{ The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter }

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

April 19, 2011 by Harlequin

Format: ebook

From Goodreads:

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...



My Review:

During the release of this book, there was a lot of hype in the book blogging world. I added it to my ever growing list of books to read like everyone else. I must say that enjoyed it. Now, I'm not sure that I loved it as much as some readers, but it is certainly a fun, light read. I will admit that I am not up on my Greek Mythology and really know very little. However, that aside, I felt like this book was more of a YA romance with a little Greek Mythology referenced. I would have expected these characters to be a little more dynamic, ruthless and in your face...I mean, they are Greek Gods! However, I realize that you have to put all that aside and take this book for what it truly is. Plain and simple. A YA romance. I would say it was enjoyable. Enough so that I look forward to the next book. I enjoyed the world building within the Goddess Test. It definitely takes on a whole new look at the afterlife and death. In that aspect this book is really quite good. Author Aimee Carter did a fantastic job of putting a different spin on it. Although, I do admit to being left a bit dazed and confused in the end...still not sure if that's good or bad.

Lets talk Characters. Kate. I really did enjoy Kate quite a bit. She's strong and loyal to the bone. Okay, maybe perhaps she has some issues. She has been living through her teenage life, basically waiting for her mother to die. So she really has not lived a normal life and been in a situation to fully grown into herself. Not that most teenagers know who they are or what they want to be, but for Kate it's been even more of a struggle.

Then we have Henry. I really want to like Henry and I do. However, I felt conflicted most of the time with Henry. I get it. He is this strong silent type. He is a tortured soul...if he had one? But at times, it got a little annoying. I will admit, there were certainly times when I got Henry, though. Enough so that I truly have high hopes for him in the coming books. I just felt a real conflict through most of this book. I wanted to love it, but there were many YA cliches that just brought it down a few notches for me. I truly felt that Kate's love for Henry was forced...another case of instant love. Okay maybe not instant, but close. There were other enjoyable characters, but with the ending of this book...well, I am not too sure how I feel about these characters now.

In the end, I would recommend The Goddess Test to those who enjoy YA romance. Looking for a great Mythology based story? You probably want to skip this one.

Rating: 3 Stars

{ Poke by Dalya Moon }

Poke by Dalya Moon

January 23, 2012

Source: from author for review

Format: ebook

From Goodreads:

Zan is a teenage boy with a talent for discovering any girl’s secrets. If he asks a girl to poke her finger into his navel, he gets a psychic trip to Secret Town. Zan never likes what he finds.

When he meets mysterious, beautiful Austin, with her waist-length hair and mature laugh, he wants to get acquainted with her the slow way. Austin, however, can’t resist her curiosity, and when she pokes her finger into Zan’s belly button, he sees … nothing.

Austin dashes out of Zan’s house and out of his life, leaving Zan heartbroken and confused. To find peace, he must unravel the secret of his power. Is it a gift, or a curse? How can Zan love someone with no future? How can he not?

Poke is a fast-paced story about Zan's adventurous summer, as he battles witches, experiments with astral projection, and discovers the secret of his strange power, all to be with the girl he loves.

My Review:

I will admit that going into this one, I was expecting to not really enjoy myself. The whole 'finger in the belly button' thing really turned me off. You know what? If you put aside the silliness of that aspect? This story is really quite entertaining. I found myself really enjoying it.

The characters were all fairly believable and likable. The relationship between Zan and his best friends, James and Julie, was real and a nice change from most YA stories. The love story between Zan and Austin was sweet. It was not a really love at first sight in the true meaning of the sense. Yes, Zan was head over heals and yes they had a rather quick physical connection, but it did not seem forced as a lot of relationships in YA right now.

I found the paranormal aspects of the story to be interesting. I may have been a bit confused at times, but perhaps due to the story being as short as it was(only about 140 pages) there just was not sufficient time to fully develop the storyline enough.

All in all, Poke was an enjoyable read aside from the actual 'Poke' aspect. It was enjoyable enough, that I am interested to see where author Dalya Moon will take the story and these characters.

Rating: 3 stars

{ The Quill Pen by Michelle Isenhoff }

The Quill Pen by Michelle Isenhoff

October 2011

Source: from author for review

Format: ebook (available free from Smashwords)

From Authors Blog:

If you owned a pen that wrote the future, would you use it? What if the consequences spread like ripples in a pond? What if they raged out of control?

What if the pen demanded tribute...in blood?

