Twilight (Twilight #1) by Stephenie Meyer

Oh my. This book, to me, is like chocolate: a delicious, sinful, addictive indulgence which you convince yourself has beneficial qualities (zinc, calcium, keeps me quiet at that time of the month...) in order to justify your addiction.



By "beneficial qualities", I mean that it's reading, and since when is reading bad? :) Let me say quite clearly that I'm a sucker for romance, especially the intense, passionate, tragic kind. I don't read romance novels*, though, because to me they are lacklustre - Meyer's book has the extra edge I need, though, a great way of keeping doom hanging over the main characters' heads: she's human, he's a vampire.



Sound corny? Yeah, I know, and the only reason Meyer gets away with it as well as she does is because Twilight doesn't try to be anything it's not, and it has such conviction. Only Meyer could get away with giving her narrator the name Isabella Swan. She says in her little bio at the back that she wanted to write believable characters: an interesting choice, then, to write about vampires, but I believed in them, and without such a willing suspension of disbelief, the story would have been a farce. True, a lot of people haven't been able to suspend their disbelief with this book, but that doesn't affect my reading experience :)



Seventeen year old Bella's parents are divorced. She lives with her mum in Phoenix, Arizona, and spends time with her dad Charlie in Forks, Washington State, where it rains almost constantly. She hates Forks, but when her mum remarries a baseball player, Phil, and starts travelling with him, Bella decides to move to Forks.



On her first day at school she notices the isolated group of five beautiful, graceful siblings. Rosalie, Alice, Emmet, Edward and Jasper. One in particular catches her eye: Edward Cullen, with his rust-brown hair and topaz eyes. She is more than a little surprised and shocked when he seems to have developed an acute, profound hatred of her. Her fascination deepens, especially when, after a brief disappearance, he saves her life. She soon figures out what Edward is, and the knowledge doesn't frighten her. The shaky friendship between them develops into something much stronger, and Edward reveals his overpowering reaction to her smell that nearly made him kill her on the spot - hence the look on his face that so shocked her, and the restraint he put on himself during an hour of Biology.

Let's not forget he's incredibly handsome: even though Bella describes almost every glance he makes and every twitch of his lips, not once did I get bored and roll my eyes. My fascination grew alongside hers, until I too fell in love with Edward - in a totally girly, daydreamy way. Yes, I admit it. I don't know if that makes this a girly kind of book - these days those boundaries don't seem to matter so much, and the vampire family is pretty darn cool, what with Edward's extra ability to read minds, Alice's premonitions, Jasper's ability to affect people's emotions, their speed, their invincibility... Bella is at one point compared to Lois Lane, because Edward and his kin really are like Superman.

One of the things I love about YA books: the clarity with which they are written. Granted there is some repetition in Twilight, but to me it's necessary repetition. There's nothing superfluous in Twilight, nothing that shouldn't be there, and the flow, the pacing, is great. It's a fat book, but I read it in two days. I read it with breakfast, on my walk to the subway, on the subway, up the escalator, through the ticket gates, to work, in my lunch break ... you get the picture. I couldn't get enough of it, and it left me with that same craving for more that Harry Potter did (I remember scrounging around for loose change as soon as I finished one of them and dashing off into the city to get my next fix. It helped that four were already out when I started). There's plenty of negative stuff you could say about this book - the writing, the characters, the obsession - but again, I couldn't care less :)

Another thing I loved was all the vampire myths Meyer scrapped. These vampires aren't burnt to ash by sunlight: their marble skin glitters as the sunlight is broken into miniscule shards, like diamonds - hence why they are living in Forks, where the sun hardly ever shines. They are not hurt by crucifixes or stakes through the heart. They do not sleep at all, nor do they eat human food. They drive fast cars really really fast. And they can fall in love. Awwww.

Seriously though, this was one of most fun, most enjoyable, most romantic books I've read in a long time, and I'm so happy there are two more out with a fourth on the way. They are, somewhat predictably, making Twilight into a movie - still in the early development stage - but it's rather fun to go to the author's website and see her own preferences for actors to play Edward etc. Can't say I'm familiar with most of them, but her top choice (now sadly too old), is indeed a perfect match. Who knows who they'll really cast, but as with the book, the characters have to be right or the whole story will be just silly and sappy.

