Suite Scarlett

author: Maureen Johnson

series: Scarlett (book #1)

published: May 1st 2008

publisher: Point

format: hardcover

pages: 336

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small Art Deco hotel in the heart of New York City.
When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite. For Scarlett’s fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn’t quite know what to make of this C-list starlet and world traveler.
And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.
Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery and romantic missteps. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

My Thoughts:

The Cover: I like this cover. It's not the only one I've seen for the American edition. I like them both a lot, but this one is adorable! I absolutely love the dress on the model. It's an important dress, too. So, I often went back to look at it while reading. I like the red on the bell as well. It looks really nice with the red lipstick and lettering.

The Book: This book has been on my to-read list for a long time and I'm so glad I finally read it! I don't know what took me so long. When I did finally pick it up, I wasn't sure if I'd like it a lot, but I did. Scarlett is fifteen (part of why I really wasn't sure about this book) and is the third of four children. All four children have distinct personalities. I think my favorite sibling is Spencer. He's the oldest and he's so much fun. I really like the fact that the family lives and runs an old hotel. I love the idea of living in a hotel and I've read a few other books about that as well. It's so much fun and so different than just living in a house. Suite Scarlett is a lovely coming of age story. Scarlett has a lot to deal with right now and most of it involves helping her family which is really sweet. She does all that she can do make things right for her family.

I can't wait to read the sequel Scarlett Fever.

What Happened to Goodbye

author: Sarah Dessen

published: May 10th 2011

publisher: Penguin

format: eBook

pages: 267 (Nook)

The following summary is from Goodreads.

In the past two years, Mclean Sweet has moved four times. At each stop, she assumes a new persona, but it never quite works. Whether she's an effervescent cheerleader or an intense drama queen, nothing can permanently dispel the turmoil and rage at her mother since her parents' divorce.

Sarah Dessen's novel about a teenager and her restaurant manager father captures the vulnerability that young people often experience after the dissolution of their family. A compelling story; strong characterization; and with a touch of romance.

Cover:

I love this cover. I think that it really depicts what life is like for Mclean. The overflowing suitcase, which is absolutely adorable, shows how she's always moving around. I get the impression that it's just so constant from this image. I really like it. There was another one where the curtains were much less pink and hardly visible at all. I like this one more. For sure.

Book:

Mclean does what I wished I could do. I've only ever moved once. That was the summer before I started middle school. There were times in high school where I wanted to just move and start over. Be a different girl. The girl I wanted to be, not the girl that I was. I really didn't like high school. I mean, while I was there it was fine, but looking back I see how unhappy I was. Anyway Mclean has a lot to deal with and the best way she knows how is to run away and become someone else. This works for her for a while, but when she gets to Lakeview, somehow she becomes Mclean. Not Liz, Lizbet, or Beth. It's a great coming of age story about a normal girl, whose world gets completely turned upside down. Her parents go through a very public divorce and it really takes its toll on Mclean.

This is one of Sarah's best novels. Definitely a favorite.

I was able to go to one of her book tour stops last week. It was great! Sarah read from the first chapter and answered questions that were insightful and helpful. She did trivia where she gave out these great water bottles. And she signed books. She mentioned how surprised she was at how many people were there. There were a lot. Many waited outside the room because it was so full. I was lucky enough to get a front row seat. It was fun and it was amazing to meet one of my favorite writers. So amazing!

Glimmerglass

author: Jenna Black

series: Faeriewalker

published: May 25th 2010

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

format: paperback

pages: 294

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…

My Thoughts:
The Cover:

My favorite part of the cover of this book is the spine; it's pink and it has silver polka dots along the sides. The cover itself is really cute, too. I like the flowy image that floats on the cover. It looks like magic! I think it looks really nice next to the cover of the sequel, Shadowspell.

The Book:

First, I'd like to point out that Dana knows her Fae heritage. In most (maybe even all) of the other YA faerie books I've read, it's a surprise to the protagonist. I felt like this was a nice change.

The story flowed very nicely and was quick paced. I could not put this book down! At first, I was not thrilled by the fact that Avalon is full of faeries and humans and that people know about the fae. But, I quickly got over that and decided that this fact makes the story different and more exciting.

Glimmerglass is a different type of faerie novel and I truly can't wait until January 4th, when Shadowspell is released.

