Working it Out
By Rachel ANderson
Published July 13th 2013 by HEA Publishing
Pick up your copy at Amazon today!

Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

A chance encounter . . .
Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . .
Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.



Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

What a perfect, sweet summer read!

Grace lives a pretty mundane life. Work, friends, home, repeat. That is until she gets roped into going to a charity event and gets kissed by a complete stranger. I completely hot stranger that both flusters her and excites her at the same time. Who would have guessed that stranger would walk into her physical therapy office a few weeks later? And then he doesn't even remember her?! The nerve! Not to mention that everything that comes out of his mouth his a pick-up line.

This was a fast paced great summer read. I loved both Seth, with his teasing ways, and Grace with her down to earth, grounded mentality. It's a constant push and pull between these two and I loved it! The chemistry and drama are perfect and not over the top.

Overall this is one of those cute romances that should just can't put down.

Lymi...



 

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover: Review

Losing Hope
By Colleen Hoover
Published July 8th 2013 by Atria Books
Pick up your copy today at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

Darkfallen' s thoughts:

 

This book was dark and twisted in the best/worst of ways.

Holder has spent his whole life looking for the little girl that was abducted as a kid. He's always felt guilty for her disappearance because he left her alone. Him and his twin sister, Les, have never forgotten Hope. But when his sister Les takes her own life Holder can't hold it together anymore. Then he meets Sky and everything starts to change. He just knows that she is Hope from all those years ago but can proving that do more hurt than good?

This book was a roller coaster of emotions. I admit that in the beginning it's a little boring and dry, but then he meets Sky and everything changes! Holder is a broken mess and you can't help but like him. I was rooting for him and Sky the entire time. And poor Sky. I can't really say much more than that without giving away the plot so I'm going to keep my mouth shut. Lol

Overall this is a great read that will haunt you long after it's over!

Lymi...

 

 

 

 



Fakint It (Losing It #2)
By Cora Carmack Published June 4th 2013 by William Morrow & Company
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

This is one of those books that you just can't put down!

Max has been broken ever since the car crash that took her sister away from her. She spends all her time trying to pretend to be something she's not...the good child. But when she's not around her family, pretending to be the good daughter, she throws herself into her music. It's the only thing that lets her be herself. That's until she meets Cade. He looks the part of Mr. Perfect. Definitely not her usual boyfriend material, but before she knows it that all changes. Not only does her family love him, but he's turning out to be the perfect guy for her if only she will let him.

This book had me laughing one minute and crying the next. It was just so good and refreshing. I LOVED Max. She is amazing and strong. Not afraid to think out of the box, with her tattoos and multicolored hair and piercings. Then we have Cade, a acting student in college. He looks like the perfect type of guy to bring home to your parents which is what both draws, and pushes, Max to him. What was only supposed to be a ploy to keep her parents off her back turns into so much more! Before she knows it they are both falling for each other.

Overall this is one of those books that will make you laugh, make you cry, and you'll be sad that it's over when you reach the last page!

Lymi...

 

Like my review? Wanna chance to get your hands on a copy of Faking It for yourself? All you gotta do is fill out the rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a paperback version!! Trust me...this is an AWESOME summer read:-))

This contest is open internationally!

 







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Any Other Night by Anne Pfeffer: Review/Giveaway

Any Other Night
By Anne Pfeffer
Published May 19th by Bold Print Press
Pick up your copy at Amazon today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Any other night, Ryan Mills would have driven his best friend, Michael, to Emily's sweet sixteen party at the Breakers Club. Instead, determined to win over the birthday girl, he goes to the party early and alone, setting off a chain of events that ends with a car accident in which Michael dies.

Ryan blames himself for what happened to Michael. As far as he's concerned, he doesn't deserve to have love or ever be happy again. Then he learns Michael left a secret behind. Ryan feels compelled to take on his friend's unfinished business, and in the process, changes his life forever and becomes a man.

