Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

I was really excited to read this book because I heard so many good things about it but when I read it I was sadly disappointed, the book did not captivate me, parts of the book were entertaining but overall I was disappointed.

I did not like that Rose and Lissa kept alluding to things that had happened before. Usually I am ok with it but I was confused for much of the book, I kind of felt like I had not read a prequel that would have cleared things up for me I don't know.

Maybe I will try and read it again later or like the sequels better.

2/5

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." "Okay." "Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?" "Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?" According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

I have been excited for this book so when it arrived I swept it up and started reading. This book was very emotional because of the feelings that were expressed throughout the whole novel. Besides that aspect the story was beautiful it was a combination of the heartbreak and both the girls wanting to move on and not dwell. I don't like the name of the book because it does not express the feelings inside. It sounds like a cutesy chick lit novel which it is but it is poignant and emotional not just a cute novel.

The book was written surprisingly well for a debut author and I cannot wait for more from Sarah Ockler.

Also the cover is amazing

4/5

Check out my contest for this!

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Ever Bloom is the only survivor of an accident that kills her entire family. After the accident she has regular, in-person conversations with her dead little sister, develops intense psychic powers allowing her to read minds, and see auras. When a super sexy, rich, mysterious student named Damen shows up, Ever not only cannot see his aura, but she can't read anyone else's mind when they touch, either. Who is this guy, and why is Ever drawn to and scared of him at the same time?

I enjoyed this book it was well written and captivating. In the beginning it felt kind of like Twilight but by the middle it was totally different. There were twists I never would have imagined. Also the book leaves you interested for the next one.

The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the comradeship between Ever and her sister. Evermore kept me guessing what would happen I could not wait to find out what the ending would be!

4/5

The Inconvenient Adventures of Uncle Chestnut By Paul Nowak

Summary
With Uncle Chestnut, the ordinary becomes extraordinary and every day is an adventure - whether you are chasing hats, babysitting, or just taking a day trip to the seaside. These humorous short stories of Uncle Chestnut introduce timeless truths and a refreshing perspective of the world, based on the life and works of G.K. Chesterton. Told through the eyes of his fictional nephew Jack, The Inconvenient Adventures of Uncle Chestnut introduces readers young and old to the writings of G.K. Chesterton, the British author whose prolific writing inspired C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Alfred Hitchcock, and others.

Review
This was a children’s book which I don’t normally read but this one was very cute. The main character the nephew of “Uncle Chestnut was really instrumental in helping the reader understand the idiosyncrasies of Uncle Chestnut. Also the stories made me wish I had an uncle like Uncle Chestnut!

Before I read this book I had no idea who G.K Chesterton was but this book piqued my interest.

Over all a pretty good book for a children’s book!

4/5 Children’s

Waiting on Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine.

My Waiting on is The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

I picked this book because I really like The Forest of Hands and Teeth and I cannot wait to read the companion! Also the cover is beautiful!

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

This book comes out March 9, 2010

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Tough guy Alex is primarily known by his classmates as a dangerous member of the Latino Bloods gang. He’s not exactly thrilled when Brittany Ellis, the school’s seemingly perfect beauty queen, is assigned as his lab partner—and the feeling is more than mutual. But Alex’s bravado works against him when he impulsively accepts a bet that he can get Brittany in the sack.

I was worried that this would be a typical love story. But it was so much more! I loved the way that it was sprinkled with Spanish and that each chapter switched perspectives. It was really relate able how each of them put up a false front because people do that everyday.

This book was much grittier than I thought it would be there is much more gang violence than I expected but that was important to the plot and made the end worth while. The characters were so developed that I felt bad when things happened not just to the main characters but to the minor characters as well. I think that this book is a good book for both girls and boys. Another great book by Simone Elkeles

I also loved the ending!

4.5/5

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Summary
When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, Alex Rider goes from schoolboy to superspy within days as his world is turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex must discover the truth about the Stormbreaker computer.

Review
The first time I encountered this book was not through a book at all. I had seen the movie "Alex Rider Operation Stormbreaker" I really liked the move and thought nothing more if it. Then a couple of weeks ago I heard about this series and I was interested but when I started reading Stormbreaker I was surprised to feel like I had read this book before. After I had finished the book I remembered the movie.

Ok on to the book, I really like the idea of a teenage James Bond character and Alex really fits the bill. He was a likable character who really endeared himself to me through his sarcasm and just plain earnestness.

The problem I had with it was that the mission part for me only took up a minimal part of the book so I was kind of disappointed hopefully it will be better in the sequels. Overall a fun book!

3.5/5

Across the Pond

Today my blog was featured on the Across the Pond blog hosted by Barry Eva 'Storyheart' please check it out, as well as blogger interviews he has a radio show and other interesting interviews! http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/

Don't judge a girl by her cover by Ally Carter

Summary
When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth..

Review
This series is very cute and interesting I love the characters and the plot. Cammie is so intent on being the Chameleon that it sometimes gets her in trouble.

This book was different from the other books in that the girls left campus more and there seemed to be more of a mystery. I liked this book more than the others! The only main problem in my opinion is that you have to have read the other books in order to get some parts of the books but don't worry once you start you will not be able to wait for the next one.

4/5

Kiss of life by Daniel Waters

Summary
The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Review
I like this series because it kind of deglamorizes zombies because it shows a different of being undead, you see them more as people.

I really liked the first book and this one was just as well written but was much sadder as we see Adam having to deal with becoming a zombie and also the injustice with which they are treated. This book made me think about the prejudice that the world has and is experiencing today. So in the end this book felt to me less like a supernatural romance than the other one. Also sometimes it was slow and I wanted the book to continue at a faster pace.

Overall a good book!

3.5/5

Also I don't really understand the cover very much because the girl in the coffin looks like Phoebe is discribed and I guess the football player is supposed to be Adam? I don't know because Phoebe does not die Adam does. So if you get it please explain it!