Darklight

author: Lesley Livingston

published: December 22nd 2009

series: Wondrous Strange, Book 2 of 3

publisher: Harper Teen

format: hardcover

pages: 310

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.com

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt.

Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.

When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power.

Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.

My Thoughts:

The Cover: This cover looks really, really good next to Wondrous Strange and Tempestuous (to be released January 7th 2011). I like this cover more than Wondrous Strange's cover. This cover is warmer than the first (which was cold. It was pretty much tinted blue. You can see it here!) It's not that I didn't like the cover of Wondrous Strange, it just didn't STICK out as awesome. This cover looks awesome! I love her dress and she looks so great! It's "theme" is pink! And it's overall beautiful.

The Book: I liked Darklight more than I liked Wondrous Strange. And I really did like Wondrous Strange. You can read about that here!

Darklight picks up, I believe, six months after opening night of A Midsummer Night's Dream where Wondrous Strange left off. Kelley is now working on her role as Juliet in, you guessed it, Romeo & Juliet. Again, I was not entirely enthralled in the story until maybe a third of the way through, but when I did, I couldn't put it down! And I didn't! In this sequel, we see more of Fennrys who is actually, surprisingly and refreshingly comical. Also, Gentleman Jack is back and as sweet as ever! He is quite possibly my favorite "non-main" character and I really hope to see more of him in the third installment. Kelley and Sonny both have to overcome being separate from each other and the doubts that come along with the separation. They also both grow into themselves far more than I expected.

One of the best things about Darklight is that there are unexpected twists that will leave you desperate for more! (You really want to read this now, don't you? ;] )

This book was a great sequel to Wondrous Strange and definitely fulfilled my hopes for this series.

Tempestuous, the final installment of the Wondrous Strange series will be out on January 7th 2011!

Wondrous Strange

author: Lesley Livingston

published: December 23rd 2008

series: Wondrous Strange, Book 1 of 3

publisher: HarperTeen

format: hardcover

pages: 327

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.com

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I think it's a lovely cover. I absolutely love the font of the title and its placement. It really draws the eye; and with a title like Wondrous Strange it is not likely to be forgotten. It's also a shiny light blue :) The girl on the cover is a good depiction of Kelley. In my head she looks much like this girl. (Probably because I saw the cover :P) It's not the most memorable cover I've ever seen, or my favorite, but I think it looks really good and fits the story.

The Book:

Kelley is a great character. She's living on her own, which is sort of new for me to read about in a YA book. Kelley has an aunt, but she's living elsewhere while Kelley is in New York City. This was a great change for me. It was definitely better that Kelley was alone in NYC. (Well, she has a roommate)

Kelley's reaction to the character Sonny was very realistic to me. Now, I know everyone is different, but she reacted in a way I would expect most people to react. This made it much easier to relate to her and get into the story.

When I started reading it, it was a solid three out of five for me. I liked it, but I wasn't loving it. Once the plot really got started, I got into it and it became a solid 4. Maybe 4.5. It's a great take on faerie lore in the modern day.

I have to admit, I took a break near the beginning to read The Iron Daughter. I wasn't expect it, and I wasn't going to wait. Let's face it, I was waiting for it since I read The Iron King back in February! And Wondrous Strange hadn't really sucked me in yet.

For faerie lovers, this book will definitely be a fun ride. It's similar and different to the other books I've read. (Imagine that...) the differences really make this book a wondrous and strange journey into faerie lands.

Needless to say, I'm going to be reading the sequel, Darklight next. I may even start it right now.

The Iron Daughter

author: Julie Kagawa

published: August (or maybe July 27th)

series: The Iron Fey, book 2 of 3

publisher: Harlequin Teen

format: paperback

pages: 359

The following synopsis comes from Julie Kagawa's website.

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

The cover looks even better in person! I was at my Borders store looking for a book to buy when The Iron Daughter caught my eye. It was sitting there, facing me. It wasn't supposed to be out yet! So, naturally, I immediately grabbed a copy, snapped a picture, and bought it. The cover is really beautiful and I like it more than The Iron King cover. This cover is quite purple and it looks great. Among the thorny borders there are little butterflies! They're too cute! I love this cover.

The Book:

First, I want to recommend that before reading The Iron Daughter and after reading The Iron King that you read the free (until July 31st) novella, Winter's Passage. (Which is quite great! It ended in a way that made me super eager for The Iron Daughter.)

