Review is also posted here - + a giveaway to win a print copy!
I simply adore books about witches, always have. I jumped at the chance Review is also posted here - + a giveaway to win a print copy!
I simply adore books about witches, always have. I jumped at the chance to read What The Spell? by Brittany Geragotelis. I was first introduced to Brittany by a mutual author friend, Lori Curwell. Lori told me that Brittany was recently signed with Simon & Schuster after being a self-published author. I found out more info about her books and was soon sent an ARC to review. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing What The Spell? turned out to be.
As the story begins we meet Brooklyn who is about to turn sweet sixteen. Brooklyn longs to fit in, to be somebody special but most of all to be beautiful and popular. She knows she is nothing to look at, plain, and boring. She feels invisible and alone. Her one and only friend happens to be her guidance counselor....yeah pretty lame. Things are about to change...
Brooklyn has a big secret...in which no one else knows, well besides her parents. Brooklyn is a WITCH and on her 16th birthday he parents will un-bound her powers, her birth right. She has waited her whole life to gain these powers and wants to use them to transform herself into someone "everyone" will take notice of. After she receives her powers the first thing Brooklyn does is chance her appearances from head to toe. Long Blonde hair, eyes the color of the ocean, model tall, clear skin, and a rocking body! Wow, what a few spells can do to change boring Brooklyn into America's Top Model.
Being invisible was no longer a option.
From as long as she can remember Brooklyn has wanted to be apart of a group at school called "The Elite". A powerful clique of the rich, beautiful, and most popular kids in school. The Untouchables. With Brooklyn's new found beauty and drastic change she hopes to be finally noticed by the group, or even asked to join. Although she discovers being beautiful does not give you a free pass. When "The Elite" do take notice of Brooklyn on her first day back to school she comes to find that being a part of their group is no easy task. She is asked to do a series of tests to pledge her legion to The Elite. Easy, right? Wrong! Using her magic is the only way to completes the tests...and getting caught is NOT an option.
What's a witch to do? Will Brooklyn's new looks and popularity be enough to win The Elite over or will she use her magic for all the wrong reasons?
The Good, The Bad, and the witchy?
What I liked most about this book is the main character growth throughout the story. In the beginning Brooklyn felt very insecure and alone, but once she came into her powers she evolved into a more positive person. I guess the one thing that bugged me about Brooklyn is that once she became this beautiful girl who everyone wanted to be like, she lost her true self. She would do anything, including using magic to be accepted. Along the way she even went as far as changing her inner self her, heart to fit it. I really enjoyed seeing her character grow and change throughout the book.
The story itself was very intriguing and captured my attention right from the start. I loved the use of witchcraft...the spells, and learning about her family's past. I found the book hard to put down, always wanting to find out what would happen next to Brooklyn. The authors writing style was very smooth and has a elegant flow from page to page. A fantastic book for all ages, and especially the young adult crowd, coming to age readers.
The only problem I did have with the book was the way Brooklyn acted after be tested my The Elite. She was willing to do practically anything to gain acceptance even if that meant giving up her true self. She wanted to be liked so much that Brooklyn figuratively speaking "sold her soul" to get there.
The ending was positively perfect and I can't wait to find out what's in store next for this little "witch". ...more
Review also posted @ Also check out my review for book 1, Black City -
*sigh and dreamy look* This series keeps getting betReview also posted @ Also check out my review for book 1, Black City -
*sigh and dreamy look* This series keeps getting better and better, book by book. If you have not read book one if the series, Black City then I would suggest you do and also be aware there may be some slight spoilers in this review.
Phoenix picks up almost right after Black City ends. Once again the story is being told from both Ash and Natalie's POV. Ash "The boy who rose from the ashes" is now given the name PHOENIX because of the recently attempted execution by the Government and President Rose. Both Ash and Natalie remain within the walls of Black City. They desperately try to give hope to their people and somehow find a way to end this fuming war once and for all. Although the quest for freedom does not come easy for either Ash or Natalie. Things go from bad to worse when President Rose threatens Ash to make a decision between the girl he loves, and his followers, the people of Black City. Ash must now make the right choice. But how can he choose between two things he loves so dearly. With only days left to choose someone new comes into the picture....someone who offers Ash a way out and way to end this war once and for all. But the price of this freedom may be more than anyone saw coming...
From here the story truly begins - Death, Bloodshed, Battles, Lost, an Escape and a LOVE like no other. PHOENIX has it all!
The EPIC battle to save their world.....begins with a savior; "The boy who rose from the ashes".
