The most recent novel that I had the pleasure of reading was Becca Fitzpatrick’s debut novel, “hush, hush”.  All I can say is, WOW! It is mesmerizing. The book is about fallen angels and the main character, Patch Cipriano, is hot, hot, hot!!!

“Patch’s eyes were black orbs. Taking in everything and giving away nothing. Not that I wanted to know more about Patch. Since I hadn’t liked what I’d seen on the surface, I doubted I’d like what was lurking deep inside.
Only this wasn’t exactly true. I’d liked a lot of what I’d seen. Long, lean muscles down his arms, broad but relaxed shoulders, and a smile that was part playful, part seductive.”

 Now, as you know, normally when I am browsing for my next book I go by the excerpts on the back…but this book caught my eye as soon as I saw the cover. It really didn’t matter what it was about, I HAD to read it.

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

See what I mean?? It is incredible, by far the best book cover I have ever seen. Now for the excerpt…..

Romance was not part of Nora Grey’s plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgement.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide wether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen—and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

I was completely locked within the pages while reading this book. So be forewarned, you will not be able to put it down. The next book in the series of fallen angels is “CRESCENDO”, which will be released in Fall 2010.

YOUR DREAMS ARE NOT YOUR OWN.

“Wake” is the first book in a fantastic paranormal romantic trilogy and a New York Times Bestseller. Written by Lisa McMann, this book will have you hooked after reading the excerpt. It is just that good. Don’t believe me?? Read it….

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can’t tell anybody about what she does—they’d never believe her, or worse, they’d think she’s a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more that just a witness to someone else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant….

See what I mean?
It is a great story with a haunting concept. You won’t be able to put the book down. And of course there is Cabel, the handsome romeo who sweeps her off her feet, but it isn’t as perfect as it seems. Life is a long, bumpy road for Janie Hannagan and the only person she has to confide in is Cabel. He is the only person who knows her secret, who she can feel normal around.
The second book in the trilogy is “Fade”, and equally enthralling read that will keep you clinging to the pages, wondering what will happen. It has a killer cliff-hanger ending that will make you wish to speed up time for the release of the next book. “Gone”, the last installment of the trilogy comes out February and it can’t come soon enough.

Let me just tell you….if you have not read any of Carrie Jones’ work, then read it! Read it NOW!
She is completely made of awesome.

So go to her site and enter her contests. It’s worth it. =]

Now, I am old school when it comes to reading and I prefer a solid copy of a book in my hands. I had NO idea about any of the other options out there….So I did a little research. I have to admit, the options are impressive and if I weren’t so stubborn I would try them out. I want to share the information with you to show you what there is. So if you’re on of those people who say that you don’t have time to read or you don’t like having to carry a book around, maybe this can help.

The first things that I learned about were eBooks. eBooks are internet downloads for your PC, Mac, iPhone, computer, etc..
You just purchase the eBook (at a much cheaper price than regular books) and download it to the device of your choice. So if you have an iPhone, you can read your book while waiting in line at the bank, the doctor’s office, while in a meeting =], or any time you have a few minutes to spare. It’s quick and easy and easy to afford.
For example, you can purchase Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol” for only $9.95. Whereas, for the hard copy of the book you would pay $29.95 at a retail store.
PROS: –Cheap –Fast –Easy–
CONS: If you like to collect your books, or if you want a library..this is not for you.

The coolest thing, by far, that I came across was the Kindle. A Kindle is like a small electronic book. Amazon.com tells all about the Kindle and it’s magnificence. So I decided to put it on here. 

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Paper-Like Display: Reads like real paper with no glare, even in bright sunlight

Long Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

Carry Your Library: Holds over 1,500 books

Read-to-Me: With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog, and book out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable

Free Book Samples: Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

Large Selection: Over 350,000 books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available

Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise

Now I’m not going to lie…that sounds AWESOME! But with my whole, wanting my own library thing, it wouldn’t work out. There are a lot of good things about the Kindle, including the cheap price for books. But you must first get past the initial purchase of the device which costs from about $150-$300 all depending on what generation you decide to buy. It would make for a great Christmas/birthday present. =]

I’m hoping that by sharing this information…I can persuade some of the busy business men and women to adopt the love of reading…Seeing as how, with technology like the Kindle, it is possible to read anywhere, anytime.

