The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

The Winter Sea

( UK Title: Sophia's Secret )

by Susanna Kearsley

Genre: Contemporary | Romance | Historic

History has all but forgotten the spring of 1708, when an invasion fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors, and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory...making her the only living person who can know the truth of what did happen all those years ago - a tale of love and loyalty...and ultimate betrayal. 

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Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Falling Under
by Gwen Hayes

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal Romance

In her dreams he's irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she's awake—and captivates her just the same—she's not sure which way is up and which is down.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she's ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she's seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.
Theia doesn't understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Theia is a talented musician that is dedicated to school and her friends but lacking in a father/daughter relationship. One night, she dreams about a mysterious stranger and the next school day meets Haden, the same boy from her dreams/nightmares. As the two become closer and closer through her dark dreams, Theia eventually learns about the more sinister motives behind Haden's visits but is too far in love to let it stop her. Yet, someone even more deadly and devilish is on the hunt for Theia to take her "Under" for good.

** SPOILERS **

This was a "Meh!" read for me. I was intrigued about the grim parallel universe concept and how disturbing the ghoulish characters were in those eerie dreams/nightmares, but essentially the story's plot was drab, tiresome, and doleful overall. It took me over a week to finish, something that proves my distaste of Falling Under; especially near the end when I was skipping ahead full pages at a time to just finish and move on to a more entertaining book.

One would think Hayden, the main male lead, could add a lot of enchantment and masculine charm to keep the story alive, but he really didn't add enough interest for me to fully grasp that he was capable of a "loving" relationship to begin with. Theia's two best friends, Donny & Amelia, really kept the story going since Theia, herself, easily came off as lifeless, dull, and very tedious. Both of the friends really shared the book, in my opinion, with their own little love adventures going on throughout and I would have much rather followed Donny & Gabe's romantic tension than some of Theia's battles. All in all, this book bored me, was very dragged out and lacked that delightful spark that would peak my curiosity into reading more, but if you had another opinion than mine and wish to read more -- Dreaming Awake seems to be a similar story, if not continuation, of Falling Under and will be released early January 2012.

Likes: The mythological comparisons were easy to make within this book (Hayden=Hades & Theia=Persephone and yet, Theia's name seems a play off of "Lethe" since, in Greek mythology, Lethe was one of the five rivers of Hades), but what I liked best, since I'm a big fan of creepy characters, were the dancing faceless ghouls and stitched up hand-maids and all those other deliciously spooky creatures that made up "Under". . . fascinating!

Dislikes: I'm not sure if Varnie, the psychic, was to be there for comical relief, but he was just too daffy for me to enjoy.

Rating:

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Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Perchance to Dream
(Théâtre Illuminata Book #2)
by Lisa Mantchev

Genre: Fantasy | Paranormal Romance | Young Adult

Act Two, Scene One
Enter Bertie And Company

Setting: The world outside the Théâtre

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith (Bertie):
Our charming and talented heroine

Nate: A suave, swashbuckling pirate in grave danger

Ariel: A brooding, seductive air spirit whose motives remain frustratingly hidden

Peaseblossom, Codweb, Moth, and Mustardseed: These fairies are indispensable if you need help dispatching with a pie or pudding

Growing up in the enchanted Théâtre Illuminata, Bertie learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts--but she didn't know that she had a role to play, too. Now that she's discovered her own magic, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales. And she's ready to write her own story, outside the productive walls of the Théâtre. But which way will her story go? Toward Nate, who's being held captive by the Sea Goddess, and loves Bertie dearly? Or should she write Ariel into her narrative? He's by her side every day, and she's finding his charms so very hard to resist . . .

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith's search for her stolen companion, Nate, has brought her traveling company far from the stage of the Théâtre Illuminata. With the power of her words, Bertie can reshape reality, but the magic is wild and defies her attempts to control it. The Pirate's time is running out and the Sea Goddess will not give up her prize willingly.