Now. In this sequel, Meghan is stuck in the Winter Court. The poor girl! She has no friends. She can't trust anyone. Ash is acting as though he hates her, and maybe he does. The Iron Daughter takes this series to a new level for me. There are a few new characters and some that were only mentioned before like Ash's family: Queen Mab, and his brothers, Sage and Rowan. And of course, Meghan, Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin! Grim is still Grim. And he's still my favorite. I love that cat. Puck is still sick and in the tree as he was at the end of The Iron King and Meghan has no way to contact him or even find out if he's awakened while she's in the Winter Court. She is worried about him and, poor thing, can't even find out what's happening with him. It could be centuries before he wakes up. Meghan's journey and mission, if you will, in this story tests her in new ways and she even discovers a few things about herself that she didn't know before. It's a great growing experience for her and it's clear throughout that this entire journey will change her forever. It's awesome!

I highly recommend The Iron Fey, especially to fans of faeries. It's a great series and I can't wait for the final installment, The Iron Queen. I can't help but hope that there will be another novella in between!

Linger

author: Maggie Stiefvater

published: July 13th 2010

series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls

place in series: number 2 of 3

publisher: Scholastic

format: hardcover

pages: 362

The following synopsis comes from Maggie's Mercy Falls website.

In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

My Thoughts:

The Cover: This cover is love. It goes with the Shiver cover completely, but it is its own. This cover shows the promise of the springtime which is quickly upon those of Mercy Falls, while the Shiver cover was more wintery which was a huge part of that novel. This cover is beautiful. I love it, and I can't wait to see the cover of Forever. Perhaps it'll be red, or purple. Who knows?!

The Story: I absolutely LOVED Shiver. So, needless to say, my expectations of Linger were high. They did not go wanting. Linger was most definitely its own novel. Sometimes, sequels are very much like its predecessor and it's only a variation of the unresolved problems in the first novel. But, with Linger it was so much more. There was a new character: Cole. And two new narrators: Cole and Isabel. Linger is told from four points of view. You might think that it gets confusing. Well, it doesn't. They all have distinct voices so it's hardly a problem keeping them straight.

Another big thing I noticed about Linger (and Shiver) is that Grace is NOT annoying. In Linger, Grace is keeping a secret; a rather big, important, LIFE CHANGING secret. In other books I've read, when the heroine is keeping a secret like this, it's almost annoying. With Linger, Grace just isn't talking about it and for reasons that are justifiable.

She just isn't annoying, okay? Take my word for it. I really like Grace. She is still the same person she was in Shiver, except this time she's becoming more of the girl she always has been.

Then, there's Sam. Oh, Sam. Compassionate, caring Sam. He is a great character and I wish he was a real person; he's someone I want to be friends with. He is coming to terms with what happened in the end of Shiver. He's trying to live his life and it's all very realistic.

Isabel and Cole are great additions to the story. And I think I'll leave it at that. You just have to read it.

Linger definitely lives up to the standards of Shiver. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it and I dreamt about it as well. I'm addicted to The Wolves of Mercy Falls.

Linger gets five stars from me.

Forgive My Fins

author: Tera Lynn Childs

published: June 1st 2010

series: Untitled, but yes!

publisher: HarperTeen

format: hardcover

pages: 293

The following synopsis comes from Tera Lynn Childs's website.

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

My Thoughts:

The Cover: I think the cover is just beautiful. It's full of vibrant colors and the font of the title is really cool; it looks like it belongs to the sea. The title is surrounded by waves and it looks as if the girl is breathing the words onto the cover. It's quite pretty. I like that her lips are blue. It caught my eye when I saw it online and I immediately added it to my 2010-release list!

The Book: Lily Sanderson is a mermaid princess- something I wish I could be. So it's not surprise that I loved this book. She spends her time pursuing the gorgeous Brody, who she believes would make the perfect mermate. He's pretty much the typical hottie that only sees the superficial. Then there's Quince, the neighbor. I love him! He's so funny and so many quips that he just throws out. He's really funny and even though he picks on Lily, it's clear from the beginning (ish) that he really does like her and care for her; they're friends! But Lily doesn't think so. She only sees him as the kid next door that wants to make her life miserable. But he only does it because he cares.

Thalassinia is one awesome kingdom. I had so much fun visiting it with Lily and Tera Lynn Childs made this fantastic place so real and beautiful. It's a well thought out kingdom and has everything they could need. It's an awesome place!

