Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith

Sweet hallelujah! Hellraisers is the first book in The Devil's Engine series, there is a second book planned. Smith has lots of other books out, I do recommend his Escape From Furnace series, I have read the books but I do not have reviews up for them. I do, however, have The Fury by Smith reviewed. Warning: theory rant coming....  Here's the video for it too!



Making any wish you have come true sounds amazing. It is until the machine granting you the wishes, tries to kill you eventually. The Devil's Engine is a contraption that will grant any wish you have, you just put your life in its hold for the time being. Marlow Green is in the middle of a fight with monsters from nightmares. To top it all off, he's asthmatic. Stumbling upon a secret group that combats them, he ends up joining in on the fight. Now it's a matter of staying alive and fighting those monsters. Here's to hoping you don't die and end up in Hell for eternity!

Whelp. I loved Hellraisers. There was lots of action, it started with a bang and kept going. I really like the back story to the Engine and what it takes to get a wish to come true. However I don't like the time that is given to the person. I did like the characters Marlow was really likeable, along with Pan-for me. Though I really want more about her, I don't think everything was revealed about her. Smith's descriptions are very good. There are few authors that can make me visualize what I am reading, and Smith is one of them. I laughed a lot too, the airplane bathroom scene had me rolling in the breakroom of my work.

THEORY TIME. So I follow Smith on social media, and he is a huge fan of Darren Shan's. I have read Shan since elementary school starting with the Cirque du Freak series. In Shan's Cirque series there are two best friends: Darren and Steve. In Smith's book there are two best friends: Marlow and Charlie. If you have read Shan's series and Smith's book you may see where I am going with this. I feel like there is going to be more parallels between the books because there where a few spots in Smith's book that where similar to Shan's. I really, really can't wait to see where it goes!! Any other fans of the two feel the same or different?

There is only one dislike I would like to bring up. Cliffhanger. Give me the second book already! This is why I don't read recently published books. I want to read the series completely and not have to wait. Honestly, that is my only complaint.

Hellraisers was not what I expected and I wasn't disappointed. Smith definitely has me hooked and I can only hope the rest of the series is just as good. I do recommend this book to everyone even though it is a YA book. I do want to own this book, and I can see myself rereading it.Though I really want to know if anyone has the same theory as I after reading this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Page count: 342 pages (hardcover)

Price: $17.99

Next: Defying Destiny by Kylie Price

Thank you for reading!
~Jade



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The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Kaite Alender

This is not the first book for Alender, she has a decent amount of books published and more on the way. As far as I know this is a stand alone. There hasn't been any talk of another book. I do have a Youtube video up as well!



Delia just got bequeathed a "house". It's more like a mansion, though, that was a correction facility for women a long time ago. Her so-many-great-grandpa used to run the place but it was shut down once the women that were sent there quit getting better, and deaths started to occur. The correction facility was more like an asylum, none of the girls left once placed into its care. The house wants to keep the troubled in even after it was shut down. Delia gets trapped, and that's when she learns that the house is still very much alive. Ghosts are all over the place but you can't see them until something happens, and none of the ghosts can leave or move on. Nothing like spending eternity in a asylum, huh?

There was ghostly action! This is what I was looking for with Diary of a Haunting, but I know that these are two separate books. Hysteria starts off with a bang and I was wondering if things would continue to be good through the rest of the book. It was for the most part. I like that time moves differently when you are not human. Again, I love that the point of sibling love was made. You don't know how long you are going to have with your family or anyone and you shouldn't take things for granted. I was kept interested for the most part. I did like the ending, it felt right.

It took Delia half of the book to piece everything together though, but I almost knew right away how things were going to end up. This was the biggest thing that bugged me too. Things got a little dull because she couldn't see what was right in front of her face. Granted most people don't. It didn't really make me want to stop reading but I did want to skip ahead. I did see the end coming, Florence didn't trick me one bit! I would have been more surprised if it was someone else.

Overall I really did like this book, I didn't love it though. It isn't scary, so if that's what you are looking for you will have to look somewhere else. I do think everyone could like this book definitely young adults. Alender did a very good job and I would like to read more from her. I don't think another book will be coming out because of how the book ended but you never know. I don't exactly want to own this book, I know I could live without it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Page Count: 329 pages (hardcover)

Price: $18.99

Next Book: Sweet Seduction by Maya Banks

Thank you for reading!
~Jade

You can also follow me on these sites: Facebook, Goodreads, Tumblr and now YouTube

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black

This is (possibly for now) a stand alone by Black. If anyone remembers the review of the short story I did called The Eternal Kiss-13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire there was a story that left me in awe. It is what I like to think of as the prelude to this book also called The Coldest Girl In Coldtown. Black has quite a number of books out and I definitely plan to read some of them. I also have a video up on Youtube if you want to check that out.



Tana wakes up from a party, she and two other people are the only ones left alive. They barely make it out unscathed and from there it is one hell of a ride. In a Coldtown things are made to seem like it's one big party. It's not. If you don't want to be there you can't get out unless you have a marker. Tana is hoping to get through the next few weeks with no problems but things never go as planned.

What I liked: EVERYTHING. Pretty much though...I loved Tana and Gavriel. I absolutely loved to hate Midnight, I didn't feel sorry for her at all. I was completely taken with this book from beginning to end. I did not want to stop reading. I was left wanting more in a very good way, I do hope there is something more even if it is someone else's POV. I liked very much the differences between being Cold or Infected vs. being an actual vampire. Any differences from the run of the mill vampire tale is definitely worth looking into for me. I also liked that almost every other chapter wasn't in Tana's POV. It was in someone else's or in a different time period, a memory, it was something or another. It kept my interest very much. Along with the fact that there are quotes dealing with death at the beginning of every chapter. My absolute favorite was from Chapter 22; "One has to pay dearly for immortality; one has to die several times while one is still alive." Friedrich Nietzsche.

