Juliet- Anne Fortier

Twenty-five-year-old Julie Jacobs is heartbroken over the death of her beloved Aunt Rose. But the shock goes even deeper when she learns that the woman who has been like a mother to her has left her entire estate to Julie’s twin sister. The only thing Julie receives is a key—one carried by her mother on the day she herself died—to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy.
   
This key sends Julie on a journey that will change her life forever—a journey into the troubled past of her ancestor Giulietta Tolomei. In 1340, still reeling from the slaughter of her parents, Giulietta was smuggled into Siena, where she met a young man named Romeo. Their ill-fated love turned medieval Siena upside-down and went on to inspire generations of poets and artists, the story reaching its pinnacle in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
   
But six centuries have a way of catching up to the present, and Julie gradually begins to discover that here, in this ancient city, the past and present are hard to tell apart. The deeper she delves into the history of Romeo and Giulietta, and the closer she gets to the treasure they allegedly left behind, the greater the danger surrounding her—superstitions, ancient hostilities, and personal vendettas. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in the unforgettable blood feud, she begins to fear that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is destined to be its next target. Only someone like Romeo, it seems, could save her from this dreaded fate, but his story ended long ago. Or did it?

In my opinion, this book is an easy 5/5
I'll be honest- The only reason I read this book was because it was Romeo and Juliet. I'm a sucker for that story. I wasn't expecting much out of it. "Modern day Romeo and Juliets" are usually too similar for my taste. However, this book was different. It focuses mainly on versions of the story that came before Shakespeare's famous play. In this version, Romeo and Juliet aren't whiny little kids that randomly fell in love. There's a story.
Julie and her twin sister Janice are orphaned when they are young and adopted by their great aunt and moved from Sienna, Italy to West Virginia. Their great aunt dies when they are 25 and leaves Janice her entire estate, but only leaves Julie a key to a safe deposit box in Sienna that belonged to her mother. She's told her name is really  Guilietta Tolomei and that whatever is in the deposit box was very important to her mother and could contain a fortune. So, with nothing to lose, she sets off for Italy and meets Eva Maria Salimbeni along the way, who makes such a big deal over her name that she insists on accommodating her in any way she needs, including volunteering her godson, Alessandro Santini, to take care of those needs. Guilietta and Alessandro hate each other from the start.
Alessandro aside, she gets to the safe deposit box and finds it filled with notes and stories and genealogy from a Guilietta Tolomei and Romeo Marescotti from the 13th century- The true story of Romeo and Juliet! Mystery and adventure unfolds as Guilietta digs in to the past and finds some interesting things out about her famous ancestors- Including a curse on her family. Now she must set things right, or at least make sense of it. But she's not the only one interested in her findings. She soon becomes the target of a deadly stalker and those who want to use her.

I would really recommend this book if you like romance, fairy tales, books like The DaVinci Code, or just looking for something good to read. I guarantee you'll love it.

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars






Jacket Description:

If a sudden attack destroyed the only world you'd ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there's no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home fifteen-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend, Kieran, will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure that he's the best choice. Still, there's a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the sky, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly's dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable- a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon's leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and they find themselves at the helms of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and the decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

First and foremost, this book was an emotional roller coaster. One moment you're plunged into total despair, the next moment your bursting with excitement, and the moment after that you're going "get them, get them!". I love books like this one, that really pull you in.

The story circulates around two main characters: Waverly and Kieran. Kieran and Waverly are the first male and female conceived in deep space. Now at 16 (Kieran), and 15 (Waverly), they are in a relationship, and are being pressured to get married and have children (to help carry on the human race while Waverly is at her most fertile). Unfortunately, on the day Kieran proposes, the sister ship to the ship they are on attacks, stealing all the young girls. It becomes clear that the sister ship, The New Horizon has had a problem with fertility, and they don't want to die out. Now Waverly must help lead the other girls through the trials and tribulations that await them. In the meantime, Kieran must deal with the insanity on the home ship, all while trying to help find and save the girls.

