Review: Nightshade:The Poison Diaries 2 - Maryrose Wood

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (October 25, 2011)

 A dark, gothic tale of romance… and murder. The latest book in the grippingly dark series, The Poison Diaries. Our heroine, Jessamine, has lost her faith in the men she loved, and her innocence as well. She turns to the dark side and plots to kill her father, using his own poisons, before becoming an assassin, a poisoner for hire. Can she recover from her heartache and reunite with her true love, Weed? Find out in this thrilling story where poisons, darkness and horror are a part of everyday life, and love is the only cure.

My Thoughts...

When we find Jessamine in this book she is not the same girl we left in the last book. She has lost her faith in men, and had her innocence taken away. Jessamine gets her revenge against her father and urns to the dark side. She becomes and  assassin for hire and loses herself to he lure of the poisons. Weed spends his time desperately trying to find Jessamine, but all the plants tell him is hey can't find her. 

This novel turns into an intense race to see if Weed can save Jessamine before she destroys herself, and if Jessamine can forgive Weed for the things she thinks he has done. 

I loved this, it was much darker than the first book and Jessamine was pretty rocking even though she was kind of evilish. Weed was still Weed and I really loved him. I can't wait for more in this series cause I can't wait to see where this goes next. I know this wasn't the most detailed review but it is hard to talk in too much detail without giving away one of the things that makes this book so awesome. I'm giving this one 4 stars and I highly suggest you guys read this book!

Review: The Poison Diaries - Marywoodrose Wood

Reading level:  Ages 13 and up
Paperback:  304 pages
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray; Reprint edition (June 21, 2011)

A dark, gothic tale of romance... and murder. In the right dose, everything is a poison. Jessamine has spent her whole life in a cottage close to her father's apothecary garden, surrounded by medicinal plants and herbs that could kill her -- although her father has never allowed her into the most dangerous part of the grounds... the poison garden. And so she's never had reason to be afraid -- until now. Because now a newcomer has come to live with the family, a quiet but strangely attractive orphan boy named Weed. Though Weed doesn't say much in words, he has an instant talent for the apothecary's trade, seeming to possess a close bond with the plants of the garden. Soon, he and Jessamine also share a close bond. But little does Jessamine know that passion can be just as poisonous as the deadliest plants in the garden -- for behind Weed's instinctive way in the garden is a terrible secret.

My Thoughts...

Jessamine has spent her life living in an isolated cottage with her father. Her father is a respected Apothecary, he has spent a lot of time teaching her about the amazing power of plants. One day a man delivers a boy to the apothecary's house. The boys name is Weed. It doesn't take long for Jessamine or her father to realise that Weed isn't a normal boy. As we move through the book we watch Jessamine and Weed start to fall in love. Jessamine's father at one point takes them into the one garden that has been forbidden to Jessamine her whole life. From there the story erupts into betrayal, heart break, lies and touch decisions. 

This story is rather sweet and romantic when you look at Jessamine and Weed, but when you add in her father everything takes on a more sinister look. I really enjoyed this story and the end of this book blew me away. I had my suspicions but I wasn't 100% sure until it was laid out for me. I would recommend his book to everyone I give this one 4 stars!

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is...

34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues

There was something about Ellie... Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance, and kept watch. 

Now Ellie's dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are 34 clues she left behind. 34 strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. 34 secrets of a brief and painful life. 

Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they begin to confront the darkest truths about themselves, they will also find out what Ellie herself had been hiding all along....

This just sounds so good to me. I can't wait to get my hands on it and find out if it is as good as it sounds. What are you waiting on?

The Hunger Games Movie Review

Ok so I have seen quite a few movie adaptations and I'm sure most of you have seen them too, Harry Potter, Twilight, and I just had to go see One for the Money. The one I was the most excited to see was hands down The Hunger Games. I was afraid that it would go the way that some movies made from books do and leave a little too much out, or not touch heavily enough on certain parts. 

My upstairs neighbors caught up with he Hubby the other day and started talking about the movie. They had both read the book, but didn't like the movie. I was starting to think well maybe I should skip his one, I would rather not go see it than be extremly disappointed with it. As time went on though I started to see reviews pop up all over the place on blogs that I frequent and trust, and everyone said just about the same thing. "It was great." So armed with the opinions of my trusted bloggers I got the Hubs to say sure lets go, since we both happened to have the day off today we went. 

