{ The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry }

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

May 1, 2012 by Amulet Books

Source: NetGalley

Format: ebook ARC

From Goodreads:

This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance.

On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena's father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

My Review:

The Peculiars is a strange one. Not the book itself, just in the way in which I feel about it. I found it to be quite slow in nature. It seemed to take me forever to get through it. Why? I'm not really sure. It's not that I did not enjoy this story. Actually, I enjoyed it very much. It's one of those books that kind of sneak up on you as you are reading it. It does not feel like much at the time, but you seem to get quite invested in the story and the characters.

The main character, Lena, is quite believable. She is strong and smart, yet she has this vulnerability due to her 'deformities'. She has a slight innocence about her that I quite enjoyed. However, at the sametime, we see her grow throughout the book...and I see more growth coming in the coming books.

Then there is Jimson Quiggley. Not only do I love the name, but I love him too. Jimson is awesome. He is smart, funny, quirky, geeky, loyal and oh so lovable. I am oh so rooting for Jimson and Lena!

Of course Mr. Beasley is just plain awesome. Being the inventor that he is, he has this eccentric aura that I just loved. He is a strong presence, but he can also be childishly fun at the same time. One of those characters that I would love to meet in real life.

Author, Maureen Doyle McQuerry did a fantastic job of world building. Yes, this is a world of fiction, but there are many real historical figures that are mentioned through the book, which really grounded this story and made it so much more enjoyable. I have read some reviews stating that this is not true Steampunk. I will admit that I do not have a lot of experience within the genre, but I can definitely understand that statement. While there are certainly elements of Steampunk in regards mainly to Mr. Beasley and Zephyr House, I would class this one more of a Historical, Adventure, Fantasy. However, who really cares. All I know, is that it contains a great adventure, some great characters and a world in which I truly want to know more about.

In the end, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Steampunk, Adventure, Fantasy. Yes, it is a bit of a slow read, but I found myself getting to know the characters and this world in such a way that they have been embraced by my heart forever.

And don't you just LOVE this cover? Well I do!

Rating: 4 stars

{ The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman }

The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman
April 10th, 2012 by Candlewick Press
Source: NetGalley
Format: ARC ebook



From Goodreads:

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished — only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear.

Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing — one right on top of the roof — hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he's launched on a time-twisting journey — from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker's actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

Kicking off a riveting sci-fi trilogy, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman plunges us into a world where time is a tool — and the question is, who will control it?

My Review:

The Obsidian Blade is one of those books that after you close the cover, you have to sit in silence for a moment. You have to let it all sink in. What the heck did I just read? This was a wild and wacky ride. In the beginning, I found myself a little bored. It took a bit for the meat of the story to really take hold. When it finally did, I was happily drawn in. Then there were times that I was a little put off and times where I was down right confused and lost! I know. You are asking yourself...then why the 4 star rating? Even though, I felt slightly uncomfortable and confused at times? I really did enjoy this book.

I am very passionate about character driven books. And while our main character, Tucker, may not have been super strong at times, overall I found him to be an enjoyable voice to this story. Aside from Tucker, however, there are a few of the secondary characters that I just loved and can't wait to see more of in future instalments. First off was Tucker's Uncle Kosh. He added a lot of humor and depth to this story. He comes off as this big tough guy, but you can see deep down he is a softy at heart, and especially when it comes to his nephew. This is a developing relationship that I hope continues in future books. The other character that I loved, was Lahlia. Lahlia grows tremendously throughout this book and I love where she is at the end. She has grown into this super strong,determined young woman. I think she is going to be an awesome force of kick-buttness(is that a word)in this series and can not wait to see where book two takes her and Tucker.

I know a lot of people tend to get put off by the whole time-travel thing. And I will be honest and say that at times I was a bit confused as to how and where the characters were at a few points in the story. However, I still love the whole time travel theme. It fascinates me. Truly. It is total madness. But so very cool.

The only real negative thing I can really say about this book was the whole religious aspect. And that really is just a person thing. I just found it a bit too 'preachy' at times. Not really in a bible thumping aspect, but...well, I can't really explain. I just felt uncomfortable at times. Perhaps it was just the mix of the time travel madness and the religion together...I don't know.

