Ratings

Everyone evaluates what they read in a different way. That being said, we thought it might be a good idea to explain the way we rate the books we review. We each use a number star system (i.e. 5 stars, 4 stars, etc.). We made the decision together that we will not post reviews that we rate below 3 stars. The reason for this decision is simple: we do not like negative reviews. This is a personal preference for us. If we were to assign 1 or 2 stars to a book, for us, that is not a book we would recommend. Therefore, we will not review it. Neither will we speak negatively about said book(s). We are here to support and share books we love, not tear down or speak negatively about those we do not love. Also, we will always (with the exception of one of us having a senior moment) include our name(s) at the end of each review, so that you know who's opinion you are reading. With that disclaimer, we give you the LIVING-FICTITIOUSLY starred rating system:

5 stars - Totally, absolutely, without-a-doubt loved it! Would pick it up again and re-read. Would recommend it to everyone.

4 stars - Love it! Would recommend it to almost everyone.

3 stars - A good read. Enjoyed it and would recommend to others.

EDIT TO ADD. >>>>> As of 4/5/2012, I (Kimberly) have come to the decision to no longer rate books. I simply feel that if I post a review on the blog, then that means the book was a very enjoyable read for me.
May a book be forever in your hands,
Kimberly

* NOTE: We will occasionally assign half star ratings to reviews. For example: 3.5 stars. These will most likely be rare; however, sometimes it will be a necessity in our eyes. The reasoning should be self-explanatory in the review, but you are always welcome to contact us with any questions at all.

Britney & Kimberly

REVIEW- The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

You can review the synopsis for The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title.

First of all, I have to exclaim that The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson is my favorite stand alone, YA contemporary novel thus far. The story was extremely well written and had fantastic descriptive dialogue. There was grief, there was desire, there was conflict, there was closure, then there was gratification. This novel completely swept me off my feet. It was amazingly captivating. So much emotion. I cried because I was grief stricken and I cried because I was filled with joy. (Have a box of tissues on standby.) If you interrupted me while I was reading… I wanted to CHUNK something at you.

Second of all…. BAT, BAT, BAT!!! I wanna marry a Fontaine boy in my next life! Luckily in this life, I am married to a guy named Toby! SCORE!

Heathcliff loving Lennie suffers the unexpected loss of her sister that she absolutely adores. Since her sister’s funeral, Lennie is suddenly boy crazy. She writes memories and past convo’s she had with her sister on random pieces of scrap paper, then she buries them, or trashes them, or they’ll fly away in the wind. I felt her loss; choked up each time I read these and in the end, I felt her happiness, and I smiled.  

(*WARNING, after reading description about said boy, you are likely to become Joelirious! It’s a condition most of us suffer from.) A new student, American born, French raised, musically inclined, full of whoa hotness, super long eyelashes over bright green eyes, brown curly hair and last, but definitely not least, a luminous smile- Joe Fontaine arrives at Lennie’s school. He and Lennie meet. She immediately wonder’s what it would be like to kiss him. AND SO DO I!!

Oh dears… we haz a problem! So, Lennie’s sister… that died, well, she had a boyfriend, Toby. He is/was a devoted boyfriend who is up there on the LUST O METER and has surfer hair, and is a skater cowboy (seriously) AND he er… has quite a package.  Like Lennie, he mourns the girl he loved. Well, he and Lennie hang out for the first time after her sister’s death… and well, something rather unexpected happens.

Lennie mourns. Lennie experiences guilt. Lennie’s torn between two boys. One who helps her hold on to memories, one who helps her progress forward.

Oh, and beeee careful when you enter Gram’s garden full of aphrodisiactic roses!

You don’t want to miss out on reading The Sky is Everywhere, a truly beautiful story of grief and what it takes for Lennie to overcome it.

I give The Sky is Everywhere 5 eyelash batting stars!

Kimberly

REVIEW- Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot

You can review the synopsis for Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title.