_____________________________________

*Since reading this the first time back in 2007, I've started reading some romance novels. Yes I've been corrupted. Or rather, I've always loved romance stories but had trouble admitting it. Now, I just don't care :)

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder--much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.






But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....
 
I was instantly enchanted when I first read City of Bones, and that enchantment still holds three years, and at least half a dozen re-reads later. I've also read countless reviews, both adoring and loathing and have come to the conclusion that this book does not garner any type of middle ground, you either love it or you hate it.




Those readers who hate it often mention the similarities between this series and that of Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc. They are right of course, there are similarities. They will mention the fact that nearly all the characters are sarcastic and a bit over-intelligent for their written age, and again, they are probably right. Regardless, I can't help but feel a little sad for these readers. It's inevitable, that if you only scratch the surface of something, the surface is the only thing you will see. If you allow yourself to become disillusioned with an entire story, simply because it has similarities to bits and pieces of something you have encountered before, and if you write off a character because they use the term exsanguinated, and at the age of 25, you have to look the word up (You know you did), you will inevitably find the story and it's characters flat and meaningless. And I can’t help but feel that these readers are somehow missing out on something.



For me, this book shines, and to those of you who loved it, I imagine you are a bit like me. You found yourself immersed in a world where demons roam the night, weres run a bar, vamps occupy abandoned hotels, warlocks cast spells while rockin glitter in their hip hugging jeans, fey wait tables at the best mom and pop restaurant in NYC, and the law is upheld by Shadowhunters, a race of humans blessed by the angel Raziel. Even the setting, NYC, was so palpable; it became another character in this vibrant story. I thought the Shadowhunter world was funny, sleek, dark, sexy and hopeful. More importantly, the characters came so alive for me that they jumped off the pages. I felt as though I were in the story with them as opposed to merely following along in their journey.



Regardless of the types of books you prefer to read, or the characters that endear themselves to your heart, I think we all read to become inspired. That inspiration can take shape in various forms, from writing, to making a playlist, picking up a sketchpad so that the images in your mind can take shape, or simply reading a new book in hopes of falling in love with yet another story. City of Bones inspired me and continues to inspire me, even though the pages of my copy are becoming a little worn, the jokes are the same jokes I’ve read countless times, and in spite of the fact that I know how the story ends. To me, that is the mark of a fantastic book.

Evermore (The Immortals #1)

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…







Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

Ever (original name, no?) survives a tragic accident that claims the lives of her father, mother, pet dog and twelve-year old sister, Riley. Unfortunately, Riley didn't actually cross over like the rest of her family (save Ever), so now she spends most of her time around Ever, or catching up on old neighbors and their gossip. Ever, now orphaned, is taken in by her father's twin sister - who is a lawyer and immediately gives Ever all that she could need to make herself feel more at home - tv, jacuzzi, stereo, the works. However, Ever would give it all back to have her family back. Not only does she have to start her life over in a new place, but she seems to have received psychic powers from her near-death experience. She can see auras, read people with just a touch and, worse of all, she hears everyone's thoughts. It's too much for Ever. She used to be popular at her old school and now - armed with her iPod on full blast to drown out the thoughts and hooded sweatshirts to conceal her mp3 player - she's considered a freak, only finding solace in her attention-craved, now goth, friend Haven and token gay friend Miles. That is, until she meets Damen. She's already heard about him, but she avoided eye contact with him when he sat beside of her in class. Then, there was the silence. Anytime Damen touched her, all she heard was silence. Damen has taken an interest in Ever - but who is this new girl, Drina, that she's seen him out with? And why is this new girl trying to take her best friend away from her? Ever didn't think it could get any worse ... until she found out that Damen is an immortal, and Drina's trying to kill her in order to get Damen back.




