BookHounds Review THE ELITE by KIERA CASS @HarperTeen @kieracass

Book Description

Release date: April 23, 2013

The selection began with 35 girls. Now, with the group narrowed down to the Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's love is fiercer than ever. The closer America gets to the crown, the more she struggles to figure out where her heart truly lies. Each moment she spends with Maxon is like a fairy tale, filled with breathless, glittering romance. But whenever she sees her first love, Aspen, standing guard, she's swept up in longing for the life they'd planned to share.

America is desperate for more time. But while she's torn between her two futures, the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.





About the Author
Kiera Cass is a graduate of Radford University and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, with her family. She is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Selection and the self-published fantasy novel The Siren. Kiera has kissed approximately fourteen boys in her life. None of them were princes.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

The Selection has been whittled down to six girls and named The Elite. Aspen is guarding America's door and quite possibly her heart from Maxon and threats from  the rebels.  Poor America is so darn confused, she is unsure which way to turn since both Maxon and Aspen offer her each something different.  Unfortunately, America must decide and decide soon.  Also every time I give up on Maxon, he redeems himself -- sigh -- no, big, giant SIGH.  And then there is Aspen and while I think he is perfect for America, there seems to be that little something missing between the two.  Where he is strong and steady, Maxon always keeps her guessing. 

So the game continues and Maxon still professes his love for America but has to have a back up plan in case something goes wrong between the two.  The rebels attack and cause death and destruction within the palace walls and the pair are locked into a safe room where more secrets are divulged.  As America gets to know Maxon better, she loves him even more. Aspen understands the game and waits somewhat patiently for this whole thing to be over.  There are a few shocking events which I don't want to spoil.

Overall, this is a great second book in a trilogy.  There are a few twists, but nothing outlandish although I was left upset a bit by America's inability to make up her mind, the end more than makes up for it when she does figure out her purpose.  I can only image that the finale in this series is going to be exciting given the direction this one goes in.  Parents:  there is some kissing, a bit of violence and overall a pretty clean read.  So, now another year long wait for the conclusion.  

BookHounds Review THE RISING by KELLEY ARMSTRONG @KelleyArmstrong @HarperTeen

Book Description

Release date: April 9, 2013 | Series: Darkness Rising

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

Old secrets are revealed and unexpected characters make a surprising return in this stunning conclusion to Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.




About the Author
Kelley Armstrong is the bestselling author of the Darkest Powers trilogy, which includes The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning. This is the third book in her New York Timesbestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

After escaping certain death, Maya, Corey and Daniel are on the run and each are further developing their own powers with mixed results.  They do some investigation and find a contact that might be able to help them but it turns into a dead end.  Although out of that contact, they do find Maya's twin brother, Ash.  Ash turns out to be as gifted as Maya. although not a shifter, he does give them some street skills from surviving on his own in Vancouver for the last three years.  The group attend the memorial service and watch their parents grieve.

So when Maya is captured soon after, it doesn't come as complete surprise. Daniel and Corey are still at large and Maya is told that there has been an accident with one of them. Rafe convinces her that anything the St. Cloud's tell her, might not be the truth.  The group are reunited with other teens from Salmon Creek as well as Rafe and Annie.  There, Maya plots and plans to escape again and given the opportunity, she does and meets back up with her brother to track down Corey and Daniel.  There is just as much action in this installment as in the second book. YAY!

So, why did I not see this ending?  Maya proves that she has the wile of a cat even though she is still young. It is wonderful to watch her grow into an adult as well as experience her first true love.  While the plot of supernaturals being used as research subjects and trained into weapons, is a pretty common theme in paranormal romances, Armstrong brings a breath of fresh air into the story.  Parents: there is some violence, some kissing and some language and this is best suited for teens. I adored this conclusion and now I need to go back and read the author's other series since we met some of her other characters at the end of this one.

