One of my favorite books!!

I'm not sure if any of you remember but a while back I read a book called 'Familiar Origins' which I loved so much!! I'm super excited to say that the next book is scheduled to be released in February!! Right now, they have the first book in the series on for just 99 cents at Amazon for kindle!! If you haven't read this book yet, you NEED to and at 99 cents, how can you say no?

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Reading Level: Ages 12 and Up

Paperback: 312 Pages

Publisher: Flux

ISBN: 978-0-7387-2582-6

My Rating: 4/5

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood's father and drover her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy-the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed be the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane. But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin-even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect.

It took me a long time to read this book just because I'm in school. And normally I have the worst memory in the world and forget everything. I'd usually have to go back over the book and skim through it to kind of jog my memory I guess you could say. I didn't have to do that with this book which was great. It really stuck with me and I very much enjoyed the story. The characters were likable for the most part and it was very well written.

Characters: The only thing bad I can say about the characters is that I didn't get enough of them. Donna is a great character...she's well developed, makes the story very engaging, has a good personality. She has a lot of great qualities and likable assets. Navin we don't learn too too much about other than the fact that he is Donna's best friend and stands by her no matter what. He's a very endearing character and I really liked Xan...he was probably my favorite character.

Plot: The plot is great in this story. It's basically Donna struggling with her...abnormal physical attribute and hiding it from everyone. She doesn't go to high school anymore because of something that happened and now none of the kids like her and they all think she is a freak. Eventually she meets Xan very early in the book and they start this weird kind of...relationship I guess you could say. Anyways, it all boils down to Donna trying to save Maker and Navin from the wood queen.

After going back over this I realized I rambled a bit haha. I have a hard time explaining  things without giving away too many details. I don't like to ruin books for people because I hate when they are ruined for me. Anyways! haha. It's a great book, if you haven't read it yet then you should pick it up, it's really good. The characters were admirable, the plot was engaging, and overall it was amazing! I loved everything about it and it stuck with me even though I had to take a break from reading for a while.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up

Paperback: 496 Pages

Publisher: Razorbill

ISBN: 978-1-59514-366-2

My Rating: 4/5

Rose's life will never be her own. She has been outrunning death ever since the accident that forever bonded her to her best friend, Lissa-whom she's sworn to protect no matter what. But with Dimitri stalking her, Rose can only run so far.

It should come as no surprise that I love the 'Vampire Academy' series by Richelle Mead. In fact, she has easily become one of my favorite authors; however, I found 'Spirit Bound' to be least favorite book of the series. I still really liked it and contemplated giving it a 3/5 but the ending was good enough to boost my rating back up to a 4 out of 5. It makes me extremely sad to say that I almost gave a VA book a 3/5 but let's discuss why.

Characters: The characters were still the same. Rose was still Rose, Lissa was still Lissa and so on. I did notice that there were some character differences though. Rose seemed weak to me in Spirit Bound. Normally she has the strength of a bull but in this particular novel she seemed to rely too heavily on other people. And Lissa was tougher than normal, which is great!

Plot: As much as it pains me to do so, I have to admit that I found the story line to be very predictable. I knew what was going to happen before it did. And not just one or two things here or there, pretty much everything. The plot was still adequate enough to keep me interested but it was slow at times and highly predictable.

Those were really the only two things I took issue with. I love to read a book or watch a movie and speculate what is going to happen; it's part of what makes it fun for me! But being able to almost always know what is going to happen makes things a little tough to read-or watch. Overall, it was still a good book and I'm definitely going to read the final book 'Last Sacrifice.' Even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others, it's still a series I highly recommend to everyone! Happy Reading! :)

A little update

I just wanted to write a little post to let people know a few things. First, I am still here and desperately trying to read and post as many reviews as I can. It seems pretty normal lately that I am only doing one or two a month. It makes me super sad to say that but I'm doing the best I can for right now. I'm just starting a new semester/year at school so I know I will have even less time than I do now. I'm really sorry for that and I hope you all can be understanding and know that I appreciate you remaining to be a follower of Fay-Bay's Books! :)

Second, to any authors or publishers, I am not accepting any books for review. I may make the rare exception and take on a book if I feel I can read it and post a review within a timely matter. I already have a ton of books to read and some to review for people, I feel I just can't take on any more at this time. I'm very sorry for that! If you think that your book might be the rare one that I'll take on or if I have worked with you in the past, please feel free to email me and I'll see what I can work out.