Based on the jacket description ("she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth" and "she and her boyfriend, Kieran, will be pioneers for the New Earth"), I kind of expected some romance in this story. Yeah... not so much. There was a little, don't get me wrong, but nothing at all like the jacket makes it out to be. The thing with Seth? Wait, what thing with Seth? That's right, no thing with Seth. And Kieran? The romance there didn't really ring true to me, to be honest. I wonder how it would have sounded with Seth. Maybe I'll find out in the next book. Maybe not.

But aside from the lack of anticipated romance, this really was a great science fiction novel. It's creative and believable (in the context of the book). I would recommend it to any YA Sci-Fi lover.

Amy Kathleen Ryan's Official Website: http://www.amykathleenryan.com

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Fateful by Claudia Gray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars







Jacket Description:

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It's 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they're sailing on-the RMS Titanic- reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He's in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it's because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously...

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec's past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him- and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic's first- and last- voyage.

To start off with, I had extremely high expectations for this novel. I loved the Evernight series, and I am a huge Titanic geek. When I heard this book was coming out, I could hardly wait. That being said, this book was awesome. My only complaint was that the Titanic itself played a minimal role. The fact that the story took place on the Titanic only meant that you knew that the characters were going to have to face the sinking- other than that, the story could have been set anywhere that the division between social classes was clear. Aside from that, this book lived up to my expections all the way.

To start off, I have to say that I loved, loved, loved the main character, Tess. She was amazingly persistent, independent, self-reliant, and intelligent. That is something that a lot of novels unfortunately leave out. Tess isn't scared off easily... she's far too persistant for that.
I also loved Alec- Tess's love interest in the story. Alec is interesting, complex and very personable. Despite the fact that he is a werewolf, Alec's character is still believable and as realistic as a werewolf first-class passenger can be.

I also enjoyed many of the other characters in the story, including Irene, Ned and Mikhail. Through these characters, Claudia Gray proves yet again that she is highly talented in writing interesting sub-plots along with her main plot.

I would highly recommend this to any paranormal YA lover, but I would warn any die-hard Titanic fan that the Titanic is not primarily featured throughout the story. I would still recommend it none the less.

Claudia Gray's Official Website: http://www.claudiagray.com

P.S. Sorry it's been so long since we all posted last. It's been a crazy month, but we hope to get more reviews up soon! Thanks!

All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Jacket Description:

Temptation Treachery Passion

Haven Moore fled to Rome a year ago, leaving behind the Ouroboros Society and its diabolical leader, Adam Rosier. Now she's back in New York City with her beloved Iain. But Iain's supposed to be dead. And if they blow his cover, Adam won't give them any second chances.

Meanwhile, Beau Decker is missing. His life rests in Haven's hands. The Horae, a group of mystical sisters, hold the key to Beau's fate. They want to lock Adam away forever, and Haven is his only weakness. To save Beau, Haven must seduce Adame and lure him into the Horae's lair.

But Adam Rosier has always had a funny way of seducing her. And the closer Haven gets to her enemy, the more she succumbs to his spell. Beau's life hangs in the balance- but this time, Haven can't even trust herself. Every decision she makes will shape her destiny.

How far will she go for the people she loves?

All You Desire was everything I look for in a sequel. It was a realistic continuation to the previous novel, The Eternal Ones, and it pulled together strong characters, strong plots, strong settings, and strong emotions. It also threw in many surprising plot twists, that left me wondering who to trust, and who to believe in. This book had me so emotionally attached to it, that I had to stop reading it at some spots and tell myself "Breathe, Brandi. It's just a book. An awesome book, but it's still just a book."