This is one of those books that I got a while back in order to get over my vampire obsession. I figured I could still do paranormal, but I needed to expand my horizons. The cover attracted me and I had heard a lot of things about it, but nothing overly great. I still picked it up, but I didn't get around to it until now. Thanks to my friend, I got a little hooked on the Harper Connelly Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris. Whoops. However, I'm hearing wonderful things about Shadowland and I really want to read it - so, what better place to start than the first in the series? It's just something I absolutely have to do - if I start a series, I start from the very beginning. Now, the story starts out okay. It drags out a little, and you have to read a while for some of the good stuff to happen. However, the filler that really kept me reading was Riley - Ever's sister that didn't cross over. She's a wonderful character. I just wish I could say the same about the others. I found the secondary characters not all that well developed. To be honest, Haven got on my last nerve with her attention-whoring ways. Of course, I never really did like anyone who changed who they were to get someone's attention. And Miles ... he's gay ... his character could have been wonderful in so many ways! But instead, he just came around in the story to add his two cents here and there, and he really felt like a filler to be ... but a filler in a bad way, not good like Riley. Ever could have been a little better as a main character. She just seemed so indecisive about everything and sometimes so needy when it came to Damen and her sister. The plot was good. I did like the story. Overall, the story was well-written, I just wish the characters were fleshed out a little better.

Wake (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McMann

Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people's dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power.

 

The book flash back and forth between Janie's life and her battle with the dreams. It spans a period of time from about 12 to the present which is Janie at 17, all within 104 pages (I read the digital edition so this may differ from the print version - Amazon lists as 224 pages). Within this time span, Janie meets her best friend, Carrie, and the mysterious Cabel. Cabel shows interest in Janie, but can Janie trust him? While he seems to like her, there are rumors flying around the school about him that just don't make sense. Janie needs to trust someone though, because the dreams are getting out of hand and she need serious help. Her mother is useless, the doctors think she has some kind of seizure disorder, who can Janie ask for help?



The tone and narration of this novel is quite unique in its style. McMann narrates Wake as if she is stating the facts and nothing more. There is really no embellishments, no heady descriptions to set the scene. Scenes are set with forth-right statements of character actions and little is paid to the environment around the characters. At first I was a little thrown off my style, but as I got deeper into this novel, I began to really enjoy McMann's no-nonsense tone.



Characters are well developed. I really enjoyed reading about Janie, she was a tough character that was going through a lot and I was able to relate to her reactions. Cabel was also a likable character. I actually felt betrayed by him when Carrie revealed his untrustworthy behavior. Carrie on the other hand I didn't relate to. I thought her character wasn't as developed and was just the authors tool to convey information to Janie from "the Hill" (the 'in' rich crowd).



The plot-lines were fairly original, the story was compelling. The love development was believable and I was emotionally effected by Cabel and Janie. The ending was the only thing that left me not as impressed, I just thought the wrap-up was a little too neat, but sticking with the tone of the novel, I don't see how the author could have done it any differently. I am very excited to read Gone, the second book in this series.
 
Recommendations: I would pass this on to older teens and adults. The story is a mature YA novel that adults would enjoy and teens would relate to. While there is strong language and sexual references it was nothing that I found offensive and actually made the characters more believable. I can remember how I was at 17 and I wasn't saying "Aw shucks" and "Fire Truck". So, keep that in mind if you are buying this for a teen. Also, while this has a paranormal basis, it is not too over the top for people that don't generally read that genre to get in to

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

Girl meets boy.Girl loses boy.



Girl gets boy back...


...sort of.






Ava can't see him or touch










...more Girl meets boy.


Girl loses boy.






Girl gets boy back...






...sort of.






Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.






Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds

 
This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I absolutely love this book. I am the kind of person that enjoys reading about love & friendships. If you like those kind of books, then you should read this book in particular. This book is about a girl named Ava. She is 15 years old and her boyfriend has just died. She keeps blaming herself that she is the one that killed him when it really wasn't her fault. Eventhough her boyfriend is dead, he comes back. Well, sort of. He comes back spirutually (by being a ghost).Weird, i know. Throughout the book, Ava just can't stop thinking how much he misses him and how much he meant to her. She keeps on blaming herself over and over again, but she later finds out that things happen and when you get to a certain point in your life, you know it's time to move on. What i learned from this book is that no matter what happens, life keeps on going. You shouldn't also always blame yourself. It's the past and you should just move on. I rate this book a big, fat 10 because this book really moved me and its an easy read. Anyone who puts thier mind into it could read this book. You should read this book, you wont regret it!

