March 2010 by Roaring Brook Press

Hardcover, 320 pages

Purchased Copy

Book Synopsis

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested. Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned. Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.......(GoodReads)

Review

A mother after hours of labor gives birth to a beautiful newborn, exhausted from labor but thrilled to be looking at her child, quietly sips her tea. After only moments of happiness, fear and anger rip through her body as Gaia marks, bundles and leaves the mothers home to hand over the beautiful newborn to the enclave.................so go's life in the world of Birthmarked, children are payments to the government and babies are in high demand. In this dreary, dark and crumbling society, questions will arise for the reader many thought provoking scenarios such as, humanity, civil rights, child bearing and incestuous breeding. And not since Neal Shusterman’s Unwind, have I felt an author writing to the YA audience provoke such tough questions in the sense of human life and personal freedoms.

After the arrest of her parents Gaia works against the clock, trying to sneak into the enclave, rescue her mom and dad and escape to the forest, but like all good plans with the best intentions she is caught and jailed. Gaia will have to cooperate with the enclave officials if she ever wants to see her parents alive again and she must unravel a code that is near impossible. Little does Gaia know that her parents fate have already been handed down, that her life will soon take a turn of inevitability and that she might along the way just find a love that is worth fighting having children for.

A little slow getting started I found myself immersed in this world and enjoyed the entire story. An amazing debut showcasing a strong, somewhat naïve, but ultimately brave character.

Rating

Birthmarked is a fantastic dystopian novel that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Violence, intense action, mild blood and gore, social and political commentaries, mild adult content including fertility and "adoption" are all topics touched on in this novel. Suitable for 15 and up.

4.5/5- YA- Dystopian

A Blog with Bite May Selection

BWB Discussion Questions

1.When reading dystopian, the scary aspect is thinking, "Could this happen one day?" Did you ask yourself this while reading Birthmarked? Do you think a future like this is possible?

I think its possible something like that in a dystopian novel could happen....I think that's the draw to these novels, its taking the worst possible scenarios and putting characters through hell- or to know that however terrible things might get, the human spirit is always stronger than the horrors and will overcome.

2.How did the puzzle aspect of the story work for you? Did you figure out the code or was the explanation a surprise? Does this element work for you in a story or is there one you like/appreciate more?

The puzzle made the story more intriguing for me as a reader, I was surprised when she discovered the code...because I had no clue. Of course it was a bit far-fetched but I still liked that once revealed could make sense in the world of Birthmarked.

3.Gaia follows in the steps of her mother as a midwife. For Gaia in the beginning its service and only later does she realize what taking the babies signifies. Can you put yourself in the mothers role, what would you do if Gaia tried to take your newborn?

Well I am a mother and in the world I live in....I would fight Gaia to the death for my baby, but in the Dystopian world view, I would hope I had the strength to fight Gaia and flee to the Dead Forest.......Sometimes the scariest thing is a mother protecting her young.

4.Gaia feels ugly because of her scar and unable to fit in within the wall (enclave) because she wasn't perfect. Do you think finding out that her parents lied to her [about how she got the scar] was able to move the story along??

I knew from the beginning that Gaia's parents hurt her....I'm thinking it was very drastic, perhaps they could have picked a better spot, say her arm or leg...why the face people? I thought it fit well with the story but did nothing to move the plot along.

May 2010 by WaterBrook Press 

Paperback, 416 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

A.D. 2088.

Missionary daughter Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds. But a larger threat looms. The world's leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether—but at what expense? As Abby navigates a society grown more addicted to stimulating the body than nurturing the soul, she and Creighton Daniels, a historian troubled by his father's unexpected death, become unwitting targets of powerful men who will stop at nothing to further their nefarious goals......(Goodreads)

Review

Don't let the title of this book scare you or lead you to believe this is about preachy religion or door knockers asking if you've seen the light. Be prepared to fall into a futuristic, sci-fi technology thriller.

The year is 2088, genetic and scientific breakthrough have exploded to mind boggling potentials and living life in the virtual world is second nature. People rarely marry, Christianity and any religious thoughts have been completely wiped out and the latest...silicon brains are all the rave, making immortality for the common man attainable.