There was only two things that I didn't like, the first one is that this is quite possibly a stand alone. Black has said that she has ideas for another book but her agent is the one who gets to say yes or no. The second thing is that the ending, where as it tied up almost everything it left a few things up to the imagination. Don't get me wrong I loved the ending, I JUST WANT MORE!

Do I need to say I recommend this to everyone? 'Cause I do, young and old, just read the book! I want to own this book and I am currently looking for it. I do see myself rereading this book a number of times before I decide not to. I seriously hope there is another book. This makes the list of "Books that were awesome" for me. If you read it and don't like it that's okay! Not every book is going to agree with everyone, that's be beauty of life.

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Page Count: 419 pages (hardcover)

Price: $19

Next Book: The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

Thank you so much for reading! I would love to hear your thoughts on the book as well
~Jade

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Diary of a Haunting by M. Verano

As far as I can tell this is the first book published by Verano. There isn't much about him other than he is a professor in Idaho. I don't know if I will be reading anything else from him and I will get into why. If you didn't see, I have made a video of my thoughts on YouTube.



Paige moves from L.A. to Idaho with her mom and younger brother, after her parents divorce. The house that they move into is not right. Things happen and the house itself is infested with spiders, and flies. Little things happening become bigger things, and soon it's hell on wheels. But it is only just beginning and Paige has to dig deeper to find out the truth about things. Can she keep it together till then?

I don't have many things that I liked. I was not part of the people that enjoyed this book. I liked the diary format. It helped me finish this book because the entries were not long. I liked the ending but only because things got going finally. I also liked the editor's note and afterward. Verano tried to make the book seem like it was based on real events, I look for evidence but I didn't find anything. I also liked the front and back cover, but that's about it.

If you liked this book and do not want to see it torn up, please leave now. After a while I read the book to finish it and to see what happened. I wasn't excited, I read it to finish it. I wanted more ghostly action than there was. I think this was more of a possession then it was a haunting on Logan's part. Then just as everything started to get good, the book was over. I think that aggravated me the most. I was hooked at the end and then it was done. The book was dull for me. I didn't care to look deeply because I wasn't engaged to begin with. Verano has some serious making up to do for me to read anything else by him. I will give him one more chance but if I am not captured halfway through the book (which is being generous on my part) I will give up on him.

You either loved or hated this book, I feel, and I did not love this book. I was so excited for it and it didn't even come close. I do recommend this book to a younger audience. I don't see anything too bad in it that would make a more advanced reader in middle school cry. I definitely think it could have been a lot more better. I don't want to own this book and I for sure won't be rereading it.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Page Count: 313 pages (hardcover)

Price: $17.99

Next Book: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Thank you for reading!
~Jade


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Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

I've been looking at this series for a while now. I have wanted to read them because I have only read YA from Mead before. I know I need to finish the Vampire Academy series, which I will. Mead has quite a few series out and this is the first book in the Georgia Kincaid series. If this series doesn't appeal to you, maybe something else will. I want to continue reading this series, I really liked this book.


Being a Succubus isn't as cracked up as it seems. Besides the fact that they can be what ever they want, Georgina's life as one isn't the easiest. Georgina can't get close to a human without sucking part of their life away. So having a relationship isn't easy either. Her job makes up for something's, she works at a local bookstore. Which means she has access to her favorite author's books; Seth Mortensen. She can dream about him all she wants but other things are brewing. There are some creatures that neither heaven nor hell will claim, and they are stirring up more than enough trouble for the demon network in Seattle.

I laughed so much when I read this book. The quick whit from Georgina, and the smart remarks from everyone else was really entertaining. I made sure to pay attention when certain characters where in the picture because they normally had something funny to say. I want to more about Georgina, I want more from her early succubus days, and how she transitioned from human to succubus. I did like most all of the characters, I liked to dislike Helena. I have a feeling that I know where Georgina and Seth's relationship is going and it will either be a good response or a bad one from me, depending on how Mead handles it. I also want to see more from Seth's character. Things got really interesting at the end with Georgina and Seth.

I really don't remember not liking anything from Succubus Blues. I wish I could have read more of it in one sitting than I was able to do. The only thing I am questioning is if Roman is going to remain that big thing all through the series. I don't know how I will like that if he does, but again it all depends on how Mean has handled it. I have not read the other books summaries, I don't want to spoil anything for myself. I did see Roman being special in some way coming, and once certain factors where revealed I pretty much knew it, but it was pretty close to the end so it wasn't too bad.

This was a very easy read for me, like I said I just wish I could have read more when I was able to read it. I don't think I got everything from what little I could read, and that is why it took me so long to get this review up. I do recommend this book to a more mature audience, there are a few sexual encounters that parents may not find suitable for the younger ones. I would like to own this book, but the rest of the series remains to be seen.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Page Count: 358 pages (paperback)

Price: $15

Next Book: Diary of a Haunting by M. Verano

Thank you for reading, I know it was pretty crappy this time...
~Jade


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Oblivion by Kelly Creagh

The third and final book in the Nevermore trilogy, Oblivion sure does go out with a bang. I do have reviews for the first two books Nevermore, and Enshadowed already up. I really do hope that Creagh starts mentioning something more coming from her. For the most part I enjoy her writing. To be honest I finished this book a little while ago but I haven't had enough time to even think about reviewing it. So I am making time now!



Varen's still in the dream world, and Isobel is starting to lose hope. She doesn't want to go back to the dream world where she had a near death experience last time. But the nightmares don't stop and they are starting to bleed even more into reality. She is faced with either going back and getting Varen or letting reality be destroyed. It won't be easy bringing him back if she can, a new loss and Lilith willing to do anything to keep him are all against her. It's all or nothing in this ending to the trilogy.

