I was a little hesitant to pick this book up because I'm not a huge fan of love triangles. Usually, they're overwrought or forced -- this one girl has...moreI was a little hesitant to pick this book up because I'm not a huge fan of love triangles. Usually, they're overwrought or forced -- this one girl has all the boys (one good, one bad) lusting after her and tripping over themselves to win her love. Pfft.
But UNEARTHLY is different. Clara's had visions of this one boy for ages and she just knows he's the one for her. Since she's part angel, she's destined to find him, save him, and maybe even love him. And then she meets Tucker, an adorable cowboy who takes her breath away. Tucker is absolutely adorable and, unlike many triangles where you're not sure which "team" you're on, there's no way anyone would pick Christian over Tucker (well, I'm sure there are some out there but they're obviously immune to cowboys. Which means there's something wrong with them.).
Clara is a lovely character -- a teen with issues but she's not overly whiny or annoying. I did wish the other characters were a bit more filled out but they were pretty much background filler anyway. The main story was Clara and her angelic purpose, which was definitely intriguing.(less)
Positive: Fantastic urban fantasy world. One of my favorite things is when an author takes our world and spins it on its head. Barnes does this except...morePositive: Fantastic urban fantasy world. One of my favorite things is when an author takes our world and spins it on its head. Barnes does this exceptionally well, starting with Charles Darwin's famous voyage -- that's when the world twists. Darwin doesn't just formulate the theory of evolution, he also reveals to the world all the creatures people thought mythical. In Kali's time, many of those creatures are considered endangered and protected from killing, making her job all that much tougher.
Positive: Great female characters. Kali, Bethany, and Skylar. All unique and interesting, characters who do not stagnate but grow and develop into amazing people. Kali, despite her repetitive belief that no one would understand her issues (and, unfortunately, that bit got very repetitive), risks her own life for a girl she doesn't even like. Bethany, who starts out as the typical mean girl cheerleader, grows past that stereotype into an admirable young woman. And Skylar. Oh, Skylar. With her joie de vivre and her precognition and her cool family, Skylar is my favorite character by far. Oh, and there's a fantastically evil villainess who strides through the story, doing naughty things in click-y high heels.
Positive: Interesting premise. Kali's unsure of who she is--a seemingly human girl one day and a supernatural killing machine the next. Her father and others are neck-deep in intrigue that involves Kali. Then there's the whole Chupacabra thing which, in this case is a parasite that kills humans but can bond with others (this was a little...odd, especially since Chupacabras are generally known as blood-sucking goat killers but okay).
Wish: A better ending. Unfortunately, the end was a bit too muddled for me. There were explanations and death (one terrible, terrible death) and military types and wow. That, plus the half-baked love story with Zev, who kind of creeped me out--it was just too much. Still, I wasn't disappointed, just confused.
Overall: An excellent addition to any urban fantasy shelf, EVERY OTHER DAY packs intrigue, action, and some fabulous characters into a well-told story.(less)
After I tell you how cute this book is and how it's a great summer beach/pool/lake read (it was!), I have to point out that this blurb just doesn't fi...moreAfter I tell you how cute this book is and how it's a great summer beach/pool/lake read (it was!), I have to point out that this blurb just doesn't fit the book (of course, I did get the blurb off the back of an ARC but it's also like that on Amazon, so I'm not sure if they changed it for the printing or not). First off, while Laurel is one of the two main characters, she's not the one telling the story. That quote in italics up there? Is from Aspen, the main-main character and the one telling the story (in first person). Now, Laurel, she's the spark plug, the "naughty" (more adventurous and bored than anything) one who drags Aspen into all kinds of trouble over the summer but she's not actually doing any of the telling.
Oh, how I love summer books. There's just something about the lightness, the freedom that comes with summer -- heat, sunshine, lemonade, crappy summer jobs so you have enough money to buy the clothes you want rather than what Mom'll buy you, flirting with cute boys, and freedom. This book speaks to all that (though Aspen and Laurel do manage to lose their freedom several times during their summer adventures) and made me long for summer.