Once Abby reaches America, she's basically in shock, growing up in the jungle cut off from society has sheltered her mind and her heart. Grief stricken by the loss of her entire family and overwhelmed by the society she sees, Abby must face her fear and complete the mission she believes God has sent her for.
The story held my interest throughout most of the book, in the beginning I was very confused and started feeling lost, but by page 150 things pick up speed and pace along nicely. Some of the political aspects tended to drag and side characters lacked depth, most of the book though centers around Abby who I felt was a strong enough anchor in the book to carry the plot without the use of many side characters. I actually wanted to read more from Kate's perspective but found mid-way through the book she was placed on the back burner. Side characters aside, I thought the story was a fantastic what if........For sure to be a pleaser to any who love technology or futuristic driven books.

Rating

The Last Christian was a fun futuristic read with violence, murder, mystery, adult content and political elements. Targeted to the adult reader but can be enjoyed by the mature teen.

Giveaway

Thanks to the greats at Random House I have one copy of The Last Christian up for grabs to enter please just leave a comment. Open to everyone, including non- followers, but if you follow my blog please mention in comment for extra entry. I will draw a winner on July 7, 2010, that winner will be responsible to contact me with shipping info.

4/5- Christian Suspense-Sci-Fi Thriller

Thank you to Waterbrook Press for Review Copy, to find out more or purchase your own copy go here.

Paperback, 288 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Laila had it all--love, family, wealth, and faith. But when her faith crumbles, her world falls apart and Laila finds herself living an empty, dangerous life as a call girl in Chicago. When she is threatened, Laila shoots and kills a client in self-defense, sending herself into a spiral of guilt and emptiness. Six months later, she is trying to move on, but she's haunted by the past. She hasn't told anyone about the man she killed, and she's still estranged from her family. When she is approached by a stranger who says he knows what she did, Laila has no choice but to run. But the stranger stays close behind, and Laila begins having visions of the man she killed. Little does she know she's being hounded by something not of this world, something that knows her deepest, darkest secret. Scared and wandering, will Laila regain her trust in God to protect her from these demons? Or will her plea for salvation come too late?  (Taken from CFBA tour site)

If you would like to read the first chapter of Broken, go HERE.

Review

A twisty little adventure written in unique third person style (think McMann's Wake) with the same type of dark feel yet not as fragmented. It took me a few chapters to get used to Thrashers style of writing as I found some of the words very dicey, but once I got the flow down it paced along very nicely until the end. Parts of the novel especially with the supporting cast had me at times very confused and feeling lost, I didn't know if these things were for real or if I just walked into schizophrenia land. Regardless, it was still an interesting read and I'm always surprised to find a Christian author who gets gritty and dark. I loved that this book went in some corners a lot of authors in this genre will not. The mixture of nightmares and the supernatural gave the book a feeling of a horror novel but still anchored to a believable reality-minus of course the schizo parts.

Laila is the broken woman, feeling utterly alone and running for her life, the character showcases pain and deep fear. Some of her actions and decisions left me with a jaw drop, but considering where her life was at I understood why so much darkness surrounded her and why she was being in some circumstances a bonehead. The ending while not a huge shocker finished brilliant, and the last thoughts on the page were able to give a religious aspect to the novel. I highly recommend this to any horror or supernatural fan. Unfortunately not all Christian fiction readers out there will like this. I dare use the word "edgy"  for Christian fiction. It left me wowed and in chills.

Rating

Broken is action packed with suspense, frightening aspects, murder, mild language, violence and adult content including mild sexual circumstances. Recommended to adult readers.

4/5- Thriller

Thanks to the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for review copy, to learn more about the CFBA and see a full tour list for Broken and info on Travis Thrasher go  here.

About the Author

It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007. Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has two novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

March 2010 by Razorbill

Hardcover, 301 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever. When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty. When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek? The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.............(GoodReads)

Review

I was so excited to read this novel, anything resembling a retelling of Beauty and the Beast always catches my eye. I know this book by reading the author comments was based on and dedicated to a real boy who passed away and I would never want to diminish his memory by anything I say in my review, so with respect to him and Ms. Morrison this is my personal opinion of the fictional story..........