Oh my goodness there is finally some action! I was sorely disappointed with the last book because there wasn't much action. Oblivion made up for that. Varen was pretty much all throughout the book as was different aspects of Edgar Allen Poe. I really liked reading more about the dream world, it had me hooked all through the book. One of the last few chapters was very cruel when I thought someone was going to be dead. I loved that part once I got past it though. I did like to see that Isobel still had the determination to get Varen back, she was losing hope but she didn't completely. The ending was the best part of the book just because of  all the things that took place. I can't pinpoint one part that I liked more.

Now for the one thing I didn't like, there were only a few spots that dragged on a bit. Though once they were done there was action again. I am still more upset that the second book in the trilogy lacked so much. I definitely feel as though Creagh could have done something about it, but it's her book, she can do what she wants with it.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I finished it a some time ago and I want to reread it. I can for sure say that I would love to own this book, along with the first one. I recommend this book and this trilogy to everyone, young and "old". You definitely don't have to be a Poe lover to read these books. It is safe for a younger reader who is looking for something that is longer in length but not quite Harry Potter. I'm sorry it's been over a month since I last put a review up, I've been crazy busy. I have books to review, just no time to type the review out.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Page Count: 434 pages (hardcover)

Price: $18.99

Next book: Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

Thank you so much, I hope no one is too mad at my disappearance
~Jade


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If I Stay by Gayle Forman

First book in the If I Stay duology, I think just about everyone knows about these two books because of the movie. The second book is called Where She Went. The book itself was released in 2009 and gained lots of popularity when the movie was made. I remember seeing this book in high school but I was too preoccupied with other, longer books. Now I'm glad that I have read it.



Mia had life pretty much good. She has an amazingly supportive family, she's talented and smart. Then it all changes with a simple freak accident. Now she has to decide if she wants to stay or move on with her life. The hardest choice she had to make before was moving away and perusing her passion for music or staying with her boyfriend. This new choice isn't that simple, nor going to be easy to make.

This is a pretty small book I finished it relatively quickly. Had I of been able to sit down and read this nonstop I think I would have finished it in less than a day. I don't want to spoil anything so I will try to keep my likes pretty vague (as usual). I laughed a few times and when I did, I giggled about it even afterwards. Like when Mia and Kim got into a fight. Speaking of Kim, I really enjoyed her message of "family doesn't always mean related to you by blood". Way too many people think this and get disillusioned when their blood-family doesn't end up being there for them. Though I can understand why Mia would think this, her family was so close that facing the reality of possibly spending the rest of her life without them would be saddening. I liked reading about that closeness, it's not often that you see a family that close in real life. I also liked the simplicity of the story. It wasn't full of twists, turns, and hints about what's to come and all the rest.

As for things I didn't like, one is how simple the story was. Everyone swore that they cried and couldn't believe that they were so deeply moved. I wasn't. *SPOILER-ALERT* I knew that everyone was going to have to die for Mia to be faced with the choice of living or moving on.*SPOILER-ENDED* Not just one or two people but all. I didn't cry, I've lost friends to tragic things like illnesses, car crashes, and suicide. After a while you are just content to read and know that it isn't real. Also I don't see where the hype from this book came from. I see how it can be moving for some people really, and the story was nice but other than that it was just 'okay' to me. But that ending! How could you Forman! A dreaded cliffhanger!!!

Even with everything that I didn't like I still recommend this book to those that are younger. I definitely feel as though they would get more out of the story than those of us who have already experienced loss. I don't know when I will be reading the second book. I'm not in a rush to read it, just like I am not in a rush to own this book. If I find it for a good price, I'll take it. I wan to do a book to movie comparison but I don't know how I would do it. If it happens you guys will now.

Rating: eh, 4 out of 5.

Page Count: 196 pages (hardcover)

Price: $16.99

Next Book: Oblivion by Kelly Creagh

Thanks for reading!
~Jade


You can also find me here: Facebook, Goodreads, and Tumblr. Go like, friend or follow if you want!

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

This is the second book in the Nevermore trilogy. I do have the first book Nevermore reviewed, it's on the rougher side of a review but it's still mine. I plan on reading the third book Oblivion however, I don't know when I will be getting to it, I hope soon though. As far as I can find there hasn't been any talk of Creagh coming out with anything else since Oblivion was published. This could very well change at a moments notice and I sure hope it does!



Varen is still gone in the dreamworld, Isobel is in the real world where she is experiencing very real nightmares and visions. Her only hope comes from a grave in Baltimore, where Edgar Allen Poe is buried. On the morning of his birthday a mysterious person visits the grave, he is known as the "Poe Toaster". Whomever it is, they know how to get to the other world, and Isobel needs their help. Unfortunately there are other hurtles she must get over before she can get to him. Varen's being torn in two, toward an evil so powerful and also by Isobel. Though by time she gets to him, he is no longer the same Varen she knows.

Poe! Again, like the last book I loved that Poe's work was incorporated. I am a huge fan of Poe and as of thus far I do not think Creagh did a bad job with his work. I would've liked to have seen more, but this book was more about Isobel trying to figure out how to get to Varen, and get him back into the real world. I really loved the suspense leading up to Poe's birthdate in the first part of the book. I also liked the aspect of the dream world being more in the book. I like the features of that world and how things mirror the real, but at the same time changes within seconds. I did love two characters in particular, Gwen and Danny. Gwen because without her being sassy and sarcastic I don't think I would have read the book in it's entirety. Danny made me smile he knew something was wrong, didn't know how to approach it, but still made it known that he loved his sister. People don't think that kids understand what is going on around them, but some really do.

If you're looking for Varen to be in the book, well I have bad news for you. He really isn't at all. The ending is an excellent draw in for the final book however, if you are like me and wanted to get some action from Varen, you'll be disappointed. In general I was disappointed with the last half of the book. Things were built up to and I was expecting something so much more than the little stint in the other world. By time the ending of the book came I was left with the feeling of "that's it? That's all that this lead up to?" It was more of Isobel hemming and hawing until Poe's birthday. I definitely think that if I wouldn't have waited so long to read Enshadowed I would have seen a lot more of the book as dull. Dare I hint that this had Middle Book Syndrome...? I will highly unhappy if the final book is like this one, and everything built up to and then not properly executed.

