Book Review: At Grave's End (Night Huntress #3) by Jeaniene Frost

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield’s life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she’s successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat’s worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover’s finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn’t enough, a woman from Bones’s past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat’s about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she’s learned as a special agent won’t help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse than the grave.

At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost is the third book in her Night Huntress series.  They're still going after evil vampires, so there's still plenty of blood and guts to go around.  Actually, things got more intense in this story, I ended up liking it more than the first two.

Cat and Bones continue to heat up the pages expressing their love for each other.  The bonds of friendship have been building over the course of the books and are an important part of this book.  Cat's mother even seems to mellow a teensy bit.  Mencheres, the most powerful vampire in this world, comes to the forefront in this novel.  Can such a powerful vampire be destroyed by love?

At Grave's End is full of twists and turns, so make sure to pay attention.  You never know what may rise up against you!

 I give this book 4 Bookworms

Book Review: One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2) by Jeaniene Frost

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever…and Bones won’t let her get away again.

One Foot in the Grave is the second novel in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost.  As with the first novel, it's hard-hitting  and fast paced.  There's a lot of blood and guts; there's a lot of fairly explicit sex.  

Being a romantic at heart, I enjoy the relationship between Cat and Bones.  They love and protect each other, but don't let each other get away with any crap.  They scream one minute and kiss the next.  

Some aspects of the book don't click for me.  Like ghouls.  What exactly is the point of them in the book and the scene of them making one was kind of high on the ick factor.  Also, it drags some in the middle, the talking and preparation.

It's a good series and I plan to keep reading.  Keep in mind this is definitely not a book for younger audiences!

 I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Cataclysm (Supernova #2) by C.L. Parker

Kerrigan Cruz and Dominic Grayson thought the worst of the storm was behind them. In reality, they have only weathered impossible odds to find they are smack dab in the eye of an unforgiving cyclone. More is on the way. The raging bands of chaos that surrounds them are forcing the destructive walls of the monster to close in around them. Taking on a life of its own, the storm growls and gnashes its teeth, threatening to devour everything they ever were or ever will be. There will be nothing but devastation left in its wake, and it sets its sights on Kerrigan and Dominic.

Through the howling winds and punishing lashes of rain, a stranger comes. The promise of a better tomorrow, a brighter, sunnier life filled with hopes and dreams rests in the palm of his hand. It is knowledge, a formidable weapon when wielded by the right person at just the right time. If she can only harness the power of this stranger’s knowledge, Kerrigan may be able to save the one she loves before he fades into nothingness, and she is left all alone.

But is this stranger friend or foe? Drawn to her side by an unseen force, will he enlighten Kerrigan or will he seek to claim her for his own?

Cataclysm:
Through the darkness of night, Light will lead the way.

I'd like to thank the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  Cataclysm is the second book in the Supernova series by C.L. Parker.  I reviewed the first book, Supernova earlier this year.  I could paste and copy that review right here and it would stand for both books.  C.L. Parker did a great job with her novel, hitting just the right notes of romance, supernatural, thriller, and humor.

I didn't think it was possible, but the characters were even more vivid in Cataclysm.  Even the secondary characters sparkled with life.  The bantering between them was hysterical, and the obvious care, protectiveness, and love they had for each other was a joy to read.

As for the romance, do you like it hot and steamy?  And lots of it?  Kerrigan and Dominic provide all you could want.  Just one look between them raises the temperature in the room by a couple degrees!  It's fairly explicit, so be prepared.  It had me blushing!

The story moves smoothly at a good pace.  It kept my attention the whole way through.  I read it in two sessions (only because I fell asleep at 2am during the first reading).  Cataclysm is a great supernatural romance for adults.  Make sure you read them both, and let's hope for a third in the series!