In the end, I would definitely recommend, The Obsidian Blade. Author Pete Hautman did a fine job of keeping my interest enough to keep those pages turning and making me anxious for book two.

And on a side note? Don't you just love that cover? Love it!

Rating: 4 stars

{ The Death Cure by James Dashner }

The Death Cure by James Dashner

October 11, 2011 by Delacorte Press

Format: ebook

From Goodreads:

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that somethings happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.

Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

My Review:

I first have to say that this was an outstanding series. I loved every minute of this journey. Again, another great addition to the world of YA Dystopian and another great series for those male reluctant readers in your life.

The first book, The Maze Runner, took me by surprise. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. The second book, The Scorch Trials, blew me away. I am not sure what I was expecting with The Death Cure. While I enjoyed it, it did not blow me away like The Scorch Trials did. The first two books were filled with so much action, so much character depth on individual levels and on all relationship levels. I found The Death Cure, to be lacking somewhat for me. Okay, yes there was still a lot of action, but it just felt different and not with the same intensity.

With all that aside? I still enjoyed it. Thomas is a great main character. He is easy to like. He is real, flawed and I think we see him grow a lot throughout this series. Thomas is also surrounded by great characters. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some lovable. Newt, Newt, Newt...forever in my heart! Some so very frustrating. Teresa, Teresa, Teresa...one of my unanswered questions.

James Dashner has an incredible talent. He is a master of creating a story that draws you in. The kind of story that keeps you turning those pages. Wanting more. And when you get it? Wanting even more. And that is exactly what he did. While the ending may have left me with more questions than answers? I am happy with the way in which this journey has come to an end. Although...James Dashner, if you are listening? I would not be against another series. I am not sure I am quite ready to let these characters go...just saying...

Rating: 4 Stars

{ White Horse by Alex Adams }

White Horse by Alex Adams

April 17, 2012 by Emily Bestler Books

Source: Simon and Schuster Canada

Format: Paperback ARC copy

From Goodreads:

White Horse is the first book in an absolutely unique debut trilogy—a post-apocalyptic thriller chronicling one woman’s quest to nurture those she holds dear against the backdrop of a shocking, new world.

Thirty-year-old Zoe leads an ordinary life until the end of the world arrives. She is cleaning cages and floors at Pope Pharmaceuticals when the President of the United States announces that human beings are no longer a viable species.

When Zoe realizes that everyone she loves is disappearing, she starts running. Scared and alone in a shockingly changed world, she embarks on a remarkable journey of survival and redemption.

Along the way, Zoe comes to see that humans are not defined by their genetic code, but rather by their actions and choices. White Horse offers hope for a broken world, where love can lead to the most unexpected places.

My Review:

First off. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read and review White Horse. After reading the synopsis, I knew this was something I could devour. I have become a huge lover of all things Dystopian. However, this was not quite at all what I was expecting. For some reason I was under the impression that this was a YA book. Not. Anyone use to reading reviews of mine, this is not a YA book. If you are easily offended by language, violence and gore, be forewarned. This is probably not a book for you.

I will admit that in the beginning, I was not sure how I felt about the narration. While I did enjoy Zoe's voice throughout this book, I found myself a bit overwhelmed. Zoe's story bounces back and forth from past to present and the author's writing was at times a bit over done. Perhaps a bit too flowery for my taste. However, the story was so intoxicating that I was able to overlook these minor distractions.

Zoe is such a strong character with just the right amount of snarkiness to suit me. When we meet her she has already been through so much heart break in her life. Then her life and the world around her begins to crumble in an even more devastating and destructive way. Not only is White Horse a Dystopian, but it is filled with mystery, suspense, horror and at it's core, a love story.

Yes, there are a number of very disturbing, shockingly horrific scenes. Author Alex Adams has created one of the most terrifying, psychotic characters I have read to date. The Swiss, is...well, if you like your evil to be truly evil, you will not be disappointed in this character!

The ending of book one in this new trilogy left me wanting more, but without an annoying cliffhanger. In the end, I would definitely recommend this one. Just be prepared to be shocked and horrified, yet left with a feeling of joy and hope. Well done, Alex Adams!

