I hate moving!

Well, this is really my first post that isn't my introduction, a book review or a weekly meme. But, I'm moving on Monday and, unfortunately, I won't have internet for a few days. So I'll be unable to post anything. My internet is supposed to get hooked up on February 2nd. But, it seems to be my luck that the guys claim to have come out to do the work and I'm not home...even though I am. lol. Apparently I'm like the only person that happens too. Not one other person I know has had it happen...It's terrible! lol.

So, when I come back I should have a review to post-right now I'm reading the second Zan-Gah book. I'm also going to be having my very first giveaway soon-YAY! And, hopefully, an author interview. I'm very excited to get my internet back so that I can do the author interview and the giveaway! So, I should be back in about 3 or 4 days providing all goes well with my internet hookup and stuff. Thanks guys! : )

Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure by Allan R. Shickman

Genre: Young Adult

Paperback: 160 Pages

Publisher: Earthshaker Books

ISBN-13: 978-0-9790357-0-8

My Rating 4/5

She began to move warily in a circle as the men tightened the trap, and as they got closer the lioness began to stride and prowl in a circle so small that she almost seemed to be chasing her tail. But she was watching, watching while she turned and snarled, for a weakness in the ever-tightening ring of her pursuers. Then, at the moment the attack finally was sounded-when the men, putting down their drums and torches, charged on the run with their spears-the lioness saw what she was looking for. One of her enemies was smaller, weaker than the rest. There was a point of the strengthening line that could be broken! Thought merged with furious action and the beast, with a mighty bound of astonishing swiftness, darted toward Zan. Five hundred pounds of snarling fury sprang directly at him with claws bared and fanged mouth open!

 Zan-Gah: A prehistoric adventure has only begun. Pressed by love for his brother and a bad conscience, the hero undertakes a quest which leads to captivity, conflict, love, and triumph. In three years, Zan-Gah passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a rold of leadership among his people. This dramatic and impassioned story will thrill and deeply move young adults and older readers. They will dream of Zan-Gah at night, and remember it all of their lives!

Allan R. Shickman wrote a beautiful tale about a young boy named Zan-later to be known as Zan-Gah. It really is a marvelous story and I really enjoyed it. I recommend it to everyone, if you like YA, which I'm assuming you do and that's why your my blog follower. 'Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure' is told as a story about Zan-Gah who lived a long, long, long time ago. Mr. Shickman does an incredible job of describing what life was like back then and how wild not only the animals, but the people really were. It gives you an in-depth look into life as it was back then, in prehistoric times.

Zan and his kindred lived in that dim period when there was no safety but that supplied by strength and cunning, when there were no laws but those imposed by nature and by humankind's own fierce desire to survive. People faced a constant danger, and not many lived to be old.

Shickman really gets the point across about how dangerous life was back then and just the intense realism of it all. The story starts out with Zan, and the rest of his tribe, prepping to hunt a lion that has been tormenting them. Zan is very young and would not have normally been allowed to go on a hunt but his father agreed against his mothers wishes. The whole lion hunt scenario has an underlying meaning, at least to me. All of these opposing clans/tribes worked together and pulled all their strength to try and defeat a common enemy. That being the lioness that is killing their people. Despite the fact that they are enemies, they work together. So the message being exactly that, if you put your differences aside and work together, you can achieve anything.

Shickman wrote with so much description and passion that it was easy to envision everything as you read along. You can literally see what Zan sees and sometimes, it can be very gruesome. Which leads me into how amazing Zan-Gah is as a character. He is so brave! It's astounding. During the lion hunt scene, my heart was racing and I was anticipating the worst. But Zan-Gah never let his fear show and never even thought about defending himself. It was like second nature to him and he just knew what he had to do to survive, even though it was his first hunt. Oh, I should mention that in the beginning of the book Zan-Gah starts out as just Zan but through his bravery and amazing conquest he earns the name Zan-Gah. It explains it all in the book, read it and you'll find out!

I really liked reading about everything with the tribes/clans. It was interesting to see their perspectives on different things in their day to day lives. And I'm sure, that even though this is a fictional story, it's accurate. Like one thing that stuck out to me was to hear how scars were like sacred markings. They even go as far to use a special healing substance that has ink in it (almost like a tattoo right?) that preserves the scars and makes them stand out.

They rubbed Zan's wounds with an inky substance which would aid in the healing, but leave dark marks when the wounds closed.

I liked when Zan-Gah was talking to the great elder, Aniah, from a different clan. As the reader, I learned a lot of valuable information about the world they live in, about the different clans and why all these clans are at war with each other. After Zan-Gah visits with Aniah he continues on his journey. I love the fact that the gift Aniah gave him was completely precious. It was such a crucial part of life for them:

It was a kit for making fire, consisting of a straight, pointed stick, a strap, and two small blocks of wood, plus some very dry grass.

