Review: My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul To Save

Author: Rachel Vincent

Series: Book Two in the Soul Screamers Series

Published By: Harlequin Teen (Dec. 29, 2009)
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Description:

 When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

My Review:
The covers in this series are just breathtaking. I think if I hadn't already picked up this series and started reading them based on recommendations, seeing the covers in a bookstore would have made me pick them up and read them on their own.


This is such a fun series and the second book was even better than the first. 
Maybe because I got to know Nash, Tod and Kaylee more. Maybe because they worked so well together and they each have qualities that make you love them. Or maybe even because they all have some redeeming quality about them that just make them a blast to read.
Or maybe, it is just that Rachel Vincent is a genius and her writing is brilliant, either way this series is just one of those must read series.


It is entertaining and I always find that I just have a great time reading them, getting caught up in their world and I think I love that they don't always do what I am expecting them to do. They can catch me off guard with their antics and their witty humor and snarky one liners.


I think I love Nash even more after reading this one and yes, I adore Tod even more too. There is so much more to Tod than meets the eye and I can't wait to get to see more of him in the next book. I have a feeling that I just might end up liking him even more than Nash by the time this series is over.




 

Review: Buried: A Goth Girl Mystery by Linda Joy Singleton

Title: Buried
Author: Linda Joy Singleton
Series: Book One in the Goth Girl Series
Published By: Flux (March 8, 2012)
Source: ARC e-galley
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Description:
In a new school and determined to keep her secrets from being discovered, Thorn finds a mysterious locket that leads to a shocking discovery—the unmarked grave of a newborn baby. Surrounded by new friends she barely knows, as well as the school’s famous former student, a smoking-hot musician named Phillipe, Thorn must investigate to find out if one of them is a murderer.

My Review:

 

I really enjoyed Singleton's Seer series so I knew more than likely I would like this new series as well and I was thrilled to learn that not only would this new series also be paranormal but that it would also feature Thorn, who has made several appearances in the Seer series.

Thorn's also a psychic like Sabine from the Seer series, only instead of seeing ghosts she is a Finder. She has the ability to locate missing items or people by touching something that belonged to them and seeing visions of where they are.

I really enjoyed learning more about Thorn, she was a fabulous secondary character in the Seer series and I am so excited that we will be getting to know more about her.

I love her character. How good she is and loyal and just wants to do the right thing.

I really enjoyed reading about her new home and friends and even getting to know the Grin Reaper, yes you read that right, the Grin Reaper.

This was such a fun read! It was a good mystery with just the right amount of creepy and paranormal to keep you interested and turning the pages to see what would happen next.

I really look forward to reading the next installment to what will more than likely turn out to be a great series.

Tell Me Something Tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert .


   
It is a fun weekly question she asks other bloggers in the hopes that we will all get to know one another a little better and also because, well, because it is just a really fun and cute idea.


This week her question is: Out of Everything You Have Read, Who Is Your Favorite Villain You Loved To Hate?
 
This question actually took me longer to think about than I care to admit. I have loved (and hated) a lot of villains over the course of my reading history but one character will always stand out to me and that has to be the fabulously evil character that J.K. Rowlings created in none other than Dolores Umbridge.







 Truly I think she is the first character I can ever remember reading and truly seething at the things that she dared to do to Harry and all of Hogwarts.

She is the one character that I was overly joyed when something bad happened to her and couldn't wait for her to get her just reward. Horrible, I know but it is true.

Rowlings made her the best evil hate-able character ever and I love her for that. 

Anyone that can bring out that many emotions inside of you, where you want to reach through the pages and knock a character over the head, where you get teary eyed at the cruelty they are showing someone else, is indeed a fabulous writer.

Review: Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber

Title: Melody Burning
Author: Whitley Strieber
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Henry Holt and Co. (Dec. 6, 2011)
Genre: YA 
My Rating: 3 Stars


Goodreads Description:

Beresford doesn’t remember much about his past or how he came to live in the chutes and crawl spaces of the posh high-rise that shares his name. But when rock star and teen sensation Melody McGrath moves to an apartment on the fiftieth floor, he knows he has to be near her. Although she doesn’t realize it, Melody is threatened by more dangerous forces than her manipulative stage mom and the pressures of life in the spotlight. The owner of the glamorous building has been hiding a fatal secret within its walls, and Beresford puts all his plans at risk. Will Beresford and Melody be able to escape with their lives (and love) intact?

My Review:

After reading some of the review on this book, I really wasn't sure if I even wanted to give it a chance, I mean really, I don't have time for a bad book but something about this book just drew me in and I thought, what the heck and gave it a chance anyways.

I will say, the whole scenario is a little far fetched, I will give the other reviewers that have complained about that a firm agreement. But honestly? I read books sometimes to get that way out there theory. To be a part of a world that maybe doesn't make perfect sense or always come together like it should be, because sometimes that just makes the story that much better.

Sometimes I like to read a book just to get that happily ever after that I crave, even if it is a little far out there and okay, a little unbelievable at times and maybe even a little corny.