While the book is some-what predictable, it still delivers. I had a fun time reading it and can't wait for the sequel, Fins are Forever!

Also, feel free to add this to your blog page if you would like to become an honorary merfolk!

The one you may see on my page (left, somewhere) is only for Official Splash Team Members, but if you'd like to become one of us, click the picture and read all about it! But there are a limited number of spaces left!

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

author: Morgan Matson

published: May 4th 2010

publisher: Simon & Schuster

format: hardcover

pages: 343

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.com

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

The cover accurately portrays Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. From this cover and the title, you can tell that they're going on some kind of adventure. I like that the mountains are the background for the cover. And I really like that they're on the road standing on either side of the yellow lines. That's really cute!

The Book:

This book is full of adventure. I've always wanted to take a road trip and Amy and Roger do it right. This detour of a road trip not only takes them all over the U.S., but they meet people and open up. Both Amy and Roger have some baggage and I don't mean their suitcases. Together they embark on an adventure that helps them sort through the extra baggage and relieve some of the weight. The story is written in such a way, that the reader does not really understand what the extra baggage is until the characters are able to reveal it to each other and even themselves. This definitely adds to the excitement and plot of the story. It is an easy read, but it is not simple. It is full of real issues that these people have to deal with and it's truly an epic read.

This is one of the best road trips I have ever been on!

EDIT: I can't stop thinking about this book. It's amazing. It was so, so incredibly good. I can't even describe it in any other way. It's so great!

How to Say Goodbye in Robot

author: Natalie Standiford

published: October 1st 2009

publisher: Scholastic Press

format: hardcover

pages: 276

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.com

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I absolutely love this cover. It caught my attention immediately; it's not often you see a bright, hot pink cover. And the phone dangling on the side? That just piqued my interest even more. I soon read a review by Maggie Stiefvater on the book and I finally got my hands on it. My favorite part about the cover is not actually the cover itself. It's how the cover makes its way inside the book. The monthly dividers inside the book are on HOT pink paper. It looks awesome! And a few pages in the beginning and one in the end are black. They look so cool! It's not a typical thing in books and it is way awesome! The phone also relates to the book. Which is cool.

The Book:

Amazing. How to Say Goodbye in Robot is about a girl, Bea, who is forced into a new school where she meets outcast Jonah, or Ghost Boy. Jonah hasn't had friends in a really long time and he lets her into his world very easily and Bea becomes closer to him than she has ever been to another person. Even family.

I have never read a book like this before. It is utterly original and completely touching. I became addicted to this book from the first page and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about Ghost Boy and Robot Girl. Wondering where they would go and how the book would end. It was fantastic. I highly recommend this to everyone, especially someone looking for a different, honest, unpredictable story about realistic teenagers.

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove

author: Lauren Kate

published: November 12th 2009

publisher: Penguin Books

format: paperback

pages: 235

The following synopsis comes from the back of the book!

What she wanted:

Natalie Hargrove wants one thing and one thing only- to be her high school's Palmetto Princess. Among the Southern Belles, a.k.a. Bambies, competing for the crown, she's by far the most beautiful, and the most deserving. Or so she thinks.

The catch:

Her boyfriend, Mike King, is on the brink of losing Palmetto Prince to Nat's nasty nemesis Justin Balmer. And let's just say Natalie and Justin have a history so shady it could wither flowers. Sure, Natalie could share the throne with Justin-over her dead body.

The trick:

So Nat convinces Mike to help her play a naughty little prank on Justin . . . just to make him look bad. Little do they know, their plan is about to go terribly, terribly wrong.

The fatal flaw:

Natalie and Mike desperately try to cover up what happened to Justin. But blackmail and buried desire, dark secrets and even darker deeds slowly begin to tear them apart. Because as it turns out, fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

This time, the cover is not what caught my interest. I had read Fallen by Lauren Kate and when I saw on her website that she had another novel, I decided to read it. The cover did not make me want to read it, but the synopsis did. The cover is not the type of cover I would pick out in a store and want to read, although it does make me wonder what the story is about. And then the title, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove definitely piqued my interest. The text on the cover looks really nice. I really like that the cover people used the two different fonts.

The Book:

Natalie Hargrove is the type of girl that I hate. She seems to have everything. The hot boyfriend, looks, popularity, and money, among other things. But she also has that, higher than thou attitude. She KNOWS that she's gorgeous and popular and she uses that and she treats people badly because she feels that she can. I usually don't even like to READ about this kind of girl. But Lauren Kate's writing of this story put me on Natalie's side. I was routing for her throughout the novel.