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Paperback:  248 pages

Publisher:  The Writer's Coffee Shop (November 30, 2011)

ISBN-10:  1612130704

ISBN-13:  978-1612130705

Ebook:  1,648 kb

ASIN:  B006GR89MM

Virtual Book Tour: Cataclysm (Supernova Saga #2) by C.L. Parker

Welcome to the Virtual Book Tour for Cataclysm, Supernova Saga #2 by C.L Parker.  We have a special treat today, C.L. Parker has written a guest post.  First, here's the synopsis of the book:

 

They thought the worst of the storm was behind them. In reality, they had only weathered impossible odds to find they were smack dab in the eye of an unforgiving cyclone. More was on the way. The raging bands of chaos that surrounded them forced the destructive walls of the monster to close in around them. Taking on a life of its own, the storm growled and gnashed its teeth, threatening to devour everything they ever were or ever would be. There would be nothing but devastation left in its wake, and it had set its sights on Kerrigan Cruz and Dominic Grayson.

Through the howling winds and punishing lashes of rain, a stranger came. The promise of a better tomorrow, a brighter, sunnier life filled with hopes and dreams rests in the palm of his hand. It is knowledge, a formidable weapon when wielded by the right person at just the right time. If she can only harness the power of this stranger’s knowledge, Kerrigan might be able to save the one she loves before he fades into nothingness, and she is left all alone.

But is this stranger friend or foe? Drawn to her side by an unseen force, will he enlighten Kerrigan or will he seek to claim her for his own?

Cataclysm: Through the darkness of night, Light will lead the way.

I asked C.L. Parker if she would write about story development.  To give us an insight into her creative process.

This was a lesson I had to learn.

When I first started the Supernova Saga, I’ll admit that it wasn’t with an outline. I saw the first scene in my head, pounded it out on the keyboard, and let it take me away from there. Yes, there was some research I had to do along the way like gathering information about St. Augustine, character pics, choosing the house where they would live (including the layout of said house), even right down to the appliances and furniture inside their living quarters. But the majority of the story was written by the seat of my pants.

What I found was that as things became more convoluted, I had to buckle down and hammer out an outline. I had so many characters who I needed to make sure weren’t lost, but not thrown in for the sake of being thrown in either. I also had minute details that had to be catered to, or I would contradict myself. An outline is the best way to keep track of these things.

Granted, my outline isn’t the most official looking document, and I would never send it out to a potential publishing house, but it works for me. Before I did it, I found myself stuck behind writing blocks. I thought it was because of the personal drama happening in my life at the time, but oddly, once the outline was done, I was off and running with no more obstacles in the way. That cinched it for me.

I still have to make sure I’m following the set of rules I’ve set for the world I built, but for the most part, my story still writes itself. I’ve met other authors (mostly aspiring) who seem to get hung up on the technicality of the writing process. I don’t let myself get bogged down with that because I find it stifles the creativity process. The story always has to come first and foremost, and I have to remain true to my characters and what they’re showing me. So, if they throw me for a loop, which they often do, I let them take the lead and then adjust anything I need to as a result after the fact. After all, it’s their story. I’m just the conduit through which they have decided to tell it.

When I first started writing, I thought I was crazy because these characters talked to me. It was when I ventured deeper into the literary world and read up on some other authors that I found that I’m not the only one. I kind of think it’s a prerequisite for authors. There’s a fine line between brilliance and insanity, and we all walk it on a daily basis.

For me, these stories play out like a movie in my mind. I just do my best to convey the scene, emotions, and dialogue in a way the reader will see, hear, and feel what the characters show me.

Look, the best author is one who lets the writing come naturally. If you try to force it, the reader will know that you forced it. Just have fun with it, and remember to show, don’t tell. And I’ll add one other little morsel as food for thought: If the characters and the story aren’t believable to you, how can you expect them to be believable to anyone else?

Until next time . . .

FLYAS!

~CLP~

Thank you, CL!  Very insightful post!  Your dedication to your characters definitely shows in your books!

To keep in touch, please visit her here:

http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/cparker

Twitter: @theclparker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theclparker
website: http://www.cl-parker.com/

Also, make sure to check out my review of Supernova, the first book in the Supernova Saga series.  I'll be adding a review of Catclysm later this week, so watch for it!

