"Possessions" by Nancy Holder

Wow! Where do I begin?? This book is about a girl, Lindsay, sent to a boarding school following a nervous breakdown. Lindsay thinks she can start a new life here, only to discover eerie happenings, ghostly pranks, and rumors that the school is a centuries-old former insane asylum for wayward girls - and an operating theater with evidence lobotomies were performed. Now Lindsay is left to wonder if the events of the academy are real - girls are being possessed by the spirits of these long-dead wayward girls, or if she's losing her mind...again. I will admit, I DO NOT scare easily, but this book thoroughly creeped me out. I found myself turning on the hallway light if I had to get out of bed at night because I was just so on edge. This book is amazing. It's truly hard to find a SCARY book, but this one really is frightening. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel! I will also definitely be looking into getting the rest of Nancy Holder's books. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat!

"The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" by Stephenie Meyer

I was expecting this book to be as good as the Twilight Saga since it is essentially a Twilight novella. But alas, it fell kind of short. It seemed kind of disjointed and hard to follow at times. I was very disappointed not to encounter any Twilight characters until the last 20 pages of the book. I have to say though, as far as seeing the epic battle fight between Victoria's army and the Cullens through another point of view, this book definitely did that. I think it would have been much better had the book been longer and its descriptions of people not as vague. It did make me want to re-read Twilight again and would buy another novella should Stephenie Meyer write one.

"The Reformed Vampire Support Group" by Catherine Jinks

I bought this book because the idea of vampires "reforming" and attending support groups sounded hilarious. Unfortunately, the first actual support group meeting doesn't take place until the epilogue. The story is very well written and engaging. All of the characters are quirky and stand out. The "support group" sets off to find the killer of one of their members, launching them across the australian outback. The author has a completely different view of vampires and their strengths and weaknesses, so that kept the excitement going. I will be buying the sequel ("The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group") when it releases next year. My only real complaint with this book, besides being slow starting on the action, was the title was a bit misleading on the support group part. Otherwise, it was a good read!

"Picture the Dead" by Adele Griffin

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. I was initially curious about the book because it sounded like a new twist on the usual ghost story. WOW! I completely devoured this book. I couldn't put it down! The main character, Jennie, loses her brother and fiance in the Civil War and is left grieving with an unsupportive distant aunt and uncle. The book picks up when her cousin returns from battle and the family turns to a photographer who can supposedly capture the images of the deceased in photos. This was a haunting love story, filled with twists and turns. I generally don't read anything historical, so for me to be so enthralled with this book really says something about the author's writing. The book is beautifully illustrated with Jennie's "scrapbook" of photos, letters, and mementos that give us extra glimpses into her life.

As an additional bonus - I was thumbing through the book and realized on the title page a note from the author, Adele Griffin, that had been inscribed so close to the book's beautiful title that it looked like a piece of lace - "Embrace the Unexpected". This book certainly taught me to do just that!

"Intertwined" by Gena Showalter

This book initially intrigued me because the main character has 4 souls trapped inside his head--kind of like a paranormal multiple personality disorder. It was difficult to get into because you have to try to keep up with the main characters and the companions in his head, all of which have a point of view. On a 5 star rating, I was considering giving it 3 stars...then I hit the middle of the book. WOW!! New characters were introduced, action picked up, plot twists came out of nowhere and I found myself not being able to put it down! Around page 200, I was online ordering the sequel so I would have it waiting on me as soon as I finished this one. I am truly glad I stuck out the initial slowness. Definitely a 5 star book, with a completely unexpected, exciting ending!

JK Beck's "When Pleasure Rules"

Another winner from JK Beck! I was very excited to delve back into the world of the Shadow Keepers and all the same characters from book one (plus some new and exciting ones)! I thought it was a little harder to get into than the first book, despite being familiar with characters/setting, but the action picked up and never stopped! I will be eagerly awaiting the release of book three at the end of this month!!

"Mini Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella

This was a really good Sophie Kinsella book. Pretty "standard" Becky behavior throughout. Her daughter Minnie, though, is HILARIOUS! And this book had a surprise ending and definitely makes you truly hope Sophie writes another Shopaholic book! Loose ends...ahhhh!!!!!

"Prophecy of the Sisters" by Michelle Zink

I loved this book! It was unlike any "paranormal" book I've ever read. Two sisters are forced into fulfilling a prophecy that battles good and evil and turns them against everything they once believed in or held dear. Completely unexpected twists and interesting characters! And though considered YA, it really was fitting for adults too on the story line (no teen angst, just wasn't sex-filled). I am ITCHING to get book 2, which I have already ordered online...just waiting on it to arrive!