The prologue and epilogue are written as if they are talking to YOU. I love that, I think it helps the reader understand Nat more.

This story is nothing like I've ever experienced. As far as I am aware, my high school was not like this at all! It was fun to see into a society like that of Palmetto, especially through the eyes of the character Natalie. She was not always a part of this group and that could be a contributing factor to why I don't hate her completely. I think Natalie is a character that I hate to love. She puts so much into how her other people perceive her. Appearance and popularity are the most important things to her, which I, personally, just don't get.

It was really fun to see into this type of world, a world I will never belong in! But by reading it from Nat's point of view, I did belong, if only for a little while.

It was definitely worth reading.

The Snowball Effect

author: Holly Nicole Hoxter

published: March 23rd 2010

publisher: HarperTeen

format: Hardcover

pages: 368 pages

genre: fiction

The following synopsis comes from Holly's website.

Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to know about the people in her family just by letting you know how they died. Her reckless stepfather drove his motorcycle off the highway and caused the biggest traffic jam in years. Her long-suffering grandmother lived through cancer and a heart attack before finally succumbing to a stroke. And Lainey's mother--well, Lainey's mother hanged herself in the basement just days after Lainey's high school graduation.

Now Lainey's five-year-old brother is an orphan, and her estranged older sister is moving back home to be his guardian. Meanwhile, Lainey's boyfriend is thinking about having a family of their own, and her best friends are always asking the wrong sorts of questions and giving advice Lainey doesn't want to hear. As she tries to pull away from everything familiar, Lainey meets an intriguing new guy who, through a series of Slurpees, burgers, and snowballs, helps her to make peace with a parent she never understood.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I think this cover is adorable! It is definitely eye catching and I think most people have stacked cups before. So, that made me curious to what it was about. And it's clear from the title that things aren't going well and just "snowball" out of control. I think the cover shows that well. The stack is falling over. It would've been easy to have some winter scene on the cover, but this is original. I haven't seen a cover like it before.

The Book:

I don't usually go for books about a teenager with serious problems. I'd rather read about fictional series problems, like an entire world is at risk if she doesn't help them out. I think I prefer not to read about "real-life" situations. Lainey's mother died and that's something I don't even want to think about. The Snowball Effect was different, or at least not what I expected a book like this to be.

The book, despite its serious content, it made me laugh out loud. It has both drama and comedy, which I believe is important in any good novel. Too much of one thing gets old. This book was surprisingly funny. My favorite scenes involve crayons. ;)

Holly made me understand the characters, particularly Lainey, and I really cared about them. I wanted everything to work out from the beginning. Now, I suppose that's normal, but these characters were all so lovely and I eagerly made my way through it to find out what happens to them.

This is a great debut and I can't wait to see what else Holly Nicole Hoxter has in store!

Spells

author: Aprilynne Pike

published: May 4th 2010

series: Wings (book #2)

publisher: HarperTeen

format: hardcover

pages: 359

genre: fantasy

The following synopsis comes from Aprilynne Pike's website.

Sixth months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

The cover of Spells (above) most definitely fits with the Wings cover. I am all about coherent book covers. What I did not realize from the picture, is that, the tips of the flower on the lower corner are sticking out of water and are not glossy; they actually look as if they are sticking out of water. It's so cool!

The Story:

I fell in love with Laurel's story in Wings and I found Spells to be a great followup on her. She's a strong, independent girl that is facing many trials: her mother is distant, she has two boys after her heart, trolls are hunting her, she has to go to Avalon and learn how to be a Fall faerie, and much more.

My favorite part of Spells is the scenes in Avalon. The way Aprilynne Pike describes Avalon made me feel like I was there. I could feel the beauty of this magical place rolling off the pages penetrating my thoughts. It was so easy to see the wonder and beauty of this world and I truly wish it existed and, of course, that I was a Fall faerie like Laurel so I would be granted entry. Tamani is a nice bonus as well. She has created a vibrant world that I did not want to leave. I became fully enthralled with Avalon.

The story unfolds in a way that allows the reader to become attached to Avalon and, if the reader hasn't already, the characters. In Wings, Laurel did not go to Avalon, so the reader can't really appreciate the amount of protection that the Fae use in order to protect it. Spells allows readers to see into this world and become absorbed in it.