What a treasure!

I found myself becoming more and more intrigued with Zan-Gah the more I read. I loved reading about Zan-Gah's different encounters with not only the clansmen, but the dangerous animals as well. He was always very brave and is so grown up for how young he is. Even in the face of imminent danger or a threatening situation, he remains calm and thinks logically. He outsmarts his attackers by quick thoughts and actions even though he could be killed in an instant.

Besides Zan-Gah, my second favorite character in the book (at least to read about) was Chul, the giant, and his tiny wife, Siraka-Finaka.

Standing on her toes, her nose just reached to his navel! But if she was small in size, she was mighty in spirit.

Each chapter in 'Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure'  is like it's own mini adventure. Zan going from place to place and confronting animals or people. There is always something going on in every chapter. There is not one dull chapter in the whole book! There's so much more I want to tell everyone about this book but, then I would spoil the book for you.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 391 Pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-8941-7

My Rating: 5/5

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 then her closest friends. She can't decide whether 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 then anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between immortal and those who have fallen-and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

If you haven't read 'Hush, Hush' by Becca Fitzpatrick yet, I highly suggest you do! It's miraculous on so many levels! I love it! I have a lot of love for books, and if your a follower of my blog you probably know that. But I really loved this book. I got right into, right away. The intense parts of Hush, Hush start early on, which is great! This book is outstanding! I couldn't stop reading. I took it EVERYWHERE with me! I would read a few pages and then work on my blog for a minute, or do something else. It's my way of compromising with myself and not just reading constantly. But I was torn having to put this book down! It was very hard for me to just set it down and walk away.

Hush, Hush is told through Nora Grey. In the very beginning of the book we meet Vee, which is Nora's best friend. And, if you've ever had that really close, sister type friendship with someone, you'll be able to relate to Vee and Nora even more. They are very, very close! But, during their Biology class together their teacher splits everyone up and seats them with someone new. Lucky Nora got stuck beside a cocky, condescending jerk who we will later learn to love as Patch. Nora is a long legged, brown haired, beautiful girl-as she so elegantly describes herself. So it's not surprising to see a couple different guys interested in her. Elliot is the second guy interested in Nora that we meet. He totally comes across as one of those preppy school kids that I always want to smack! Even though Elliot is very attractive with rich friends and the whole shebang, Nora is still attracted to her Bio partner, Patch.

One of my favorite Biology class scenes in Hush, Hush was when they were talking about attraction to the opposite sex in chapter 3. More specifically, how Patch knows that a girl is interested in him:

"Does she bite her lip and play with her hair, the way Nora is doing right now?"

"The blood vessels in Nora's face are widening and her skin is warming," Patch said. "She knows she's being evaluated. She likes the attention, but she's not sure how to handle it."
"I am not blushing."
"She's nervous," Patch said. "She's stroking her arm to draw attention away from her face and down to her figure, or maybe her skin. Both are strong selling points."

Nora intentionally tries to be mean to Patch and tries to push Elliot away. She wants absolutely nothing to do with Patch but is still drawn to him, so she can't help it. I think that's why she comes across as being rude sometimes. It's funny what a crush (or even love) will make you do. Even when it's things that go completely against your better judgement.

As of late, I was exhibiting a lot of uncharacteristic behavior. First, I'd followed Patch to a disreputable arcade late at night. Now I was on the verge of snooping in his student file. What was the matter with me?

I almost instantly connected with the characters. It usually takes me a while before I'm smiling at things and laughing at others but that wasn't the case with Hush, Hush. I was smiling at stuff and getting giddy like 40 pages in! Hush, Hush is very exhilarating, sexy and mysterious. It'll get your heart racing and put you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end!

Patch is a bad boy, plain and simple. And, like most bad boys, Patch knows what to say, and when to say it and he pulls it on Nora on a daily basis. I think it's like a genetic trait for women to be attracted to the "bad boy" type and Nora sums it up perfectly:

When I was little, Dorothea's godson Lionel shattered one of the kitchen glasses. He swept up all the shards of glass except one, and he dared me to like it. I imagined falling for Patch was a little like licking that shard. I knew it was stupid. I knew I'd get cut. After all these years one thing hadn't changed: I was still lured by danger.

