Well, I was not expecting this! I have never read a "reverse harem" book where the women are the center of the harem rather than the men, but this isWell, I was not expecting this! I have never read a "reverse harem" book where the women are the center of the harem rather than the men, but this is a unique take on an old trope. One woman has several men at her beck and call and the real twist in this story is that the men (and women) who enjoy trists with this woman have their own supernatural powers increased.
Aurora has the unique position of being a "booster" where her kiss can enhance the power of someone's unique gift for an hour or so but having sex will keep them stronger all day. She is not proud of this gift but learns to accept it and use it to her advantage. I kept imagining her saying LEVEL UP every time she kisses someone. This whole story would fall flat if not for Aurora - her personality is what makes this work.
Of course, you have an evil faction to play off of with one group eyeing another with a supernatural cat and mouse game. I found the whole thing fascinating and this is a great set up for an easy to devour series. I know so many people who are going to love this. If you are fans of Jennifer Estep or Jeaniene Frost, you will probably like this one. I am not current on all of the new authors writing in this genre so I am sticking with the tried and true authors that remind me of this style.
Waverly is a overacheiver to the point where she can’t sleep, so she runs instead. While at school, she works her extra period in the counseling officWaverly is a overacheiver to the point where she can’t sleep, so she runs instead. While at school, she works her extra period in the counseling office where she comes into contact with Marshall, a guy that is a underacheiver. Marshall’s home life is horrible and once he meets Waverly, she invades his thoughts and dream, literally. This is the one time that I feel safe using that word.
This is a quite, little paranormal romance that is probably one of the strangest books I have read in a long time. Waverly has the ability to travel in her dreams and the ending will probably not surprise you. The writing does draw you in a sort of dreamy way. It lulls you into believing that this is just a typical teen romance, but like Yovanoff’s other work, it always has an ulterior motive in the paranormal. It did remind me of a Romeo and Juliet story with lovers from different social worlds being united....more
I read The Vampire Diaries ages ago and watched the television adaptation off and on over the seasons. I was most intrigued about a spin off for ElijaI read The Vampire Diaries ages ago and watched the television adaptation off and on over the seasons. I was most intrigued about a spin off for Elijah, Klaus, Rebekah and meeting Vivianne. So I did a quick binge of The Originals and detoured to New Orleans. This story did not disappoint. If you aren't familiar with any of the characters, this story does a nice job of catching you up on the characters but you might get a bit lost at certain points. So you have all of the guilty pleasure of the Mikaelson family.
Elijah always had my heart but this features more of Klaus and I found that very interesting as he thinks he finds his true love with Vivianne, a half-witch, werewolf hybrid. As paranormal historical fiction, this is a winner and I really enjoyed the writing style of Plec. You can tell she can set a scene and the dialogue sings. It is a quick read and best suited for teens. Overall, it is a must read for fans of the shows....more
As part of this blog tour, we were asked this question. In the story, Winnie meets Mae, Angus, Miles and Jesse Tuck, “What if you could live forever?”
As part of this blog tour, we were asked this question. In the story, Winnie meets Mae, Angus, Miles and Jesse Tuck, who are in the woods near her house. Jesse, the youngest Tuck admits that he is one hundred and four but actually hasn't aged since he was seventeen. His father has tried to commit suicide several times but was always uninjured no matter what he tried. He was just tired of living. Jesse tries to convince Winnie to drink the spring water in her woods when she is seventeen so they can travel the world together. She has the water, but decides in the end not to partake.
This question gave me pause. Would I want to live forever if I could recover from any illness or injury? Would I want to be stuck at my age forever? On the one hand, it would be awesome to read every book I wanted to, knowing that I wouldn't run out of time and could visit all of the places I wanted to go. But I kept thinking, who would I share it with? All of my relatives would be dead, my friends would be dead and gone. How would I survive a lonely existence, only able to live in a place for 20 years or so before having to move on. It would be hard in this day and age to survive since everything you do it recorded somehow.
