Skeleton Creek By Patrick Carmen Review #20

Author: Patrick Carmen
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 144
Rating:
Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out. . .and then email the clips for Ryan to see. In a new, groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.
This is such a intriguing way to do a book. I think this is a more incredible idea then Cathy's book series, even though these are two completing different stories/ideas. I love how in Cathy's key you're given evidence and in this book, Skeleton Creek, you're given a password to a site and you watch videos. So the male protagonist point of view is told in journal format, and then the female protagonist point of view is told by video format. Though in this book it is actually in Journal format *you even have notebook paper and pen format* whereas in the Cathy series it's sort of in Journal format. But both books are good. Though this was fast paced and I was able to finish in 2 hours, I think what kept me reading wasn't the journal entries but the videos. My favorite character was Sarah and I wish they had more videos of her. I think if they ever did make Skeleton Creek into a movie, without having the whole journal thing, it would be a good movie. Though the videos that are for the book did have some creepy moments and even made me shiver and jump. It was well played. I think Patrick Carmen did a well job creating this book and coming up with a incredible way of book writing. He did a excellent job of getting into the character's mind and writing them out. The dialog and writing was fabulous. The only thing I hated about it, was I think sometimes the journal entries got a little boring and I would only keep reading so I could watch a video. But other then that, it was well done. I'm also currently reading the sequel Ghost in the machine. Also the books look like a journal notebook and says: Ryan's Journal. Anyways until next time.

Hush Hush By Becca Fitzpatrick Review #19

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 400
Rating:
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I HAVE NEVER RECOMMENDED A BOOK AS MUCH AS THIS. THIS WAS A WONDERFUL SURPRISE, AND NEVER GOT BORING. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS YET, THEN YOU MUST. BECCA FITZPATRICK DID A FABULOUS JOB AND MADE A WONDERFUL STORY THAT WILL THRILL ALL READERS.

What can I say. This was a wonderful book, I couldn't put it down. There was never a chapter that was boring. All of it was well done. The writing was amazing, and I salute Becca Fitzpatrick for her debut novel. Nora is a character you can relate to and if I was in her situation I would probably do the same things she did. Patch is the ultimate bad boy who you can't help but fall in love. Not only will Nora fall in love with Patch but so will the readers. The only thing I saw that could of been improved was some of the action scenes could of been longer. I mean Nora would be in trouble and then Patch would deal with it and it would be over like a piece of cake, which really felt unrealistic. Like the first conflict, Nora left and then when she met up with him again it was all over. It was dealt with. The second thing is the antagonist was a bit obvious. Other then that the book was superb. I recommend it to all. Don't miss your chance to read this. I'm dying to read the sequel, hopefully it will be out soon. So go read Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Devil's Kiss By Sarwat Chadda Review # 18

Author: Sarwat Chadda 

Publisher:  Hyperion 

Pages: 336 

Rating:  4 stars 

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy. Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart. But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years — a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

I really enjoyed Sarwat Chadda's novel Devil Kiss , I thought it was interesting and it even made me curious about the actual Knight Templars. It was well written, fast paced , and I felt like I was Bili herself. The book felt like I was actually watching a movie. Their was never a dull moment in this story which made me happy. I was able to finish this book quickly and with very few complaints. The only complaints I have are: a) I thought the whole relationship between Kay and Bili could have been more developed. I wish Chadda would have written more about Kay's and Bili's history then just them in the present. Especially after Kay returns from Jerusalem. Because that wasn't developed I felt that the whole year away from each other was nothing, I didn't really see the problem. b) the part where Bili dad reveals stuff at the end felt fake and was taken to non-seriously. I felt it was revealed to quickly which made me go wtf. And c) This isn't really a complaint but I want, I want the last chapter to not of happen. I didn't want that to happen. But because it did happen and I'm acting like this show how Chadda was able to make the readers felt like the protagonist. By the ending of the book I was in tears. There has only been two books that have ever made me cry, one is the Book Thief and the second one is this book. This proves that this is a well written story. I highly recommend this story it was fascinating, intriguing, and a book that was worth my time. I'm excited for it's sequel. 

   

Blog Award for Sheer Awesomeness Giveaway

I'm such a newbie, lol. This is my first blog award thanks to Kiki @ Pages !!! Thanks so much for the award. Now I get to give this away XD

1. Kelly @ YAnnabe
2. Jenny @ Wondrous Reads
3. Kate @ Another Book Blog-Whore
4. Kristi @ The Story Siren
5. Michelle @ Michelle's Bookshelf

Now it's your turn to give away the Blog Award for Sheer Awesomeness

Morganville Vampire Series Book 1-4 Review #17

Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: .... depends on book
Rating: *basing this on the whole series so far*

When 16-year-old Claire Danvers arrives in the sleepy Texas town of Morganville for a parentally-enforced year at Texas Prairie University before heading off to MIT, her life takes a turn for the scary. First, the mean girls come after her, but a quick life-saving move to off-campus housing fixes that problem, and introduces her to three new friends: teen rocker Michael Glass, Goth Eve Rosser, and hottie/slacker Shane Collins.

But Morganville's got more secrets to reveal, starting with one very big one:

It's run by vampires.