"The Eternal Ones" by Kirsten Miller

Surprisingly a lot of reviews weren't so great for this book, but I loved it. I was originally intrigued by the Ouroborous mark on the front since this is like the 3rd or 4th book I've read that featured this and the author put a whole new spin on it, including the element of reincarnation!! It had a great amount of paranormal, romance, mystery, history...WONDERFUL! It was full of twists and turns and the ending was a shocker. I sure hope there's a sequel!!

"Hex Hall" by Rachel Hawkins

This debut novel is about a young witch named Sophie who is sent to a reform school for supernaturals (called Prodigium) who have used their powers unwisely in the past. All of the students are different and have their own powers: there are witches, vampires, werewolves, fairies, ghosts, and groups of assassins out to get them. The string of attacks on a certain group of students leaves the school in shock and the hunt is on to find out who is out to get the Prodigium and Sophie is left to deal with this while learning about her own identity, which has until now been kept secret from her. The first few pages were kind of slow going, but after that I was hooked! I even laughed out loud at times! Rachel Hawkins paints a vivid world of Hecate Hall and I felt like I knew all the characters personally. What more could you want?? It had romance, suspense, and amazing characters...not to mention an ending that left you wanting the second book NOW!! Book two, "Demonglass" will be out this spring and I will be one of the first to buy it!!

"Kisses From Hell" Anthology

I love, love, LOVE the "From Hell" anthologies! They all contain great short stories and this one didn't disappoint - for the most part. It wasn't as great as some of the other From Hells, but still read-worthy. Since this had multiple stories, I'll give a quick review of each one.

"Sunshine" by Richelle Mead: This is a short story that is part of her Vampire Academy series. It is told from Eric Dragomir's point of view (Lissa's brother) and was very engaging. I couldn't stop reading once I started! Richelle Mead always does a fabulous job with her stories, but I feel like this really needed to be a full length book. As soon as it picked up in action, it was over. The VA series is so complicated, I don't feel any character's story can be told in approximately 40 pages. Fabulous read, just not long enough, or detailed enough.

"Bring Me To Life" by Alyson Noel: This was a welcome break from her Immortals Series (which I adore - review coming soon on her newest novel in the series, "Radiance"). A young girl Danika is sent to a creepy art school in the UK where nothing is as it seems...the school, the people, nothing. She tries to capture her dreams in paintings, only to see them become a reality. Best story in the book in my opinion. It was amazing. It had a good beginning, good climax, and good ending.

"Above" by Kristin Cast: I had unrealistically high expectations for this one. Kristin Cast writes with her mother, P.C. Cast in the outrageously popular House of Night series (amazing and addictive - one of my all-time favorites), so I was most looking forward to this one. I wish I could tell you what it was about. I have no clue. Random lyrical prose was inserted. The story was disjointed and I never got a good feel for the characters. Not good at all. I can't believe I read 40+ pages and all I can say is "BAD". I will from now on only read her work when she writes with her mother. Sorry to be so brutal!! I feel bad, but its the truth.

"Hunting Kat" by Kelley Armstrong: A young girl named Kat, is hiding from a group doing experiments on vampires. She is involved in a car accident and ends up on the run with two boys and has no idea who she should ally herself with in this race for her life. This short story had an amazing amount of action! It really grabbed my attention and didn't let go. Like Kat, I kept changing my mind on who was the Good Guy and Bad Guy in the story. It was so good, I would love to see it become a full-length story sometime with Kat as the heroine!

"Lilith" by Francesca Lia Block: This story centers around a young boy who had created a fantasy alternate world for himself to live in so he can escape the cruelty of school. Somehow, he meets Lilith, who lures him into the world of vampirism. It was a little too sci-fi for my tastes and the ending was a little too open-ended, so I wouldn't really rave too much about this one. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It kind of was just there.

Overall, I enjoyed this anthology - and it definitely gave me some new perspective on authors!!

Mary Janice Davidson & Anthony Alongi's "Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace"

Okay, Mary Janice Davidson is probably best known for the "Undead" series she writes about a shopaholic, shoe-loving Vampire Queen. But this series, she writes with her husband, Anthony Alongi. It is a YA series; all of her Mary Janice Davidson books are adult, as far as I am aware. This particular Jennifer Scales book is the first of a series, all titles beginning with "Jennifer Scales and the ______ ". In this one, Jennifer realizes she is half-dragon and has to learn the ins and outs of being a dragon - which definitely kept with MJ's humor as half of Jennifer's lessons seem to go awry. My biggest complaint was the characters all seem so ANGSTY!! I kept reminding myself, "they're only 14 years old", "they're only 14 years old" - but somehow I don't remember having that much angst in all my teen years combined! Anyhow, overlooking that, the end had several very surprising twists, a new perspective on supernatural critters, and a very unique villain (who could certainly illicit nighmares in some)!! I'm excited to get to the rest of the series. Look forward to reviews on the next 4 books soon! :)

Reviews of series and books I read long ago...