Of course she is the most well known for her vampire love story, The Twilight Saga. But she has also published another book that will knock you off your feet. “The Host” is a gripping sci-fi story that will have you clutching at your heart.

 ”Stephenie Meyer is an amazing phenomenon—out of the brightness of her mind and spirit comes the illuminated darkness of her stories. For no matter how much pain her characters suffer, Meyer infuses the tales with light and hope.” —Orson Scott Card, author of the Ender Saga

 ”A fantastic, inventive, thoughtful, and powerful novel. The Host will keep you reading well into the wee hours of night, and keep you thinking, deeply, hauntingly, well after the final word.” —Ridley Pearson, author of Killer Weekend

One of the biggest deciding factors for me when I am choosing a book is not what critics and reviewers say, it is what the excerpt on the book sleeve says. That is why I add the excerpt into my reviews rather than explain it myself. I just feel like that is the best way to describe the book without giving away too much or not enough. So here a hint about what the book is about.

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining “wild” humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie’s thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer’s mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

It is a very BIG novel. Counting in at about 620 pages, it can be rather intimidating. It is a little dry in the beginning, but once you get to about chapter 10, you’re HOOKED! I was absolutely obsessed. I ended up reading the book in one day and then going back to read it again the day after. It is a gut-wrenching, heart-warming, soul-touching novel that will have you lost, in love, and in tears. I know that I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters and their story, they were locked in my head and would not go away….so I had to read it again.
I suggest this novel to absolutely EVERYONE. And oh how I love good news! A recent statement has just been released confirming that “The Host” is being brought to the big screen. Hearing this, of course, makes me completely giddy because I am IN LOVE with the story and I am excited to see it come to life, and as soon as more info and a trailer come out I will post it here for everyone.

If you would like you can purchase your copy here at a fantastic price….or you can run!, not walk to the nearest bookstore to get your copy. =]

“Their hidden world is about to be revealed….”

For this review I am only going to tell you about the first book, City of Bones,  because once you read it you will HAVE to read the next two. It won’t matter what any review says, you’ll be immediately hooked.

The story is set in NYC and is completely one-of-a-kind. I fell in love with the characters almost immediately and to this day I still wish that I could live in this exceptional world with Clary and Jace.

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered in strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it’s hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary’s mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.
But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…..

 

This story is full of action, fear, fun, and of course, love. Every person that I know who has read this story–guys especially–have loved it! It will completely consume you and you won’t be able to put the book down. It is full of twists and plot changes that keep it interesting and that keep you guessing. The characters are just so fun and easy to love…you’ll find yourself going back to read it a second time. =]

This urban fantasy series opener spices its fight against evil with sexual tension. Fifteen-year-old geek hipster Clary thought she was just a normal kid, but normal kids don’t see invisible people, and normal kids’ mothers don’t suddenly disappear, seemingly captured by horrific monsters. But like many fantasy heroines, Clary isn’t normal, and she’s got all the secret parentage, dramatic revelations, and amazing magic powers to prove it….The story’s sensual flavor comes from the wealth of detail: demons with facial piercings, diners serving locusts and honey, pretty gay warlocks, and cameo appearances from other urban fantasies’ characters….Lush and fun.

- Kirkus Reviews

 

That is really all I can think to say.

This is one of the most incredible stories I have ever read. It is just so real. It is a real story about life, love, and loss. The struggles we go through..the decisions we make. How everything intertwines. It is about finding yourself and all that you are capable of. Nicholas Sparks has, yet again, blessed us with a beautiful tale.

The Last Song debuted as #1 on The New York Times and USA Today’s Bestseller Lists.

Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

 

I’m not going to lie. This novel is a serious tear-jerker. I cried, a lot. I think that every single person in the world can relate to Ronnie’s story is some way, seriously.  Whether it be major or minor, there is something that everyone has in common with her.
Sparks actually wrote the screenplay before he wrote the novel so the movie is set to open in theatres on January 8, 2010. Miley Cyrus has been cast as the lead..eh. In my own opinion, I think that this wasn’t the best choice. But who knows, she could really pull it off. Regardless, I have high hope for the movie and I can’t wait to see it.