No matter what, Bertie is hell-bent on getting back Nate, dragging her crew through tough terrains and dangerous situations. Along the way, they meet some interesting characters that become pivotal figures in Bertie's current adventure and many secrets of her past become known. I was excited to check out book # 2 in this series, but unfortunately, this was a so-so read for me. It was VERY dramatic and kind of all-over-the-place. Plus, it was almost too much fantasy for my taste, esp. with the whole "words = reality" problem (in which Bertie became stubborn in using!) There is a big adjustment for the "Company" in dealing with people/places in the "modern" world compared to being inside the Théâtre, so that in itself was fascinating to read about, but overall it was entertaining and theatrical.

Likes: Bertie's "triangle" relationship with Nate & Ariel truly heated up in this story and I don't see it simmering down for awhile until Bertie finally makes a decision between the two.

Dislikes: The fairies come off to me as more annoying than comical!

Rating:

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Highland Guardian by Melissa Mayhue

Highland Guardian
(Daughters of the Glen Series Book #2)
by Melissa Mayhue

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy

SARAH DOUGLAS is a successful thirty-eight year old romance novelist with big problems. She's come to Scotland on a three month working vacation hoping to recapture her muse - who's deserted her - and resolve the issue of her strange 'feelings' - the ones which allow her to sense the emotions of everyone she touches.

From the moment she arrives, however, her problems only intensify. She's being stalked, but by whom? Is he real or only a figment of her imagination? What about the darkly handsome owner of the cottage she's leasing? How is she ever going to deal with her growing attraction to a man ten years her junior? She knows from bitter experience men - particularly men who look like Ian - aren't interested in women like her.

IAN MCCULLOUGH is neck-deep in troubles of his own. As a half-mortal descendent of Faeries, he's a Guardian, sworn to protect both the mortals of this world and the Portals leading to the Faerie Realm. After six hundred years, he's confident he knows what to expect in just about every situation and exactly how to handle it. But he never counted on a woman like Sarah showing up in his life; a woman who intrigues and charms him. A woman who turns out to be of Faerie descent herself, although she has no idea of her heritage and no belief in any Otherworld beings.

When he's assigned to protect her, Ian finds the job is tougher than he could possibly have imagined. Oh, he can handle the stalker and the ex-husband and even the renegade Faeries trying to kidnap her for their own purpose. It's falling in love and forsaking his status as Guardian, a position he swore to honor at his father's deathbed, he's having trouble with.

Both Sarah and Ian struggle to battle the demons of self-doubt and their individual pasts. In the process they learn that healing will take the strongest magic of all, the true love that occurs only between two souls fated to be together.

Sarah escapes to Scotland to stimulate her muse and get back into writing her books, she chooses to ignore the fact that something else is drawing her there as well. Ian doesn't have the time to be bothered being babysitter to the new "American" arrival at his friend's summer cottage, but upon their first meeting - things drastically change. Now Ian is torn between duty and love while Sarah must make some startling acceptances herself before the Fairy portal is revealed and all ciaos ensues.

I like this series! It's easy to read, fun and sassy, plus the characters are enjoyable overall. Ian and Sarah were very realistic and their relationship together just kept getting better and better. The story wasn't cheesy and their romance didn't feel rushed and/or pushed as many similar tales can be. Don't expect a lot of in-depth story development, but if you want something to read after a long day at work - this is a great series to get into. The author opened up the character field a lot within Highland Guardian, so many of the future books in the series can really go all over the place now - which excites me since Soul of the Highlander is up next in my TBR pile. Plus, it was nice to get a glimpse of Cate and Conner from the first book in the series.

Likes: Yayy! Scotland - I'm all about books set in Scotland since my trip there is in 42 days and counting . . .

Dislikes: The whole plot build up toward the end kind of fizzled out for me and wasn't as climatic as I would have liked. Plus, I'm noticing a similar trait within the female characters that I'm not enjoying - the two female protagonists so far both suffer from horrible past relationships that weakened them until meeting their new Highland male dream dudes (who of course save them from their pity party), but I like my women characters to be strong individually and not broken/shattered emotionally as Mayhue is writing them. I'm hoping that trait changes here on out for the Daughters of the Glen series.

Rating:

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Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Raised by Wolves
(Raised by Wolves Book #1)
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal Romance

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

Bryn doesn't exactly feel like she fits in at school as well as at home. She's part of the wolf pack, but many members won't even willingly accept her if not for the Alpha's protection. She's an orphan with a dark past and knows something is up since new laws have been put into place for her to get home at dusk and many more rules shes unwilling to follow. When a new discovery of pack secrets is revealed, Bryn must go against her "human" instincts and fully accept the pack lifestyle, accepting the good with the bad. Yet, can Bryn willingly change for the better when even more secrets from the past become known?

