Review: SHINE NOT BURN by Elle Casey

Title: SHINE NOT BURN

Author: Elle Casey
Publication Date: 2013
Cost on Amazon: $4.99
Genre:  NA/Adult Crossover Romance
Good if...you like cowboys! Yee-haw!

IT HAPPENED IN VEGAS. 

 I can't be held responsible. Things that happen there are supposed to stay there, right? Right? Yeeeah. Not so much. Andie's just days away from tying the knot, but there's just ooooone little glitch. Apparently, she's already married. Or someone with her name is married to a guy out in Oregon of all places, and the courthouse won't issue her a marriage license until it's all cleared up. 

Tripping her way through cow pies and country songs to meet up with a man who gets around places on horseback is her very last idea of how to have a good time, but if she's going to get married, make partner at the firm, and have two point five kids before she's thirty-five, she needs to get to the bottom of this snafu and fix it quick ... before her fiance finds out and everything she's been working toward goes up in flames. 

My Thoughts...
One of the steamiest books I've read this year!!

Mack and Andie meet up in Vegas, at the blackjack table.  Mack is a cowboy hottie-boom-body!  And right away sparks fly which leads to one hot and heavy night!  (Wow-wee! The sex scenes in this novel are off the chart!)  And Andie is hilarious.  There are holes in the night for Andie though and she ends up the next morning separated from Mack.  Fast forward 2 years, Andie is engaged and in need of a divorce from her one-night-stand in Vegas.  And so she heads out into the country to get those divorce papers signed.  

Picture the movie What Happens in Vegas mixed with Sweet Home Alabama!  It also had a Rachel Gibson (my favorite romance author) feel to it.  

It was very good, very steamy (not just that one night in Vegas but a few more times!), and the ending worked out.  What more can I say?  A quick, hot, cute read.  

Bottom line:  Pick this one up right away.  The current $4.99 price was worth it.  

Mini Review: TANGLED by Emma Chase

Title: TANGLED

Author: Emma Chase
Publication Date: 03/19/2013
My Rating: 5/5
Genre: Romance
Good if...you want something unique, fun, and steamy

Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion-dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed? He’ll tell you he has the flu. But we all know that’s not really true. Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful, and ambitious. She refuses to let anything—or anyone—derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, and his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating. Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life? Can Drew Evans win at love? Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing in life he never wanted is the only thing he can’t live without.

My Thoughts... 
Never before have I read a book like this. NEVER EVER!!!! Sure, the story line was pretty typical. Playboy meets woman who rivals as his equal and isn't afraid to go toe to toe with him. She puts him in his place and in the process he falls in love with her. But what made this book so incredibly unique was the writing style. It deserves a reward for being so refreshing! The perspective was from the cocky guy and it was something like first and second person mixed together. It was honest, funny, cute, and steamy! You can't go wrong with this one. 

Bottom line: A must read!

Mini Review: THE BET by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: THE BET

Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: 03/26/2013
My Rating: 4/5
Plot in One Word:  New Adult Fiction
Good if...you want something very very funny, a little corny, and cute!

"I have a proposition for you..." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. Instead, she made a deal with the devil in hopes of putting her past behind her once and for all. Four days. She could do four days! But she wasn't counting on Jake’s older brother Travis being there to witness their farce of an engagement. One thing is for certain. One brother is right for her. One wants a lifetime. And one is in league with the devil. She should have gotten Jake’s signature in blood.

My Thoughts... 
Amazon sells this New Adult Romance novel for .99 cents!  And I say it's def worth it!

This novel switches POV between 3 characters.  Kacey and then brothers Jake and Travis.  Kacey and Jake were BFF growing up.  Kacey lost her virginity to Jake.  Then he left her.  Now Jake is back and wanting to use Kacey for a fake engagement.  Kacey agrees.  Everyone seems happy about it except for Jake's older brother Travis.

So...although this novel was flawed, I still found it cute and very worth reading.  My favorite character was the cunning grandmother!  She was hilarious and often stole the show!  There were a few corny--I mean very over-the-top-embarrassing corny scenes--but then there were also some very sweet, romantic ones.  I probably would give this novel 5 stars if the over-the-top corny scenes were cut.

So if you want something quick, cute, and light....this novel is for you.


Bottom line: Give it a try!  