Thanks everyone! :) On a side note, I'm hoping to host a small giveaway soon. I realized that I missed my one year mark because I was so into my school work, OOPS! So maybe I'll do a back to school type of thing... :)

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up

Paperback: 312 Pages

Publisher: Graphia

ISBN-13: 978-0547417301

My Rating: 4/5

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and on the day she was born her grandmother proclaimed her to be the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. No, seventeen years later, she spend most of her time at boarding school in Manhattan, where she can at least pretend to be normal. But during the summers, she's forced to return home and work at her family's bookstore/magic shop. One night a handsome young professor from New York University arrives in the shop and mistakes Tamsin for her extremely Talented older sister. For once, it's Tamsin who is being looked at with awe and admiration, and before she can stop herself, she agrees to find a family heirloom for him that was lost more than a century ago. But the search-and the stranger-prove to be more sinister that they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the past sins of her family, and unleash a power so strong and so vengeful, it could destroy them all.

When I first started reading 'Once a Witch' I thought it wasn't going to be a book that I enjoyed but boy was I wrong! I liked it a lot...actually more than a lot. It had so many different elements in it that made it such a great read. It had witches, (obviously) magic, sibling rivalry, a blossoming romance and lets not all forget the unforgettable bad guy! I only gave 'Once a Witch' a 4 out of 5 because it started off really slow for me an it took me a little while to get into. It has a slow beginning, at least for me. Sometimes the sheer epicness of a book can overshadow a few flaws but this book wasn't one of those.

'Once a Witch' tells the story of a young girl named Tamsin. She finds herself to be the black sheep of her family because they all have a Talent and she does not. She was born Talent less and no one lets her forget it....well at least her sister Rowena doesn't! She lives in New York City where she attends school but travels home on weekends to visit her family and help out at their bookstore; and that is where she meets Alistair. A little white lie because a monstrosity and soon Tamsin's world is completely upside down!

If you can read through the slow beginning (which I highly suggest) 'Once a Witch' is absolutely incredible! It's written very well and thought out. There aren't any inadequacies and the way MacCullough wrote the book makes you want to keep on reading! If you haven't had the chance to read 'Once a Witch' yet, I suggest you do! I'm glad it's part of my collection and I will definitely be getting the second one.

The Fairytale Keeper by Andrea Cefalo

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 274 Pages

Publisher: Scarlet Primrose Press

ISBN: 978-0-9851678-1-3

My Rating: 5/5

Many called her Snow White, but few knew her as the Fairytale Keeper... Snow White was a pet name her mother had given her, but her mother's dead now. Adelaide hates that name anyway. A rampant fever claimed Adelaide's mother just like a thousand others in Cologne where the people die without Last Rites and the dead are dumped in a large pit outside of the city walls. Adelaide's father is determined to obtain a funeral for his wife, but that requires bribing the parish priest, Father Soren. When Soren commits an unforgivable atrocity, he pushes Adelaide to her breaking point, but if she seeks justice against the cruel priest, she risks sacrificing everything: her father, her friends, her first loves, and maybe even her life.

Most people would think that all fairytale's end the same way; a happily ever after, prince charming, and a beautiful castle. Well, not in Addie's world! I honestly went into 'The Fairytale Keeper' expecting the same old song and dance and I was pleasantly surprised! It was so refreshing and enthralling to me that I couldn't put it down! I read the first half of the book over a couple day and the second half in one evening. It is immensely engaging, riveting, and leaves you at the edge of your seat the whole time.

'The Fairytale Keeper' tells the store of Adelaide who is referred to as Snow White by her mother. The story starts off with a very emotionally powerful opening and from then on it's just turmoil and chaos in Cologne where she lives. 'The Fairytale Keeper' has a little bit of almost everything! By the end of the book I found myself tearing up because I was so caught up in the story.

Andrea Cefalo has written one of the best "fairytale" novels I've read to date. The ending of the book left me hanging and yearning for more! I can't wait till the spring of 2013 when the next book is expected to be released! If you haven't been fortunate enough to read 'The Fairytale Keeper' by Andrea Cefalo yet I highly recommend that you do. I don't know how I'll make it through a whole year before I can buy the next book! It is unlike anything I've read before and I can't wait to read more from Andrea Cefalo.