So, onto my [spoiler free] summary of the story:

*Warning: This summary assumes you have read the Eternal Ones. Some minor spoilers for the Eternal Ones might be included in this summary

All You Desire begins with Haven and Iain living out their fantasy in Rome. But that fantasy is quickly disrupted when Haven's best friend, Beau, goes missing after he travels to New York to find his soul mate. Haven, desperate to find and save her best friend, goes back to New York, and there the main plot unfolds. Haven finds herself caught up between to ancient forces in her quest to find and save Beau: Adam Rosier, the man/demon who has been trying to make Haven his wife for the better part of two millenia, and the Horae, a group of 12 sisters who are determined to destroy Adam. Haven is in over her head more than she realizes, but she's willing to do anything to save Beau (besides give up Iain, that is).

All You Desire ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I can't wait for the third book. Kirsten Miller does such an amazing job of pulling you into her story and never letting you go. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who loves YA Paranormal Romance.

Kirsten Miller's website: www.theeternalones.com

We Took The Pledge To Just Say No To Illegal eBook Downloads

Hey everyone,

As many of you probably know, illegal downloading of eBooks is a huge problem right now. Hundreds of thousands of copies of books are being stolen from authors and publishers. It's depressing to hear about, because it is a big factor in the publishing industry's current slump. It can also keep authors from getting series extension contracts, which means no more of our favorite books and characters. But we can help stop illegal eBook downloading by taking the pledge to never illegally download, or accept illegally downloaded eBooks, and by spreading the word that it is stealing and it is wrong.

On the left side of the page, you will find a button saying "This Blog is Free of Illegal eBook Reviews. It looks like this:

By clicking on the button in the sidebar to your left, you will be taken to "Just Say No To Illegal eBook Downloads", a blog that shares information about illegal eBook downloads and their consequences. The URL is http://www.saynotoebookpiracy.blogspot.com.

We here at Wisdom From A Teenage Bookworm swore to never write a review of a book that was obtained by illegal methods, and we hope you will, too. Just Say No To Illegal eBook Downloads also has buttons saying "I Said No To Illegal eBook Downloads" (that you can put on your personal blog/ website), and "Illegal eBook Downloading is STEALING" (that you can also put on your personal blog/ website or anywhere really, to help spread the word about illegal eBook downloads).

We hope you take the pledge, and read on! :D

Breaking Rank by Kristen D. Randle

Breaking Rank by Kristen D. Randle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Jacket Description:

Thus does the Clan speak

To Baby, the outside world is a cold and lonely place. The silent, enigmatic group that calls itself the Clan is his home, and he has been scorned and feared by classmates and neighbors. Like the rest of the Clan, he has never before participated in school. It's up to Casey to see to it that Baby isn't alone when he's the only Clan member to be placed in honors classes. But what Baby is doing threatens Clan and non-Clan alike, and it isn't long before Baby's and Casey's familiar worlds are shattered.

I started reading this book for English class, but I finished it way before I had to. This book is amazing-it pulls you right in! The main idea behind the story is that Baby Brother "Baby" is in a group called the Clan. The Clan never participates in any school work, and barely attends enough to keep out of truancy court. But Baby takes tests that show that he should be in honors classes. In order to bring him up to speed, a teacher assigns his tutor to be a girl named Casey, who is the kind, compassionate, I-can-help-save-the-world kind of girl. She and Baby have nothing in common, yet they become friends, and as Casey and Baby's relationship hovers on the edge of friendship and something more, Baby and Casey's seperate worlds will try to step in to stop them. This book is fantastic for anyone who loves YA Romance, and a bit of independence :)

Marley & Me by John Grogan

John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.

Rating 5/5

I only read this because I remember way back in third grade, this book made my best friend [who, at the time cried like a stone] cry. Honestly, it made me cry too.
First, the tears were tears of laughter. John Grogan tells the story of one of the most worst behaved dogs in the world, so of course there's a fair amount of hilarity. Marley got in to all sorts of things, ate things he definitely shouldn't have, pulled his owners on his walks, got kicked out of obedience school, and destroyed the house when thunder storms hit. But, despite his misgivings, he was a great family dog. He didn't eat any of the 3 babies as they came home, he followed everyone everywhere even when he got arthritis in his hips to the point he could barely walk anymore, and stood guard the night John rushed to help a stab victim.
But, John Grogan tells the story of life with Marley, from beginning to end. Eventually everything dies, and Marley followed that rule. By that time in the book, I was unknowingly attached to Marley. I started reading the book knowing he would die at the end, yet I found myself hoping it would turn out different.