Review: CRASH by Nichole Williams

Title: CRASH 

Author: Nichole Williams
Publication Date: 12/18/2012
My Rating: 4/5--I enjoyed it.
Plot in One Word:  New Adult Fiction
Good if...you want a summertime, beach read.  

Jude Ryder and Lucy Larson are this generation's Romeo and Juliet: Explosive. Sizzling. Tragic. A steamy summer encounter with bad boy Jude means trouble for Lucy. Her sights are set on becoming a ballerina, and she won't let anything get in her way . . . except Jude. He's got a rap sheet, dangerous mood swings, and a name that's been sighed, shouted, and cursed by who knows how many girls. Jude's a cancer, the kind of guy who's fated to ruin the lives of girls like Lucy—and he tells her so. But as rumors run rampant and reputations are destroyed, Lucy's not listening to Jude's warning. Is tragedy waiting in the wings? This racy romance is hot, hot, hot!

My Thoughts... 
I bought this novel completely forgetting that I'd already read a novel by Nichole Williams and hated it!  ETERNAL EDEN.  Which was Nichole Williams' very lovey-dovey attempt at a paranormal young adult novel.  But lately I've been on a New Adult Fiction kick, which is what this novel is and I really really liked it.

If you're unfamiliar with New Adult Fiction, then here's what I've been noticing.  It's really just romance novels with 18-25 year-old main characters.  All of it seems to follow the same format.  Bad-boy who is very sexually experienced meets good-girl virgin.  Bad-boy falls in love with good-girl, they get it on, they fight some, and then they get back together by the end of the book.  

There's not too much more to say about CRASH than that.  It delivers everything.  Steamy bad-boy.  Sweet good-girl.  Lots of chemistry.  Lots of heart-stopping moments.  Bold gestures.  Fun drama.  Loyalty and love.

Bottom line: I recommend it if you're into New Adult Fiction.  I also read book #2 CLASH.  It was basically more the same, but worth your while too.  Book #3 CRUSH is due out later in the year.  

Review: FALLEN TOO FAR by Abbi Glines

Title: FALLEN TOO FAR

Author: Abbi Glines
Publication Date: 12/12/2012
My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good!  Worth your time.
Plot in One Word:  Romance 
Good if...you want something steamy and rated R!

To want what you’re not supposed to have… 
She is only nineteen. 
She is his new stepfather’s daughter. 
She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother. But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no. 

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

My Thoughts... Mmmm.  Yummy!

Every now and then you just need a good steamy romance.  This sure filled that position.  New Adult Fiction.  Romance to the max.  It's about the innocent Blaire--having just lost her mother, who's forced to move in with her dad.  Except, her dad ditched her and in his place she finds her brand new step-brother Rush.  Rush is the definition of the word bad.  He's the spoiled, rude, arrogant, jaded, son of a rock star.  He's certainly not interested in Blair...until he is.

I liked this one a lot.  A lot.  A lot.  Certainly guaranteed to suck you in.  Rush is so bad, I kept wondering what low he'd stoop to next.  And Blair is so sweet and innocent and certainly a girl to root for.  Worth reading and it didn't hurt that it was only .99 cents on Amazon!

Bottom line:  If you're into romance (the kind that uses the word shaft), read this one!

Review: SCARLET by Marissa Meyer

Title: SCARLET (Lunar Cronicles #2)

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication Date: 02/05/2013
My Rating: 5/5--Excellent! Loved it!
Plot in One Word:  Red Riding Hood
Good if...you want a totally unique retelling!

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts... Cinderella of the future!  Red Riding Hood of the future!
Okay, in CINDER we saw the corporation of all the classic elements of the Cinderella fairy-tale made into a sci-fi, futurist retelling.  And I loved book #1!  In case you don't know the basic plot, Cinder is a cyborg (part human, part robot), a 2nd-class citizen in her world, she has a crush on Prince Kai, she's got the evil lunar queen who wants her dead, and currently--at the end of novel #1--we find her locked away in a prison after crashing the royal ball.