Shut Up by Anne Tibbets

Reading Level: Young Adult with mature themes

Paperback: 118 Pages

Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing

ISBN: 978-1937957360

My Rating: 5/5

Mary's older sister, Gwen, has royally screwed up her life. Not only is Gwen pregnant at seventeen, but she's also decided to marry The Creep who knocked her up. Now Mary is powerless to stop her family from imploding. Her parents are freaking out royally, and to top it off The Creep has a gross fascination with Mary while Gwen enjoys teasing her to tears for sport. Despite her brother's advice to shut up, Mary can't keep her trap closed and manages to piss off Mom so much it comes to blows. Mary doesn't know what to do, and all her attempts to get help are rejected. When she finally plans her escape, she fails to consider how it could destroy them all.

After I finished reading 'Shut Up' by Anne Tibbets I had to sit on it for a while. I kind of let it swirl around in my head and the story just completely consumed me. The only thing I could even think to say at the end of it was 'Wow!' It is such an incredible story of pain and heartache but there is also this fierce courage and strength to it that it's empowering. It is easily one of the most emotional books I have read to date.

'Shut Up' tells the story of Mary who is beaten by her family both physically and emotionally. She has an older sister who is the antagonist in my mind. She does everything she can to ruin Mary and her happiness. Everyone in Mary's family seems to let their anger out on her in so many different ways. And through all of this she has to endure disgusting sexual advances by 'The Creep' which is her older sister's boyfriend.

It was amazing to read such a powerful story and literally watch this young girl go from naive child to maturity in one small novel. I was completely and totally trapped in this world with her and sometimes I just wanted to cry with Mary and sometimes I wished I could help her. 'Shut Up' really touches your soul on an intense emotional level which is why it is EASILY one of my favorite books. I think that 'Shut Up' portrays a strong message and theme that it could be both influential and beneficial to any teenager, child or adult. If you haven't had to chance to read 'Shut Up' by Anne Tibbets, make sure you get it! It's one emotional drama filled book that you'll wish you found sooner!

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz

Reading Level: 18 and up

Paperback: 384 Pages

Publisher: Hyperion Book

ISBN: 978-1423102274

My Rating: 3/5

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

For a long time now the Blue Bloods series has been one of my favorites. I really just loved all the characters and the story just everything about it! That being said, 'The Van Alen Legacy' was my least favorite of the series so far. The first three quarters of the book was very slow and hard for me to get into. I did persevere and keep on reading though!

'The Van Alen Legacy' takes place exactly where 'Revelations' left off. Basically, Schuyler is on the run with Oliver because she is being accused of murder. Mimi is working with Kingsley and Bliss is dealing with a whole world of other problems. Bliss had the most interesting story to me although there was a lot of filler in the entire book.

I feel  like 'The Van Alen Legacy' was exactly that, a filler. I still thought it was an alright book and definitely an important book in the series but it just felt a little forced to me. There was a lot of repetition although, unlike other reviewers, I do still feel like the characters were each well distinguished. I highly recommend the Blue Bloods series, I still think it's an amazing series! And I'm hoping that the next book in the series will be better than 'The Van Alen Legacy' which I've heard it is.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Reading Level: 14 and up

Hardcover: 496 Pages

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 978-0-06-202402-2

My Rating: 5/5

From Amazon: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

I literally would have given this book a 10 out of 5 is that was at all possible. I heard a lot about it and I really wanted to read it but I put it off because there are a lot of other series I'm into right now. Well, yesterday I couldn't decide what to read so I ended up picking Divergent and I'm so glad I did!! I haven't loved a book this much since I read the Twilight Saga. In fact, I think I love Divergent so much more! I read the entire book in less than 24 hours and I just placed an order on Amazon for Insurgent because I need to read it...NEED to.

Divergent is the story of Tris, but so much more than that as well. It's about her life and the factions that surround her. She has to make a decision that will ultimately change everything she has ever known and come to love. Will she leave her current faction or not? And if she does, will she make it in her next one? There is so much action and intensity in Divergent that I can't even really put it into words adequately. I'm in love with a book and I'm not ashamed to admit that!

Roth wrote Divergent so well that it leaves you completely captivated! I literally could not pull myself away from this book. I'm actually still carrying it around with me even though I finished reading it. Just to look at the cover, read the back, whatever, right? If you haven't read Divergent yet, you need to! It should definitely be in your top ten books to read if, like me, you have a massive reading pile. I'm going to read Insurgent as soon as it gets to my house until then I can only wait anxiously for it to arrive.