To begin, I felt this was more teen drama than a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, nothing for me felt fairy tallish or resembled the true characters that make the Beast the Beast and make Beauty ---Beauty.

Beth is a pimply faced gal with very low self –esteem in the first half of the book, she has one friend, Scott and a seemingly well home life. Beth beyond her physical appearance has been blessed with a beautiful voice, she sings in choir and pretty much lives for the competition. In a turn of events Beth who has always sang from the back row finally gets noticed and is given a major lead solo in a fierce competition that will take the choir team to Switzerland. This of course sparks concern with all the girls because of  Beth’s appearance and they go to work to transform her into a beauty queen.

And here is where I had the hardest time with the book, I felt a bit lost during Beth’s makeover. To me she really never represented the Beast; she was a very pretty girl with bad acne and greasy hair- nothing a laser, cream and a good stylist couldn’t fix. The book rambles on and on about her gorgeous body and size 2 frame. She’s super tall, but where Beth thinks she’s a skyscraper, the other girls refer to her as a runway model. Nowhere do I think the Beast character was truly represented- he is complex yet a very simple character to nail down and to be honest, we all have a little beast in us, when facing the hard truth of what’s in our hearts. But the beast was punished because he had such a mean spirit before his curse, Beth was good inside and out even before the transformation and Derek (the boy Beth meets in Switzerland) was never in danger of being a beast, he was good through and through – if anything I could see him playing the role of Beauty.

Parts of the book were very beautiful and even heartfelt. Derek surely brings emotional depth to the novel, but many aspects I found were just too wishy-washy. Beth has major self-esteem problems, yet only weeks later after a good laser treatment, she is the queen of the world and has no self-image issues anymore. It was hard for me to connect with her because I thought her character was all over the place. Towards the end of the novel, I knew where the book was going and hoped to see some major depth with Beth, but it felt very forced and not genuine. The ending for me also solidified how much I unfortunately did not like Beth's character. Although this didn't work for me, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes teen romance, singing and choir related themes.

Rating

Sing Me to Sleep is full of teen drama and passion, borderline graphic sexuality, mild language, grief, self-esteem, bullying and teen drinking. Recommended to 16 and up.

3/5- YA- Romance

Copy provided by Around the World Tours 

May 2010 by Thomas Nelson

Hardcover, 320 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Their destiny is to fix history. Their dream is to get home................

When you live in a house that's really a gateway between past and present, you have to be ready for anything. It's a painful fact the Kings have faced since moving to Pinedale eight days ago. Desperately trying to rescue their mother from an unknown time and place, brothers Xander and David have lunged headlong into the chaos of history's greatest--and most volatile--events. But their goal has continually escaped their grasp.

And worse: Finding Mom is only a small part of what they must do, thanks to the barbaric Taksidian. His ruthless quest to seize their house and its power from them has put not only the family, but all of mankind, in grave danger.Somehow, the key to it all hinges on Uncle Jesse's words to the boys: "Fixing time is what our family was made to do." But how can they fix a world that has been turned upside down--much less ever find their way home?  (Taken From the CFBA Blog Site)

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of Frenzy, go HERE.

Review

Frenzy wraps up the astonishing series Dreamhouse Kings, which began with House of Dark Shadows, leading readers to a house with portals to the past. In this last installment we find David and Xander being held in Atlantis by Taksidian. After their daring escape they realize they were followed by the monstrous Phemus, the ogre who kidnapped their mother in the first book. And that is all in just the first few chapters.

The boys search desperately for their mother going through all the portals in the house, during which an amazing adventure will bring them face to face with cannibals, soldiers, mad children, Arnold Schwarzenegger and will even lead them all the way back to the time of Jesus' Crucifixion. The Kings once reunited will discover the meaning behind the house and the role they all play protecting the future and restoring the past.

I highly recommend Frenzy and this series, but suggest you begin with book number one to fully understand and experience the thrill ride Frenzy offers.