This was was all those things. Corny, cheesy at times and yes, very far fetched.

But, (yes, there is a butt and really, you saw it coming, I know you did)this was still a really cute story about first loves and teenage heartbreak and finding who you are in the world and what really matters.

It will never be a great literary work or even a book I may remember years down the road but it was a fun read and I enjoyed it and sometimes, sometimes, that is all that counts.

My Soul To Lose and My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul To Lose
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Prequel to Soul Screamers Series (6 Books and 3 novellas)
Published By: Harlequin Teen (July 1, 2009)
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Description:

It was supposed to be a fun day, shopping at the mall with her best friend. Then the panic attack started and Kaylee Cavanaugh finds herself screaming, unable to stop. Her secret fears are exposed and it's the worst day of her life.

Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.

She tries to convince everyone she's fine--despite the shadows she sees forming around another patient and the urge to scream which comes burbling up again and again. Everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, that is. Another patient with some special abilities....

My Review:

This is the book that started it all. My love of Rachel Vincent and my love of this series. Okay, okay, so I am not actually in love with Rachel Vincent but, I do admire her writing abilities greatly.

As for being in love with the series? Well that part is true. This is an amazing series and this short prequel just proves that.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is one of the best prequels I have ever read.

It is fun and interesting and just leaves you wanting more.

If you haven't tried this series yet (and seriously, you MUST try it) this is a perfect way to start and you can read this for free, so really, you have no excuses and no reason why you shouldn't try this book.

Title: My Soul To Take
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Book One in the Soul Screamers Series (6 Books and 3 Novellas currently out)
Published By: Harelquin Teen (July, 29, 2009)
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 3 Stars


Goodreads Description:
 She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

My Review:
I adored the prequel so much that I just knew it was a no brainer that I would want to read the first book in the series and why I did really enjoy this book, it was like all first books in a series, it has a lot of world building and character building to do and sometimes that makes the book go a little slower than you would like.
However, this was a great start to the series and very very promising and definitely made me want to pick up the next book and read it as well.








This year I plan on participating in the Soul Screamers challenge hosted by Fiktshun and I am so excited about it because this is a fabulous series and I have been meaning to read them all but I just haven't found the time. This year with this challenge I plan on taking care of that by reading the remaining books in the series that I need to before the 6th one, Before I Wake is released. 

So look out for more reviews from me on this amazing series!

Review: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Title: The Peculiars
Author: Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC Netgalley
Published By: Amulet Books (May 1, 2012)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads Description:

This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance.
On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

My Review:

I was pretty interested in this book from the first time that I saw the cover and read the synopsis. It sounded like it would be something different and fun to read. Something unique than what is out there right now in the world of YA.

With those high hopes in mind, I was a little sad when this book started out so slow. I admit, I had to put this book down a few times and come back to it after reading something else for awhile.

Thankfully it did pick up a little and while it was still sort of slow it was very interesting, wondering about the mystery of where Lena came from exactly and what her father was and why he left.

I felt bad for Lena, having to put up with the superstitions and harshness of her grandmother as well as others that judged her by the appearance of her hands and feet.

I think if I had been in her same situation I would have done the same things she did, I would have searched for my father and his history so I could finally once and for all just know if the rumors about him were true. To know if she too were a Peculiar no matter what dangers met her long the way. And there are dangers and adventures and discoveries.

Unfortunately, I still struggled through this read even with all the adventures and dangers and discoveries. I think maybe this book just wasn't quite for me but, having said that, I could appreciate the uniqueness of it and do think people that enjoy fantasy a little more than I do would really enjoy it.

Indie Book of the Week: The Wanderer by Shawn Kirsten Maravel

As we all know I love reading books from indie authors. I love discovering someone that I haven't read before and being able to share their books with people that might not take the chance and read them otherwise.

So it is with great pleasure that I announce this weeks indie book of the week, The Wanderer by Shawn Kirsten Maravel.

 This is the first book that I have read written by Maravel and I was so impressed with her writing and the characters.
It was so well written and the character were down to earth and just felt so real. Like every day people that you and I would know, that you and I could be.

Landon was a fabulous character. My heart really went out to him and I felt myself really caring for him and for his outcome. I love it when that happens, when I get so caught up in the characters that I really start to care about them.

Max was a great character as well. She was so down to Earth. A tomboy that was still soft enough to be girly when she wanted to be but strong enough to not let anyone tell her who she should or shouldn't be or what she should or shouldn't do. She was truly a kick butt character in a real sense.

I loved reading about Max and Landon as a couple, how they interacted with one another, discovered one another and discovered themselves as well. It was nice to see them recognize their demons and try to overcome them.

And can I say that I absolutely adored that this book had an epilogue? That we got to see where Max and Landon were years down the road. What they were doing and how their lives were.

I love it when authors do that.

This was a fabulous read and it most certainly won't be my last book by Maravel.



So if you are looking for a good adult romance that is clean and very well written please check out her book. You won't be disappointed!