Book #2 opens with a brand new character--Scarlet.  At first I was confused and annoyed by her introduction   All I wanted was more of Cinder.  So, who cares about some random girl named Scarlet?  But--after a few pages--I quickly warmed to Scarlet.  Scarlet--whose grandmother recently went missing and who wears a red hoodie--soon meets Wolf--a street fighter who may or may not know something about her grandmother's disappearance.  Sound familiar?  Red Riding Hood?  SO how does this story line tie to Cinder?  It does, trust me...eventually.  Anyway, the story continues alternating between Scarlet, Cinder, and occasionally Prince Kai's POV.  It's a lot of different story lines, but together they work flawlessly.

And I loved it!!  Better than book #1!  The introduction of all the new characters was perfect.  Scarlet, Wolf, and the Captain were all great additions.  They kept the story fresh and turned CINDER--a pretty good book on it's own--into something great!  In this novel the stakes are higher, the action constant, and I couldn't put it down.  I can't wait for the next novel :)

Bottom line:  Buy it!  Be sure to read CINDER first though!

Review: CINDER by Marissa Meyer

Title: CINDER (Lunar Cronicles)

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication Date: 01/03/2012
My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good!  Worth your time.
Plot in One Word:  Cinderella 
Good if...you want a totally unique retelling!

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Thoughts... The Cinderella of the future!

I'm in awe!  This novel incorporated all the classic elements of the Cinderella fairy-tale into a sci-fi, futurist retelling.  And it was flawless, each character represented perfectly!  I'm amazed by the genius behind Marissa Meyer's work.  But not only did the story fit in all the elements of a Cinderella tale, it also was unique, suspenseful, and fun all on it's own.

So, since it's a futurist retelling, instead of it being 'Cinderelly, Cinderelly, washing the dishes, do the mopping' it was 'Cinder, fix the android robot, fix the hover craft'.  Cinder is a cyborg (a human with mechanical parts), a 2nd-class citizen in her world, and there's no way she'll ever go to the ball.  Not that she even wants to.  She's too busy working as a mechanic and earning a living for the family.  Her robot sidekick Iko--who I liked to think of as the fairy-godmother of the story--is practically her only friend until she meets the prince.  Wearing a hoodie as disguise, the story kicks off the moment Prince Kai visits Cinder's booth in the crowded New Beijing market place and asks her to fix his android.

I read this one at hyper-speed, as I couldn't get enough, and loved every moment of the story until the very end.  It ends on a cliff-hanger.  Picture the movie Ever After with Drew Barrymore: she goes to the ball... the prince is so excited to see her until it's revealed that she's not royalty as he thought but a lowly peasant... the step-mom rips off her wings... Drew runs away in tears leaving her shoe behind... the prince is angry thinking he was betrayed until he realizes that it doesn't matter if Drew is royalty or not because he loves her just the same... the end.  Now picture the movie ending before the prince's realization.  What if he never brought Drew Barrymore the shoe, expressed his love, called her by her real name?  The movie would have felt unfinished.  Well, that's how--more or less--this book ended.

But, book #2 is already out so hopefully I'll have my ending soon enough :)

Bottom line:  Buy it!  Read it!  I really liked it!

Review: THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT by Veronica Rossi

Title: THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT

Author: Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: 01/08/2013
My Rating: 4.5/5-- Really good! Worth your time.
Plot in One Word: Dystopian
Good if...you want something that's a little sci-fi mixed with a little dystopian

It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death. Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him. Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first. Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist? Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure—and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

My Thoughts:  Excellent sequel!  Breaks the middle novel curse!

This is the #2 novel in Veronica Rossi's UNDER THE NEVER SKY series.  It picks up exactly were book #1 left off and the transition is flawless.  I loved how Rossi wasted no time in re-explaining her past book and how she had the intensity/action start back up immediately.

If you're unfamiliar with the series let me explain.  It's set in a post apocalyptic world where there are basically two types of people.  Those who have survived the last 300 years out in the open --under the harsh never sky--and those who have survived locked away inside bunkers where they interact mostly through virtual reality.  In the first novel we met Aria--the insider who was cast out into the wild, left to die--and we met Perry--the outsider who is forced to work with Aria to get back something that was stolen from him.  Together they put aside their prejudices and kick some series butt.  

I loved book #2 because it takes you deeper into Veronica Rossi's dystopian world.  More characters are added, relationships develop further, and the action intensifies.  Very worth your while, nearly as good as the first, and sure to leave you wanting more!  I can't wait to read book #3 next January.  (They should really make these books into movies!)