Wow, I was blown away by this book. I kept telling myself that this book could not get any better than Black City but boy was I wrong. PHOENIX was immensely fast paced and held my attention throughout the entire book. I read it from cover to cover in only one day. Yeah, it was THAT good! I loved the dual narration between Ash and Natalie. Seeing things happen from both of their POV's. Oh, and the romance between them was better than ever. Although the author throws us a curve ball; there is a "love triangle" introduced into the book. I won't go into this future because I don't want to spoil it for those who have not read, Pheonix.
Author Elizabeth Richards has captured by heart once again. Her writing style is almost lyrical. Elizabeth somehow finds a way to make her story "jump off the page" come alive. I felt like I too could feel what the characters were going through; their pain, hurt, loss, loneliness, indecision, and most of all love and to never give up for what they believed in.
There was never a dull moment. Phoenix is so super action packed and for me this made the book really carry it's own.
The beginning was heartbreaking and the ending was breathtaking.... AGAIN, I'll say: PHOENIX has it all! This book, this series, IS a MUST read! If you've been procrastinating on whether or not to read this series ...STOP! DON"T THINK! DO! I promise you'll never regret it. ...more
Temptation is your classic boy meets girl love story. Only in this story falling in lReview original posted -
Temptation is your classic boy meets girl love story. Only in this story falling in love is forbidden. Noah and his family are Amish and are custom to the simple things in life. Rose was your big city gal until her Father decided to uproot her to live out in the country. On the first day as her family is moving into their new home some unexpected visitors arrive welcoming them to town. Noah a boy from a nearby Amish community is among them. Noah and his family is like nothing Rose has ever seen. Noah and Rose get to know each other and quickly begin to fall in love. Love at first sight truly is real and both seem to be feeling the same thing about each other. Noah understand that it is forbidden to love someone like a Rose, a outsider, a English girl a non-amish. While Rose comes to find out that Noah should not be with someone like her. This only makes them want each other more. Rose and Noah will now need to find a way to be with each other even if that means risking everything for true love.
I have always been quite fascinated by the Amish culture. I love how simple there lives are and how they have such strong family vaules. My understanding about how the Amish live has always been kind of hazy. I admit I have never really looked into this subject so it was very refreshing reading my first book about it and learning more. Author Karen Ann Hopkins did a wonderful job of not only writing a beautiful romance but having a unqiue background for the book to be set in. I honestly enjoyed learning more about Amish people and their lives. Temptation really pulled on my heart strings many times during the book and the ending had me in tears. I so felt bad that Rose and Noah had to hide what they were feeling and betray their families in the process.
The romance in the story between Noah and Rose is so sweet and unconditional. I really became attached to how they had such a prue love for each other. I did have a couple issues as well I would like to addess. One, I did feel that even know the love between the couple was real it happened to fast for my taste. I felt they should have gotten to know each other more, inside and out before falling so deeply in love. Two, Rose was a little to pleasing for my taste. At times during the book Noah would remark on things he thought Rose should do or how she should act according to what he was raised to believe. Rose never really got to mad at him for saying so.
All in all I really did adore this book. I liked it a lot more than I though I would have. I feel the main things that make Temptation to be such a great read is the pure yet innocent love between the main characters and of course the setting of the story. The author Karen Ann Hopkins has written a lovey debut novel. Her writing style just flows off the page.
So, would I read the next one? Yes! Definitely. For anyone who enjoys reading YA Contemporary novels I would so recommend Temptation. ...more
First Impressions: Random is not the type of book I would usually pick up and reReview is posted here:
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First Impressions: Random is not the type of book I would usually pick up and read. Although the blurb for the book did sound pretty interesting and while if I may be honest I did not really care for the book cover. After reading Random I still am wondering what the cover has to do with the story itself. With all that said I was really not excepting Random it be something I would like to read, but WOW, was I wrong! It turn out that I just loved everything about it, er, well maybe not the cover so much but the story was... well let me tell you....
My Review: Random has everything! From love, hate, heartbreak, strong emotions, and even death. Random is a story about a girl named Tierney. Tierney and her friends Jeremy and Maya meet Tom a new kid on the first day back to school. They all decide to cut school, even Tom and go back to Jeremy house to have a little fun. Their drug of choice? Everything. Like a lot of high school age kids drugs is way to relax or get away from their problems. This group of friends are no different. Little did they know that the drugs that they have been doing would soon lead to a whole new and devastating problem. Someone ends up in the hospital slowly dying in their group, but the big question is what really happen that night? And why? Random tells the story of a drug filled haze, coasting between, love, sadness, and a deep betrayal. With the shock of loosing their friend, Tierney find comfort from Tom. Tom has been nothing but kind and helps her and Emma though this heartbreak, but who REALLY is Tom? What happen to Jeremy that night? All of these question and more will soon relieve themselves while reading the book.