Well, well, well! I had no clue when I opened Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot that I’d be in total hottie heaven!! There are hot boys everywhere in this book. And Katie, well she um, had herself in a pickle and I was all like, “Hmmmm, guh definitely got her pants on fiyah.” But no, it wasn’t really like that. Her pants were on fire because girlie mae there, has a problem with telling the truth.

But seriously, if you were macking with a gorgeous all-star football player who is your boyfriend and is totally committed, PLUS a handsome, charming local celebrity behind boyfriend’s back, PLUS a mighty fine, red-headed, ab-er-iffic ‘secret’ friend from back in the day, well… I guess you’d be devious too.

So anyway, secret friend that isn’t exactly welcomed back in town pops up, and Katie hasn’t seen him in years. She’s shocked at how utterly hot he is. He totally busts her making out with actor dude behind her boyfriend’s back and teases her.

Yeah, so with this great storyline and all, Katie decides to spill how she truly feels and has a decision to make. Find out her secrets and who she decides she’ll mack with—exclusively!   

I give Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot 4 MACKING STAR LIPS!

Kimberly

REVIEW: UNTRACEABLE by S.R. Johannes

Author Bio:
Shelli Johannes-Wells started out writing for her local school paper, winning a state Nutrition essay contest for “Be a Smart Cookie”, and singing in a local Jazz band. Somewhere along the way, she earned an MBA in Marketing and embarked on an 18-year marketing career in Corporate America working as a marketing and communications consultant.

In 2000, Shelli traded in her expensive suits, way-too high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She started her own marketing & communications business, www.bilaninc.com, and continues creating materials for a variety of large profit and nonprofit clients, including Spanx, Goody Hair Products, Chick Filet, Delta, CARE, and the Boys & Girls Club of America.

Shelli’s dream is to publish children’s books and magically imprint the imaginations of kids. In addition to juggling nap schedules while attending client meetings, Shelli focuses on her writing. She is a frequent marketing speaker at SCBWI conferences across the U.S and runs a popular marketing blog, Market My Words (www.faeriality.blogspot.com) where she provides marketing advice for authors in the hopes of helping them better market their words.

In her spare time (yeah right!) and if the kids allow (yeah right!), Shelli obsesses over movies, reads children’s books (over and over), wishes she could squeeze in Bikram Yoga sessions, and dreams of sleeping in on the weekends.

She currently lives in Atlanta with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess that someday will change the world.




 



Book Title:

Untraceable, The Nature of Grace, #1

Release Date:

Tuesday, Nov 29th

Publisher:

Coleman & Stott

"Grace is a spunky, independent, nature girl who doesn't need a boy to save her. With wilderness survival, a juicy love triangle, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this fast-paced novel had me holding my breath until the very last page—and still begging for more!" -Kimberly Derting, author of the The Body Finder series (Harper Teen) and The Pledge series (S&S)

Book Description:

16 year old Grace was reared in the wilderness. Her first pet was a bear named Simon. Her first potty, an oak tree. And, her first swing, a forest vine. Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her everything he knew about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. 

When Grace's dad goes missing on a routine patrol, unlike everyone in her sleepy mountain town, she refuses to believe he’s dead. After finding a Cheetos bag and stolen government file, Grace is convinced she’s one step closer to proving all the non-believers wrong.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from imminent danger by Mo, a hot guy who has an intoxicating accent and a secret. Grace has never felt a connection like this before, certainly not with her ex-boyfriend, the adoring, but decidedly unrugged, Wyn. 

After a few run-ins with the town's police chief, her father's partner, and some new evidence, Grace travels deeper into the wilderness that has always been her refuge only to learn that her father's disappearance is not a mere coincidence. 

Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to emerge from an epidemic that’s spreading like wild fire, threatening everything and everyone she’s ever loved.

My Review:

WOW!