Prom Dates to Die For

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 140 Pages

Publisher: Buzz Books

ISBN-10: 1938493001
ISBN-13: 978-1938493003

My Rating: 4/5

Five young adult authors cordially invite you to five paranormal proms with...Supernatural hunters hired to save a prom date hungry for souls. A reaper haunted by a past she doesn't remember. A prom queen seeking justice...and revenge. A loner musician called to save his classmates from an enemy only he can see. A heroine getting much more than she wished for on her 18th birthday and prom night. Frightful, fun and unforgettable.

I love short stories for so many reasons. For one, they are short and to the point so you don't get all of the filler and boring parts that most books have. And it's a really short read if you are just looking to fill a small amount of time or you can read a collection of stories like in 'Prom Dates to Die for' to fill more time. They are really great for any situation. The only thing that I don't like is that the stories are over far too fast! For the short stories in 'Prom Dates to Die for,' I wish they hadn't ended so quickly because I want to read more. It's been a few days now since I read the book and I still want to be able to read more from each story but I can't!

'Prom Dates to Die For' has so many great things in it. It's packed full of Paranormal, proms, dates, dresses, and everything else that you would love in a story! The short stories in the book are Darkness Becomes Him by Kelly Paara, The Bone Flower by Heather Dearly, Every Breath You Take by Lena Brown, A Kiss at the Threshold by Aaron Smith, and Tonight, You're Mine by Jenny Peterson. These are five amazing stories by five equally amazing authors!

You definitely don't want to miss your chance to read 'Prom Dates to Die For.' It's a great collection of paranormal prom stories that are literally to die for! I was fortunate enough to get the chance to read and review these five incredible stories and I think they are completely worth reading!

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 368 Pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

ISBN: 978-0-06-198585-0

My Rating: 5/5

Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only one who can see through glamours. But now Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and cryptic messages-and she's realizing that she may be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

'Paranormalcy' was another book that I waited a long time to read. I didn't actually get the book till Christmas as a present but I could have bought it when it came out but I waited....I don't really know why. But, as usual, I LOVED it. It was amazing! I literally read it in a couple days. I haven't liked a book THAT much in a long time. I guess one good thing out of waiting for so long to read it is that now Supernaturally is out and I can just get it and read it!

'Paranormalcy' tells the story of a girl named Evie. She has worked and lived with the IPCA since she was very little. She has no idea who her parents are or where she comes from. She actually seems very content with her life and happy until she captures a paranormal named Lend. Her whole world gets thrown upside down as soon as Lend shows up in her life. Some of it's bad and some of it's good.

One of the things that I really liked about 'Paranormalcy' was the realistic aspect of it. Usually in books everyone is beautiful and they never worry about normal things like showering or shaving. Kiersten doesn't do that with Evie. Evie very much worries about things especially at completely random times when you wouldn't expect it. For example, she worries about how she hasn't shaved her legs and she is being forced to wear shorts after her whole life just came crashing down. It just adds something to the book that most others lack, it sets it apart from the rest of the books in this genre. There was amazing character development and I found myself liking every character in the book; yes, even the bad ones! 'Paranormalcy' is definitely worth checking out! If you haven't read it yet or, like me, are putting it off for no reason, move it to the top of your list. You will NOT be disappointed!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Reading Level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 400 Pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 978-0-439-02351-1

My Rating: 5/5

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans-except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future in Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay-no matter what the personal cost.

When I read the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy, it easily became one of my favorite books! After reading 'Catching Fire,' I became even more hooked and 'Mockingjay' finished off the trilogy with amazing flare. I felt like Mockingjay was a lot more twisted and dark than the first 2 books which is a plus! The setting for Mockingjay was entirely different; it involved a war and a travel through the districts. There were a lot of deaths but there were also a lot of positive points and twists which made this book so much better!

'Mockingjay' is the continuing story of Katniss Everdeen. She has survived the Hunger Games and a lot of other turmoil and has finally come to the end of her fight. She is the face of the rebels who are waging war against the capitol. She has to put on a strong face for the cameras while struggling emotionally with a bucket load of issues. I don't want to put any spoilers in here! Especially because the movie just came out and the books are becoming increasingly popular.

Overall, I loved 'Mockingjay!' it was an amazing finish for an incredible series. I'm excited to finally go and see the movie! I think I'm the only person who hasn't yet. I can't pick a favorite book because, honestly, I loved all 3 that much! If you haven't had a chance to read this trilogy yet, do it! You won't be disappointed!! :)

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 352 Pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

ISBN-13: 978-0061284465

My Rating: 5/5

Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one. But she has fallen in love with Lucas, a vampire hunter who infiltrated Evernight Academy, the exclusive vampire boarding school she attends. Bianca will do anything to be with Lucas, even if it means lying to the powerful vampires of Evernight.
Her deceit leads her to dig deep into he mysteries of the school, and Bianca discovers that even those she trusts the most have their own dark secrets. When a ghostly force begins attacking Evernight-and targeting Bianca-she learns a shocking truth about her past that will forever change her future.