Through the book, Nora is trying to discover who the man in the ski mask is that is following her around and terrorizing her. Through most of the book Nora thinks that it's Patch, even given Elliot's terrifying past. I never thought it was Patch but then he started acting all creepy and weird when Nora and him were alone in the tunnel. He was silent at first, then being deceptive, and then chasing her around a car when she was obviously frightened. When he catches her, he says:

"We're all alone down here." Patch's boots were flush with the toed of my shoes. "A guy like me could take advantage of a girl like you. Better show me what you got."

It was just creepy and totally takes your mind in a different direction. He was being very elusive and acting funny through the whole tunnel scene.

I made a lot of speculations throughout the book about who the bad guy was and the ending. I do it with every book. But I never would have expected the twist at the end of Hush, Hush. All in all, it was amazing. I loved everything about it! I will be reading Crescendo which is the 2nd Hush, hush book.

What did you all think of Hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick? I always love to get comments and please leave the links to your own reviews, or tell me if you have one, so I can read what you loved or didn't about it! Thanks guys! : )

Friday Book Blogger Hop!

Friday's Book Blogger Hop is held over at Crazy-for-Books.

What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?

Well, I'm anxious for a ton of books to be published this year. So it's really really hard for me to pick one! But, I'm really looking forward to 'Passion' by Lauren Kate from the Fallen series being published. Or maybe 'City of Fallen Angels' by Cassandra Clare. I can't really pick one...it's way too hard. But those are two that I'm looking forward to.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine. It's a spotlight for upcoming releases.


I'm picking 'Passion' by Lauren Kate as my waiting on Wednesday book this week:


Passion

by Lauren Kate
Release Date: June 14, 2011

From Goodreads.com
Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross and fought immortals at shoreline, they lived many lives...

What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick?

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 400 Pages

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 978-0-385-733571-1

My Rating: 5/5

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly seven hundred years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.
The records show that he died in 1418.
But his tomb is empty.

The Legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects-the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world.
That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right. Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true.
And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

'The Alchemyst' is exactly what it says, a book about an immortal alchemyst. But not only that. It is also an intense story of real people, most notable are Dr. John Dee, Nicholas Flamel and Perenelle Flamel. I love how Michael Scott intertwined a "fantasy' world with mythological characters and tied it to real life in very detailed and believable ways. I'm very excited that I get to go out tonight and pick up 'The Magician' which is book #2 in 'The Immortal Life of Nicholas Flamel' series.

The story is told through everyone, literally. You get to see what's going on from almost every single point of view. But, let's touch base on some of the main characters of this enthralling book. The first people I'd like to bring up are Sophie and Jack Newman. They are 15 year old twins who are stuck in San Francisco for the summer. Their parents are archeologists off on a dig for the University there. Sophie works at a coffee shop across the street from the book shop that Jack works at. Sophie has developed a keen sense of smell from smelling all the different herbal teas and coffees all day that the coffee shop has to offer. Jack is a computer lover, not only that, he's a football player. I guess he does a little of everything. As you can see, totally relatable characters. The only thing, is that there were no character definitions for Jack and Sophie in the beginning of the book. So it leaves a lot up to your own personal imagination. I felt like I had the opportunity that way, to read about Jack and Sophie's personality and character, and build up what they looked like in my mind based on that and a few details. You get a great idea of who Jack and Sophie Newman are based on their listed likes and dislikes in one of the chapters.

Jack talks about himself for a little while and says he likes to play football, play computer games, first person shooters, and other things. I laughed at the fact that, amidst all the chaos, Jack stops to "check his email"

"Just checking my mail," Josh muttered, powering off the machine and closing it.
"At a time like this?" Sophie asked incredulously.
"Life goes on. E-mail stops for no man." He attempted a smile, and failed.

I totally matches his gaming, computer loving personality-even if that wasn't exactly what he was up to.

With most books, you get a constant onslaught of background information that can seem unrelenting and it gets very boring at times. But in 'The Alchemyst' all the long explanatory parts are broken up by all the action going on in the story. Michael Scott also does an incredible job of relating the fantasy world of 'The Alchemyst' and tying it into real life. One example:

Left untrained and unchecked, magical energy radiated off the children in waves, moving furniture around, knocking people to the ground, gouging marks in the walls and ceilings. This was often reported as poltergeist activity.

I guess that's not the best example to have used because, whether or not you believe in that, it's all about your personal belief system. But, it's an explanation for events that people experience in real life, nonetheless.