Rating 

Frenzy is a heart pounding thrill ride, content includes mild violence, intense action and fantasy elements. No language, sex scenes, or parental concerns. Suitable for readers 13 and up. This series was also read and loved by my 13 year old daughter who gives Frenzy 5+ stars and helped out with this review.

4.5/5- YA, Suspense, fantasy

A big thanks to The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance who provided review copy, to learn more about CFBA and become a part of tours or see full tour schedule please go here.To learn more about Robert Liparulo visit his website

Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns

June 2010 by Penguin/Berkley 

Paperback, 352 pages

Review Copy

Blog with Bite Author Feature

Book Synopsis (GoodReads)

Archeologist Emma Zale sees the past when she touches ancient relics. It’s how she uncovered evidence of an ancient order of assassins—the Sicari. When a sinfully dark stranger shows up on her Chicago doorstep demanding an ancient artifact she doesn’t have, he drags her into a world where telekinesis and empaths are the norm. Now someone wants her dead, and her only hope of survival is an assassin who’s every bit as dangerous to her body as he is to her heart. Ares De Luca comes from an ancient Roman bloodline of telekinetic assassins. A Sicari, he’s honor bound to kill only in the name of justice. But when the woman he loved was murdered, Ares broke the Sicari code and used his sword for revenge. Love cost him dearly once before, and he’s not willing to pay the price again. At least not until hot, sweet, delectable Emma walked into his life. Not only does she hold the key to a valuable Sicari relic, she might just hold the key to his heart.

Memorable Quote

Like Lake Michigan during a storm, the deep blue of his eyes echoed with a mysterious, dark danger.

Pg. 26  

Review

Emma Zale, an archaeologist with a special talent to visualize the history of a relic makes a discovery that will validate the existence of an ancient order of people, called the Sicari. But during the discovery her mentor and friend Charlie is murdered and all eyes are on Emma. Soon after the murder Emma meets Ares and life as she knew it………over……….

The Sicari want the ancient relic but so do The Praetorian, the Sicari’s enemy. Ares does his best to protect Emma but after she is attacked by a man in mysterious robes, she flees to Ares and The Sicari.

I loved that this PNR did not have vampires and wolves….I loved that Ares and Emma were not immortals but regular people with special gifts. Ares has special powers with telekinesis, but doesn’t have any creature characteristics. Also along with intense drama to deal with, Emma and Ares realize almost immediately the attraction to one another. The author lets their tension and chemistry build to almost mid-point of the book before the two finally let their towels er…guards down and fully fall for each other. I loved the relationship between these two and thought hotness aside their romance was sweet and genuine. I mean of course this was a steamy romance, but romance aside most of the book focused on mystery, suspense and the world of the Sicari rather than be bogged down with raunchy sex scenes. I must say, I really enjoyed the writing and the mystery. The combination of adventure, mystery and hot romance will be sure to please any PNR fan out there!!!

Rating

Assassin’s Honor contains- graphic erotic sexuality, murder, violence, graphic language, intense action scenes that rock and adult content. Recommended to adults.

4/5- PNR- Assassin's

A Special thanks to Monica Burns for review copy. Check out more titles and info at Monica's website

September 2009 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Hardcover, 518 pages

Purchased

Book Synopsis

Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship. Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand. .....(GoodReads)

Memorable Quote

Seriously, when your day includes making a list to see if you’re crazy or not, there is not much further downhill things could go.

Pg. 148

Review

A wonderful, Gothic southern tale of a small town full of secrets and old traditions about to meet its match.

Sylvie Davis has spent her seventeen years as a ballerina; her life is consumed with dancing until a devastating accident leaves her leg severely broken and the dream of dancing professional shattered. Sylvie is so overwhelmed with the loss, depression sets in and her mother not wanting to put a dent in her summer long honeymoon decides the best thing for Sylvie is not to be alone. So Sylvie is sent to spend the summer with her cousin, in a town her father ran away from when he was young and a town drowning in tradition, mystery and superstitions.

