Cover Colors Part 6

For someone who reads as many books as I do, covers are essential to capturing my attention. Sure, there can be an intriguing premise blurbed on the back, or tantalizing quotes from other authors I love on the front, but first and foremost, the cover has to take my breath away. In the last month, I read two books with cover art that was really not at all interesting to me. But the books turned out to be AMAZING and very enjoyable. Which led me to this month's Cover Colors. I loved Glimmerglass and was blown away by how awesome Across the Universe was. But the mirror image on the covers? BORING. Blah. For Split (can you see the faces in the keys?) and Minder, the stories weren't nearly as captivating, but they had the same style art on the covers. Maybe because the top two books dressed up the mirror images more? Maybe it's the vertical presentation versus the horizontal? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from others who have also read these books!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

There are angels that walk among humans, and Clara Gardner is one of them. She has wings, glowing hair, and a weird magnetism to birds. At sixteen, she begins to have visions and is given her purpose: to save a boy from a wildfire. Her mom and brother pack up and follow clues in the vision to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Clara enrolls in the local high school. Though she is an outsider, it doesn't take her long to make friends with two girls, Wendy and Angela. As well as two guys, Christian and Tucker. But as her visions come more and more frequently, Clara discovers not everyone is who they seem.

First I want to mention how much I totally love the cover. No angel wings or anything like that, but a very ethereal girl and a beautiful dress. Great job, design team! I really liked how there wasn't a whole lot of time to get to know Clara before she came into her powers. It is always fun to watch a character discover hidden powers and such, but in time when there are SO many angel stories out there, it was refreshing to be thrown into Clara's world without the wait. The mystery unravels at a snails pace, building a slow and powerful suspense. Cynthia Hand created great tension by having Clara recognize there are parts of her mission that she doesn't yet know but needs to find out in order to fulfill her purpose. Angela was an adorable secondary character, one with her own story worthy of it's own book! And I don't think I've liked a dude in YA paranormal this much since Jude from the Immortals series. But Tucker! He was rugged, handsome, and total swept me off my feet while he showed Clara around the area. I have my fingers crossed that we will see a lot more of him next time. This is a planned trilogy and I wait with baited breath for part two!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 12/15/10

RAIDER'S HEART by MARCIA GRUVER

Synopsis:
Steal away to the Old South with Marcia Gruver’s Backwoods Buccaneers series. Two brothers—one violent and one gentle—belong to a family of bandits. While Duncan McRae can hardly stomach their raids, his brother Hooper revels in the violence perpetrated by the band of thieves. When they meet mild-mannered Dawsey Wilkes, the competition steps up a notch as the brothers vie for her hand. Which marauder will steal Dawsey’s heart? Meanwhile, Dawsey holds the key to Dilsey McRae’s past. What will Dilsey do when she discovers the truth?

I absolutely fell in love with Gruver's writing in her Texas Fortunes trilogy. Her writing had a way of sucking me in and holing on tight to my attention all the way through! I am a little hesitant to start this new series, but I am hopeful it is equally as amazing.

Release Date: February 1, 2011

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

For Celeste, living in Legend's Run means living with stories of werewolves in the woods. It's a way of life. Luckily, it's been many decades since the last time anyone has seen one. The sighting was so long ago, that Celeste and her friends Abby and Ivy have a hard time believing the rumors to be true. Then a mysterious outsider named Brandon comes to town and completely changes Celeste's life. Now she finds herself keeping two sets of secrets - her own and Brandon's - from everyone around them. As the entire town grows more suspicious, it is going to be difficult to know who to trust!

Since I'm part of Team Werewolf, this was the perfect Ellen Schreiber book to start with. I have yet to read any of her Vampire Kisses books, but I want to! The romance between Celeste and Brandon was very cute, though the drama felt a little contrite in some places. Brandon was a perfect blend of mystery and tough guy and softy. I liked that Celeste volunteered at a nursing home. It is always nice to see teens in books helping out and donating their time for free. Ivy and Abby were both funny and serious and ultimately very believable. Once in a Full Moon is a short book, but sets up the town of Legend's Run and it's key players for Schreiber to continue her series with. I look forward to more secrets being revealed in the next installment!