Bottom line: Buy it!  Read it!  Be sure to read UNDER THE NEVER SKY first though.  

Review: UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi

Title: UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Author: Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: 01/03/2012
My Rating: 5/5-- Incredible! Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Dystopian
Good if...you want something that's a little sci-fi mixed with dystopian

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse. Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive. A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

My Thoughts:  The perfect mesh-up of Scott Westerfeld's UGLIES and Kristin Cashore's GRACELING.

This novel is a duel narrative switching between Aria--the 'Dweller' who has lived her entire life indoors in a virtual reality world where all luxuries are an eye piece away--and Perry--the 'Savage' who is part of a tribe of outsiders fighting for survival.  It's dystopian with a little mix of sci-fi or maybe sci-fi with a little bit of dystopian.  Whatever.  The pairing of Aria and Perry is what makes this book exciting.  Two polar opposites who are forced to help each other despite their prejudices of one another.  It sets up an exciting stage.

SO why the comparison to UGLIES?  Well, the novel UGLIES (if you haven't read it) is about a girl living in a post apocalyptic world where technology is very advanced but humans have lost touch with reality.  The main character is forced out into the wild where she meets a 'savage' aka 'ugly' on the outside.  Sound familiar?  UNDER THE NEVER SKY follows the same recipe.  Enter GRACELING.  In the novel GRACELING people have developed 'Graces' or special abilities or mutations.  In UNDER THE NEVER SKY the outsiders--forced to adapt to a harsh world--have developed abilities of their own.  I'll leave it at that.
So that explains the comparisons.

In addition, this book delivers romance, friendship, run-ins with cannibalism!, action, knife flights, a strong female lead, more action, tons of suspense, and more action...did I say action?  Expect a cliff-hanger at the end, but luckily book #2 is already out!  :)  I wouldn't be surprised if a movie was already in the works for this one.

Bottom line: A must read!  (And I don't even like dystopian all the much!)

Review: THE INDIGO SPELL by Richelle Mead

Title: THE INDIGO SPELL

Author: Richelle Mead
Other books by Author: BLOODLINES, THE GOLDEN LILY, and THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY series
Publication Date: 02/2013
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible! Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you want something complex, romantic, and very entertaining 

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

My Thoughts...Book #3 in the BLOODLINES series delivers!!!
Okay, so I'm obsessed with Richelle Mead!  Her young adult novels are always so consistently--consistent being the key word here--wonderful.  You can always expect a nice mix of action, suspense  humor, romance, and friendship.  I'm very happy to report that this one delivers just like all the others.  I look forward to the release of her books all year!

So if you are unfamiliar with Richelle Mead here is what you need to know.  She writes romance novels and young adult novels.  I've only read her Young Adult stuff (YA).  Her first YA series was the VAMPIRE ACADEMY books (6 of them).  They were about best friends--Rose and Lissa, a living vampire and a half vampire.  Richelle Mead's second YA series is called BLOODLINES.  It's a spin-off from the VAMPIRE ACADEMY books, involving many of the same characters, and this novel is the 3rd of that series.  BLOODLINES's main character is Sydney.  Sydney is an alchemist--someone who covers up vampire activity, hides it from the rest of humanity--and she's been assigned to keep Jill (one of the living vampires) in hiding--the half sister of Lissa from the VAMPIRE ACADEMY books.  Did I confuse you yet?  It's really hard to explain the series without giving away the previous novels.  Not only that--although written for teens--these novels are very complex!  The relationships are very intricate and intense and vastly developed.  You can't help but get carried away into this world Richelle has created.  I genuinely care for these characters.  And after 6 books in the 1st series and 3 in a 2nd, I'm totally hooked.  I promise they will hook you too!
That explains the general series.

So for those of you have read the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series, BLOODLINE, and THE GOLDEN LILY.  (Basically those up to date.)  Here's all you need to know about THE INDIGO SPELL: it's just as good as all the rest, except better!  (If that's even possible.)  Adrian is as charming as ever!  His relationship/friendship with Sydney gets plenty of air time.  More is revealed in the world of magic and Ms. T.  Marcus--the guy who used to be an alchemist--presents a new dynamic to the story.  Basically, everything is bumped up a notch!  It's fantastic.  I loved every minute of it.  It's going to be torture waiting another year for the next novel.