For the Tucks, it was an extreme hardship and there was no way to end it and as Mr. Tuck said, it just wasn't natural. It was a relief that the spring had been sealed over and that no one would ever be left the choice of living forever. I don't think I would want to go on more than my intended years. I think the years that I have are plenty and try to take advantage of every day I have left. Winnie made the right choice by not drinking from the spring....more
I fell in love with Gina's books (Hey! she answered my silly questions, see how intimate we are?) when I somehow got a copy of Croak. It waMY THOUGHTS
I fell in love with Gina's books (Hey! she answered my silly questions, see how intimate we are?) when I somehow got a copy of Croak. It was probably an accident but I forced everyone I knew to read it. And then somehow I got the rest of that series and became profoundly depressed until I saw that she had a new book called HELLHOLE. OH MY GOSH - how could I resist? So I started threatening people until I got a copy. Thank you to the fine people who run RockStar Book Tours and listened to me whine about this until I got a copy. I may end up in hell for this, but whatever. I GOT THE BOOK!
Max Kilgore lives with his single mom who has a heart condition that is probably fatal unless she gets a transplant or a miracle happens. He works at the local gas station convenience store to help out with expenses and has never even told a white lie. Until he saw the glitterific cat on the counter at work. Thinking it would cheer his mother up, he steals the cat and in turns summons a devil, not THE devil but one of many devils, who chief vice is junk food which he must consume vast quantities to survive. In order to get rid of said devil named, Burgundy, (Burg for short) he makes a deal to get him a house in exchange for healing his mother. Oh and he dug a pit into hell while searching for dinosaur bones as an amateur paleontologist.
So in a search to rid himself of the devil and make sure his perfect next-door neighbor Audie (perfect in all ways with a Police Chief dad and the High School principal mother) doesn't find out the devil is dwelling in his basement, he find Lore, a girl he can finally talk to. She is a new transfer and might possibly have summoned a devil herself. Lore cuts directly through Max's nerd speak and helps him find a way to get rid of Burg even though it might include murder, more stealing, lots of lying and crazy antics.
OK, I can't get into any more details because that would spoil the whole thing. Just know that this is one funny and off-kilter read that will have you laughing one minute and seriously wondering if Max will get rid of Burg, save his mom and find love. Oh, and stop his nerdy ways, but then you wouldn't have the essences of Max anymore. I truly liked all of the characters especially Lore and Audie who saw that Max is a great person even though he can be truly socially inept. This is probably best for teens since there is one incident involving alcohol and lots of swearing at appropriate times....more
Marie-Victoria is heir to the Franco-British Empire and Aelwyn, bastard daughter of Merlin, have grown up in the castle MY THOUGHTS ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Marie-Victoria is heir to the Franco-British Empire and Aelwyn, bastard daughter of Merlin, have grown up in the castle together but once they reach an age where Marie must start to rule, Aelwyn, has decided to devote herself to the crown as a supplier of magic. Queen Eleanor, has ruled the Empire for over one hundred and now see her ends is near. With the help of her Merlin, she seeks to marry Marie for political gain to the crown prince of Prussia. Even as the two countries have been at war, the two girls have had long visits with Leopold and Wolfgang. Leo is promised to Isabelle, once the heir to the French throne while Wolf as the younger son is left to his own devices.
Just to make things interesting, Wolf meets Ronan Astor, a socialite from New York, whose family has fallen on hard times. She is on the move to make a match with a rich and titled man to save the family. The pair find instant chemistry and Ronan is just the one to take his heart. The magic is an underlying current through out the story which is set in an alternate history of what would have happened if the British had continued their dominance and they controlled all of the power by restricting the use of magic. With this historical background and a Game of Thrones feel, this is the start of a wonderful new series.
