Book Review: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

Agh, this was a tough one to review. I went back and forth, unable to decide if I wanted to rate it with 3 or 4 stars. In the end I went with 3, because even though I had a hard time putting it down, I felt the story had its flaws.

The beginning definitely hooked me with Edith being so depressed from bullying that she was prepared to jump to her death. As a huge advocate of anti-bullying, I really wanted to see her life turn around.

Still, I wasn’t completely satisfied with the idea of her being granted “wishes”, and changing her physical appearance to become happier. While I get the concept, because who wouldn’t want to wish for something like that, I wanted to see her overcome her issues in a different way. Because even though this is paranormal fiction, we’re seeing a real problem solved with an unrealistic solution, and I hate to see any teenage girls struggling with their identity think there isn’t any hope.

I liked the cast of friends Edith hung out with, though I’m still on the fence about “cat-like” Kian ever since the author described his eyes as having a feline slant. I kept picturing him as the guy from Sleepwalkers. Plus his intent wasn’t clear throughout the story, as we were reminded by Edith. Numerous times.

Without giving too much away, the stories with the Teflon crew (one of many Mean Girls references) were what kept me the most interested, making a person think twice about revenge. The sub-plot towards the end dealing with Edith and her father felt a little forced, and I felt Edith’s “wishes” really weren’t well thought out from beginning to end considering how smart she is pimped out as being. I loved the occasional glimpses of horror and wish there had been more of that instead of an occasional scattering.

This was mostly a fun read, but I don’t know that I’ll read the sequel.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: TWO (One Universe #2) by Leigh Ann Kopans

Elias and Merrin are on the run.

After escaping the Biotech Hub, they thought they could breathe easy, or at least a little easier. But when bombs slam into the Social Welfare Hub only hours after their arrival, it becomes clear there's nowhere to hide - and no end to what Biotech will do to get them back. 

Their last chance for safety and answers is the Clandestine Service Hub. CS has intel on the real, broader purpose behind Fisk’s experiments , and the newfound knowledge of the horrors hidden deep within Biotech’s walls sends Merrin back to recover a secret formula that could ruin the Supers’ world forever—and might just save the lives of the Biotech victims spiraling out of control.

Elias' sisters are counted among the victims of Fisk’s experiments, and if Elias can't find and help them, their powers will destroy them--sooner rather than later. Returning to the place it all began terrifies him, but with Fisk ready to make an example out of Merrin, and his sisters’ lives --and the lives of all Supers--hanging in the balance, he might not have a choice. If he can't find the courage to face his worst fears, Elias might lose more than his newfound powers. 

He might lose everyone he loves.

I recently raved over the first book in this series, One. Fortunately I didn't discover it until just a few weeks before the release of the second book in this series, Two, as I wouldn't have been very patient if I had to wait. Two was a rarity in the world of sequels as it did not let me down, and it did not fall victim to the dreaded "sophomore slump".

The story begins right where One left us hanging. Using their powers together, Merrin and Elias fly at supersonic speed to another Hub where they hope to find safety. Merrin spends the majority of the book still hell bent on finding a way to make her "one" a super, irritating Elias in the process as he's ready to do whatever it takes to keep them safe, even if that means losing their powers completely. I loved the addition of the new characters in the mix, Hayley being my favorite.

It was refreshing to hear the story in Elias's voice. He definitely has other intentions than Merrin, and it was fun to hear some of the thoughts that went through his head when they first met. It was also refreshing that Elias and Merrin weren't separated for nearly the entire book like sequels often do.

To avoid spoilers, I feel like I can't say much more without giving too much away. Anyone who enjoyed the first book in this series will be equally pleased with Two. Leigh Ann is able to keep you on your toes throughout, wondering if Merrin and Elias will be caught, and worrying that they may be trusting the wrong people.

I happily give Two the same five zombie rating as One. Fans of Leigh Ann Kopans won't be disappointed!

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole. Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again).

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Book Review: Ever (The Ever Trilogy) by Jessa Russo

Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.

Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

Ever immediately hooked me in with its original story line. Right away we discover that our heroine is haunted by her old neighbor and best friend—a handsome guy she developed feelings for just before he died. Ever can see Frankie and speak to him, but he's nothing more than a mist, unable hold her as she wishes he would. Poor Ever is struggling with her feelings for Frankie that can never been realized when a cute guy moves into Frankie's old house across the street. Ever soon finds herself in the most unique love story, knowing she'll never have a relationship with Frankie although she loves him, and totally falling for mysterious Toby, the old guy next door.

The story was a fast read. I fell for Toby right along with Ever, and was blindsided by the twist toward the end. Interestingly enough, the twist reminded me of one of my own books, and made me enjoy the story even more. The characters were likable, filled with individual flaws and quirks that made them interesting.

The only thing that almost made me stop reading was the pet nickname Frankie has for Ever: "Doll". I had a hard time shaking the image of a 1950s teen donning cropped jeans and a cardigan. But once I was able to get past that, I really enjoyed the story, and can't wait for the sequel as we were left with quite the cliffhanger. Four zombies for Ever!