Review MIND GAMES by KIERSTEN WHITE @kierstenwhite @HarperTeen

Book Description

Release Date: February 19, 2013 | Series: Mind Games

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (February 19, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062135317
• ISBN-13: 978-0062135315

About the Author

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally. She has one tall husband and two small children. She lives near the ocean in San Diego, where her days are perfectly normal. This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to faeries, vampires, and pop culture.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Weird.  

Fia, short for Sophia, and her sister, Annabelle,  have been abandon by their aunt to a special boarding school where they have been offered a full scholarship.  With their parents dead and their aunt constantly traveling, the girls are have been on their own for the last few years.  The school they attend uses the girls for their special gifts.  Anna can see others in her mind and even though she is blind, she can picture the future perfectly.  Fia can always make the right choice whether it is a killing in the stock market or the perfect way to kill someone.  Their lives come tumbling apart when Fia cannot follow though on a plan to kill someone.  

In her short life, Fia has killed several times and she should have been able to kill Adam without hesitation but then he deviates from her plan and becomes human by showing concern for her.  Adam has his own strange history as a medical prodigy, he is trying to map the brains of girls just like Fia to discover why they have such unique abilities.  James Keane is the son of the man that forces the girls to a life of crime although he has some dark secrets of his own.  Fia dumps Adam and tells Keane everything went according to plan and forces Anna to lie about it as well.  When Fia has had enough, she tries to escape but knows that Keane's father will kill Anna if she leaves.  

I read this book in one sitting and it reminded me a bit of La Femme Nikita with lots of running, action and violence.  Fia and Anna share a strong bond and the bad guys use it to their advantage.  There are a few surprising twists and turns in the story that made me really feel for Fia and the fact that she is so alone. It is told in alternating points of view between Anna and Fia which really added to the background. Also, there are lots of flashbacks to explain things.  The smart and snappy dialogue is all there, just like Paranormalcy as well as the non stop action.  Parents:  there is a lot of violence, drinking and kissing. 

BookHounds Review SEVER by LAUREN DeSTEFANO @SimonTeen @LaurenDeStefano

Book Description

Release Date: February 12, 2013 | Series: Chemical Garden (Book 3)

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

About the Author
Lauren DeStefano earned her BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut in 2007. Visit her at LaurenDeStefano.com.

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

OMIGOSH -- PERFECT CONCLUSION

I tried to keep this spoiler free....

Ok, let's talk about that cover.  There are a thousand words in that cover.  There are so many details that make sense once you finish this book. Since those details are in view, I am going to talk about those rather than how this series ends.  First off, the apples in the lower part of the image:  Rhine finds that she can only eat them in her new location at Reed's home.  Reed is Linden's uncle and the complete opposite of Vaughn.  He is a mad inventor living off the grid and remembers the way the world used to be before the virus.  In Reed, Rhine find some comfort and he helps her even more than she realizes.  

Cecily and Linden join her with their son, Bowden there.  There are lots of secrets that Reed knows about Vaughn and gives hints to the group.  Then there is Rhine holding her ring.  Yep, she finally has the nerve to ask Linden to remove it, thereby annulling her marriage to him.  While she is relieved by this action, at times, she misses the closeness that she shared with him.  She also knows that this action will comfort Cecily and in turn makes Cecily a stronger person.   Rhine is not perfect and she knows it, everything she thinks is right turns out to be wrong but she still knows what is good and true to her. 

THAT is the story of life. There are so many gray areas that occurs in day to day life that you can't possibly imagine that something your parents do will have consequences beyond their lives that will impact your own life.  You hope that they choose wisely and if not you grow up to overcome their choices if you feel that they are wrong.  So the story ends, but not without Rhine questioning all of her choices, regretting some, rejoicing in others.  One hint: she does reunite with her brother, which I am still trying to figure out where he stands.  Hmm, maybe I need a story with Rowan's point of view?  Parents: I don't remember any steamy scenes or a lot of violence in this one.  This is just a fitting conclusion to the story.  