I'm glad I didn't get to read this book right after the last one because I would have been more disappointed in the book. I definitely wouldn't rush out and buy this book, I want the first book more than this one. I hope that the last book is a lot better, I'm going to try and get to it a little quickly but I don't think I will be able to because I work a lot this week, and I am already reading another book. I still recommend this to people of all ages, even those who are on the younger side and like big books.

Rating: low 4 out of 5

Page Count: 429 pages (hardcover)

Price: $17.99

Next Book: Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

Thank you for reading!
~Jade



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Touch the Dark by Karen Chance

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has read or viewed my blog. I woke up last week and when I logged into blogger I found that I was at 2,000 page views!! I know it may not seem like much but for me it is way more than I thought I would get when I first started this review blog some time ago. Thank you again!

Now that that is said, this is the first book in the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance, there are a total of 6 books published and two more anticipated. I have heard that the seventh book in the series has had it's publication date pushed back a couple of times. It doesn't seem that this will be happening any more, hopefully. There is quite a number of books by Chance published, some that go along with this series and ones that do not.



Sometimes being able to see the future isn't as cracked up as it sounds. Cassandra Palmer knows this all too well because her ability makes her sought out by the dead and undead. Ghosts aren't a problem but they will talk your head off. It's all the other creatures of the night that make problems for her. Cassie escaped a crazy house run by an even crazier vampire three years ago and has avoided vampire as much as she can. But the person she is running from has caught up to her and she goes to the vampire Senate for help. Their help comes with a price, and she ends up working with one of the most powerful vampires. He demands a price to be paid as well and Cassie doesn't know if she is willing to pay up.

I guess I go through fazes of getting books that don't have enough action, to getting the books filled with action. Touch the Dark had lots of action, pretty much from about 20 pages in there was almost nonstop action all the way through. I was kept interested with the action but also with the talk about Cassie's back story, and especially a few of the vampires too. As always, I loved that there was more than two mythical creatures in the book. I do plan on reading the second book eventually and I hope to see more of the Fae, and witch aspect. *SEMI-SPOILER ALERT* I did see the part with Tomas coming. I didn't really like him in the beginning, he gave me a weird feeling. *SEMI-SPOILER ENDED* Whereas I wasn't really surprised, I am glad that Chance did that because otherwise events that where going on wouldn't have made sense. I extremely liked that just because one becomes a vampire, they are not automatically "awesome", they get there through lots of work and through the years. Otherwise they are nothing special.

I know I said I liked all the action, but I also had a slight problem with it. There wasn't much down time, and with this things moved really fast. I got confused quite often in the beginning because of this. Cassie would start to talk about her time with Tony and it just wouldn't make sense to me as to what was going on, and then the fighting would start. After a while it did become clearer but that was more toward the end of the book. I would have preferred a little novella to come before this first book just to give a taste as to Cassie's history.

With the couple of problems I had with Touch the Dark I still really enjoyed it. Like I said before I really want to read the second book because things have just gotten started. This is considered an "adult" book, there are a few sex scenes, but I have read much, much worse. A more mature teenager could handle this book no problem. I recommend this book, obviously with the caution to the younger audience because of the sex. I wouldn't mind owning this book, but it remains to be seen how the rest of the series is going to turn out.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Page Count: 307 pages (paperback)

Price: $7.99

Next book: Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake

Thank you so much for reading!
~Jade


You can find me on: FaceBook, or GoodReads, or Tumblr. Go check them out feel free to subscribe to this blog, like, friend or follow any of the others too!

Nightlife by Rob Thurman

Nightlife is the first book in the Cal Leandros series, there are a total of ten books published and a eleventh planned for 2016. I will be reading the second book, however I don't know if it will be right away or not (I've said this before but we'll see what happens this time). There are a few other books out by Thruman so if this doesn't peek your interest maybe one of the others will. I picked this book up seeing the name Rob, and I know I read a lot of female authors and I wanted to branch out into more male authors. However upon further research, Rob is a female. I tried everyone, I did. I even read the little blurb about the author in the back of the book and NOTHING said that she was female. Oh well, life goes on.

 

New York City doesn't know that there is a troll under their Brooklyn bridge, a boggle in Central Park and a vampire in the Upper East Side. Most humans don't realize what is going on around them, Cal does but he's only half human. The lovely father of Cal, his heritage is that worthy of nightmares. On top of that him and his otherworldly race are after Cal. Cal doesn't stick around anywhere long enough to find out why though. Niko, his half brother, and Cal for four years have been able to keep ahead of them, until now. Now they are about to find out exactly what Cal is wanted for. Hell on Earth, is just a metaphor for what Cal is going to be used for.

For this being Thurman's first book in 2006, it wasn't bad. It was really nice not reading a romance novel, and switching things up for a bit. I really enjoyed the sibling love throughout the book. Especially since not all half-siblings have the best relationships. I also really liked that Niko took his education seriously, to know more about your enemies and how to kill them is a good thing. Speaking of enemies, Cal has a lot of them being half Auphe (elf), and because of this there was a lot of action. I have had a problem with a lot of books not having enough action and this book definitely sated my action thirst. I loved that there where a lot of mythological creatures and not all of them are beautiful either. Some authors try to beautify mythological creatures (I don't have a problem with this) but not all of them are. I also loved that Puck was a character pulled into the book, if you do not know who Puck is look him up. I also liked the plot even if I did forget it with the first 100 pages.