This book was published in October 2011 under the title Loving Emily. In May 2012, it was reissued with its content unchanged as Any Other Night. Many older ratings and reviews remain under the old title. Please put newer ratings and reviews here. A NOTE ABOUT CONTENT: in this book, some characters use profanity, engage in nonexplicit sexual activity, or take illegal drugs.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

This is a story that will keep you on an emotional roller coaster the entire time. It's about love and loss, heart break and happiness, grief and angst, but most importantly about growth.

We meet Ryan the night of Emily's party, the girl that he has been crushing on. He decides tonight is the night to tel her how he feels so he doesn't drive his friend Micheal so he can get there early. Unfortunately fate has it's own agenda that night. And that agenda includes taking Micheal from this world. Any other night Micheal never would have driven himself to a party. Ryan always drove. So it comes as no surprise that Ryan blames himself for his best friend dying in a car crash that night.

I don't want to give to much a way so I'll leave it at that. This whole story is so complex and is weaves itself around you like a second skin, digging deeper and deeper until the very end. One thing that really stands out about this book is that it's told from a boys POV and it actually reads like it. Most books told from a boys POV the boy just comes off sounding like a girl. Not here folks. Ryan's voice is exactly what your would expect from a sixteen year old boy, and I love Anne Pfeffer for being able to pull that off. Not only that but I LOVED his voice in general. It's real, and raw, and it has the power to rip your heart open one minute and make you smile the next.

Simply put, I loved this book and I didn't ever want it to end!

And because the author is made of awesome one lucky winner will get a $10 Amazon gift card! All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below!!

 



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Bad Hair Day (Kate Grable #2) by Carrie Harris: Review

Bad Hair Day (Kate Grable #2)
By Carrie Harris
Published November 13th 2012 by Random House Publishing
Pick up your on copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Senior year is positively hair-raising.

Kate Grable is geeked out to shadow the county medical examiner as part of her school’s pre-med program. Except when he’s arrested for murder, she’s left with the bodies. And when Kate’s brother Jonah stumbles upon a dead gamer girl, she realizes that the zombie epidemic she cured last fall was only the beginning of the weirdness taking over her town. Someone’s murdering kids—something really hairy. And strong. Possibly with claws.

Is it werewolf awesomeness like Jonah and his dorktastic friends think? Kate’s supposed to be a butt-kicking zombie killing genius...but if she can’t figure out who’s behind the freakish attacks, the victims—or what’s left of them—are going to keep piling up. It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

This was a funny, hilarious, tale of werewolves that only the geeky Kate Grable can pull off!

Kate Grable is just trying to get back to her normal nerdy, everyday life since finding a cure for the zombie epidemic that took over her town. I mean yeah, sure, there is your random zombie from time to time. And the once "under the radar" geek, Kate Grable, is now famous and being interviewed by CNN. She also has a boyfriend, which she has absolutely no idea how to deal with. But things where starting to get back to normal. That is until an unknown killer is shredding their victims in what looks like a animal attack. But Kate knows it's something more than that and she is determined to figure out what. Who would have thought it would be werewolves? So know Kate is trying to find the time to not only have a boyfriend, study, get into college, but find a cure for the werewolf inducing nanobots before she herself is lost to wolfdom.

This was by far the most hilarious werewolf read ever. I know it comes at no surprise that I love a good werewolf read. I do...I really, truly love them. This was the first one that had me laughing so hard I almost peed my pants on more than one occasion. Kate Grable may be a nerd but she has a second calling at stand up comedy if her life as a doctor doesn't pan out. I fell in love with her humor in Bad Taste In Boys and my love for her only grew in this second installment. I loved seeing her with Aaron and watching how she handled her relationship with him. You couldn't tell she just didn't know what to do with a boyfriend and it was too damn cute. Then you've got Aaron that completely adores her, and she doesn't even know it. I loved that no matter how Kate freaked out he just seemed to roll with it. Most guys would have run away.