I loved this movie! Sure there were some parts where I could say, well that was different, or they missed this, but in reality you can't fit every detail of a book into a movie it just doesn't happen, and I'm ok with that. I did manage to get made fun of by the Hubs because we were barley into the movie and I was crying lol. He couldn't understand why, my response was watching Katniss volenteer and knowing what happens in the full span of the series just hit me different than when I read it for the first time. 

I can't think of one thing I could solidly complain about when it comes to this movie, all the truly important stuff was there. The acting was great, and I LOVED the Capitol! I look forward to being able to see Catching Fire and Mockingjay. If you loved these books but were afraid to go see the movie take the chance and go check it out. I really really enjoyed it and I'm sure you will to. Even the Hubs enjoyed it and he refused to read or listen to the book. 

If you have seen it already I would love to hear what you thought about it. Leave a comment and let me know what you thought. If you are afraid to see it leave a comment and tell me why.  

Top Ten Books I Would Play Hooky With

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful people over at The Broke and the Bookish

This week the list is Top Ten Books I Want to Play Hooky With. This was a hard list to come up with becuase anytime I'm reading a good book it is so hard to put it down to go to work, and work always goes so much slower when I know I have a good book sitting at home waiting for me!

Awake at Dawn - C.C. Hunter

I loved the novella and the first book and I really want to start this one, I just haven't gotten a chance to start it. But I would gladly spend a day sitting at home with it!

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

This just sounds like it is going to be so good! I can't wait to read it!

Toxic - Jus Accardo

I loved the first book and am dying to get my hands on this one, I plan on spending a nice day off with this one!

Onxy by Jennifer L Armentrout

The first book was so much fun and I can't wait to see where it is all going. I am totally addicted to these books and this author!

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Do I even have to explain this one? It just oozes awesome!

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

I NEED to know how this ends!!

Destined by Aprilynn Pike

This is a great series, and while I am sad that it will be over I am dying to know how it ends! Team Tamani!

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

I love Cas and Anna, and I am dying to know what happens next!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Again do I really have to explain this one!?!

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

I love these books! This is a fantastic series with beautiful covers and I just can't wait for this one!!!

well this has been my list, I have left off so many good books though. What books make you want to stay home and read all day?

Teaser Tuesday (19) Spell Bound - Rachel Hawkins

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my teaser is from...

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

"I took a deep breath. "Of course not. I mean, I'm not thrilled. And I totally reserve the right to angst over all this later. But honestly, Mom? Right now, I'm so happy to see you that I wouldn't care if you're secretly a ninja sent from the future to destroy kittens and rainbows"

Review: Sweet Venom - Tera Lynn Childs

Reading level:  Ages 13 and up
Hardcover:  352 pages
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books (September 6, 2011)

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.
Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.
These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight. 

My Thoughts... 

This was a hard review for me to write. On one hand I LOVED this book, but I find it hard to really talk about without giving too much away, so here is my attempt...

Gretchen, she is smart and well trained when it comes to mythological monsters. She is fierce, and determined and maybe a little tired. 

Grace, having just moved to San Francisco she sees this an an opportunity to be a new person. She never expected to see a Minotaur walk into a restaurant! Maybe shy boring Grace wasn't so bad after all.

Greer, comes from a well off family, where her toughest choice is should there be be an ice sculpture for decoration at tea time.

The last thing any of these girls expected was to run into another girl wearing the same face. As we move through the story the girls all have to fall apart and come to there own decisions before they can come together and try to fulfill their destiny. 

The world, monsters and alternate realities where these monsters are trying to escape from. Things the girls don't understand. They are in for the fight of their lives trying to save themselves and the world. I give this one 5 stars! It was fresh and original, with a great story and great characters!

Review: Touch of Frost - Jennifer Estep

Reading level:  Ages 13 and up
Paperback:  336 pages
Publisher:  K-Teen; 1 edition (July 26, 2011)

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy—a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.
But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . . 

My Thoughts...