When not writing or reading, Jessa Russo is out and about making memories with some seriously awesome people - for an introvert, she's pretty extroverted. You can bet that she's also ALWAYS secretly planning her next trip to New Orleans. (If her eyes glaze over, she's in one of her stories, or NOLA.) Southern California will always be her home, but she's open to suggestions. An unashamed super fan of all things paranormal romance, Jessa reads, writes and breathes paranormal YA, rarely straying from her comfort zone.

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Book Review: ONE (One Universe #1) by Leigh Ann Kopans

When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.

It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.

I'm one of those who's totally drawn to a book first by the cover, then by the premise, and jumped at the chance to win a paperback copy of Leigh Ann Kopan's debut novel, One, for those very reasons. After getting the beautiful book in the mail, I dug in right away, and it SOOO did not disappoint. Merrin's story hooked me from the very beginning—a teen with only part of a superpower? How awesome is that? And as I'm only mildly into super heroes (the movies, not the comics) this was venturing into new territory from my usual paranormal genre. I'm a total sucker for a good love story, however, and was hoping Merrin would hook up with Elias from the first time she laid eyes on his light brown eyes filled with other fascinating colors. The story takes us on a wild adventure as Merrin searches for a way to become a "Super" with full power, unexpectedly finding friendship and possibly even love along the way. I loved all the futuristic touches to the story, as well as the fact that our heroine is an extremely intelligent teen, and not the stereotypical helpless victim. I devoured the book in less than 48 hours.

I totally fell in love with Merrin and Elias, and recommend One to anyone who is looking for a rather unique, intriguing read. I was eager to dive into the sequel that came out a few weeks after I finished this book, and wasn't disappointed by that one, either (stay tuned for a review of Two). Everything about this story begs to be made into a major motion picture. Leigh Ann Kopans is a shining bright example of why indie authors are taking over the industry at full force, and why everyone should give them a chance.

I happily give One a five zombie rating for its brilliance, originality, and pure awesomeness!

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole. Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again).

Follow LeighAnn Kopans:

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Review of "Cheating Death" and Fun Interview

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by the lovely ladies Jenny & Malisa over at J&M's Book Diaries. Click the link below to check out their review of my book Cheating Death, and also find out fun things like which book so far has been my favorite to write, what things I would like to do differently, and a little info on the very first book I wrote in junior high. It also includes a very special message to my fans!

J&M's Book Diaries Review/Interview

Book Review: Horns

At first Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. A mental breakdown would have been the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the horns, which were all too real.

Once the righteous Ig had enjoyed the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned musician and younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, he had security, wealth, and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more—he had Merrin and a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.

But Merrin's death damned all that. The only suspect in the crime, Ig was never charged or tried. And he was never cleared. In the court of public opinion in Gideon, New Hampshire, Ig is and always will be guilty because his rich and connected parents pulled strings to make the investigation go away. Nothing Ig can do, nothing he can say, matters. Everyone, it seems, including God, has abandoned him. Everyone, that is, but the devil inside. . . .

Now Ig is possessed of a terrible new power to go with his terrible new look—a macabre talent he intends to use to find the monster who killed Merrin and destroyed his life. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. It's time for a little revenge. . . . It's time the devil had his due. . .

**Before I start my review of this book, I just want to make it clear that this is not a young adult book, and is intended for mature adults. Joe Hill is Stephen King's son, and this book reads much like a SK book with a ton of vulgarity, and sexual situations. While I try to keep my books mostly YA, I know I have may fans who are of legal age and enjoy paranormal reads outside of the genre. Granted I was reading Stephen King by 10, but still...**

I really wanted to like this book, especially knowing it was recently made into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe. The beginning started out strong with a great premise, and I could've sworn I was reading a book written by the author's father. But before long, I discovered Joe Hill's story telling skills aren't as masterful as it failed to keep my interest. The concept of waking with a pair of horns was pushed to the side as the protagonist went into hiding, and reflected on events of the past. Mid-way through I considered shelving it since I really didn't care what happened to any of the characters.

Still, I continued to plow through, knowing the story must have some redeeming qualities if it was opted for the big screen. I kept hoping to be surprised by some genius twist that never came. The ending didn't do much for me, and was actually rather predictable. The story jumps around from present to past so many times, it made my head spin. Maybe if we had first heard Ig's whole story before he woke with horns, it would've been more engaging. But the book was divided into more of a horror story in the beginning, morphing into a murder mystery toward the end.

Sadly, I feel this one only earned three zombies. I still may give Joe Hill another chance, because I hear good things.

Joseph Hillstrom King (born 1972) is an American writer of fiction, writing under the pen name of Joe Hill. Hill is the the second child of authors Stephen King and Tabitha King. His younger brother Owen King is also a writer. He has three children. Hill chose to use an abbreviated form of his given name (a reference to executed labor leader Joe Hill, for whom he was named) in 1997, out of a desire to succeed based solely on his own merits instead of as the son of Stephen King. After achieving a degree of independent success, Hill publicly confirmed his identity in 2007 after an article the previous year in Variety broke his cover (although online speculation about Hill's family background had been appearing since 2005).