I think this book could be recommended for anyone. It's funny, serious, sad, and real. You don't even have to like dogs [I'm not very fond of them].

Torment by Lauren Kate

Torment by Lauren Kate

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Jacket Description:

How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for?

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?

The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series... where love never dies.

When I read the first novel in the Fallen series, I couldn't put it down. It was amazing. So when I heard this one was coming out I was exteremely excited. When I got Torment I flew through it, unable to put it down. I absolutely loved it! I thought that the twists in the plot and development of the characters were amazing. I really felt that Luce matured in this novel. As for the story itself...Luce, after learning that she has had many past lives and finding her fallen angel love, Daniel, now has to leave Daniel for eighteen agonizing days while Daniel and their enemy, Cam must work together to protect Luce from The Outcasts, a group of reject fallen angels that neither Heaven nor Hell will accept.

To keep Luce safe while Daniel and Cam are out, Luce goes to a Californian bording school, Shoreline. Here Luce makes two new close friends, Shelby and Miles, who both are Nephilium, or a mix between angels and humans (most commonly angel dad, human mother). Now that Luce is at Shoreline she learns more about her past lives, how to view them, and more about secrets that have been hidden from her. During all of this, Luce seems to constantly be thrown into harm's way, and is constantly dodging danger. She also seems to feel confusion as to whether or not Daniel is on the side of good or on the side of evil. But honestly, from the way Luce acts, talks and thinks about Daniel, I don't think she really cares. That's blind love for you. True love, but still blind love. These small things aren't the worst of Luce and Daniel's worries, not by far. The Outcasts are gathering an army, and they seemed dead set on getting Luce, even if that means stealing her right out of Daniel's protective embrace. All in all, this is a great novel that I'd recommend to anyone, and also, fair warning, this novel ends in a cliffhanger, so you might want to have the next book, Passion, nearby so you can begin it right away!

Lauren Kate's Official Website: www.laurenkatebooks.net

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






Jacket Description:

In less than twenty-four hours I'll be seventeen.

Although, technically, I won't actually be turning seventeen. I've been in the Nevernever too long. When you're in Faery, you don't age. So while a year has passed in the real world, agewise I'm probably only a few days older than when I went in.

In real life, I've changed so much I don't even recognize myself.

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. that my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of a conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

THIS TIME,
THERE WILL BE NO TURNING BACK.

The Iron Queen was quite possibily my favorite in the Iron Fey series so far (not yet having read The Iron Knight...), and there are many reasons for that.

1.) The character development in this novel was incredible. Each character grew in a very pronounced way throughout the novel. Meghan, our half-fey, half-human heroine learns more about her abilities, and grows as she learns how to defend herself (with the help of the ever charming Ash). Ash, our brooding, exiled Winter Prince, begins to realize what it means to let someone you love come into their own, and he also makes many important decisions that will alter his future course permanently. Puck, our prankster of a summer fey, finds himself standing up more for what he believes in, and he finds himself gathing a more serious look on life.

2.) The story itself was fast-paced and exciting. The novel was unpredictable, and presented us with many surprises. I enjoy this in a novel. I hate when a book is too predictable- it takes the fun out of reading it. Julie Kagawa did a good job of presenting her story in a way that made you feel the burning desire to go out and get book 4... now.

3.) Meghan and Ash are one of the most amazing couples ever. I say this in reference to the relationship they have with each other. While yes, a lot of the time Ash is overprotective (which I must say is kind of adorable), he still respects Meghan, and doesn't act like she some incompetent damsel in distress. Also, Meghan shows how much she truly cares for Ash in many stunningly unselfish moments throughout the novel.