Book Review: Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror #1) by Karina Halle

There’s always been something a bit off about Perry Palomino. Though she’s been dealing with a quarter-life crisis and post-college syndrome like any other twenty-something, she’s still not what you would call “ordinary.” For one thing, there’s her past which she likes to pretend never happened, and then there’s the fact that she sees ghosts. Luckily for her, that all comes in handy when she stumbles across Dex Foray, an eccentric producer for an upcoming webcast on ghost hunters. Even though the show’s budget is non-existent and Dex himself is a maddening enigma, Perry is instantly drawn into a world that both threatens her life and seduces her with a sense of importance. Her uncle’s haunted lighthouse provides the perfect catalyst and backdrop for a mystery that unravels the threads of Perry’s fragile sanity and causes her to fall for a man, who, like the most dangerous of ghosts, may not be all that he seems.

Darkhouse is an entertaining ghost story.  It has everything a good spooky novel needs:  an old lighthouse, a ghost legend, a spunky heroine, and an inscrutable hero.  This is Karina Halle's debut novel and it's obvious she's talented with the scary!

As other reviewers have noted, the beginning is a little slow, but it's not super hard to get through.  And with the promise of a lighthouse (which I love) coming, I kept going.  It wasn't long before I was caught up in the story, wondering who Dex really was, worried the ghost would jump out and scare Perry and me. 

Perry was my kind of heroine.  She wasn't perfect, had issues from her past she was working on, she was still dealing with self-esteem issues, but she didn't let that stop her.  I really appreciated that the author didn't get carried away and over-emphasize the self-esteem and other issues.  Some authors tend to dwell on them too much to the detriment of the story.

Dex, being on the enigmatic side, felt a little two-dimensional to me.  I wanted to know more about him, but since it was a first person narrative, the reader can only know what the protagonist knows.

This book was a fun read and I look forward to the next novels in the series.  I will be reviewing the next one, Red Fox, in a few weeks.

*Disclaimer:  I received this book for review from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 4 Bookworms.



Paperback:  323 pages
Publisher:  CreateSpace (May 13, 2011)

ISBN-10:  1461079853

ISBN-13:  978-1461079859

Ebook:  510kb

Publisher:  Metal Blonde Books (May 12, 2011)

ASIN:  B0050Q6HQK



Book Review: Seers by Heather Frost

Welcome to the Seers Virtual Book Tour.  Seers, by Heather Frost, is the first book in a planned trilogy.

Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she loves her family very much. She is especially grateful to her wonderful parents for their decision to homeschool their children. She graduated from Snow College with an associate of science, and is currently majoring in English.

Heather has always been an avid reader, and reading and writing are among her most favorite things to do. She also enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first story--at the age of four--she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Seers is her first published novel.

 

 

For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble

 
 
This book is most definitely a book for young adults.  Over the first half of the book is devoted to typical teen issues, falling out of love, falling in love, school is a pain, etc.  The difference with this book is there's Guardian Angels and Demons in it.

I got impatient with the story, as nothing really happens until over halfway through the book.  Before that is a lot of set-up about how Kate doesn't have the same feelings for her boyfriend anymore and there's a new guy who intrigues her.  Yes, there's the issue of her car accident and her parents dying, but I really didn't feel one way or the other about her parents.  They were just incidental casualties so the grandparents could take over raising Kate and her sisters.

The book starts out in Patrick's voice for a short prologue.  Then it switches to Kate's voice for well into the book.  When it suddenly switches to Patrick's voice without any real introduction that suddenly it's him talking again, it's very jarring and confusing.  He only narrates one or two more chapters, the rest of it is all Kate.  I felt like the book would have done better all in Kate's voice.

The best part of the book for me was when the grandfather gets involved - he was my favorite character.  I wish he had more involvement throughout the book and particularly during the scenes toward the end.

