Review: Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood: A Young Adult Whodunit by Kelli Sue Landon

Summary-

It's time for the Madison High senior class camping trip! New student, Holly Jenson, is looking forward to a weekend out with friends, especially Matt Ifft, her secret crush. Little does she know there is a killer among the group. When people start getting bumped off, Holly, Matt, and the rest of the teens must escape the camp while dodging the killer's wrath.

Review-

  I liked this book. The plot has a lot of different things going on at one time. The story has friendship, mystery, betrayal, murder, love, and scary twists and turns. An easy book to read. Set in a camp in the middle of the woods. An excitting story from the first page to the very last.

Publisher-Outskirts Press

My Score: 3.5 Stars-Between ok and Good Book

Recieved from: Author (Thank you)

Reviewed by~Mechele

Review: Insight by Diana Greenwood

Summary-

Some secrets won't let you go.Elvira Witsil lives about as far away from civilization as you can get, in a remote corner of Wisconsin where nothing much ever happens. In a house crowded with her mother, her cantankerous grandmother, and her little sister, Jessie, Elvira feels forgotten and alone.Their house also contains numerous secrets, and Elvira's family holds their secrets closely. Secrets about the father that Jessie never knew, and that Elvira can't forget. Secrets about that day five years ago. And the one secret that Elvira can't quite understand: that Jessie sees things no one else can see.These secrets will lead Elvira and her family on a journey far away from home—on a journey toward redemption and healing—if she can just bring herself to believe

Review-

 A unique way of interjecting faith into a persons views. I liked the outlook the author took with this story. As the book progresses you can see and feel the struggle the characters have. I feel this book would be a good teaching tool. Faith and the questions surrounding it are artfully detailed without being overbearing. An extraordinary journey in the lives of a very ordinary family. Filled with life lessons about love & loss, life & death, acceptance & understanding, past & future and a little faith & hope mixed in. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in the daily grind that we forget to stop and be thankful. A wonderful little story to remind us.

Publisher-Zondervan

My Score: 4 Stars- Good Book

Reviewed by~Mechele

Review: Revealers by Amanda Marrone

Summary-

Witchin' ain't easy.
Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It's not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they're doing the world some good.
One by one, Jules's friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven's inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are too scared tell her what's going on, something's clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she's got to find out what's behind the shadows of her coven before it's too late to save her friends...and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.

Review-

This is a nicely written story about not only being a teenager but being a witch as well. As if life is not hard enough... With a terrible secret to bare, the girls learn what it means to have family loyalty. This book has a strong and scary plot. The setting is a normal everyday city that could be located anywhere across the USA. The characters are loveable if not a little nieve. As the story goes along it has many ups & downs as well as surprising twists & turns. Some of the things that occured threw me completely off. I never saw them coming... What nice surprises. The author makes this story very easy to read. I flew right through it in one day. A very riviting story. Definitley a book to be recommended.

 

Publisher-Simon Pulse

My Score: 4 Stars- Good Book

Reviewed by~Mechele

1000 Follower Giveaway! $25 Amazon Giftcard!

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Review: Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Summary-

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?
Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...
Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.
But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.
Glow is the most riveting series debut since The Hunger Games, and promises to thrill and challenge readers of all ages.

Review-

A wonderful Sci - Fi story. With an unusual outer space setting. While a beautiful nebula is all around , the atmosphere on board is a bit dark. This book has a well throughout and intertwined storyline. The main characters are true to life teenagers and children that are faced with very adult situations. They all learn how in a blink of an eye your whole world can change drastically. This author puts a unique spin on what I feel will be a devastating Holy War. Not everyone nor everything is as it seems. It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. You never know who to trust or who to believe in. "Glow" is the first in a new series. A series that I will be glad to read in the future.

 

Publisher-St. Martin's Griffin

My score: 4.5 Stars-Great Book

Reviewer~Mechele

 

Review: Witches of the East End (The Beauchamp Family #1) by Melissa de la Cruz

Summary-

From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches.
The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.
For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.
With a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites, this is a page-turning, deliciously fun, magical summer read fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.

Summary-

A strangely mesmerizing story of the supernatural. A story of Love, Magic and Myth. Once upon a time there was a love so undying it transcended all of space and time. An intriguing, suspense filled romance. This book has a plot so thick you can cut it with a wand. The characters are both sinister and sympathetic right up to the last page. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the author throws you a curve. Set against a quaint, beachfront backdrop. A setting so detailed that it pops to life in front of your eyes. The storyline is both compelling and complicated. As usual History repeats itself. The question is..... will it turn out exactly the same way? I absolutely Loved this book. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Publisher-Disney-Hyperion
My Score: 5 Stars-Loved the Book!
Reviewed by~Mechele

Review: Rose of Par Kluhnd: A Fairy Tale by Linda Ash

Summary-

Rose isn't sure she wants to be captain of her soccer team, much less queen of a strange place -that's about to be overrun by invaders.