4.) Julie Kagawa writes incredibly well. The writing itself is engaging and entertaining. I love all her books so far, and I'm sure she won't dissapoint with The Iron Knight.

All in all, I would most certainly recommend it to any paranormal ya lover.

Jule Kagawa's Official Website: www.juliekagawa.com

When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Jacket Description:

When you find something real, everything else falls into place...

Seniors in high school, Sara and Tobey couldn't be more different. She is focused on getting into her first-choice college; he wants to win Battle of the Bands. Sara's other goal is to find true love, so when Dave, a popular jock, ask her out, she's thrilled. But then there's Tobey. His amazing blue eyes and quirky wit always creep into her thoughts. Lucky for Sara, one of Tobey's goals is also to make her fall in love with him. Told in alternating points of view, Sara and Tobey's real connection will have everyone rooting for them from the minute they meet!

I picked up When it Happens by Susane Colasanti not sure if I would like it or not. It's not a paranormal romance novel (my favorite kind of novel) and was reality based (which is not something I look for in a book- I mean, my personal reason for reading is to escape reality), but I figured, it's best to step outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to try something new, and this looked interesting. When I read it I was surprised by how relatable the characters were. Most realistic teen novels are written by adults who seem to have lost exactly what it feels like to be a teenager (another reason I usually don't care for them), but this one felt very relatable. I myself am a nerd, and Sara seemed like a real person to me. The dialogue and writing wasn't forced, and I found myself fighting to put it down for dinner.

As for the story itself...We have two main characters in this novel, whose prospectives go back and forth. Their names (if you haven't already read the description of the book) are Sara Tyler and Tobey Beller. Sara is considered a nerd, while Tobey is considered a slacker, and Sara has big plans for her future, while Tobey doesn't really have anything in mind. These characters seem like many of the people I currently go to school with. And the nerd going out with the popular jock? Been there, done that. I know how annoying they can be, and felt that Colasanti hit the target with that one. As for Tobey...well, I am not a boy, so I don't know if Tobey's thoughts were like those of a boy. I do, however, know that Colasanti convinced me while I was reading that she knew exactly what she was doing while writing Tobey's sections. Also, when reading some reviews for this novel, I found that some people felt it was confusing from the switching of POVs. But really, every other chapter is each character...(ex. Ch.1 Sara, Ch.2 Tobey, Ch.3 Sara, Ch.4 Tobey)...and even though their names are not listed, each of them has a different font for their chapter, and you can tell within the first few sentences by who they were hanging out with. I didn't find the novel confusing at all. I would certainly recommend it to anyone, especially the people who don't usually read novels like this. Susane Colasanti and Sarah Dessen have brought me a little out of my paranormal shell, and maybe they can do the same for you :D

Susane Colasanti's Official Website: www.susanecolasanti.com

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





Jacket Description:

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

I picked up the novel the Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade because of it's cover. It looked interesting and humorous. After reading the summary of it, I quickly got the book...and absolutely loved it!

The story is about Alona Dare, the sterotypical queen bee whom everyone reading the story would immediately recognize as the arrogant, self-centered, cold-hearted cheerleader. Yes, we all know the sterotype. But when Alona is hit by a school bus full of "band geeks" (which irks Alona to no end) the homecoming queen's days of ruling the school are through. Alona then goes on to do what most ghosts seem to do...go see their own funeral. During this Alona is pleased by the amount of people mourning her...but she's in for a shock. When she returns to the school, she sees that, in fact, no one is mourning her. Her best friend has even taken over her boyfriend, making out with him in the hall. Yes, karma gave the ice-queen a new look on school. But just as Alona is about to have a major break-down she sees Will Killian, a gothic social nobody, who is looking straight at her and laughing. It doesn't take Alona long to put two and two together and figure out that Will can see her. And here is where the book gets good. It's a new take on cheerleader-and-bad-boy.