'The Alchemyst' has (literally) a little bit of everything in it. It has got: vampires, werewolves (or more accurately were boars), immortals, necromancy, sorcery, magic, and witches. And I'm sure that's not even all of it! It's got a little something for everyone. Another thing that I particularly liked about Michael Scott's writing style for 'The Alchemyst' is that he lets you in on everything that's going on. Usually, when a book follows only a certain few characters, you're always left wondering what's going on with two people having a conversation that you don't get to read about. What happens during a battle. Or what two events are going on at the same time. But with 'The Alchemyst' you're in everyone's world; the bad, the good, and the people in between. You get to see everything (read everything) from every different aspect. When there is a battle going on, but a major plot development somewhere else with a man character as well, you get to read about the battle from Nicholas Flamel and read about the awakening from Sophie or Jack.

This book went far above my expectations. I haven't seen many reviews for any books in this series, not that that's how I justify my purchases or what I'm reading. I just wasn't sure about it. It was incredible! You're crazy to pass up on this series! I read through it really quickly because I just couldn't stop reading it. And now I'm sad it's over. Luckily, I get to go out tonight and pick up the second book in the series-YAY! Definitely, definitely go and get this book. Buy it, borrow it from the library, whatever. Just get it! And when you do, let me know what you think!

I always appreciate any comments or links to your reviews of books that I review. Thanks guys, and happy reading! : )

Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 320 Pages

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

ISBN: 978-078683893-6

My rating: 4/5

Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Olive, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help-her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly under way for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman-a true Blue Blood affair.
But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown be the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will forever change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
Rich with glamour, attitude, and vampire lore, this second installment in the Blue Bloods saga will leave readers thirsting for more.

Masquerade is the second book in the Blue Bloods series. The story starts out with Schuyler and Oliver in Venice looking for Schuyler's grandfather. It more or less starts off exactly where 'Blue Bloods' ended but it jumped a little bit. We do find out what happens between the 'Blue Bloods' book and the 'Masquerade' book that gets us to that point. Although I found 'Masquerade' to be slightly less interesting to the first book, it was still a good read with lots of plot twists and even further character development.

The story is told mainly through Schuyler Van Alen, Mimi Force, and Bliss Llewellyn. There are certain points where the story is told through Jack or Oliver but those parts are very small and it quickly jumps back to one of the three main girls. Schuyler is still her normal self. She doesn't change much from the first book to the second, personality wise. But in 'Masquerade' she develops more as a vampire and her powers grow and become more pronounced. But, if it is at all possible, Mimi Force became even more obnoxious then she was in the first book! She can get a little irritating at times by being so self-conceited and narrow minded. I feel the need to quote an entire paragraph to get across just how self-conceited Mimi really is.

Mimi Force didn't need a herald with a trumpet to tell her who she was, or whom she had been. She was Mimi Force-the most beautiful girl in the history of New York City and the only daughter of Charles Force, the Regis, a.k.a. head of the coven and superior badass, known to the world as a merciless media magnate whose Force News Network spanned the globe from Singapore to Addis Ababa. Mimi Force-the girl with hair the color of woven flax, skin like fresh buttercream, full pouty lips that rivaled Angelina Jolie's. She was the underage sexpot with a reputation for cutting a reckless swath through the city's most eligible young heirs: hot red-blooded boyfriends otherwise known as her human familiars.

So you can see from that paragraph how high and mighty she thinks of herself and of her family. That is just one example from the dozens throughout the book.

One thing about 'Masquerade' is that there is a lot of character jumping within chapters. So, the chapter could start out with Bliss, jump to Jack, then to Mimi, and back to Bliss. With that said, you usually know who you are reading through within a sentence or two as all the characters have their own, very distinct, personalities and thoughts. And if you couldn't figure it out by that, it usually says who it is within a few sentences. I didn't have any trouble following the character jumps. For a while through the book, there wasn't a lot going on but I still never found myself bored. Melissa De La Cruz still does an awesome job of drawing your attention and keeping it, even through some of the filler parts that aren't so action packed.

For a while, when I first started reading, I thought the book was totally predictable, so I was a little disappointed. Especially with the new character that is introduced, Kingsley Martin. But there are a few plot twists that took me away from my original assumptions about him and some other characters. I was happily mistaken because I hate predictable books, movies, anything! But, there were some incidents when I did think, I saw that coming. But it could just be that the books are good enough that you get a feel for the characters and just know what they are going to do. Overall, excellent book and definitely worth the read! Make sure you check out the Blue Bloods series if you haven't already!

Follow My Book Blog Friday

It's Friday which means, it's time for Parajunkee's View's Follow My Book Blog Friday.




This week's question is:
Who do you cheer for?
I have to say, I never used to watch sports. But, lately I have been watching football with my mom and my favorite team was the Tennessee Titans! I'm a New Yorker but the Buffalo Bills are terrible! And the New York Jets (football right?) I don't know much about them. Granted, I haven't watched football in a very long time now, I plan on watching the Superbowl with my mom, brother, dad, and hubby in Canada. Lucky me, the Superbowl is on my birthday this year-February 6th! Ha ha. Please post the link to your answers below so I can check them out. If you don't have a blog, who's your favorite team?