Uninvited by Amanda Marrone

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com




These days, Jordan's got a lot on her mind. Her social phobias are getting the better of her, she thinks she messed things up with a guy she really connected with... and her ex-boyfriend, popular jock Michael, has been appearing at her bedroom window since the night after his funeral. It seems the rumors that Michael killed himself aren't true -- he was attacked by a vampire, and became one himself. Now he wants Jordan to join him. Every night, he pleads and cajoles and turns on his charm, trying to get her to invite him in, and Jordan's arguments are starting to crumble.



UNINVITED is a tense, scary book that manages to throw in a little humor on the side. Marrone does a superb job of building the suspense about Michael's true intentions and how Jordan will deal with them. Nothing works out quite the way the reader will expect, and Jordan's struggles will have them on the edge of their seats, unable to put the book down. The climax is thrilling and dark, and the ending is hopeful without leaving its heroine unscarred.



It may take readers a little while to warm up to Jordan, whose binge-drinking and pessimistic ways may seem too depressing. But it quickly becomes clear that she has every reason to want to drown out the rest of the world. Her growth as she fights her fears and destructive tendencies is both believable and inspiring. The supporting characters are well-developed as well, from Michael's twisted personality to Jordan's quirky friend, Rachael.



Readers who enjoy books a little out of the ordinary, especially the dark and suspenseful, should run out and grab this one as soon as possible. It takes one of the most familiar creatures of the supernatural genre and manages to tell a story unlike any you've read before.

Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery #1)

My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.
Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.
With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.
Well, if she believed in that stuff.

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

Madison's dead. Well, sort of.
See, there was this dark reaper who scythed her, for reasons she still hasn't figured out, and technically she should be long gone. But when he came back to destroy her soul as well as her body, she was able to steal an amulet from him that's allowed her to keep walking around and breathing (even though she doesn't really need to), and appearing alive to anyone who doesn't know any better.
Unfortunately, the owner of that amulet wants it back - badly. And the light reaper assigned to help Madison adjust to her new pseudo-life may not be able to protect her from him.
As Madison struggles to hold onto her life and to save those she cares about who end up targeted as well, she discovers there's a whole lot about this life and death thing she doesn't know, and uncovering those secrets may be the only way she can hope to survive.
ONCE DEAD, TWICE SHY is a fast-paced and engaging read from start to finish. Madison makes an enjoyable narrator, stubborn and sarcastic but with a lot of heart, and enough smarts to get her through some very sticky situations. Harrison has created a fascinating and unique world of reapers and other afterlife figures, though at times readers may find all the information a little hard to follow.
With plenty of suspense and humor and a little romance, this book will appeal to paranormal fans of all ages.

Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1)

Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.




Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.



Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?
 
 
 
I love this book! Iwould recomend it for anybody who has a craving for excitment and adventure. I also love the use of words, and the excitment. I cannot stop reading the book. Margaret Peterson Haddix is a tallented auther and has AMAZING creativity with books and words. Any book that she writes is or will be wonderfull.
I read this book in 7th grade and still remember EVERY detail!

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Hush, Hush is an exciting, sexy, alluring debut novel featuring what is sure to be the next big swoon-worthy male character. For all you Twilight fans, this is a book that will leaving you asking Edward who? Patch is the kind of man that any girl would go out of her way to have. He is one of the most sexy, fascinating, and infuriating characters I have met in a long time. If you read this book, you will know what I am talking about. The only down side to Patch is that his intensity can be a little overpowering, and sometimes even creepy. But I am willing to overlook this small issue.