Will, who thinks Alona is getting exactly what she deserves has secretly been harboring a crush on her since the sixth grade. And Alona is about to see that maybe popularity isn't everything and that the social outcasts may be more true than the group she hung out with. Aside from their relevations, the two are presented with many challenges, including keeping Alona from vanishing (not moving on, just evaporating), dealing with a ghost that can harm both Will and Alona, attempts to get Will confined and much more. The subject may not be a new one, but the story was cute, humorous, and has left me waiting for Queen of the Dead, the sequel to the Ghost and the Goth. All in all, I recommend this to all paranormal romance lovers!

Stacey Kade's Official Website: www.staceykade.com

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars





Jacket Description:

There's something about the new guy at Crossroads High...

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him.

One can time-travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can tell the future.
And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die.

He's so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late...

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendshipt. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist. Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger- but not everyone will come out alive...

I really enjoyed this book. It started out a little bit slow, for the first couple of chapters, but then really picked up speed. The story circles around four people (or eight if you want to include the people in Aden's head). Those people are a vampire named Victoria, a werewolf named Riley, a guy who has four souls in his head named Aden, and a girl who negates Adens powers when she's around him named Mary Ann.

This novel starts with an introduction to Aden, who has a time-traveling soul (named Eve), a physic soul (named Elijah), a necromancer (someone who raises the dead) soul (named Julian) and a soul who can possess human bodies (named Caleb). Together these characters have been through mental institutions and juvie. But when Aden gets to a new town, he meets Mary Ann who silences the souls in his head, for reasons that neither of them know. The synopsis of this novel makes it out like Aden and Mary Ann are going to be a couple, but Aden is too busy falling in love with Victoria, and Mary Ann is too busy falling in love with Riley. But things get even more complicated from there. Victoria and Riley (Riley is Victoria's personal guard...so yeah, there's some conflict of interest there) are in this town because when Aden and Mary Ann met a physic bond went out and put the supernatural world in a state of torture for a few brief moments.

Now the entire supernatural world wants to know who caused the bond and how to either a.)take control of that power or b.)get revenge on the people who created that bond. The Vampires and their Werewolf guards were no exception. But now Victoria wants no harm to come to Aden and Riley is very protective of Mary Ann. The rest of the supernatural world is still gunning for Aden and Mary Ann (who must stop them from harming the human population in their town and killing them), and so the main plot is born. All in all, I found this to be a very interesting and unique novel. I loved the double romances and action sequences. A must read.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Jacket Description:

Rule #3: Don't Stare at invisible faeries.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. When the rules that have kept Aislinn safe from them stop working, everything is suddenly on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first century faery tale.

I loved the novel Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. It was very interesting and I loved how it didn't follow only one character. This story has three (or four depending on how you look at it) major characters, Keenan (the summer king), Donia (the winter girl), Aislinn "Ash" (the mortal) and (this is the debatable one), Seth (Aislinn's mortal best friend and love interest). The main character is Aislinn, who is one of the few mortals who can see the faeries that live among us in our world. For Aislinn's protection, the grandmother (Grams) sets forth some rules: 1. Don't Ever Attract their Attention, 2. Don't Speak to Invisible Faeries, 3. Don't Stare at Invisible Faeries. But all of these rules are about to be broken (Without Aislinn even trying to break them).

When Aislinn attracts the attention of Keenan, the Summer King who is desperately searching for the Summer Queen, things start changing in ways she could have never imagined. To help her deal with this fae mess is her best (and protective) best friend Seth. Seth is eager to have Aislinn finally be upfront and honest with him, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Keenan and the rest of the fae away from Aislinn. But Keenan is not the greatest danger. The Winter Queen, Beira, is forcing Donia, the unwilling Winter Girl, to go against Keenan, whom she loves. But even that is not the greatest danger. The greatest danger is Beira's determination to keep Winter in control of Summer, and therefore keeping Keenan away from his queen (whom he will find among the mortals). Beira is afraid that Aislinn might truly be the Lost Summer Queen, and is determined to keep Aislinn away from Keenan (not that Aislinn needs any convincing to stay away from him) and is even willing to kill her is it means protecting Winter's Reign. Meanwhile, Aislinn and Seth have got there work cut out for them, not only are they trying to save Aislinn, but they are also working out a newly found love for each other. This book was a major page turner, and is packed with romance, suspense, fantasy, and thrills! I would highly recommend this novel to any fae/ya romance lovers!