Review UNRAVEL ME by TAHEREH MAFI @HarperTeen @TaherehMafi

Book Description

Release Date: February 5, 2013

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

About the Author

Tahereh Mafi is a girl. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Orange County, California, where the weather is just a little too perfect for her taste. When unable to find a book, she can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts. Shatter Me and Unravel Me are the first two novels in a trilogy about Juliette.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

****spoilers if you haven't read Shatter Me****

To avoid most of the spoilers, this is kind of a rambling review --just totally random thoughts about the book.

Sigh.  I didn't think a sequel could live up to a first book like Shatter Me, but this second effort by Tahereh Mafi was nearly as good.  The story balances dialogue with descriptive prose just perfectly.  Instead of feeling devastated while reading this one, I was filled with hope although I wanted to knock Juliette upside the head a few times or get her some Prozac.  This girl is seriously depressed and even though she has good reason for being down on herself, she really needs to get her life in order if she wants to save the world.  I realize that being held captive for about five years would do some serious damage but she really needs to snap out of it now that she is surrounded by acceptance.  Seriously, can't the Girls lay hands on her to fix this? They can fix physical ailments, so why not mental?  

Juliette is still building walls to keep people out, well, almost everyone except Adam.  She connects with him and he can touch her, but she is starting to notice that unlike Warner, Adam weakens around her.  The characters still remind me of the high school X-Men and everyone at Omega Point seems to have found a purpose except her.  The lines are drawn between The Reestablishment and of course war is imminent but with such a small group against a multitude, Juliette soon discovers that she is their secret weapon.  And that brings us back to Warner.

Without going into detail, she comes back into contact with Warner and discovers that he really has feelings for her, although they are not exactly what Juliette is looking for.  Yep, there ya go:  the dreaded love triangle.  There is something about Warner that I can't explain.  He seems just as damaged as Juliette.  Can he be rehabilitated or is he too far gone to have any good left in him?  At least Juliette is just as confused as I am about him.  Is Juliette really a weapon or is she a pawn?  Oh and dear Kenji?  Really?  I think everyone needs more Kenji in their lives, so  please Ms. Mafi, write a series just about him.  Can she get her life together by the time they need her?  Will she stop wallowing in self pity to realize that she is of worth and worthy of love?  Ok, these questions are answered by the end of the book, but I am still in doubt of her progress.  I need the last installment for conclusive facts.  



Parents - There is a bit of language, a bit of heavy petting, some kissing, some violence.  This is best suited for mature teens.  

Details Reading level: Ages 14 and up Hardcover: 480 pages Publisher: HarperCollins (February 5, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 0062085530 ISBN-13: 978-0062085535

Review SHADOWS IN THE SILENCE by COURTNEY ALLISON MOULTON @HarperTeen

Book Description

Release Date: January 29, 2013 | Series: Angelfire (Book 3)

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.

About the Author

Courtney Allison Moulton lives in Michigan, where she is a photographer and spends all her free time riding and showing horses. She is the author of Angelfire and Wings of the Wicked, and she is hard at work on her next novel.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ADORED IT, LOVED IT, SAD IT IS OVER

+++slight spoilers after the first paragraph - especially if you haven't read the first two! +++

I seriously questioned myself when I first started reading Angelfire.  It wasn't my type of book, I had read lots of books similar to this, and on and on.  I was a still bit intrigued and so I read the second one Wings of the Wicked  which nicely picked up the pace and got me more involved with Ellie and Will. OH MY!  The conclusion totally rocked! I swear this was like a video game in book form with non stop action, serious butt kicking and enough romance to keep me sighing.  In this conclusion, Moulton really won me over and I am going to have to reread Angelfire to figure out why it didn't click with me at first.  I feel like *I* did something wrong to not get that book at first after reading this one.

So Ellie has really come into her own with her powers and can now wield her weapon with the best of them.  She is no longer the unsure girl and knows what she wants and had begun to accept the support of Cadan (interesting familial twist there!).  Although this could have seriously gone into the dreaded love triangle, it stopped just short.  Will really needs to loosen up a bit and stop doing everything by the book.  Thankfully by the end of this one, Ellie does just that for him and forces him to be a bit more open.  I love a strong girl!