Bottom line:  Read it!! Read this whole series, but be sure to start with THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY series first.

Book Review: THE RISE OF NINE

Title: THE RISE OF NINE
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publication Date: 08/21/2012
My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good!  Worth your time!
Plot in One Word: Aliens
Good if...you want something fast paced and filled with action

Until the day I met John Smith, Number Four, I'd been on the run alone, hiding and fighting to stay alive. Together, we are much more powerful. But it could only last so long before we had to separate to find the others. . . . I went to Spain to find Seven, and I found even more, including a tenth member of the Garde who escaped from Lorien alive. Ella is younger than the rest of us, but just as brave. Now we're looking for the others—including John. But so are they. 

They caught Number One in Malaysia. 
Number Two in England. 
And Number Three in Kenya. 
They caught me in New York—but I escaped. 

I am Number Six. 
They want to finish what they started. But they'll have to fight us first.

My thoughts... 
SO I recently read I AM NUMBER FOUR.  I'd seen the movie.  It was...okay, but I figured I'd give the book a try.  I'm so glad I did since I highly enjoyed it.  :)

Then I read book 2, THE POWER OF SIX, which was even better.  And after I finished I had to read book 3 immediately.  Which I did.  Also good.  

Book 1 followed John Smith (#4).  Book 2 followed John and #7 in a duel narrative.  Book 3 follows John, #7, and #6.  Getting confusing yet?  Having three different narratives did get a bit confusing at times, but it worked.  The pace of this third novel was even faster.  The tension and drama just keeps building and building.  There's this overwhelming sense of urgency.  I kept flipping those pages as fast as I could.  Highly entertaining.  Couldn't get enough. 

Bottom line: Read it.  Read them all.

Note for those who have already read these novels:  
So, this is supposed to end up being a 6 novel series.  Wow.  That's a long series.  I felt like it almost ended with this novel.  I'm not really sure 6 novels would work.  We'll see.  What do you think?  Also, I wonder if the different narratives will continue.  Three different perspectives was okay, but borderline too many.  I sure hope that trend doesn't continue.  Okay, that's all.  

Book Review: HIDDEN

Title: HIDDEN
Author: Sophie Jordan
Other books by Author: FIRELIGHT, VANISH
Publication Date: 09/11/2012
My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good!  Worth your time!
Plot in One Word: Dragons
Good if...you want something magical and action packed

A dangerous journey.
Shattered bonds.
Undying passion. 

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted her fate long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory. The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning. . . . 

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

My thoughts... 
HIDDEN is book #3 and the final installment in Sophie Jordan's FIRELIGHT series--books about shape-shifting draki (dragons) who in their demanifested state look like humans.  They live in their own 'prides' separate from the regular world.  In book #1 Jacinda and her family leave the pride to live among humans where she falls for a hunter (one who hunts and kills her kind for their pretty skins and the magical properties of their blood).  In book #2 her family is forced the return to the pride where dynamics change and more of the draki nature is revealed to the reader.  I gave both books #1 and #2 five star ratings.  Loved them both!  And book #3 is pretty close to being equally as great!  

All these novels are all fast paced, exciting, action-packed reads.  The characters are likable, the supernatural element unique and oh-so interesting, the twists and turns unexpected and plentiful, and the romance an added bonus.  Book #3 reveals more about the hunters and the enkros (the ones the hunters sell the draki to) as Jacinda poses as a prisoner to save Miram who was captured in book #2.  

I'm sad this series is ending here.  Yes, I really enjoyed this novel, book #3, and as I said before it was pretty close to being equally as great as the first two novels.  It was on par... I'm just can't give it a full five star rating because I don't feel like the series is 100% finished.  This novel wasn't the full conclusion I was looking for.  There's still so much more to learn about the draki, about Tamara and her future, about the new character 'the grey one', about the future of the pride, about Cassian!, about other prides, about Will's family, about Jacinda's mom, about...  (I could keep going on and on with this list.)  SO as great as this novel was it left me still wanting so much more.  I do hope Sophie Jordan writes more stories perhaps from other characters' perspectives.  Tamara's story or Cassian's story would be awesome!  That being said, I still loved this novel!  A must read!  (But be sure to read #1 and #2 first!)   

Overall recommendation: Read it!