The story reads like a celebrity expose' and will keep you very entertained. I really didn't want to put it down when I started and the balance of dialogue, action and descriptive elements gave me everything I wanted in a fun read. There are plots and subplots galore with twists and turns you won't expect. I really can't wait to read what happens next since this one ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. Parents: This one is best for mature teens since there are mentions of sexual situations, violence and alcohol. ...more
Jordan is now being forced into the role as a conductor on the airship, Artemesia, while Rowen is now aboard a ship that conducts trade, not all of itJordan is now being forced into the role as a conductor on the airship, Artemesia, while Rowen is now aboard a ship that conducts trade, not all of it above board. The pair, now separated, are both fighting for survival and Rowen has vowed to find Jordan once again and rescue her. The Artemesia has an assortment of passengers including the Maker, Bran and his daughter. Bran has been kidnapped by those in opposition to his creations and Wandering Wallace has ulterior motives as well. That little turn in the plot caught me off guard. This is one of the better second in a series I have read in a long time. I thought this really gave the Weather Witch a run for the money. Jordan story in this one is almost more heartbreaking than the first. She does come out a stronger person and it is such a surprise turnaround that it will take you off guard. I had a few weepy moments as what she endure aboard the ship and her imprisonment comes to light. Rowen on the other hand, is forced to grow up a bit, which I never expected he needed. I though he had it pretty well together but when the captain of the ship, Elizabeth, points out the holes in his rescue plan, he does meet the mark. I found this installment amazing and heatbreaking at the same time. What Jordan has been forced to endure will indeed make her a stronger person, but getting there isn't easy or pretty. There are some wonderful insights to minor characters and they really help move the plot along as well as make me wonder what else they are up to. Parents: This is best suited for older teens since there are themes of slavery, abuse, violence and some language. This series would spark a nice conversation on these subjects that mirror what is happening around the world today. ...more
Cassie is whisked away to be part of a special school that trains teens to be detectives and solve crimes that are normally unsoMY THOUGHTS - LOVED IT
Cassie is whisked away to be part of a special school that trains teens to be detectives and solve crimes that are normally unsolvable. She has special skills that allow her to read people and put little details together to form a bigger picture that can pinpoint the criminal. There are other teens in this small group of "Naturals" that have skills ranging from those who can visualize a crime to those who can "see" what the criminals are thinking. There seems to be a paranormal element to these teens, but it is only regarded as a gift. These kids are extremely intelligent and are somewhat ostracized or in trouble because of their gift.
Cassie also is a special case since she now lives with her grandparents after her mother is brutally murdered. You can quickly see where this is going since she will soon be researching the crime surrounding her mother's death that has been a cold case for years. When she is recruited by Tanner, an agent who turns out to be around her age, she finds herself finally able to use her ability to find out exactly what happened to her mother. I tried to guess who the killer would be, but I was wrong at every turn.
The minor characters are really memorable and I can see spin offs to follow them. Lia, a clothes horse and human lie detector, was one that really stood out. Michael, a stats expert, has a really sweet side, but all of these characters are damaged and that makes them even more interesting. Any one who enjoys a good psychological thriller and mystery will love the start of this new series. Parents: There is some language, violence and kissing. ...more
Scarlett has grown up on Catalina Island right off the coast of California surrounded by nature and a small knit community. After aMY THOUGHTS LOVED IT
Scarlett has grown up on Catalina Island right off the coast of California surrounded by nature and a small knit community. After a troubling summer , she has just started her senior year and kissed her first boyfriend, Will, good by as he heads off to Yale. They text and talk, but is getting the feeling that the distance may become a problem. On top of this, her parents have separated, with her mother moving to Los Angeles to take up her career as a lawyer since the Bed and Breakfast they run has fallen onto hard times from the neglect of the past year. Her older brother has recently died from an aneurysm and it has torn the family apart. Her best friend, Lily, has returned from a trip to Amsterdam a changed person, and more wild than Scarlett could ever image.
With all of these changes, Martin, Will's father, has directed her to a friend that practices Kabbalah in hopes that she will find some peace. Will also has a secret that might be driving the pair apart: he can see horrible things before they happen and is driven to prevent them. This is a gift that cost his own mother her life. So along with this insight, a new boy starts to pay attention to Scarlett and now she is questioning if her love for Will is really true. Newly transplanted from the UK, Gunner is present and doesn't have the problems that she and Will must now face. As Scarlett tries to answer questions about her feelings, she also is trying to find the answer to the meaning of life.