Overall this is just an all around great read for anyone. I highly recommend you read this series. It's a refreshing break from the "so serious" that your used to in paranormal ya genre these days.

 

Lymi...





Commencement (Hellsbane #0) by Paige Cuccaro: Review

Commencment (Hellsbane #0)
By Paige Cuccaro Published September 27th 2012 by Entangled Publishing Pick up your own copy at Amazon or B&N today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads: 
Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn for frat guys…

Emma Jane Hellsbane knows something evil is worming its way through her college campus—she can feel it. Literally. Her freakish ability to feel other people’s emotions as though they were her own has always been monumentally awkward, and it’s easier for her to just pretend it doesn’t exist. But this time her paranormal ability just might help her save lives.

Emma Jane’s fairly certain that whatever the hateful, egomaniacal, Godlike thing is, it’s set up shop inside her boyfriend, the frat boy/soccer star Justin. And if she doesn’t figure a way to get it out of him soon, Justin’s soul will be the appetizer to the main course—the whole student body. Problem is, the big baddy is granting sinister wishes, and with each one the risks grow higher and the phrase Be careful what you wish for becomes a real-life dire warning. Of course for Emma, what feels like it could be the end is in fact just the beginning…

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This is one of those novellas that is packed full of everything that makes a great read. I loved this book so much I couldn't put it down, and now I can't wait to get my hands on the first book in this series.

Em is in her senior year of college and she has the best friend, the boyfriend, and these freaky powers that allow her to feel other people's emotions. On most days she tries to block them out but the day that she gets this weird vibe from her perfect boyfriend she knows there is something wrong. Rather than ignore it, like she wants to do, she dives in to paranormal detective mode to figure out just what exactly is going on here. Although she just might get more than she bargained for...

Like I said I just couldn't put this book down. Em is funny, witty, and just an all around fun character. I loved her and her best friend. Em had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. The writing was impeccable, which I was so thankful for since it seems I've been stuck reading bad book after back book lately. Commencement broke me out of my reading slump!

I don't want to spoil the story but I will never look at jinni's the same way again! Overall this was a great, fun filled read, that I couldn't get enough of!

Lymi...



Undead by Kristy McKay: Review

Undead
By Kristy McKay
Published September 1st 2012 by Scholastic
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Out of sight, out of their minds: It's a school-trip splatter fest and completely not cool when the other kids in her class go all braindead on new girl Bobby.

The day of the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty.

Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. Start to stress. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back.

But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late.

Combining the chill of THE SHINING, the thrill ride of SPEED, the humor of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and the angst of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Kirsty McKay's UNDEAD is a bloody mad mash-up, a school-trip splatter-fest, a funny, gory, frighteningly good debut!

Darkfallen's thoughts:

OMG This was so HILARIOUSLY HORRORFYING!!

Poor Bobby has just been uprooted from the United States back to her homeland in the UK because of her mothers job. She is far from happy about it. SO to be stuck on a bus full of her new class mates that could care less if she was there isn't exactly how she wants to spend the weekend. To bad her mum insisted that a school skiing trip was a good idea. So when she finds herself stuck on a bus, in the middle of nowhere with three other classmates, while the rest of the class would rather munch on brains? Yea...things can't get much worse.

This book was perfect. I've read my fair share of zombie books: some serious, some comedy. This one fits the bill for both with enough action and cliffhangers at the end of every chapter that you find yourself gripping the pages. I simply couldn't put this book down, and I can't even count the time that i laughed out loud while my family stared at me like I lost my mind.

I absolutely LOVED Bobby and her snarky humor. Even in the face of a zombie apocalypse she lost her mind in the most funny of ways. Then you have Smitty who is just perfect for her. The whole group in fact just balanced each other out nicely, even if I did want to smack Alice around over and over again.

Overall this is a read that does the zombie YA crowd proud. Full of humor, action, suspense...and I probably won't ever take part in juice samples again. *cringes*

Brrraaaaiiinnnnsss....