Book Review: THE GOLDEN LILY

Title: THE GOLDEN LILY
Author: Richelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY series, BLOODLINES
Publication Date: 06/12/2012
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible!  Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you're a fan of the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

My thoughts... 
Once again, I'm totally obsessed with this new series!  It's a spin-off series from Richelle Mead's VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.  This series follows Sydney--the Alchemist (a group whose purpose is to cover up the existence of Vampires from regular humans) Rose met in Russia.  This was book #2 in the new series.  Book #1, BLOODLINES, was an excellent debut.  A bunch of my favorite characters were back again!  Sydney.  Adrian.  Jill.  Eddie.  And in this second book we also see Dimitri and Sonya!  It's a fantastic addition to this already awesome series (one that's quickly becoming a favorite).  I liked this novel even more than the first!  They both were awesome so that was hard to do.  I found myself neglecting everything else in my life to hurry through read this novel.  I just couldn't get enough.  And the ending was the best part.  It defiantly left room for more books to come, but it was so dramatic that I had to reread the last chapter three times.  It's been stuck in my head for days now. 

Basically, I can't praise this book enough.  Go out and get BLOODLINES and THE GOLDEN LILY right away!  They won't disappoint.  (Still I recommend reading the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series first, just so you have a better understand of the characters' backgrounds.)  

Overall recommendation: READ IT NOW!

Book Review: BLOODLINES

Title: BLOODLINES
Author: Richelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY series
Publication Date: 08/23/2011
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible!  Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you're a fan of the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California.

My thoughts... 
I'm totally obsessed with this new series!  It's a spin-off series from Richelle Mead's VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.  This series follows Sydney--the Alchemist Rose met while in Russia.  A bunch of characters are back from the original series too.  Sydney, obviously.  Eddie.  Jill.  Adrian.  And I honestly love reading from Sydney's perspective even more than Rose's!!!  She's spunky and sassy and smart.  Her perspective of the vampire is very unique and fun to read.  And of course, Adrian fans will rejoice for his return!  If you're a VAMPIRE ACADEMY fan then I strongly suggest you pick this novel up today!  Don't delay.  I read it sooo fast then I bought the second in the series (THE GOLDEN LILY which is already out) and read it immediately too!  I can't get enough!

Overall Recommendation: READ IT NOW!  Own it!

Book Review: LAST SACRIFICE

Title: LAST SACRIFICE (VAMPRE ACADEMY Book 6)
Author: Rachelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY, FROSTBITE, SHADOW KISS, BLOOD PROMISE, SPIRIT BOUND
Publication Date: 11/14/2011
My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good! Worth your time.
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you want something dark, dangerous, romantic

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust. . . . But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all? Each other.

My thoughts... 
LAST SACRIFICE is book #6 in the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.  This was the last and final book.  And I'm sad to see the series ending.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It's so rare to find a series that can capture your attention after 2 books, let alone 6!

SO to recap--Rose is a dhampire (part vampire part human) bodyguard sworn to protect her bestfriend Lissa.  Lissa is a Moroi vampire (the good kind of Vampire) princess.  In the early books we saw the girls in school, then graduate school, and now they've at court since Lissa is a princess.  You also have the guys too--Christian, Dimitri, and Adrian.  This novel is just another great addition to their stories.  Rose is still the same kick-butt strong sassy female she's always been, Lissa and Rose's friendship still drives the story, the boys are still very much swoon-worthy, and all the action/romance make these books hard to put down.  Book #6 was right on par with all the other books in the series (I still think book 3 was the best though) and I loved how it ended.  It felt very complete, even if a little predictable.  But no disappointments!  I do, however, hope to see Adrian's story more in the author's new spin-off series.

Read this one!!  Read them all!!

In case you are interested...here are all my reviews of the past novels:
Book 1: VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Book 2: FROSTBITE
Book 3: SHADOW KISS
Book 4: BLOOD PROMISE
Book 5: SPIRIT BOUND

Book Review: BALTHAZAR

Title: BALTHAZAR

Author: Claudia Gray

Other books by author: EVERNIGHT

Release Date: March 6, 2012

My Rating: 3.5/5-- Decent. It was okay.