Laurel and David's relationship grow in this installment and it becomes evident why she chose David. Personally, I thought it was no contest: Tamani all the way! But, Spells gives more depth to both David and Tamani.

Spells is beautifully written and easy to read. I had so much fun in Laurel's world and I am DYING to see what happens next. I love the ending of Spells as it definitely sets up for Enchantments and leaves me yearning for more.

Fallen

author: Lauren Kate

published: December 8th 2009

series: Fallen (book #1)

publisher: Delacorte Press (An imprint of Random House Children's Books)

format: hardcover

pages: 452

genre: fantasy

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I think this cover is compelling. I saw it and thought it would be a book I'd like; and I was right. The cover makes sense to me having read it and I think it's beautifully done. It makes someone looking at it wonder: who is this girl? why is she upset? what is with the woods and the dress? So you read the inside flap or back cover to find out whatever you can; then you're hooked. I read about it and I had to read it, but I ordered it with other things, had to wait, then read the others first. I love this cover so much and I really hope the cover of the sequel is just as good as this one and has a similar theme. Because when it comes to book series, I like the covers to be cohesive. Sometimes they aren't! I'm going to post about series covers some time.

Anyway, I really love this cover.

The Book:

It begins with a quote. Personally, I like it when books begin with a quote from somewhere else. It usually gives the reader an idea of what the book is about or something that happens, without really giving you anything at all! This quote is from Heinrich Von Kleist "On The Puppet Theater". So, having not heard of this Henrich fellow, I googled him. Wikipedia says he "a German poet, dramatist, novelist and short story writer." I am intrigued and will probably read up on him some more.

The quote at the beginning of Fallen is this,

"But paradise is locked and bolted. . . .

We must make a journey around the world

to see if a back door has perhaps been left open."

I like this quote. I think it sets up the story nicely.

So, Fallen is about a girl named Luce (short for Lucinda) who finds her way into Sword & Cross reform school where she meets kids with issues and baggage that they don't want to share, which is fine with her; she doesn't want to share hers and more than they do.

It starts off with her getting to the school for the tour and she is already making a bad impression, she's late. She gets set up with Arriane to give her a tour and they quickly hit it off and she shows her the ropes. Now this would be a YA novel without some boys. She meets two that really stick in her mind: Cam & Daniel. Cam is cute, immediately nice to her and treats her well and she knows his intentions. While on the other side, there's Daniel. Also a resident cutie, but he's mean to her right off the bat. For some reason Luce is just drawn to him and can't stop thinking or dreaming about him.

Luce has to get used to life at Sword & Cross while also trying to avoid the shadows lurking around her. Then on top of that, she has to figure out which boy she really likes.

I find that Luce is quite mature, which I don't think is often the case in books like this one. She has obviously been through a lot and that comes across in both her actions and thoughts. I found this to be one of my favorite things about her. She uses her head, most of the time. The two boys were quite different in the way they treat Luce and that was very interesting to see.

Now, I have to mention, Luce does have female friends, so this isn't purely male driven relationships. Arianne and Penn quickly become the girls that Luce trusts and hangs out with; her best friends at Sword & Cross. They show her the ropes and help her out with her admirers. Watching her relationship with these girls develop was just as intriguing as that with Cam and Daniel.

I was hooked from the beginning and could NOT put this book down and when I did have to, I thought about it. I still am thinking about it! It's one of those books that gives me this feeling in my gut that I just can't shake even after I've read it. (I got the same one with The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Shiver among a few others. Those are the ones I can think of at the moment)

I highly recommend this book. I loved it and am eagerly awaiting the sequel, Torment which hits stores (according to Goodreads) September 2nd 2010 or (according to Amazon) October 26th 2010! Amazon is probably the more reliable, but we will see how it pans out.

Five out of five stars.

Captivate

author: Carrie Jones

published: January 5th 2010

series: Need (book #2)

publisher: Bloomsbury

format: hardcover

pages: 273

genre: fantasy

The following synopsis comes from Goodreads.

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I really like this cover; I think I like it more than the cover of Need. I think that, having read Captivate, the cover works really well with the story. It's beautiful!

The Book:

It took me a little while to finally get into it. I don't know why, because it was action packed from the beginning! But once I finally got into it I couldn't put it down. I read most of it in one day and throughly enjoyed where Carrie Jones took the characters.