While there are some similarities to Twilight, (they get to know each other in a science class, Patch is a mysterious character who tends to stalk the lead female character), they are superficial at best. But what is actually more importantly is that they work for the novel. Instead of feeling like the author is a copy cat, the reader feels like there is no other way this book could have been written. And like many elements of this wonderfully written novel, it just fits so perfectly.



I have very few complaints for this novel. The book is wonderfully well written. It is extremely fast paced, and keeps the readers attention. I adore Patch and Nora. They are a great ying and yang couple. I just wish that there was a little more romance between them, and less sexual tension. (It felt kinda like it went from ooh, you are attractive- you are interesting/frustrating- want to get to know you more- think I may like you, but I don't want to- sexual tension- I love you.) There are also more than enough twists, turns, and suspense to keep any reader interested. Though you may need to be careful reading the last 3rd of the book, there is just SO much going on. While it is not a bad thing, it would have been nice to have some of the mystery unfold earlier in the novel so that the reader is not overwhelmed at the end.



All in all, this is a great read. And I am looking forward to many more from this amazing debut writer. Any fan of Twilight or paranormal romance will be sure to fall in love with Hush, Hush. This book will not let you down.

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?



"City of Ashes" is the sequel to City of Bones, and the series so far is about Clarissa Fray, a shadowhunter girl who is in the midst of a large war between Valentine and his demon horde, and the Clave, the society that keeps downworlders like vampires/werewolves and shadowhunters in order. Not to mention that Clary might be in love with her brother, Jace. Also, she goes through some friendship issues with her best friend Simon. And, her mom is in a coma, her dad is an evil demon lord, ...more "City of Ashes" is the sequel to City of Bones, and the series so far is about Clarissa Fray, a shadowhunter girl who is in the midst of a large war between Valentine and his demon horde, and the Clave, the society that keeps downworlders like vampires/werewolves and shadowhunters in order. Not to mention that Clary might be in love with her brother, Jace. Also, she goes through some friendship issues with her best friend Simon. And, her mom is in a coma, her dad is an evil demon lord, and her brother's two friends the Lightwood children are up to their usual antics. Just read the book and find out what it's about!



Okay, now onto my opinion of the book. Spoilers might follow. I effing loved it! I thought City of Ashes was better than City of Bones, Clare seems to have gotten rid of that awkward event transitioning from her first book. The plot was really smooth and well-paced in this novel. I totally loved all the adventure and action and twists. The characters were well-developed and thouroughly exploited, which made me giddy. Alec is still my favorite character, but the whole situation between Clary/Jace is cute too. Not to mention Simon and Maia! Gahhh! Now I can't wait to read the next one!

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Ronnie is forced to spend the summer with her dad who she hasn’t spoken to in three since her parent’s divorce. At first she is furious and doesn’t want to spend any time with her dad or be there really at all. Even though she knows her Dad loves it she tells him she doesn’t even want to look at a piano as she quit playing after the divorce since her Dad was her teacher (and one at Julliard) and though she was great at it to the point that Julliard promised to take her when the time came, she stopped playing as she associated it with the Dad who abandoned her and her family so she thought. He even builds a wall to cover it for her. When leaving a volleyball game she goes to check out she runs into a guy who gets her soda spilled all over her. Angrily she stomps off to the pier where she runs into a girl who gets her drink spilled all over her again. Her name’s Blaze who has a group of friends whom she doesn’t like or feel safe around especially Marcus who to be frank gives her the creeps as she thinks he’s pretty much crazy. Blaze’s boyfriend Marcus and his friends do a show on the pier that involves fireballs. When conflict stirs between Marcus and his friends and the guy who spilled soda on her’s friend she intervenes and stops it saving a crying kid who she returns to his mother. Marcus’ group and Blaze part and Ronnie follows only to be busted on by an officer who escorts her home by what she assumes is request by her father. Outside their house she finds an endangered turtle’s nest which she sleeps outside to protect and calls the aquarium to come cage, properly protect and such. The next day a person from the aquarium comes, a volunteer actually, who just so happens to turn out to be the guy who spilled soda on her. His name is Will, he promises to get call the aquarium to come by and set up a cage, and takes in interest in Ronnie. At a party Marcus hits on Ronnie and makes it appear as if she did on him making Blaze so jealous that the next day she places merchandise from the music store inside her bag which Ronnie doesn’t realize until the security alarm goes off when she leaves the store after an infuriated Blaze does. Ronnie has a history of shoplifting which she admitted to in court; however, saying that the last time which she got sent to court for was a complete accident. They promised not to leave anything on her record so long as it never happened again, and so this is very much not good and the owner presses charges. Blaze won’t admit to putting the things in Ronnie’s bags either. Over the summer Ronnie and Will spend lots of time together falling in love as they walk the beach, fish, visit one another’s homes though Will’s Mother doesn’t approve of Ronnie, and watch the turtle nest which eventually gets a cage put on after she went and yelled at Will who swore he called them and that they are coming soon. Ronnie also spends time with her Dad as she has forgiven him and loves him very much, and so do he and her lil brother Jonah spending a lot of their time on a stain-glass window her Dad’s making for the church that burned down. The church belongs to a Pastor that’s a good friend of his, his first piano teacher. At Will’s sister’s wedding Marcus appears and when he and Will are fighting unpegs a tent that sends it tumbling down and ice sculptures crashing down getting a couple people injured and all in all ruining her wedding. Ronnie receiving the blame leaves in tears promising never to see Will again.

