Brooke's inaction rather I'm putting into perspective the reality that Wealer has created, and I do believe she has captured a part of high school life.

What I really liked about both characters is that they possess honest and real voices, each seeing the greener grass on the other side of the fence even after their friendship falls apart.  Kathryn and Brooke see what they lack within the other's life and cannot understand why that goodness isn't appreciated, such as Kathryn's loving parents or Brooke's freedom in socializing.  But when it comes to music there is no question about how much it means to either of them, and both girls do not hold back in choir.

Readers will definitely see Wealer's own love of music woven into the story, and that was what really drew me to Rival in the first place.  The use of musical terminology definitions to set up the tone of the story was a nice opening to each part whether from senior year or junior year.  While reading, I couldn't help feeling that if Brooke and Kathryn had just started talking while in choir during their junior year, just the two of them, a lot of heartache and hurt might have been avoided in the long run.  With their love of music, one would assume that Brooke might have approached Kathryn to initiate conversation, but perhaps even the high school socialite lacked courage in that regard.

Overall, Wealer delivered a great story of the trials that can occur with relationships in high school through characters that felt real and also managed to grow throughout the story.  I think most readers would enjoy Rival, and readers who have a musical background, especially while in high school, will hopefully appreciate the nostalgia as I did.

Review + 100 Follower Giveaway: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Title:  Born at Midnight
Author:  C.C. Hunter
Summary:  One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls--a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren't just "troubled."  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side--learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie's never felt normal, but surely she doesn't belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn't complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek's a half-fae who's determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin' hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn't be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear--Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs...

The Dish:  It seems I'm giving a lot of love to Texas authors, and I'm happy to continue that love with C.C. Hunter's Born at Midnight.  Kylie Galen has just been sent to a summer camp for supernaturals, and she definitely has something to say about that.  Namely that she's at the wrong camp.  She's determined to prove to the camp leaders that's she's not one of them, but everyone seems to believe the opposite, especially when she keeps seeing the ghost of a soldier always following her.  Hard to argue with that logic that she is indeed supernatural, which makes her stuck where she is.  With a vampire and a witch for roommates that always seem to bicker with each other along with a half-fae who's very interested in her, a werewolf who knows Kylie from the past, and a sneaky shape-shifter, life at this camp is far from ordinary.

Readers have to look at Born at Midnight as an introduction to Kylie's life and the supernatural world that Hunter has created.  The story is about Kylie's journey in finding out just who and what she is as a supernatural along with meeting those who will help her in discovering that truth.  Fortunately for Kylie, she has many people who not only assist but to just have time to be a teenage supernatural.  Take Della and Miranda, the vampire and witch that she rooms with.  While Della can be a bit cold especially when it comes to Kylie's aversion to even saying the word "blood," the vampire is willing to stand up for her roommate against a troublesome she-werewolf.  Miranda is a boy-crazy witch with dyslexia that always seems to be "in-the-know" on camp news.  Readers get insight into how the vampire and witch dynamics work in this world, and despite their constant arguing, Della and Miranda are there for Kylie when she needs friends most.

Then there are the two males vying for Kylie's attention namely in Derek, the half-fae who has the ability to sense others' emotions and Lucas, the werewolf who knew Kylie from when they were children and whom she thought did a great misdeed to her.  Their dynamic in the story is...interesting to say the least.  When one is not spending time with Kylie, it seems the other is.  It doesn't seem that their "conflict" is as realized save for one confrontation when Derek and Kylie are on a "Meet Your Campmates Hour" activity when Lucas comes out of nowhere after Kylie screams when she sees a water moccasin.  As characters both males intrigue me since you have Derek's almost "boy-next-door" charm and then there is Lucas's "mysterious-speak-only-when-necessary" demeanor.  However, on a personal note, werewolves tend to trump fae with me (apologies to those who favor the fae, it's just my preference).

When you get to pacing of the story itself, it is a steady flow of Kylie's experiences both at camp, coming to grips with her parents in their divorce while she's trying to prove she's not supernatural, and also when dealing with the ghost, "Soldier Dude" as she named him.  There is a LOT going on in her life, so it's understandable that the story have a more relaxed yet inquisitive feel to it.  I definitely did not feel rushed though I did want to learn more of the different situations at Shadow Falls and involving Kylie's parents, determining whether they were supernaturals or not.

Most of the action doesn't get going until close to the end of the book, but as I mentioned before, readers should look at this book as an introduction to Kylie's world.  With Born at Midnight being the start of The Shadow Falls series, the main conflict cannot be revealed nor can the climax come at the beginning of the overall story.  Lucky for readers, Awake at Dawn is coming out in October of this year, and I'll be looking for that in stores to read more of Kylie's story.

UPDATE: The Giveaway is Closed! Check back for future giveaways!

Giveaway Time:

Now for the fun part!  To celebrate both reaching 100 Followers and also to show my love for Texas author, C.C. Hunter, I'm giving away a new copy of Born at Midnight to one of my awesome readers.  Rules are as follows:

1.  To enter please leave a comment with your paranormal of preference (werewolf, vampire, witch, fae, shapeshifter, etc.) along with your email address.