The first 100 pages of the book where a bit of a bore. I forgot what Niko and Cal where after many times and eventually I quit trying to go back and read what it was. At one point in time I was about to put the book down but I was going to wait till about the 150 page mark before I did that. Thankfully before then the book really picked up. I also found that whereas I normally get engulfed with a book, this did not happen this time around. I could easily put the book down and do something else. I could have easily started another book and just forgotten about this one. Though because of this I ended up skimming over a good amount of the book. I read the parts that where important and skipped over that which wasn't.

I don't know if I would exactly call this an "adult" novel. I could definitely see this as a transition between young adult and adult, it meets a perfect middle ground. It wasn't bad by far but there was quite a few things I didn't like. Most revolving around when there wasn't action there wasn't anything, and when there was action it was good. I do want to read the second book, I am looking forward to what it holds, though it's not that high of a priority to read right this second. I recommend this book to all ages, not just "adult", and if you like fantasy, go for it. As of right now it remains to be seen if I would want to own this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Page Count: 339 pages (paperback)

Price: $7.99

Next book: Touch the Dark by Karen Chance

Thank you for reading!
~Jade

Note: I'm trying to aim for a book review every other week if possible. If not then I am very sorry. Also I'm almost to 2,000 views! Thank you to everyone who is checking out and possibly reading my reviews. I really, truly appreciate it!

Want to keep up with me in another way? I created a Facebook Page where I will be updating when I post something here! Go take a look at it and like it if you want to.

Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz

This is the third book in the Touch series I do have the first two books reviewed. If you go to Deadly Little Lies review I have the first book linked there. Stolarz did publish a book back in 2014 so if you are looking to read something from her that is recent there is Welcome to the Dark House.



Camila and Ben both have the power of psychometry, it's rare to find someone that close to you that has the same specialness as you. Ben can lose control though, if he starts to feel something more malevolent. Camila's specialness gets itself out when she works with her clay. Most of the time she doesn't even understand what it means. Back together they barely have time to talk things through before something start to stir up again. This time, Camila isn't the target of someone's ministrations. This time it is Adam, someone from Ben's past. Clues begin to pile up faster and faster and it's apparent that he's in danger. But who can be trusted?

*nearly put my head through a wall* That's a great start to likes right....? I liked that when problems began to pop up with Ben and her she tried to straighten things out. That's how relationships work, things pop up the couple works on them, when both are ready. Honestly though Kimmie, Wes, and Aunt Alexia saved this book for me. Otherwise I would have put it down. I also liked that Stolarz tried to put more than one topic in that could possibly happen with being a teen, like parents going through a divorce, relationship drama, family problems, parents pressuring. All of these could be a reality as you grow up. I liked it a lot that the puzzles that were being sent to Adam where put in the book as well. Lastly I liked that Camila got to interact with Alexia in this book.

Now for the dislikes. I actually put off typing up this part because I didn't want to completely slam the book. I've been through the relationship that Camila and Ben have (just without the psychometry) and reading what they (Ben) were doing was driving me mad. Ben downright annoyed the fuck out of me and I used to like him! I can understand a person being afraid because of their past, but guess what? IT'S THE FRICKIN' PAST YOU HAVE TO LEARN FROM IT AND MOVE ON! Ladies and gents, do not want this type of relationship. It's not healthy and it's not fun, take it from someone who was there for almost 4 years. Please enjoy your younger years, being an adult isn't as cracked up as it is made to look like. Be single and enjoy it. I stated that I liked that Stolarz tried to put a lot of possible drama besides relationship, but I felt that it was a lot going on for this book. Stolarz should have picked a couple and went with it not all of them. I was more interested with what was going on with Kimmie, Wes, and Alexia then Camila, Adam and Ben. Again, I could have done without the love triangle.

I went ahead and read what the next book is about and I don't know if I will be getting to it soon. I don't want to deal with Ben and Adam anymore. I was more disappointed with this than anything and actually didn't want to read it most of the time because of everything. I still recommend it to a younger audience but, again do not romance Ben and Camila's "relationship", it isn't as "romantic" as it seems. I don't think I would reread Deadly Little Games, and I don't think I would buy it at even half price or at all.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Page Count: 297 pages (hardcover)

Price: $16.99

Next Book: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Short Stories

Thanks for reading everyone,
~Jade

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Second book in the Touch series I do have the first book Deadly Little Secret, reviewed. The next book in the series is Deadly Little Games. Stolarz does have a number of other books out, so if this series isn't your cup of tea, she might have something else that is.

It was only last fall when Camila fell for Ben and found out that he has the gift of psychometry. Though as things began to get good, Bed up and leaves. Heartbroken Camila spends month researching psychometry and even experiences a few spells herself. Wondering if this is something that can be passed from one person to the next, she tries to tell Ben once he does come back but it's no use. She can't get him to listen long enough. Things start to happen though, almost like a repeat from last year. Warning and threats begin to pop up like last time. In the midst of all of this, deciding to move on Camila starts seeing a new guy in town named Adam. He seems to be less complicated then Ben, but a love triangle forms. Ben's past starts to reveal itself and Adam is tangled in it too. Someone is lying but no one will say who.

Yet another book where I don't have that many likes. I'm in a rut lately...but here we go. I liked that Camila tried to effectively cut things off with Ben seeing as they were no longer "together". She knew that it wasn't good to try and keep things at a "friend" level when they had such a heated connection. Sometimes it's better to cut things off completely because it means that both people will be able to heal. I'm interested to see how this next book plays out with Adam. This time around I really enjoyed Kimmie and Wes more, they had me laughing a number of times. I think I'm beginning to like them more than Camila. I loved the snippets from Alexia, it took me a while to figure out who she was. Mainly because I forgot, but once I did I really enjoyed those parts the most. *SPOILER-ALERT* I did see the psychometry being hereditary-thing coming but I was waiting to see who else has or had it in the family.*SPOILER-ENDED* For the last thing that I liked, Stolarz showed with Alexia that how a parent acts toward a child really does affect them. Be it good or bad it has an affect and after so long the child may turn their attitude around completely because of this.