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

On the same day that Kelsa buries her father, she encounters a strange boy named Raven. Raven is a shapeshifting spirit who needs her help. The earth is suffering from a deadly tree virus and can only be healed by a human with special magic. Kelsa is not sure she is the right person for the job, but agrees to go with him because staying home with her depressed mother doesn't sound any better. So Kelsa and Raven set out on a long road trip, complete with amazing sights, an angry biker gang, and a little self-discovery.

At the start, this book was good. It captured my interest and introduced me to the poor, hurting Kelsa. I liked the mostly average world, with innovative bits such as floating cars and com pods subtly thrown in. Surprisingly futuristic and yet very understated. Kelsa had a tricky relationship with her mom that most teen girls will be able to identify with. However, as the novel went on, the plot became rather tedious. There were magical elements added that didn't make any sense and yet Kelsa was perfectly accepting of them and seemed to know exactly what to do. The long chapters created little time to relax from being chased and made for a tiresome read. And Raven's constant bashing of humans killing the earth felt too preachy to be enjoyable. I would have been willing to overlook some of the hard-pressed message if there was something redeemable in Raven, like a love interest. But there was none. This may make reader's turn away from the story early, but those who read to the end will find an exciting, action-packed ending.

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 12/8/10

SHADOWSPELL by Jenna Black

Synopsis:
On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

I recently finished Glimmerglass, the first book in the series, and it impressed me more than I thought it would. Dana was multi-faceted and the action was well-written. Looking forward to this next installment, which seems much darker!

Release Date: January 4, 2011

Fear Street Flashback (11)

Why? Because FEAR STREET was like, my favorite series growing up.

Originally released in November 1991, December 1993 and December 1996.

What better time than now to cover some holiday horror? Christmas-themed books are usually not my thing, but I have enjoyed this particular trilogy on more than one occasion. The first Silent Night introduces us to the truly reprehensible Reva Dalby, spoiled rich brat and heir to Dalby's department stores. Still, such crazy bad things happen that I can't help but feel a little sorry for her! A needle in your lipstick is such a cringe-worthy visual. I liked that this book tapped into the weird phobia of mannequins. And it kept me guessing until the end!

The second book in the series always runs the risk of being the same old thing as the first book. But that is definitely NOT the case with this cast of characters! I loved that Reva was up to her usual bratty self. It made it harder to feel sorry for her again, but it was still funny to read about her terrible jokes on those around her. And I liked that she was back at the perfume counter, picking on people and talking back to her supervisor. The consistency made for a fast and delicious read!

The third Silent Night is probably the weakest in the trilogy, because it strays from the formula a little bit. It was great to see Reva take over her cousin Pam's scarf idea. She's so mean! It was good to see more of Reva's poor, neglected brother in the story too, even if he was super creepy. Which actually leads me to a question about what actually happened to Reva's mother. It may have redeemed her more if we saw more of Reva missing her mom. All of the alternating points of view between Reva and Pam kept things interesting. Sometimes I found myself wanting Pam to get a whole lot angrier! In her own spin-off book!

All-in-all, a fun trilogy to get you into the holiday spirit!

Fear Rating: 2 out of 3 Screams

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

As Amy's father prepares to be cryogenically frozen, he offers her a chance to opt-out and continue living her life as normal on Earth. She chooses to be frozen herself, and follow her parents aboard the Godspeed, to be woken up 300 years in the future on another planet. When she is thawed out, it is extremely painful and 50 years too soon. She quickly makes a friend in Elder, a boy roughly the same age as she is and second in command on the ship. But Amy is from Earth, and her different appearance and behavior does not fit into society on the ship at all. Before long, sinister acts begin happening around Amy, turning allies into suspects. With lies being revealed and secrets being overturned, Amy and Elder hold on whatever truths they hold in themselves.