I am a sucker for books involving mythology. It has always been something I enjoyed, so the high number of books coming out lately involving mythology makes me giddy. 

This one seemed to mix quite a few different cultures but it all worked out in the end. Gwen is a gypsies with the power to touch an object and see things about others that have touched it. She admits that she loves being able to find out peoples secrets, that is until one girls secrets turns Gwen's life upside down.

Before she knows it she is attending mythos academy for "warrior wiz kids". There are amazons, Vikings, Spartans, Valkyries, and other mythological warriors. 

She sits through her myth-history class in disbelief in the stories she is hearing, that is until a girl ends up dead and Gwen is using her gift to be the supernatural Nancy Drew. 

This is a great story about coming to terms with ones self and opening up to new possibilities about yourself. Gwen was a great character she stars out not believing in the myths she is learning about, and ends this story with a new understanding of the world around her. 

This was a story that sucked me in and I am counting down the days until the next book is released. If you are     a mythology fan then go get this book! This one gets 5 stars from me!

Top Ten Books I Want to Read this Spring!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful people over at The Broke and the Bookish

This week the list is Top Ten Books I Want to Read This Spring. Now this was a hard list to make cause there are so many books I want to read!  But this is what I came up with!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

I LOVE this cover, and the idea of The Hunger Games meets the Bachelor has me dying to get my hands on this.

Article 5 - Kristen Simmons

I have read so many great reviews for this book, but I just haven't gotten to it yet. I plan on making time to read this very soon. 

Bloodspell - Amalie Howard

I have been wanting to read this since it came out last year, I just haven't gotten to it yet. But I plan to change that soon.

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

I've heard great things about this and really can't wait to read it!

Pretty Crooked by Elias Ludwig

This looks great, a perfect read for when I need something cute and funny. 

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This was one of my favorite reads last year and I can't wait to read some more! I need this NOW!

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

I read the first chapter and now I really want to read this rest of this book. I loved the first one and can't wait to see how this ends. 

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender 

I loved the first book and don't know why I haven't read this one yet but I am going to get to it really soon. 

Chime by Franny Billingsley

I have heard great things about this and I really have been meaning to pick this one up but I just haven't gotten to it yet (if you haven't noticed that is the story of my life lol)

A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton

I really loved the first book and this one just came out and is one of the very next books on my TBR pile.

Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

The first book was great and I really need to read this one and any others that are out right now. I'm not sure why I haven't read them but I want to!

Follow Friday (18)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Its a way to get out there and meet new bloggers and discover new blogs. :)

Q. What is the best book you've read in the month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?

The best book I've read this month...that is a tough one, I've read so many great books this month that I'm not sure I can choose. But for the sake of the argument I'm going to try.

I'm going to go with:

Croak by Gina Damico

I haven't read any bad books yet this month, and I am hopeful that I will continue on this great reading streak I'm on.

Review: The Demon Trapper's Daughter: Forbidden aka Soul Thief - Jana Oliver

Paperback:  416 pages
Publisher:  Macmillan Children's Books
Language:  English

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them...
Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.
But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever... 

My Thoughts...

Is it March yet? I usually read the first book in a new series and love it, then end up disliking the second, and forcing myself to try the third. I have to say though this wasn't the case with these books. I actually think the second book was better than the first. 

This picked up where the first book left off, Riley is trying to keep it together after learning about what happened to her father, and the attack on the Tabernackle. she is scared and traumatized by things she saw and by seeing what happened to Simon. Riley ends up being put into a sticky situation when she goes to visit Simon, she did was seemed right at the time but like every good deed it NEVER goes unpunished. 

Sweet caring Simon begins to change, no longer sweet and caring, he is nasty, cruel, and paranoid. this change leaves Riley broken hearted and under the scrutiny of the hunters, who believe she is working for the "bad guys".

Now add the very sexy Ori and we have a recipe for disaster, Trying to get over her broken heart and rebel against Beck, she starts down a road with Ori that I enjoyed since I adore him, but in the end things are always what they appear. Riley in the end is left with very few options, a fight with Beck leaves her friendless and alone. 