Aspen reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age. She's got one best friend who she does everything with, she's kind of easily influenced and talked into things that aren't always the best ideas, and she has a hard time standing up for herself and saying no. This gets her in all kinds of trouble with her parents, the police, Laurel, and the local bully-boys (Holy cow, I hate them. Mean as snakes, those boys are! Yes, I'm channeling my inner Yoda.). But she learns from her mistakes and grows as an individual through those experiences.
Then there's the boy. Clay. The ginger with the electric blue eyes. He sees her at her very worst (Stinking of pig poop? Check. Busted by the cops? Check. Puking her guts out after too much Jungle Juice? Check.) and still likes her. All throughout the book, we're teased by the possibility of a relationship. Aspen's brother keeps telling her that Clay likes her. Aspen melts when she sees him. But nothing happens for the longest time. So frustrating! (But realistic, especially in regards to this character.)
Aspen and Laurel are very cute teens just trying to have a good summer before their last year in high school. A&L DO SUMMER is a fast, sweet, funny story that had me cringing (uhg, when Aspen drank so much at that barn party -- poor girl. Been there, tossed my cookies like that.) and rooting for the girls. I definitely recommend this one.(less)
I think I'm completely in love with Egmont USA. Their 2011 releases are absolutely fantastic and Allen Zadoff's latest is no exception. Filled with hu...moreI think I'm completely in love with Egmont USA. Their 2011 releases are absolutely fantastic and Allen Zadoff's latest is no exception. Filled with humor and insight into the experience of growing up, MLtTaOT (yep, that's the novel's super-long but oh-so-descriptive title condensed) tells the story of Adam Zeigler and his quest to regain control over his life. Ever since his artist father died in a car wreck, Adam's been plagued by nightmares and a crippling fear of the dark. Funny how his fear led him to a job in his high school theater group's lighting department. Of course, his best friend, Reach, might have had a hand in that decision, too.
Up on the catwalk with his precious lights, Adam can observe the world at work, without getting completely involved. Until he meets Grace, a techie who's fallen from grace (pun intended) since she dated actor-cum-student-production-designer Derek, and Summer, the actor who captures his heart. Suddenly, he's on the wrong side of Derek the Wannabe Director and his BFF. The actors think Adam's sabotaging the production but he knows it's Derek and his amazing ego that's blowing things up.
I can totally get behind Adam and his difficulties. He's so affable, so much an everyman that it's almost impossible not to root for him to get the girl, to defeat the bad guy (in this case, it's that arrogant arse, Derek, another great character), and save the entire production. In the beginning, Adam's such a doormat, just lying down and letting everyone, including his best friend, walk all over him. But once he starts to stand up for himself even just the littlest bit, I wanted to give him a standing ovation, just to encourage him.
MLtTaOT is a book you will not want to put down until you've absorbed every last drop of it. A fabulous read.(less)
Positive: This story kind of freaked me out. I mean, we know that electromagnetic pulses actually could happen, that there's been a ton of testing wit...morePositive: This story kind of freaked me out. I mean, we know that electromagnetic pulses actually could happen, that there's been a ton of testing with EMPs and the like, and that we'd pretty much be screwed if this happened (unless you're living in a bomb shelter with super-old technology. Then you might be okay.). While people probably wouldn't turn into flesh-eating zombies (are you ready for the zombie apocalypse?), many would die or end up in dire straits. I love apocalyptic books that take reality, like an EMP, and twist it into great fiction.
Positive: Alex is a pretty cool character, one who I could see surviving an apocalypse. She's quick on her feet, intelligent, and relatively cool-headed. When the EMP detonates and changes her world, she's off on her own and coping with her parents' death as well as her own imminent demise from an inoperable brain tumor. All this forced her to grow up quickly. She's a character I could get behind and truly root for.
Positive: The first half of the book rocked. I mean, edge-of-your-seat, can't-put-it-down-yet-want-to-cover-your-eyes awesomeness. There's gore, there's violence, there are birds literally dropping from the sky, there's action, and some serious questions of character survival (yeah, some don't make it. But you've got to expect that in a post-apocalyptic-cum-zombie book.)
