Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . . 

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy. 

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. 

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
From Goodreads.com

I had the privilege to read this book a few days ago, and I have to say that I wasn't really sure what to expect. There has been so much hype about angels lately, and I needed to read this book without comparing it to others. 

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. I like the character of Clara and her struggle to figure herself out. It was a nice touch her not being perfect even though she’s part angel. She was a little annoying at times, and even a bit selfish, but those qualities made her seem more real as a character. After all, she’s only a teenager :) Her mom is an interesting character as well. And I love the whole “Gilmore Girls” aspect to their relationship. 

On the other hand, we have the boys of the book. Christian is a gorgeous hunk of a teenager who is the boy Clara dreams about. He’s popular without being obnoxious about it, and I have to say I love his sweet side. Then there is Tucker. The bad boy, outsider who also is a sweet and considerate guy. How do you chose between the two right? 

Recently, I’ve noticed that its always the forbidden/outsider love that wins out. Yes, we have a tendency to cheer for the underdog. In this story, both boys seem to be the right choice, however, I would’ve like to have seen more of Christian. The book starts out with a focus on him and then all of sudden he disappears before he can even become anything with Clara, and Tuck takes his place. 

The conflict was a bit minimal in this book, however, this is book one and you cant have everything played out right in the beginning. I also would love to see more of Clara’s brother in the next book. He seemed interesting, with a bit of a mystery to him. 

The ending was a nice touch, leaving the reader wanting more. I like the little twist in the end, although I was kind of expecting it. Thats what happens when you’re constantly mapping out your own stories, you cant read without mapping out others :)

Overall, “Unearthly” was a good read and a good book number one in a series. I am looking forward to finding out more about each character and their relationships. The book come’s out January 4th, 2011. Let me know what you think! 

Happy reading,

Valia  

Real Life Boyfriends: Yes. Boyfriends, plural. If my life weren't complicated, I wouldn't be Ruby Oliver

Ruby Oliver, the neurotic, hyperverbal heroine of the The Boyfriend List,The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys, is back!
 
Ruby Oliver is in love. Or it would be love, if Noel, her real live boyfriend, would call her back. But Noel seems to have turned into a pod-robot lobotomy patient, and Ruby can’t figure out why.

Not only is her romantic life a shambles:
Her dad is eating nothing but Cheetos,
Her mother’s got a piglet head in the refrigerator,
Hutch has gone to Paris to play baguette air guitar,
Gideon shows up shirtless,
And the pygmy goat Robespierre is no help whatsoever.
 
Will Ruby ever control her panic attacks?
Will she ever understand boys?
Will she ever stop making lists?
(No to that last one.)
 
Roo has lost most of her friends. She’s lost her true love, more than once. She’s lost her grandmother, her job, her reputation, and possibly her mind. But she’s never lost her sense of humor. The Ruby Oliver books are the record of her survival.

From Goodreads.com

      I think its about time I posted this particular review. I know that this book is not out till December, but honestly, I could not wait. 

Ruby Oliver. What can I say about Ruby? Funny, crazy, brilliant, entertaining. I can go on and on. E. Lockhart has developed a character that touches hearts everywhere. Tell me, how many of you have never experienced crazy parents? Or had a misunderstanding with your boyfriend? Or been distracted by a hunky guy next door? 

Honestly, I could not put this book down. Without spoiling any plot lines for anybody, I just have to say that there is something special about the relationships between the characters in this book.  But what I love most about that, is the fact that these characters are real. I have met each and every single one of them at one time or another. 

Ruby is amazing! She keeps you hooked in her life, making you laugh and cry all at the same time. The guys in her life are gorgeous, sweet and oh so frustrating. Her parents have problems just like anybody else, while driving her up the wall. And of course, there are friends and enemies and lists. 

Truth be told, I love Ruby’s lists. There is just something about reading them that makes the whole story that much entertaining. I, myself, am a list maker, but Ruby takes it to a whole different level.

1. E. Lockhart has truly outdone herself. This story is lively and entertaining with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. She writes Ruby’s story as if Ruby is a real person living next door to her. I can honestly say I felt privileged reading this book, especially this far in advance. I’ve tried very hard not to give away any plot lines, but to tell you how great this book truly is. Come December 28th anyone who can relate to drama, love, and parents should go out and buy this book! 

Happy reading!

Valia

PS Thoughts???

Matched by Ally Condie

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion. 

from Goodreads.com

I’ve heard so much about this book you can imagine my surprise when I received an email saying I get a copy. Ally is a new author to me and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. My first thought when I opened my mail was, “Such a pretty cover!” A good start in my opinion. Now, be warned, this may get a bit spoiler-y. So here we go!