I had to take a minute to let it all sink in before I could start to actually gather my thoughts. UNTRACEABLE is without a doubt going to be the next big YA phenomenon. With a kick-butt heroine who will become an instant favorite, this fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing at every turn. UNTRACEABLE is packed with adventure, betrayal, mystery, and a conspiracy that will leave you only wanting more. Just like the North Carolina woods Grace navigates fearlessly, Johannes weaves a beautifully mysterious story of a daughter's brave, never-ending devotion to her missing father. And I felt every emotion so fully through the writing, that my husband actually thought he made me cry. But no, it was this fabulous book, with such a rich well of emotion.

Grace is stoic, brave, fearless, inventive, and smart and is one of the best female characters I've read in a long time. In fact, I believe the YA genre needs more female characters like Grace. She doesn't need a boy to save her, she doesn't sit around and feel sorry for herself, and most importantly she's not afraid to be herself. But I have to say, those boys are something else.

UNTRACEABLE is by far my favorite debut of 2011, and I cannot wait for more in The Nature of Grace series. 

Abso-bloody-lutely fantastic!



I would definitely re-read this book. And would recommend it to EVERYONE!

Buy the paperback
Buy a Kindle copy

~Britney

REVIEW: THE JINX by D.F. Lamont

Genre: Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Author, Requested ReviewSynopsis (from D.F. Lamont website)
THE JINX is the story of Stephen Grayson, a 13-year old whose run of bad luck gets so bad he worries he is endangering his family. Fearing he is cursed, he flees home to protect his family, only to find that he is in the middle of a tug-of war between a cult obsessed with order and misshapen monsters known as “Chaons” who seem bent on hunting him down.

Review:
If you have tween-aged boys you are desperately trying to get into reading, START HERE! THE JINX has action, cults, chaos, and monsters. Right up a boys alley, but also a great read for anyone who likes these elements. I enjoyed the story very much and was always wondering "What's gonna happen to Stephen!?!"
Just about anyone can relate to poor Stephen's run of bad luck. Only Stephen's bad luck is more than that. He has to escape monsters, and a creepy cult that strives for only order in the universe. This quick read has be guessing at every turn and rooting for Stephen and balance. The author's writing style was easy to follow for a young reader but engaging enough for an adult as well. I would be really interested to see more of this world and Stephen.

Britney

Click Here to read the 1st chapter for free.

You can buy copies at McNally Robinson Grant Park, or click on the links to buy:

• order softcover copies online at Lulu,
• iTunes for iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch,
• Amazon for Kindle, or
• eBooks for Kobo. 
• for Barnes and Noble’s Nook!

Connect with the author:
http://thejinxbook.tumblr.com/
My Facebook Page for The Jinx is: http://www.facebook.com/TheJinxbyDFLamont
My author page on Goodreads is: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5134556.D_F_Lamont

REVIEW- Delirium by Lauren Oliver

You can view the synopsis for Delirium by Lauren Oliver (via Goodreads) by clicking the title.

 A few weeks back, I had a nine hour drive home from Atlanta, Georgia. Good thing I downloaded the audio book Delirium, by LaurenOliver, narrated by Sarah Drew- who did a fabulous job narrating. Good thing I listened to it. I was quick to realize the entire buzz that had been buzzing about this book!

Can you imagine living in a world without love? In Delirium, the government has banned love and is considered taboo, a disease called deliria. You are given the cure by your eighteenth birthday. You better hope you don’t catch the disease until you receive the cure are you’re in a world of punishment. Before the cure, you are interviewed then matched to an arranged marriage. Once you get the cure (works in most cases), you don’t know what love is, what pain is; no sentiment what so ever.

Lena was excited about receiving the cure, until she met Alex that is. Alex is such a total knight and shining armor kinda guy with a total yum factor! And that’s when the story got intense and I was clenching my hands against the steering wheel anticipating on what happened next. Can Lena fight the disease or will she surrender?