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 224 Pages

Publisher: Yen Press

ISBN-13: 978-0-7595-2943-4

My Rating: 4/5

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret...

This was my first time ever reading a graphic novel. I was kind of apprehensive about reading one because I thought it would be confusing to figure it out. But it was really simple. I don't think that graphic novels are necessarily for me, but they're still kind of interesting. One thing I liked about reading 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel' was seeing how someone else depicted 'Twilight' and what they made of the characters and scenes. Although, I will say that Bella looks a little bit like Stephenie Meyer.

Another thing that I noticed is that Bella seems very feminine in the graphic novel. Where I always took her as a very plain, ordinary teenager. In the graphic novel, she's depicted as being beautiful, always has her hair done and her makeup done. I didn't get that impression of her from the actual 'Twilight' novel. But, I guess it's all about everyone's perception of the characters. I really liked the drawings. They were very well done and I liked the fact that they were black and white with the odd color thrown in here or there.

'Twilight: The Graphic Novel' is an extremely short read-again I've never read a graphic novel so I can't compare. It seems to explain the story fairly well. It's been a long time since I've actually read Twilight so I'm going based off my horrible memory ha ha. I think that, creating a graphic novel is like taking notes on a lecture. You have to know what parts are important and what parts aren't. You have to pick between all the filler to get to the main points of the story. I think they got that pretty good in the graphic novel. Overall it was a good read with great pictures. I don't think I'd ever read a Graphic Novel again but, I guess we'll see.

Has anyone else read 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel'? What did you think of it? Or would you even read it?

Torment by Lauren Kate

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 464 Pages

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73914-6

My Rating: 5/5

Hell on Earth.

That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.

It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts-immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students; Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something-something dangerous.

What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

'Torment' is the second book in the Fallen Series. Sometimes, series aren't as interesting after the first book but this is not one of those series. 'Torment' picked up exactly where 'Fallen' left off. In 'Torment' we are introduced to some new and memorable characters but also some old favorites from 'Fallen'-Roland, Arriane, Molly, Cam. The more predominant characters that we are introduced to in'Torment' are Shelby and Miles. Like 'Fallen', 'Torment' has a little bit of everything in that makes a good story. Supernatural creatures, love, jealousy, fighting and a lot more.

The main continuation in 'Torment' from 'Fallen' is the love story between Daniel and Lucinda and their struggle to try and be together. The odds are always against them. Daniel isn't in so much of this book but the underlying story is there. Luce struggles with her feelings not only for Daniel, but for Miles as well. Torn between two possible lives, and two guys, she's overwhelmed with emotion. Should she be with Daniel where love is just, love and there is nothing else. Or Miles, who seems normal and gets her in a way Daniel doesn't. Where she can just be with him without all the secrets and struggles.

In 'Torment' Luce goes from the run down, grubby, strict school of Sword & Cross to the over-the-top, rich, well maintained Shoreline. It's a completely different life for Luce and one she isn't used to. She is thrown into a Nephilim class to learn all about angels and demons. The class is even taught by an angel named Fracesca and a demon named Steven. Francesca and Steven are in a relationship. And they remind Luce of herself with Cam, but, the love Francesca and Steven share remind her of the love her and Daniel have. Which hurts her even more because she is alone at Shoreline while Daniel is off doing "things".

Luce learns a significant amount more about the shadows (announcers) that have haunted her her entire life. Steven gives Luce a private lesson (and an in-class lesson) on how to view what the shadows (announcers) are trying to show you. Lucinda dapples in the shadows a lot, watching different scenes from her past lives with the help of her roommate and friend Shelby. She learns even more, like how to pass through a shadow, from Miles when he steals a book on it from Steven's office for her.

This book was incredible and I'm glad to say, I wasn't disappointed in it like I thought I might be. It was amazing! I especially loved the thanksgiving dinner part near the end. You can feel the tension just from reading it. It's great! 'Torment' is definitely worth the read! If you haven't checked out the 'Fallen' series yet, make sure you do! You'll be happy you did!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 400 Pages

Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN-13: 978-0-545-12326-6

My Rating: 5/5

The Cold.

Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf-her wolf-watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

The Heat.

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

The Shiver.

For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human-and Grace must fight to keep him-even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

I have found yet another series that I'm absolutely in love with! 'Shiver' is an amazing book from beginning to end. I found myself compelled to read a lot. Like, I always needed to know what was going to happen. And nearly half (if not more) of the chapters ended on a cliff hanger. So you just couldn't wait to pick it back up again and start reading to find out what happened. Maggie Stiefvater does an amazing job of building tension-sexual or not. She also made unforgettable and notable characters. It's an overall amazing read. Awesome characters, and an incredible plot, equals one unbelievable read.