Scary Monsters and Vanessa Morgan

Paranormal Wastelands welcomes Vanessa Morgan author of Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside

MONSTERS THAT SCARE ME THE MOST

Thank you for having me on Paranormal Wastelands today. I'm truly honored to be here with all of you! With the day of the dead approaching fast, let's have a look at some of the scariest movie monsters ever.

DOPPELGÄNGERS

A doppelgänger is a person's physical double. Seeing one's own doppelgänger often heralds death or serious illness. Paranormal investigators believe that the doppelgänger is an individual's past or future self. In some traditions, the double has no shadow or reflection.

Here are two seriously creepy horror movies about doppelgängers...

The Broken (2009): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBbVSlVUiio

Dream Lover (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMa9s-gYxyc

　

EVIL KIDS

There's something undeniably scary about children gone evil wether it's through vampirism ("Salem's Lot"), radioactivity ("The Children Of Ravensback"), aliens ("Village Of The Damned") or just plain insanity ("Devil Times Five", "Mickey", "The Good Son").

The following are my favorite evil kids movies...

The Children Of Ravensback (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aJDLCFzo8

Bloody Birthday (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpiELzyx-Xc

¿Quien puede matar a un niño? (aka Who Can Kill A Child?, aka Island Of The Damned)(1976): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-GQThxd3DEHYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-GQThxd3DE&feature=related"&HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-GQThxd3DE&feature=related"feature=related

　

THE UNDEAD

As Jud Crandall says in Pet Sematary: «　Sometimes dead is better.　» Many close friends and family members have seen recently deceased people in their homes, but somehow these real-life encounters with the undead are never as scary as in the movies.

Ringu (1998): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbj-Ihy3ncQ

Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX4eZD3GiL0

The Shining (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cb3ik6zP2IHYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cb3ik6zP2I&feature=related"&HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cb3ik6zP2I&feature=related"feature=related

　

What are your favorite monsters?

***

About Vanessa Morgan
Vanessa Morgan is known as the 'female version of Stephen King'. Her vampire story A GOOD MAN is currently in production to become a feature film. She's also the author of DROWNED SORROW and THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. If she's not working on her latest supernatural thriller, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, blogging, digging through flea markets or indulging in her unhealthy obsession to her cat.

Vanessa Morgan is giving 1 lucky Wastelander a chance to win a copy of the e-book of their choice below

A Good Man

A fun and touching tale about an altruistic, vegetarian vampire.

The Strangers Outside

Creepy monks and two girls in a remote holiday cottage.

Drowned Sorrow

The story of a remote New England town where water has become a supernatural element that can think, move and kill.

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Surviving High School by M. Doty: Review

Surviving High School
By M. Doty
Published September 4th 2012 by Poppy
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

What's the secret to surviving your freshman year of high school?

Emily Kessler thinks she has it all figured out. She eats, sleeps and trains for competitive swimming. All she has to do is keep her grades high and swim times short -- short enough to live up to her sister Sara's. But walking the crowded maze of unfamiliar high school hallways is like diving headfirst into shark-infested waters. Shark #1: Dominique, her biggest competition on the swim team and all-around mean girl. Shark #2: The adorable and popular Ben Kale... Emily can't resist his smile no matter how hard she tries. When the pressure builds to the point where Emily isn't sure she can stay afloat, she begins to question the strict path her life has always followed.
Maybe there is more to life than studying and swimming. Maybe the secret to surviving high school is just to have a little fun.

The hit mobile game Surviving High School comes to life in an original novel about perfection, failure, and following your dreams.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

This book was soooooo cute!

We meet Emily and it's her freshman year of high school. She's just trying to survive it. It's not easy keeping up your perfect grades, training to be an Olympic swimmer under her dads watchful eye, and having an actually life to to that off; but still she has to try. Worse yet she is constantly living in her sisters perfect shadow ever since she died in a tragic car accident. Just when Emily thinks she has it all figured out her lack of sleep catches up to her and everything falls apart. When secrets surface about her sister it's just the push Emily needs to make the decision to be happy, and maybe let swimming go.