I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of this tale, but the end kind of fizzled out for me. It was fresh, very intriguing, and written in a manner that was quite easy to follow, but the plot turns at the end had me wishing for something different. It's not that it wasn't a nice ending, just not as satisfying as I would have personally liked and it was a little sad. Bryn's relationship with the different characters was what interested me the most. She acted differently with everyone and that kept the story spicy and from becoming too slow to enjoy.

I would have liked a better conclusion (maybe even an epilogue?) to this story and perhaps I'm unaware of a series that will soon follow, but I felt many of the side characters had their tale unjustly cut short and I would have enjoyed to learn more about them and where they were headed. Oh, just found out : TRIAL BY FIRE (the Raised By Wolves sequel) okay, that makes my reading taste much happier to know there is more coming overall.

Likes: I enjoyed the concept behind the story and am excited to read more into that world in Book #2.

Dislikes: I want to know more about Bryn and her ability, much was left out and I know there is more of the story to come soon, but what was lacking had me scratching my head in confusion.

Rating:

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Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined
by Heather Dixon

Genre : Young Adult | Historic | Romance | Fairy Tale

Review on behalf of Dark Fairy Tales

Confined to their dreary castle while mourning their mother's death, Princess Azalea Kathryn Wentworth and her eleven younger sisters dance in a mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father's grief. What they don't understand -- although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in -- is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper (trapped in a magic passageway) is tightening his snare with deadly purpose and soon their nightly dances becomes nightmarish.

Upon the royally hosted Yuletide ball, which is also Azalea's first ball allowed to attend at the age of fifteen, her sickly mother makes her promise upon an old silver handkerchief to 'always take care of her sisters' before passing away and causing the family to go into mourning for one full year. Gone are the colorful dresses, daily palace visitors, bright sunny windows (for they are covered now with dark draperies), outside trips to the garden, and most importantly...dancing...something all the sisters love dearly and remember most about their mother. To add to the growing grief, their father shortly departs to war without so much as a good-bye and all their mother's personal items are locked away so that nothing is left as a remembrance. Bitter, distraught, and lonely the girls turn to each other for emotional support and when Azalea discovers a secret magic passageway within the castle - all of them jump at the opportunity to escape to this new world and embrace the chance to dance nightly. Yet, as their sadness begins to lift, Azalea begins to realize that not all is as it seems and they may have gotten too entwined within Mr Keepers web to escape without harm.

First off, I feel in love with the sister's names in Entwined - "Princess Royale (Azalea), Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Evening Primrose, Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale, and tiny Lily" (pg 102) All alphabetical, all botanical, all girls - so whimsical and adorable. Honestly, I was expecting this story to be quite juvenile, but it came off as very emotionally entertaining and easily draws the reader into a world of magic and heartbreak. I enjoyed how brittle Azalea was upon her Mother's death since she so desperately wanted to trust in her father's love and blindly raised her sisters in their year of grief, thus, she instantly changed from a naive young princess to that of a responsible eldest sibling overnight. She easily took on the role of 'parent' when both were out of the picture and matured even more throughout the tale; wish I could have said the same for some of the other sisters (i.e. Bramble!) but , I guess, there does need to be some comical humor within a dark tale.

The royal palace was a fascinating setting for the little princesses; with bits of hidden magic left over from past eras. It came off as enchanted in some scenes and almost cursed in others, thus as a reader, it was hard to decided rather to be spooked or enthralled by the place itself. "It should have frightened [Azalea], thinking of the palace as once evil and magicked, with the candelabras and ceiling murals alive, but it didn't. It was hard to be frighted of a building that smelled of old toast" (pg 52) Overall, the story carried a heavy fairy-tale theme, but it still focused strongly on family bonds and learning to depend on others in between the mystical adventures. Plus, the "gentlemen" relationship aspect captivated me and had me guessing which suitors would end up with which sister and if all parties involved (ex. the King and fellow sisters) would agree to any future marriages. The courting manners were fun to read about and each sister had a distinct personality which really carried the story without making it feel dragged out or boring. Great read!