This story is filled with beautiful descriptions as well as perfectly balanced dialogue. The bits of paranormal are woven in so naturally that the gift Will has just seems natural. The small town vibe of Catalina is a perfect background to Scarlett's own struggles with growing up in a now broken family. I really enjoyed the mysticism and how it all worked in the plot. These characters all seem like kids I know with all of the flaws and accomplishments they should have. I look forward to reading more about them. ...more
Now that Violet's mother, Evelyn, has returned, she is having some serious issues that most teens would have resolved by age sixteeMY THOUGHTS LOVED IT
Now that Violet's mother, Evelyn, has returned, she is having some serious issues that most teens would have resolved by age sixteen. She also has the weight of the world on her shoulders as well as feeling betrayed by everyone close to her. The Grigori are bent on bringing Violet around to their thinking but the politics of behind them are anything but honorable and she feels like she is being set up for failure. Lincoln is still in love with her but fated to the fact that they can never be lovers. Phoenix has reappeared in a most sinister fashion and he has his mother, Lilith to thank for this.
Children are disappearing at an alarming rate around New York and as Linc and Vi investigate, they uncover an unholy plot by Lilith to increase her power. The Academy run by the Grigori and the Elders are not entirely in her corner since she is something of a wild card. With all of her faults, Violet has more integrity than the oldest Elder. This latest installment will bring you to tears at times, while cheering Violet on as well. The surprising part is how much Phoenix cares for her and protects her.
This story only made me want to read more about Violet and her world and to see if she can conquer all of the evil in the world. She is not perfect and doesn't pretend to be. The characters are all put through tests and not all of them survive. I can wait to see how her relationship with Linc and her mother develops. Parents: this is best suited for mature teens since there is alcohol mentioned, sexual situations, language and violence. ...more
Josie is having a bad day and it just seems to get worse. She just found out her parents are divorcing, her science experiment thaMY THOUGHTS LOVED IT
Josie is having a bad day and it just seems to get worse. She just found out her parents are divorcing, her science experiment that she hopes will lead her to dream college isn't cooperating and her boyfriend, Nick, cheated on her -- with her "best" friend. Now it seems the whole high school is picking on her, making snide jokes as well as lots of typical whispers. Oh, and her brother has cancer. Yep, her life sucks. So when she sees another Josie in her bedroom mirror, one who is a bit prettier, a bit blonder, a girl known as Jo. Seeing another world, she wonders if she can put her universe back together and have a chance at normal again, even for a day. Meanwhile, there is a serial killer on the loose.
Jo, the girl in the mirror, is actually Josie in a parallel universe, one where she isn't walked on, and Josie finds that their lives link up every twelve hours at 3:59. Except everything isn't always greener on the other side. Josie finds that even though she has her boyfriend back and he treats her much better. Instead of a serial killer, there are The Nox, which are the things of nightmares. So even with a better version of herself, there are still downsides.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this story, some of which are surprising and some I guessed. I guess this would be a sci-fi thriller, with a good balance between the two. I love those sciencey things! The whole idea of Josie excelling at math and science is something I adore in female characters. There needs to be a lot more of those! I really have to applaud Gretchen for coming up with this plot. The characters are all given the chance to show both sides. I could really see this as a movie like Freaky Friday in the Twilight Zone. I seem to have been reading a lot of books in this genre lately. ...more
Bang picks up a few weeks after Crash and Jules is no longer seeing horrendous visions of death except now Sawyer has the sight. InMy THOUGHTS LOVED IT
Bang picks up a few weeks after Crash and Jules is no longer seeing horrendous visions of death except now Sawyer has the sight. Instead of seeing the death, he hears eleven shots and vaguely describes a school shooting to Jules. Of course, Jules is on restriction after crashing the Meat Ball (food truck), and no longer has a cell phone, so their connections have to take place at school. Sawyer does manage to get a prepaid cell phone to Jules so the pair can talk and text when they need to without their parents knowing.
Jules enlists the help of her siblings, Trey and Rowan, to figure out where Sawyer's vision takes place, but the vision is coming more often which means time is running out. Sawyer sees certain trees in the background which helps them narrow down the location to a college. This is fast paced and will have your heart racing as they try to figure out the locations and see if they can save the potential eleven victims.