Like I said before this book was just so darn cute! Once I started I couldn't put it down, and I wish it never ended. Emily was just so sweet and innocent, and the pressure her father put on her was crazy, but still Emily handled it. And of course there was the ever swoon worthy boy, Ben. My heart brook for both of them several different times during this book and I am sooooooo glad they got their HAE!

Overall this is a well written book about the stresses of the life of a high school athlete that will grip you from the beginning and never let you go. It's sweet, it's fun, it's a perfect fall read!

 

 

Lymi...

 



Teaser Tuesday: Burn For Burn

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)


This weeks teaser is from....

 

"He's not my type. Not even close. That's why it's so crazy. Because as soon as I turn my head, we're kissing. And I suddenly feel like I've been waiting the whole summer for it to happen. " page 22

 

And to show the other side of this book...

 

"She give me a weird look before walking out. I guess she was expecting another fight? One of my bitchy comebacks, perhaps? Don't worry, Rennie. It's coming. The bitch slap to end all bitch slaps." page 326

 

This book is such a great beach read! I couldn't put it down!!!

 



 

Now c'mon...Tease me!!

Two Or Three Things I Forgot To Tell You by Joyce Carol Oates

Two Or Three Things I Forgot To Tell You
Joyce Carol Oates
Published August 21st 2012 by Harper Collins
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Joyce Carol Oates masterfully captures the unique experience of being a teenage girl in this provocative and poignant new novel in the vein of Wintergirls and Thirteen Reasons Why.

It wasn't like she had not warned us.

It wasn't like she had not prepared us.

We'd known that something was wrong those last several months.

But then, Tink hasn't actually vanished. Tink is gone, and yet—she is here somewhere, even if we can't see her.

Tink? Are you—here?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Okay so I am really disappointed. Maybe it's because I was so SUPER excited to read this, that the let down is hitting even harder, but whatever it is I'm so upset to say that I couldn't finish this book.

There is a number of things wrong with this. First of all the writing it, for the most part, a jumbled mess. It's a series of run on sentences separated by even longer parenthesis. I mean by the time you get to the end of the sentence you've already forgot where you were when it started. All the sentences being broken up by dashes and parenthesis just makes the flow off and you almost stumble over reading it.

Then there is the everything that is going on in here. You are constantly jumping from one thing, to another, to the next, and OMG What Is Going On?!?!? You have Merissa and her friends are all in high school. Dealing with all the pressures that go along with that, and the fact that their friend, Tink, killed herself. Merissa is under even more pressure because she is known as The Perfect One and therefore she has no room for failure. And while I should feel sorry for her, or just feel for her period, I can't. Mostly because of the heartless way she talks about her friends, and the way she handles her life. For instance she refers to her friend, Nadia, as being soft, flabby, and fat throughout the book, and then you find out that poor Nadia only weighs a measly 119 pounds. Then Merissa starts cutting on herself because it's more thrilling than having an eating disorder? REALLY?!

Overall I am just flabbergasted at how this book turned out. I really thought this was going to be one of those reads that changed your life and broke your heart, but I was terribly mistaken. Sadly this only gets 1 star from me:-(

Lymi...





Rape Girl by Aline Klein: Review

Rape Girl
By Alina Klein
Published June 5th 2012 by Namelos
Pick up you copy at Amazon today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.

But not the rape girl.

That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.

Rape Girl is the compelling story of a survivor who does the right thing and suffers for it. It is also the story of a young woman’s struggle to find the strength to fight back.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This book isn't easy to read, but then again I guess you kind of know that before you even open the book. The title says it all. Still the range of emotions this book will drag you through will leave you speechless.

Valerie just wanted to be the popular girl so when her mom went out of town for the weekend she did what any high school girl would do and threw a party. Only things didn't turn out exactly how she thought it would. Little did she know that weekend would be the one to change her life forever...and not for the better.