 Grace is easily relatable and inspirational. She's not just some no-body kid at school. She has friends, has a life, and she has amazing qualities. Her love for books, her eagerness for success. There are multiple times throughout the book when Grace has  internal struggles over something, like missing school. She reprimands herself for doing it but she's happy nonetheless. I think we can all say, if we were Grace, we'd miss school for a day to hang out with Sam. The story is told through both Grace and Sam which is refreshing. I think it's incredible to be able to read the story through both peoples perspectives rather then just one like so many other books-Twilight (Bella), Fallen (Luce), etc. You get a real feel for both characters involved and you get to know their inner workings. So you can feel the full story, and both peoples emotions, the same way the author did writing it.

So, a bit about some of the other characters. Isabel is Jack's sister. Jack is a new werewolf. She finds out about the werewolves after her brother is turned into one. At first, Isabel is the most irritating character. You almost wish she was real so you could smack her. She's your typical spoiled little rich kid. But, as the story progress' Isabel pops up more and more. And she 'turns a new leaf' so to speak. She turns into a whole new person by the ending. And, by that point, even she is likable. Olivia is one of Grace's best friends. She is bitten, in an unusual way, and turned into a werewolf. Grace doesn't find out about this till a long time later. So she's in there a little bit. And then there are Grace's parents. What is there to really say about them. They aren't the worst of the worst (as far as parents go) but they aren't great either. They neglect Grace, don't ask her questions about her life, and they just aren't interested in her but more, what she's making for dinner.

One question I had through the entire book, after finding out some explicit details about the werewolves, was; 'If they change into wolves when it's cold, why don't they move somewhere warm?' That question was answered in this book (which made me happy) but you'll have to read it to find out why. So there was a lot of things covered in this book. You get to know every little detail and there will be a lot of answered questions while reading, at least mine were. Grace and Sam's stories mesh so well together, it's like (at times) they are one person .The alternating chapters between them flow very fluidly into one another. The ending of this book, the last 40 pages or so, were very emotional. I found myself tearing up, laughing, and anything else you can think of. I think it's incredible to have those kinds of emotions come out while reading. So, the ending was incredible and it definitely leaves you yearning for more. I can't wait to read 'Linger' which I have to put off for a while because of the 5 or 6 other series I'm working on simultaneously. Definitely, go out and get this book if you haven't read it! It's an incredible story and you won't be disappointed!

Book Blogger Hop/Follow My Book Blog Friday

Over at Crazy for Books they are hosting the weekly Book Blogger Hop

This week's question is:

Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it:?

Well, I mostly read YA but I read a little bit of everything! Most of the YA books I read are like, fantasy books about vampires, or fairies or werewolves, or something like that and there is almost always a love story. Maybe it's because I love a good love story...I'm not really sure how to explain it. I love to "meet" new characters. And, I remember the feeling I had when I read the Twilight Saga, that indescribable thing that drew me into it. I was like an addict! And, I think I've been looking for that in another book. Which is maybe why I keep reading the same types of books over and over again.

Stylish Blogger Award!!

So, this is my very first blogger award! YAY! lol. I'm excited to receive the 'Stylish Blogger Award' from Kacie over at Aussie Book Shack! So, thank you, thank you! : ) I'm really excited to have gotten  my first award and after less then a month of blogging!

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know they have won!


So, here are 7 random things about me:
1. I live with my wonderful husband and our cat Bella (she's not named after Twilight haha)
2. I live in the US but I'm actually Canadian
3. I met my husband on Xbox 360 playing Rainbow Six Vegas 2
4. I want to learn everything in college! I want to be a nurse, a doctor, a lawyer, a psychiatrist and anything    else you can think of!
5. I'm addicted to chewing gum (sugar free of course!)
6. My name is Faye and I was named after Faye Dunaway.
7. I have seen every Harry Potter movie in theaters with my mom and dad-and now my hubby comes!

So, the bloggers I'm awarding are:
1. The Crazy Bookworm
2. Musings from the Slush Pile
3. Readaholics Anonymous
4. Butterfly Feet Walking on Life
5. The Bookish Snob
6. Clandestine Sanctuary
7. Tribute Books Mama
8. Fragments of Life
9. Sniffy Kitty's Mostly Books
10. Gaming Gabby's Book Challenge Blog
11. Silver's Reviews
12. Mandy's Escape
13. Book Soulmates
14. Crazy For Books
15. The Story Siren

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Genre: Young Adult

Paperback: 336 Pages

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

ISBN-13: 978-142310126-0

My rating: 5/5

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler's life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.
Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan's most exclusive social circle. Its members are the powerful, the wealthy, and-as Schuyler soon discovers-the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they've been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?