            I try not to make judgments on a book until I am completely finished with it, but with Matched that didn’t happen. I knew I loved this story from the beginning. Ally writes a beautiful story about a society that seems like it works. There are no problems, no big issues that show us that maybe this is not the way things are suppose to be. The main character, Cassia, is a beautiful strong girl who tells her story in first person. She is matched with her best friend, Xander, and yet another, Ky, comes up on that screen for only a moment. Now, she is torn between two people and two choices. The beautiful dystopian love story pulls you in and wont let you go. I loved the poetry in this book. I loved the struggle these characters had to go through to find their own words. I mean, how many of us have had that problem? Being true to oneself, speaking out and fighting for our right to be ourselves.

            Now, for a bit of honesty. This book does remind me a little of 1984. For those of you who read it, you will understand the comparison and yet Matched is a much softer side of a society that is trying to control the world. It is definitely a new slant on a story, and Ally does an outstanding job in portraying her ideas within. The other thought that came to my mind when I was reading Matched is that I would’ve liked to have seen more of Xander and Cassia relationship. We know they’re best friends but sometimes that gets lost in Cassia’s thoughts. Basically, I would’ve liked to have seen both relationships, Xander and Cassia, and Ky and Cassia a little more spotlighted. But then again, I am a greedy reader when it comes to my love stories. I feel in love with each character in a way that made me want to know them better. High praise for Ally on that one!

            Overall, Matched is an outstanding story of choices and love; of finding out who you are versus whom people tell you to be. Ally did a tremendous job with this book, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters. I was hooked from page one and I would recommend this book to any book lover, young or not so young.

Happy readings!

Valia

PS. Your thoughts???

 

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

From Goodread.com

            How many of you remember the Smart Chicks Tour? Well, I have never heard of Kimberly until Alyson introduced me to her at one of the stops. She’s a darling and I was interested to see how the story I was hearing about could possibly sound on paper. By the way, parts of this are spoiler-ly so beware!

            The Body Finder is a wonderful story of a girl who is trying to figure out how to live her life with an ability like no other. Such a morbid ability and yet so much potential to use it for the greater good. Violet is a sixteen year old girl who many can relate to. Granted, we cant sense dead bodies but we have all gone through that stage of discovering ourselves. I loved reading about her struggles, and Kimberly’s voice is easy to understand and connect to. Now, Jay is a sweetie! A guy next door every girl dreams about. I love that even though we find out at the end that he’s been crazy about Violet all this time, he’s not pushy about it. He’s protective, kind and fun. Kimberly portrays their relationship in the innocence that it is at the age of sixteen.  

            The story was beautiful. I loved the creepy element because often that particular trait is overlooked in YA fiction. Sure, witches, vampires and werewolves are present. But something about this particular creepiness makes it seem all too real. You can almost see yourself meeting Violet at a mall and having a conversation about echoes with her. 

            I cant wait till “The Desires of the Dead” comes out and if anyone wants to send an ARC my way, I might love them forever!

            I recommend this book to anyone who can relate to romance, making life altering decisions, and figuring out what your purpose in life is. Kimberly has done a marvelous job with her debut and I cant wait to see more from her!

Happy reading,

Valia

PS Let me know what you think!

 

The Best of Friends by Susan Mallery

In high school, studious Jayne Scott and wild child Rebecca Worden became unlikely best friends—atie that endured even after Rebecca fled her family to live overseas. After Jayne’s mother passed away, she became part unpaid assistant, part surrogate daughter to the wealthy Wordens. But now, ten years later, Rebecca is coming home to L.A. to cause havoc for Elizabeth, the mother who all but rejected her. And Jayne finds herself pulled deeper into the Wordens’ complicated family dynamics—especially when Rebecca’s brother, David, returns as well.David is the man Jayne always wanted and knew she could never have. But when he gravitates toward her in spite of Elizabeth’s protests, her vow to escape the family’s shadow is put to the ultimate test. And as lies are shattered and true feelings exposed, Jayne must decide where loyalty ends, and love begins. . . .

From Goodreads.com

            The Best of Friends is a beautiful story that keeps you spellbound from page one. While I’ve read numerous books by Susan, took me by surprise. The story begins with Jayne, the down to earth simple girl, whose beauty is on the inside as much as the outside picking up her best friend Rebecca from the airport. Rebecca, breathtakingly beautiful and rich, comes from a family who took Jayne in after her mother passed away. The two developed a friendship that carries the name of best friends.

            On the other hand, there is Rebecca’s brother, David, whom Jayne secretly pined for since she was a teenager. A serious of events brings the two in proximity to each other, and sparks fly. Then, the Worden family drama unravels, with ever member trying to tell Jayne how to live her life and she must come to terms with herself, finally figuring out her own life once and for all. 