When Rose slips into a strange world where her grandmother may have been a queen, she just wants to get home. But when enemies seek her out, finding a way home may be the least of Rose's worries... and then, there's that empty throne waiting, possibly, for her

Review-
This book puts a whole new meaning to fairytale.  It was a great book.  I loved the plot and suspense of the novel.  I couldn't put it down!  However, the end is a little predictable.  Ash does a great job of writing this novel.  There are parts where it seems like it is rushing, and parts that you want to get over with, but all in all, it is a great new story for little girls to look up to.  The heroine is a brave young girl who's heart is always in the right place and who's priorities are in the best interest of those around her.  It teaches good lessons like every fairytale should, and I was disappointed that there wasn't a second book to go along with it.

Publisher-Linda Ash, via Smashwords

My Score: 4.5 Stars-Great Book
Reviewed by~Patti

Review: A Measure of Disorder (Mother-Earth #1) by Alan Tucker

Summary-

High school will be a breeze for Jenni Kershaw — if she lives long enough to enroll, that is.

Jenni's ordinary, eighth grade life becomes a thing of the past when her science class goes on a field trip. Armed with only their notebooks, MP3 players, and wits, Jenni and her classmates are unknowingly transported to another world.
There they encounter amazing creatures, some of which think a kid shish kebab would be a tasty treat. But they soon find the greatest dangers they face may come from themselves …
Follow Jenni and her class on their extraordinary adventures in their fight to discover who — and what — they really are.

Review-
This book may look odd on the cover, but it is a great book filled with mystery and excitement.  Jenni Kershaw goes on an adventure that no one would've thought possible, and on the way, she saves a few lives and becomes an interesting person to read about.  The book itself is well written and has a great plot to it, with the real you coming out into something you didn't know existed.  There is, however, some parts that you just want to skim over, but there are others that you want to read over and over again. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves adventure and drama, because it has plenty of both!!

Publisher-MAD Design, Inc.

My Score: 4 Stars- Good Book
Reviewer~Patti

Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Summary-

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Review-

I enjoyed this book. It contained intrigue, romance, and a glimpse into a whole different world. When I started this novel, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get into it. Slowly I became more attached to the main character as her sad story was revealed further. Once the novel began to develop around the french revolution I really started to enjoy it. It was very interesting to experience the tough times through a book. As the plot increased and a new story was told about another girl and her attachment to a young boy, I found myself reading with increasing speed and ease. Traveling back in time to experience a whole different culture was complimented by thrilling mystery. I loved watching a the blossoming romance with not only a boy but also with music.

Publisher-Delacorte Books for Young Readers

My Score: 4 Stars- Good Book
Reviewed by~Emily Simpson (Student at Franklin High School)

Review: Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner

Summary-

Welcome to the tyrannical city of Jewel, where impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime.

Goldie Roth has lived in Jewel all her life. Like every child in the city, she wears a silver guardchain and is forced to obey the dreaded Blessed Guardians. She has never done anything by herself and won’t be allowed out on the streets unchained until Separation Day.
When Separation Day is canceled, Goldie, who has always been both impatient and bold, runs away, risking not only her own life but also the lives of those she has left behind. In the chaos that follows, she is lured to the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she meets the boy Toadspit and discovers terrible secrets. Only the cunning mind of a thief can understand the museum’s strange, shifting rooms. Fortunately, Goldie has a talent for thieving.
Which is just as well, because the leader of the Blessed Guardians has his own plans for the museum—plans that threaten the lives of everyone Goldie loves. And it will take a daring thief to stop him. . . .
Museum of Thieves is a thrilling tale of destiny and danger, and of a courageous girl who has never been allowed to grow up—until now

Review-

This book was great!  It is just the thing anyone could read, because it has something for everyone.  Goldie escapes a conformist life where nothing unexpected happens because nothing unexpected is allowed to happen, and if it does, it is put under wraps so no one knows what has happened.  Through the book, you see a girl growing up fast to satisfy the needs of the city around her, even though she is only twelve.  You come to love Goldie and wants to go through the museum of secrets with her and learn with her.  By the end, you want to be like her, even just a little, because of her bravery and ability to do what is needed.  It is a great book for kids of all ages, boys or girls, and it brings to life the characters to where you think they are there with you. 