It's been a long time since I read the first book in the Evernight series. I forgot how much I really loved the book and Stargazer was no exception. As with 'Evernight,' 'Stargazer' started off a little slow for me. It's not that I had a hard time getting into it-I definitely got into it! It's just that it seemed a little slow for the first bit. When it picked up though, it really picked up and I couldn't stop reading it. It actually really distracted me from schoolwork and I'm now a chapter behind in Psychology!

'Stargazer' is the continuing story of Bianca Olivier. She's at Evernight, dealing with normal struggles; at least, normal struggles for her. She's missing her boyfriend Lucas and dealing with some pretty nasty wraiths! I don't want to say too much in case anyone hasn't had the opportunity to read the first book yet. It was an amazing story and I already can't wait to get my hands on the next book, 'Hourglass.'

Even though 'Stargazer' was a little slow for me to start, the ending went too fast. It's totally engaging and keeps your attention locked the whole time! It's hard to think about much else...like Psychology for example. Even though I'm finished reading this book now, my mind is just whirling with possibilities and wondering what is going to happen next! If you haven't had a chance to read the Evernight series yet by Claudia Gray, you must! They are absolutely amazing so far.

Can't believe it's been so long!

So, I guess I did it again. I completely ignore everything when I'm in school because I'm so focused on my work and keeping my grades up. I need to maintain the highest GPA I can so I can gain acceptance into the Nursing program at my College. Of course that means I've been completely avoiding any blogging and only reading a chapter every other day in my current book. Every time I feel like I'll have some free time to get some reading done, one of my professors will assign a 5 page essay or an exam. There is always something! I promise to try and do better and post some reviews shortly. I'm fairly certain that, in a couple days, it will have been a month since I posted anything! Sorry about that. I'm glad that (most of you) are still here! Thank you! :)

Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 288 Pages

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

ISBN-10: 1423102290

My Rating: 5/5

Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question: is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force. When an ancient place of power is threatened in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high, the battle is bloody, and through it all Schuyler is torn between duty and passion, love and freedom.

True to Melissa De La Cruz's style and in typical Blue Blood's fashion, this book was incredible! Melissa De La Cruz is one of my favorite authors. I know that if I pick up one of her books to read, I'm going to love it! She's always my "go-to" author. If I'm kind of in a reading funk, I know to read one of her books and it gets me back on the band wagon. I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of books to read by her! haha. There is not one thing that I didn't like about this book. Amazing!

Revelations' is the continuing story of Schuyler, Bliss, and Mimi. Schuyler is living with the Force's and hating it. She finally found her grandfather and now can't even live with him. On top of all that, she has been banned from talking to anyone she cares about. Schuyler's got it rough. I don't want to give away too much....although
I guess I just did. But, this book is fantastic.

I was actually so into this book when I was reading it that I couldn't focus on my school work. I actually had to walk away from it and finish reading 'Revelations' because I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was action packed and intense! I highly recommend this series, if you haven't had the opportunity to read it yet, you should! It's well worth it!

Earth Blend by Lori Pescatore

Paperback: 194 Pages

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781463673567

My Rating: 4/5

Earth Blend is the second book in the Blend trilogy and the sequel to Human Blend. In this installment, the mysteries of the Blends and Earthlings are revealed. How can Julie live a normal life when she is anything but normal? Her relationship with Austin is complicated by emerging abilities in both. Trust is hard to come by as lies and secrets hinder them at every turn. Is the past destined to repeat itself as the Earthlings once again rush to save them? Te ensuing chaos breeds fatal consequences.

'Earth Blend' is the second book in the Blend trilogy by Lori Pescatore. This review isn't really going to contain much info about the book because, if you haven't read the first one, I don't want to ruin anything in the second one. It is definitely a must read book though! Pescatore stays true to her style through Earth Blend with all of our favorite characters making a return!

'Earth Blend' picks up right where 'Human Blend' left off. I think that was a plus for these books because I always find myself asking questions when there is a time frame in between and we don't know what happened. Not only does 'Earth Blend' pick up right where book one left off, but it also contains a lot of background information not only on the human blends, but the earth blends as well. For someone like me, this is another positive feature. I love to learn about characters in books and having such detailed info as Pescatore gave us, makes the characters seem more relatable and it allows you to really get to know them.