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood

Cas Lowood, armed with his late father's athame knife, kills ghosts. In Thunder Bay, Anna, forever 16, drips blood on her white dress from throat slit in 1958, and rips apart anyone who enters her house - except Cas. He makes new friends - high school queen Carmel, jock Will, admiring nerd Thomas and Tom's voodoo grandpa Morfran - to fight this demon.

This April I attended a writing conference in which Literary Agent Bree Ogden listed off dozens of YA books she recommended for great style and original story lines. Being a crazy reading fanatic, I added most of them to my Amazon shopping cart as she named them. Some of the books were pretty decent, while some of them barged their way onto my bookshelf of favorites. Anna Dressed in Blood made its way right to the tippy top.

The story follows Cas Lowood, teenage ghost hunter, and his witch mother as they move to a new town after getting a tip from an anonymous "friend" of this ghost named Anna. Cas is a pretty laid back guy who knows he will only be in his new high school for a short while, and he knows how to manipulate people to get what he wants. When he sets his sights on the school queen bee and a quiet nerd, he finds unexpected friendships, as well as fellow ghost hunters. While at first I couldn't get over the idea that the ghosts in this story go corporeal, once I was able to accept it, I couldn't stop reading. There's so much more to the story than just a boy hunting ghosts, and it continues on to its sequel, Girl of Nightmares (I will review another time).

Reasons I love Anna Dressed in Blood:

1. Cas is an amazing character, humorous and brave, plus it was quite refreshing to read from a guy's point of view.

2. The horror scenes were executed extremely well. On one of Kendare's books there was a quote that read "Stephen King better watch his back". At first I thought that was blasphemy as SK is one of my favorite authors, but after reading Kendare's writing, I understand.

3. The unexpected grouping of loner ghost hunter, queen bee and nerd made for a fun, interesting group.

4. The humor. I've said it a hundred times, but when something involves horror and humor, it wins me over every time.

5. Kendare Blake grew up in Minnesota. I'm always pleased to see one of my own break free and do well in society.

6. The twist near the end. Although I had an inkling that something else was going on, I never would've guessed something that creepy was going to happen.

7. THE COVER! I almost never read a book if I'm not drawn in by its cover.

8. And of course, the writing. A story is ten times better when the writing is the best of the best, and Kendare's prose is definitely first rate!

Anna Dressed in Blood certainly earned its 5 zombies rating!

Now excuse me while I fangirl and prepare to attend Kendare's book signing in September...

Kendare Blake grew up in the small city of Cambridge, Minnesota. She is a graduate of Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York and received a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Middlesex University in London, England. She loves to travel, is an advocate for animals, and cheats a lot when she plays Final Fantasy. Adopted from South Korea at the age of seven months, she arrived with the following instruction: "Feed her chocolate." Though not medically advisable, she and her parents are eternally grateful for this advice.

The Indie Bookshelf: Cheating Death by Jen Naumann

The Indie Bookshelf: Cheating Death by Jen Naumann: 4 Star Review by Laura Wilson

Vlog Review of 'Looking for Alaska' and BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

I finally found time to record another vlog! Sorry for some of the lag...not sure why it keeps doing that. I tried rebooting my Mac and closing everything out, but it still didn't help. If you know the secret to getting rid of lag, PLEASE SHARE!

Anyway, here's my review of John Green's 'Looking for Alaska' and also a big announcement!

This Week's Video Blog

This week I review the Beautiful Creatures movie I was finally able to see as well as my final thoughts on the third book in Lauren Oliver's Delirium series (Requiem). I also share my 2.5 seconds of fame.

Video Blog, Take Two

Personally, I think I came off as a bit of a nut job in my first video last week. So I cleaned up and tried again, this time even reviewing a book and discussing my thoughts on sequels.

Book Review: Shifting Pride

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Nickie Leone has proof that her missing (presumed dead) father is still alive. Receiving his watch in the mail is the first in a line of clues bringing her closer to discovering his whereabouts. But clues aren’t the only new thing in Nickie’s life. There’s the Memorial Banquet her mother insists she help prepare for, there’s the new kid/hottie, Xavian, and...well, the growth of whiskers and a tail!

Filled with secrets and a new love of tuna fish, Nickie must partner up with Xavian (don’t you know he’s a shapeshifter too?) to rescue her dad before she loses him forever. Oh, and she needs to figure out how to be a cat, too.

I discovered this book through Twitter. Ever since reading about shapeshifters in the Sookie Stackhouse series, I've avoided them like the plague, but decided to give this one the chance. And I was pleasantly surprised.

Nickie is a likable character and not clingy or all into the new guy the way a lot of heroines can sometimes be. In fact, she is always angry with Xavian at first. The banter between them was a lot of fun and kept the story interesting. 

I love how we were able to watch Nickie slowly became a cat with hints dropped here and there that the transition was coming. The adventure that came into the end of the book was well told and gave a satisfying ending. I was unable to put this book down - I really enjoyed the world that Laura Diamond created. I highly recommend Shifting Pride to anyone who is into paranormal and romance.