Purchase your copy today, you won’t regret it. =]

That is exactly what happens in the novel Gone by Michael Grant.

In the blink of an eye.
Everyone disappears.
GONE.
Except for the young: Teens. Middle Schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. And just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.
It’s a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against the powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you will disappear just like everyone else.

Gone is the first of a 6 novel series. I have never read anything like it. It is one of the most unique stories that I have ever experienced. Even though it is a Harry Potter size novel, it is a very quick read. I was burning through the pages and I could not put it down. So do not let the size of it intimidate you.

The characters are very animated and they have to learn how to grow up very quickly. You really feel their fear and pain right along with them. There is a new twist around every corner. Grant has you guessing the whole way through, trying to figure out what has happened to the small town of Perdido Beach, California. And what is yet to come. How will the kids survive?

The second novel of the Gone series is out now. It is titled Hunger and is as equally intense and compelling as the first one.

I first read this story when I was a sophmore in high school and I remember how much it blew me away. That is what convinced me to go back and purchase my own copy. Reading it again now, I picked up on a lot more of the meaning and the story line.

THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold is the story of a 14 year-old girl named Susie who has been brutally raped, murdered, and dismembered. Susie tells her story from her “heaven” where she watches the lives of her family and friends continue on without her.

 Alice Sebold has created an incredible world..”the Inbetween” or heaven, that is one of the most beautiful things I have ever imagined. The visuals she uses when explaining the surroundings are just captivating. It is a place that I believe and hope to truly exist.

It had begun to snow outside. It was the first snow since my death, and this was not lost on my father.
“I can hear you, honey,” he said to me, even though I wasn’t talking. “What is it?”
I focused very hard on the dead geranium in his line of vision. I thought if I could make it bloom he would have his answer. In my heaven it bloomed. In my heaven geranium petals swirled in eddies up my waist. On Earth nothing happened.
But through the snow I noticed this: my father was looking toward the green house in a new way. He had begun to wonder.

After Susie’s death her family begins to both strengthen and fall apart. Trouble between her parents begins as her father is determined to convict her murderer, a man that everyone ignores. He will not rest until justice is found for his daughter. This story is really one of hope, grief, love, and joy. Susie could only watch as her family tried, with much difficulty, to pick themselves back up and continue on. There are many meanings in the story and lessons that are learned. Susie overcomes great obstacles and learns her own lessons throughout the story as well.

These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections — sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent — that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events my death brought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life.

This novel is a must buy for everyone.

Now the great news (which I am very excited about) is that this novel is being moved to the big screen. Now normally I hate books gone movie because of all the things left out and changed. However, Peter Jackson looks to have done a phenomenal job. I am very glad that he was chosen as the director for such an intricate and delicate story as this one. The movie comes out on January 15, 2010. I also want to say that the cast is INCREDIBLE. Everyone fits the part wonderfully in my opinion. I will be seeing this one opening night.

Below I have embeded the trailer for the movie, it is wonderful and I hope that you will take the time to watch it to see what it is that I am ranting about.

I recently reviewed the novel THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins and I loved it. Well, this past Tuesday the second book in the trilogy, CATCHING FIRE, was released…..and it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!

…this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment.

–School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s story continues and it is quite the ride. I really didn’t have much of an idea about what would be in the second book, but I know that what I read was completely unexpected. There is a new twist on every page. Once again the government has tried to control the people but this time it won’t be so easy. The districts of Panem are tired of the rules and all the games that come along with them.

It is so hard to really review this without spoiling the story and all of the suprises within its pages. All I can really say is that this book blew all of my expectations out of the water. It took the story to a WHOLE new level and it ends with the biggest cliff hanger in the history of cliff hangers. I am begging for the 3rd installment to come out so I can see what happens next.  Unfortunately, we don’t know when it will be released or it’s name. But as soon as I find out you will be the first to know.

If you are a fan of THE HUNGER GAMES, then you will fall in love with the sequel. If you have yet to read the first book….do so now!!! You won’t regret it. This is a story that ALL AGES will love. Get it, read it, love it. =] This series gets a million stars.