Ah, the ending, so hard to take at first but I was really happy with the outcome and I think you will be too! Yeah, I can't let you know how it ends since that would ruin it for everyone but take my word, you will swoon on the last page.  I am really going to miss Ellie and the other supporting cast. Maybe there is an opening for Cadan to have a spin off.  I adore him and would love to get to know him a bit better.   Parents:  video game like violence and some serious kissing.  I look forward to more from this author now!

Book Review PRODIGY by MARIE LU @marie_lu @penguinteen

Book Description

Publication Date:  January 29, 2013 | Series: Legend

Jan. 4. 1932 Hours.

Ocean Standard Time

Thirty-Five Days After Metias’s Death

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

About the Author

Marie Lu (www.marielu.org) is the author of Legend. She is also art director at Online Alchemy—a video game company—and owns the business and brand FuzzAcademy. Marie lives in Los Angeles, California.

Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 29, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399256768
• ISBN-13: 978-0399256769

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

***slight spoilers if you haven't read Legend***

The story picks up right where Day and June have escaped to Las Vegas.  The Elector has died, leaving his son Anden in charge of the Republic. Razor has devised a plot with the Patriots to take him out with June and Day at the center of the action.  June is sent back to Los Angeles while Day is set to rendezvous with her in order to carry out the assassination.   The more question the pair ask, the more questions they have about the Patriots, the Colonies and the Republic.

Day begins to question some of Razor's actions and feels there is something not quite right about how he can access the most secure areas of the Republic without any consequences.  June has her own doubts and through Kaede's digging, the pair are slowly coming to realize the truth about him.  Are the Colonies really supporting the Patriots?  In this stunning installment, the truth will surprise you.  I kind of guessed at parts of it but was caught off guard on a few points.

June begins to show more individualism as she discovers exactly why her parents were killed and that her brother had discovered even more damaging truths about the Republic.  Day seemed a bit slow catching on to the conspiracy but Kaede really shows him and confirms what he had thought all along.  ARGHHH -- can't tell, must not tell.  Again, there is one mention of alcohol, a few kisses and some violence.  I can't wait until the conclusion to see if the pair can save the country!  

Hey! If you are planning on ordering or preordering any of these books, consider using my Amazon links below to help support BookHounds.  I get a small (very small) percentage of anything you buy if you use my links to start your shopping! 

Review SKY ON FIRE by EMMY LAYBOURNE @FierceReads @EmmyLaybourne

Book Description

Release date: May 28, 2013  Series: Monument 14

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .


About the Author

EMMY LAYBOURNE, author of Monument 14, is a writer and actress. She has appeared in movies like Superstar and The In-Laws, and has performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and with UCB and Chicago City Limits. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two children. Visit her online at www.emmylaybourne.com.

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

The group has survived intact so far with only minor injuries and have figured out how to counteract the chemical spill as well as fight off a few interlopers who would like to take over the superstore.  Alex and Niko decide that they can't sit around in the store forever and repair the bus to get to Denver International Airport where evacuations are taking place.  So with them, Batiste, Josie, Sahalia and Brayden who has been shot, all set off to get help in the bus.  As they travel through the interstate, the true horror of the catastrophe is even more than they could have imagined.  They are met by a group of marauding militia that tell them the airport is nothing more than a death sentence.  Still the group plod on.

Back at the store, Astrid and Dean try to keep the three youngest children happy and comfortable and they  think that they are safe, another refuge tries to break in and Jake reappears to save them.   As Jake describes the devastation outside, they start to gather supplies to make their own trek to the airport.  The air quality is deteriorating and they feel they have no other choice since everything seems to be getting worse.