" Ladies' Dance Pocketbook : Entwine

The Entwine, also known as the gentleman's catch, is an amusing and challenging redowa suitable for accomplished partners. Similar to a trois-temps waltz, it is danced in open position with a long sash. The lady and gentleman each take ends of the sash, which their hands must not leave. In a series of quick steps the gentleman either twists the sash around the lady's wrists, pinning them (also known as the catch), or the lady avoids capture within three minutes' time. "

Likes: The relationship development between the King and his daughters.

Dislikes: Even though Entwined was set in a fantasy land - I felt a little lost on the time in which the story was being told (Victorian?) and felt a year or era given throughout the story would have satisfied my historical taste.

Rating:

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Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Dreamfever
(Fever Series Book #4)
by Karen Marie Moning

Genre : Dark Fantasy | Paranormal Romance

"But for those of us who live large, the most alive we ever feel is when we're punching air with a fist, uncurling our middle finger with a cool smile, and flipping Death the big old bird."

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master's spell. In the New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning's stunning new novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin's battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest-and most erotically charged-adventure of her life.

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister's murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac's every thought-and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V'lane vie for her body and soul, as she rallies the sidhe-seers to fight an impossible battle, and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac's greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...

It's an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth-about herself, and about the world she thought she knew.

Mac finds herself drawn deeply into the Pri'ya world where the only person who is able to help her escape is the one man who makes her cringe/shiver in more than one way. Yet, having overcome her latest ordeal has given her new powers (& a new darker side!) that begins to frighten herself & even those around her, plus she's dealing with a crumbling Dublin, a divided Sidhe-seer gang, and the scary realization that her revenge mission has become a lot more personal/depraved with the involvement of her parents and close friends. In the end, she finds just how alone she is in this journey and she must face a startling truth that just may shatter everything she's ever believed in [i.e. cliffhanger!!!!]

This is the book that defiantly heated up the relationship with Mac & Barrons, something many of the readers were highly anticipating throughout the series. Yet, it came with a twist that will leave all loyal followers coming back for more in Shadowfever. Even though a lot was revealed in this book - much more was left out including the cliffhanger at the end that has everyone guessing the true outcome and just who some of the characters are - a true mystery even after 4 books.

EXTRA : Moning Maniacs are in town for the book-signing tomorrow. I'll be there as well!

Likes: Mac warming up to the Sidhe-seer group was comforting and her finding out information about her maternal mother was nice to learn as well. Interesting to see where all this new information pans out.

Dislikes: I feel I couldn't give this book a solid 5 rating since I just cannot warm up to Dani. She drives me insane! I usually skip the parts where she appears in the book. Ugh, enough said!

Rating:

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Blue Bloods: Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz

Blue Bloods : Keys to the Repository
(Companion to The Van Alen Legacy)
by Melissa de la Cruz

Genre: Companion | Paranormal Romance | Young Adult

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods.

Half-Blood

Birth Name: Schuyler Theodora Elizabeth Van Alen Chase

Origin: September 1, 1992, New York, New York

Known Past Lives: None: she is Dimidium Cognatus (half-human, half-vampire), the first and only one of her kind.

Azrael, Angel of Death, Twin Angel of the Apocalypse

Birth Name: Madeleine Alexis Force, known as "Mimi"

List of Human Familiars: See pages 84-88 in Records of Human Interaction for full list. (Too many to mention here; number in possible violation of the Code.) HA!

Kingsley Martin

Assigned to investigate the murder of Aggie Carondolet, Kingsley enrolled as a student at Duchesne.  With his cocky confidence, smoldering air of mystery, and devastating good looks {NOTE FROM RENFIELD: SCRIBES, ARE YOU SURE VENATOR MARTIN HASN'T HACKED INTO THIS FILE?}, Kingsley was a legend only a week after arriving at Duchesne. {NOTE TO RENFIELD FROM K.M. HI RENNY!}

You'll find fun facts like this and more scattered all throughout Keys to the Repository.  It gives detailed accounts of all the main character's family backgrounds, current status, list of bond mates, physical characteristics, as well as city maps, a full history of the Blue Bloods, and a peek at Bliss's "Wolf Pack" side story in search of the Hounds of Hell.  Lovely stuff for all followers of the Blue Blood series, like myself.  It's a companion read, so don't expect much.  I personally have a love/hate relationships with companion reads.  On one hand, I enjoy the little details and shorts stories about all of my favorite characters, while on the other hand, I hate that the fans have to wait even longer for an actually book, and not just an encyclopedia, to continue the series.  Yayy that Misguided Angel (Book #5) is right around the corner on October 26.  We even get a special treat with Bloody Valintine, a romantic novella, that will be published next year! Double Yayy.