Rating: 4 stars!

{ Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry }

Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry

June 8, 2011 by Penumbra Publishing

Source: from author for review

Format: ebook

Genre: YA Paranormal

From Goodreads:


Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

My Review:

When I was approached by author Natasha Larry to review her book, Darwin's Children, I will admit that the cover turned me off somewhat. However, after reading the synopsis, I was eager to give it a read. I am very glad that I did not judge this book by it's cover. Darwin's Children was a refreshing change from many other YA Paranormal. At it's core, this book drills home a message of love and family. I truly enjoyed the family dynamics.

The main character, Jaycie Lerner, is a great voice for teens. She is strong, loving, caring and smart, but still remains positive even when faced with difficulties. However, a lot of that has to do with the loving family surrounding her. Jaycie's father, Mason Lerner, is an amazing man. He's smart, loving and protective of his daughter and family. He truly is a great example to all parents. I loved seeing the love between this Father and Daughter. In addition to Jaycie's father is her surrogate Mother/Nanny/Trainer, Allison Young. Allison is a great character. She is funny, smart, strong, sexy and just plain fun. It is her responsibility to train Jaycie to control her telekinetic powers. Also, being the only other female in the family, she takes it upon her self to deal with all the 'girlie' issues that arise. Sometimes whether Jaycie wants the help or not.

Of course no YA Paranormal would be complete without a little romance. Luckily for Jaycie, and us, she has her childhood best friend turned boyfriend, Matt Carter. Matt is very sweet and truly loves Jaycie. The romance was perfect. Not overdone and it was well balanced within the confines of the story. It did not take over as I have found too often happens in YA Paranormal.

We are also introduced to a pivotal character about 60 pages in. Haylee Michell is this broken, beaten shell of a girl who, with the love and caring shown from both Jaycie and her family, begins her transformation not only as a human but also as a superhuman. As we are introduced to Haylee, things start to shift and by the last few chapters, Darwin's Children, takes a bit of a darker turn from the light YA Paranormal we were enveloped in. I have read a few reviews that left some reviewers feeling that the ending was rushed and took too drastic a turn. Although, perhaps the ending was a bit rushed, I actually enjoyed the direction the story has begun to travel and look forward to the next installment.

In the end, I would recommend Darwin's Children to all lovers of YA Paranormal. If you are tired of characters that wallow in self pity and a lifetime of impending doom, this will be sure to give you a great read. I for one will be sure to keep my eye out for Natasha Larry's next installment in this series.

Rating: 4 stars

{No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells by Rose Pressey and a Giveaway! }

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells by Rose Pressey

June 4, 2011 by Amazon Digital Services

Source: Publisher provided for review

Format: ebook

From Goodreads:

Elly Blair welcomes the chance to escape her ex-fiance and job from hell when Grandma Imelda, ready to retire to sunny Florida, calls for her to take over her little southern cafe.

Elly has no idea her grandmother has baked up magic for the unsuspecting townsfolk for thirty years - and now Grandma Imelda insists that Elly use her own hitherto unsuspected magical powers to carry on the family tradition.

But Elly's new at this stuff. Her dishes don't turn out as full of smidgens of enchantment and dashes of wishes come true as she'd hoped. When handsome customer Rory Covington takes a bite of the wrong burger, he ends up capturing the attention of every woman in town. Elly doesn't know if her feelings for Rory are true or based on her magic gone awry.

Tom Owenton is an investigator for the National Organization for Magic sent to look into the magical mishap. Unless Elly can reverse the spell, the cafe will be closed permanently. Tom is more than willing to help Elly out of this magical pickle, but she's not sure she should accept his offer.

Elly only has forty-eight hours to find a way to reverse the spell, or she'll lose the cafe and never discover if her feelings for Rory are real.

My Review:

What a fun, fun, fun read this was. I was pleasantly surprised by this one!

Elly Blair is this sweet girl who I immediately fell in love with. She is funny and snarky all while trying to keep her southern charm in check. The town of Mystic Hollow is filled with quirky characters - this is my kind of town! Elly's best friend, Mary Jane, had me laughing throughout. The two of them together are very funny and perfect best friends. They differ in many ways yet blend together so well.