The story again is full of action and perfect descriptions which make for a quick read. I admit I was a bit sad that it wasn't longer but I did get a lot of satisfaction for such a fast read.  The characters are more developed and I needed a book that wasn't a tortured romance -- although there is a bit of that between Astrid and Dean.  The ending left me hanging a bit and you do find out the fate of a few of them.  I am not going to ruin the outcome of this one since I know you will want to pick this one up.  Parents:  There is a bit of language and some kissing in this one, as well as some violence but it was nothing like the first one.  

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 28, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312569041
• ISBN-13: 978-0312569044
• 
  

BookHounds Review CRASH by LISA McMANN @lisa_mcmann @SimonTeen

Book Description

Release Date: January 8, 2013 | Series: Visions (Book 1)

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

Details Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse (January 8, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1442403918 ISBN-13: 978-1442403918

About the Author

Lisa McMann is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy; Cryer’s Cross; Dead to You ; the Visions series; and the middle-grade dystopian fantasy trilogy The Unwanteds. She lives with her family in the Phoenix area. Read more about Lisa and find her blog at LisaMcMann.com. Or better yet, be her friend on Facebook (McMannFan) or follow her on Twitter (@Lisa_McMann).

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

OH MY DOG!  ~ Jules in Crash

Jules has a pretty normal life, going to high school with her brother and sister, working in her parents' restaurant and driving a food truck, complete with giant meatballs on top.  Her childhood crush, Sawyer, also attends the same school but things have been weird between them since the start of seventh grade.  According to family lore, Sawyer's family stole her family's sauce recipe and the two families have been at war ever since.  Now, no matter where Jules looks she sees a reoccurring accident where a truck crashes into a building and it explodes.  

When she starts to delve more and more into the bizarre vision she keeps seeing everywhere, she realizes that the accident occurs at Sawyer's restaurant.  Out of the nine body bags that appear in her vision, she can see into one and it is Sawyer.  That sets her off into trying to warn him about the accident.  As she reconnects with Sawyer, the two families set off into a war to keep the two apart.  Each side of the pair has some deep, dark secrets to contend with as well.  Jules' father is severely depressed and hoards, while Sawyer's home life is anything but pleasant.  

Again, McMann delivers a twilight zone worthy story that looks like a wonderful start to a new series.  There are a lot of psychological issues that McMann attacks in this series such as hoarding, depression, abuse and secrets that each family hides.  As Jules faces all of her own demons and acts to right a wrong, her physical symptoms caused by the vision recede.  This is a very quick read that should appeal to paranormal and horror lovers.  Parents:  there are some mentions of child abuse, a car crash  and a few kisses. 

Review LULLABY by AMANDA HOCKING @MacKidsBooks @amanda_hocking

Book Description

Release Date: November 27, 2012 | Series: Watersong Novels (Book 2)

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers. 

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life.  Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world.  It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs.  Just as she's drifting far away from her old life,  Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed.  All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

About the Author

AMANDA HOCKING is the New York Times bestselling author of the Trylle trilogy and a lifelong Minnesotan. After selling over a million copies of her books, primarily in eBook format, she became the exemplar of self-publishing success in the digital age. This is the second book in her new Watersong series with St. Martin's Press.

SOURCE  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS 
LOVED IT

****spoilers if you haven't read Wake****

This book picks up right after the ending of Wake.  Gemma has gone with the other three sirens since their leader, Penn, has threatened harm to her family and friends.  The story centers much more around her older sister, Harper, and Harper's quest to find Gemma and bring her to safety.  This one alternates between Harper and Gemma's point of view.  Penn is probably the most evil mean girl I have ever read about and again this story continues with  the Slasher Movie goodness.  There were a lot of "don't do it" and "something bad is going to happen here" type shouts from me.   I read this quick and easy read in about 3 hours, so yes, it really kept my attention!

I am glad I got to know Harper a bit better and Hocking does a wonderful job filling out her character.  Like all second books in a series, this one is a bit more quiet and not so full of action until I was left hanging at the end of the book.  Of course, that is just to keep me reading the rest of the series.
Even Gemma becomes more authentic in this installment. The boys surrounding the girls, Alex and Daniel try their best to help Harper out getting Gemma back home.  They may have a few gifts of their own that might help Gemma but those are only alluded to towards the end of the book.  