The ending of this book was pretty awesome, a few things happened that I wasn't expecting, and I couldn't have been happier with it. I liked how certain relationships evolved from the first book to the end of the second. At times I didn't hate Harper, So much was going on in this book, bootleg holey water, demons, demon hunters, and inter guild arguing.

I really can't wait for the next one to come out, this is one addicting series that I have totally fallen in love with. I give this one 5 stars and recommend this series if you have started it yet, go do it now!

Review: The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver

Paperback:  448 pages
Publisher:  MacMillan Children's Books
Language:  English

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on...
Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.
But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

My Thoughts...

I don't know why it took so long for me to start this book. I have heard nothing but good things about it. Mrs. Oliver has come up with a main character that has wormed her way into my heart. Riley was awesome! She showed determination, spunk, strength, and had a kick-ass attitude that make me say. "I am in love!" more than once. Her sarcasm, whit, and snark had me giggling at times. As soon as I flipped the last page of this book I dove into the next. I wanted so badly to know what happened next.

My only hope for the next book is more demons! I know it sounds like a strange request, but I love with way Mrs. Oliver has built her version of our world and how she set up her demons. I want to see more fights with them like the one her and Beck had with the pyro-fiend. That was one of my favorite parts of this book, great scene, great action and shows a different side to the "relationship" Riley and Beck share. While I am talking about Beck, and before I forget...the boys in this book are totally drool worthy! Each in a different way but in the end all 3 of our major boys will make you drool. Personally I want an Ori or a Beck of my very own. Simon isn't bad, just not my type I guess. 

I have to give this one 5 stars, and I do highly recommend that if you are like me and put off reading this book/series, please do yourself a favor and wait no more...go read it...like NOW!

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My picks this week are...

Scorch by Gina Damico

Croak used to be the only place where teenage grim reaper Lex felt like she fit in. But after she let the murderous Zara get away—and inadvertently transferred her ability to damn souls to her on top of that—Lex is a pariah in the little town full of Grims. Her boyfriend, Driggs, and her other Junior Grim friends have stood by her, but that has only made them outcasts, too. Meanwhile, Zara is still out there Damning innocents, and no one is safe. It’s up to Lex’s Uncle Mort, mayor of Croak, to protect the townspeople. But when tragedy strikes, the Grims rise up against him, too. 

To escape their wrath, Mort takes Lex and the other Juniors on a wild road trip to DeMyse, a Las Vegas-like Grim city where they can hide out until the chaos in Croak subsides. Though this sparkling desert oasis is full of luxuries and amusements, Lex wants nothing more than to return to her simple little town and the good graces of its citizens. Her best chance at that would be to stop Zara once and for all—but how can she do that from DeMyse, where the Grims seem cheerfully oblivious to Zara’s killing spree? Lex needs to track down the secret book that would make Zara even more dangerous. But she has no idea of the chilling lengths her nemesis would go to in order to find it first.

Review: Juliette Immortal - Stacey Jay

Reading level:  Ages 14 and up
Hardcover:  320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (August 9, 2011)

"These violent delights have violent endsAnd in their triumph die, like fire and powder,Which as they kiss consume."—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The most tragic love story in history . . .
Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

My Thoughts...

One of my all time favorite stories may just be Romeo and Juilette so I was excited for this book. I knew going in that this would be different. This story wowed me. When we start this tale we find out that Juilette was murdered by Romeo so he could become an immortal being known as a mercanery. They are destroyers of true love. We also learn that Juilette is also an immortal of sorts, but she sided with the light, she is tasked as a protector of true love. Juilette wakes up in the body of a young girl named Ariel and Romeo inhavets the dead body of a boy named Dylan. Juilette's job is to find the two soul mates and help thenm seal there relationship before Romeo can convince one to kill the other. Juilette things this will be relativly easy as she finds out that Ariel's best friend has the soul mate glow. This however rapidly falls apart as she starts to grow feelings for the boy she thinks is Gemma's soul mate.  Confused and cut off from her "people" she has no one to go to for help. Romeo is constantly around. As things fall apart other things start to fall together and the ending in my opinion was perfect. Now was this as good as the origional ? No, but you can't compete with that, what this was, was origional, refreshing and thought provoking. I for one can't wait for the next one! I give this one 5 stars!