I sort of wish I had reread Need because as I started reading Captivate, I found myself trying to remember what happened in Need and where it left off. I quickly began remembering things and even more as I read on, but it might have been beneficial to read Need again! (I try to do that with sequels)

Zara is forced to make important decisions that effect her future and the lives of others around her. She is selfless and tries to do everything for everyone else, which is admirable. She goes through so much in this book in so little time and it's amazing how she keeps herself together and ready to go the next step.

There are new characters introduced in Captivate that really add to feeling that things are changing. We also see a bit more of Mrs. Nix, whom I love dearly! Devyn and Issie are ever present and add a bit of normalcy to the story. Issie goes through things that are completely normal for teens! And that brings the reader back to the feeling that this story could happen. It's full of normal people going through paranormal events.

I feel that this was a good sequel. Not as good as Need, but definitely a great follow up, and even better set up for what is yet to come. Which there hopefully is something else coming, and soon.

Four out of five stars.

The Iron King

author: Julie Kagawa

published: February 1st 2010

publisher: Harlequin Teen

format: paperback

pages: 363

genre: fantasy

The following synopsis comes from Julie Kagawa's official website.

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY- ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED...

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth- that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy hear.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I absolutely LOVE this cover! It is so gorgeous. I find that it accurately represents The Iron King. I love that the title is raised and that the vines or thorns stem from it and are also raised up. It's so fun to touch! The cover is just beautiful.

Another awesome thing about the physical appearance of the book, is that on each of the chapter openings there is a border-type thing like the vines or thorns on the front. And then, on the pages where the different parts are separated (the book has three parts) the same vines or thorns (or maybe it's iron) are around the edges of the page, but even more so than the chapters. I think that's a really nice touch. It makes the inside pretty!

The Book:

I am a HUGE fan of the Fae. Faeries are officially my favorite mythical creature, so I am predisposed to want to LOVE The Iron King. The thing I like about books that are about mythical creatures is that they often all have a similar (if not the same) basic mythology behind it. The folklore is often the same. And I love seeing how different authors can take the same creatures and the same basic backstory and make completely different stories out of it.

The Iron King is (basically) about a girl named Meghan Chase who doesn't fit in and goes on an adventure to save her brother. Meghan is such a strong girl. She will do anything for those that she loves and I think that is admirable. On this adventure she meets many characters and they are amazing! The characters are all different and all lovable in their own ways. Puck brings a comedic feel to the story making stressful situations a bit less stressful. Grimalkin is a funny little guy. He's exactly as a talking cat should be. Then there's Ash. Swoon! He's gorgeous, he's dangerous, and he's actually quite sweet.

I love that I recognized some of the characters from A Midsummer Night's Dream. That was an awesome bonus to this story. I am a huge fan of the play and seeing those characters here, in a new light, was awesome!

The Iron King is such a compelling story and I can't stop thinking about it. I laughed a lot, smiled plenty, and cried a little bit. I was completely engulfed by it and couldn't put it down. I had to know what would happen next.

The Iron King gets five out of five stars!

The sequel, The Iron Daughter, hits stores in August 2010.

Here is the beautiful book trailer for The Iron King.

Beautiful Creatures

author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

published: December 1st 2009

publisher: Little, Brown and Company

format: Hardcover

pages: 563

genre: fantasy

The following synopsis comes from the official Beautiful Creatures website

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

This is a beautiful cover. It is the first thing I noticed about the book and it grabbed my attention immediately. The text for the title is unlike any I've seen before. I love that the title is in a unique font as well as purple and shiny. The title is the focal point on the cover which is not usually the case. At least I don't think it is. The picture is trees. They are shiny silver, but not at all overpowering. The entire outside of the book is shiny. And I really like that. I think it's a good attention getter. I saw this cover and needed to know what the book was about, and with a name like Beautiful Creatures I was hooked.

The Book:

I was a little worried because the book is 563 pages. The last book I read that was that long was a Harry Potter book (and now Anna Karenina) and it was not the first in a series. I wasn't sure if it would drag on or if it would all be worth it. It was all worth it.

This is a unique world with great characters that I wanted to see succeed. Lena is an outsider and Ethan is not, but he doesn't really feel like he completely belongs. Ethan befriends her and together they go on an adventure where they learn about themselves and their past. It's an exciting story that takes the reader into a different world.