Melissa Marr's Official Website: www.melissa-marr.com

My Soul To Take By Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






Jacket Description:

Something Is Wrong With Kaylee Cavanaugh

She doesn't see dead people but...

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next...

Soul Screamers: The last thing you hear before you die

One of the first things that caught my eye about the book My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent was that it was about banshees, or bean sidhes as they're referred to in the book. In a time when ya literature is swarmed with vampire novels (which I do love)and other paranormal activity, it was nice to find a novel that brought a new subject into the light. Never before had I read a book about Banshees. And I was amazed by this one (I'm a new banshee fan!). This story is about Kaylee Cavanaugh, who is slowly discovering that she is a Banshee. The story continues as she catches the attention of Nash Hudson, a very popular (though surprisingly sensitive) jock. Nash seems to know a lot about what's wrong with Kaylee. He helps her (along with Kaylee's best friend Emma) as they discover that something terrible is happening to teenage girls in their area. And all signs point to the Netherworld, a frightening place that is like an alternate reality where demons roam. As the tension goes on the stakes get higher. Any girl could be next...including Kaylee or Emma. This book was packed with action, romance and thrills and I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal romance (but perhaps is looking for something fresh).

Rachel Vincent's Official Website: www.rachelvincent.com

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

 Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

Rating 5/5

Amber was switched at birth. That wouldn't be such a big deal if her biological family hadn't lost the girl she was switched with to cancer and wanted to contact her. She wants nothing to do with them. However, when they take it to court, they win joint custody- 6 months with her family in Oregon, 6 months with her biological parents in Texas. Her family gets the first turn of 6 months, but she never wants to leave. The day before she leaves for Texas, she spends an entire day at the beach making it the best day ever. But early in the morning, she meets a boy at an aquarium and the instantly hit it off. They spend the day together and fall in love, but he's also there for his own day before.
Day before what? Well, read to find out.

Honestly though, I was surprised to open the book and see it was all poetry. At first I thought it was one of those poems at the front of the book, which I usually skip if it doesn't grab my attention immediately. After turning 3 pages, I realized I had to suck it up and read it [I was in the mood for a good old fashioned novel with sentences >.>] It didn't take too long to forget it was poetry :) I suggest it for those who don't want to read a forever long book. It only took me about an hour to read, but it wasn't lacking. Usually when you find a short book there is so much more the author needed to do with it. This, fortunately, wasn't the case :)

Black Bird by Sakurakoiji Kanoko

My rating: 5/5

Black Bird isn't a novel, it's a manga. So, if you want to read a novel, go look at one of the other reviews.