Sylvie is shocked when she sees her cousin’s home is a great mansion, one that she should by all rights be the owner of. But Sylvie isn’t out for money, the death of her father left Sylvie a huge inheritance, but Sylvie never knew about where her father came from, or that her father's family was such a dominate figure in the town. Intrigued to find out the truth of her father’s mystery, Sylvie dives deep into the journals she has found and begins to put the pieces together. But there are others that want Sylvie for complete different reasons, and not until the very end will she discover the true danger that surrounds her.

The Splendor Falls has a great title because that’s what it feels like reading this book, like you slowly fall into its magic.Beautifully written and deeply layered, Clement-Moore delivers a southern dish of love, magic and mystery. Can Sylvie get past the loss of dancing, can she solve the puzzle surrounding her father, can she not get freaked out by the lurking ghost in the window or will choosing between two beautiful but extremely different guys be the death of her.

Rating

Content includes mystery, ghosts, witchcraft, depression, mild drinking, mild if any language, delicious food that make you hungry and a very cute dog. Suitable for 15 and up, but be warned readers, those of you looking for quick brain candy are not going to get it coming in over 500 pages, this is a thick, well written, researched novel that will keep you up at night and craving some serious southern cooking.

4/5- YA-Ghosts, Mystery

Book Synopsis

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart........(GoodReads)

Brittany and Alex couldn’t be any more different. Alex is a gang member from the south side of Fairfield, and Brittany lives the life of rich girl from the north side of Fairfield. Most people looking in see what they want to see, but Alex and Brittany both live with secrets that make them less than, but maybe even more than a little perfect.

Alex longs to break free from the Latino gang he’s a part of, he sees a future with college and hope but knows only in his dreams could he ever get away from the brotherhood. Brittany has a perfect exterior, beautiful, flawless and all together the golden pom- pom girl everyone wants to be, but things at home are far from flawless, with over bearing parents and a handicapped sister, Brittney is anything but the swallow rich girl most people see.

Chemistry class brings these two unlikely characters at total different ends of the social ladder together. Obviously they hate each other immediately- but there is no denying the hilarious and sexual tension between them. Watching Alex and Brittany fall in love was wonderful reading, I loved the dialog carried by all the characters, I thought the writing was fantastic and that it moved along at a nice steady pace. Elkeles brings originality to a much clichéd story and is able to showcase two different cultures so vividly and portray the importance of some serious issues including gang violence and life with a special needs individual. Also I must give props to the author for making sex a serious issue in the book, and making cheap sex not a light subject. Brittany and Alex have intense feelings for each other not only sexually but emotionally as well, the feelings are so intense nether character understands or knows how to deal with them. I was glad to see real life in the book but also real consequences and real emotional bonds that form when you sleep with a person. Eighteen year old teenagers dealing with these circumstances are easier for me as a reader to identify with rather than 15 year olds pretending to play house.

Rating

Perfect Chemistry was a highly entertaining love story and although this is YA, the characters in the novel are both 18 years old. Recommended for a mature audience (17 and up) content includes- graphic sexuality, language, gang related violence and illegal activity, drugs, drinking and social/racial commentaries.

5/5- YA, Romance

June 2010 by Little Brown

Hardcover, 336 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis (GoodReads)

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Review

Sisters Red is a beefy morsel to sink your teeth into. A chilling tale of Red Riding Hood only little red isn’t the weak defenseless girl in this one. She- being Scarlett is a brave and fierce character who hunts the wolves and craves their death as much as the wolves crave feasting on pretty girls. The story opens with gruesome violence and sets the tone that is not a quaint little fairy tale; blood and fear coat the world the sister’s share. Instead of bringing cookies to grandmother’s house, grandmother is brutally killed and Scarlet is left without an eye, scars all over her body and a younger sister to look after.


The March sisters are both brave and strong but where Scarlett is intense and obsessed with fighting the wolves, Rosie is determined to have a life that consists of love and desire outside of hunting and killing. I loved the way the story shifted from chapter to chapter between each sister’s perspectives. I thought the development of Rosie was spot on, while Scarlett got a little bump to backseat, I understood why Rosie got more depth and how the dynamic between Rosie and  Silas (the charming woodsman character) made for a more gripping read. As the sister’s world is torn apart, one by an intense wolf problem and two by an intense real life- a guy always gets in the way- problem, the girls will need to rely on all their strength, training and hope.