Now for the dislikes...I completely saw Debbie coming. I mean she hates Ben. Granted, yes, the whole school pretty much does but she realllly hates him. So why not make his life hell? I did feel as though I was rereading the first book with some change ups and no kidnapping. I seriously hope that wasn't the point because it killed the mood of the book for me. Also the love triangle, saw that one coming too, and YA novels have enough of the love triangles going on. It's time for authors to switch things up with that. I probably would have guessed a good chunk of the book had I of read this book closer to the last book. The "action" that was being lead up to was a little over a page and then done. There was more talking than anything. I think I liked the tussle between Ben and Adam a lot more. Though this book wasn't dull, it wasn't really anything spectacular either.

I am not completely discouraged from reading the third book, but if things don't pick up I don't know about the rest of the series. I do recommend this book to others but be warned that I don't know if more advanced readers will enjoy it as much as the younger ones, but I could be wrong. I would like to own the first book, but not so much this one. Depending on how the next books in the series go, it will really make my mind up if this is one of those series I want to own just a few of the books or the whole series.

Rating: low 3 out of 5.

Page Count: 282 pages (hardcover)

Price: $16.99

Next Book: The End Games by T. Michael Martin

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Zomburbia by Adam Gallardo

Zomburbia is the first book in the Zombie Apocalypse...I don't know yet if it is going to be a series or just a duology. This is a fairly new book, being published in 2014, and the second book Zombified published this year in February. It caught my eye when I saw that it had something to do with zombies and I told myself this time around at the library that I wouldn't pick anything up. As usual, I did. I don't know when I will be reading and reviewing the second book, college is getting reallllly busy, but I will try my best to keep posting reviews when I can.

High school is hard enough, add zombies to the mix and it just makes it that much more awesome. Add another strike by being born in Salem, Oregon. Courtney has a plan though. Selling Vitamin Z while working at Bully Burger and saving the money to move to New York. What's Vitamin Z you might ask? Well, zombie brains. Courtney isn't your run of the mill drug seller though. She notices that things are getting worse. The zombie seem to be getting smarter and faster. No one else seems to notice this at all. If she can make it through high school, avoid being arrested and try to stay out of the line of fire from a stupid boy things should be some semblance of fine. Right?

Yes I do have more likes than THIS HAS ZOMBIES IN IT! There were subtle hints throughout the book that people may become a zombie through something other than a bite or scratch. It was the same hint every time which made it pretty easy to pick up. For me it wasn't overly thrown in your face, and it did make sense as to why this would happen. Also the sarcasm between Courtney and Sherri had me cracking up constantly through the book. There were some dull parts where I was waiting for the book to pick up a bit but they really didn't bother me because I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to know what things where going to happen mainly between Courtney and Brandon. Speaking of those two, I liked that Courtney stayed true to herself even with a hot guy giving her attention. It took her a moment but she did stick to her guns. I think more younger girls need to know that even though a boy or girl likes you, you shouldn't change yourself to keep them interested. If they don't like you for who you are, they aren't worth your time and energy. Lastly I really liked the references to other books and movies. Grease, The Lost Boys, and even Lord of the Flies were mentioned. As someone knowing all three of these it was pretty cool to see how they were incorporated into the text.

For a young adult novel I'd say that even an adult could easily get into it and like it. Although I was able to predict a number of things, Willie and Sherri being one of them. It took me a little longer with Sherri but as soon as Brandon entered the picture, I knew what was going to happen with Willie. It was a dead ringer once Willie's mom was given a small voice too. *SPOILER-ALERT* Though really I don't think this is too big of one. The only other thing I had a problem with was when Courtney decided to aid her friends into trying Vitamin Z. Yes peer pressure is a bitch. Yes you are supposed to support your friends, but not when it comes to aiding your friends into trying a "hard core" drug. Don't do this kids. Just don't. *SPOILER-ENDED* Though I do appreciate Gallardo showing that bad things can happen and when it rains, it pours with the bad times.

I was really pleased while reading Zomburbia, I didn't want to put it down pretty much at all because I was kept interested. I did have a couple of problem but they really didn't deter me from finishing the book. I really hope that Gallardo continues to write, be it with this series or another. I find that his writing style really draws me in even when things are at a slower pace. I would most definitely reread this book, and I do think owning it would be nice. I would hold off to see how many more books are going to be added before really investing in them. Heck, for all I don't know the second book could be the end. I do recommend this book to people of all ages to read, and I don't see a problem with a kid in middle school reading this.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Page Count: 362 pages (paperback)

Price: $9.95

Next Book: Racheal Awakened by Robin A. Dilks

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer

I was extremely happy when I saw that my library got The Cemetery Boys in. I immediately grabbed it from the shelf and started wishing that it wasn't on hold for someone else. Ever since I heard about this book when Brewer first started hinting toward it, I was hooked. I'm a big fan of Brewer, and I follow a few of her social media sites. I have read the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod they are not reviewed because I read them looong before I started this blog. I have read the first couple of books of The Slayer Chronicles, I have read and reviewed the first book in the Legacy of Tril. There are a few other little short stories out by Brewer that I haven't been able to get my hands on.

Stephen knew there wasn't any other choice when his father told him that they where moving to Spencer. They were broke from paying Mom's hospital bills, and they had no one else to fall back on but grandmother. She's not that great though, she's bitter and stuck just like Spencer. After meeting Cara and her twin Devon things seem not as dull, but there is more than meets the eye. They have family troubles as well and Stephen can relate to the both of them. The closer he grows with both of them, the more he sees that something isn't right. The Playground, the Winged Ones, the "bad times", and Devon's group of friends, it all just doesn't seem right. And it might be too late before Stephen can do anything about it to save himself.
  