Not only is there one, but two hotties in this one. I honestly don't know who's team I am on more. Rory Covington is the hunky southern farm owner who gets caught up in Elly's magical mess. He is super sweet and full of southern charm. Tom Owenton is the hunky National Organization for Magic Investigator sent to help Elly fix her magic mess up. I think I am leaning towards Tom. I have a soft spot for funny, snarky, slightly cocky and oh so sexy.

Elly's grandmother is awesome. I love her. I just wish she made more of an appearance. Let's just say that grandma Imelda stole the show, when she was around. I want her to adopt me! I really hope that she makes an appearance in the next books.

In the end, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. While this may contain some silliness? We all need something light, refreshing and fun once in awhile and this most certainly delivers. This is a great summer read! I can not wait to see where the next book takes Elly. I really hope we see more of Rory, Tom and Mary Jane as well.

Rating: 4 stars!

And now, onto the giveaway...my very first one! Author Rose Pressey and her PR team have offered up an ecopy of her book, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells. This giveaway will end Sunday August 7 @ 11:59pm MST. All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post with your email and tell me what is your ecopy of choice( Kindle, Epub or pdf). That's it! Simple enough? I would love it if you could spread the word, but it's not necessary. And no, you do not have to be a follower, but I would love it if you were.

Good luck to all!

{ Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton }

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

May 24, 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Format: Ebook

Source: Bought from Kobo.com

From Goodreads:

This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephanie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth and immortality. Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking of her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick - the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.

My review:

I love visiting my favorite blogs for new book finds and I also love to visit Goodreads. I was on Goodreads one day and taking a look through some of my favorite authors book reviews and came across this one on Maggie Stiefvater's Goodreads page. It was highly recommended by Maggie, so of course I had to give it a read! You know what? I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed this story and the characters. I realize that it might not be for everyone as blood plays a huge part in this story. But I really enjoyed it! It was something different, dark and a little creepy...okay, maybe a lot creepy.

Silla and Nick were both enjoyable on their own and as a couple. I will admit that Nick calling Silla, Babe all the time was a bit annoying for me. I just found it a bit out of character or just not all that fitting for either of them. Just a little annoyance of mine. Other than that, I found them both to be quite believable even in the middle of a pretty unbelievable situation. Poor Silla has been through so much when we first meet her - she is the one to find both of her parents dead and in a bloody embrace - and she continues to be at the centre of even more blood and creepiness. I really enjoyed how each chapter switches back and forth between Silla and Nick. I really find that I enjoy this style as we get a better understanding of each of the main characters and get more invested in each of them as individuals.

I will admit this review is not all that in depth. I finished this one while I was off on a camping trip last week and was not able to write my review right away as I usually like to do. However, in the end, I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for something a little different from your normal YA paranormal. If you like your YA darker, creepier and little bloodier? You will definitely devour this one!

Rating: 4 stars!

{ The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker }

The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker
March 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Format: ebook
Source: Library

From Goodreads:

Best friends don't send emails once their dead. Kate Lowry may wear fake pearls and shorts so tiny that Nancy Drew would blush, but she's on the trail to prove that Grace's death was no accident. Along for the ride are a couple of knights in (not so) shining armor: the dangerously attractive bad boy, Liam, and her love-struck neighbor, Seth. Together they discover a secret lurking in the halls of their elite private school that threatens to destroy them all.

My review:

We have all heard the phrase, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover', right? I must admit that too often I am a bit of a cover snob. You know. I see a cover and think, this is gonna be an awesome read, or, this one looks terrible. Well, that's how I felt about this one. When it first came out and I was seeing it EVERYWHERE in blog land, I thought it looked like something my 9 year old would want to read. I never paid too much attention. Then I started reading really good reviews. This week I was looking at books on my Library ebook list and found it sitting there, waiting for me. So I caved and decided to give it a read. You know what? I was pleasantly surprised. I actually quite enjoyed this one.