Thirteen-year-old Micah has found such a pen. One that’s ensnared him in a curse dating back generations. One that’s devastated two families and now threatens his whole New England village. But how can Micah destroy the pen when it offers him his only chance at the future he dreams of? Ages 8+

My mini-review:

I really enjoyed this one. It was a cute, sweet story. The characters were very likable and believable. I guess, my only real complaint would be, that the character and story development took a little too long and the adventure/magic did not happen until the end of the story. I felt the story could have been longer or perhaps another book is needed. I would say that being a YA book, it would not be something that I could see passing to a reluctant reader. I don't think there would be enough to keep them engaged in this one. However, if you have a YA reader that devours everything? They would enjoy this one for sure. Being an adult reading this one? It really was a delightful, enjoyable little book and I would definitely read other books by Michelle Isenhoff that follow along with this genre.

Rating: 3 Stars

{ Dark Eden by Patrick Carman }

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Nov 1, 2011 by HarperCollins Children's Books

Source: NetGalley

Format: ebook ARC

From GoodReads:

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality

My Review:

Dark Eden is a unique story. I had difficulties getting into the story at first. I felt a bit confussed and quite frankly never truly felt a connection to any of the characters. That being said, I felt intriqued enough to continue reading, Dark Eden. I needed to find out the truth. The reason these teens were brought together. In the end. I found the story quite intriging. I am not too sure that I love the way in which the story unfolded and developed throughout the book, but on a whole, Dark Eden is a story unlike other YA books right now. I am not sure if there are any other books planned for this story, but I would be interested to read another book. I for one, would love to know if Will Besting goes through with his 60 year pact.

In the end. I would recommend this one if you are looking for something a little different. If you enjoy being teased and intrigued right up to the very end. However, if you need a strong character connection, this might not live up to your expectations.

{ Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier }

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

August 1, 2011 by Amulet Books

Source: NetGalley

Format: Ebook ARC

From GoodReads:

"Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves. As you can well imagine, blind children have incredible senses of smell, and they can tell what lies behind a locked door- be it fine cloth, gold, or peanut brittle- at fifty paces. Moreover, their fingers are so small and nimble that they can slip right through keyholes, and their ears so keen that they can hear the faint clicks and clacks of every moving part inside even the most complicated lock. Of course, the age of great thievery has long since passed;today there are few child-thieves left, blind or otherwise. At one time, however, the world was simply thick with them. This is the story of the greatest thief who ever lived. His name, as you've probably guessed, is Peter Nimble."

My Mini Review:

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is a fantasy adventure that will be sure to delight young readers 10+. Peter is a unique and interesting character, but I must admit that I was more drawn to some of the secondary characters. Mainly, Sir Tode. Not only visually is he a great character, being part Knight, part kitty and part horse, but Sir Tode provides many laughs and many touching moments. I felt a real connection to him and loved him throughout the book.

The first half of the book was a great fantasy and something I could definitely see myself recommending to all the young fantasy lovers in my life. It felt like I was in for an exciting fun adventure. However, halfway through, I found the book lost something. It felt long and I just felt myself being easily distracted. I will admit to skimming through the last half. There were many plot aspects that were quite predictable and I just felt disconnected to the whole thing. I do plan to put this one aside and give it another read at another time though. I think that this book is one that would be better suited to be read-aloud and enjoyed by a group of young adventure lovers. But maybe that's just me.

In the end, I would recommend this to all adventure, fantasy lovers 10+. There are some great characters and great world building, even if I was not fully convinced.

Rating: 3 stars

{ Shiewo - A Fantasy Flight to Adventure by Ciye Cho }

Shiewo - A Fantasy Flight to Adventure by Ciye Cho

June 2011 by Studio Amazepop

Source: from author for review

Format: ebook

Genre: YA Fantasy

Available: Smashwords

From Goodreads:

The universe of Orberana is a place of great wonder and peril, a dizzying landscape filled with clouds that can talk, clockwork beings that mark their own time, and painted animals that awake in the night.

Shiewo Morose is the captain of a flying ship powered by music. She is also a determined young woman on a mission: a quest to find the Wishing Fish that created Orberana.

Sailing above the clouds, Shiewo and her crew (Erduu the bamboo, Theo the cloud, Livingston the goldfish, and Felix the painter) are headed for worlds of crazed clockwork bureaucrats, tyrannic kings, and tornado children--worlds that will test not only the crew's bravery... but their very understanding of adventure.

Theirs is the odyssey of a lifetime...