I don't even know where to start with this review....I guess I'll start by saying, I loved 'Blue Bloods.' I was kind of hoping that I wouldn't like it because I have SO many series on the go right now (Fallen, Mortal Instruments, Vampire Academy) but I couldn't help it. I liked this book from the beginning! What a great read with a good plot and great characters. Some of the character can be a little irritating but, for the most part, it's all good!

The story is told from multiple viewpoints (Mimi Force, Bliss Llewellyn) but, for the most part, just through Schuyler Van Alen. Schuyler is a high school student. She lives with her Grandmother, Cordelia Van Alen, and her Bloodhound Beauty. She only has two friends, Oliver, who she has known her whole life, and Dylan, a new kid at school. She doesn't fit in with the "in-crowd" and she dresses in grungy clothing. She goes to an upper class predominant school called Duchesne. She soon learns that she is actually a vampire called a 'Blue Blood' along with almost every other student in her school and most of the "elite" people in New York City. Like I said, it's a great story. It definitely stands out as one of the better Vampire series amongst the hundreds.

One thing I particularly liked about 'Blue Bloods' is the fact that Schuyler doesn't know anything about her family, her school. her friends, the 'Blue Bloods' or anything else involving the vampire world. So, you get to learn everything in amazing detail, as Schuyler learns it. Most other books will just thrust you into the middle of everything that's going on and you just pick up bits and pieces as you go. Usually the character you're learning it through already knows so it's a quick one sentence description. But, Schuyler doesn't know anything so she is always asking questions and finding things out. It lets you get a really good in-depth look into the 'Blue Bloods' world. So, I know have another amazing series to read. I think I'm going to try and finish up the series I have started before I look into any new ones.

Has anyone else read the 'Blue Bloods' series? Which series is your favorite out of the YA genre? I'd love to get everyone's input! Thanks guys!! : )

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 128 Pages

Publisher: Candlewick

ISBN-13: 978-0-7636-3674-6

My rating: 4/5

What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still growing accustomed to her wings-wings as beautiful as those of a luna moth-is about to find out.
What she finds is that the world is very big and very, very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If that means telling thers what to do, so be it. Skuggle, a squirrel ruled by his stomach, is an easy puppet. Not every creature, however, is as willing to bend to Flory's demands.

This is a really cute little story! I normally wouldn't have read a book like this, but I did for a challenge. It's a great kids story with a strong message. There are some wonderful pictures through the book as well. It would be a great book for a kid. Although, I would suggest that their parents read it first. I think that some people wouldn't be comfortable with a few of the things in the book. The suggested age range for 'The Night Fairy' is 9-12 but I think it would be better suited to a younger audience.

This story is told through the eyes of a fairy named Flory. She has a traumatic thing happen to her at the very beginning of the book but she works through it and finds a solution to her problem. And, even though she doesn't grow up with other fairies, she still learns manners and things along the way. It really is a very cute story and I would be happy to read it to my own children, when I have them!

Has anyone else read 'The Night Fairy'? I tried to look at a few blogs but no one seems to have reviewed it. I'd love to be able to read some other peoples views on this story. If you did, please post your link, Thanks!

Happy Reading! : )

Book Blogger Hop/Follow My Book Blog Friday

At Crazy For Books, they are hosting the Book Blogger Hop!

This week's questions is:

What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?

I don't know if I can really say what book influenced or changed me. I would have to say that the Twilight series both helped me to get back into reading. I used to love reading but for the longest time, I just stopped. I didn't want to read because I had better things to do or whatever. I refused to read Twilight, even though I owned the first book forever, because I just didn't want to. It was so...main stream. I was so anti-twilight that I even put off watching the movie until New Moon was out! So I finally watched the movie and decided to read the book. I was hooked. It' was complete madness. I remember finishing it and just going "Oh man! I have to get New Moon now!!!" Twilight helped me get back into reading and I'm glad it did. I forgot how much I enjoy reading and how many good books there are out there!!

I think that everyone reads a book at some point and in some small (and maybe insignificant) way, that book changes them and they don't even realize it! That book makes them do something differently or act differently or it can just touch you in a way you never imagined!

Over at Parajunkee's View they are hosting the weekly 'Follow My Book Blog Friday.'