The character’s relationships are neatly built and the different POVs the story is from throughout helps in development of these strong characters. There’s much suspense and mystery as well added to this romance novel. The various complications and conflict are intertwined well into the plot.

Will’s newlywed sister Megan convinces Ronnie to go the volleyball tournament to cheer her brother on. She assures her she knows all about the trouble Marcus causes and that she doesn’t blame Ronnie and that she didn’t ruin her wedding. Ronnie and Will make up and Ronnie tells Will to play his hardest. They make it to the finals, but then Will rushes out when he sees that Blaze is on fire from getting hit by a fireball during her and Marcus’ group’s show. Will and Ronnie save her as they take her to the hospital. Then the day the turtle’s hatch which is quite beautiful Ronnie’s Dad coughs up blood and they take him to the hospital only to learn that it was due to his stomach cancer which he’s long known he had, it was why he wanted to spend the summer with his children. It doesn’t have a cure and he only has months to live. Will gives Ronnie the IMTF (In my thoughts forever) bracelet him and his sister had each made when their little brother died. Will and Ronnie help Jonah in finishing the stain-glass window for her father. Will tells Ronnie the truth about why Marcus keeps taunting him about a bottle rocket for he had kept his friend’s secret about the fact that his bottle rocket had caused the fire that burned down the church as he felt he owed him for pulling him, his mother, and died from impact little brother from their car when it fell off the bridge and into the river that day so long ago. Ronnie leaves him not wanting to see him again. Blaze and her mother, who had kicked her out making Blaze have to deal with Marcus’ crap as it was her only place to stay though Ronnie offered for her to stay at her house, make-up, and Blaze no longer hangs with that group. She apologizes to Ronnie and tells the judges the truth about her putting CDs in the bag getting the charges dropped for Ronnie. Blaze who likes to be called her real name Galadriel now wasn’t pressed charges against as she gave them information about the arson crime with the church. She told them the truth that Marcus had lit fire to the church. It wasn’t Will’s friend’s bottle rocket after all, Marcus just wanted to make it appear so. Marcus was the real cause to the church being destroyed and Pastor Harris burned, and Marcus had burnt other establishments as well. He is sent to prison. Ronnie leaves Will messages with her apology though he only calls a couple of times. They are still over, he is at college and she still in Wilmington as she had chosen to stay with her father and help him while he was sick. He grows weaker and sicker each day. She reads the letters he had written her over those three years and cares for her father. She finishes the piece on the piano he had tried to compose. She reads his last letter to her. One day he goes to the hospital extremely ill, but she tells him to hold on and prays. She with the help of Galadriel tear down the wall he built to cover the piano. She with the help of the nurse release him from the hospital so that he will pass at home and not there. When home she plays their piece for him which he loves. He dies in his sleep in December and while he did so Ronnie played their piece on the piano for him. At the funeral which nearly no one attends as her father didn’t have many friends and both his parents passed away Will’s parents attend she realizes when leaving and tell her that Will is there. They talk and she apologizes, they make-up, but they part their separate ways. She off to Julliard and him back to the college his mother wanted him to attend. Months of grief she spends practicing on the piano before college starts up for her. Then one day while practicing Will calls and tells her he is in New York then she turns around as he is there right behind her. He tells her that he got transferred to the school he always wanted to go to Columbia in NY. They will be together now, in love and together.