I think Seers will be enjoyed most by younger adults who may be going through some of the same things Kate did in school and home life.  There's no bad language or sex, the violence is minimal.  (You have to have a little violence when demons are around!).

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Hardcover:  330 pages

Publisher:  Bonneville (October 8, 2011)

ISBN-10:  1599557924

ISBN-13:   978-1599557922

Book Review: Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

 

 Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. This is not her story.  Unless you count the part where I killed her.
Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

It's difficult to fully review this book without giving anything away, but I'll try.  Ultraviolet was one crazy ride.  (pun intended)  Alison is in a mental institution, she thinks she's killed someone, but doesn't quite know how.  She sees strange colors, tastes sounds, hears lies.  Too much stimuli sends her running for solitude.  

The first part of the book where Alison is in the institution is interesting.  Alison tries to hide her "peculiarities" as she learns to interact with the patients and medical staff.  She starts out hiding within herself, but begins to relate better as she meets a medical student who diagnoses her problems. 

The story seems to be moving right along throughout, when suddenly it takes a huge curve.  I can't say what it is for fear of ruining the ending, but I will tell you that I just didn't care for it.  There were no hints, subtle clues, nothing that would pave the way toward this revelation that comes.  It was just too out of the blue for me, with an abrupt ending that left me feeling unsatisfied. 

Still, I think the first part in the institution is probably good enough to give this a read.  Also, I see other reviews, where people loved the whole book, so this decision will have to be up to you.

 *Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from the publisher through NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Hardcover:  306 pages

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books; 1 edition (September 2011)

ISBN-10:  0761374086

ISBN-13:  978-0761374084

Paperback:  416 pages

Publisher:  Orchard Books

ISBN-10: 1408312751

ISBN-13:  978-1408312759

 

Book Review: Gladius and the Bartlett Trial by J.A. Paul

 When fifteen year-old Gladius Oldmont is thrust from his peaceful home into the dangerous Longwood Forest he finds himself pitted against a tyrant who has been terrorizing the lands in search of answers to an ancient secret that could unlock absolute power.


From the shadows of Longwood Forest to the Hills of the Moon, Gladius must survive encounters with a near extinct scimitar cat, an ornery dragon, a horde of death bats and a tumultuous underground river which leads to a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels. Along the way, he makes new acquaintances and discovers the true meaning of friendship, including Elle; a girl who captivates his heart.

Can Gladius and friends solve the riddle of the ancient secret before the evil Mulhurt does? If they can, will they be able to do anything about it?

Gladius and the Bartlett Trial is a fun and engaging story that kids, teenagers, and adults will love.  It's full of action right from the get-go and hardly lets you take a breath.  That's a good thing, especially for kids who may tend to get bored quickly with reading, this book should keep them entranced.

The characters are intriguing.  Gladius is a wonderful young hero that grows in maturity as the story progresses.  Elle is the strong female there to keep him in line with her witty repartee.  I absolutely loved the death bats!  They talk and acted just like the stereotypical mob gangster; it was hysterical!

This book is a great adventure  The world J.A. Paul has invented is ripe for many more stories, and they will be forthcoming.  So, grab a copy of Gladius and the Bartlett Trial and get started!  Also, check my next post out, I interviewed the author, he has some great comments!

*Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Paperback:  296 pages

Publisher:  CreateSpace (April 14, 2011)

ISBN-10:  14610085573

ISBN-13:  978-1461008552

Format:  Ebook

File Size:  453 kb

ASIN:  B004XMP6O

Book Review: Warriors of the Cross by T.R. Graves

 

Allison La Crosse, beginning a challenging family medicine residency, leaves the protection of her family. With the transfer, her worst nightmares come true. Her closely guarded mystical talents – those which seldom appeared before the move – unleash themselves from her confinement and reveal their presence with very little provocation.

Allison’s most terrifying power is her compulsion to cure the dying with her touch. Given her career, this gift would be valuable if she were not drawn like a magnet to the ailing person's every symptom. Some of which are fatal.