Keys to the Repository answered some nice questions of mine (like: What was Schuyler and Jack's first meeting at the Perry St apartment like? or More insight to what happened to Dylan Ward) but then left me blank on so much more (like: Is it true that Stephen Chase, Schuyler's red blood father is only "presumed" deceased? or Wait, so . . . Kingsley was only believed to be trapped in the underworld and not finished?) If you like Schuyler and the gang, you'll enjoy all the "documents" within Melissa de la Cruz's newest work.

Likes: "Mr. Darcy's Requests" was nice!  "Stolen moments, stolen kisses, a secret oasis." Yummy! (pg 59)

Dislikes: Sometimes there's so much information to absorb that I get overwhelmed and can only read the books for bits at a time.

Rating:

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Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Linger
(Wolves of Mercy Falls Book #2)
by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy | Young Adult

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.  

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.  But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin. 

So, we pick-up from the last book, Shiver.   Sam has remained all winter as a human even though he is cautious of cold drafts and finds comfort in hot drinks.  Grace's good-girl appearance is falling apart with her family after getting caught sleeping with Sam and continuing to see him upon being grounded.  Isabel is adapting to her knowledge of the existence of shifters while dealing with the loss of her brother.  The newcomer, Cole, is adjusting to being a new wolf and is slowly figuring out where he choices have lead him.  Those are the main characters and the chapters are divided and individually told from their own POV between the four.

It's Spring and the warmer it gets in Mercy Falls, the more the wolves shift back into their human forms.  At least the new ones do.  The older the wolf, the less likely the shift occurs - which is what really bothers Sam.  Deep down he's afraid he won't see Beck and Ulric in human form again and he secretly misses his family while having flashbacks of his youth. Grace is continuing to let Sam crash every night at her house, which she keeps from her parents until getting caught one night.  Yet, Grace is secretly suffering herself from headaches that get worse and eventually nose bleeding as well.  She's beginning to carry the scent of a wolf and a tragic accident from her youth is causing the wolf inside to die.  Cole becomes the first wolf of the pack to shift back to human form, something he doesn't want.  Being the newbie, he choose to take the wolf virus to escape his life.  A life of being a rising rock-star until his faked death before coming to Mercy Falls.  He shares Beck's house with Sam and deals with the rocky future that both now share.  

Personally, I felt this book wasn't as great as the first one (since I'm a sucker for lovey-dovey tales), but I still found I read it quickly, teared up at parts as well, and thought it was a great continuation for Sam and Grace.  It's truly a touching story that grips your emotions since you know what is coming, but continue reading toward it anyways and then want more at the end.  Plus, the chapters being divided up carries the story pretty easily and keeps it from becoming too monotone.  Sam and Grace are truly in love and share an amazing bond and the fresh sparks between Cole and Isabel were becoming interesting as well.  Cole's an intriguing character and I, have to say, enjoyed his chapters the best.  I even feel in love with some of this thoughts throughout Linger and wrote down a few of his lines as favorites: "I was still chasing something -- some idea of life & fame that I imagined for myself when I was [younger] -- but I was losing interest in actually finding it." (pg. 30)  Beautiful and Heart-wrenching!  If you loved the first book, you won't be disappointed with the second and you'll be eager for what's to come.

Likes: Sam's poetic side & his sincere obsession with folding paper cranes! Plus, I just dig a guy who works in a book store. 

Dislikes: This book was pretty heavy for a YA read.  Lots of thoughts of suicide, hard-core drugs, attempts of murder, feelings of abandonment, etc.