My Review:

When approached by author Ciye Cho to review his book, Shiewo - A Fantasy Flight to Adventure, I was somewhat reluctant. This was definitely a book out of my normal reading realm. After taking a peak at the author's website, I realized that this was definitely an individual with loads of imagination and drive. I also decided that sometimes it's good to go outside our comfort zones and expand our minds.

During the first 50 pages of this adventure I will admit to questioning my decision. I was definitely in for one wild ride. However, around that 50 page mark things started to fall into place and I really started to understand the world of Orberana and it's fantastical characters.

Captain Shiewo Morose is a great female character. She is a strong, smart no-nonsense girl trying to find the Wishing Fish to save her man. All the while surrounded by her...well...interesting crew. Let's see. There is Theo, the cloud/runaway tornado cadet. There's Erduu, the walking, talking bamboo man. Also, along for the journey is, Livingston, the black goldfish...oops, sorry. He does not like to be called a goldfish! Livingston provided many laughs. He's loud, demanding and super snarky. Gotta love him! Lastly is Felix Dabblezapp. The human castaway who discovers that what he thought was a strange and wondrous dream is all very real.

Many times throughout this story it felt very much like I was in a strange Wizard of Oz adventure. I'm not saying that was bad or good, just an observation.

In the end, Shiewo - A Fantasy Flight to Adventure, was a strange and wondrous tale filled with a cast of fun and fantastical characters. This story would definitely appeal to YA and Adult readers who enjoy fantasy/sci-fi with highly imaginative characters. While this is not something you would normally find on my bookshelf? I definitely plan to read the next installment to see where the journey takes these wonderful characters next and to see if they ever find the Wishing Fish.

Rating: 3 stars

{ The Sleepwalkers by J Gabriel Gates }

The Sleepwalkers by J Gabriel Gates

Oct 3, 2011 by HCI Books

Source: Net Galley

Genre: YA Horror/Supernatural

From Goodreads:

Privileged and popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his High School graduation when he receives a mysterious, disturbing letter from his long-lost childhood playmate, Christine. Caleb and his jokester friend Bean decide to travel to his tiny hometown of Hudsonville, Florida, to find her. Upon arrival, they discover the town has taken a horrifying turn for the worse. Caleb's childhood home is abandoned and his father has disappeared. Children are going missing. The old insane asylum has reopened, and Christine is locked inside. Her mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine's long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an A.M radio.

The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Sixteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will bring about the end of the world. As Caleb peels back layer after layer of mystery, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.

My review:

The sleepwalkers is an eerie, creepy tale filled with mystery and some very horrific characters and images. While it was definitely a page turner, I did have some issues with this book. The most predominant being that the beginning read more like a movie script than an actual novel. And, because of this, I really had a hard-time fully connecting with these characters in the beginning. I did feel a change a quarter of the way in though, and really started to get into the story.

Although Caleb was the main character, his best friend Bean really stole the scenes. Bean is this funny, snarky, often crude but deep down great guy. He is full of personality and just fun to read. They really are a great team, but on his own Caleb could have used a little more personality.

The relationship between Caleb and Christine was perfect, however. All to often in YA fiction you have these characters that fall madly in love within the first few pages and it is so unbelievable and quite frankly insulting. This relationship however, is very real and very natural. There could be some argument that the relationship is not believable due to the length of time these two were apart, but I disagree. I for one have had childhood friends who I have been estranged from over the years, who I have reconnected with and it felt as though we had never been apart. These are true connections - the ones that really matter. This is what Caleb and Christine have and I loved that.

I really feel that this book could easily be adapted to film and do very well. It is a very visual book. In the end, although the ending was somewhat predictable and slightly anti-climatic, I would recommend it. If you are looking for a creepy, bone chilling, page turner? You will find it within the pages of The Sleepwalkers. I am interested to see where the author, J Gabriel Gates, goes from here.

Rating: 3 stars

{ Intoxication by Tim Kizer }

Intoxication by Tim Kizer

March 30, 2011

Source: ecopy provided by author for review

From Goodreads:

For the the fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz...

How do you force a confession out of a coworker trying to poison you? Do you kill those who dismiss your fears and believe you are paranoid? What do you do if you start questioning your own suspicions - and sanity - as you take the law into your hands?

In this disturbing tale of derangement, a young psychotic woman is slipping into madness as she fights an enemy that may exist only in her imagination. She has to resort to desperate measures when she realizes that a gun, security cameras in her apartment, and constant vigilance will not be enough to survive.

Bonus: 'Hitchhiker' by Tim Kizer, the first entry in the As The Darkness Falls series.