A heart-wrenching story I was totally shocked about her father’s incurable cancer. I balled my eyes out and was saddened by his loss. I was happily surprised though about the charges being dropped and that Marcus was the true cause to the fire and justice was served as he was imprisoned. I was glad Galadriel got herself together, too. I was once more distressed that Will and Ronnie had to go their separate ways, but was totally surprised and overjoyed that he got to transfer to Columbia and they get their happily ever after.

Somewhere," muses Noah Calhoun, while sitting on his porch in the moonight, "there were people making love." Anyway, head elsewhere for Great Literature, but if you're in the market to get your heartstrings plucked, look no further. The Notebook, a Southern-fried story of love-lost-and-found-again, revolves around a single time-honored romantic dilemma: will beautiful Allison Nelson stay with Mr. Respectability (to whom she happens to be engaged), or will she hook up with Noah, the romantic rascal she left so many years ago? We're not telling, but you have two guesses and the first one doesn't count. Decades later, after Allison develops Alzheimer's, her beau uses "the notebook" to read her the story of the great love.

I saw this movie maybe one year ago and loved it!!

I didnt know there was even a book til after i read The Last Song, and Dear John. Also this is my favorite love story ever. It shows what true soul mates are. The way Allie still love Lon but, never stopped caring for Noah shows how Noah really is her soulmate. It is such a good book i would recommend this book or even the movie to anyone.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:


"There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."



"So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday."

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Summary: Savannah just got dumped by her perfect boyfriend for her sister. Wishing her life was bettera fair godmother grants Savannah 3 wishes. She gets stuck in the Middle Ages and it's up to her and unlikely hottie to get her back home.



Rating: ****



Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes



I would recommend this book who love fantasy, Romance, and Faires! I love the new spins on this classic tales. And you could relate to the characters. This book also has you learn a little from the medeval times!



Why i gave it 4 stars?- The book in some parts kinda dragged on by other than that good book!

Book Review: If I Stay

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman

This moving first person novel, told by seventeen-year-old Mia, begins as a carefree, unexpected holiday. School is called off because of snow, leaving Mia, her eight-year-old brother Teddy, and her teacher father free for the day. Her mother takes the day off work, too, and since the snow melts off the roads almost immediately, the family piles into the car to visit friends and grandparents. When a pickup truck smashes into the passenger side, Mia's mother and father are killed outright, her little brother is critically injured, and she finds herself standing over her own body as rescue workers fight to save her life. The book continues through the harrowing day and night with Mia's descriptions of current horrors in present tense sections identified by clock time followed by past tense sections devoted to her memories of family and friends. Through this narration, we learn about her eccentric but loving parents, her affection for Teddy, her deep friendship with her classmate Kim, her strong relationship with her rock-musician boyfriend Adam, and her own promising future as a classical cellist. Throughout her day and night in the operating room and the intensive care unit, she observes her unconscious self in the bed and--after hearing a nurse tell her grandparents that whether she lives or dies is up to her--wrestles with her decision. She is torn between fearing that she cannot bear to live with the loss of her parents and brother, and aching to stay with Kim and Adam and her grandparents. The resolution comes when......like i wld tell you the end! you have to read it! This book If I stay was a great read. And i enjoyed it! I would give it 4 1/2 stars because it was a great book and i had a good story line and it went into depth with Mias life before the crash with her family and Adam.I aslo liked how it showed Mias and Adams relationship and how different tthey rly were. I took 1/2 a star away cause it is kinda short and i didnt like how they went into detail about what happened in the crash. It rly dont like graphic scenes! But it was a great book! It takes a lot for me to read a book and cry, but this one i was crying!