This week's question is:What book(s) have you discovered lately from someone's book blog?
Some of my best book find were the 'Fallen' series. I had never heard of them before but I read 'Fallen' and I loved it! So now I'm waiting to read 'Tormented.' I also recently got into the 'Vampire Academy' series. I think it's an amazing series! I probably never would have heard of half the books and series that I've read lately, and fell in love with, had it not been for the amazing book blogging community! : )

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Genre: Young Adult

Hardcover: 400 Pages

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

ISBN-13: 978-0-06-172891-4

My Rating: 4/5

Before 'Sex and the City' Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.
With an unforgettable cast of characters, 'The Carrie Diaries' is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background. how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.


I couldn't wait to read 'The Carrie Diaries' because I LOVE 'Sex and the City.' It's one of my favorite shows! I was happy with the book, even though it had some discrepancies. I thought it was great to be able to get a look at Carrie Bradshaw's life before she became the New York City girl everyone loves! It's interesting to read about her transition from small-town girl to big city lover.

The whole story is told through Carrie Bradshaw in her last year of high school. She is portrayed as an average girl with big hopes and dreams. She meets some interesting people along the way and is reunited with a woman who almost tore her away from her dreams. You learn about all her inner workings and what made Carrie who she is. There were, however, a few contradicting things that I didn't like. In 'Sex and the City' the show, Carrie explains on numerous occasions that she is not a fan of cooking and she doesn't know how. In the book, she is making an extravagant meal for her family and she talks loosely about how she likes to stay home and cook and spend time with the family. I know everything can't be the same when converting from book to movie, or TV show, but I was still disappointed nonetheless.

I gave this book a 4/5. I loved it but a few things weren't so great. Mainly, the contradictions. But there were some others that maybe won't bother people as they have me. I will leave that to everyone else to decide! I don't want to spoil the book by giving away too much. 'The Carrie Diaries' by  Candace Bushnell is definitely worth the read! I would definitely re-read this book!

Happy Reading! : )

100+ Reading Challenge

Over at My Overstuffed Bookshelf they are hosting a 100+ Reading Challenge.

It is exactly what it sounds like, you just have to read 100 or more books in 2011. The books have to be ones that you can purchase and they can't be short stories. You can shoot over to the reading challenge page to check out all the rules and sign up if you're interested!

1. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
2. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
3. The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
4. Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz
5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
6. Torment by Lauren Kate

click here for my list of Challenges and the books I've read!

Happy Reading!

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Genre: Young Adult

Paperback: 336 Pages

Publisher: Razorbill

ISBN-13: 978-1-59514-175-0

My rating: 5/5

Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian.
Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladmir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians-including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. this year, St. Vlad's holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose-and her heart-are in more daner then she ever could have imagined...

First, I want to apologize for my delay in posting. I had an extremely busy couple of weeks with Christmas in Canada and a New Years wedding. I feel terrible for not posting anything in so long!! I just got back yesterday though and I didn't have an opportunity to get on  here and post my review till today.

I literally just finished reading 'Frostbite' by Richelle Mead. I loved the first one so much that I moved the second one to the top of my reading pile so that I could read it right away. I'm happy to say, I was not disappointed! I love the Vampire Academy series. Rose Hathaway has to be one of my favorite characters in a series. I enjoy reading about all her fights, relationships, and you really get to know the type of person she really is. There is a lot of character depth in the Vampire Academy series, so far. I can't attest to the rest of the series because I haven't had an opportunity to read it yet.

Like the first book, 'Frostbite' is told through Rose Hathaway. There's a more in depth relationship with Dimitri as well as Mason, a guardian in classes with Rose, and Adrian, a vampire whose bad boy reputation proceeds him. Rose is attracted to Adrian but fights desperately to keep it under wraps and not let herself feel anything for him. She isn't really into Mason, but she needs something to keep her distracted from thinking about Dimitri. Her crazy love triangle is always good for a laugh! There isn't much of a story in 'Frostbite' with Lissa, Rose's best friend. Lissa is so enthralled with Christian that she doesn't have time to even acknowledge Rose. And Rose's mother shows up unannounced. Rose's situation just keeps going from bad to worse. I don't like to give too much away about the books I read because I want people who haven't read them, to have an opportunity to read it without me spoiling it for them, so I won't divulge too much information to you!

I loved this book and I'm really anxious to get reading the third one, all though it's not the next book on my list. Richelle Mead does an incredible job of developing her characters and plots. And, I love the fact that these books have the potential to stand on there own, but you might want to read them in order to keep up with Rose's crazy love story! There wasn't one thing that I didn't like about 'Frostbite.' It was astounding from start to finish!

Has anyone else read this series yet? If so, what did you think? And, of all the Vampire Academy books, which was your favorite?