I think you would have to be heartless to not feel for Valerie. I was disgusted with the way people treated her once the word spread, but unfortunately kids can be cruel. Still, somehow, Valerie finds a way to show some signs that there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Alina Klein did a great job of writing this story. It's smooth and fast paced. You get sucked in and lose track of time as the pages fly by. The only complaint that I have about this book was that there aren't any chapter breaks. It's just one long chapter. But maybe that's because I have the uncorrected proof copy. I like to think that the finished copy is formatted better.

I also wish the ending was slightly different. It just kind of drops off at the end. I would have liked to see a little bit more. Maybe make the story longer and let us see more into where her life is heading. And finally I just want to say that I am not a fan of the cover. After reading the story I just think that there are probably a much better cover out there for this book. The cover in fact mad me not want to read this book at first, and I'm glad that I ignored that, and dived in.

Overall this is a great read that deals with an issue that unfortunately is a reality for a lot of girls out there. I think this would be a good book for a teenage girl to read.

Lymi...





Everything Left Unsaid by Jessica Davidson: Review

Everything Left Unsaid
By Jessica Davidson
Published August 1st by Pan Macmillan Australia
Pick up your copy at Pan Macmillan or Fishpond today! (This book is published in Australia and can be purchased at Fishpond with free international shipping.)
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

"I wait for him, the cold seeping through my clothes, until it finally dawns on me that he's not coming back. And I wonder why he chose her instead of me? Why he went looking for her when I was right there."

Tai and Juliet have been best friends forever – since they met at kindy and decided to get married in first grade.
They understand each other in the way that only best friends can.

They love music, beach walks, energy drinks and, they are slowly discovering, each other.

As they dream of adventures beyond the HSC – a future free of homework, curfews and parents, a life together – their plans are suddenly and dramatically derailed.

For Tai is sick.

And not everything you wish for can come true.

A poignant story of first love, hope, grief, family, and the twistedness of life.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This book is nothing short of amazing. It truly deserves way more than 5 stars. In fact I just might venture to say that it's the best book I've read...ever.

Juliet and Tai have been best friends since they met in kindergarten. They even jumped off the roof with umbrellas together trying to fly like Mary Poppins. (of course that didn't end well for either of them.) But now they are both getting ready to graduate from high school and they realize that they want more from each other. Unfortunately as their relationship grows and they plan for their future in college together fate steps in and has a mind of it's own. The reality is you can't always get what you want, and life is beyond cruel...

Yes this book is sad and tragic in the worst of ways. But you know by the title and the synopsis that you aren't going to get a Happily Ever After. Then again I think that is some of the beauty in this book. It's real life on paper. There are no white horse knights to save the day or music in the backround every time they kiss. There's pain, and love, and the reality that you don't always get what you deserve. That life can be cruel for no reason at all.

Put it to you this way...I was sucked into the story from the first page. I fell in love with both of the main characters, Juliet & Tai, from the beginning. And I loved, LOVED that this is told from both of their POV's. It made it so much easier to feel everything that was going on. So much so that I was crying my eyes out in the first 60 pages, and the tears just kept on coming. I cried so hard, on more than one occasion, I had to put the book down and catch my breath. A steady stream of tears rolled down my face and dripped from my chin until the last page. And even though it hurt, even though something inside me started to unravel and eventually broke, I couldn't put this book down. I couldn't look away. I needed every word like I need air to breathe. And now that it's over I still want more. I want to know what happens now, and when I close my eyes to sleep at night this story haunts my dreams. I simply can't get it out of my head.

Overall I know that I could never find the words to do this book justice so you just need to pick it up for yourself. It's a tragic story of love, loss, and a grief so deep you'll feel your inside rip apart as you turn the pages.

Buy it, borrow it, rent it, steal it if you have to, but you simply have got to READ this book!

Lymi...

