Review: Cold Kiss - Amy Garvey

• Reading level:
 Ages 13 and up

• Hardcover:
 304 pages

• Publisher:
 HarperTeen (September 20, 2011)

It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants—what she must do—is to bring Danny back.But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her—and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

My Thoughts...

I really enjoyed this story. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it was still pretty awesome! Wren grew up watching her Mom, Aunt, and Grandma make things happen. Not things you would expect, changing the color of flowers, making pretty color lights  dance around the room when she was upset. Then one day it all went away. Her father left, her Grandmother died, and her mom stopped talking to her Aunt, and tried to hid her powers. Then Wren developed powers too. Only her Mom still ignored them, everything Wren learned she learned on her own or in secret talks with her Aunt. Wren eventually meets Danny and falls in love, they were happy until Wren got a phone call that Danny was dead. Wren grieved until she decided to bring Danny back, because she couldn't live without him. The only problem is Danny came back different. Pale, cold, hard and just not the same. Wren still trys to make it work for them but eventually it just doesn't work anymore. This was a good story about love, boundaries, limits and letting go, and moving on. I really liked Wren, she knows she was wrong but trys so hard to fix things. Her mom I wasn't a fan of though. I secretly hope there is another book just to see if her mom ever gives her the answers she wants and needs. Danny made me sad. I wanted to like him but it is hard to like a shell of a person. All in all this was a good story. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Wren! I give this one 4 stars!

Review: Zombies Don't Cry - Rusty Fisher

• Reading level:
 Ages 12 and up

• Paperback:
 300 pages

• Publisher:
 Medallion Press (May 1, 2011)

In the sleepy small town of Barracuda Bay, Maddy Swift leads the life of a fairly typical teenager, but while attending a party one night, Maddy is struck by lightning and awakens to realize she has been reanimated and turned into a zombie. While becoming acquainted with her new "lifestyle," Maddy stumbles upon two unexpected undead chaperones, fellow students Dane and Chloe, who begin to teach her the ways of zombie life, including defending the populace from Zerkers—the bad zombies. Together, on prom night, the three teens must ultimately defend Barracuda Bay High from an all-out zombie Armageddon.

My Thoughts...

I was on the fence with this book tour. As I have stated before I am a wuss and zombies give me the creeps.  So you might ask why would you request a book that is clearly about zombies? Well to that I say I read the description on Goodreads and saw a few reviews that convinced me that this was more than you're typical zombie book, and it sure was! Maddy is a normal teenager struggling with normal things like a best friend who has the amazing ability to make everything all about her, a father who loves her, cares about her, but seems to work too many hours, bullys, and boys. Maddy's life takes a major turn when she literally bumps into the new school hottie, not once but twice in the same day. He seems interested in her which doesn't happen often with a spotlight loving best friend. Our hottie invites Maddy to a party and while she things that maybe things will change for her, she doesn't realise just how true this is. Maddy never makes it to the party she does how ever get struck by lightning and reanimated. This starts Maddy's journey of learning how to be a zombie, and how to pass for a still living girl. She makes some new friends and continues dealing with old enemies. this was a great story there was self discovery, tension, a romance that feels just out of reach. The characters were all pretty awesome in there own way. The ending was pretty shocking, I didn't quite expect things to go down quite the way they did. All in all this story kept me turning the pages and wanting more. I highly suggest this to everyone even wusses and zombie scardy cats.  I hope you give this one a chance it is well worth it. I give this one 4 stars.