The books in order:
Glass Houses
The Dead Girls' Dance
Midnight Alley
Feast of Fools
(The Biography is from Rachel Caine's Website)

Wow I seem to be giving out Maura's Choice a lot. That's sort of funny, but really I haven't read any books so far that I haven't enjoy thoroughly. But if I have to give a 4 stars to any books in the Morganville Vampire Series, it would have to be Feast of Fools. Anyways for anyone who knows me, you'll know that my favorite book series of all time is Morganville Vampire Series. I just love all the action, sarcasm, and Rachel Caine's clever writing. What can I say the whole book series is fast paced and has wonderful description. My best friend, who hates reading and vampires, somehow adores this series as well. Also what I love about the main protagonist is she isn't your damsel in distress and when she's in trouble she figures it out by herself.
The storyline is very appealing and different then most vampire books out there right now, and in this story the human doesn't fall in love with the vampires because most of the vampires in Morganville are evil. Very few are good. My favorite character besides Shane and Claire is Myrinn. He is so darn funny and unpredictable. Also the romance portion of the book between Shane and Claire is nicely developed throughout the series, as well as Eve's and Micheal's romance. The only bad thing about this series is it always leaves you off with a cliffhanger which if you don't have the next book in your hands you'll go crazy trying to figure out whats going to happen next. Also the only book that was slow paced out of all of them was the fourth book, Feast Of Fools but it does pick up by the ending. My favorite ending of all time of a book was in Midnight Alley and my favorite book so far in the series is Dead girls Dance. I highly reccomend this series as it's well done and I gaurentee you'll like it.

Stargazer By Claudia Gray Review #16

(EDIT: I finally go the Google friend Connection thingy working so if you want to become friends with my blog or keep updated then please become friends with me, I would love that. You can find it on my sidebar)


Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: Harperteen
Pages: 336
Rating:
Stargazer (March 2009) returns to Bianca's story a few months later. Both she and Lucas will stop at nothing to see each other again—even if it means living a life of secrets and lies. But even as Bianca finds herself torn between two worlds, she soon discovers they aren't the only ones keeping secrets. Will powerful forces within Evernight Academy keep her from deciding her own fate, or claim her forever?
What can I say, I loved Evernight but I loved Stargazer more. Claudia Gray's Evernight series gets better by every new book in the series. Currently their is only 2. Stargazer picks up on Bianca's and Lucas's forbidden love and how they keep their relationship going. Of Course new characters come in play, and Balthazar helps Bianca stays with Lucas. The story was fast pace and kept me and probably other readers guessing what is happening. I like how Claudia Gray didn't just make this a "vampire" book, she also added other supernatural things which made the story a whole lot intereting. The only bad thing that I didn't like was the ending because it ended in a way that will want readers reading more. So why is that bad? Because the next book doesn't come out till March 2010 !! That's a long time away and I want to read more *cries*. Well all I can say is that I love, love this series so go check it out XD!!

Beastly Movie Sneak Peak

What do you guys think??? I think it looks awesome. I especially love the acting done by Alex. I think Vanessa looks more like a popular girl then a girl who is not suppose to be a popular girl. Mary-Kate looks like she's doing a good job to, which surprised me. Anyhow I'm so excited for this movie, why must we wait so long for it to come out,lol.

Cathy's Key *Sequel Cathy's Book* Book Review #15

Author:Sean Stewart&Jordan Weisman
Publisher:Perseus Books Group
Pages: 211
Rating:
Cathy was your average high school student--doodling in the margins of her journal, crushing on a cute boy, and hanging out with her best friend Emma. As this story begins, she's trying to keep a job, her journal is stolen, the cute boy is not who he seems to be, and even Emma's side project/start-up company, Doubletalk Wireless, is about to get caught up in the mystery surrounding Cathy and her search for the truth about her father. Her presumed-dead father. It's just a simple story really: Girl loves Boy, Boy disappears, Girl discovers secret that will alter the course of humanity....
This is the first book I was able to read in one sitting. I stayed up all night reading this. I didn't stop. I just read and read, didn't stop. It never once got boring, it was fast pace, and it felt like I was watching a movie. I'm not doing a review on the first book in the series, Cathy's Book, because I don't have it anymore and I don't remember much. At first, before reading this, I was worried that I wouldn't remember the storyline or wouldn't be able to follow along but the authors did a wonderful job of recapping and the whole story was easy to follow along. The ending will make you want to read the next one ASAP. The book also is very unique because they give you items inside the book which are evidence and your able to phone the characters, check their voice mail, e-mail them, go to websites the characters visit, see pictures, birth certificates, Chinese coins, ect; It's just wonderful book that will have you on feet the whole time. The characters are lovable. My favorites are Cathy, Emma, and Jewel. I can definitely see anyone making this into a movie. Also every page has doodles in it which makes it more fun and unique to read. It is written in a story/diary like way and I know the readers will enjoy that. I don't really have any complaints about this book it was amazing and having items inside made it even more fun. All I can say if you haven't read this yet then go, go, go to the bookstore and buy it. Remember Cathy's Book is the first one, Cathy's Key is the sequel, and Cathy's Ring is the thrid and current book out right now. Anyways I love it XD.

Wicked Lovely By Melissa Marr Review #14

Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: Harper Ten
Pages: 328
Rating:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Yay I finally finished this book. So what are my thoughts about it?? Well I normally don't read books on fairies because it just isn't my thing but Wicked Lovely made it my thing. Melissa Marr did a wonderful job of creating a world that felt amazing to imagine. It was definitely well written and will keep the readers reading. All the characters are very believable and you can relate to. Aislinn's fear is well described and you really can understand her point of view. I loved how she was so persistent on keeping Keenan away from you, she showed that as a women you need to be strong on your own and make your own choices. Though I did feel that sometimes when she complained to Seth, she looked like a damsels. But other then that she was well written. Anyways I could go on about the characters and how they were well-written but I won't, I'll stop there. Anyways the complaints I have for this book is a) it sometimes wasn't well described so I was confused or found the topic funny. b) it's a bit slow at the beginning and c) the story line is predictable. Other then that it was a well written book. I was unsure If I should rate this a 4 stars or 3 stars, but I honestly believe this is a good book so I'm giving it a 4.