This was my first Jackson Pearce book, and I did enjoy the story as well as the writing. I thought the twisty take on a very popular fairy tale made this original and entertaining. I also loved the fact that Pearce made her female characters strong and very independent; including making Scarlett a character severely flawed in looks, but also beautiful at the same time. Some aspects of course were unbelievable, the lack of adults, the premise of sixteen year old kids living in a house and paying all the bills with no money and no jobs and no schooling was down right laughable. Overall though, it was a fun ride of blood and action, with a little kissing on the side.

Rating

Sisters Red scores a high for violence; gore and blood highlight almost every chapter. Also contains mild language, sexuality and freighting elements. Recommended for 15 and up.

4/5- YA- Wolves-Romance
Copy provided by Around The World Tours

August 2010 by Harlequin Teen

Paperback, 368 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart..............(GoodReads)

No Spoil Review

Breathless once again by Kagawa’s amazing talent to storytelling, The Iron Daughter was everything I wanted and everything that puts Ms. Kagawa in the ranking of brilliant YA author.

Meghan finds herself hand delivered by Ash to the queen of the winter court, trapped and held prisoner in a magic kingdom that makes queen Tatiana’s animal tricks look like child’s play. Tricked, abandoned and almost frozen to death are all in a days work for Megan’s captors.

In the midst of trying to figure a way out of her prison, life takes a turn in what could be devastating for the courts but a blessing for Meghan, when the precious specter of the Fae is stolen from the Winter Court. After a huge mess and terrible outcome, the queen immediately blames Meghan and punishes her- but fate intervenes on Meghan’s behalf and leads to a new adventure with Ash, leading them away from the court and perhaps even back in search of The Iron Fae.

Although Ash and Meghan begin the journey together not all is love and sweet kisses- Ash has become cold and terribly distant. Throw in an attentive, admiring famous faery (Puck) and you have the makings of a tangled up love fest. Meghan is seriously confused with her life, not only is she still dealing with the fact that she is a faerie and has lost her family, but now she may be in love with two different men and she may just posses a magic inside her that will shake the core of the entire faerie world.

Dark, magical and enchanting at the same time, The Iron Daughter swept me away, with the visual imagery and originality of the iron fae, this is a series not to be missed.

Rating

The Iron Daughter is great for readers of most ages- mild language, violence, kissing, action and intense dramatic scenes. Recommended for 14 and up.

4.5/5- YA, Faeries

Thanks to Harlequin for review Galley

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

 Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication. But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

(Synopsis Taken from Author Website)

I cannot count the many ways my love for Robin McKinley's story's.........Can November come any sooner?

February 2010 by Ballantine Books

Hardcover, 160 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

A fight, ended by a slap, sends Elizabeth out the door of her Baton Rouge home on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Her mother, Laura, is left to fret and worry—and remember. Wracked with guilt as she awaits Liz’s return, Laura begins a letter to her daughter, hoping to convey “everything I’ve always meant to tell you but never have.” In her painfully candid confession, Laura shares memories of her own troubled adolescence in rural Louisiana, growing up in an intensely conservative household. She recounts her relationship with a boy she loved despite her parents’ disapproval, the fateful events that led to her being sent away to a strict Catholic boarding school, the personal tragedy brought upon her by the Vietnam War, and, finally, the meaning of the enigmatic tattoo below her right hip........ (Goodreads) 

Review

A sorrowful book filled with a mother’s past and present lamenting. Letter to My Daughter is just that- a very long letter addressed to a fifteen year old rebellious girl who has just ran away from home.

