Review: Struck (Struck #1) by Jennifer Bosworth

Summary-

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.
Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

Review-

 This is one awesomely, electrifying book. Bosworth definitely has a very bright future in the storytelling business. Everything about this book is ʺWhite Hotʺ! It is not often that I find an author's debut so unforgettable. I really liked the unique circumstances by which the main character becomes a heroine. This is the first book I've read where lightening strikes play such a major role. In a time where the world is literally on the brink of destruction, the main character tries to keep her family from falling apart as well. The fast paced storyline is a real page turner. This is a book that I will be recommending to everyone I know. Thanks to the author for a heart pounding ride!

publisher-Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR             

Reviewer Rating: 4.5  Stars           

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program!

      

Review: Shimmer (Riley Bloom #2) by Alyson Noel

Summary-

Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy, Riley, Buttercup, and Bodhi are enjoying a well-deserved vacation. When Riley comes across a vicious black dog, against Bodhi’s advice, she decides to cross him over. While following the dog, she runs into a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca’s sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she’s not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, she is furious about being murdered during a slave revolt in 1733. Mired in her own anger, Rebecca is lashing out by keeping the ghosts who died along with her trapped in their worst memories. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive and forget without losing herself to her own nightmarish memories?

Review-

This book is a wonderful start to some amazing new adventures for Miss Riley Bloom. Vivid scenery is written into existence before your very eyes. I really like the way the author weaves together the storyline. There is never a dull moment in her world. The main character, a bratty 12 yr. old, is coming to terms with her actions and behavior while helping others to do the same. She is quite a charming little girl. Just the right amount of spunk twisted into her personality. With the help of her friends, I'm positive she will be a wonderful ʺsoul catcherʺ for the council. This is an easy book to read. A good series for pre & early teens. I can't wait to read about her next adventure.

Publisher-Square Fish

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the Time Bandit for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program!~

Review: Radiance (Riley Bloom #1) by Alyson Noel

Summary-

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . .

Review-

The main character in this spin - off was one of the favorites from the Immortals series. I love the personality and spunkiness of this 12 yr. old. She is hilarious. This book has a fun and perky storyline. I like the way the main character has to help others in order to help herself. A lot of spin-offs never achieve the noteworthiness of the original. That is not the case here. It is just as good as the series from which it was born. Alyson Noel is a wonderful & imaginative writer. So far, I have liked everything I have read from her. This is a great series for early teens.

Publisher-Square Fish

Reviewers rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program!~

Review: Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. Cast , Kristin Cast

Summary-

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet—which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx’s gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together—if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father’s shadow...
But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more—or possibly less—than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s something strangely familiar about him...
Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him—and everyone—from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

Review-

When I first started reading the ʺHouse of Nightʺ series it was at the top of it's game. Sadly, after the first few books it started going down hill. At this point, in my opinion, the series has never returned to it's former glory. ʺDestinedʺ the 9th book does little to improve my opinion. I have to say I did like the ending. I keep pushing forward to the next book in the hopes that something.... anything will improve. My dismal opinion is that nothing has. The same story keeps repeating it's self with only a change in the main characters. Someone gets in trouble... trusting no one leads to more problems... the others find out... everyone bans together... the bad guy is defeated... oh yeah, and someone looses a loved one. It's all been done before. Just because I am disappointed, in no way should this sway you from giving this book a fair chance. Maybe, you will get something from it that I have missed. At best, I would put this on my list of ʺbooks to borrowʺ. Hopefully, you will enjoy this book more than I have.

Publisher-St.Martins Press

Reviewer Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this audiobook to the Read for your Future book program!~

 

Review: Silence (The Queen of the Dead #1) by Michelle Sagara West

Summary-

“It began in the graveyard. Ever since her boyfriend Nathan died in a tragic accident Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death….”

Review-

This is the first book I have read of this kind. Necromancers...who knew? I really liked this touching, heart - wrenching story. I got so emotionally wrapped up in this book. I sat reading it and cried like a baby....Lol. It has some very emotional scenes. The storyline is truly interesting. It grabbed and held my attention, which in this house, is a miracle. It was nice to read about a young person with the attitude that this main character possesses. She is kind, considerate and very selfless. She is always thinking of others before herself. The storyline is mysterious, action packed, and endearing from beginning to end. I liked this book a lot, so much that is now on my wish list. I can not wait to read some other books by this author. I even loved the cover.