At the hospital and surrounded by life-and-death emergencies, Allison’s inability to manage her impulse turns deadly. When it does, her mentor, Brody, rescues her from her own demise. His resuscitation ignites an exciting and tempestuous bond between them.

Desperate for a cure, they join forces and embark upon a journey to uncover the origins of Allison’s lethal curse. In the midst of their adventure, Allison exposes a secret pursued by many…known by few.

Warriors of the Cross is Book One in The Warrior Series. 

Warriors of the Cross has a little something for everyone.  There's romance, mystery, suspense, supernatural, and a bit of Christian theology thrown in for good measure.  The story flows fairly smoothly, though there are areas where it seems to drag some; but not enough for me to want to stop reading.

The characters were mostly written well.  It was easy to see Allison mature as she went through all the strange incidents happening to her.  I would have preferred Clark and Brody to be more well-rounded, I think maybe in trying to keep the mystery around them, they fell a little flat at times.  However, I adored the sisters and wished they would have been around more!

The suspense is kept drawn tight throughout the storyline, I had to keep reading because I needed to know where Allison got her gifts and how she was going to fight off the evil!  Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will be looking forward to the next two books in the series. 

*Disclaimer:  I received this book from the author through Goodreads.  I was not required to write a positive review.

 I give this book 4 Bookworms. 

Format:  Ebook

File Size:  479kb

Pages:  307

Publisher:  CreateSpace: Book 1 edition (April 16, 2011)

ASIN:  B004PLO6NC

Book Review: The Moon and the Tide by Derrolyn Anderson

 

The Moon And The Tide is book # 2 in the Marina's Tales series.  Just when things seem to be all figured out, Marina discovers that there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than she ever imagined. When a terrible accident exposes her secret, she discovers that her whole life has been one big lie, and has to cope with more than one kind of betrayal.  A dangerous enemy arrives on the scene, putting her bravery to the test and forcing her to use all of her new-found talents to protect her family. Will good win out over evil? Can love triumph over jealousy?

Everything that I said for the first book in the series, Between the Land and the Sea, can be said for this second book in the series.  It's a good storyline that runs smoothly, is easy to read.  The characters are written well and it was great fun to be with them again as they struggle against their enemies.  Ethan and Marina both grow and mature throughout the novel as they learn more about jealousy, lies, and true love.

This is a great mermaid fantasy tale that should be enjoyable for young and older adults.  Derrolyn Anderson has a talent for writing a good story that grabs your interest and keeps you reading.  You don't have to read the first book in the series to read this one, but I would recommend it.  Enjoy!

*Disclaimer:  I received this book free from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Format:  Ebook
File Size:  586 kb
Pages:  327
ASIN:  B004UC5RVG

Book Review: Borrowed Saints by Aaron Polson

 

Seventeen-year-old Tucker Ellison wants a normal life, but life in Springdale is anything but normal. As if ghost trains and unsolved murders aren't enough, he just might be falling in love with Ellen, an art class weirdo who has her finger on the pulse of small town strangeness. Following Ellen's lead, Tucker quickly tumbles into a world he never imagined--a world which threatens the safety of those closest to him unless he can solve the mystery of the Borrowed Saints.

 Borrowed Saints didn't live up to its potential, in my opinion.  There were interesting ideas with the paranormal, ghost trains, public fires, ghosts, etc., but nothing meshed together well.  The ending really disappointed me, it didn't feel like an ending at all.  I know it's a big thing to write series these days, and I love them, but each book needs to be complete and whole in itself and I didn't feel that Borrowed Saints was.  The story ended hanging in the air, and not in a good way.


The characters themselves were well done.  I could feel the awkwardness and need to belong in Tucker, Pheobe, and Ellen.  I wanted to see everything end well for them.  It was good to see them grow stronger throughout the book.


Overall, this book just wasn't for me.  I see other reviews that people did like it a lot, so this one will have to be up to you, dear reader!