Laura – hoping, praying, waiting for Elizabeth’s return decides to write about her teenage life and relay to Elizabeth that she too at one time was fifteen and she too faced the struggles of hating her parents and having life fall to pieces around her……

A book with a beautiful premise of mother and daughter relationships failed short to showcase the dynamics of mother and daughter and focused more on political agenda.The same yammering story over the Vietnam War. The same liberal drivel I’ve heard a thousand times: Young naïve girl whips her panties down for the soft-eyed poor boy, whose only choice after the couple has been torn apart by her racist, bigot Conservative parents is to enlist in the Army and head off to Vietnam. While Tim is fighting in the war, losing his soul and having his spirit crushed, Laura is at boarding school, being educated by the strength and backbone of investigative journalism. During her time at school and months lost between her and Tim, she grows apart (big surprise) from the idea of Tim and Tim himself.

Don’t get me wrong, I would never discredit the awful things that happened during the Vietnam War or the fact that the country drastically changed during that time. I wasn’t a part of that era so of course I can’t base my opinion on being there or living through it, but I have parents who lived during that time and there are more sides to the issue than the same worn out story of the cheated solider and the coming of age feminist. Politics in a story normally don't bother me, if you are coming from a liberal or conservative stand point I will listen to both sides, but when it only consists of bashing and never explains why a character (or the author) believes in the things they believe in, it only discredits the opinion.

The sparkle of a story is defiantly there, luring us in with Laura’s past, and the writing flowed nicely, but the conservative bashing got so thick I was distracted from the story and found myself disagreeing with what the characters were thinking, feeling and saying. Take for example the off the cuff remark Laura mutters about a parent worried over a child- "fear would make any open-minded person a raving conservative"- Well call me crazy people but since when did open-mindedness involve letting your children do drugs, encourage them to have sex and let them live their lives expressing themselves through whatever means necessary. I disagree with your thoughts on responsible parenting Mr. Bishop. Not all parents who set rules and boundaries for their children are racists, some are actually good people who may be conservative and yet still maintain the capability of having an open understanding mind.

Rating

Language, sexuality, war, politics, boarding school drama and adult coming of age content. Recommended to adult readers.

2/5- Coming of Age Drama

Thanks to Librarything for Review Copy

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

September 2004 by Plume (first published 2001)

Paperback, 436 pages

Purchased/ Blog with Bite Selection

Book Synopsis

Ever since her parents were killed in a car accident when she was five, Elena Michaels has longed for a normal family life. Smart, beautiful, and engaged to be married, Elena hopes to fulfill that dream when disaster strikes. Not only has her fiancé lied about his secret life as a werewolf, but he's made her one, too. She has no choice but to join him at Stonehaven, the upstate New York home of an elite pack of werewolves. In an attempt to break away, she moves to Toronto to lead a normal life. Working as a journalist, Elena now lives with her new architect boyfriend, works out in the basement gym of their high-rise apartment, lunches with girlfriends from the office, and once a week, at four in the morning runs naked and furred through a downtown Toronto ravine .......(Goodreads)

Review

My first taste of Kelley Armstrong came a few months ago when I read her short story in Evolve based on a character from one of her Otherworld series. I was interested in reading her other works and Bitten did not disappoint. With its sharp writing and entertaining plot line, I found myself a new PNR novelist to love.

Elena after fleeing the pact and having a serious case of "he violated me issues" seems to be content living with her mediocre boyfriend, having a daytime career and prowling as a wolf in the middle of the night, that is until trouble strikes. With the craziness breaking loose and a string of murders going unsolved and the pack she ran away from threatened, she returns by overpowering instincts to help out.

The pack soon realizes they are up against a "mutt" pack and when the battle begins, Elena finds herself in a war over power, greed and testosterone fueled wolves fighting over property including her. I actually loved the story with the wolves fighting over the one female. You cant help but think (even though Elena knew who she belonged to) a big group of men fighting over you had to boost the ego...you know...I also loved the story between Clay and Elena and I think underneath the betrayal and angry feelings she had for him, she couldn't deny the love either. The dynamic between them defiantly sizzled throughout the thrilling plot line. The mutts as well I thought were interesting to read about. Each one who was human before without the hereditary gene bore evilness, a few serial killers, couple pedophiles, a nice icky mix of men who you wouldn't want creeping around your house at night. I'm excited to continue Armstrong's series and travel to her YA series as well.