Wish: That the little girl character had been one of the ones eaten by a zombie. Or three. Good lord, she was so freakin' annoying! If I were Alex, I might have accidentally-on-purpose left her behind. Come on. Little girls can be shrill and somewhat irritating at time but this one was like a conglomeration of every bad little girl trait out there.
Wish: That the second half of the book rocked even half as hard as the first. *sigh* What happened? It was no longer wilderness survival and a really bad road trip; it moved to Alex being trapped in a town of people who may or may not be good. And then, just when you're thinking, okay, things are turning around for Alex, there's the cliffhanger! Noooo!!!
Overall: There's such amazing potential in this book/series, and it's really worth a read if you like post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels. I'm looking forward to seeing where Bick takes us in the second novel. More zombies? Ooh, more gore and horror? Alex kicking some serious bad dude butt? Yes, please.(less)
Positive: The pack dynamic. I love how Bryn, the human alpha, connects to them all and really knows them. While she doesn't change with they change, s...morePositive: The pack dynamic. I love how Bryn, the human alpha, connects to them all and really knows them. While she doesn't change with they change, she can still run with them, feels the wolf calling, and the pull of the wild. It's a visceral experience.
Positive: The characters. Bryn, the main character, is a very smart, very strong girl who's had to deal with more than any normal 16-year-old but she shoulders the responsibility beautifully. It helps that she has a wonderful support system in the form of her pack and inner circle: her beta, her best friends, and her boyfriend. They're all well-drawn characters that I grew rather attached to over the course of the novel.
Positive: The storytelling. You must know how much I dislike cliffhangers. This book does NOT have one (hallelujah!). In fact, though this is the second in a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. There's a complete, well-written story within this novel, one that had me staying up way past my bedtime to finish it and find out how Bryn and her pack overcome the threats against their very survival.
Wish: That I'd read RAISED BY WOLVES! Not that you have to read the first book in the series first with these books but TRIAL BY FIRE was so good, I now know I'm totally missing out by not reading it. *downloads Book One to Kindle* Okay, I'm set now.
Overall: In a glutted paranormal market, TRIAL BY FIRE distinguishes itself as one of the best stories (werewolves rock!) out there. So worth the read!
This is such an adorable book and not in a too-sugary-sweet way, either. Welcome to Sheridan's world. She's happiest when she's creating her beautiful...moreThis is such an adorable book and not in a too-sugary-sweet way, either. Welcome to Sheridan's world. She's happiest when she's creating her beautiful cakes in her grandmother's bakery, focused on rosettes and molded chocolate and fondant creations. Known as The Cake Girl, she's not that popular with her peers, though she has a good guy friend who's always been there for her. Unlike her mother, who left. Unlike her father, who's obsessed with his restaurant and, most recently, the possibility of a cooking show.
Sheridan can be a bit of a pistol at times, especially with her dad. She's a very focused (one might say anal-retentive) girl who absolutely loves what she does. The love between her and her grandmother is so sweet. Her nanny encourages her, works her hard, and feeds her right, giving her the love that she's missing from her parents. But Sheridan wants more and she's sure, if she can just find her mother, everything will be great again.
Okay, so there is the stereotypical mean girl but there's a reason for the mean girl stereotype. Because they exist, those power-hungry little chickies. They want to rule their group, maybe even the school, they want to be the ones who know all the gossip, and they definitely want the hottest guy all to themselves, in this case the guy Sheridan has a mad crush on, Ethan. And when Ethan starts to show some interest in Sheridan, the mean girl's all over it.