Black Bird is about a 16 year old girl named Misao that is followed by spirits. [I think they are. They never truly say what they are.] They bother her, trip her, pull her hair, and make it impossible to be normal. Especially since she's the only one who can see them.The only thing that keeps her sane is knowing at one point, when she was 6, she wasn't the only one to see the things. Another boy did and he kept her safe from them. He promised to take care of her and come back for her so that someday she would be his bride. But she doesn't remember who he was or what he looked like, she just remembers his dark hair and his hand held out to her or on her head.
One day, she comes home from school to find someone in the vacant house next door. At first she thinks it's a girl and thinks that that girl is so beautiful, but then she realizes it's a man XD When the man sees her he says "Misao? Haven't seen you in a while." He reminds her that they use to play together and shoos the spirits before sending her home. She spends the evening and next day puzzling over it. The next day is her birthday and her crush at school invites her to speak with him. The spirits had been acting worse that day, so she really wasn't paying attention until he cuts her with a box cutter and informs her he's going to eat her. When he finds out that she hasn't the slightest clue why he'd want to eat her, he explains that she is the Senka Maiden. Basically, every 100 years a human is born who every demon will want to eat or bed. If they are to drink her blood, they will live longer. If they eat her, they will have eternal youth. But if they marry her [and impregnate her], their clan will have prosperity. So, of course her classmate, who is really a demon, wants to eat her. She screams out the man's name, Kyo, and he is immediately there to rescue her. He beats the demon easily [of course] and heals her wounds. He promises not to eat her, but gropes her and says "But these could be fit to eat." She slaps him and he's surprised and unhappy because, as he reminds her, he came back to marry her. He tells her her options are to marry and sleep with or get eaten and die.
What will she choose? :O
Jk, I've read up to book 8, I know what happens so far. But YOU don't, so you should read on :)
If you can't get a hold of any of the books, you can read it online here: http://www.mangachapter.net/2986/black-bird.html
 However, if physical copies are more of your cup of tea, I know that the Southwest/Columbus Public Libraries have up to books 1-5. [Online has books 1-7, it's just a little harder to tell what book you're on.]

I absolutely love it, and I think anyone else would too. It has romance, humor, twists, turns, and adventures :)

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Jacket Description:

A Romance You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into!

Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides- from vampire suitors who want to join her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?

Let the Drake family be your guide into a secret vampire society full of epic battles, gothic seduction, undead drama, and wicked humor.

I found Hearts at Stake to be quite an engaging novel. The characters were easy to get attached to. I loved the double romantic stories between Lucy and Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran. I actually found myself extremely attached to the character of Lucy, who, although she is the only human among the Drakes, is an extremely strong and amusing character. In the story we learn that the Drake family, a highly respected, yet exiled, family has the only female vampire ever born among them, Solange. Solange is said to fulfill a prophecy that frightens the current vampire "queen". Because of this, the Drakes then have to deal with the Helios-Ra, a vampire hunter organization. But no one expected Kieran, one of the hunters would become interested in Solange. Also, one of Solange's seven older (and extremely overprotective) brothers, Nicholas, becomes interested in Lucy (Solange's best friend), whom has never gotten along with Nicholas growing up. I loved the characters more than anything in this story! I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like an interesting vampire story.

Alyxandra Harvey's Official Website: www.alyxandraharvey.com
To purchase the novel through Barnes & Noble, click here.
To purchase the novel through Borders, click here.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Jacket Description:

then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is a wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment- a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

Maggie Stiefvater did an amazing job of concluding her trilogy with a novel that both gave the reader a satisfied feeling at the end of the novel without giving us an unbelievable story/ending.

I must admit that in the beginning, I wasn't entirely sure whether or not I liked Cole St. Clair. But throughout the series, I was also unsure of whether or not I liked Isabel Culpeper. Throughout Forever, however, I began to fall in love with them as a unit of sorts. Together (even though I wouldn't call them a steady couple), they brought out the best in each other. They redeemed the other person in my eyes.

As for our leads, I have always loved Sam and Grace. This novel made me love them even more. Their relationship is one that will last. They already have a kind of pattern that is good for future relationships. And I love that they actually do think ahead, unlike many couples in YA Romance novels (though I do still love those other couples :)

The novel itself was a page turner. I sat down and read the book in one sitting of just under four hours. (The book is 388 pages long, by the way). The suspense was great, and the actions and re-actions between the character made for rich, fascinating dialogue. I believe that Maggie Stiefvater deserves a round of applause for a great conclusion to her trilogy, and I can't wait to read her next book! :D

Maggie Stiefvater's offical website: http://www.maggiestiefvater.com
To purchase the novel through Barnes & Noble, click here.
To purchase the novel through Borders, click here.