Wow Ms. Oliver… look what you did to me: The ending nearly made my ass wreck... seriously not joking! I was all like what the frickin' fruck and I nearly missed my exit and had to slam brakes on the interstate. Needless to say I scared the shit out of myself, almost gave my mother a myocardial infarction, and burned rubber off my brand new tires! Thank the Interstate God there wasn’t a vehicle on my rear, or it would have been straight up it. Yep... so Delirium officially burned rubber on me. *sings song*

Soooo… holy freakin’ heart attack, this book was Tony the Tiger grrrrrrrrrrreat and I give it 5 stars. Code blue, code blue… I need Pandemonium, book 2 STAT!!

Kimberly

 

REVIEW- Bring on the Night by Jeri Smith-Ready

You can view the synopsis for Bring on the Night by Jeri Smith-Ready (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title.

Slap our ass and call us pizzazz!! Bring on the Night (book 3 in the WVMP Radio Series) by Jeri Smith-Ready is ONE BIG EVENT!  *GASPS* I mean whoa… WHOA!! Vampires, a male stripper, dead bodies, psychic necromancers, zombies, graveyards, bells ringing, diseases, new beginnings, betrayals, lust, sex, IN THE FREAKIN’ SHOWER, and finger explorin’… slow down now, take a breath! *Breathes*

Shane and Ciara are still in love. David finds much deserved happiness. We find out about a secret division within The Control- The Immanence Corps and what lies within it and who manages it. Jim has become a few fries short of a happy meal and is totally wiggin’. You get to see a devoted side to Regina and a WTF side to Monroe. And holy balls of fury a life changing incident takes place.

BotN was a total page turner filled with gasps and emotions of all sorts…. And we were like, “Noooooooo!!!!” And “WHAAAAA???” Then, “YESSSSSSSSS!” Then, “WHOAAAAAA !”

We can’t wait for the fourth and final novel, Lust for Life to be released in fall of 2012. Don’t forget to check out the novella, Let It Bleed on Jeri’s website (she posts chapters each month) and the tie-in short stories Crossroads, Rave On, When the Music’s Over, and Last Request. Jeri also has an anthology,  "Thief"in Eternal: Love Stories with Bite, about Ciara’s traveler cousins. 

Did you possibly think Britney and I could close out this review without fan girling on Jeri? WE LOVE YOU JERI!! YOU ROCK HARD! I (Kimberly) love Jeri sooo much that I was brave to serenade the fangtasticly hot Shane McAllister by singing and making a video for him. You can see it here.

Thanks to all who participated in the WVMPRead Along hosted by Living-Fictitiously, Fictitious Delicious, And Many toRead Before I Sleep and What’s on the Bookshelf. Check out the wrap-up post and enter the super awesome Feed The Need Giveaway by clicking here. You didn’t have to participate in the read along to enter, although you get extra points if you did!

Guess… guess how many stars Bring on the Night will boast? 5 gasping, panting stars!!!

Kimberly & Britney

REVIEW- Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready

You can review the synopsis for Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title. 

Well we be a son of a banshee… she’s done it again! We’re telling ya’ll, Jeri is a master-mind! I mean really, we can’t help but go all fan girlies on her and those mad writing skills she possesses. We love, love, love being sucked in Jeri’s fictional world. We absolutely adore it!

Bad to The Bone (book 2 of the WVMP Radio Series) by Jeri Smith-Ready is filled with pure epicness and passion. It’s totally a sexy, thrilling, suspenseful read. The WVMP DJs continue to live for the music… their lifeblood of rock n’ roll. A few new characters are introduced, while an unexpected character from book 1 (Wicked Game) returns. Pasts comes back to haunt, trying once again to destroy WVMP, a devastated loss occurs (tears up- WAAAAA!), true natures are revealed, relationships blossom, a mind-blowing, steamy dream occurs, and some H-O-T sex takes place! (I mean really- go get an extinguisher and put that fiyah down there out! O_O)

*Sighs Dreamily* Shane is such a smooth operator and my, my, my- what a mighty fine vamp he is! While reading BttB we visualized what his voice sounds like- sexy, soft, and deep. We get to see the religious and family oriented side of him and we find out that Ciara makes a sacrifice for the man she loves. She also discovers the truth behind her blood and her family.  And then you have this appalling scary-religious organization trying to destroy vampires.