Rating:

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Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Intertwined
(Harlequin Teen - Intertwined Book #1)
by Gena Showalter

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy | Young Adult

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him: One can time-travel. One can raise the dead. One can tell the future. And one can possess another human. Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl -- a girl who carries centuries old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him. Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger . . . but not everyone will come out alive.

Aden has spent his whole life in and out of mental institutions diagnosed as a violent schizophrenic. Now able to control the voices in his head, Aden has moved to Crossroads, OK, to live in a halfway house for delinquent boys. His goal in life is to find a means to free these souls and at last be at peace. When he meets Mary Ann Gray, she miraculously acts as a neutralizer, and for the first time in his life, he truly feels normal. Little do they realize that when they first met, their connection sent a power surge throughout the world drawing every paranormal creature from fairies to vampires to Crossroads on a quest for power. To complicate matters, Aden becomes romantically involved with a vampire princess and Mary Ann with her werewolf bodyguard. Together the teens must figure out a way to protect themselves, and all of humanity.

I expected more from this book and sadly I was let down! It took me awhile to catch on the plot & characters - when I did - I was rooting for Mary Ann and Aden to get together, but no . . . instead the two become fast friends, establishing a sibling-type bond - which I just found strange & displeasing since they only knew each other for a few days/weeks. And this was just at the beginning of the book. They weren't the only characters being "forced" together either. Aden keeps having visions of a long, dark haired girl (who he first thinks is Mary Ann) who turns out being the Vampire daughter of Dracula (lame!), Victoria. So, Aden instantly has these insane urges to kiss her (I didn't get into ANY of their "romantic" time together either!) and the story just got sillier, less interesting, and just had TOO MUCH going on from there. I didn't like it. I didn't enjoy it. I couldn't even finish reading it. . . stopping on page 372 of a 440 story. I just really didn't care about the ending - SAD! None of the characters were believable. The romance was "pushed" upon the kids, even for a Young Adult novel. The story plot was all over that place and had way too many paranormal creatures, powers, you name it and, for once, I didn't enjoy the story going back and forth between two POVs.

Likes: Ummmm? This is a NO NEED READ!!!!

Dislikes: Don't EVEN get me started!

Rating:

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Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
by Beth Fantaskey

Genre: Paranormal Romance / Young Adult

Jessica Packwood is a normal teen attending Woodrow Wilson High School. Her mathematical nature has even given her a slightly geeky reputation, which is about to change with the arrival of Lucius Vladescu, who seems to be stalking her. She tells her mother about him and learns that she is really a Romanian vampire princess who has been betrothed to Lucius at birth. She knew she was adopted, but this revelation comes as a shock. It is this agreement that has kept rival vampire clans, the Dragomirs and the Vladescus, at an uneasy peace. If the marriage does not take place, war will ensue and threaten the ultimate destruction of Jessica's vampire family. To say that this is a lot for the teen to take in is an understatement. Lucius is gorgeous, old world, tender as well as arrogant, and very overprotective of her. However, she chooses to date Jake, a handsome but rather dull boy. But not all is as it seems in the vampire world, and as the story progresses, circumstances force Jessica and Lucius to take matters into their own hands; in doing so, they examine their true feelings about themselves, family, and duty.

Down-to-earth mathlete Jessica is completely horrified when, a few months shy of her 18th birthday, a Romanian named Lucius shows up on her doorstep, claiming that he and she are vampire royalty betrothed to each other since infancy—what's worse, her adoptive parents verify the betrothal story and explain that her birth parents identified themselves as vampires, too. Fantaskey makes this premise work by playing up its absurdities without laughing at them, endowing Jessica with a coolly ironic sensibility and Lucius with old-world snobbery that Jessica's girlfriends find irresistible & dub him the nickname "Luscious Lucius".

I've had this book on my TBR pile for awhile now and finally got around to it. I'm glad I did! I was so absorbed in the conflict between Jessica (or known by her original Romanian name - Antanasia) and Lucius that I finished the book in one day! It begins like many of the cooky vampy love stories out there, but the more you get into the actual tale - the more you enjoy the characters and get sucked (haha no pun intended) into where their lives are leading them. I loved the flip of feelings between the two and it even had me crying at parts . . . a mark of a great book to touch me so emotionally! Perfect weekend read if you want to become absorbed in a fun paranormal book!!! Check out Jessica & Lucius's continuation HERE.