Across the Universe is breathtaking science fiction, the kind where I feverishly turn the pages to find out what happens next. One of those books where immediately after the last page is turned, I want to start over from the beginning and read it again. It really is that good. I was hooked right from the start, with the detailed process of being frozen. I am usually pretty squeamish but I could not stop reading. I felt every inch of Amy's claustrophobia and every ounce of Elder's frustration. The futuristic swearing is reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica and works well with Elder's character. Revis goes to great lengths in order to let the reader discover what is what in the world she has created. There are no lengthy passages of exposition. Some aspects are very cool (grav tubes) and others are a little far-fetched (mono ethnicity), but overall the concepts are deeply thought out and well executed. Fans of Maria V. Snyder's Inside Out and Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games will love this book. I eagerly look forward to more from this author!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 12/1/10

SLICE OF CHERRY by Dia Reeves

Synopsis:
Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Omigosh that cover is so tantalizing. The pretty colors... the drip of blood... MUST READ! I was totally taken by surprise with how good Dia Reeves' Bleeding Violet was, so I am glad this one is coming out soon.

Release Date: January 4, 2011

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

The first time Wes meets June, he thinks her mouth is too wide and her eyes are too far apart. June, in return, thinks his hair is shaggy. It would seem these two were not meant to be together right from the start. And yet, against all odds, their paths continue to cross. Thus begins a romance where nothing is easy to explain or simple to figure out. Navigating through friends, family, and their own heads, Wes and June fumble towards a unique happy ending.

Wow, this book was incredible. It's funny, sad, tender, and exciting. The only other book by Pete Hautman I have read was Sweetblood, which I also enjoyed very much. Still, this one was above and beyond good. The characters, the emotions, the situations were all so raw and realistic. It showed the honest side of love - that it always isn't the clean-cut, love-at-first-sight other books make it out to be. On the contrary, Hautman creates a rather messy situation for these poor characters. I found it difficult to sympathize with June sometimes, as she wasn't very nice a lot of the time. But Hautman gives her a viable back story to explain her reserve. Readers won't be able to help but root for Wes, especially the males out there. Which brings me to one last comment: this book is equally great for girls and boys. Each will have someone to identify with, and the scenarios are common enough to speak to just about anyone. Hautman writes all of his secondary characters excellent too, with Wes' friends supporting him and June's acquaintances having their own agendas. I'll say it one last time - this book was amazing. A short read that's highly recommended!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Emma is shocked speechless when her foster brother shows her a video from the internet of a girl who looks exactly like her. Emma's never had a real family before, only foster ones. So she's super excited at the thought that she might have a long lost twin out there named Sutton. The only trouble is, Sutton is dead. As Emma leaves her world behind in search of Sutton, things quickly become dark and twisted. No one seems to realize that Sutton is gone- not her friends, her boyfriend, or even her family. Then the threatening notes begin to arrive, and Emma has no choice but to play along.

This is the first time I've read anything by Sara Shepard, though I have been wanting to start the Pretty Little Liars series for a while now. At first it was a little tricky to navigate the tenses of Sutton narrating Emma's story, but after a few chapters it gets easier. I was skeptical in a few places at how Emma managed to fit in so easily, but it was such an absorbing mystery that I was willing to overlook some of these details. She's such a brave girl! Reading about mean girls has a tendency to be so scary, with their acts of cruelty and harsh words. Overall, the chapters move quickly and the story is breezy but intense. Fans of Veronica Mars and Desperate Housewives will like the way this series starts.

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 11/24/10

BOUND BY GUILT by C.J. Darlington

Synopsis:
Roxi Gold has been shuttled from one foster home to another for most her life. She longs for a family and will do anything to fit in even if it's against the law. Soon she's traveling the country in an RV, stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. She knows it's wrong, but if she refuses, she'll be put out on the streets.

Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society, and not just at work. Her ex-husband wrested her daughter away from her in a bitter custody battle. The job she once loved has become a chore, the world isn't any safer, and there's no joy in her life.

One fateful night a man's innocent blood changes both Roxi's and Abby's lives forever. One searches for justice; the other finds herself on the run until a first edition of The Great Gatsby catches up with her. Will the power of forgiveness set them free, or will they both remain bound by guilt?

I fell in love with Darlington in her first book Thicker Than Blood. Her writing was soft and suspenseful and kept me turning the pages late into the night. Plus, I'm a sucker for books where a rare book is central to the plot. Books about books! I have been waiting and waiting for this next one to come out!

Release Date: March 1, 2011