 I give this book 2 Bookworms.

Format:  ebook

File size:  228kb

Publisher:  Skull Salad Press; 2 edition (May 4, 2011)

ASIN:  B004ZH3D3U

Book Review: The Last Archangel by Michael D. Young



 

Xandir has been exiled to earth until the end of time. But when his cherub trainee disappears, Xandir makes a deal with rogue angels and giants that could restore life to the mortal woman he loves and end his assignment as a destroying angel in exchange for helping them bring about the end of the world and all of mankind.

I wanted to like The Last Archangel more than I did.  The premise of the story had such promise, but I never felt it was fulfilled.  The novel felt disconnected to me, as it jumped from scene to scene and brought in so many different characters.  I felt I was on overload trying to keep up a lot of the time.

Now for the good stuff.  Some of those many characters were great!  Xandir, the not your typical angel, was snarky and defensive - yet still a hero.  Eden and Judy were strong female characters, kicking demon butts as they went along.  My favorite was Jarom, the small cherub with a mighty spirit.  The characters save this novel from being a let down for me. 

 I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Reading level:  Ages 9-12
Paperback:  288 pages
Publisher:  Bonneville (July 14, 2011)
ISBN-10:  1599558947
ISBN-13: 978-1599558943

Book Review: Skulduggery Pleasant: Scepter of the Ancients by Derek Landy

Stephanie led a pretty quiet existence until her uncle died. Not only did he leave her his mansion, he left her a new best friend--Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton detective (sorry, a supernatural skeleton detective)--who waltzes into her life for keeps. Now she's acquiring magical powers, endangering her life to fight evil, and trading snappy comebacks with something without a body. So much for her quiet existence. Stephanie's big job is to find the Scepter of the Ancients--a weapon capable of destroying anyone and anything--before the evil Faceless Ones steal it for themselves. She just has to defeat a bunch of ghouls, kick the butts of a clan of vampires, and hide her powers from the entire world (oh, and her parents). No worries. She's got a bunch of bones on her side. 

This is a children's book for ages 9-12.  It's a really fun story that children will love.  There's excitement, magic, and danger.  Stephanie meets Skulduggery, a detective who just happens to be a skeleton, and she gets caught up in the adventure of her life.  She learns magic and helps save the world.

This was a great book to read even as an adult.  The witty barbs that fly between Stephanie and Skulduggery will make you literally laugh out loud!  It's a wonderful book for kids!

I give this book 4 Bookworms!

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Pages:  416

Publisher:  Harper Trophy (March 25, 2008)

ISBN-10:  0061231177

ISBN-13:  978-0061231179

Book Review: The House of Sherbet by Simon Dale

 

Thirteen year old Jake spends Christmas with his parents at the Oakhouse, the once grand, now decrepit home to his grandfather. Jake quickly begins to realize that the Oakhouse and Granddad Sherbet are not all they seem. On Christmas Eve, Jake's parents disappear, only to reappear six inches tall and having been turned to wood. Granddad Sherbet, together with his octogenarian friends, prepares to steal Jake's youth and nascent magical powers.

The House of Sherbet is a fun fantasy/supernatural book for children-young adults.  It started out a little slow for me as Jake and his parents traveled to Granddad Sherbet's house and got settled.  From the beginning, I could tell something was off with Granddad, even his humor was a little strange.

The action does pick up and keeps going throughout the book.  It's peppered with black humor, which I appreciate in any story.  There may be a few problems for American kids who read the book as there are several British terms used which they might not know.  But I'm sure they can figure it out.

The author, Simon Dale, did a great job with the imagery in the book.  It was easy to envision every scene and feel part of it.  I can't reveal much without spoiling the plot, but there are very unique ideas in this story.  I think kids will really enjoy reading it!