2.  You don't have to follow my blog to enter, but if you are a follower (old or new) please leave a second comment.

3.  The winner will be chosen using a random number generator on July 31st.

Good luck, everyone! ^_^

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's "Waiting On" Wednesday selection is:

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)

By Jennifer Estep

Publish Date July 26, 2011 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

From Goodreads.com~

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy--a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos.  First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities.  Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War.  You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things.  Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why--especially since I should have been the one who died...

How can you read that summary and not feel your inner Pandora just prodding at you to read and find out what's going on?  This world sounds incredible, and I can't wait to find out more about it, especially as the start of a new series.  And if it has to do with myths, I'm curious to know which cultures are involved and how all of them intertwine together.  

What are y'all waiting on this Wednesday? ^_^

Review: Flawless by Lara Chapman

Title:  Flawless
Author:  Lara Chapman
Summary:  Sarah Burke is just about perfect.  She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades.  There's just one tiny--all right, enormous--flaw.  Her nose.  But even comparisons to a beak don't bother her much.  Sarah's got the best best friend and big plans to make a name for herself as a journalist.  Then, on the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into Sarah's journalism class and, well, rocks her world.  Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him, too.  And together, Rock and Kristen look like Ken and Barbie come to life.  So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do: she agrees.  For someone so smart, what was she thinking?

The Dish:  When I first read the summary for Flawless, I immediately thought of a classic I read back in high school that I thoroughly enjoyed: Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac.  How could I not make such a comparison when the narrator's main "flaw" is a large nose?  When I started reading, it confirmed right away that's just what Chapman had intended only using a modernized and feminized formula.

First off, the book was written entirely in present tense, which you don't see very often in books.  Or perhaps I've just not noticed it in many of the books I've read.  Reading in this tense didn't really disrupt the flow of the story and perhaps it helped in speeding me through the pages.  Chapman really does have a way of reaching out to her readers and completely immersing them into the book.  I felt as though I was there with Sarah right when Rock first came into her Journalism class, to all the times when she was writing for Kristen, to the very end where I'm almost certain I felt a lump of anxiety in my stomach.  Truth be told, I almost felt that Rock was unbelievable as a character, that he was too good to be true, but the romantic part of me squealed like a fangirl about his interests which included literature and poetry.  But he also became a bit more real to me when he behaved in typical teenage boy fashion after Kristen gave him so much attention.

The main plot was slightly predictable, especially if you've read Cyrano de Bergerac, but there was also the side plot involving Sarah's mom and a new coworker that was a refreshing break from the main story.  The end result of this plot helped show the closeness that Sarah had with her mother and the complete loyalty she felt for her.  Despite it's predictability and semi-after-school-special feel, I really did enjoy reading Flawless.  I whipped through the story because even though I thought I knew what would happen, I really wanted to see when and how it would happen and the resulting consequences.

There was no serious 'bang' when everything came tumbling down, but I think in this kind of story, you don't need a massive climax.  Sometimes, it is the more subtle climax that has readers on the edge of their seats, anxiously eager to turn the page.  I believe Chapman pulled that off quite nicely here for the overall warm and light feel of her story, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books from Lara Chapman.

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title:  Paranormalcy
Author:  Kiersten White
Summary:  Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal.  Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still.  Normal.  Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies.  She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths.  Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.  So much for normal.

The Dish:  Four words really braced me for this story... pink taser named 'Tasey.'  After reading that, I knew this would most likely be a great book.  Kiersten White delivers a different type of paranormal story, and readers cannot help getting caught up in the novel due to an almost personable writing style.  The narrator's voice sounds so real especially with the humor associated with teenagers known as sarcastic wit.  This style made for a great and enjoyable read as we learned Evie's story.

Evie has only ever known life within the International Paranormal Containment Agency center as being a normal among many paranormals.  When your best friend can only live underwater and your faerie ex-boyfriend is still fixated on you, it's probably hard to find some sense of normality.  However, Evie manages to maintain her somewhat stable life for eight years until a strange and unknown paranormal is caught breaking into the center.  After that incident, a chain of events is set off and the "normal" world she has built is sent spiraling through the air.

I can understand the need for stability when it seems as though each day is a whirlwind of activity, and Evie never knew where she might be sent.  To have that steady familiarity ripped from her was almost heart-breaking for me.  People think they need a change due to the tedium of the everyday, but when confronted with it head-on, it can be a frightening thing.  Evie not only has to come to terms with the idea that the people she felt were 'family' have not been completely honest with her but also that there is something darker within the world of the paranormals.  And it's searching for her while killing those who are dear to Evie.

Evie's warmth and care for those around her really rang true through White's storytelling, and when someone dear to her was killed, it felt as though I had lost that person, too.  I felt so close with all of those that Evie loved, Raquel, Lish, Jacques, Lend, and even Reth, though he took awhile to really impress me.  Until now, the fae have not been part of the paranormal worlds I've seen in other books, so it was interesting to see my first recent example of the faerie world.  Reth annoyed me to no end throughout the book because I thought he was one of those trying to cause grief for Evie.  He still annoys me though not as much right now, and I'm eager to see what his role will be in the sequel, Supernaturally.  Lend was one of my favorites next to Evie despite my initial gasp when he first entered the story.  It would have been nice to hear some of the story through his voice, but Evie's opinions seem to influence my own...and you can't help adoring the sweet shapeshifter.

Overall, White's writing impressed and pushed me to read the book quickly, which I would have finished earlier had I not been preoccupied with a visit from my beau over the weekend.  I'm sure Evie would understand that, and I look forward to hearing more of her story in July.