I don't have many likes, I will get into why with my dislikes portion. Brewer herself is a very openly loving person. She doesn't care what walk of life you have or had, what your gender is, your sexuality, etc. So I wasn't surprised when a few of the characters where open loving themselves. I liked this because I myself am openly loving. This is something we as humans need more of. We need more openness and acceptance. People need to know that this is okay! Another thing I was happy to see Brewer incorporate into The Cemetery Boys was the mental health subject. Like I said before I follow Brewer and I was excited when she hinted toward this. Yet again this is something humans need to know is a part of life. People have mental illnesses, and they need to know that there is help. Okay touchy subjects over. I don't know if I have said this before in a review, but I love to hate characters. Stephen's Grandmother would be the one that I am loving to hate, though I am more on the disliking side then the loving. The state that Brewer placed this in made me smile from square one. It's Michigan. Though I hate it in the winter and bitch most of the time about it, it's my home state. The last thing I enjoyed about reading this book was the twist with Cara at the end. Boy, did I not see that coming!

To start off the dislikes, I almost didn't finish this book. Not because it was bad, it wasn't, it's because the hype that was built up to it, and the excitement didn't last. After about the seventh chapter I didn't feel captured with the book any more. I was waiting, and waiting, and waiting for things to happen. I got half way through the book then three-fourths through the book and still nothing *for me* had happened. Things really didn't get moving till the last 3-4 chapters, and by then I wasn't too terribly concerned with finding out what happened in the end. My next dislike is more of an annoyance with the character Harold (Stephen's dad). He waited until what felt like the last moment to even talk about what happened with Stephen's mom. Most of which I think came from the fact that he found some alarming drawings of the Winged Ones from his son. Don't wait till problems start to arise. Let the child know that it is okay to come to you when they feel as though they need to. I'll leave it short and sweet like that.  Speaking of the Winged Ones, I was really hoping for more of an encounter with them (if they were real?) I felt like that whole scene was built up to and then nothing again. My last dislike was how I felt when I ended the book. We have all had the feeling of "that's it?" but mine was really just, after all that that's it. I'm sad, this is a stand-alone and that is how I was left feeling.

I wasn't overtly disappointed, but I really hoped for more. Granted this is more for the younger reader and I am not super young, so I won't be completely harsh. I did enjoy laughing just a couple of times, and it was a pretty quick read altogether. Do I recommend The Cemetery Boys? Yes, to those younger readers. Though if you are older and think you may like this I truly say go for it. Will my opinion change in the future? Who knows, maybe it will, maybe it won't. Do I want to own this book? At this time, I don't feel too terribly consumed with wanting it. I want Brewer's other books more over this one. I don't think I will be rereading this anytime soon. This is definitely a book I see myself reading again after a number of years, which isn't a bad thing! Did anyone else read this and have the same feelings as me, or different? I'd really like to know.

Rating: Very low 3 out of 5.

Page Count: 273 pages (hardcover)

Price: $17.99

Next Book: (hopefully if I can finish it before it has to go back to the library) Zomburbia by Adam Gallardo

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

This is the first book in the Touch series by Stolarz. It's a book published way back in 2008, and I really wish I had picked it up when I was in high school. I remember seeing it but I wasn't out of my phase of "every book I read needs to have vampires in it, some way some how or else I am not reading it." Thankfully I am no longer like that *cough*sort-of*cough*. Stolarz has a number of other books out besides this one and I might pick another up eventually. Sorry that this review got up a little late.

Three months ago Camelia's life had been pretty normal for a sixteen year old. It was all changed when a mysterious boy named Ben started going to her school. The rumor is that Ben killed his ex-girlfriend, even though it was ruled an accident. Everyone casts judgment upon Ben, as this is high school. Camelia, however, does not, in fact she's drawn to him and his touch. Bone chilling phone calls and packages left with even more chilling notes ensue not too long afterwards. Ben says that Camelia is in danger, he wants to help but Camelia doesn't know if she can trust him. He has a lot hiding, but he's not the only one.

It's been a while since I have read a book with a psychometric in it. I forget how much I like books that give humans supernatural powers. For a first book I would say that it was great. I wonder how the next four books are going to go, seeing as the "main" problem for this book was solved. I guess the characters will provide more problems, and I would like to find out more about a few of them. I did like the characters, Camelia is trying to make it through high school like most of the other kids. Wes was the much needed comic relief, though I did suspect him for the bad guy every once in a while. With Kimmie I don't know if I like her or not. I find that she is that complete and utter randomness that Camelia needs to shake up her life, but Kimmie outright annoyed me half of the time. Ben is your typical "bad boy with a bad reputation that has a soft side" character. I liked him though, he has a lot more to be seen. Deadly Little Secret was a quick and pretty easy read, but it wasn't so easy that things where spelled out. At least not for me. The ending was a little of a cliffhanger but not that much, I can live with the ending so long as I get the second book eventually.

There was a lot of internal conflict with Camelia, she would be set going one way and then one thing would throw her the complete opposite way. I understand why Camelia was thinking the way she was and the going back and forth, because I am the same exact way. But after a few times I get tired of it and figure out which way I am going or if I am remaining neutral. Yes, Camelia couldn't remain neutral when her life is on the line, but I would have had whiplash from all the back and forth she did. The ending was a little predictable, although its understandable for Ben's reasoning. It makes certain parts of the next book predictable, which I am not looking forward to but I will not let it kill the book for me. Not until I have read and formed my own opinion of it.

Overall I would say that Deadly Little Secrets was a great read. I would most definitely reread this book over a few times. I do hope the other books stand up to this one and do better as well. The formatting of my book made it a pretty quick read as I said, so I do recommend this for anyone wanting a quick read. If you want a longer read, save this book for later. I also recommend this to everyone, though I can see where "adults" may not like this as much as young adults. I wouldn't mind owning this book by Stolarz, and I wouldn't mind picking up another book by her to read.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 252 pages (paperback)

Price: $9.99

Next Book: The Farm by Emily McKay

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Strong Like Me by Laurel Veil

This is another book I won from a Goodreads giveaway*. Veil has four other books out not including Strong Like Me. This is a stand-alone as far as I can tell, and for sure for those in middle school. Though I think people of all ages could read this book and learn a thing or two. I will repeat this later on.