I also loved Marcy, Harper's coworker at the library and her snarky comments. Not everything works like she thinks it should and that is part of Marcy's charm.  Now, if Harper can get over the fact that she can't be responsible for Gemma any more than this series will take off.  I did miss Nathalie, the girls' mother, not having that strong in this one. I hope she makes more of an appearance in the next.   I think I enjoyed this one more than the first since the writing seemed to flow a bit better and it was as cartoony as the first.  Parents there is some heavy petting, mentions of alcohol, although no drinking and some violence.  

Details Reading level: Ages 12 and up Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (November 27, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1250005655 ISBN-13: 978-1250005656

BOOK REVIEW Crewel by Geninifer Albin @mackidsbooks @GenniferAlbin

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2012 | Series: Crewel World

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

About the Author

Gennifer Albin holds a masters degree in English Literature from the University of Missouri. During her student years she served as an editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review, and since then she's founded the tremendously popular blog theconnectedmom.com.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT


Adelice has been faking it for years, ignoring the gifts and powers she has over matter and time and taught by her parents to mask them.  Then she slips during testing and that night they come for her to be taken away from her home and placed with the Guild as a Spinster, those girls who can weave the fabric of everyday life in Arras.  The extraction doesn't go according to plan and her parents try to escape and Adelice is caught anyway.  Now with her father dead and the status of her sister and mother unknown, Adelice discovers she is more powerful than any other at the Guild.  The Guild recognizes this as well and she is quickly brought up through the ranks even though her enemies try to sabotage her every move. 


In the fascinating world of Arras, time and matter are woven together to create the space in which the people live and all by the spinsers who are said to be kept "pure".  It is not necessarily a dystopian world but one where the people live unknowing of the apocalypse that befell the population previously.  This is more of a combination of science fiction and fantasy and the world, although much like earth, is just a bit different than what we know here.  I was quickly and painlessly taken to Arras and it was easy to accept.  Adelice has a lot of spunk and humor (super snark alert!) within her.  She stands up against the authoritarian figures of the ruling class much like Katniss in the Hunger Games. 


Women are pretty much segregated from the population here and most are like Japanese office ladies which besides teachers and maids are the only careers they have as options.  Adelice sees the injustice and because her parents are a bit subversive, they secretly teach her that society shouldn't be this way.  I think fans of Margaret Atwood are going to adore this one.  There isn't anything for parents to worry about in this one except some alcohol consumption, some kissing, which was very brief and little violence.  Since the ending really surprised me, I can't wait until the follow up --sigh -- at least a year.  

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (October 16, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374316414
• ISBN-13: 978-0374316419

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BOOK REVIEW Scorch by Gina Damico @ginadamico @HMHKids

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2012 | Series: Croak

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is a teenage grim reaper with the bizarre ability to damn souls. That makes her pretty scary, even to fellow Grims. But after inadvertently transferring her ability to Zara, a murderous outlaw, Lex is a pariah in Croak, the little town she calls home. To escape the townspeople’s wrath, she and her friends embark on a wild road trip to DeMyse. Though this sparkling desert oasis is full of luxuries and amusements, it feels like a prison to Lex. Her best chance at escape would be to stop Zara once and for all—but how can she do that from DeMyse, where the Grims seem mysteriously oblivious to Zara’s killing spree?

About the Author

GINA DAMICO is the author of Croak. She lives outside of Boston with her husband, two cats, and a closet full of black hoodies. www.ginadami.co

Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (September 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547624573
• ISBN-13: 978-0547624570

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

*** spoilers abound if you haven't read Croak -- do so without delay ***

Lex is stuck with an unbearable power to damn souls as well as being a grim reaper, not only can she send souls to the afterlife, she can turn them into ghosts, forced to walk the earth in a neverending afterlife on Earth with no chance of reuniting with loved ones.  Zara has tricked Lex into sharing her  Damning power and is using it to create chaos beyond removing criminals in order to create a new world order.  Driggs is still by Lex's side as well as the other Juniors who now find themselves ostracized by the townspeople of Croak and led by Norwood and Heloise, who place all of Zara's doings squarely on the group of teenagers and depose Uncle Mort as mayor.