One Word Plot: Vampires

Good if...you're looking for something more after the EVERNIGHT series

For hundreds of years, the vampire Balthazar has been alone—without allies, without love.
When Balthazar agrees to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, he has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s newfound psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel, seductive master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Now Redgrave plans to use Skye’s powers for his own evil purposes.
Balthazar will do whatever it takes to stop Redgrave and exact his long-awaited revenge against his killer. As Skye and Balthazar stand together to fight him, they grow closer—first unwillingly, then undeniably. Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by her. . . .

My thoughts...

BALTHAZAR is the companion novel to the EVERNIGHT series.  Basically this book picks up right where the last EVERNIGHT book left off...expect now instead of following Lucius and Bianca we're following around Balthazar and his (soon to be) new love interest Skye.  That being said, you don't really have to have read any previous Claudia Gray novels if you want to read this one.  It's basically a brand new story and a brand new start.  Many of the same characters from the EVERNIGHT series are part of this novel, but no prior knowledge is really needed to enjoy this book.  However...

This novel is no EVERNIGHT!  It was alright, enjoyable, and semi-entertaining--I read through it rather quickly--but never once did it sweep me off my feet nor capture the same mystery/intensity I felt while reading EVERNIGHT.  In EVERNIGHT I loved the romance between Lucius and Bianca; In BALTHAZAR I only liked the romance between Balthazar and Skye.  Which was disappointing since I've always been super fond of Balthazar and found him particularly swoon-worthy.  But I guess it just turns out that I prefer the stereotypical 'bad boy' to win the girl.  I prefer my romantic to have friction and that forbidden factor.  Claudia Gray tried to give Balthy and Skye those things, but it didn't really capture what I wanted.  So--like I said before--BALTHAZAR wasn't a bad novel...it just wasn't knock-your-socks-off-spectacular either.  

All in all--the most I can really say for this book is that it was OK. 

If you liked BALTHAZAR; then you might also like...
EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray
NEED by Carrie Jones

Overall recommendation: Skip it?

Book Review: CLOCKWORK PRINCE

Title: CLOCKWORK PRINCE
Author: Cassandra Clare 
Other books by author: CLOCKWORK ANGEL 
Release Date: 12/06/2011 
My Rating: 4/5-- I mostly enjoyed it!
One Word Plot: Angels/Demons
Good if...you're looking for something full of romantic tension

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

My thoughts...
Like any other Cassandra Clare novel, I quickly sped through the pages of CLOCKWORK PRINCE, soaked in the romance, and devoured the detailed descriptions and witty dialogue.  It's hard to give a unique review when this is the 6th book I've read by Cassandra Clare.  Obviously I'm a fan and obviously I will continue being a fan.  SO why the 4/5 rating for this novel instead of the usual 5/5 rating?

The first novel in this second series by Cassandra Clare was CLOCKWORK ANGEL.  Though the concept was similar to all her novels, CLOCKWORK ANGEL introduced a new set of interesting characters and unique situations while being set in 19th century London.  It was easy to get lost in the mystery and action and descriptions that book 1 delivered.  In book 2 (CLOCKWORK PRINCE), things moved a little slower.  The actions wasn't as strong, some of the characters grew on my nerves, and somehow I found myself hoping for a little more.  This novel suffered from the classic "middle novel syndrome".  What is "middle novel syndrome" you might ask?  MNS.  That's where book 2 in a typical 3 book series tends to be merely a stepping stone in the trilogy.  The link between books 1 and 3.  Where nothing much is really resolved, we don't find out which boy the heroine chooses, the bad guys isn't taken down, and the mystery and suspense from book 1 isn't resolved.

Don't get me wrong...in no way was this book bad!   I just didn't like it quite as much as book 1.  That being said, I still read CLOCKWORK PRINCE through in 2 days and was left wanting and wishing greedily for more.  I can't wait to get my hands on book 3!!  I can't wait for more action when the Clockwork army will rise, when Tessa will have to pick between Will and Jem, and will (hopefully) more answers will be learned.

