The Near Witch by Victoria Shwab

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

From Goodreads.com

This book introduces us to Lexie, a take charge kind of a girl that I instantly liked. I love having the main character who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes, which in this case is a stand against the whole town of Near. She has to defy the rules and beliefs of the town when strange things start happening. When Lexi meets the mysterious unnamed boy, she gives him the name of Cole, tall dark and handsome stranger in a town with no strangers. The chemistry between the two is wonderful and sweet. Together they push to save the children of the town of Near while they grow closer together. The Near Witch is a wonderful fairytale story that takes a look at a world beautifully created by Victoria. I enjoyed every character in the book, from the little sister Wren to the cocky Tyler, the story comes right off the pages (I enjoyed Tyler’s obnoxiousness tremendously). And I already mentioned that I loved Lexie’s nature. Independent, strong young woman with a dashingly handsome young man by her side; who can go wrong with that? Honestly, I always have to keep my reviews short and to the point or I end up giving too much away. Victoria is a sweetheart and a wonderful writer. 

This is a well written debut that I highly recommend if you like any kind of a fairytale. The Near Witch comes out August 2, 2011. 

Happy reading,

Valia

PS. Did I mention that I loved the fact that Victoria named her heroine Lexie? Yes, Victoria and I are ‘heroine buddies” Woo hoo! :)

Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s “woken up” in a new body, and assumed a new life, only to move on again and again. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by him. Mercy’s heart would know him anywhere. But her memory refuses to cooperate. 

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen year old reeling from the loss of his twin sister who was kidnapped two years ago. Everyone else has given up hope, but Ryan believes his sister is still alive. Using a power she doesn’t fully comprehend, Mercy realizes that Ryan is right. His sister is alive and together they can find her. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose; she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the dark mystery of his sister’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind. 

Will Mercy be able to harness her true self and extraordinary power in time? 

The first in a dazzling new series, Mercy masterfully weaves romance, mystery and the supernatural into a spell-binding tale.
From Goodreads.com

        The story starts out with Mercy waking up in a new body. She is thrust into a life of a girl by the name of Carmen. She’s in a completely new environment, surrounded by  people who’s name she doesn’t know, living with a family who carries a burden. Mercy knows next to nothing about her own life, and now she must learn all she can about Carmen’s in order to succeed in her mission. Mercy must make a few tough decisions, putting the needs of others before her own.

Mercy is a refreshing story with a heroine who is hard not to like. I love the fact that Mercy is a tough girl who takes no prisoners, independent, and stands up for herself and others. There is just something about a girl who can kick butt. She carries secrets inside her mind that she must unravel. The more she learns about herself, the harder her choices become. We meet Ryan in the beginning chapters. He’s gorgeous, mean and troubled. His family’s troubles sit heavily on him. He pushes everyone in his life away, until Mercy comes in to the picture. Their relationship is interesting to say the least. They are two people pushed together by circumstances, but they become more than that. 

I like the conflict in this story. The uncertainty, the struggle, the relationships all told in a simple and precise way. This is book one, so of course hardly anything is resolved, but you do find out more about Mercy and who she is. Rebecca wrote a wonderful story that will make you want more as soon as the last words are read. I definitely recommend this book. The beautiful hardcover comes out May 17th. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!

Valia

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails..
From Goodreads.com

The summary really says it all. You have the main character Kate who is a new girl in town. Then you meet the mysterious Henry. These two main characters made the book noteworthy. The struggles Kate has to go through while dealing with her dying mother, moving to a new town, and discovering the supernatural world are written well. I love Greek mythology and Aimee brings the known world of gods to a new level. 

I like Kate. She’s a real character who deals with life’s trials with a strong attitude. I like the fact that she doesn’t give up on things or people. Her strong character brings out the best in others and she learns how to push herself and those around her to strive to be better. Henry is an interesting character. His love and devotion is beautiful, but he is also a tortured soul, so to speak. The contrast between the two is unique. I love their relationship. The fact that it takes time for each party to develop the connection they do is a great addition to the story. Here, both Henry and Kate, although are attracted to each other, must first learn much about life before they can be together. Aimee did a wonderful job with this story and I can’t wait for more. 

When picking up the book, be prepared for a lot of twists and turns and a story that keeps you turning the pages. I always have a hard time discussing ARC’s because there is so much more that could be said. The Goddess Test comes out April 26th. 

Happy reading,

Valia

PS Comments???

Die for Me by Amy Plum

DIE FOR ME is the first of three books about Kate, a sixteen-year-old American who moves to Paris after the death of her parents. It introduces a new version of the undead with revenants, beings who are fated to sacrifice themselves over and over again to save others’ lives. Kate finds herself falling for Vincent, who she discovers is not the typical French teenager he appears: he is something else entirely. 