When a serial killer hitches a ride one sunny day in a beautiful California valley, he does not suspect that he may have met his match, who is dead set to take another life. The battle of wits begins and only the most devious mind will survive.

My review:

Intoxication is a short story consisting of 31 pages. I am not normally a big fan of short stories, mainly due to there is never enough time to get invested in the story or the characters. I will admit that the first 14 pages felt a bit choppy and disjointed, however by page 15 I really got into the story. The last half flowed nicely and I was very interested to see where the story and characters were going to go. I don't want to give too much away, but I really did connect with these characters and what brought them to the end. It was a good suspenseful read. I would like to see this one made into a longer version.

Rating: 3 stars

The second story included was Hitchhiker. This again was a short story of only 13 pgs. This one I did not enjoy as much as the first one. Again I found the writing to be choppy and disjointed and I really did not find myself connecting with the story all that much. I think there needed to be more to this one to get fully invested in these characters and their story.

Rating: 2.5 stars

The third short story The Bike was way too short and quite frankly just plain silly for me. A man gets framed for a robbery all in an attempt to get back at him for killing his neighbors dog. Not enough substance for me.

Rating: 2 stars

{ Timeless by Alexandra Monir }

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

January 11, 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Format: Ebook

Source: Library

From Goodreads:

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she's never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamours Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life - a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves - a quest that will determine the fate of both their lives.

My Review:

Timeless, while nothing spectacular or thought provoking, was a nice light and enjoyable read. Sometimes that is exactly what you need. A total escape. And Timeless definitely delivered.

I loved the idea and the story. I have always loved the idea of Time Travel and the history associated with this book was fascinating. Alexandra Monir did a fantastic job of taking you to the heart of New York City during the 1900's, the 1920's and the 1940's. It was exciting and often breathtaking.

However, I did not feel a strong connection to the main characters of the book. Michele and Philip were interesting enough, but their relationship felt very forced and too easy for me. Like too many other YA Paranormal/Fantasy Romance the romance was just not all that believable. I was more drawn to Michele's time travels and her meetings with the female relatives from the past. One of my favorite characters was Michele's Great Grandmother, Lily. When we first meet Lily, she is this young spunky girl just itching to make it in the music business during the roaring 20's. Being able to see Lily, through Michele's eyes was very heartwarming and just a fun part of this story for me.

In the end, if you are looking for a fun, light read? I would recommend it. It is not a life altering experience, but still enjoyable. I do look forward to seeing where Alexandra Monir takes these characters and the story in the next book.

Rating: 3 stars

{ The Charmer by Autumn Dawn }

The Charmer by Autumn Dawn

Smashwords Eddition by Autumn Dawn

2011

Source: Free Ebook from The Sony Reader Store

From Goodreads:

Jasmine didn't realize her friend Wiley was special until they were drawn into another world. Here Wiley is betrothed to the ruler of the Haunt, a wererace both dangerous and proud.

Keilor is the master of soldiers, a man few would cross, yet he never met a menace like the little brunette his princess calls friend. Will Jasmine find the portal home, or will she find a werewolf of her own?

My review:

I was browsing through the free ebooks available at the Sony Reader Store and came across this one. It sounded like something I might enjoy and it had a fairly high Goodreads rating on it, so why not. I had no idea what I was in store for. I did not realize this was an 'Adult' fantasy, but thought why not give it a read.

A few things first that I did not enjoy about this book. The editing, or lack of was a Hugh distraction at times for me. I am no literary scholar, but seriously this one had a ton of grammatical errors and typing errors that really bothered me. The overall story line was interesting, but I just found many times in the beginning the story line was rushed just to get to the 'nasty' stuff. And the ending? Very rushed and a real disappointment. This world that Autumn Dawn has created is interesting, but there are many aspects that need further explanation and development to fully understand this world. I would have enjoyed it more had there been more story development with in their world.

What I did love about this book though. The two main characters Jasmine and Keilor. Yes, their chemistry was...well hot and steamy, but I just loved these two. Their relationship and their overall being were just characters that I totally got. Jasmine is this headstrong, no holds bar, sarcastic and funny kinda girl. Keilor? Strong, sexy, sarcastic and funny in his own right. But also very loving and caring. These two are definitely what saved this book in my opinion. Apparently there are more books in this series, but they do not include Jasmine and Keilor, so I think I will pass.

If you are fan of hot and steamy adult fantasy/sci-fi then you might enjoy this one. As I said it is worth it just to get to know Jasmine and Keilor.

Rating: 3 stars