Publisher-DAW          

Reviewer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the author for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program!~

Review: Legacy (Legacy #1) by Molly Cochran

Summary-

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow students seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother committed suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it's up to Katy to unravel her family's many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

Review-

I thought this book was great. It revealed truths about life that people may not see. I picked the book up and didn't want to put it down again. The author did a fantastic job.

Publisher-Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books         

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by Destiny Beaudoin (Student at Franklin High School)

~Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program!

Review: Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Summary-

Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help – but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.
"A boy to admire from afar, a girl you want to befriend, a novel to
keep you turning the pages because you won't know who to trust. Laurie Faria Stolarz's DEADLY LITTLE SECRET is a blend of mystery, chills, and forbidden touches--one captivating story you have to experience." - Kelly Parra, author of INVISIBLE TOUCH.

Review-

This was a very interesting book. I really got into this mystery... not a ʺwho done itʺ but a who will do itʺ. I particularly like the way the author keeps you guessing right up to the final chapter. The storyline is well planned and executed. Every time I thought I knew exactly who the bad guy was, the story would take a turn and leave me guessing all over again. No one is left off the list of suspects. The personality of the main character adds a considerable amount of body to the whole story. The ending did not go as I had expected it would. Then again, neither did the entire story. I guess you could say the author remained true to form on that point. Hopefully, the next book will tie up the few loose ends. We shall see.... I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.

Publisher-Hyperion

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to the author for the donation of this series to the Read for your Future book program!~

 

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

My 3 favorite villans are:

Captin Hook from Peter Pan

Gaston from Beaty and the Beast

Evil step mother in Cinderella

Shower of books giveaway Hop

Review: The Fashion Coloring Book by Carol Chu, Lulu Chang

Summary-

More than fifty iconic designers (Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Miu Miu, Christopher Kane, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen) and looks are featured in this one-of-a-kind coloring book that pays homage to fashion. Included are hundreds of outfits and accessories for fashionistas and budding designers to complete and reimagine. It’s not just a coloring book—it’s inspirational; it’s creative; it’s all about fashion; and it’s loads of fun!
Includes an introduction by Elizabeth Spiridakis who blogs about style at feelslikewhitelightning.com.

Review-

This book is a coloring book it is designed with young adults in mind. It has all the top fashions in it that your young adult can color and design as their own. The pictures are detailed so that the pictures can be designed colorfully and personally. I would recommend any young adult that is into fashions at all. It would make a great gift for any young future fashion designer.

Publisher-Houghton Mifflin Harcourt         

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Lora

~Thank you to the publisher of this book to the Read for your future book program!~

Review: The Changelings (War of the Fae #1) by Elle Casey

Summary-

Jayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do?
Amazon 5-star review: "...if you like anything to do with fae fantasy, read this book..."

Review:

This is an awesome beginning book that is the making of an awesome series. The main character Jayne is a cursor but its done in a tasteful way. It is part of who she is and I actually like this part of the character. The main character is also strong willed and quick witted which add up to a great read.

The storyline is well thought out and well executed and full of action and adventure. This is a great read and I would recommend it anyone looking for a satisfying read!

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Lora

~Thank you to the author of this book for letting us review it!~

Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Summary-

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Review-

 WOW!! What a saucy read! I Loved It... Once in a while a book comes along that just sinks it's claws into you and won't let go. This is that type of book. What is so intriguing about this book is that I can actually see society getting that messed up. The main character has a lot on her plate to sort out and deal with. Most of the problems are not even hers. See feels the punishment all the same. In the end she comes through it all with flying colors. Their are a lot of issues in this book that people today can identify with. The characters & plot are woven together so tightly, you get the compulsion to read straight on to the end. It's one of those books you feel a need to finish in one sitting. I hope anyone who reads this book will enjoy it as much as I have. I strongly recommend this book to everyone!!

Publisher-Tor Teen

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!

Reviewed by~Mechele

~Thank you to Time Bandit for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program!~