Something Strange & Deadly by Susan Dennard: Review

Something Strange & Deadly
By Susan Dennard
Published July 24th by HarperTeen
Pick up your copy today at Amazon, B&N or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

I would say that this is more of a 3.5 stars so I rounded up to 4.

El is trying hard to keep her family name in good standing and their financial ruin under wraps since her father passed away and her brother still hasn't come home form New York. It isn't an easy task to handle, especially when you have a mother that spends money the way she does, and a brother that seems to have gone missing. Never mind the fact that the dead have started to rise in Philadelphia, and always seem to show up at the most inopportune time. Will El be able to save her brother before the dead take over, and her mother spends every last cent they have?

I loved El and her snarky attitude right from the beginning. I loved that she wasn't the "prim and proper" lady that she was expected to be. That in fact she was more practical and less frivolous, unlike her mother. I also liked Daniel and all his ungentlemanly ways. Still I was expecting this to be a steampunk book about zombies. A YA novel to rival Gail Carriger's Parisol Protectorant series, and sadly it wasn't quite there. It just didn't really live up to the expectations I had set for it. I think the main reason is that I saw the ending coming a mile away. Almost from the very beginning I had already figured out who the villain was.

Still this was a very fast paced read. Full of action that keeps you flipping the pages until the very end. If the zombies would have played a bigger part I think it would have been better.

Overall...would I read the sequel? YES! Now that I'm not expecting the zombies to be the big bad wolf or the story I will definitely give the second one a go!

Lymi...



The Vampire Of Highgate by Asa Bailey: Review

The Vampire of Highgate
By Asa Bailey
Published July 7th 2012 by Hodder Children's Book
Pick up your copy at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Kathy is an innocent, an outsider who longs to belong somewhere. Anywhere. Dreams of her half-sister Amber and of the centuries old Highgate Vampire are taking her to places she doesn't want to go. Kathy can't stop the sequence of events. If her nightmares and reality collide, the Highgate Vampire will come to take her soul...

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Welcome to the story of the Highgate Vampire...

Kathy has spent her entire life in New York being raised be her two adoptive parents, and aside from being adopted has she is just your normal girl. That is until she starts having weird dreams about her sister that she hasn't seen since she was a baby. Dreams that her sister is in trouble and needs her help. The only problem is that her sister lives in London. Doing what she feels she has to Kathy goes to London after a mysterious book shows up in the mail from her sister. A book in a weird language that she can't even read. All she knows is she has to try and save her sister, but from what? Landing herself in the in a world of vampires can Kathy save her sister? Or will she fall to the same fate at the hand of the Highgate Vampire?

This isn't your swoon worthy vampire novel. No these vampires are the things of nightmares and legends. All fangs, blood, and thirst! And the same goes for this book. With page after page of suspense and running for your life from blood crazed vampires this book brings back the traditional vampires we loved to be scared of in Anne Rice novels. I loved how the story kept me on the edge of my seat, and even scared me a few times. It was a nice change of pace from our cuddlepires that we all swoon over these days.

The only thing that is keeping this from getting 5 stars is the the way it was written. The story is told from Kathy's POV and she is from New York, yet the whole book sounds like it is being told from a Brit's POV. Yes I get that the story takes place in London, but Kathy wouldn't talk like she was from there being that she has never left the United States until she flew over to find her sister. Personally I just think it should have a more American accent to it. And say things like "tennis shoes" instead of "trainers", or "flashlight" instead of "torch". Again I only say this because it is being told by Kathy and she is, as the Brits would say, a Yankee; therefore I think the story should be told like one.

Other than that this was a great, fast read with vampires that just mught keep you up at night.

Lymi...



Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate: Review

Rapture (Fallen #4)
By Lauren Kate
Published June 12th 2012 by Random House
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

Darkfallen says goodbye:

Well this is it...

The entire series has all been leading up to this one moment...

Now it's over...and I cried...