The main character Kate was funny, intelligent and very likable. I found myself connecting with her almost instantly. I absolutely loved Seth, Kate's next door neighbor. I have read some reviews that complained about him and thought he was kind of pointless. I disagree totally. Seth is this nerdy, conspiracy theory obsessed, Kate obsessed adorable kid! I loved, loved, loved, Seth. The budding romance between Kate and Liam was perfect. It was not over done, subtle and very sweet. Anything more would have been a let down and a distraction from the main story. The mystery throughout the book was very enjoyable and the pacing was perfect. I never found the story slow or drawn out at any point. It was a fun page turner.

In the end? I found The Liar Society to be a fun, light read with a very enjoyable main character. If you are looking for a light mystery, I would definitely recommend this one!

Rating: 4 stars!

{ Rotters by Daniel Kraus }

Rotters by Daniel Kraus

April 5, 2011 by Random House Childrens Books

Format: Ebook

From Goodreads:

Grave-robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It's true, that Leonardo Da Vinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. But none of this matters to Joey Crouch, a sixteen year-old straight-A student living in Chicago with his single mom. For the most part, Joey's life is about playing the trumpet and avoiding the daily humiliations of high school.

Everything changes when Joey's mother dies in a tragic accident and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with the father he has never known, a strange, solitary man with unimaginable secrets. At first, Joey's father wants nothing to do with him, but once father and son come to terms with each other, Joey's life takes a turn both macabre and exhilarating.

Daniel Kraus's masterful plotting and unforgettable characters makes Rotters a moving, terrifying, and unconventional epic about father's and sons, complex family ties, taboos, and the ever-present specter of morality.

My review:

Where do I begin? How do I find the words? Rotters is one of those books that leaves you speechless, numb, breathless, disgusted and creeped out, but all in a good way.

Rotters is a story of a boy who goes through hell and back. The pain that Joey goes through, both physical and mental is truly heartbreaking. As a mother and human being I could not help but want to protect him. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that the bullying that Joey is forced to withstand, although extreme? Happens to numerous kids across North America on a daily basis. Although, what happens to us during our lives should not define us as human beings? All too often it can and does.

This book is not a happy story by any means. It is not for the faint of heart or for those with a weak stomach. It took me a little longer to get through this book, simply due to the fact that I had to put it down frequently and regroup before continuing. It should most definitely be read on an empty stomach!

In the end, would I recommend this book? I whole heartily believe this is not for a younger reader. I would recommend this for the 16+ readers. But, yes. If you are prepared to have both your heart and gut wrenched from your body? Give this one a read.

Rating: 4 stars!

{ Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan }

Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan

June 8, 2006 by Penguin Group US

Source: Library ebook

From Goodreads:

He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied.

Review: May Contain Spoilers!

I discovered this book and series through author Darby Karchut. She told me this was one of her favorite series. So I thought, I must give it a read! I am very glad I did.

What I mainly enjoyed about this book, was the relationship between the two main characters, Will and Halt. When we first meet Will he is about to find out if his life long ambition of becoming a warrior apprentice is finally going to come true. But unfortunately, his wish is not to be and he learns that he has been chosen by, Halt, to become his Ranger apprentice. As the story unfolds, we see Will grow into himself and develop into a strong and more confident young man and Ranger apprentice. On the other side is Halt. I adore Halt. He is full of strength, love, humour and loyalty, but all wrapped up in a very understated small stature of a man.

I love that one of the main messages author, John Flanagan, portrays in this story is that not all heroes are big strong warrior types. Sometimes a hero can be an ordinary boy. Sometimes all it takes is courage and faith in yourself. I also love the fact that John Flanagan originally wrote this story for his son, Michael, as a way to get the reluctant reader excited about books. How cool is that?

Another aspect of this book, which stands out for me, is the bullying issue. I know that I have seen a few reviews in which readers were a bit disappointed in how Halt encouraged Horace to deal the same punishment back onto his tormentors. I for one did not have issues with this at all. This poor kid has been beaten, tormented and belittled for months. The final beating was extremely harsh and terrifying. A person can only be expected to endure so much! I don't agree with violence solving anything, but sometimes? Well, it is, what it is and they were beaten fairly.

I will admit to being left with a few unanswered questions, but this is only the first book of many in this series. I am sure all will come together for me in the following books. I look forward to diving into the next one.