Book Review: GRACELING

Title: GRACELING
Author: Kristin Cashore
Release Date: 2008
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible! Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Fantasy
Good if...you want something magical, romantic, and kick-butt

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

My thoughts... 
An oldie but a goodie.  After the TWILIGHT craze got me addicted to reading young adult novels, GRACELING was one of the very next novels I read in the genre.  It's remained one of my favorites as others just come and go.  And so I decided to re-read it and see how it still compared.
And I'm happy to say it's was just as amazing the 2nd time around.  It's kind of like this great little package, filled with everything one would want in the ultimate YA.  You have the kick-butt heroine who reminds me of Katniss from HUNGER GAMES.  The mystical world with one of the coolest paranormal twists ever.  The action.  The mystery.  The danger.  One creepy bad guy.  And, of course, Po who remains one of my top literary crushes.  SO all in all it's a fantastic book and I couldn't recommend it more.
The one little thing I think that might turn some people off is the fantasy aspect to this novel.  I tend not to read novels based in anything but the real world.  This is like a mix between middle-earth and the middle-ages.  However, it didn't stop me from loving this book.  I typically hate fantasy, so if I liked it I'm sure most others would too.

The Bottom Line: Read it!

Book Review: VANISH

Title: VANISH
Author: Sophie Jordan
Release Date: 09/06/2011
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible! Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Dragons
Good if...you want something magical and romantic

   An Impossible Romance.
   Bitter Rivalries.
   Deadly Choices.
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.
Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

My thoughts...
As the second novel in this series, I was happy to find this one just as good as the first! I read it greedily just as I did with #1.  Some of my favorite features were: 1.  The fast pace.  2. The twists and turns.  3.  The characters, especially Jacinda.  4.  The romance.  Not lacking between Jacinda and Will.  I even liked the new developments to Cassian's character, his tenderness and softer side, and the possible love triangle that's begun to develop.  5.  The myth arch.  The dragons.  Their talents.  The sister's new abilities.  Even the effect Will's blood holds over him.  All great additions to an already great story!

I will say make sure you read FIRELIGHT before reading this one.  I doubt it would make much sense without the first one.  I think it was good thing too that I recently read the first one.  Also, I feel like this story ended a bit too soon.  A great deal was resolved, but it ended just before the build up of another great action scene.  That would be my only complaint.  I have to wait a year to know what happened!!  But I have to know so bad that I most definitely will buy book #3.  I wonder what it's cover will look like.  :) 

If you haven't already; check on my review of FIRELIGHT :)

Book Review: WITHER

Title: WITHER
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: 03/22/2011
My Rating: 4/5-- I mostly enjoyed it.
Plot in One Word: Dystopian
Good if...you want something unique and dystopian

At age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years to live. Thanks to a botched effort to create a perfect race, all females live to be twenty, and males live to age twenty-five. While geneticists seek a miracle antidote, orphans roam the streets and polygamy abounds. After Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she is desperate to escape from her husband’s strange world, which includes a sinister father-in-law in search of the antidote and a slew of sister wives who are not to be trusted. On the cusp of her seventeenth birthday, Rhine attempts to flee—but what she finds is a society spiraling into anarchy.

My thoughts...
I very much enjoyed this novel.  The plot of a doomed future where all the new generations of children are dying off young was very original, very gripping, and very well executed.  It hooked me in right away as it was something I'd never seen in a ya-book before!  And I absolutely loved the characters and the dynamics between them.  Each relationship brought something special to the story.  SO there was this great plot and great characters and even a little romance mixed in...what I found lacking was the pacing.  It didn't really hurt things enough to ruin this story for me, just towards the middle things started to drag a bit for me.

Overall I really liked this novel...it's just a couple things annoyed me slightly.  I gave it a 4/5 because of those things.  If you want to read my rant about them...you can highlight the below text.  :)

Slight spoilers---highlight to see---

Was it just me or was this book kind of like a waiting game the whole book through?  Waiting for Rhine to finally escape the mansion she's being held captive it.  Once she develops the plan to escape it was like just hurry up and get on with it and escape already!  So, finally the end comes and things finally start happening, she escapes 3 pages away from the end...and then the book ends!  This wasn't a cliffhanger...not when the story just cuts off.  So really, this entire book was one very long beginning.

And one other thing.  It doesn't snow in Florida!!!!  Not like the blizzard at the end during their escape!  So maybe the world has changed because there is some reference to the mansion being 1000 years old...but if that's the case then you gotta let us know b/c all I could think is why is it snowing now after they just went through hurricane season!  I hate when authors make stuff up just for convenience.  Okay...end of rant.

If you liked WITHER; then you might also like...
DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver
MATCHED by Ally Condie

Bottom Line:  Maybe.  Borrow it though.