Luce and Daniel are running out of time. The clock is ticking and they only have the next nine days to stop Lucifer. It took nine days for the angels to fall from Heaven the first time, and it is all the time they have now to stop the fall from happening again, and ultimately wiping out the world as we know it. The only problem is that none of the angels know where the original site of the fall is. Can they find it in time? And just what will it take to stop Lucifer?

In the end everything comes down to Luce and Daniel, and everything comes with a price...

First I want to say that this book was chalked full of action and OMG moments that makes it hard to put it down. You get so sucked into the story that you just want to devour each and every page in one sitting. With a new villain thrown into the mix, and twists and turns that you would never see coming you will definitely find yourself gasping for air on more than one occasion. Not to mention that we get Daniel back throughout the whole book again and the relationship between Daniel and Luce couldn't be any sweeter. I was so happy to see them together the whole time. Working side by side. Even though Daniel still has some of his secrets he is not willing to share throughout most of the book, Luce is learning more and more about herself everyday, and in the end all secrets are revealed. Your not left with unanswered questions, and better yet, you finally understand why Daniel has had to keep the secrets from Luce.

I will say that the ending is sugar and spice and everything nice that you could hope for with a twist that makes it a tad bit bittersweet. Still I wasn't ready to say goodbye top these two and I would have loved to have just one or two more chapters to give me a little more. Just a peak into the lives of the whole gang a few years further down the line. But what can I say? I just don't want to say goodbye. I'm in denial.

This is a true and epic love story that will stick with me for a long time. I am so glad that I picked this up 4 years ago and gave it ago. Still I have to say my all time favorite book in this series has to be Fallen. The book that started it all...

Lymi...





Arise by Tara Hudson: Review

Arise (Hereafter 2)
By Tara Hudson
Published June 5th 2012 by Harper Collins
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

This book was soooooo good! It was sweet, and epic, and eerie...it was everything I wanted it to be. Dare I say this is a YA Paranormal book that should be labeled perfection? Yes, yes I think I can say that. *winks*

Amelia and Joshua aren't your normal couple. First of all Amelia is very much a ghost. Has been for the last decade, but ever since Joshua's near death experience and his subsequent awakening of his Seer abilities he hasn't been able to stray away from Amelia. After having battled the demons on the netherworld they thought the worst was behind them. They were wrong...very wrong. Now Amelia is harboring secrets she doesn't want to keep, and has to decide between being with Josh, and keeping him safe. While she knows what she has to do it doesn't make it any easier. Can Amelia walk away from Josh to save him from the demons? Or will she be so consumed by their love that she can't say goodbye before it's too late?

First I have to say that I was a little worried when I started this book because I hadn't read the first one in the series yet. I was afraid I would be lost, or worse yet that the author would do a huge info dump in the first 50 pages to catch me up, but that would only end up boring me...I couldn't have been more wrong! Tara Hudson did a perfect job of filling in all the blanks that I missed from the first book in a way that just flowed with the current story. I was never once lost or ever felt bored. There are no huge info dumps that bogged the story down. Everything just flowed effortlessly. That combined with Tara's writing style made this book perfect for me. I loved the way it flowed from page to page, making it a fast read that I couldn't tear my eyes from. When I wasn't reading this book I was plotting when I would be able to pick it back up again.

Enough about the writing, what about the characters? Amelia is a hard one not to love. Within the first 25 pages I felt my heart aching for her. I wanted her to have a happily ever after in the most desperate of ways. She not what you would expect from a heroin that has spent the last ten years as a ghost alone. She's not all whinny and Woe is me. She's strong, funny, compassionate, and always thinking of others. Especially of Joshua. When it comes to him she is completely selfless, but not in a way that makes you think she doesn't really care about him. You can feel how much it tears her up inside to do the right thing, but she does it anyways. And don't even get me started on Joshua. He is one of those guys that makes you swoon and squee at ever turn. You just want to squeeze him and your heart breaks for him and Amelia over and over again.

Overall I loved this book. I love the way it has the ability to pull you into the story so deep you feel like your there, living it with them. This is a must read!

Lymi...