With all that said, can the station be saved… again? The plot and sub-plots are just wow… we don’t even know what else to say, so… WOW!! Oh, and of course Bad to the Bone swanks 5 steamy stars!! You wouldn’t think any different, would you?

Kimberly & Britney

REVIEW- The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

You can view the synopsis for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (via Goodreads) by clicking on the title. Click on this to see the ab-terrific book trailer!

Have you ever read a book to the end, slam the cover shut and been like… “What in the…?” Don’t get us wrong… The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin was filled with what in the… greatness. The whole time we were reading… we were like, “What in the…??” We actually said it out loud many times. But you know what? The what in the’s kept us reading! (Okay, okay… enough of the ‘what in the’s… ‘ in the same paragraph already!)

TUoMD was definitely an edge of your seat read. We found ourselves reading too fast to find out what was going to happen next and we had to slow down so we could take it all in.  Especially when we were reading about Noah Shaw… who is known in the book itself, by readers, and bloggers to have a panty-dropping smile—HELLO!!! He’s a total bad-ass, smart-ass, and yes… fine-ass!

This is the first book I (Kimberly) read with so much mysteriousness. The story, the characters; totally inexplicable! There were times when I was reading, it was a bit difficult to follow, hence the, “What in the…” You have a girl, Mara (is that her real name?) who was involved in an accident, but doesn’t remember. Her family decided it was best for them to move and that’s where she met Hottie-Potottie Noah. Crazy, freaky things are happening to Mara. Noah is there to help her, but there is something about him too, hmmmm?

So Mara discovers her abilities and remembers what happened the night of the accident. And then there is Noah, and you are all like, “Mara, what in the… are you doing?!?” And then, there.is.the.end. “What in the….?!?”

We give The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer 4 “What in the…” stars!

Kimberly & Britney

REVIEW: MINE UNTIL DAWN by E. B. Walters

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

She's armed with a new attitude and a kick-ass wardrobe....

By age twenty-eight, art historian Jade Fitzgerald has had a marriage from hell and an equally nasty divorce, worked hard to control her weight and her arrhythmia. The last thing she needs is another man messing with her head or shooting her heartbeat off course. That is exactly what she gets when an aloof and mysterious stranger storms into her life.

He's cynical and doesn’t take crap from anyone....

Former investigative reporter Vince Knight is on a quest to recover a priceless, ancient Mayan artifact, which he believes Jade’s mother stole. He’s skilled at gathering information while remaining emotionally detached, until he meets Jade. The voluptuous woman stirs in him a hunger he hasn’t felt in a long time and a protectiveness he can’t explain.

Until, an insane man decides to add Jade to his collection of beautiful and rare things....

Neither Vince nor Jade expects passion to flare so fast or danger to dodge their footsteps. To defeat a ruthless art collector with a twisted agenda, Jade and Vince must learn to trust each other and embrace their growing feelings.

My Thoughts:

Sexy and sensual from the very start, MINE UNTIL DAWN will leave you breathless until the end. The moment Vince Knight saunters in to Jade Fitzgerald's office it becomes known that the man is HOT! He's a high school aquaintance of Jade's: mysterious, sexy, dangerous, unpredictable. And we all love us some hot, mysterious men. But Ms. Walters has really created a GREAT man with Vince. He makes his mistakes, has his insecurities, and his "stupid man" moments, but ultimately he is a sexy, attentive, caring man. Jade's vision of Vince is stirring to say the least.

"His sinful and sexy voice alone, deep and husky, was unforgettable. It brought to mind silk sheets, intertwined limbs and sweaty bodies." (Kindle Edition, CH. 1)

The descriptions throughout are detailed and sensual, but leave just enough room for imagination. And the story line is an intense mystery marked by dangerous encounters. I absolutely love the mixture of intimacy, danger, and investigation.