Likes: I was surprisingly shocked how wonderful this book was!

Dislikes: Starts out rather slow and then it ends too quickly!

Rating:

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Beautiful Creatures by Kimi Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures
(Caster Chronicles Book #1)
by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Genre: Paranormal Romance / Fantasy / Young Adult

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

"Some loves are meant to be…
others are cursed.

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
There was a curse. There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave."

Ethan, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. Then Lena Duchannes arrives, and this strange new girl is the very one who has been occupying his dreams. She and her kin are Casters, beings who have supernatural powers. Getting to know her exposes Ethan to time travel, mortal danger, and love. The teens can hardly bear to be apart, but Lena's 16th birthday, when she will be Claimed for dark or light, is only 6 months away. To save her, they fight supernatural powers and the prejudice of closed-minded people. Yet, good and evil are not clearly delineated, nor are they necessarily at odds.

I thought I wouldn't enjoy a story told from a teenage boys perspective, but Ethan's view was very natural and easy to follow. It was enjoyable seeing the story threw his eyes and witnessing the oddness that is the Caster World . . . unlike many other paranormal tales told from the witches, zombies, vampires, etc. point of view . . . Ethan was just plain normal and human - something all readers could relate to. I was thrilled with the small town feel to the story, reminded me SO MUCH of my hometown. Loved it!!!! The concept was very original as well and there's just the perfect touch of romance & anticipation to keep the reader turning the pages. Next Up : Beautiful Darkness

Likes: MACON MELCHIZEDEK RAVENWOOD was by far my favorite character!!!

Dislikes: It's a lot to take in. I felt the Caster Universe grew throughout the book, so it was defiantly a story one will have to read more than once (or at least certain parts) to gain the full effect.

Rating:

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The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King
(The Iron Fey Book #1)
by Julie Kagawa

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Young Adult

My name is Meghan Chase.

In less than twenty-four hours I'll be sixteen. Countless stories, songs, and poems have been written about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her and the handsome prince carries her off into the sunset.

I don't think it will be that way for me.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined...Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I've been seeing this book EVERYWHERE and have been shunning it for a while due to all the rave ratings its been receiving, but I finally bit the bullet and read it myself and . . . LOVED IT! It has an odd mixture of Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Legend and mostly - Labyrinth. It has all the classic fairy tale elements: a child kidnapped by fairies, a magical quest, and a handsome prince. Plus, Meghan finds out she 1/2 Faery herself, so things become a lot personal throughout the book. Next up - The Iron Daughter, coming out August 1st.

Likes: I had thought Robbie/Puck's silliness would grow on my last nerve, but he did quite the opposite when I finished the book. Presently Surprised!

Dislikes: It's almost too similar to the 1986 Jim Henson film, Labyrinth.

Rating:

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Gone by Lisa McMann

Gone
(Wake Series Book #3)
by Lisa McMann

Genre: Paranormal Romance / Young Adult

Dream-catcher Janie must decide her fate: continue living in society and helping the police but eventually become blind and crippled, or isolate herself completely. The choice becomes even more difficult when her father, in a coma and on the brink of death, comes into her life for the first time and reveals important information to Janie through his dreams. Cabel remains a steadfast and loving companion, and Janie’s mother, a barely functioning alcoholic, plays a greater role in this volume.

Things should be great for Janie--she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she's totally in love with. But deep down she's panicking about how she's going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people's dreams is really starting to take its toll. Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time--and he's in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

I sped through the previous two wonderful books in the series (WAKE & FADE), but was majorly disappointed in this one - the last one in the series,too. I felt each book was great at building up the drama and GONE was just a major let down on all over. The plot felt blah, nothing too exciting, the characters weren't developing as much as I would have liked and it was more depressing than anything else throughout. Sure we meet the father and had some dream facts revealed, but you could almost predict what would happen to her already. I read this quickly just to see if anything got better near the end (nope!) and I felt Lisa McMann really pushed Janie & Cabel's relationship to add something to the story that she wasn't getting from the plot. Most Dream Catcher followers will read this to finish the series, but as a stand alone - just don't!

Likes: Can't really remember . . . ?!?!?

Dislikes: Lets see . . . no definitive climax, no closure, & no new material. Blah!

Rating:

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