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

 

Reading level:  Childrens/Young Adult

Pages:  136

Ebook:  417kb

ASIN:  B004R1Q17E



Book Review: Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

 

Something extraordinary is lurking in the deep ocean waters off the coast of Aptos, California. In just a few weeks after moving to the small beach town, sixteen year old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can only manage to survive her increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might just be able to unlock the mystery of her past to learn how to appease the mysterious forces that seem to want something from her...and maybe even find true love along the way.

Between the Land and the Sea is an entertaining young adult novel about teenagers and mermaids.  Marina goes to stay with her aunt and cousin as her father goes off to another third world country to help them grow food.  Marina has never been in a regular school before, so she goes through a lot of the usual teenage aches and pains trying to learn to fit in.  Seeing mermaids definitely doesn't help any!

The story ran smoothly, the romance between Ethan and Marina was very sweet.  The supporting characters were all very well done and a joy to get to know.  I liked that the author made the mermaids more child-like than callous, dangerous beings.

Overall, Between the Land and the Sea is a delightful book to read.  It's the first book in Derrolyn Anderson's Marina's Tales series, the second book is The Moon And The Tide, which I will be reviewing in a week or two, so stay tuned!

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

 Ebook:  460 KB

ASIN:  B004SYA76Q

 

Book Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

 

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

This is a young adult novel that, in my opinion, doesn't translate as well for adults to enjoy, too.  But it is a novel that young adults would enjoy, which is what it was written for! 

The storyline seems to be a roller coaster, moving faster, then slower, then faster again.  Violet's "power" is unique and interesting and it's easy to be drawn in when she's using it.  When the story moves to school, friends and who likes who, it tends to drag and just isn't as interesting.

The two main characters, Violet and Jay are written very well, but the secondary characters seem two dimensional.  The "bad" guy is glossed over very quickly, it would have been much more interesting to read more about him.

I think young adults probably would enjoy this book.

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Reading Level:  Young Adult

Paperback:  352 pages

Publisher:  Harper Collins; Reprint edition (February 15, 2011)

ISBN-10:  9780061779831

ASIN:  0061779830



Book Review: A Time of Angels by Patricia Schonstein

 Primo Verona is born with a gift of clairvoyance so strong that he is able to predict his own mother's death while still in her womb. Brought up on a rich diet of astronomy, philosophy, and storytelling, Primo accurately reads the futures of the local community who pay him in honey cake, tiramisu, and other delicacies. Pasquale Benvenuto is the owner of a beloved wine bar and delicatessen whose culinary reputation rests on recipes for the fruited breads and salamis his father taught him to make.

Together Primo and Pasquale form an easy friendship triangle with the beautiful Beatrice, Primo's wife and Pasquale's former girlfriend. But when Beatrice leaves her husband for her old love, Primo is devastated. He casts spells to spoil Pasquale's creations and to win back Beatrice -- but inadvertently conjures up an unexpected visitor.

This is not a new release, it's from 2005.  I got it from my library's ebook section so I could try out my new nook in a hurry.  The nook was awesome, the book, however, was not.

A Time of Angels starts out in post-World War II, about a group of friends and family, Italian Jews whose parents had migrated to South Africa.  Ms. Schonstein starts describing the characters and all the little details of their lives.  For my taste, she went into way too much detail, spending pages and pages about the Italian food one of her main characters, Pasquale prepares in his restaurant/deli. 

The book is very disconnected.  She jumped from character to character, back and forth in time until I was thoroughly confused as to who she was talking about and where they fit into the story.  Part of the problem is there wasn't much of a story at all.  A man loses his wife to his best friend while he is away on business, so he holes up alone in his house.  Then the Devil comes to live with him.

Ms. Schonstein had some interesting ideas with the different vignettes she wrote about and how all the characters coincidentally entertwined in each other's lives throughout the years.  That was really the only thing I enjoyed about the book.  Maybe it was just too deep for such a shallow mind as mine!

I give this 2 Bookworms

 

Paperback:  240 pages
Publisher:  Harper Perennial (November 29, 2005)
ISBN-10:  0060562439
ISBN-13:  978-0060562434