I could babble on and on about this book: adorable Jack, the cooking show, the great cakes and how I wish there were a bakery like Sweeties in my town, the satisfying ending (oh, yay--no cliffhanger!)...but I'll stop before I give it all away. A triple layer of sugary perfection complete with a sprinkle of shimmer dust, THE SWEETEST THING will satiate your need for a delectable summer read.(less)
Wow. This story was super-cool and so very different than anything I've read in quite a while. The main character, Emerson, is awesome. She's complete...moreWow. This story was super-cool and so very different than anything I've read in quite a while. The main character, Emerson, is awesome. She's completely vulnerable at times but with an iron core of strength that makes her so appealing. And her family -- her older brother and his wife -- are fantastic. They care so much about each other and are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to make each other content and comfortable.
For the longest time, Emerson thought she was crazy because she saw things that weren't there. People from times gone by would sit around and chat with her, if she let them. People who would disappear as soon as she touched them. She still doesn't really know what they are or why they appear to her and not her brother or his wife but, by the time we meet her, she's tired of being poked, prodded and medicated. Even though they still freak her out, she's somewhat resigned to her "visions" existing in the same space as her.
Then her brother hires someone new who claims he can help her. Michael says he knows what she's going through, that he sees what she can see and he understands. Emerson is reluctant, especially considering all the other charlatans her brother's hired in an effort to help her with her problem. But Michael's cute and he proves himself to be the real deal. Except...he's got secrets. Secrets he's very reluctant to share, though he wants to know everything about Emerson.
Like Emerson, I wasn't sure what to think of Michael at first. He set off my BS-meter, especially with his overreaction to Emerson's attempt to find out more about Hourglass, the mysterious organization where Michael works. But serious fireworks explode between Michael and Emerson. Even though Michael acts like he's so much older than Emerson, he's really only a couple of years older. He's so unwilling to let Emerson in, she practically has to get out a ladder to scale his walls. And it's not like she doesn't have walls of her own.
There's such a great story going on here. Time travel, magic, plots within plots, betrayals, and so many twists and turns, you won't be able to put the book down until the very last page. Then, you'll beg for more and, lucky for us, there will be! (Thank goodness there isn't a cliffhanger--those drive me nuts.) I highly recommend HOURGLASS.(less)
Such a cute story! Fast-paced and funny, WILL WORK FOR PROM DRESS satisfied my need for a light read with great characters (and no cliffhanger--yay!)....moreSuch a cute story! Fast-paced and funny, WILL WORK FOR PROM DRESS satisfied my need for a light read with great characters (and no cliffhanger--yay!).
Quigley is kind of an "every girl" character--nice girl, pretty, artistic, but nothing too stand-out, at least in her mind. (I was kind of curious about the origins of her name, though. Cute but made me think of that cheesy Tom Selleck movie, Quigley Down Under.). She's content to let her best friend, Ann, take the lead in their relationship which, at this moment, involves buying fabulous dresses for prom. A dance that they do not as yet have dates for. Despite the fact that Ann's mom is a famous designer who'd be more than happy to create dresses for them.
Ann's plan to earn money for said dresses involves some pretty wacky jobs including acting in a dinner theatre play and working on a pizza assembly line (Quigley gets creative with the toppings--she is an artist, after all). The last job--model for a fashion design class--puts Quigley in the hands of adorable budding designer Zander. Lucky her. Unfortunately, she thinks of him as more of a friend, one who may or may not play for the other team (she kind of assumes...and you know what happens when people assume things). Then there's David, her nemesis, the jerk, the one who she's always been in artistic competition with. He's being nice and...wait, is he flirting with her? (Personally, I rooted for Zander to make his move and get past that "friendship" stage. He's so cute!)
This story made me giggle quite a bit. Quigley always seems to get the short end of the stick when it comes to Ann's plans (the time she had to face-plant into a plate full of dressing comes to mind) but she keeps her sense of humor, especially since Ann wants what's best for both of them. Then there's Ann. She's the secret daughter of a liaison her mom had with a famous actor, she's got big plans for her life, and she's just one of those people who lights up a room. A great character. There's a bit of a serious sub plot interwoven through the story but it doesn't dominate and it doesn't scream "There's a moral here, people". It does, however, add an extra layer to the novel.(less)
MaryBookSwarm
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egmont
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