Publisher-Delacorte Books for Young Readers
My Score: 4.5 Stars-Great Book
Reviewed by~Patti

Review: Marty Whimpel and the Curse of the Acne Pimple By Jim Tatton

Summary-

A world with no books! Can you imagine? For the children of the future, that is the world they know, until they meet Nicholas Chrismon. As Marty's friend and Eyahge'er (Story Teller), he shares with the children the story of Marty's life and his ability to enter the land of books. He tells of the many adventures he and Marty encountered together and helps the children appreciate books and understand the power they hold. Join Marty as he saves the witch Bismorda, tackles the stresses of Junior High School, comes face to face with death as he confronts evil and the sisters of Zanth, all the while gathering keys and ingredients in many lands to create a secret potion to save himself and the land of books.

Review-

This book had a great plot, and would have been a great read with a different writer. The style of writing used for the book detracted from the actual plot. It wasn't well written at all. It was hard to follow at times and many sentences didn't make sense in the least. The storyline, however, was a really good idea. It is an easy book to follow, but you correct many of the mistakes in your head along the way, which distracts you from the actual story, and it isn't a good book if you get bored easy because It's predictable. It seems really drawn out and is not the right book for many people. But, for the people with the big imaginations, this is a good book to go on a journey with.

My Score: 3 Stars

Reviewed by: Patti

Review: Uglies (Uglies, #1) by Scott Westerfeld

Summary:

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Review-
This novel that will leave you thinking about your opinion on what is "ugly" and what is "pretty." The mysteries and cliffhangers that are intertwined in the pages will not let you go! A good read for Sci-Fi lovers, as the futuristic setting is interesting and thought-provoking. 

Publisher-Simon Pulse
My Score: 4 Stars- Good Book
Reviewed by: Molly Maugans (Student at Franklin High School)

Review: Feather (Feather #1) by Abra Ebner

Summary-

Estella's magical life as an orphan was never easy, and at eighteen, she is finally free. In her desperate attempt to leave the city behind and unravel her strange talents, she flees to a secluded college nestled deep in the forests of the North Cascades. It is here that she hopes to escape her painful life, and forgotten past.
As classes begin, Elle struggles to find her place, until she meets Professor Edgar. Young, handsome, yet terrifying, Elle is suddenly intrigued. Despite her fear of him, she finds the strange attraction mesmerizing, dangerous, and somehow familiar. As their acquaintance grows, she is suddenly drawn further into a life she never knew she lived, in a place that finally feels like home. As her happiness returns, so do the demons of her forgotten past. It is here that she finds herself faced with the sacrifice of her life, and the beginning of a journey deeply rooted in our existence.
Feather takes us into the darkest regions of our soul, into a world where we only dream to exist. Book one of the series introduces us to this new world, a place closely rooted in our dreams, and a place we ve all been. Begin the journey your soul craves, in a world where warrior's spring from the earth and magic is all around us

Review-

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is one of the best stories that I have read in a long, long while. Feather is filled with mystery, magic, darkness, light and danger. A mesmerizing story of attraction that is both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. The characters are wonderful and the storyline is very elaborate and enchanting. As the main character struggles to figure out why her soul feels so empty, she starts to remember a long forgotten past. This is a great love story with everything else sprinkled in to make it a very interesting and compelling read. A love so soul shattering that it is worth sacrificing her very life for. I am very anxious to get my hands on the sequels! A must read for anyone who loves a great and unforgettable love story.

Publisher-Crimson Oak Publishing LLC
My Score: 5 STARS!
Reviewed by~Mechele

Giveaway: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

 Ok so this is the book that according to the poll you wanted me to give away. So here we go.
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Review: Halo (Halo #1) by Alexandra Adornetto

Summary-

Three angels- Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They must work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

Review-

book that wont let you go once you start! I devoured this book and it's beautiful writing style. Vampire romance lovers, watch out! This love story between an angel and a human is deliciously enchanting.

Publisher-Feiwel & Friends

My Score: 5 STARS!

Reviewed by~Molly Maugans (Student at Franklin High School)

Review: Released (Agents of Evil #1) by Megan Duncan

Summary-

After a demon apocalypse kills their parents and everyone they know, 17-year old Abby Phillips, her brother, Carter, and friend, Max flee their home to travel through what has become the wastelands of America. When radio transmissions of a resistance offering shelter and safety cease, Abby is tempted to give up. Struggling to overcome life-threatening obstacles in their dangerous journey, Abby and her companions quickly discover there are much worse things lurking in the dark than they could have ever imagined

Review-

The book over all was hard to get into and had a very slow start. It had some points that ended no where, and other things that I think shouldn't be in the book.

Publisher-Createspace

My Score: 3Stars

Reviewed by~Emmaline (Student at Franklin High School)