Okay, let's see...as a very avid reader, if I were to reveiw EVERY book I have read in my life starting now, I would be here for the next 832,587 bajillion years and my husband would never see me again. That said, if there is a book I read that is in the middle of a series, I will be starting with that particular number. BUT if you want to get my thoughts on a previous book in a series or a book I read a while back, just let me know and I would be more than happy to post on that book or series. I just can't back-blog that much. Just thinking about it makes my eyeballs cross!

Happy reading to all! :)

Richelle Mead's "Spirit Bound"

"Spirit Bound" is book 5 in the popular YA Vampire Academy series...and quite possibly my favorite book so far! Rose continues her quest for love and battles between feelings for both Dimitri and Adrian. The action takes place primarily at the Moroi Court and proves to be an exciting new environment. The book gradually picks up pace throughout the story (amazing since the book is 400+ pages long) and yet manages to throw in at least 3 SPECTACULAR and major twists in the last 15 pages or so. I was slightly dissapointed in the interaction of Rose and Lissa. Usually there is a great deal of "communication" between them and I felt this one lacked that some.

I am anxiously awaiting the release of book 6, "Last Sacrifice", in December (and yes, I may cry as that is the last VA book)....until then I am tiding myself over with Richelle Mead's VA short story in the anthology "Kisses From Hell" (review to come soon) and her adult Dark Swan series. There will be a VA spin-off series, though; however, Rose will not play a major role from what I've heard. Still exciting to all VA fans!

Christine Johnson's "Claire de Lune"

Once in a while, I will throw in a random YA review as well. Despite being 27 (*gasp*), I still read YA books. They’re usually quick, easy reads when I don’t have a lot of time or have a lot on my mind. I happened to pick up Christine Johnson’s "Claire de Lune" a few months back and am just now getting to the review (I will be more prompt now that I am attempting to blog regularly). This particular book drew me in by its amazing cover art. It is an exceptionally pretty book. It was extremely well-written and will appeal to teens and adults alike. The characters are well formed and you immediately relate to Claire as she realizes she is being thrown into the world of the supernatural--on her 16th birthday, she is told she is a werewolf. Claire soon meets Matthew, who she turns to as a string of lycanthropy attacks in the area threatens to cause panic; however, his father only further fuels the fire as he is organizing a hunt of his own. Claire must battle her new identity, her old identity, and a possible new love. Christine Johnson created an exciting new twist on the werewolf tale and I truly hope it becomes a series. The only downside was, as a YA book, it was an extremely fast read, but well worth the hardcover price!!

JK Beck's "When Blood Calls"

I was one of the lucky recipients to win an ARC of “When Blood Calls“, the first in JK Beck’s new series, “The Shadow Keepers“. I was initially intrigued because I have been an avid follower of hers for years as she wrote under the name Julie Kenner. Let me say one thing - this is nothing like the other series she’s done! The others are light and humorous, this is dark and sexy! It is a fabulous blend of mystery and suspense with a good heaping dose of paranormal romance.  I refuse to give spoilers because I don’t want to ruin the excitement for everyone, but the premise is this: Sara Constatine is a young prosecutor on the rise and she is instantly given what she thinks is a dream promotion...until she realizes she is now prosecuting the paranormal, including her lover from the night before. Can she let her duty to the law override her heart??

The characters were refreshing as the heroine, Sara, didn’t have that self-doubt so many of the women have…none of that woe-is-me attitude that gets so old, so fast. And Lucius, while he is the supposed “bad boy”, he sure seems so, so good in this! The storyline was also new and exciting. It didn’t have the feel of so many books, like you’ve read a variation of the story somewhere before. Way to go, JK Beck! This one is a real winner and I will be at bookstores on the release dates of books 2 and 3 - and recommending this series to everyone. For those of you who are unaware, book 2, “When Pleasure Rules” releases on September 28 and book 3, “When Wicked Craves” releases on October 26. In the meantime, get out there and get this one on August 31!!!

WELCOME!!

Greetings! Welcome to my Book Review Blog! I will be regularly posting reviews of books (both ARCs and books I pick up here and there) and will be beginning with a review of an exciting new author, JK Beck's debut, When Blood Calls. That review will be posted this week. Until then, I highly recommend the other books she's written under her other name, Julie Kenner (my favorites are the Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series).

Until then, Happy Reading!!

** I want to make it clear now: my reviews will be purposefully vague. If I give spoilers and all the ins and outs of the book, why would you want to read it? I will give my opinion of a book and a synopsis, but will NOT give play-by-plays and be a "Cliffs Notes" reviewer :) **