Review with NO SPOILERS! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Wow, quite possibly the best books of this year for me. There is alot of hype around this book and the book lives up to the hype. I am NOT giving any spoilers away, but I can tell you that I have not read anything like this before. I love all of these characters, Mara, Noah and Mara's family.
I thought the writing was amazing, the story really flowed easily. There were no tough transitions where you had to go back and read the last paragraph to figure out what was going on. I was able to sit for hours and keep reading and not have to think about any of it. I could just breeze along withe the story and I love that. I will say that this will leave you scratching your head at the end and will have you coming back for more. I want more...NOW!

Book Review : Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

I thought this book was absolutely delicious.  I knew from just reading the synopsis that I would enjoy it but I didn't know I would enjoy it as much as I did!  It was a book about women and how their lives intertwine, but also how different each one is.  It is a story about families, love, life, hardships and trust.

I felt that Ellen Hopkins wrote a beautiful story with so many different elements.  She is a gifted writer whose story can all at one make you laugh, cry, mad and happy.  I felt like I knew these women and their families and wanted to know more about them when the book was over.  There is actually nothing in this book that disappointed me, I enjoyed every single part of it including the poetry written to describe the emotions the characters were feeling at a particular time.

I did not want to put this book down, every spare moment I could find I was reading this.  I took this book on vacation with me and even when waiting in lines for rides there I was reading it.  Hopkins is a brilliant writer who makes the story flow and keeps you wanting more!

Book Review & interview: Hurricane by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

 Hurricane
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Publisher :  Divertir Publishing LLC
Pages : 208 (Paperback)
Published : August 9th, 2009




This is a paranormal tale which included a multitude of paranormal elements and characters.  Not only was the story creepy and intriguing but there was also a love element.  Besides the turmoil of being hunted by a witch, falling for a distant guy and having dreams in which she can see the future, the main character is also fleeing from the biggest hurricane to hit New Orleans! 
For me, this book was a page turner.  There was so much happening and just when it thought I was about to get off the roller coaster, it took off for another spin.  There are so many elements to this story, so many characters and forces at work, I thought the title was really fitting.  Although the hurricane is one point in the story, there were so many additional things and plots that I felt that the story in and of itself was a hurricane.  I felt I was being swept up into the hurricane with the characters, wondering where we all would end up.  The story moved along quickly and was very fast paced.  The thing I think I most enjoyed about this book was when I thought I had figured something out, I was wrong.  I like being surprised by something that I thought I had so cleverly figured out and am wrong about.  It adds fun and excitement and this story definitely did this for me.  When I finished this story I wanted to read more, I didn't want the characters' story to end, and luckily for me, it's not going to.  Jenna-Lynne is working on her next book in the series and I cannot wait to dive back into the hurricane and see what they have in store for me next!

Read the interview I did with Jenna-Lynne on her first novel Hurricane, down below. 

1.       1.  This is your first novel, how did you feel while going through the process of writing and having it published?

The writing came naturally for me. It was my first shot at a novel but I have written short stories before. I love to write and read a lot. I was surprised at the publishing process. It is not what I thought, let’s just say that. Nonetheless, I was very lucky to have it accepted for submission on my first query. I had heard all the horror stories about getting a book published and I wish I had done more research but in the end I have come out very knowledgeable.

2. What was your inspiration for Hurricane?

Hurricane was based on a short story about a kidnapping I wrote when I was younger. The setting of New Orleans and Katrina fit naturally as I am from there and couldn’t think of a better place to set it. A lot of the details came to me in dreams. I get so wrapped up in the characters that if I’m lucky, I will dream about my story.

3. Now that Hurricane is out in stores, do you think you will create a series?

Yes, I wrote Hurricane with the intention of making it a series. I am currently hard at work writing the sequel and have plans for a third.

4. Where do you like to write and what was most fun about creating this novel?

I like to write very early in the morning. I just kind of crank it out and then go back in and re read it the next day. Rinse, and then repeat!

5. Hurricane is a YA book, do you have plans to work on more YA books or perhaps branch out to adult fiction?

I am open for anything! I love YA though and in addition to book two in the Hurricane series, I am writing some other YA novels. No matter the genre, I love writing romance and don’t think any of my novels will be without a romantic element.

6. What would you like people to know most about Hurricane or why they should buy this book?

A portion of the profits from each sale of Hurricane will be donated to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. (www.Habitat-NOLA.org)

Hurricane is a novel that really means a lot to me because of the setting of New Orleans. I tried to emulate that precise culture and atmosphere that is unique to New Orleans so readers can share in my love for the city. A lot of people who live in or have visited New Orleans, share in the intrigue for this mysterious city so I think it is something a lot of people can identify with. It is also unique as it is a YA novel about Katrina. The Katrina experiences in the novel were real experiences. Most of the places in the novel are real places including the Lalaurie mansion. Madame Lalaurie is an old ghost story and I was more than happy to put an interesting spin on it.

Currently reading : Hurricane

I was sent Hurricane by Jenna-Lynee Duncan for review and I am currently reading it.  I am loving it so far!  I'm about half way through it right now and it is so interesting and the characters are very interesting and mysterious!  Can't wait to finish it and then I'll have an interview with the super sweet Jenna-Lynne to discuss her book!

Book Review- Rules of Attraction



By: Simone Elkeles

I started this immediately after I finished Perfect Chemistry. I honestly was not sure about this one, I wanted to read more about Alex and Brittany from book 1. I knew that this story was not going to revolve around them. I could tell from the begining of this book, that the premise was going to be the same as in Perfect Chemistry. However, I love a good love story so I wanted to give it a shot. Now that I have finished reading it, I have to stay I don't know which story I liked more. I don't know how the author does it, but I seemed to liked these characters even more than the ones in the last book! I was glad to see that the previous characters did make a return appearance in this book as well and I got to look into their lives and how they were doing. Kind of like visiting with old friends. This was another book that I just did not want to put down, probably even more so than Perfect Chemistry and I didn't think that would be the case when I started this because I enjoyed Perfect Chemistry so much.

I loved Kiara's family and although Carlos was really annoying me in the begining I knew I had to give him a chance to warm up to his surroundings, kind of the same with Alex.

I am super excited to read the last book in the series, but I am kind of sad too because I hate to see it come to an end. Maybe Simone Eckles will find a way to continue the series. Either way, I have really enjoyed the first two books in the series and look forward to the next. Highly recommend to anyone that loves a good love story

Review- Perfect Chemistry

By: Simone Elkeles

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I didn't even know if I could get into it, but honestly, I got sucked right in. First chapter and I was in. I could really relate to the characters, I felt like they were people that I knew. I enjoyed that there was a deep emotional bond between the main characters and their families. They each came from different worlds and had major challenges in both their worlds, and then had to find a way to make those worlds come together. That was the greatest part of the story for me, seeing how the author was going to weave these two characters into each others' different worlds and if it would make them or destroy them.

I thought the story was well told, it was a page turner, I never wanted to put this book down. I am already reading the second book and I am enjoy that just as much if not more.

The only critique I would give this book is that of the gang involvement. I know that gang related material is a touchy subject and I comment the author for taking on the job of tackling it. The only thing that was a little off to me was how easy some of the details of the gang. I thought a little bit of the story would not be true, as in (without giving away a spoiler) I just don't think it would end the way that it did. Either way it was a great read and I look forward to reading the whole series

Go visit The Book Vlogger!

If you have not already done so, visit Lindsay at The Book Vlogger on youtube and on her blog page.  She is holding a terrific contest for her 100 subscriber celebration!   Here is the link to her video describing the details.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhKmixvKcHA&feature=player_detailpage