If you are a fan of Fantasy, Adventure, endearing male protagonists and loving fatherly/son relationships? Then go pick up the Ranger's Apprentice series.

Rating: 4 stars!

{ Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan }

Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan

April 5, 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Source: purchased ebook

From Goodreads:

Tabitha can't shake the feeling that something exists beyond the fences of her village. And when she sneaks out, past the gates and down the path into the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she meets a boy who teaches her heart things she never knew. But love in a world surrounded by so much death doesn't come without its sacrifices, and Tabitha gradually realizes just how much she'll have to give up to live among the Unconsecrated.

From New York Times best selling author Carrie Ryan comes an original story of love after the Return.

My Review:

This was my first short story and it was really exciting to see where Sister Tabitha came from. What made her into the wonderfully, terrifying woman she is in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. This is a great companion to the trilogy. My only complaint? I would love more of this story and even farther back. I want to learn everything there is to know about this world and what occurred during the moment of the Return. This whole world that Carrie Ryan has created is so very fascinating and I just want more!

If you are fan of this series it is a great little addition. You really could start with it or even read it during the middle, as I have. I have not read the finale installment The Dark and Hollow Places yet, but plan to very soon.

Rating: 4 stars

{ Memento Nora by Angie Smibert }

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

April 1, 2011 by Marshall Cavendish

Source: ARC - won from Jen @ I Read Banned Books

From publisher:

Nora, the popular girl and consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora's near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother's secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can't get away with remembering.

Review:

I was very excited to win a copy of this ARC from Jen @ I Read Banned Books. I had heard a lot of good things about this one. I will be honest though. Once I had the book in my hands? I was not too sure what to expect. It is a VERY small book - only 184 pages. How good could it really be? Is there really enough time for proper character development and even story development? Oh ya! I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. The story itself is something different from other books out there right now. The one thing I loved about it is that there are enough slivers of truth in the story that as a reader you can see how this could be totally plausible. It is a very horrifying and sad future world, but still full of hopeful characters. Another thing that I really enjoy on a whole was the absence of stupid slang terms! The only word that is a constant throughout the book is 'Glossy', but it is very fitting within the story.

The 3 main characters, Nora and her two new friends, Micah and Winter, are believable right from the start. I loved hearing from each of their points of view throughout the story. They each come from different backgrounds yet are brought together by their unwillingness to 'forget'. I found each one of them to be very enjoyable, strong characters that you truly care about. I also found myself drawn to Winter's grandfather, Micah's 'guardian' Mrs. Brooks and Nora's mother. Each one of them are very strong secondary characters, that I found myself wanting to know more about.

The overall pacing was spot on. There may have been a few predictable moments, but nothing that really disappointed me. I guess my only real complaint would be that...I want more! It was over in a flash! I am very happy to hear that there is a second book in the works. If you are looking for a quick enjoyable read, I definitely recommend this one.

Rating: 4 stars

{ Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting }

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

February 15, 2011 by HarperCollins

Source: Library

From GoodReads:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered - and the matching imprint that clings to the killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Review:

This second instalment into The Body Finder series was just as good as the first. Again the main characters Violet and Jay are so believable and real - aside from her 'special' gift. I really do like this relationship between them. It is so nice to see a relationship between two YA characters grow from childhood friendship into a meaningful YA relationship. As apposed to all the 'love at first sight' obsessive relationships found so frequently in a lot of current YA Paranormal books right now. I just find it so much more believable and realistic. It makes you root for these two even more. I also love the fact that Violet's family is a loving 'normal' family. Too often the main characters are struggling through a life of some type of family dysfunction. It's just nice to see a main character surrounded by a supportive, loving family for a change.

The addition of Sara Priest and Rafe into the storyline is very exciting to me. I am really looking forward to seeing where this will take the next books.

Even though the ending may have been slightly predictable? I found the overall story, and pacing left me with a great page turner that I just could not put down. If you are looking for something outside the Vampire, Werewolf, Angel box that seems to be overpowering the YA Paranormal genre right now? Then I highly recommend giving The Body Finder series a read. You will not be disappointed. Plus. You gotta love that cover!!

Rating: 4 stars!