 In order to escape the hell that is now Croak, the group escapes to DeMyse which is another Grim town much like Las Vegas for reapers.  Her uncle Mort has supplied the group with a loophole that allows them to "crash" together to escape the town and Zara.  Lex has also uncovered a bit of history and some notes that lead her to search for the Wrong Book which is basically a book of all the wrong things that should never be done and unravel the world's order.  Zara is also on the trail of the book and she will do anything to get her hands on it, even kill any who stand in her way.

There is nonstop action as the group bands together to stop Zara and clear their names.  As the crew continue to work their way back together, Norwood and Croak are out to get them as well as Zara.  Of course this ends in another cliffhanger but with one twist I wasn't expecting.  Uncle Mort uses his wiles to protect them all.  The story is filled with lots of wonderful wordplay and snarky dialogue that I adore.  You are immediately swept up in Lex's world and drama while the descriptions were right on target without being overly wordy.  Parents should note that there is lots of PDA between Lex and Driggs, some language, drinking, mentions of drugs, violence and death, so this one is best suited for older teens. 

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BOOK REVIEW The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater @mstiefvater @Scholastic

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2012 | Series: Raven Cycle

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of theShiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

About the Author

Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the novels Shiver, Linger, Forever, and The Scorpio Races. She is also the author of Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception and Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at www.maggiestiefvater.com.

Details Reading level: Ages 12 and up Hardcover: 416 pages Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 18, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0545424925 ISBN-13: 978-0545424929

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Blue lives with a strange cast of characters, all psychic in some way or another.  One thing about her family, is that they are never wrong in their predictions, they only disclaim that they are not specific.  So when they all predict that Blue will kill her first true love after she kisses him, she swears she will never fall in love or if she does, she will never kiss him. Blue doesn't think she has any powers of her own, only that she amplifies others' abilities. She also stays away from the private school for boys near her home since they are reportedly nothing but trouble with unlimited funds.  So when Blue sees a spirit on St. Mark's Eve - her first ever -- she starts a series of events that might possibly end up in death.

Gansey is the boy she sees as a spirit and knows his death is now predicted and even though Blue is drawn to him, she finds him to be an enigma.  She soon falls in with more of his group from Aglionby, whom she refers to as The Raven Boys. As she gets to know each of them, Adam, the boy on scholarship and from Blue's part of town, strikes her as the most down to earth, but he has some devastating secrets at home. Ronan, although from wealth, has found that his life has been turned upside down when his father dies amid extenuating circumstances and even more secrets.  The last boy of the group is Noah, quiet, observant and at times, strangely omniscient.  This group comes together to search for the magical resting place of a Welsh king like knights searching for the holy grail.

So as the mystery surrounding the boys is revealed, more mysteries become present.  Gansey with the help of his money has been searching for this mystical king for what seems like most of his teen years. Blue, since she is the daughter of a psychic sees his quest as acceptable.  There are lots of twists and turns as each element of the plot is sloooowly revealed.  Yes, at times, I though the book could have had a quicker pace, but I can see that towards the end, everything comes together perfectly and the next installment should be a lot faster pace - fingers crossed!  There are a few surprises and a few convenient occurrences but overall this is one beautifully written story.  There is some physical violence, mentions of alcohol use, but no overt sexual situations and of course, some use of four letter words. I really recommend this to anyone looking for a good paranormal - mystical mystery.

Hey! If you are planning on ordering or preordering any of these books, consider using my Amazon links below to help support BookHounds.  I get a small (very small) percentage of anything you buy if you use my links to start your shopping!