Ghost Hunter Mystery Book 1- What`s A Ghoul to Do

This is the first in the Ghost Hunter series featuring MJ who had a brief cameo in Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye series. The main characters in both series are very similar. MJ is head-strong and won't suffer fools gladly and the reason why she has been so successful as a ghost hunting is because she has her rules and doesn't bend them. Unfortunately these rules are shattered when a gorgeous doctor approached her about his Grandfather's death.

It is a fast paced book with characters who you immediately feel an affinity for, who wouldn't love a parrot who can sing YMCA and her best friend Gilley who also manages her business (and her love life too) - I think that everyone would like a friend like Gilley!

What I enjoyed about this book was that you were immediately drawn to the characters and as a result, immersed into the story. Like all of Victoria Laurie's books, the mystery part was very well planned with lots of twists and turns - reading her books are a joy because you aren't frustrated after solving the mystery half way through!

 

Finally, I love the cover art and the matt feel of the cover. I would have read the books anyway, but the artwork sums the essence of the book, which is sometimes lacking in some "cozy" mysteries.

 

 

 

 

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3535207-nicola

Uglies Review

Three hundred years after an apocalyptic-sized disaster that reshaped the world, Tally is about to turn 16 and pretty. In her contained, isolated, self-sufficient city - just like all the other contained, isolated, self-sufficient cities - the operation to make her pretty will be intensive, extreme and, as far as she and everyone else alive is concerned, absolutely worth it. Once she's pretty, she'll go to live across the river in New Pretty Town and party the nights away, loved by all.


It's a shock to her, then, to find that her friend Shay doesn't want to be pretty, and doesn't think she's ugly now. Of course she's ugly - everyone's ugly before the operation. But Shay runs away to the mysterious, secretive Smoke where her friend David awaits, leaving Tally a set of cryptic directions in case she changes her mind and decides to go too. But Tally has no intention of running away: turning pretty is all she wants, so she can be with her friend Peris again across the river, and be noticed and listened to because beautiful people cannot be ignored.


But on the day of her own operation, she is taken instead to Special Circumstances, where cruel pretties with lethal reflexes bring her to Dr. Cable. They want to know about Shay and the Smoke and where it is located, but Tally keeps her promise not to tell. Even when Dr. Cable tells her she won't get the operation and be turned pretty until she does what they ask, she does not yield. Not until Peris unexpectedly visits her in Uglyville, and reminds her of the promise she made him, that she would be with him again, a promise that predates the one she made Shay. Latching onto this ray of hope - for she doesn't want to stay ugly the rest of her life - Tally is sent to spy for Special Circumstances and give them the location of the Smoke by sending a transmission via a heart pendant given her by Dr. Cable.


When she arrives, though, it's not that simple. Yes, the people are all ugly, and that takes a while to get used to. But there's something else about them, something sharp and clear at odds with the vacuousness of all the pretties she's ever known, including her own parents. And then there's David, who was born in the Smoke and is definitely not pretty ... but who teaches her that she's beautiful because of who she is, not what she looks like.


I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of Isobelle Carmody's books, her heroines especially, and also Ellie from John Marsden's Tomorrow series, and a host of others. She's a quick thinker, afraid yet brave, resourceful and caring, faced with a choice no one at sixteen would want to have to make. The writing style is clear and descriptive without wasting a word, the characters deftly portrayed. While the themes and messages of the book may not be subtle - nor are they meant to be, since we're talking about the structure of their world here - there are depths to the concept, and nothing's black-and-white. There are also little digs about our own lifestyle (we are the "Rusties" in the book - because what's left of our cities are just rusty ruins), about how we clear-fell forests and waste resources and genetically modify plants. The entire concept could have fallen flat on its face for being too contrived and as superficial as the operation itself, but Westerfeld holds it all together with a great heroine in Tally, a dark sci-fi underworld beneath the glitter and party fun, and an examination into what price we really want to pay for the things we hold most dear.










http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/395599-shannon