I really enjoyed the this book and I found myself needing to read more and more to unlock what really happen that random night. I as the reader felt as if I was being taken to for thrill ride at a amusement park, twists and turns, as the plot devolves around me. I was thrown from feeling confused about why they all choose to turn to drugs to feeling sad for their lose of Jeremy. Then being upset about what really happen to being happy that Tierney was able to finally find some peace. Never has a book made me feel so tossed in my emotions while reading. This is so not a bad thing per say because I feel it gives the book such depth and gives the reader a sense of empathy for the character's.
Author Charong Chow I feel did a superb job writing Random. Her style of writing was impeccable and the pace of the book was fast; always leading closer and closer to what really happen and how each character would find the strength and learn to survive. So, yes I would so recommend Random to my readers. I really loved it and was thinking about the story long after it was read.
Final Thoughts: Keeping this part simple: Time and time again I find I learn something from a book like this and feel the need to pass on such a beautiful story. Random would definitely be one of those books. And although the cover was not to my liking the tale inside was well worth the read....more
--- First Impressions: Honestly I was not sure how I would like this Review is posted on blog:
Rating: 3.5 Stars
--- First Impressions: Honestly I was not sure how I would like this book simply because I don't really read a lot of novels that are strictly Young Adult. I most often read YA novels that have a sub-genre present (PRN, Urban Fantasy, Horror, ect) so going into a book like this had me feeling a bit hesitant. I really loved the book synopis and the cover itself did not make any sense to me but after you read The Word Gang it all will fall in place and help the reader to understand why the cover of the book looks the way it does.
Review: Well I am not sure where to begin with this review but I guess I will first tell you that I really learned a lot while reading. A single word now has more meaning that I thought and can make a huge impact in life, especially when that word(s) happens to change a persons life for the better. At the start of the book you are introduced to the main character Kalisha Jackson who have been hiding a big secret from everyone - She has cut school for the whole year and but never told anyone. After deciding to tell her Mom and to risk the consequences. Kalisha goes back into High School and it determined to stay this time. On the first day of school she finds out that she is being put into a special class or program called Protect Restart. This program is new to her school and is for students who need a fresh start. The Vice Principal is teaching the class and is a total jerk. Jack Ralston only thinks of this as a job and treats the students horribly as they are worthless in his eyes. After being given a Compact Oxford Dictionary from a sweet old man who lives upstairs Kalisha learns a lot of unique and new words. These words are rare and unused in this day and age. Kalisha and her new friends in the class begin to use these words during Protect Restart class. No hard done, right? You would think but because Vice Principal, Jack does not understand or know these words this angers him and thus will begin the start of the "The Word Gang". How can a single word get someone if trouble? Well the answer lies with the pages.
I will not tell you anymore of the story because it would spoil the novel but the whole concept of the book is unique and very realistic. I really enjoyed the book being narrated from the POV of Kalisha. She and her friends are fun and relatable character's. Many times during the book I felt sorry for the way they were all being treated. I really love when I can form a bond with one or more of the character's in the book and can get a sense of what they were dealing with on a emotional level. On a different note, there was a few things in the novel that I did not care for. One being that I felt the overall flow of the novel was kind of slow and the side stories within the novel did not really draw me in. I found Jack Ralston to be very crude and hurtful. While I understand that his character was written this way to make a impact within the book. I could not help but feel that his overall attitude brought down my mood while reading. I keep thinking that I don't understand why he was treating these kids so meanly; never even giving them the benefit of the doubt to do better. The story itself for me was pretty good and I really loved that "The Word Gang" worked together to stop this harsh treatment and make a difference. The impact from this felt was very sincere and inspirational.