            This beautiful story kept me awake late into the night. The characters are real; you can almost fancy yourself meeting these people out in the world. Jayne is a character everyone can relate to; that girl who’s looking for her own life in the big bad world. David is breathtaking! I fell in love with him almost the moment he stepped into the picture. Maybe most of us will never meet our own ‘young prince’ but David is a man every young girl (and not so young woman) can dream about. Come on, when a man says “I’m falling for you. You’re my girl,” what woman in her right mind wouldn’t swoon? The relationship developed between those two is another one you can label best friends, but on a different level.

            The problems these individuals must deal with are those people can relate to. Friendships, family issues, true love are all circumstances we encounter in our lives. Susan writes this story in a way that is heartwarming, yet at the same time she works these problems out as they should be worked out.

            Susan is a brilliant author who uses every day situations, puts a little humor in, and shows us a dream world that can be our own if we just look to these characters and learn something from them. Not one of her characters is perfect, but neither are we. Susan’s incredible writing puts us right where these characters are. If you’ve never read a book by Susan Mallery, I cant think of a better one to start with. This story will have you laughing, crying, and learning with a few twists in between. The Best of Friends is a breathtaking tale that is an enormous pleasure to read. 

Happy reading!

Valia

PS. Let me know what you think of this book! :)
 

Awakened by Ednah Walters

Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one.
Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers.

But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice.

From Goodreads.com

 

          I don’t even know where to begin. Well, I guess I can begin by saying that I won this book from Ednah herself (and a bit of swag). I love discovering new authors, so when I received the book in the mail, I couldn’t wait to read it. I was also privileged enough to receive an ARC; even better.

            Obviously, I had no idea what to expect. I just finished Crescendo, so I was in my paranormal zone. I started reading, and couldn’t put it down! It was not a wise choice to start this book late at night. Sleep is a bit important.

            Right away you are pulled in to the life and mind of Lil. A teenager, who is still trying to figure out who she is, comes into her powers with a twist. New home, new school, new friends, supernatural powers? What? That’s exactly what Lil is feeling, and Ednah portrays that so well. Lil is a character that every teenage girl, or those who’ve been through their teenage years, can relate to. She’s discovering herself for the first time; who she is, what her purpose in life is. I’m sure guys can relate to that as well, and if not, there’s enough “manly” action to keep their attention. Fast moving, with just enough background to keep you guessing till the last chapter, this story comes right off the pages.

            The characters are exciting and refreshing. I loved the idea of a strong female lead, with just enough problems to make it personal. But even before you dive into the story, you meet Bran. *Swoons* Yes, Bran. Tall, mysterious, and gorgeous. Come on ladies, you know the type. The one that flutters your heart whenever he’s in sight. I wont reveal any details, but I need to mention the fact that he’s a darling. *Wink wink*

            Actually, I enjoyed every character in this book (that doesn’t happen very often). Serious kuddos to Ednah for taking this story to a very interesting level, with very interesting people. She does not over do it with descriptions, but lets the simple words and actions speak for themselves, which I find refreshing :)

            I recommend this book to anyone! Whether or not you enjoy YA fiction, you can find something in this book that makes it worth reading. It is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I would love to hear what you think, and so would Ednah! Happy reading!

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine? From Goodreads.com

            To be honest, I was late coming to the party. Hush, Hush has been out for months before someone recommended it to me. I wasn’t reading much of YA then, but decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed. The story pulls you in and won’t let you go. The moment I finished Hush, Hush I searched to see when Crescendo would be out. The two and half months seemed too long for me. Then, I got my hands on an ARC and was blown away all over again.

            In this story, Nora is taken on a deeper journey to find out who she is and where she comes from. Every page is a story turner that makes you wonder if anything you think is ever true. The beloved characters are all present, while their relationships are taken to a whole new level.

            To be honest, I had one bother with this story; where was Patch? Now, if you haven’t read the story, don’t panic, he’s present and a huge part of the story like Hush, Hush was. However, I wanted more of him! I understand the need for this particular storyline, and loved every second of it, but missed Patch when he was absent for five or more pages at a time. I loved Patch and all of his cockiness, and wanted a bit more interaction with him in this book. Wow, calm down! It’ll be okay! You’ll understand when you read the book. Oops, look what I started! I bet you can’t wait to get your hands on this particular book October 19^th, now don’t you? Mission accomplished.

            I recommend this book to anyone who read Hush, Hush or just read about Hush, Hush. Honestly, this book stands on its own, with its twists and turns, gripping relationships, and personalities that are easy to relate to. Becca’s use of descriptions, emotions, and everyday situations make this story come right out of the pages and into real life. You won’t be able to put this book down. Becca is an brilliant writer, who uses every day struggles and takes them to a supernatural level. I can’t wait to read more books from her. As for Crescendo, thank you Becca for keeping me up at nights!

            Crescendo hits stores October 19^th, 2010.

PS I would love to hear what you have to say about this book! :) Leave me a comment!