DIE FOR ME presents a new supernatural mythology presented in a city where dreams are sometimes the same as reality


From Goodreads.com

This book is amazing! Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. :) There are so many things about it I loved. First of all, it’s set in France. It fit the story perfectly. Second of all, the characters where so much fun. The main character Kate was a real character with real problems (well, until the supernatural set in). She loses her parents and then has to move to a completely different country. Her struggles in the beginning of the book makes you want to see if this girl will have a happy ending. Once the supernatural element is introduced the story becomes really unforgettable. Enter, Vincent. Oh I like Vincent! One of my favorite things about him is probably the smirk. His confidence is present but he’s also a hopeless romantic and no girl can withstand that. When Kate is pulled into his world and his heart, nothing remains the same. Honestly, I enjoy the full cast of characters in this book. Amy has a way with words that brings the characters right off the page. 

Amy Plum pulls you into a story that kept me up a few nights! I cannot wait to find out what happens next! Can book two be available now, please? I said please! :-)

“Die For Me” comes out May 10th, 2011. I would love to hear your thoughts on this story.

Happy reading, 

Valia

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

From Goodreads.com

Let me just start out by saying that I absolutely love Greek mythology. I’ve been working with a few ideas for my own book that has that element to it. So when I received this book for review I was more than excited. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. 

From the first pages, I liked Helen. Her character is real and easily related too. Same goes for her best friend Claire. Their relationship reminds me of my own best friend and the way we are. I could relate to a few of those conversations. Then, enter the Delos family. Anyone know of a Lucas they can share with me? I loved every member of that family. Their dynamics, relationships, and wit made me laugh out loud more than once. When Lucas and Helen finally become friends, it’s amazing. Their relationship is complicated and hard, but also beautiful. I don’t even know how to describe what goes on between those two. You’re just going to have to read it. :)

I loved every character in this book. They’re all so fun and real while being supernatural. I stayed up for two nights trying to finish this book. Its such a beautiful adaptation of Greek mythology into modern day storyline. Josephine grips you in a tale that is too much for words! Haunting, exploding, and absolutely breathtaking. I honestly cannot say more about this book without being spoiler-y. I cannot wait to see what happens next! 

Starcrossed comes out May 31, 2011. I’d love to hear your thoughts! ;-)

Happy reading!!!

Valia

Already Home by Susan Mallery

After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store.

Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….

From goodreads.com

I was so privileged to read this book as an ARC. Susan Mallery is one of my absolute favorite authors and I love her writing. This book took me by surprise. It is not your typical Susan Mallery story. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As always, the characters are lovable. Susan creates individuals who take a hold of your heart and wont let go. Jenna is a charming young lady that is struggling to discover herself. I loved this aspect of the book because everyone can relate to a point in their life when they too needed to find their own identity. Other characters like Beth and Serenity give you a glimpse of people in the world who are unique in their own ways. I loved how different every character truly was and yet, they all seemed to fit like pieces of a puzzle. I did have a favorite, who although wasn’t a main character, brought a little fun into the pictures. Ah, Dragonfly! :) 

There is so much I can say about this book, but I don’t want to give away too many spoilers. All in all, Susan once again takes us on an unforgettable journey of life, love, and family. This story is not like the others, but its a story that will leave you laughing, crying, and understanding a little bit more about the world and the people around you. Already Home comes out March 29th. 

Happy reading,

Valia

PS. I would love to hear your thoughts! :)

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams. 

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. 

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

From Goodreads.com

Time to be honest, this story took me by surprise. With all the Paranormal craze in the YA right now, you’d think you’ve read every possible story. Not “Falling Under.” From the very beginning, the story pulls you into a world so unexpected and wicked that you wonder if you should keep reading. I litelarly had to put the book down a few times because it was making me insane. I was right there with Theia as she tried to figure out what was going on. I like both Theia’s and Haden’s characters. Gwen writes them in a way that compels you to read the next page, and the next, and the next. Haden’s actions were driving me just as much up the wall as Theia. 

Gwen’s descriptions of the world Theia is pulled into made me gasp more than once. I was reading the book at work, and had to read parts out loud so that my coworkers could understand the random comments that kept escaping me. 

I expected this book to be a stand alone novel, but it’s not. I cannot wait for book number two to come out! I have to wait quite a bit! :) 

Falling Under hits the stores on March 1, 2011. For those of you who enjoy darker edgier read, I recommend this book to you! :) 

Happy reading,

Valia

PS If you have read Falling Under, let me know what you think!! :)