Final Thoughts: After reading the book I found that I did come like it more that I through I would have and while I realize this type of book is not something I would usually pick up myself and read I was happy I did decide to give it a go. The Author, Mark McKenna I feel wrote a book that has and will impact teens and and even Adults. The Word Gang is such a feel good story that in the end will leave the reader having a better understanding of what a simple "action" can do to impact and change a life. ...more
Okay, so let me first start out and say I did not think this book would be this awesome of a read. I was not My Thoughts: ( I give this book 4 Stars )
Okay, so let me first start out and say I did not think this book would be this awesome of a read. I was not sure what to except when I started to read Chronicles of Fire. I was blown away by how much I really enjoyed this book. The story-line was exciting and the flow of the story was so perfect. I sometimes feel like a author can rush different parts of the book to hurry along the plot, but not this book. It was flawless and always keep me wondering what would happen next. I so enjoyed all of the idea's and the characters were so down to earth and real. Chronicles of Fire gives the reader a magical, fun, and tearful ride into a world where you never know what will happen next. This is the story of Jake who was left on a church's doorstep by his Mother. She felt she needed to keep him safe from the evil in her world. As Jake grows up now living with his adopted Grandparents he leads a normal live with his two Best Friends, Ben and Ellen. They are all on the fencing team at there school and Jake has hopes to become the state champion but little does he know that one day very soon his fighting skills will come in real handy. Later odd things start happening to Jake and will lead to one accident after another. But is Jake responsible for these weird accidents? Well, on his 18th Birthday he will soon find that out and who he really is and why Jake can produce fire with his mind. Jake has now only begun to understand his powers and learn there is a different kind of power out there, a very dark power, "The Order"....
I did not want to go more into depth about the book because I would be giving to much away. I highly recommend this book to any YA-Adult readers. Chronicles of Fire was such a pure delight to read and I loved the Author's style of writing, very smooth and creative. J.P McNeil has shown to be a brilliant writer and I so look forward to reading more of his work. If you are looking for a light, fun and magical read, try this book out. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you J.P. for asking me to read your book. I <3 It! ...more
Before I began I would like to thank Jennifer Echols for allowing me to read one of her novels as well as signing the book for me. I hope you, JennifeBefore I began I would like to thank Jennifer Echols for allowing me to read one of her novels as well as signing the book for me. I hope you, Jennifer and my readers will enjoy this review.
I have been hearing a lot of great things about Jennifer's novels from blog friends of mine and knew I wanted to read one. Since I had not yet read any books by her I did not know what to expect. I have recently gotten into Chick-lit genre and after reading Forgot you my love for these type's of books has grown a lot stronger. Forget you has such a amazing story line that will keep the reader wanting to know what will happen next. There is such a passionate relationship between the two main character's in the book and even when you think that both of them could so not be right for each for what happened in the past... they are!
So let's start from the beginning. Zoey is your average teen age girl. She is on the swim team, she works for her Dad at a water park, she has two best friends and a guy friends who she is falling for. What more could one ask for. Zoey ends up having sex for the first time with her crush/friend, Brandon one night at a party. Everything seems to being going good for Zoey. Until one day her Mother attempts suicide because of ongoing problems with her ex-husband. Zoey's world turns upside down with this. She now is being taken from her Mother's home to go and live with her Dad. Zoey does not want anyone to know about what happen to her Mom who is now in a mental hospital. But someone does know and Zoey is not to happy about this. Doug. Both Doug and Zoey have never really been on good terms with each other from a past event that lead to both of them choosing not to like one another. One night at a Football game Zoey has a run in with Doug who is nothing but mean to her. Zoey is hurt and decides to go find Brandon at a after-party on the beach but after getting into her car that is the last thing she remembers... There was a car crash and Something happen that night that she cannot remember and now suddenly Doug is being so sweet to her. But why? While Brandon barely will speak to her.
Find out what happens by reading Forget you for yourself. I truly believe if you enjoy chick-lit books then this Forget you would be a perfect fit. I really loved reading about the love/hate relationship between Zoey and Doug. I found myself seeing Doug in a whole new light. At the beginning of the book I was not sure I liked him for the way she was treating Zoey but after seeing him for who he really is makes for a great transformation that took place throughout the book. Now Zoey at times came off as being somewhat naive about what was going on around here. Both of the main character where fun to get to know and I so enjoy reading about how there relationship bloomed along the way. One thing I did not like and this was not the author fault but I hated Zoey's Dad. At some points in the book I wished I could reach into the book and smack him. ^__^ I did in fact like how there was a mystery within the book, trying to find out what really happen to Zoey the night she lost her memory. That makes for a very interesting read in my opinion. Jennifer's writing style was smooth and face paced. Such a captivating love story with a mix of mystery thrown in. As this was my first book read by Jennifer Echols and I whole-hearty enjoyed it, more than I thought I would. I feel that she is a brilliant writer with the rare talent to write such a alluring book to leave her readers wanting more. ...more
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