5 stars

I really adore Ednah! She is a fabulous writer and person. Just as sweet as can be. And her Fitzgerald Family series has blown me out of the water. Stay tuned for the KISS ME CRAZY (Fitzgerald Family Book #3) blog tour. And while you are waiting check out Ednah.

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~Britney

REVIEW: THE SLAYER CHRONICLES: FIRST KILL by Heather Brewer

Adapted from Goodreads:

You've heard Vlad's side of the story . . . now, it's Joss's turn.

Now, Heather Brewer brings us the other side of the story, from the perspective of Vlad's former friend turned mortal enemy: vampire slayer Joss Macmillan. In five books that can be read alongside Vlad Tod or entirely on their own, Joss discovers his powers as the youngest, strongest slayer in history. And just in time, too: with all the vampires running rampant, he's going to need all the help he can get. This action-packed series will quench the thirst of even the hungriest veteran minions.

*click on the book cover to visit THE SLAYER CHRONICLES website.

* * * * * * * * *

Finally, we get to see what makes vampire slayer Joss Macmillan tick! I really enjoyed THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD, and I absolutely loved Joss's character, so I was extremely excited when I found out Auntie Heather was going to write THE SLAYER CHRONICLES.

FIRST KILL is an intense look at where Joss came from. We learn more about Cecile, get an in depth look at the uncle that made Joss a slayer, and really meet the boy behind the slayer in VLAD TOD. The pain, loss, and heartbreak that shape Joss are remarkable and the story begins to fill in the gaps in the VLAD TOD storyline.

Joss's relationship with his family members is so important, and patterns of neglect and abuse, and Joss's response to those patterns, are intriguing and reveal so much about his character and his future. So many questions were answered, but so many more a revealed. Then there is his relationship to Sirus and Kat, who become his first true friends. A friendship that will deeply affect his future. Finally, the relationship that is born between Joss and the other Slayer and the Slayer Society. Questions are frowned upon, obedience is required.

Joss's training pushes him to the edge mentally, physically, and emotionally, but the task that remains before him will only push him farther.

I absolutely loved FIRST KILL and Joss! I cannot wait to find out what is going to happen next!

5 stars

Britney

REVIEW: THE FOX INHERITANCE [ARC] by Mary E. Pearson

They say time heals all wounds, but they're wrong.

After a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, the minds of three best friends were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two hundred and sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone . . . except Jenna Fox.

Locke and Kara were trapped inside their own minds with only memories of the past and each other's thoughts for company. What are the ramifications of a seclusion of that magnitude and how can a mind survive intact? CAN it? With all the leaps and bounds that science is taking today, it's completely possible that in the future a mind could be downloaded and saved, and then uploaded into a new, scientifically improved body. The Fox Inheritance explores the possible ramifications of such technology, by following the haunting story and emotional upheaval of Locke Jenkins, one of three best friends who were killed in a car crash. But were they actually dead? If their minds still live on and were then downloaded into their recreated bodies are they alive? Are they even human? The story revolves around these questions while Locke and Kara seek out the only person alive that knew them before, Jenna. But they each have a different idea of what to do when they reach her.

I really loved Locke as a narrator, and the battles he fights within his own mind and against a world he no longer understands are so real they pull at your heart. His confusion was palpable and the questions spurned from the confusion are heart wrenching. But the main question is: IS THERE REALLY A TRUE ANSWER?

An awesome story with such a creative background.

Find Mary E. Pearson:

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4 stars

~Britney

REVIEW: SIRENSONG (Faeriwalker #3) by Jenna Black

SYNOPSIS from Goodreads

Faeries interest me. Especially new twists on the faery world. The Faeriwalker series puts just enough of a twist on the standard "faery world" to really stand out without over reaching and becoming bogged down. Dana is a Faeriwalker, a half-human half-fae that can bring magic into the mortal world and mortal technology into the fae world. This is an extremely rare gift and one that plays a vital role in the third installment of this series.
I really like sequels when they jump right into the action/important events instead of completely rehashing everything that happened in the previous books. I'm kind of a snob about series. I believe you should read a series IN ORDER. Sorry if that offends some of you, but I warned you, I'm a series snob. SIRENSONG provides just enough rehash to spark the memory of previous events, and does this while getting the new events started right away. No time wasted. This pleases me!
Dana's first visit to faery is not pleasant to say the least. But with her friends surrounding her she really begins to develop. I love that she really begins to open up to her friends, no matter how much it terrifies her. After all, she's never had friends before. And the relationships that developed and change in SIRENSONG are fabulous. I cannot wait to see where Jenna Black takes them. I was also happy to see the Erlking back. I really like him, even though he always has ulterior motives. I'm really hoping to see A LOT more of him in the future.
I feel like there was a lot more action than in the previous books, which kept things fast paced and interesting. And finally getting a glimpse into Faery was cool too. It's not quite what I was expecting. All in all, I really enjoyed SIRENSONG, and cannot wait for book 4.
4 stars
~Britney

REVIEW: HADES (HALO #2) by Alexandra Adornetto

Synopsis available on Goodreads.

My thoughts:

I re-read Halo just before picking up Hades which helped me to remember exactly where I was in the story. I have to say, the pace of Hades way much more to my liking than Halo. I felt like all the explanation of the angels' background and nature, etc. really bogged down the first part of Halo, that information was not necessary for the follow-up so the story really took off rather quickly.

The majority of Hades takes place, well, in Hades. Jake has kidnapped Bethany and is holding her in Hell. I was actually really intrigued by Adornetto's interpretation of Hell. She took Dante's image of Purgatory and added her own twist to it. It definitely kept things interesting.

And as for characters, I was really happy with the growth of Bethany's character. She really took control a lot more than she did in Halo and even her human personality was more developed. Even Xavier's and Gabriel's personalities was revealed more extensively. And Gabriel is by far my favorite. Then there's Jake. Now Jake really trips me up. I still can't really figure him out, and I really wanted him to be more developed. We see a lot more of his character, but I was still left wanting more.

Overall, I really liked this one. It did not seem to be as stereotypical as Halo.

3 1/2 stars

Britney

REVIEW: BLOODLINES by Richelle Mead

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

My thoughts:

Well, Richelle Mead has hit another one out of the park. I was concerned that Bloodlines was not going to live up to the VA series and that changing narrators was going to cause some problems for me. Sydney's voice was clearly different from Rose's, so it was easy to differentiate and connect with her. And it was amazing to see Rose from someone else's perspective, even though it took some adjusting to viewing Rose's character this way. It was a good thing! Rose is so strong and defiant in a very open and physical way, and Sydney is, well, she's different from Rose.

Bloodlines takes place a month after the events in Last Sacrifice. So those events are still fresh on all the characters' minds. It helps to have read the VA series, but it is not a requirement. However, I strongly suggest you do read it because it is wonderful and will help you catch on to some aspects of the story sooner than you might if you have not read it.

There are old and new characters and, because of the change in narrator, we get a look at a whole new side of the game. Getting inside Sydney's head was such a relief. I was always curious about what she was thinking and why she acted the way she did in certain situations. To finally get "behind the scenes" so to speak was really intriguing. I learned some very surprising things about her and about the Alchemists. It was fascinating.

Jill and Eddie are also back, and we get to see a lot more of both of them. They both play a more central role in Bloodlines than they did in VA, and the insight to their characters is fantastic. Both of their lives changed dramatically through the events in VA and now we get to see those effects.

Then there's Adrian. Yes, Adrian is back! (And lets face it, I'm a totally Adrian lover!) He provides several surprises, and Mead slowly peels away layers of Adrian that give readers little glimpse of what he could become. To me, Adrian is the most fascinating character, so I am really looking forward to how his character and story unfold.

Overall, I was so happy with the way Bloodlines turned out. I cannot wait for the next installment The Golden Lily.

5 stars

Britney

REVIEW: HALO by Alexandra Adornetto

Synopsis:

An angel is sent to earth on a mission. But falling in love is not part of the plan.