Overall, the Blend trilogy (book one and two) are awesome and I highly recommend the series. I actually went back and read some other reviews and there are a lot of positive reviews. I'm not sure why I didn't hear about this trilogy earlier. If you haven't had the chance to read the Blend trilogy yet, I insist that you do! So far book one and two are available as ebook and paperback. I can't wait to read book three in the Blend series!

Human Blend by Lori Pescatore

Paperback: 234 Pages

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 978-1453765135

My Rating: 4/5

Marion, Virginia seemed like a nice place to live a normal life, but she is not a normal girl. Laney has special abilities that keep her looking over her shoulder as she makes her escape from the men who had kidnapped her.
A young doctor's interest is piqued when he witnesses her mysteriously curing a young child's illness. He befriends her due to his growing fascination with uncovering the true nature of her abilities, but not without harboring secrets of his own.
Laney's budding relationship with a local boy puts both of them in danger when the men she was hiding from find her. All of their lives will change forever as ancient secrets become unearthed.

'Human Blend' was so much more than I anticipated it to be. I loved the Characters (for the most part) and the storyline was consistent, engaging, and it made sense. As with all books and characters, there will probably be something you like and something you don't like. The only problem I had with any character in this book was Laney. She can be a bit much sometimes haha. But she is still a GREAT character.

'Human Blend' is the story of Laney who runs away from these terrible people and attempts to live in secret in Marion, Virginia. The people she is running from are the worst sort of people. Anyways, I don't want to say much about them. So, Laney has these abilities that we learn about throughout the book. The first thing we learn is that she can see numbers and she can heal people. Which is really why these people want her in the first place.

Overall, 'Human Blend' is an awesome book. I was hooked on it and actually read it all within a couple days which is something I haven't done since the summer! I can't wait to start book #2, 'Earth Blend' and see where Laney's story goes. I'm actually planning on starting it today! So, if you haven't checked out 'Human Blend' by Lori Pescatore (which is book one in a trilogy) you definitely should, you won't be disappointed!

Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 400 Pages

Publisher: Flatiron View Books

ISBN: 978-0-615-40123-2

My Rating: 4/5

Kevin Tobin is a relatively ordinary twelve-year-old dealing with the ­aftermath of his father’s death in a mountain biking accident near their home in Boulder, Colorado. To escape from his emotional turmoil, Kevin has ­developed his imagination into a dangerous foil and a powerful ally. While he antagonizes his mother and sister through his superhero antics on an average Wednesday ­morning, his ability to escape inside a character’s head becomes critical to his ­survival after his life is once-again turned upside down a year after his father’s death.

A mysterious package arrives in the mail, Kevin and his best friend are hunted down by a ruthless villain set upon world domination who is determined to ­retrieve the package, and after enlisting Kevin’s teenage sister and her pizza-­delivery boyfriend in a battle for control over time itself, the secret of Kevin’s whole existence is revealed to him by a source we never expected.

I don't know exactly where to start with 'Kevin's Point of View.' There were so many great things about it! I loved the story! It was cute and light but it still had depth and was completely engaging. From the first few pages you are sucked into Kevin's world and you get stuck there. I just wanted to keep reading because it was such an amazing story.

My favorite character in the story, hands down, is Kevin. I loved that you actually get to see his immaturity and how unpredictable he is. I found myself laughing as he would transform into "Captain Disaster!" Another character that I particularly liked in 'Kevin's Point of View' was the bad guy, Devin. He is completely relentless. He knows what he wants and he does NOT hold back when he goes after it. We get to really see how deranged and psychotic Devin really is when one of his first interactions with Kevin is to try and kill him. All the characters in this book were developed very well and I really liked something about all of them.

Del did a fantastic job of writing Kevin. He is one of my favorite characters to date! Reading 'Kevin's Point of View' was like actually living through Kevin. He is so imaginative and Shannon does an amazing job of portraying it to us. I really loved that it made me feel like I was experiencing these events through this 12 year old boy. I hope to read more from Shannon in the future and I'm hoping there will be another 'Kevin's Point of View.' Oh, and I can't finish my review without saying, the ending to this book was incredible!! I was being presumptuous through it thinking I knew what was going to happen, turns out I was wrong! I won't spoil the book or the ending because I think everyone should read 'Kevin's Point of View' be Del Shannon!