Review: Hunted by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

This book came out this week. It's the 5th installment of the House of Night young adult series.

This one started a little slow for me. I have a hard time getting past the 'teen talk' - as in 'boobies' and 'poopie' - I think the plot is strong enough and it doesn't need any of that. Once I can get past that, I usually tend to enjoy the story.

If you like the series, I think you'll like this one.

**SPOILERS**
I'm over Erik. I'm rooting for Stark now. I wish she would just pick a guy! Now that Stark and Stevie Ray are both red vampyres, I'm wondering if we'll finally find out more about that group. Interested to see where the story will go from here.

Rated: 3.5-4/5

Review: Club Dead & Dead to The World by Charlaine Harris

Decided to group these together....they are the 3rd and 4th books in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

I'm liking each book a little better than the last. New characters, new situations - I like Sookie more than I did to begin with, and enjoy her romantic woes as well as all of the trouble that seems to find her. I was pretty pissed at Bill in Club Dead. Have to admit, I like Eric a lot! I wasn't so sure about him when he lost his memory - I kind of liked him better in his normal state! And I like Alcide too. These are quick reads and pretty entertaining! I haven't read this type of book for awhile, so it's kind of a nice change.

I know that's not much of a review, but I'm sick so it's all you're getting ;)

Looking forward to the rest of the books, but trying to read others in between them so they 'last' a little longer!

Rated: 4/5

Review: Evermore by Alyson Noel

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
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.

This book started a little slow for me. I was kind of turned off by the names of some of the characters. (Ever? Haven? Honor?) The story didn't really grab me right away. I didn't find that I particularily cared about Damen...and I didn't really like Ever's friends either. It's hard to care about the story when you don't really care that much about the characters. It did get better though, and I enjoyed the second half of the book more. I did kind of feel like the story had some gaps. But overall I liked how things unfolded. I guess I just didn't feel the same connection to the characters that I'm used to feeling. I'm hoping the next book answers a few questions...(I think it comes out this summer).

Rated: 3.5-4/5

Review: Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Living Dead in Dallas is the 2nd book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie and Bill are still dating, and Sookie is keeping up her end of the deal to Eric to help him by reading people's minds when he needs it. He needs her help in Dallas, so Sookie and Bill head there. Lots of action in this one, as Sookie tries to help find a missing vampire.

I think I liked this one a little more than the first one. Maybe because there was more going on. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Rated: 4/5

Review: Deadly Little Secret - Laurie Faria Stolarz

This was a really quick read - and I enjoyed it quite a bit. After reading it I read some other reviews that pointed out some Twilight similarities...and when I thought about it, I guess there were several. But I never really noticed them when reading. The main thing - there are no vampires. So...that's different! But, some other details are similar. I don't think it took away anything from this, or made me not like it though (since I really didn't notice at the time!!).

Here's a synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben.and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help-but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

I have to admit, that I got a little creeped out at home by myself finishing this one. Also, I suspected EVERYONE to be the 'bad guy' at some point in the book. I wanted to trust Ben, but wasn't sure if I could...

This is the first book in the series, but I haven't heard much more about additional books, so I don't know when to expect the next one.

**SPOILERS**
I was glad that Ben didn't turn out to be the bad guy, but sad that he is leaving. Not sure what will happen to Matt. And even though Spencer turned out to be an ok guy, he seemed kind of creepy the whole time... Interested to see what happens next.

Rated: 4/5

Review: Fade by Lisa McMann

Since I finished Wake (the first book in this series) a couple weeks ago, I'd been anxious to read Fade. I finally got it yesterday afternoon - and stayed up to finish it last night! I should have known that once I started I wouldn't be able to stop!

Here's a synopsis, from Barnes and Noble:
For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.
Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.
Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....

This book picks up where Wake ends, and is just as intense. Janie is finding out more about what she can do when she's sucked into other people's dreams. Some of it good, some of it not so good. She and Cabel are together, but secretly, since they're both working undercover and can't be seen together. The case they're working on is to find out if there is a teacher at their school sleeping with students. Cabel doesn't want Janie involved - doesn't want to risk her getting hurt, and Janie wants to do whatever she can to help with the case.

What more can I say, except: I loved this book! The only downside to it...is that I have to wait until 2010 for the next one!!

**SPOILERS**
I was nervous and sick to my stomach when Janie went to the party with the teachers and other students. And right away I knew it was the meatballs!! Ugh! I was glad nothing worse happened to her. Cabel is...sigh. So sweet. I was heartbroken when he stopped talking to her. I just love the way their relationship is written. So intense, yet so sweet and innocent.

Rated: 5/5

Review: Glass Houses - Rachel Caine

Does it seem like I'm reading a lot of series of books lately? I guess I am.

Glass Houses is the first book in the Morganville Vampires series. This is a young adult series.

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
Welcome to Morganville, Texas.Just don't stay out after dark. College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

I hadn't heard too much about this series (compared to other young adult vampire series), so I didn't have any real expectations for it. I was surprised to enjoy it quite a bit. The vampires in this book are the 'bad guys' unlike in a lot of the books I've read lately. So that was an interesting twist. There were several other surprises along the way too.

**SPOILERS**
Sometimes I wanted to kick Claire for being so dumb. Bad luck just seemed to follow her no matter what she did. I thought the roommates were all interesting in their own ways. I wonder how some of the other characters will be involved in the future books...

Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Rated: 3.5-4/5 (I'm so indecisive and bad at rating books!)

Review: Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

Dead Until Dark is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampires series. (The series has been made into an HBO show called True Blood.)

Sookie Stackhouse is a small town southern waitress with not much going on in her life. Until she meets Bill, a vampire. And falls in love with him. When women start turning up dead in town, she wonders if falling for a vampire is the smartest idea...

I've heard such good things about this series, and decided to finally start it. It was a switch for me since most of what I've been reading lately has been young adult themed. This is NOT a young adult book. (Not to say it's full of smut either, but there is adult content!).

I am intrigued by the characters, interested to find out more about the vampires (I've heard Eric plays a bigger role in later books), and looking forward to what's coming up. There are currently eight books in the series, with another one coming out this spring.

Rated: 4/5

Best of February

I read ten books in February. Not too shabby!

My favorite book of the month was definitely Wake by Lisa McMann. I'm so glad I picked that one up! I'm hoping the next book in that series will be on my doorstep tomorrow, I'm anxious to read it.

Every author that I read this month was new to me (except for the first book, which was part of a series that I started in January). I'll definitely be reading more by Sarah Dessen and Lisa McMann!

I have so many books on my shelf waiting to be read in March, and a new book that comes out on the 10th that I can't wait to read. It should be another good month in books!

Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

I'd heard great things about young adult author Sarah Dessen, but this is the first book I've read by her. I really enjoyed it!

Here's the summary, from Barnes and Noble:

When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about? From acclaimed author Sarah Dessen, this is a captivating novel about a tough-as-nails girl and the unexpectedly charming boy who's determined to soften her up.

The characters were believable, the situations were real, and I just really liked the story. Dexter seemed very sweet, but he wasn't perfect either, which was nice.

**SPOILERS**
I wasn't sure if this story would end happily or not. I was happy with how it ended - not everything was perfect, but they were trying. I think it would have been disappointing if Remy hadn't ended up leaving for college. I like that she 'gave in' to love eventually, but didn't give up her life and her plans for it. I like that she was a strong young female character, but she wasn't perfect, and we knew that right away.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and will definitely be reading more by Sarah Dessen.

Rated: 4/5