Three angels --- Gabriel, the warrior; Ive, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human --- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angels' mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

My thoughts:

Let me start with the fact that I absolutely love this cover. The background colors are amazing and the silhouettes are striking. I usually do not like full-body shot covers, but it works so well here.

It took me a little while to get into this story. The first part of the book is very focused on the angels' adaptation and adjustment to human life. However, the descriptions of these adaptations, while drawn out, are excellent. Adornetto beautifully describes the newness of limbs, textures, colors, material things, even smiling.

Angel stories have become pretty popular recently, and Halo seemed like a fairly typical one to me. There are the good angels, doing good deeds, with a concern about falling from grace. Then enters the bad guy and chaos ensues. Good counteracts bad and eventually battles evil.

The love story is beautiful and is the main focus of the majority of the story. I wished that Bethany was a more independent character, although her innocence is an integral part of the book's development. And at times the "doting" from Xavier was a little heavy for my taste.

Overall, I did enjoy Halo, and I really look forward to seeing what becomes of the characters throughout the series.

3 stars

~ Britney

REVIEW - Shade and Shift by: Jeri Smith-Ready

You can view the synopsis for Shade and Shift (via Goodreads) by clicking on the titles.

Being I read these two books back to back, I decided to review them together. So first off, let me go ahead and give you my rating. 5 STARS, 5 STARS- 5 STARS! Let me say it one more time, 5 BIG FAT STARS! Get it? Okay, one last time- a ‘constellation’ of 5 stars!

Second- I want to send a HUGE thank you to Brooke from Brooke-Reports for graciously sending me these books after I won one of her contests during the 1st Annual YA Sisterhood Summer Crushin’ Tournament hosted by The YA Sisterhood.

Third- I have to mention how much of a fan girl I am of Jeri Smith-Ready. Not only does she have rad skills in writing, but she truly is an amazing person and is absolutely devoted to her fans.

Fourth- I have to give a shout out to my blogging partner Britney, who recommended that I read these books in the first place.

And last, but not least, Fifth- Do yourself a favor and check out the awesome Team Kilt book trailer that the fabulous ladies (Jen and Amy, who are Zachary Moore’s advocates) of Fictitious Delicious put together by clicking here.

So, with all that said I guess you can figure out how much I loved these books, which are my top favorite books by the way. Both Shade and Shift are intriguing stories about a girl, Aura (I so want to be her!) who can interact with ghosts. Anyone born after the shift can. The night she and her swoon-worthy rockin’ boyfriend Logan (who I hold dear to my heart) have an almost cherished moment, he dismisses himself and makes a bad decision. It resulted with him becoming a ghost. It’s hard to let him go…

Then you have the remarkable Zachary Moore who is alive and takes your breath away (are better yet, makes your heart flutter with zillions of butterflies). He is ONE HAWT COMMODITY and is so compassionate. He and Aura both share a gift in regards to the shift. Although Aura loves Logan and is still binded to him, she tries to fight her feelings for Zach. But, it’s impossible. Zachary Moore WILL.POSSESS.YOUR.HEART.

I was pretty adamant about a certain character, Ja- COUGH, from The Mort- COUGH—ahem, goodness! ooh- excuse me, oh dear… anyway, about that character, you know- he and I were tight… I was in love (fictitionally speaking). But wow, you had these two boys from the Shade Series come in and they captured my heart. That’s when I knew, while I’ll always care for that certain character, it was time to move on. Logan and Zachary reeled me in and I cannot nor will not choose between them.

You are utterly and seriously missing out if you haven’t read Shade and Shift yet. Put these books on your “to be read list” now… better yet, read them now and become part of Team Kilt!! Oh, and it may be a good idea to have some tissues on hand.

So, I lied… I have to say this one more time before I close this super fun review out. I give these bad-ass babies (Shade and Shift) 5 bouncing, springing, shooting stars!!!!!

Yours Truly, Kimberly