Rating

A fun, thrilling PNR to sink your teeth into.Recommended for adults. Violence. language, sex, frightening themes and gore tangled with a range of everyday human feelings like betrayal, anger, jealousy and lots of testosterone!!

4/5- PNR, Werewolves

BWB Discussion Questions

1.Let's talk relationships. What did you think of Elena's relationship with Philip? Were her feelings for him genuine? Why or why not? I think they were mixed, I think Elena loved the idea of Philip, I think she wanted to hold onto every aspect of human life without wolf tendencies and that included a human clueless boyfriend. He was a nice character just not Clay..........


2.Keeping secrets from someone you love, is it being true to yourself? Elena was hiding out in Toronto and away from the Pack. Did this make Elena a stronger character or whiny? At first it could seem whiny...but Elena felt very violated and betrayed by being bitten. I think she needed the time hiding out to realize who she was and how her life was going to change.

3.Kelley Armstrong's werewolves lean more towards the traditional side of the wolf legend. What "were" type are you? Do you enjoy the pain riddled, desiring human flesh werewolves like the Wolfman or the intensely scary wolves like in the movie Silver Bullet or do you prefer painless shifters that keep a majority of human emotions...ie..Twilight and other light PNR novels? When I try connecting to a wolf character I think the more light shifter, the kind featured in Twilight or even Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver work better for me. I liked that Armstrong's central pack still carried somewhat human control. The scary one's who just want to eat people come off as complete monsters, which are good for a scare but not to connect to in a book. BTW Silver Bullet scared the crap out of me when I was a kid and watched it.....when it was the priest....ahhhhhhh.......

4.Could you forgive the man you loved if he were to BITE you like what occurred with Elena?
hmmmmm...I think over time I could. And I think when it was all said and done Clay really didn't mean to hurt Elena, he loves her. I'm a big sap- I think love can conquer all-

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

May 2010 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (first published 2010)

Paperback, 384 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice. (Taken from CFBA tour site)

Review

When Jenny ventures home to reconcile her relationship with her father, little does she know the journey her life will take. Her ultimate goal is to seek the forgiveness of her dad, she wants him to accept her and Bella. Knowing Bella will have a home and a family to take care of her is the last step in Jenny's plan so she can go in peace. She can't ignore the fact though, that David, Bella's father must be told about his daughter. She figures on waiting until the last minute but seeing how in life nothing ever go's according to plan, David finds out and all of Jenny's "planning" are thrown out the window. Now facing death that wont let go and facing a battle to fight for her daughter, Jenny is shocked to find love, hope and forgiveness along the way.

Truly exquisite writing, I connected with Jenny so deeply that I felt every emotion she felt, I cried when she cried, I was angry and frustrated when she was and I was angry that she was dying. The talent of a true author is when you can take the most painful story and showcase an entire circle of human emotion. Jenny with losing hope and feeling stuck in a desperate situation, Jenny's father with his anger and bitterness and Mama Peg with her strength and humor. Although Jenny's past began with mistakes, you see the goodness that came out of them. She was an amazing strong character, a woman who faces anger, death and deep resentment but also is able to forgive, heal  and incredibly put others before her own desires. I wrapped myself around these characters like a warm fuzzy blanket and enjoyed every minute with them.

A tremendous, heart breaking story that brought tears to my eyes throughout almost every chapter. Many books have the ability to make me cry, but this story literally had me sobbing by the end. After I finished Crossing Oceans I would just think about it and start crying again. Goodness Ms. Holmes, you broke my heart a thousand times and then put it back together again.

Rating

Crossing Ocean's is a story of love and forgiveness. Subjects touched on include death, grief, sickness, anger, teen pregnancy and dramatic themed elements. Suitable for all readers including teens, but aimed to the adult audience.

5/5- Christian Fiction- Death, Love and Hope 

A big thanks to the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for review copy- this review is a part of the CFBA blog tour, to learn more about them and a complete tour list visit here! To learn more about the beautiful Gina Holmes visit her website