I really enjoyed this story and centered around a school shooting that seems ripped out of the headlines and with an undercurrent of social commentary that is going on today. The whole theme is so true that it seems it happened someplace recently. The ending left open another installment and I really can't wait to see where this takes these kids. I can't explain too much of it since it would give away a lot of the plot....more
Kenna and her twin, Erin, have a deep affection for each other, to the point where Kenna would kill anyone who hurts her sister, and she haMY THOUGHTS
Kenna and her twin, Erin, have a deep affection for each other, to the point where Kenna would kill anyone who hurts her sister, and she has. While her mother tends her bakery, Kenna makes sure Erin is safe since she has several debilitating diseases that make her extremely fragile. Gifted with a rare sort of power, Kenna finds she can draw on other’s life source and becomes almost intoxicated by the act. When she finds that she can no longer control her acts, her mother takes her to a mysterious commune in the mountains near her house.
Eclipse has been a closed off society that everyone in the town knows about but since it is locked up and staunchly defended, no one bothers them. Kenna and Erin have no idea that their grandmother actually runs this place until Kenna loses control and forces her mother to seek help from them. OK, I am leaving out those details about what happens because it is too spoilery. Let’s just say things turn dark and evil and this is the only solution to Kenna’s “issues”.
Overall, this is a striking story that helped me out of a serious reading slump. It is creepy, almost horror-driven, but I actually didn’t find it that scary. The writing that supports the tale is just amazing. Everything flows perfectly and I really didn’t want it to end, but I am glad that the conclusion was focused and complete. Parents: Probably not safe for younger teens since there are sexual situations, violence, drug/alcohol use and some language, although you are going to love it....more
Jessica is starting to get the hang of being a virago and things have been quiet in the town of Nightshade. Her relationship with DMY THOUGHTS LOVED IT
Jessica is starting to get the hang of being a virago and things have been quiet in the town of Nightshade. Her relationship with Dom, the lead singer in Side Effects May Vary is going well, that is until his ex shows up at the invitation of his mother. With nothing to do one night, Jessica and her friends head off to a local art exhibit where the painting look like your worst dreams. After the show, they hang out at the beach where they see a strange ghostly horse and coincidentally, Jessica and two of her sisters are signed up for horse riding lessons at a new farm.
At the farm, Jessica sees a ghostly girl named Sanja, who confesses she is a Mara, a person who can cause nightmares and also the horse they saw at the beach. Soon after a murder is reported quickly followed by her brother's girlfriend going into a coma. When another murder occurs, Jessica starts putting clues together that point to the murderer. Daisy makes a wonderful appearance, helping Jessica solve the crimes with her psychic abilities.
This is a wonderful installment to the Dead Is series and I love how Jessica is learning to trust herself and her abilities more. She is growing from an insecure freshman to a more secure person. I love recommending this series since even the most reluctant reader can easily pick up on the characters and plot. Parents: this one is super safe, just some kissing and bit of alluded to violence. ...more
Just days after I finished this book I was stunned by a picture of the International Space Station silhouetted againstMY THOUGHTS: ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Just days after I finished this book I was stunned by a picture of the International Space Station silhouetted against the moon. I sighed and thought of Cress stuck in her little satellite orbiting the moon and thinking of how she could escape her fate. After contacting Cinder and Thorne, her long hoped for rescue goes awry and Scarlet is taken captive while Wolf is gravely injured. Cress has escaped with her prince, Thorne, although he too is injured. By luck or chance, the pair have crashed into the desert close to where Dr. Erland is researching the cure for the Luna-born plague.
As Thorne and Cress travel to the nearest city, they make some interesting discoveries about each other and Cress has heart almost broken. With the wedding of Kai and Levana just days away, Cinder must find help for Wolf who is heart broken and injured. Finding Dr. Erland, Wolf is healing and Cinder tries to make a plan to stop the wedding and rescue Scarlet. This is seriously enthralling and the whole story just plays so well with the background of the Rapunzel tale.
OH MY GOSH! Now the next story is rumored to be about Winter, Levana's step daughter and one time keeper of Scarlet and is based on Snow White. The last page of the story had me wishing there wasn't this ending but I know it will continue in the next book and the circle will be complete. We are given a few brief glimpses into Winter and I can't wait until I find out all the details, in a year, sigh. Parents: there is some kissing, some violence, some language but overall this is pretty clean and you will probably want to read it yourself. ...more
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