She has money, she has good looks, and she has a mansion for a house. But everything Jessica has is about to be ripped apart right before her very eyes. Her nasty attitude has granted her more enemies than friends, though they say to "keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer". Someone, or something, is through with her spoiled brat-itude. Just days before her sixteenth birthday disturbing visions of her very bleak future, and images of her closet skeletons come to haunt her. Though when given the chance to start anew, she starts to see her parents in a whole new light. The people who should be helping her are just hurting her, and those who Jessica doesn't suspect are the ones that will help her the most. Can Jessica make amends, or will she just be doomed?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think it is perfect for middle school kids. It touches on topics that are relevant at that time be it in the earlier years or later. Though there were predictable points for me I take that in consideration that this is for younger readers, and there were really cool twists too. I was kept interested all throughout the book, I don't think there was once when I wanted to put down the book for another. Jessica is a hard character to like at first but you come to see why she is the way she is, and it makes you just a little sympathetic towards her. Quite honestly her parents bugged me more than she did. There is a strong correlation between Strong Like Me and Scrooge, when more of the paranormal part of the book comes out. I really don't want to say too much more because this is a smaller book.

Besides the fact that I wanted to strangle Jessica (which I am sure everyone will) I didn't not like anything about Strong Like Me. Normally I will state what I didn't like about a book here, instead I will touch on the touchy subjects that are mentioned or talked about or hinted upon. None of these are promoted or made to look "cool". I am sure that by middle school a kid has had the "stay away from drugs, and don't drink underage" talk. There are two of the touchy subjects. *SPOILER-ALERT* The one other one is (I think to be) really underage pregnancy, and the heart-breaking loss of that. It's a little hard to guess when it happened but that's what it read to be for me. *SPOILER-ENDED* If you are a parent and you see something that you may not like for your child to read, let me reassure you that they are touched upon. It isn't on every single page. It is not glorified, it doesn't go in depth, and I don't think you would have any reason to worry about it. Personally, I've had worse health classes and I think any middle school aged kid could easily handle the few spots.

Even though I said this is for sure for those in middle school, I still think everyone can read this and learn something from it. If you don't learn anything from it, because you already know to treat people nice and respectfully, then you may just read the book to enjoy it. I know I did. That was a wordy way of saying I think everyone can read this book and like it. If you are a parent and you are still not sure if you want your child to read this, I encourage you to read it for yourself. It is quick and the chapters are not long. I finished this book within two days of sporadically reading it. I recommend everyone to read this, and I am happy that I own it. I do feel that I will reread this book when I am unsure of what to read next.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 143 pages (paperback)

Price: ???

Next Book: Fade by Lisa McMann

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

*Note: I am in no way being coerced into making a review. Leaving a review is happily welcome but not required thus if I don't like a book I will say so. This review is based upon my true feelings and thoughts about the book. I promise you I wouldn't let anything sway my opinion about a book.

Wake by Lisa McMann

The first book in the Wake trilogy, and I wonder where the hype for it is? Or maybe I missed it? I am going to go with I missed the hype, because that's usually how it happens. I've had my eye on this trilogy for a little while now, and I have never been able to get the first book until now. I was warned by someone who has read these books to read them in order if I really don't want to spoil anything. I took the warning and I am glad I did. I hope you enjoy.

Seventeen-year old Janie has a lot on her plate, and being sucking into other people dreams isn't helping any. She's getting tired of it, and sadly has no one to talk to about it because honestly who wouldn't think she was crazy if they knew about it? She can't control it either and it doesn't matter what time of day it is, if someone is dreaming around her she is getting pulled into it. But the dream of a kid named Cabel, is different. He dreams of killing someone, but he also dreams of her.

To say I devoured this book is an understatement. I began reading at about 1AM and was half way through by 3:30AM. I slept, woke up, and read the rest of the book in just a hour and a half more. It was a very quick read for me but I think that has to do with how fast paced it was, for the most part. The pace did slow but never for very long, which I loved. It fit the book perfectly. In the POV of Janie, I find that she was very relatable, which is nice for a reader. Anyone who wasn't very privileged, had to work for their things, and almost an outcast could really relate to Janie. I feel if I can't 'connect' with one of the main characters, the book isn't that enjoyable. Unless the author does something amazing. I don't even know how to explain Cabel, he seems like a bad boy but that's just too stereotypical for him. *SPOILER-ALERT* I did not see him working under cover as a agent at his age coming. I had to read a couple of pages over just to be sure. Though in the end it made sense why and how he came to be in that position. *SPOILER-ENDED* I have never read a book before where a character has been drawn into anyone and everyone's dreams, so long as they are in close enough proximity, and awake. It was what drew me in in the first place when I picked it up a while ago, and read the back cover. I got annoyed with Janie and Cabel in the beginning and kept yelling at the book. It was good yelling, and I was cracking myself up.

Quite honestly I don't have any real complaints about Wake. I was upset by how fast I read it, and how small the book is compared to some of the other books I have read. I have a feeling that unless Ms. McMann makes some stereotypical moves for the next two book, I may just love them as well. Even with the shortness.

I loved this book to say the least. It is a great relaxed read for adults. I made my mom read it once I was done with Wake and she really liked it as well. I recommend this book to everyone of all ages, I personally don't see a problem with someone in 8th grade reading this. There are a couple of spots where Janie gets sucked into a sexual dream but even then it isn't nearly as bad as it could have been. I think I could reread Wake a few times before I would get tired of it. I don't own the book but I surely want to one day, as for the rest of the trilogy, that remains to be seen.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 210 (paperback)

Price: $9.99

Next Book: Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Thanks for reading!
~Jade