I was surprised that the book is told from Ethan's point of view. I was expecting it to be "the girl" mentioned on the inside flap, because many, if not all, of the fantasy/sci-fi romantic books I've read have been told from a female perspective. I found this to be refreshing. I really enjoyed reading from his side of everything.

I highly recommend Beautiful Creatures.

One more thing that I LOVED about this story is that on the website for the book you can download two songs (well, two versions of the same song-Sixteen Moons) that Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl wrote for the book. It is featured in the book and you can listen to it all the way at the bottom of the home page of the Beautiful Creatures website.

This is the trailer for the book:

Love Is Hell

published: November 25th 2008

publisher: HarperTeen

format: Paperback

pages: 272

genre: fantasy

Love is Hell is an anthology written by five, well-known young adult authors. They include Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Scott Westerfeld (Uglies), Justine Larbalestier (Liar), Gabrielle Zevin (I Was A Teenage Amnesiac) and Laurie Faria Stolarz (Deadly Little Secret).

The following (partial) synopsis comes from Amazon.com:

Sure, love is hell. But it,s totally worth it.

From two students who let the power of attraction guide them to break the hard-and-fast rules of their world to the girl who falls hard for a good-looking ghost with a score to settle, the clever, quirky characters in this exciting collection will break your heart, then leave you believing in love more than ever.

The following synopses come from me.

Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz

This one is about a girl named Brenda who is having realistic nightmares about a boy who she soon finds out is actually the boy who lived in her house and was murdered in it 20 years before. He's been watching her and needs her help with something. Turns out, he's really there in ghost form, but he can only be seen by her in her dreams. They go on a little journey to allow him to move on, but their relationship develops in unexpected ways.

Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld

This story is a futuristic fantasy that explores the possibility of no health issues, transporters so no one needs to go outside, no raging, teenage hormones. They do however have a class called Scarcity were they learn about the old days when people got colds and had to deal with an annoying little activity known as sleep. The class has a project where they choose something from those days to live and Kieran and Maria choose projects that unexpectedly intertwine where they learn about themselves as well.

Thinner Than Water by Justine Larbalestier

This short story takes place in a town where the villagers live, for the most part, without technology and no one really leaves the town. They have 'trial' marriages beginning at the age of sixteen. Jeannie and Robbie have a 'trial' marriage and everyone is against it saying he's an outsider because he wasn't born there, they believe he's different. That he's a faerie.

Fan Fictions by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a different sort of vampire love story about a girl named Paige and a boy named Aaron. There isn't really much else to say. You'd have to read it.

Love Struck by Melissa Marr

This story is about Selkies. What are Selkies? They're seals that can shed their 'Other-Skin' and look like very beautiful humans. What happens to their 'Other-Skin'? Well, if a human happens upon the skin of the opposite sex they become mates.

My Thoughts:

The Cover:

I think this cover is appropriate for the book. It's fiery and pink! The fire part is very muchshowing the 'hell' part and the pink all for the love. And I really like the heart locket in the center of the cover. It gives us a focal point and it catches my eye. It very much 'goes' with its predecessor Prom Nights From Hell (2007) [right] which includes the authors Meg Cabot (Princess Diaries), Kim Harrison (Once Dead, Twice Shy), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (TTYL). It has the same concept, but the 'theme' is prom, obviously.

The Book:

I really like short stories and this book has five! So, because there are five different stories, I'll discuss each one briefly.

Sleeping with the Spirit I enjoyed this story because I have not read very many love stories where one of the lovers is actually a ghost. It was original and lovely.

Stupid Perfect World This story was completely original. It was not what I would have expected in this book, but it was what I would think of as a Scott Westerfeld story. It was futuristic and strange, but relatable as well.

Thinner than Water At first, I wasn't completely sold. I didn't know what to expect, but I quickly became attached to the character of Jeannie and wanted her to be happy and get it right. It was a bit of a heart-wrenching story.

Fan Fictions This story may look like a typical, predictable vampire story that you've seen a thousand of, but it's not. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and really empathize with Paige and her experiences with her friends and Aaron.

Love Struck I am a huge mermaid fan and while I know that Selkies are not mermaids, they are similar. This starts out as a creepy feeling story and quickly turns into what the anthology is all about, Love being Hell.

Vacations from Hell (2009) includes the authors Libba Bray (Going Bovine), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Claudia Gray (Evernight), Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), and Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks)

I will be reading it and posting a review in the near future.

I just don't know exactly when. So stay tuned...